The CBB :: View topic - Margot, Steve and the toy gun

#1: Margot, Steve and the toy gun Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:17 pm

It had all started with a letter, Margot gloomily reflected. Things had been going so well! Papa was speaking to her once more after her behaviour over Ted Grantley. Mama was really pleased with her and her final school report was glowing with praise from Miss Ferrars. Now one of her past devilments had caught up with her with a vengeance. Now all that good work had gone to waste! She waited for Papa inside his study, quaking with fear, her eyes red with crying. She could smell Papa’s pipe, she looked at the endless copies of the British Medical Journal and then there were the family photos. Jack’s study was littered with them. Mostly they were of Mama. Some from the Tirol, England, Guernsey, Canada and more recently Switzerland. Then there were ones of much the children. Jack holding a smiling baby Michael: a rare one where father and son delighted in each other’s company. Others of the boys and Len and Con, the twins, Cecil and the new Twins Phil and Geoff. Then there were Margot’s favourites. Ones where she was in her Father’s arms aged three after a bout of flu. As a new born baby in the pram. Now she felt she had really gone beyond the pale. She sank into her Father’s armchair and prayed for forgiveness with all her heart. The poor girl cried herself to sleep.

A letter had arrived at the breakfast table that morning addressed to Jack, from Stephen’s school. Jack was puzzled. School reports usually arrived when the boys were home and would be far bulkier, what with end of term notices. On reading the contents, Jack’s puzzlement swiftly turned to fury. “What is it darling?” asked Joey cautiously. “Read this. Aloud!” Jack handed the letter to his wife, fixing Margot with a stare she did not like. Joey read the letter,

“Dear Dr. Maynard,

I regret to inform you of the following incident which occurred between your son and myself and the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Sir Eric Monde MRCS.

Whilst inspecting the new open air swimming baths, Sir Eric was assailed by some pellet from a toy weapon fired, albeit accidentally, by your son, Stephen. The result was Sir Eric overbalanced and fell into the water.

I dealt with your son in the appropriate fashion, and have confiscated the item permanently. Normally the matter would end here with the enclosed bill for cleaning Sir Eric’s suit. However on further enquiries, it appears this weapon was sent to your son from one of his sisters.

I would appreciate it if you followed this matter through and informed the daughter concerned that she is not to send her brother such items again.

I am sorry to have to write to you in this way,

Yours sincerely,

Mr P P Yates MA (Cantab)
Headmaster

Margot’s face had been getting more red as the letter went on. Len and Con longed to intervene to help their beleagured triplet, but they daren’t! Not after the warning they had had from Mary-Lou!

“Margot! What have you done now?” Joey’s voice was cold and stern.

“Go to my study and wait for me there!” Jack choked. Margot fled. “Helena and Constance get on with your breakfast” he added in a voice that showed he was not to be trifled with.

Jack and Joey retreated to Joey’s study. “Of all the people! Sir Eric Monde! My old tutor! The old badger! A man who wouldn’t know what humour was if it came up and bit him! And it’s all down to her again!” Jack growled.

Joey waited for a moment as her husband prowled the room. “Jack we need to approach this the right way. When did Margot do this, if it was Margot, and how? Is it related to whatever it is you and Hilda still won’t tell me about? Please don’t just condemn her unheard because you had to do deal with her last time. Whatever it was, was really big, so big to effect a dramatic change inher and I am sure this time the reformation is not skin deep or I don’t know my Margot; and if I don’t know my Margot, then I don’t know any of my children!”

“Joey sweetheart, you never fail to talk me round my temper.” Jack kissed his wife. “Let’s see what Madam has to say for herself this time!” With this Jack and Joey together set to interrogate Margot.

Margot woke with a start as Papa and Mama entered. Before they said a word, Margot was on her feet confessing fully and freely her actions.

“I’m so sorry Mama, Papa. It must have been the beginning of term, before Emmy left. I remember she came over for a weekend, we had a pillow fight, broke a vase, woke the twins and you Papa, and you were very cross because you had been working all night. We then saw a mail order toy catalogue Steve had left. He had been over for his half term and was always saying “Girls!” and things like that. It really annoyed Emmy and me. Then I remembered he had been asking for more tuck to be sent. I said to Emmy he was a pig, always eating. Then Emmy said why not send him a toy instead of food and tell him to get some exercise. So we did. Emmy paid for the toy, she doesn’t mind doing that sort of thing and we forgot about it. By the time it must have arrived in the post and everything, Steve could only just have used it. Then I had that row over Ted Grantley, then Emmy left and I completely forgot about it. Please, I’ll tell Steve I’m sorry. Please believe me! I know it must be difficult after all I’ve done! But I really forgot about it all! I am so sorry. Please don’t get rid of me! I do love you!”

