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Career Day [complete] http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7299

Author:	Nightwing [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:00 am ]
Post subject:	Career Day [complete]
Er, inspired by the comments in Lisa T's A Conferencing We Will Go. To be updated sporadically, at best! 1. Verity-Anne Carey Miss Annersley looked up with a smile as Verity wafted gently in to the room. "Good morning, Verity," she said. "Please, take a seat." There was the sound of rapid scribbling from the corner of the room. Miss Dene, bless her, had agreed to take notes from each of the Head's interviews; past experience had told Miss Annersley that sometimes parents wished to know just exactly what plans their darlings had for the future. Verity floated into the offered chair. "Thank you Miss Annersley," she said in her silvery voice. "This shouldn't take long," Miss Annersley said, looking down at her own notes. "But we do like to check with each of our school leavers, you see, to find out what it is they'd like to do once the time comes for them to take their first steps up the path of their career." That was, she thought, a particularly good metaphor, and she quickly jotted it down to use again if needed. "Of course, Miss Annersley." Verity's voice was perhaps even more silvery than before. "You are planning on being trained as a singer, I believe?" "Mother and Father think that's the best plan..." Verity started to say, but as usual Miss Annersley found it a little hard to concentrate while she was speaking. The pure, unadultered, silveriness of her voice always put her in mind of an apprentice jeweller she had known as a girl, who had rather admired her. Miss Annersley had never planned to marry, but was certainly not adverse to receiving any of the pieces of jewellery he had crafted for her, even if she had never entirely been sure what to do with the beautifully crafted silver codpiece. Still, he had been a very nice boy, and she wondered what had happened to him. "...and people are always telling me that I'm moony, so I thought perhaps I ought to do that." Miss Annersley suddenly became aware that she wasn't paying any attention to her interviewee, and had missed more than half her speech, so she simply said, "Oh, er, yes. That sounds like a very intelligent idea." There was a muted grunt from the sound of the room, but when Miss Annersley glanced at her, Miss Dene's face was perfectly straight and she was still writing. Verity beamed. "Thank you, Miss Annersley," she said sedately. "I knew that you'd support the idea." She bobbed a curtsy, and quietly exited the room again. Miss Annersely stared after her, wondering if perhaps her grey eyes that had never yet needed glasses perhaps could at least do with a decent pair of contact lenses. Miss Dene cleared her throat. "Well, I had never really thought of Verity as a law-breaker," she said cheerfully. "But there she was, flouting the laws of gravity like that! I expect that will come in handy in her future career, though." "Er, yes," Miss Annersley said, torn between being pleased and alarmed that she had not imagined the fact that Verity's feet had not quite been touching the ground. Then, because Miss Dene may have been a highly competent secretary but she was also a very good friend, she felt she could ask, "Rosalie - what exactly was it the girl wanted to do?" "Weren't you listening?" Miss Dene replied, surprised. "Well - I suppose that explains a few things!" "But what did she want to do?" Miss Annersley demanded. "Do? She said she wanted to be the moon, of course!"

Author:	Alison H [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:04 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day

Author:	JB [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:12 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Thanks, Nightwing.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Oh dear me! Is Miss A. succombing at last to the foibles of the rest of us? Thankyou

Author:	Lisa_T [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
giggles A LOT. So glad you decided to go with this... I wonder who'll be next?

Author:	shazwales [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:05 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Thanks Nightwing,

Author:	Abi [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:32 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Lubbley - thanks Nightwing!

Author:	Kyrrie [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:25 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Very, very giggle inducing. Thank you

Author:	JS [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Quote: Miss Annersely stared after her, wondering if perhaps her grey eyes that had never yet needed glasses perhaps could at least do with a decent pair of contact lenses.

