The CBB :: View topic - Charles' Holiday

Glad to see a sequel, and wondering which part of England they're in.

hope Charles can work the same miracles that Charlie did for the maynards.

...her father had left when the youngest was nothing more than a baby, and only Nancy remembered him properly.

I'd like to see more of Amy, please

I don’t know about you children nowadays, all you seem to talk about is boys. When we were at school, the latest thriller was always an upcoming sale, or whatever exploit Joey had decided to land us all with that time. We were always told that we had to keep a pure mind; and while things are more liberal now I can’t help thinking that there wasn’t some sense in that. There’s a difference between wondering which doctor at the Sonnalpe will spirit off the current Head Girl and the sort of things I hear some girls discussing nowadays.”

That was great - and I'm sure there's a nice girl out there for Rix too if you fancy writing any more :wink:

Exams, exams, exams, can't write, no, exams...

Best wishes for the exams, but they don't last forever. More stories in July? Please? Pretty Please?

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Thu May 07, 2009 5:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Charles' Holiday
I hope that I've got everything right so far, let me know if not! There will be more characters coming in soon to make it related to the CS properly, I promise. This is a sequel to 'Charlie's Visit'. - X - Charles was still asleep when the train eventually pulled into the station. He’d been happily snoring against Charlie’s shoulder ever since she woke up an hour previously, so that she couldn't even stand up and stretch her legs like she wanted; the closest she’d come to relief was when the passenger opposite gave her a sympathetic smile and retreated behind his paper again. Now she took the opportunity of poking him viciously. He sat up, bewildered for a moment, then met her eyes and smiled sheepishly. The train was already stopping, doors opening and the hum of people around them rising. Charlie pulled down three of their bags and a suitcase, handing two to Charles, who was still shaking his head to wake himself up, and taking the other suitcase upon herself. By dint of some forceful elbowing she managed to make her way to the doors, where she jumped off nimbly. Charles joined her half a minute later, the fresh, cold air doing a lot to wake him up. He smiled at her, laden down with luggage and nearly as dishevelled as she, but smiling eagerly. They had stopped in Paris, where there had been a long enough gap between trains to get coffee and rolls, and after that they had fallen asleep again, for they had been travelling since the previous afternoon, although Charlie had woken up shortly afterwards. They moved with the crowd, Charlie hooking one hand through Charles arm so that, although their bag sat awkwardly between them, they wouldn’t lose each other to the people milling about. She smiled up at him as they walked, her face considerably brightened despite the already overcast day. Charles knew that whatever she said, England was home, and she couldn’t wait to see her family again. She didn’t have to wait as long as she’d thought. They had just got out of the station, a young, harried looking woman having nearly knocked Charles over without so much as an apology for her clumsiness, when a glint came into Charlie’s eye and she suddenly steered Charles in completely the opposite direction. Bemused at being buffeted by so many people, his brain still half sleep shrouded, he followed obediently, coming to a halt just behind Charlie. In front of them stood two young girls, one now staring awkwardly at the floor while the other beamed at Charlie with a distinctly faltering smile. They were both relatively well turned out at the moment, though there was mud clinging to the bottom of the younger girl’s skirt still, and her hair needed combing. The elder of the pair looked, Charles knew from experience, suspiciously tidy. “Debbie and Eliza,” said Charlie grimly, in the tone of voice Charles knew could mean nothing good. “I might have known that you would come, Debbie, but do you have to drag Eliza into everything? I bet mum doesn’t know that you’re here; anything could have happened, you’ve been told before not to leave the street unless we know where you are.” “Let’s not start on an argument,” said Charles lightly, earning him a beaming smile from Debbie, the elder girl, while Eliza glanced up at him from underneath her lowered eyelashes. “Seeing as you are here, you can take some bags. At least we won’t have to drag this lot back between us now.” He kissed Charlie’s cheek fondly and she relented, with another stern glare at Debbie. Her sister glared back with interest, but Charles hastily pushed one of the bags into her arms, to avoid further argument. She was a precocious young woman, and unless Charlie could keep her temper – which she rarely did with Debbie – there would be an altercation between the pair. He wanted at least an hour of harmony. “Mum’s at work already,” explained Eliza, as she took the smallest bag from Charlie. She slipped a hand through her elder sister’s, chattering merrily as they trooped along the street. “Mr Broughton made her go in early today cause she’s got to tidy the shelves before they open. She said that you would need to make us breakfast when you got back, Debbie was still in bed when she left, but Debbie’s really lazy at the moment cause she stays out late with boys and it’s gross.” “You can be quiet,” muttered Debbie. She knew that her voluble younger sister was likely to blurt out anything and everything that came to mind, including things she’d been sworn to secrecy over. Charles glanced down at Debbie, but she was steadily looking in front of her, and refused to meet his eye. Charlie, meanwhile, felt her heart sink. There’d been some indication the last time she stayed that Debbie was starting to wake up to young men and just how fun they could be, but she hadn’t imagined that it would develop this quickly. She stored it at the back of her mind for further consideration later on, prompting a different line of conversation by asking Eliza what she wanted for breakfast. Their arrival at the house was delayed further when it was revealed that her mother had also left instructions for Charlie to stop and buy something to use to cook the breakfast, and by the time they’d found a shop and bought something that would suit everybody it was getting nearer to lunchtime. Charlie approached their street with a lightening heart; the bags had been dragging on her arms and banging against her leg – particularly the one Eliza insisted on swinging while she complained of how tired she was and how she couldn’t carry it further. That, coupled with the arduous train journey, left her wanting nothing more than a cooked meal and the opportunity to freshen up. She knew that her family wasn’t as perfect as the Maynards, and even as she tempted Eliza homewards, while Debbie and Charles – who got on quite well – had a pleasant conversation from which she was wholly excluded, she couldn’t help comparing the reception here to meeting Jack Maynard on the train station. She was just trying to dig out her key to open the front door, when Eliza pulled urgently on her arm. “It might be a bit untidy," she said angelically.