This final heartfelt plea went straight to Jack and Joey. They saw before them a thoroughly repentant daughter whose last few sins were catching up with her and was doing her level best to be permanently reformed.

Joey went straight to her daughter. “Darling we would never get rid of you! Who put that idea into your head you silly thing?”

Jack sat on his desk and looked at Margot thoughtfully. “Margot, I can see what you did happened before that stuff with Ted. So I do believe you are still a reformed character. Now you shouldn’t have sent that toy to Steve and Emmy shouldn’t have paid for this toy gun or whatever it was. Having said that, your mother and I are not pleased about this. Now Stephen should have handed that toy in straight away, and he paid the price for not doing that. He is not going to be happy with you. Hopefully, by the time Uncle Dick brings him and Charles back, his anger should have abated. Now he doesn’t know that you have recently had a hard lesson yourself and reformed. I think your punishment will be building bridges with your brother.”

Jack did not add that he was secretly glad Stephen had knocked the old bugger Sir Eric into the pool, and that he really did not want to pay Sir Eric’s dry cleaning bill. At least he did not admit this until Steve and Margot were adults and could laugh about this. Right now he had a distressed daughter on his hands, who was in need of some forgiveness and an unhappy son currently crossing the English channel on his way home in the care of his Uncle.

Len and Con waited outside Papa’s study anxious for news of their triplet sister. Their anxiety was such it would have reflected that of a Father awaiting the birth of his first child. Mama appeared with a red eyed Margot.

“It’s allright dears. We’ve forgiven her! She’s been really good and told us all about it. It’s just a silly joke that got out of hand!” Joey smiled as Len and Con took Margot to their own private little space with Bruno the St Bernard for comfort.

Part Two

Stephen and Charles Maynard arrived home with Uncle Dick to shrieks of welcome from Mama, “My boys!” Joey cannoned straight into her sons and nearly strangled them as she hugged them.

“What are you trying to do girl? Kill them? They are your sons, not your mortal enemies!” said Dick.

“If I can’t show my boys a little love when I haven’t seen them for weeks Dick Bettany…” Joey began

“Hold your horses Joey! I was only having a bit of fun!” laughed Dick. Whilst this was going on Len and Con, Felix, and Felicity and Mike greeted their brothers.

“Come and see Cecil, she’s grown so much!” said Con.

“And the new twins you must see them! Come on Uncle Dick!” Len hurried her siblings and Uncle Dick inside.

Margot sat nervously on the stairs. What would Stephen say to her? She never meant for him to get hurt. Charles strolled over to her. His gentle faced gave her a feeling of strength.

“Hello Margot.” He said.

“Charles! I… is Steve… will he … does he” Margot stammered to a halt.

Steve had heard this. He had been planning to tell his sister that he would never forgive her and that if she wasn’t boiled in oil, she deserved to be hanged drawn and quartered, after being put on the rack and have thumbscrews applied. Before he could say this, Jack whisked him away for a few stern words in his study.

Margot kept close to Charles. Her quiet unassuming little brother always seemed to be a comfort to her. It was something she could never quite say why, but he did. Her fears of rejection were swimming in her head. She thought Len and Con would never speak to her again over that business with Ted Grantley. What if Stephen would never speak to her? She reflected that there were a lot of good things about Stephen. They both loved a game of hit and run cricket. It was always when Steve wanted a game of some sport or other, he always wanted Margot. He did look up to her for her sporting prowess. She offered a silent prayer for help. It came in the form of a smiling Stephen.

Papa says you’re sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t hand the wretched thing in. But it really was a wonderful toy Margot!

With that Margot’s fears fell away and she joined her brother in laughter.

#2: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:41 pm

Thanks Phil - love Jack's opinion of Sir Eric

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

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:56 pm

Thanks, Phil. It's lovely to see the relationship between Margot and Steven.

#4: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:18 pm

You're spoiling us Phil (though keep on!) I like seeing Jack a little more able to deal with poor Margot, and the girls and boys getting on together.

Thank you!

#5: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:36 pm

Thanks Phil - some lovely family relationships there Very Happy

Liz

#6: Re: Margot, Steve and the toy gun Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 2:25 am

Phil wrote:

Jack did not add that he was secretly glad Stephen had knocked the old bugger Sir Eric into the pool, and that he really did not want to pay Sir Eric’s dry cleaning bill. At least he did not admit this until Steve and Margot were adults and could laugh about this.

Brilliant. I laughed out loud at that bit - and everybody in the office gave me Very Strange Looks.

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