Author:	Nightwing [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
2. Viola Lucy Miss Annersely's next interview was not for another fifteen minutes. She briefly considered chasing after Verity and correcting her, but wiser counsel prevailed. After all, given the girl's talents it was perhaps not unlikely that she would soon be contacted by the Americans, who were coming all the closer to sending someone into space. Yes, that sort of career would probably do Verity nicely - so long as it wasn't the Russians who made her an offer! That would undoubtedly be very bad press for the school, and Miss Annersely had no wish for anyone to come inquiring as to whether were reds in her bed, at least not until Aleksey got the message and stopped trying to woo her. Miss Dene had made no further comments on the matter of Verity, but had briefly left the office and returned with a large cup of coffee and lemon biscuits to share - and the news that her next interviewee was waiting outside. Miss Annersley took her refreshments as quickly as possible, and called the Sixth Former in. Vi Lucy entered the room with a flounce and a scowl. Miss Annersley felt a little taken aback. Vi was usually one of the sunniest pupils she'd ever had; what could possibly have upset her so? She didn't have to wait long to find out. "I'm sick of it!" Vi spat, clearly forgetting that this was not the way to speak to her Headmistress. "I'm so sick and tired of it. I can't wait to get out of this horrible place!" Miss Annersley gave Vi a look that reminded her just where she was and who she was talking to. Well, she meant to. Unfortunately, her aim was somewhat off, and the glare went straight past Vi, bounced off the study wall, traveled out the window, briefly circling Gaudenz who was digging a large pit outside, then lazily drifted through the gap in the Freudesheim fence. Joey, who had been halfway through a new manuscript, suddenly felt as though she had been caught putting a hairbrush in someone else's bed, and had to quickly go inside to make herself have a cup of tea and a lie-down. "What are you sick of?" Miss Annersley asked, seeing her first tactic hadn't worked. "Always - having - to play - second fiddle!" Vi gasped out. "I'm sick of it! Completely sick of it!" Realisation dawned. Of course, the poor girl. Once upon a time she had been the leader of her peers; then Mary-Lou Trelawney had come along, and taken her place. Being made Second Prefect must have only compounded the problem, and now, with the end of school so near, and a chance to break free from Mary-Lou's dominance, the poor girl had finally cracked. "Now Vi," Miss Annersley said as kindly as she could. "You know we've always appreciated your contribution to the school." Vi calmed down - a little. "Oh, I know you have, Miss Annersley. But I'm ambitious, you know - I always have been. Everyone at school has always gone on and on and on about how good she is, and she's good alright - but what about me? I'm sick of being ignored! Just sick of it!" There was a cough from the corner of the room. Miss Annerlsey knew without looking up that Miss Dene was trying to point out that Vi's speech had become rather repetitive of late. "So, what is it you're hoping to do?" Miss Annersley asked, a little desperately. "Well, I'll go to the Royal School, of course. They've had enough geniuses there that she won't make any great impact. And I'll finally get some attention!" Miss Annersley's brows creased. She hadn't talked to Mary-Lou yet, but the girl was planning to go to Oxford, not to the Royal College of Art. Besides, she couldn't draw much more than stick figures; she was hardly a genius! But Vi was still speaking. "And then, one day I'll become the first violin for the London Symphony Orchestra! That'll show Nina!" "...Nina?" Miss Annersley asked faintly. Then she pulled herself together. "Well, Vi, I hope you realise that your chosen career won't be all sunshine and rainbows." She paused, unsure about that metaphor. Sunshine was certainly a good symbol of happiness, and an easy-life, but rainbows could be a bit of a double-edged sword, given the connotation of floods and storms. She made a note to think on it further when she had time. "Ambition is all very well, but it isn't enough. You need talent - you have that - but you also need a lot of hard work, and a will of iron." Vi nodded. "I know! But I'll do it alright. And then - then I shall have my revenge!" She started to laugh in a way that could best be categorised as a 'cackle', and backed towards the study door, throwing it open then slamming it dramatically shut behind her. Miss Annersley frowned. The child had forgotten to bob her curtsy. "I thought Vi was going in for art?" Miss Dene said after a moment. "Rosalie, it's my experience that you can never be sure what the girls will end up doing with their lives." "You're right, of course, Hilda. Shall I fetch another coffee?" Miss Annersley glanced at her appointment list in front of her. Verity and Vi may have both startled her, but at least the next girl wouldn't. She was reliably uninteresting.

Author:	Lesley [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Love it - made same mistake as Hilda and thought Vi was talking about Mary Lou - but Nina? Also love Hilda's glare missing Vi and hitting Joey instead. Thanks Nightwing

Author:	sealpuppy [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Nightwing wrote: Verity and Vi may have both startled her, but at least the next girl wouldn't. She was reliably uninteresting. Doris? Hilary Wilson?