Author:	RroseSelavy [ Thu May 07, 2009 5:35 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Oh yay! A sequel - excellent Thanks, ChubbyMonkey. I'm looking forward to this!

Author:	PaulineS [ Thu May 07, 2009 6:05 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Thanks for such a quick start to the sequel.

Author:	Alison H [ Thu May 07, 2009 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Glad to see a sequel, and wondering which part of England they're in.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Thu May 07, 2009 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Alison H wrote: Glad to see a sequel, and wondering which part of England they're in. Same...

The CBB http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/

Charles' Holiday http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6030

Author:	Lesley [ Fri May 08, 2009 5:54 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Sounds as though Debbie is a real handful - hope Charlie can keep her temper and Charles can work the same miracles that Charlie did for the maynards. Thanks

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Fri May 08, 2009 8:13 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Lesley wrote: hope Charles can work the same miracles that Charlie did for the maynards. So do I. Thanks for the sequel!

Author:	JS [ Fri May 08, 2009 9:05 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
But who was the rude 'harried' young woman? An enemy? A trouble-maker? This looks interesting.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Fri May 08, 2009 11:04 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
‘A bit untidy’ proved to be an understatement similar to ‘the Pope’s a bit Catholic’. Charlie surveyed the mess and then her sisters, both of whom quickly found things that needed to be done in another room. Charlie sighed as she dropped the bag in her hand. Suddenly the tranquil calm of the Maynard household was a haven, one she wanted to bolt to. “We can’t let Mrs Wentworth come home to this,” Charles said serenely. “Which means tidying up,” concurred Charlie, picking up her bags again and running up the stairs. She thought back to the writhing mass of children she had first seen Charles’ siblings to be and sighed longingly. How Mrs Maynard kept any semblance of tidiness was beyond her; although she defied even Mrs Maynard to control Debbie. Her room was the only tidy part of the house to be found, it seemed. She put down her luggage and looked around, a smile tugging at her lips. She could remember all of the long afternoons spent making plans with Nancy in this room, when Debbie and Eliza were still young enough to be wholly in awe of their elder sisters. “I’m sorry,” she said softly to Charles as they unpacked. “I didn’t want you to come back to this.” “It doesn’t matter,” he laughed gently, stopping for a moment to catch hold of her hand. “I’ll love you whether your house is untidy or not. And I don’t mind helping out – I have to earn my lodgings somehow.” She didn’t reply, but her feelings were evident from the fond looks that she sent his way as they finished hanging up their clothes in silence. There was a note left on her desk from her mother which she scanned hastily, but with one final look around the bedroom to make sure that it was as tidy as it could be, she prepared to go and tidy up. In the end, Charles cooked breakfast while Charlie dealt with the hallway and sitting room, so that at least any visitors might think that they were vaguely respectable. Halfway through she was called to the table, where all four sat down. Conversation tended to be what remarks the others could make over Eliza’s constant chatter, so that it was mainly Debbie doing her best to impress Charles with her tales of school and the holidays so far. He listened politely, attacking his eggs with a vim, adding his own comments now and then but staying in the background for the large part. After that it was back to tidying. Debbie and Eliza were told to clear up from breakfast while Charles and Charlie did what they could for the house. Charlie, knowing her mother