The CBB :: View topic

#1: Grizel Author: Cathy, Location: Sydney, Australia

Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:45 pm

When I wrapped up the wardrobe drabble I felt like I wanted to write a couple of other little bits to tie up some loose ends. So here is a Christmas Eve drabble. I've written a couple more and may perhaps write some after that, but there certainly won't be one for every day in December, or anything like that!

This one features Grizel, because she's my favourite and I don't think EBD gave her a fair go!

The firelight reflected on their happy faces. Grizel had invited them over to her flat for Christmas drinks on Christmas Eve. It was after the war and the whole world had changed. Grizel was working happily as the games mistress in a big girls’ school and loved it. She had been offered a similar position at the Chalet School upon completing her course at Bedford, but had refused it. It was not that she wasn’t grateful – she just needed to spread her wings a bit and that meant being in a different place.

Hilda Annersley had understood and had not pressed Grizel.

Now Grizel uncurled her legs from underneath her and stood up. “Well, I’m for more, anyone else?” she remarked, as she headed for the bottle Peter had dropped off a few days earlier.

Jo, chuckled and held out her glass. “I thought you’d never ask”, she said.
Susan groaned and held out her glass also. “I really shouldn’t, but I am so going to”, she said. Then she grinned. “If I have a headache tomorrow I’ll just blame my brother.”

Grizel smiled quietly but didn’t rise to the bait. Many of her friends believed that she and Peter were romantically involved. The truth was they were simply the dearest of friends and wholly contented with that. They had kept in touch all through the years of his medical degree and her course at Bedford and encouraged one another through some of the hard times. She didn’t know what she would do without him – he was probably her closest friend. But she wasn’t in love with him.

“It’s been a good year”, said Susan thoughtfully, lying back among the cushions and sipping from her glass with enjoyment. She was enjoying a break from touring. In the new year the company would be going to Australia and New Zealand and Susan would go with them. After Chrismas she would have to pull out the music scores and start practising again, but she was going to have a few days off first. Tomorrow she and Peter would drive down to be with Lucy and Jack. Edmund and Stacie were there already and Susan was looking forward to her family being together again. Her suitcase was standing packed in the flat she shared with Peter – she only had to throw in a couple of last-minute presents and she was done.

“Yes”, agreed Jo, thinking of the book she’d sent off at the end of term.
Her writing career had taken off after the war and she balanced it with her teaching at the Grammar school. Like Grizel, she had wisely decided against taking a nice safe job at the Chalet. She would go back one day, of course, “but it won’t be until after all the current lot have left school and no-one remembers me”, she had remarked to Susan and Grizel. They had agreed with her, Grizel thinking how much she had changed from the younger Jo she had known. She looked radiant these days and her recent hair cut to one of the modern bobs enhanced this.

Grizel stood again and raised her glass. “Well here’s to good friends, good wine and …” she produced a box from behind her back “great chocolate!” She giggled as Jo and Susan flung themselves on her and she held them off with one hand, as she undid the box and handed it round. “Help yourselves”, she said happily, “Marie sent them over from America”.
Jo nodded. “I got one too”, she murmured indistinctly. “Then no more for you”, teased Grizel in mock outrage. Jo’s mouth was too full of chocolate to respond, so she contented herself with throwing a cushion at her friend.
The clock chimed eleven and Grizel sprang up hastily. “Heavens! We’ll be late. Come on you two!” The three of them hastily donned gloves, hats and coats and looked around for their handbags. They found them all at last and Grizel locked the door as they left.

As they sat in the pew waiting for the midnight service to start, Jo turned to Grizel. “I’m glad you suggested this”, she said quietly. Grizel nodded. “Yes”, she said simply.

As the sounds of the organ rose and swelled in the first notes of a well-loved carol, three girls closed their eyes for a moment and prayed.

Thank You.

Last edited by Cathy on Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:54 pm; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK

Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:49 pm

Oh, that was lovely, Cathy - thank you.

#3: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:06 pm

Thanks, Cathy. It was really nice to see all of them together for Christmas.

#4: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:06 pm

Thanks Cathy. Lovely to see Grizel enjoying herself.

#5: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 12:11 am

That was beautiful Cathy - thankyou

#6: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:56 am

Quote:

her recent hair cut to one of the modern bobs

Yay! I always like the idea of Jo getting rid of her hair; I still see her with short hair, even though we are constantly told about the earphones.

#7: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:55 am

That was lovely - such a nice alternate history for Grizel.

Thanks Cathy.

#8: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:59 am

Very moving, Cathy.

Thank you.

The CBB -> St Clare's House

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod, All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1