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
I love Joey! Thankyou.

Author:	Liane [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
I'm sure the next interviewee will surprise Hilda. Love that glare hitting Joey!

Author:	Abi [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Love their matter-of-fact response to Vi's announcement!

Author:	shazwales [ Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:43 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
This is fun! Thanks Nightwing

Author:	Elle [ Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:18 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Wonderful! Thanks Nightwing.

Author:	JB [ Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:47 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Second fiddle. Of course. LOL. Poor Joey.

Author:	Alison H [ Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:55 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day

Author:	Nicci [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:53 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
I'm really enjoying this Nightwing. Looking forward to the next interview.

Author:	Loryat [ Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Who is the next interviewee? Though it's probably a good thing there isn't any more as I was reading this and laughing in the library!

Author:	La Petite Em [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
This is brilliant! Love the Abbess analysing her own metaphors for once

Author:	Nightwing [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:19 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
3. Doris Hill Miss Annersley found herself staring at a blank piece of paper on her desk. That was odd. Hadn't she been writing a moment ago? But no, of course not. If she'd been writing then the paper wouldn't be blank. No, she'd just finished interviewing Vi Lucy, and now it was time for the next girl to enter her office. "Rosalie - will you fetch my 10.30, please?" Miss Dene left the room, only to return a moment later with a puzzled look on her face. "There's no one there," she said. "And the clock outside says it's 10.40. But I-" she glanced down at her own watch, clasped to her slim wrist, and stopped. "Oh," she said. "It must be right, after all. Who had the appointment, Hilda?" Miss Annersley thought for a long moment, but no name sprung to mind. Flustered, she pulled out her appointment book, but it looked like she'd written in a name and then erased it. It was too faint to make it out. Her head ached, rather. Miss Dene looked sympathetic. "I'll fetch you one of those gin and tonics Matron is always dishing out," she said. Hilda thanked her - there was no harm in a little moment of relaxation. That must have been why she didn't schedule in anyone at 10.30. Yes, that was it. ............................................................................................ Back in the Senior Common room, Doris Hill was chuckling to herself. She'd always faded into the background, rather. At first she'd thought it was just because next to the vivacious Vi Lucy, and the big personalities of Mary-Lou and Phil Craven, she would never have stood out. And then she'd noticed that it wasn't just that she seemed to fade away; it was more that she faded away entirely. Her own father forgot about her for years, after forgetting to send her to the Swiss branch of the school. And she'd come to realise that this wasn't a curse, but a boon. She'd lain her plans carefully. French and German she'd always been good at. Russian - that had been a tad more difficult. She'd heard quite by accident that Mrs Maynard had learned it in her youth, and after having to sit through several renditions of 'The Red Sarafan' and five tales of the kidnapping of Princess Elisaveta she'd finally convinced the old bat to give her lessons. Making contacts, that had been harder. She'd had a bit of luck there. Maybe no one else knew about the Abbess's dalliances with Aleksey, but Doris did. And now she was leaving - tomorrow - off to East Berlin to start on what could only be described as the perfect career. And no one would even notice she was gone.

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:31 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Really enjoying this. thanks

Author:	mohini [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:14 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
It is difficult to control the giggles. More please. Laughter is good for my health.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:42 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Thankyou! May we have another update soon please?

Author:	Abi [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Excellent - glad to see more of this!

Author:	shesings [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Brilliant!!

Author:	Lesley [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Well done Doris!

Author:	jmc [ Sat Jun 26, 2010 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Pleased to see this back. doris did rather fade away didn't she.

Author:	Smile :) [ Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Enjoying this Nightwing thanks Doris really did vanish for a bit didn't she?

Author:	shazwales [ Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:58 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Love the description of Joey as an 'old bat' thanks nNightwing

Author:	Mona [ Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:54 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Good for Doris! Thank you Nightwing!

Author:	jonty [ Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:55 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Nightwing wrote: Joey, who had been halfway through a new manuscript, suddenly felt as though she had been caught putting a hairbrush in someone else's bed, and had to quickly go inside to make herself have a cup of tea and a lie-down. Thanks, Nightwing. Looking forward to the next interview.