as she did, concluded that she had given up trying to reinforce the household chores she expected Debbie and Eliza to do, for the whole place was dusty in the extreme, the floors needed to be swept and nothing was in its rightful place. It took two hours for her and Charles to sort nearly everything out. Even Charlie didn’t dare to go into her mother’s room – besides depositing some clean clothes on the bed, rather than leaving them on the sofa – and she had told Debbie and Eliza to clean their room. Some of the bangs from overhead were slightly worrying, but she knew better than to pay any attention to them. She had just made a pot of tea and dragged Charles away from cutting up wood to enjoy it with her, when there was a cheerful greeting from the hallway, and her mother appeared in the doorway. The room was dark, the window facing the wrong way to catch the sun, but even in the gloom Charlie could see the grey hair that hadn’t been there before. For the first time, she realised that her mother really was getting old. She didn’t have long to ponder on it, though, for Charles was jumping up, ever the gentleman. “It’s lovely to see you again Mrs Wentworth,” he said as he bent down to kiss her cheek. She laughed and held him at arms length, surveying him critically. “I tell you every time that it’s Alice. You’ve grown again – you’re as bad as Debbie. She keeps growing at the moment, she’s nearly as tall as me already.” Charlie jokingly pointed out that it wouldn’t be difficult to be taller than Alice; she was a short, stocky woman with a bun which was as messy as usual, the straggly blonde hair that Eliza had inherited flying in all directions. She had a warm, endearing smile, though, and all of the neighbours knew that in a crisis you turned to Alice Wentworth, as agrestic as she might be. “You’re looking well,” she said to Charlie now, bending down and kissing her cheek before going to fetch a cup from the kitchen. “What was Switzerland like?” Charlie waited until her mother had poured her own cup of tea and sat down before answering. She glanced at Charles, happy memories playing in her eyes. Now that the visit was over and she could relax and look back fondly she seemed to be far more positive than she had been on the journey over, the end of which had seen her with no unbitten nails. “It was fantastic,” she told her mother happily, relaxing into the sofa while Charles slipped an arm around her shoulders. “The scenery was gorgeous, and the air was so different from the city. Dr and Mrs Maynard were really nice, as well, and I think – I hope – that the younger children didn’t think I was too bad.” “They thought you were brilliant,” said Charles, quietly proud. Len had been the only other Maynard child to bring a partner home so far – and she hadn’t quite done it in the conventional sense – so he had felt the tension just as much as Charlie. “Felicity, especially, couldn’t stop going on about you. I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t a letter waiting for you from her tomorrow.” “I’m pleased you enjoyed it,” said Alice. “I can’t stay long, I have to get back in ten minutes, but I said that I wanted to take my afternoon break now to come and see you both.” “You shouldn’t worry about us,” laughed Charlie. “I know, I’m just a silly old woman. You always did have good taste in men.” Charlie blushed. She could tell that there was an ‘unlike Debbie’ hanging on the end of the sentence, but she didn’t pursue it now. There was plenty of time to discover just what her unpredictable sister had been doing this time. Instead she steered the conversation away from the question of what other young men she’d brought home to give her mother that opinion and onto all of the gossip since she left. Charles sat quietly, recognising most of the names now but not interested enough to care whether they’d got a new kitchen or upset the butcher. Instead he watched Charlie, her animated way of talking, the dimples in her cheek when she smiled. It may not be as luxuriant as his home, and her family may not be as outwardly perfect, but he would enjoy it just because she was there.

Author:	RroseSelavy [ Fri May 08, 2009 11:36 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Gosh, I'm doing well on getting this hot of the press Charlie's mother sounds nice, and Charles is being incredibly sweet... but do I sense trouble from Debbie and/or the "harried young woman"

Author:	andi [ Fri May 08, 2009 4:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
I've just caught up on all three of the Charlie/Charles stories and looking forward to more. (Plus thanks for improving my vocabulary - I had to go and look up 'agrestic'!)

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Sat May 09, 2009 5:06 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Thanks, this is wonderful. Charles is so lovely here and I love Charlie

Author:	shazwales [ Sat May 09, 2009 6:15 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Thanks,really enjoying this.

Author:	Alison H [ Sat May 09, 2009 8:10 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Thanks for the update .

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Sun May 10, 2009 9:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Sorry for the delay in updating, I wrote this last night then had to re-write, because the first draft was awful. I also seem to have far more plot bunnies about Charlie's parents' story - which I'm thinking of writing for NaNo this year - than I do this story. - X - By mid-afternoon Debbie had escaped the confines of the house, supposedly to post a letter, although Charlie was sure that it didn’t take the hour she’d been away to walk to the nearest post office, usually ten minutes at most. She wanted to go and look for her sister, but Charles persuaded her otherwise. Eliza was upstairs trying to do some of her neglected homework, and Alice wouldn’t be back from work quite yet. They had, for once, some time alone. While they sat together on the sofa, Charlie with her head in Charles’ lap so that she could look fondly up at him, she quizzed him on his childhood. He had told her some of his family stories, such as the time that he got appendicitis, or when Felix ran away, but now that she had met most of them she wanted to know more. He was still trying to decide if the first twins or the second had been more of a shock when Alice came home. She looked exhausted, for Mr Broughton always made sure that his workers worked, but she was smiling all the same. She wouldn’t have given up her job for anything, no matter if she could get more money for less hours elsewhere; the rare occasions that Mr Broughton did pay her a compliment or, once, after ten years work, a bonus more than made up for the daily drudgery. She sat down on the rooms’ one chair opposite them with a heartfelt sigh. Charles was dispatched to make tea while Charlie listened to her mother’s complaints about the day and the gossip that she habitually brought back with her. Thankfully, for a disinterested Charlie, she was broken off just before Charles came back by the arrival of Eliza, who, growing bored, had heard her mother’s voice and decided that this was a good reason to stop. Eliza had always been her mother’s favourite, although Alice doted on all of her children, and her entrance immediately shifted the focus onto what she had been doing during the day. While Eliza explained the mathematics homework she had just been doing, Charlie took the tray of tea quietly from Charles and poured out three cups, adding two sugars to her mother’s and one to her own. Charles took his black with no sugar. “Where’s Debbie?” asked Alice, once she had her cup of tea in one hand and Eliza curled contentedly on her lap. The two were a mirror image of each other, and facing another question Charlie would have smiled contentedly at this perfect image of family life. Now, though, she frowned gently. “She went out with a letter a couple of hours ago and I haven’t seen her since. Do you want me to go and try and find her?” “No, it’s ok, she’ll be with Laurie Ash. She’s taken to hanging around with him at the moment.” Alice stopped when she saw the look that Charlie was giving her, but quickly guessed what was meant. She pushed Eliza off of her lap with a gentle remonstration. “Weren’t you doing homework? You’d best go and finish it, then it’ll be out of the way.” Eliza looked most indignant at being turfed out just as things were getting interesting, but she knew better than to say anything. Instead she slipped upstairs to lie on the floor of her bedroom and listen through the flimsy ceiling to what was being said. Charlie, unaware of her sister’s plans, waited until the footsteps on the stairs had died out before continuing. “Ken Ash’s younger brother?” “Of course. Why?” demanded Alice, immediately defensive. She recognised the look that Charlie was giving her too well, her husband used to do exactly the same. She knew what he would think of Debbie’s behaviour, as well, but as if to defy him she let it continue anyway. “Stop it,” said Charlie immediately. Ken Ash had been three years older than her, and the beau of most of her friends. His rough manners and bullying had never endeared him to her, though, for which she was eternally grateful when it eventually emerged that he’d been showing a special interest in three of her friends at the same time. His brother was, as far as she was aware, a younger version of him, and she didn’t want Debbie mixed up with him. “He’s no harm,” responded her mother, leaning back wearily. “He keeps her out of trouble.” “He just gets her into the sort of trouble you won’t know about until it’s too late,” said Charlie. She glanced to Charles for his support, but he was suddenly interested in his drink and had little to say on the matter. He was as keen as Charlie to keep Debbie away from undesirable company, but he also knew that she could be overbearing towards her sisters sometimes. “Nonsense,” sighed Alice, with a finality in her voice. “He’s a nice young man. He even came around to dinner a couple of nights ago; he was telling me about how he wants to join the army.” Charlie looked at her sadly, ignoring the warning tone that told her not to continue with the argument. She would never openly disagree with her mother, whom she tried her best to respect, but at times she felt as if she was the only one who cared how Debbie and Eliza grew up, now that Nancy was away so much. “You really are letting her make your mistakes all over again, aren’t you.” She stopped, but she could tell from the thin line Alice’s mouth had become she had gone too far. She stood up, with a heavy, “I’ll go and find her. I want her to help me cook dinner.” “Leave her,” ordered Alice, her eyes shut, but Charlie took no notice. Charles stayed where he was, still scrutinising his cup so that he wouldn’t have to see how hard Alice fought to hold back tears.