Author:	whitequeen [ Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Love it!

Author:	MaryR [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:53 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
The sheer inventiveness of this had me giggling wildly. Poor Hilda!

Author:	Nightwing [ Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
4. Jo Scott "Jo?" Miss Annersley raised her eyebrows as the Fifth Former walked in. "What are you doing here?" "I have an appointment," Jo said, smiling cheerfully. "No, Jo dear," Miss Annersley began, "These appointments are only for girls in the Si-" She stopped abruptly as Miss Dene urgently cleared her throat. Frowning, she glanced over to where her secretary was sitting and tried to work out why Rosalie had interrupted her so rudely. "...only for girls who are leaving us," she said carefully. "Of which you are one, of course. Please come in, Jo." Looking relieved, Jo came into the room and took a seat. "I'm ever so happy to be going home to help Mummy," she said. Hilda's brow furrowed as she glanced down at her notes. "I had thought you were going to go into gardening," she ventured, "Of course, if you're needed at home-" "Oh, I'm not needed at home," Jo said cheerfully. "I'm ever so happy to be going off to learn how to become a professional gardener." Miss Dene's typewriter stopped abruptly, and Hilda very carefully did not look up to catch her eye. "Have you enjoyed your time at school, Jo?" "Oh yes! I'm ever so happy to have been a prefect," Jo said. Hilda glanced down at her notes again. "You mean the head of Va?" she asked. "Yes! I'm ever so happy to have been head of Va and the Sports Prefect. The Hobbies Prefect. The Sports- Hobbies- Second Prefect." If Hilda had needed glasses, she would have taken them off and laid them carefully down on her desk before leaning forward in a comforting manner, but as she did not she chose to steeple her fingers instead. Jo's smile had taken on a manic edge, and she was making little jerking movement. Hilda wondered if she ought to send Rosalie for Matron - but not yet, perhaps. "Jo, dear, you know that you can't possibly have been that head of Va and a prefect." Jo's eyes started to flash dangerously, but Hilda continued. "We would never let a Fifth Form girl become a prefect. It's just not... logical." "Head - Fifth Form - Head Girl - ga-garden - aunt Jo - aunty - home," Jo cried desperately, and her head began to spin as her eyes flashed bright red and she emitted loud beeping sounds. Hilda shook her head sadly. That was the worst thing about raising robots as your own children. They just couldn't handle inconsistency, and Maisie had wanted too much from her daughter. To be Joey's god-daughter despite not knowing her - to be close friends with the triplets and Mary-Lou - to be ambitious and a homebody - it just didn't make sense. She'd seen this breakdown coming, but as Jo's head exploded she couldn't help but think that this could very easily have been avoided. "But Maisie never was particularly sensible," she said out loud. "Rosalie, you do know that this was inevitable, don't you?" She was sure that's what her friend had been trying to tell her when Jo entered the room. Rosalie flushed. "I know it's not really my place to say, but Hilda, perhaps we shouldn't let robots into the school if you dislike them so much." Hilda waved her hand. "It's not that I dislike them. Joey's youngest two are quite a delight, in fact. And Peggy was still one of our better Head Girls. But Jo was faulty, Rosalie, and better to have her breakdown here than at home, where it would only upset Maisie." Rosalie didn't respond for a long moment, then she reluctantly nodded her head. "You're right, as usual. I'll take her for Gaudenz for repairs, shall I? What will we tell the girls? The usual 'needed at home'?" "Yes - I'll sort something out. You will make sure no one sees her, won't you?" It wasn't the girls that Hilda was worried about so much as Aleksey. Spending time with him was all very well, but there was no need to let him know that the West had perfect Artificial Intelligence. Well, not yet, anyway.

Author:	Lesley [ Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Oh so that expalins why she just disappeared then! Poor Jo.

Author:	PaulineS [ Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Thanks, poor Jo no wonder she got confused and broke down.

Author:	2nd Gen Fan [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:44 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
I understand Peggy so much better now....

Author:	cal562301 [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:16 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Wonderful! Thanks.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Thankyou!

Author:	Abi [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
That was hilarious.