Author:	Alison H [ Sun May 10, 2009 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Just wondering what happened to Charlie's dad - have I missed/forgotten that, or have we not found out yet?

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Sun May 10, 2009 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
From 'Charlie's Visit'; Quote: ...her father had left when the youngest was nothing more than a baby, and only Nancy remembered him properly. That's all that I've written about him yet, I think. I might drop more hints, or I may not, I shall have to see how evil I feel

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Mon May 11, 2009 10:15 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Sorry for spreeing but I have another update. - X - When Charlie eventually found Debbie, it was down a dark alleyway between two houses. She had heard a familiar laugh and went to investigate; standing in the entrance, she surveyed the scene grimly. Debbie was standing against a wall, her hands around Laurie Ash’s waist while he lent into her neck and presumably murmured whatever was making her laugh. Charlie watched until she was seen. Debbie glanced across, noticed her sister, and pushed Laurie off, glaring so hard that even in the dim light which filtered through Charlie could see. She set her face and walked up to the couple, ignoring Laurie determinedly and focusing on Debbie. “You need to come home,” she said in a controlled voice which only hinted at her disapproval. Debbie stared at her insolently, until she added, “Mum wondered where you were.” “She knows what I do,” replied Debbie, unconcerned. She pulled Laurie back into her, to which he grinned and winked up at Charlie. “If you don’t mind, we’re rather busy.” Charlie looked at him coolly after he’d said this, until he looked away with a bark of laughter to hide his nerves. Something about her warned that she wouldn’t let him get away with the sort of things most young ladies did. Debbie was growing bored with her elder sister, and she leaned up and started to kiss Laurie again, nibbling on his lip and whispering something in his ear. Suddenly Charlie realised that if she was to get Debbie away she would have to drag her. She knew that she couldn’t rely on Alice for help, her mother would only laugh this off and purposefully forget all about it to avoid further trouble, so it would be up to her to sort it. She wished that Nancy was here, her sister was so much better at these things. She took Debbie’s arm and tugged her away, but before they were even out of the alley the younger girl managed to shake her off. Laurie was looking awkward again, but Debbie was furious and she didn’t seem to care who knew. Voice trembling with rage, she shouted, “Leave me alone! You can’t just turn up when it suits you and order us all around. I’ll do what I want, thanks, and you can’t stop me.” “Fine,” said Charlie shortly. “Fine, I’ll leave you alone completely. Just don’t expect me to help next time you get into trouble. I am fed up of trying to help you and getting nothing but ingratitude in return. You can be a dirty little whore with him if you want, I really don’t care.” “Like you’re so perfect,” Debbie screamed, but Charlie was already walking away, and she didn’t bother to look back at the show of temper. An elderly man who lived up the street from them stopped and asked if everything was ok, but she smiled and managed to reassure him that there was nothing the matter. Debbie turned back, but Laurie looked distinctly as if he wanted to escape, and he quickly left her alone in the alleyway. She leaned back against the wall and shut her eyes, blaming the whole thing on her sister. He would go off with Margaret Porter, now, and she would have to try and win him back somehow. She wished that Charlie could learn to mind her own business.

Author:	PaulineS [ Mon May 11, 2009 10:38 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
We do not mind spreeing when it is an update. Poor Charlie, she needs Charles to help her understand her sisters as she was ablle to help his family. It is often easier for the outsider to help then those closley involved.

Author:	abbeybufo [ Mon May 11, 2009 11:07 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
In fact it isn't even counted as spreeing when it's an update Thanks Ariel

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Mon May 11, 2009 12:15 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Thanks Ariel, am really enjoying this and loved having a second update. The more the merrier

Author:	Emma A [ Mon May 11, 2009 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
This is interesting, in that Charlie's family's problems are quite different to those of Charles'. I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out. Thanks, Ariel.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Tue May 12, 2009 4:39 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Thanks for all of the comments so far, I hope people are still enjoying it after this, er, odd contribution! - X - I forgot the toast! I tried to turn back, but already the tide was rising higher, and I could see that the fishing boat was going to sink, but I couldn’t leave the toast behind, it was just about everything edible that we had left to survive on, until we could be found. I thrust the bottles of water and blankets I was carrying at Charles, but as soon as he took them he disappeared, so that there was only me, all alone. I couldn’t worry right now, and I tried to scramble back down the cliffs but the water was rising again and I couldn’t see a way back up. The fishing boat sank slowly, almost regretfully, letting itself be claimed by the rising, furious tide. My hands were chafed and blood spattered down into my eyes each time I tried to swing myself up further. I clung on determinedly, not about to give in, but stones were raining down on me now, and I could hear the waves creeping ever closer, eyeing their next prey hungrily. Then the hands appeared above the cliff. I assumed it to be Charles, and reached out, grasping at them desperately, but instead I saw Debbie come looming over the cliff, laughing at me in my vulnerable position. I screamed, begged her to help, promised anything that I could, but she wouldn’t listen, she just laughed and laughed and laughed. Even as her shrieks still haunted the small cove, bouncing off the cliffs and echoing in my ears, she started to shout to me, about how I thought that I could take Laurie away but how I would never ruin her life. Then he was behind her, leaning over her, kissing her neck, his hands touching all over her body. That was the last thing I saw before she let go of me, so that I fell backwards, into the raging waters waiting to claim me as their own. And all that I could think was that Charles must come, he would come, would save me, but just as I hit the water his body fell on top of me, falling, falling, until everything was black. Charlie sat bolt upright in bed, breath ragged in her throat, hands shaking from the ferocity of her emotions. She pushed the damp hair out of her eyes, which scanned the room wildly, expecting to feel the icy, raging depths closing over her at any moment. The duvet clung to her, trapping her legs, and the familiar shadows on her walls leaped out at her, threatening harm at any moment. When the hand clutched at her wrist, she screamed. Almost at once another hand clamped down on her mouth, but she had regained herself a little now, and seconds later she recognised it as Charles’ comforting, loving fingers. He blinked at her sleepily, his hair tousled and his face contorted as suddenly he yawned. She took a deep breath, pushed both of his hands away, and dropped back on to the pillow, doing her best to get over her panic. It had only been a bad dream, probably brought about by her heightened emotions earlier on. She had still been furious with Debbie when she went to bed, and had lain awake for a while thinking it all over. That was all that had caused this stupid dream, nothing more. She looked up at Charles, who was still sat looking at her curiously. He raised one eyebrow. “Sorry,” she whispered, turning over and pulling him back down. “Bad dream.” “I’m not surprised,” he said severely in her ear, snuggling up close. The room got cold at nights, but with only a single bed to sleep in they usually managed to share body heat effectively. “You kept me awake tossing for ages. If you’re going to be restless, could you at least not steal the only protection I have against the frost, please.” “Sorry,” she whispered again, but he could tell that she wasn’t even really listening. He wrapped his arms around her, resting in the small of her back, and she responded by burying her head in his chest, breathing still slightly irregular. He stroked her hair tenderly, warm and soothing. “What’s wrong, Charlie? You aren’t still worrying about Debbie, are you?” “I just want her to see what he’s like,” she murmured, lying still now that she was comfortable against him. Her fingers twisted the bottom of his t-shirt, her breath warm on his shoulder. “He’s going to hurt her, I know that he is, and I don’t want it to happen.” “But you can’t stop it,” argued Charles, half-sleepily. He had been having a pleasant dream about his intended career when he was woken up, and with Charlie against him he could feel himself succumbing to the blissful oblivion again. “You have to let her make her own mistakes.” “I can’t,” said Charlie again, stubbornly. “She’s doing exactly the same as mum did, which is why she won't do anything to help. Oh, I wish that Nancy was here. She always could talk to Debbie. I wish I knew what to do.” “Nothing, for now,” whispered Charles, his eyes closing despite his best efforts to stay awake. “Nothing, at all.” He trailed off, asleep again, leaving Charlie once more alone in the dark. She stayed cuddled into him, shivering slightly from the bite in the air, her mind turning over the problem again and again. She could find no solution, though, and in the end fell back into the restless, unhappy dreams which woke her up more than once more during the night.