Author:	shazwales [ Thu Sep 02, 2010 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
thanks

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:23 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
That explains why Jo left rather neatly Thanks

Author:	Carolyn P [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
Love the Robot.

Author:	Nightwing [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 11:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day
I was going to make this stretch on a little longer, but I ran out of funny... So here's the final part! 5. Mary-Lou Trelawney Miss Annersley sighed, and stretched. "Really," she said to Rosalie, "Overall it hasn't been a bad day." At least, that was what she had meant to say. Unfortunately, after Hilda Jukes had declared her intention of starting up a Society for Youth Frog-leaping International League Safety Initiatives - or SYFILIS, for short - and Josette Russell had tried to stab her with a pencil, Hilda had needed one or two more of Matron's patent doses, and the words came out more like, "really -hic- ithashn bn baaaaad day." Luckily, Rosalie had taken one or two doses herself, so she understood her Headmistress perfectly. "Butthere's still... still... still onemore," she pointed out. "Our One and Only Mary-Lou." "Mary-Lou!" Hilda cried, just a little too loudly. "How could I forget? How? She is hard to forget, with those bright blue eyes, beautiful chiseled abs and sensual Russian..." she paused. No, no, that was Aleksey. Mary-Lou was the one who sounded like a bell. Joey had once told her rather a good joke about bells. What was the punchline again? "Come in, Mary-Lou, dear!" she called, even louder. The door swung open and Mary-Lou strode into the room. "Guten Abend, Miss Annersley, Miss Dene!" she said in her usual clarion tones. "I've been looking forward to this interview all day." There was a clatter of keys as Rosalie started to type, and then a brief pause as she whispered, "Hilda, is interview spelled i - n - t - r - w - e - t - v? Oh, never mind, I can always retype it later." " -hic- " said Hilda. "I suppose you're wondering what I'm going to do next year," Mary-Lou said as she took the seat opposite her Headmistress. "Obviously at first I had thought to follow my father's footsteps, but it seems to me that I have so very many talents that it would be a waste not to use them. I've come up with two plans of attack. "First of all, obviously I've become quite well known for my advice-giving skills. My reputation has spread quite far, thanks to the School's extensive Old Girls' network, so I shouldn't have too much difficulty finding clients. In fact," she added in an undertone, "Strictly confidentially, I'm currently dealing with a gentleman who gave his children away so that he could help his master build a galactic empire, and is now looking to reconnect with them. Unfortunately, his son has been brought up to hate the empire, which is making things a little sticky!" She shook her head. "Dung," said Miss Annersley suddenly. That was the punchline! Now what was the joke? "And then," Mary-Lou continued, "There's my ability to see further through a brick wall than most people. MI-6 have found x-ray vision to be particularly useful." Hilda was suddenly, chillingly sober. "MI-6?" she repeated. Mary-Lou threw her a smile. "Oh yes. We know all about your relationship with Aleksey, Miss Annersley. But you needn't worry. For all his talk, he's really working for us." "Oh," said Hilda. Then, pulling herself together - Rosalie, it seemed, was slumped over her typewriter and therefore not paying any attention - she said briskly. "Well, Mary-Lou, it does seem like you have a very full life ahead of you. I hope you will remember, though, that you will always be a Chalet Girl." "Oh yes," Mary-Lou responded earnestly. "I am, Miss Annersley - through and th- oh dear." Something outside had caught her eye. "What on Earth is he doing there? Uncle Jack will not be pleased if he finds a double-0 has been attempting to seduce his wife! I'd better just pop over to Freudesheim..." She bobbed her regulation curtsy and was off. Silence reigned in the study, except for Rosalie's gentle snores. They were such a promising year group, Hilda reflected. Such lovely, talented girls. She felt lucky to have been involved in shaping them into the fine women that they had become.

Author:	Abi [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 11:57 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day [complete]
Truly a delight........

Author:	PaulineS [ Tue Nov 02, 2010 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day [complete]
Yes MI 6 is just right for Mary Lou. Thanks for the drabble.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:00 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day [complete]
Just perfect!

Author:	shazwales [ Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day [complete]
Brilliant! Thank you.

Author:	roversgirl [ Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Career Day [complete]
Excellent! thanks!

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