Author:	Emma A [ Tue May 12, 2009 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Weird dream! Charlie isn't very understanding of her own sister, is she? Perhaps she could call Nancy and ask her advice, if her older sister can usually speak to Debbie. Thanks, Ariel (love the bit about the toast!).

Author:	PaulineS [ Tue May 12, 2009 10:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Charlie certainly needs to seek Nancy's advice and to listen to Charles. Thanks for the updates.

Author:	Alison H [ Tue May 12, 2009 10:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Nice to see one Maynard who doesn't want to "butt in" all the time, but Charlie's concerns are understandable.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Thu May 14, 2009 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
A short and relatively pointless update, written when I finished an essay in the lesson twenty minutes before anyone else. Sorry it isn't better! - X - The next day Debbie sulked over breakfast because of her sister’s actions the night before. They all ate their porridge in comparative silence, even Eliza unable to summon the courage to speak with Debbie glowering in that fashion. In the end it was Alice who broke the silence. “What are you going to do today?” “I want to take Charles to visit St. Paul’s cathedral,” replied Charlie quietly. Her family weren’t as outwardly religious as the Maynards, but their faith was deeply important to them. “Have you been before?” Alice asked Charles, but before he could reply Eliza interrupted. “Can I come?” “Don’t you want to stay with Debbie?” asked Charlie hopefully. After the consuming madness of Switzerland this was supposed to be some time for her and Charles to be alone. “I’m busy,” remarked Debbie aloofly. Alice looked curious but didn’t venture to ask her wayward daughter just who she was busy with. “Who with?” filled in Charlie, ignoring Charles’ warning kick under the table. “Not Laurie, clearly,” she retorted icily. Then, in a manner which suggested she really was above them all, she condescended to explain. “Celia Rogers is coming over for lunch, and we were going to see a film afterwards. Eliza can’t come.” “You can look after her until then,” replied Alice firmly. “Mr Broughton only wants me until lunch. I’ll take you shopping with me, this afternoon.” “Can we buy cake?” asked Eliza eagerly. Alice smiled. “Well, we do have visitors.” “Just save us some,” laughed Charles. Eliza promised eagerly, and breakfast continued.

Author:	Alison H [ Thu May 14, 2009 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Ah, we're in London then? Or are we somewhere else and going on a day trip to London ?

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Fri May 15, 2009 12:27 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Two updates-Yippee!! I think Charles gave good advice. Sometimes you have to let people go there way and be there to pick up the pieces and the more she fights it now the less Debbie will even come to her if and when her relationship with Laurie fails

Author:	Lesley [ Fri May 15, 2009 5:47 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Also think that Charles' advice was good - and that Charlie's mother is a bit of a wimp - does she want Debbie to make the same mistakes she did? Thanks

Author:	Sarah_K [ Fri May 15, 2009 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Oh dear. I guess it's always much easier to help with someone elses problesm than your own family's but Charlie and Debbie are heading for a collision I suspect :-S

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Sat May 16, 2009 9:35 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Sorry for the long delay in posts - time and inspiration have neither been in abundance recently. I promise to try and get the next update to you rather more quickly. Just one question; would you like to see more of Mrs. Rogers, or is this enough? - X - The trip to St. Paul’s cathedral was a huge success, and somehow it didn’t seem to matter that after that they’d just wandered around the streets together, holding hands, admiring certain things through the windows and, once, stopping to buy a cheap piece of jewelry that Charlie had admired. After the awe of feeling so close to God, as they had done at the top of the mighty dome, above everything around them, that was all that they needed to do. The sense of boundless joy had stayed with them long after they had begun the weary descent back down again. They made their way slowly up the street, still holding hands. Charlie made a small comment and Charles nodded his agreement, but his eyes were focused on the pavement below him, and Charlie wondered if he’d even heard what she said. She didn’t try and break his contemplative state again, though, walking along in equal silence until they reached home. They came in to an unexpected scene; Alice and Eliza must still be out at the shops, for Debbie was serving tea, the dignified young lady as opposed to the usual scamp. Charlie recognised Celia Rogers sat on the sofa next to an elfin-like lady, whose hair curled charmingly around her delicate features. The likeness was similar enough that Charlie could tell her instantly as Celia’s mother, and so she stepped forwards with a smile to greet her. “You must be Mrs. Rogers. I’m Charlotte, Deborah’s elder sister. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “Likewise,” smiled Mrs. Rogers, extending a hand politely. “Celia’s mentioned you, of course. You’re at university now, aren’t you?” “Indeed, with my partner. Allow me to introduce Charles Maynard, who has come to stay with us for the last week of the holidays.” The two exchanged pleasantries, and both Charles and Charlie took a seat on the floor, for the room was becoming crowded now. As soon as Charlie took the responsibility of the situation on herself, Debbie and Celia seemed more than content to slide away to the corner of the room and discuss the film and boys and other general occurrences in their life. Charlie smiled to herself; she had been exactly the same at that age. The conversation had been going on for about ten minutes when Mrs. Rogers raised the point. She had been looking at Charles searchingly, until he couldn’t hide his discomfort any longer. As he shuffled awkwardly, Mrs. Rogers suddenly laughed, a delicate, tinkling sound that rang pleasantly through the room. “I’m sorry, you must think me terribly rude. But I knew a Mrs. Maynard once, and I just wondered if there was some connection. Such improbable coincidences do happen in life occasionally, one finds. I hadn’t thought of her for some time, not since her last book came out. Celia loves her writing.” “My mother is an author,” said Charles awkwardly. He, unlike some of his siblings, tried to keep Joey’s alias somewhat of a secret. He was uncomfortable being judged as her son, and not as a person in his own right. “She’s Josephine M. Bettany, you might have heard of her.” “But that was the Mrs. Maynard that I knew!” exclaimed Mrs. Rogers in delight, her pale, beautiful face lighting up. “She was Joey Bettany back at school. You surely can’t be her son?” Charles was blushing furiously by now, and so Charlie was forced to fill in the gap for him. She did so with a laughing grin at him, which he scowled at unnoticed by their visitor. “Indeed he is; we were in Switzerland last week, so that I could meet – well, most of the family for the first time. Did you really know Joey when she was at school?” “Oh, yes. I was best friends with her adopted sister, Robin Humphries. I named Celia after her, actually. We still write occasionally, although I know as a nun she doesn’t have much time. Did Joey ever mention an Amy Stevens to you?” This time, Charles was prepared for the question, and managed to field it with some composure. “Not that I really remember,” he confessed. “Sorry, but mum mentions so many people that it gets difficult to know who did what and when. I shall certainly ask her when I next write, though.” “I can’t believe that you – such a fine specimen of a young man – can possibly be Joey Bettany’s son,” exclaimed Mrs. Rogers again, looking over him once more. “But – please excuse me, I’m completely taken aback – we really must be going. You will have to come over and fill me in on all the gossip before you go back to university.” “That would be delightful,” smiled Charlie gently. “Tell Celia to let Debbie know – we haven’t got any definite plans, although we go back in four days time, so any time really would be good for us.” “I shall let you know – otherwise you will have to come over next time you’re back.” She smiled again and stood up, while Debbie and Celia reluctantly moved back to the hallway, still talking earnestly between themselves. Charles remained in the living room, revolving ideas in his own mind. It wasn’t uncommon for Joey to meet an old friend, or get a letter from a former pupil, but it was the first time that he had been accosted by one. The conclusion of his brief musings was that it was to be expected when you were so closely related to such a school as the Chalet School, and he’d really better listen to Charlie and go and help her start dinner.

Author:	Lesley [ Sat May 16, 2009 10:35 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
Amy Atevens? How lovely that she named her daughter after Robin - hope she does manage to keep in touch with her. Thanks

Author:	Alison H [ Sun May 17, 2009 12:06 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Charles' Holiday
I'd like to see more of Amy, please .