The CBB :: View topic - Matchmaker, matchmaker

#1: Matchmaker, matchmaker Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:31 am

Unsure where to put this...so put it here for safety's sake!

Matchmaker, matchmaker
Short, Complete, Random

Jem sat back at his desk in the San and sighed contentedly. He had just opened an invitation to the wedding of Dr Ronschlar, one of the doctors at the San, to Gertrud Steinbruck an old girl of the Chalet School.
“Another job well done!” he said to himself in a satisfied tone.
Dr Ronschlar had come to his superior at the San last year, and, after a long conversation about a patient with interesting complications and an irritating family, Jem had coaxed him into revealing the true reason behind his visit, the doctor’s love life.
Jem sat back in his chair and smiled as he remembered his embarrassment at what he wanted Jem to do.
“It’s just, well, when I went to the school last week, you remember, to see the girl who had a bad chill that Matey was worried about, well, the lady who let me in, well, she was an old girl, visiting, and well, she was very…attractive…and…I – I’ve thought about her a lot, and…well, I wondered if you could find a way for me to meet her again?”

Of course, getting the two to meet was the easiest thing in the world for Jem. Especially when he knew Gertrud Steinbruck, the girl in question was rather interested in the doctor too. Madge had broached the subject with her husband only a few days before as they were sat by the fire.

“Jem, I was over at the Gisela’s today.”
“Hmm…”
“No Jem, look up from your book, this is serious!”
“I’m listening…”
“I was over at Gisela and Gottfreid’s today, you know that Gertrud’s staying with them at the moment, and she cornered me for a quiet word. It was rather sweet really, she’d been talking to Dr Ronschlar when he came to school the other day, and she’d like to see him again if possible. So…do you think you could arrange for them to meet, Jem?”

Jem had arranged a few ‘chance’ meetings at the school and at the Mensch’s home, and then as a final scheme he and Madge had hosted a select get-together at their home and sat the two together at the table. Two weeks later, and Dr Ronschlar announced his engagement to the Old Girl, much to the surprise of school and San staff.

Jem smiled again the enigmatic smile he had found so useful on these occasions. It implied he had known nothing, without actually saying as much. Of course, engagements and weddings made people think about their own love-lives, so it had come as no surprise to Jem when another doctor had made his hesitant way to the office a few days later, asking about one of the nurses who also worked in the San. Jem was slightly disappointed as he’d wondered whether this particular doctor might be suitable for his sister-in-law Joey, but he was, as ever, happy to oblige and this pair were also now engaged.

To think this had all begun with his own wedding. Seeing Madge Bettany, owner and Head of the Chalet School in the Tiernsee, he had been able to make many excuses to see her and ingratiate himself with her sister and the school which constituted her ‘family’. Maybe that couldn’t be thought of as match-making exactly, because he was part of it himself, but it had been good practice. He’d also managed to have more of a hand than most people realised in the wedding of Gottfried Mensch and Gisela Marani, not to mention numerous doctors at the San and the school’s first servant Marie Pfeiffen to his own Andreas. Jem smiled. Really, it was quite amazing what he had managed to achieve for people, without them ever knowing. He could make a career out of this, he really could. He wondered just how many other marriages of his staff he’d be responsible for in the future.

A knock at the door interrupted his reverie.
“Dr Maynard’s here to see you. He says it’s personal.”

Last edited by Joyful on Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:46 pm; edited 2 times in total

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

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:35 am

It makes so much sense really - that has to be a reason why so many from the CS married doctors - looking forward to seeing how Jem continues this when not in the same country as the CS.

Thanks Joyful.

#3: Author: keren, Location: Israel

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:43 am

Really good.

#4: Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:17 am

Excellent. How about a follow-up in which Jack takes over in Switzerland?

#5: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:08 pm

I love the idea of Jem match-making. Does he carry a bow and arrows?

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

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:09 pm

I wonder which doctor Jem was hoping he could pair off for Joey. It's a pity we'll never know.

#7: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:31 pm

What a wonderful story. I would love to see Jack and Jems conversation though!! Thanks Joyful Very Happy

#8: Author: RuthY, Location: Anyone's guess

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:12 pm

Thanks Joyful, great Very Happy

Ruth

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

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:17 pm

Thanks Joyful Laughing

Liz

#10: Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:24 pm

Hehehehe, lol!

Thanks for that Smile

#11: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:12 pm

And there was I innocently thinking that it was just the result of a population of young males, being in close contact with a population of young females - I'm so naive Confused

*Wonders idly if his knighthood was for medical services or for initiating the baby boom at the end of WWII*

#12: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 8:06 am

LOL, Patmac.

Why doesn't Joyful give us the scene between Jack and Jem? I'd like to read it. Let's start a chant.

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

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 11:52 am

fantastic Joyful!!!!

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

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:54 pm

*Joins in chant*. (Is that the right way to join a chant?)

#15: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:44 pm

Please carry on with this so we can see how he sets up Joey and Jack. I really enjoyed it so far.

#16: Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 6:53 pm

Thanks everyone!

Not going to do the Jem/Jack scene...what characters getup to out of sight is their own business! (well...I might do it...but not at the mo!)

Starting a Jack follow-up though - but I think I really need to read Does it Again, which I've never read, and find out a bit more about Biddy's marriage.

I've put a plea for it on the transcripts thread, cos a transcript does exist, but no-one's offered it yet, so I had a brainwave that some nice person might see this and be moved to send it to me (*fingers crossed*)!

If you have, could you PM me and I'll send you my email address. Ta! Very Happy

#17: Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:44 pm

OK, this is the Jack follow-up. Many thanks to Robin for providing me with the transcript of Does it Again!

“Pass me a cigarette Jo?” Jack Maynard stretched his legs out in front of the fire, leaned back, and smiling took the proffered cigarette from his wife.
“You know, Joey, it really was very nice of you to buy me these!” he remarked, as he lit it.
“As if I had a choice!” Joey answered wryly. “A new typewriter to a box of cigarettes you demanded, never let it be said that I don’t keep up my end of a bargain!”
“So you agree that Courvoisier only wanted to see the school because of a certain Irish mistress?”
“Well…as Biddy chose today to come round with her engagement ring, I can’t exactly say he didn’t can I” said Joey, “But he did want to see the school on Frau Bertoni’s behalf, for Anneli and Odette too. At the time I thought that was all he was here for, I wonder when he started an interest in Biddy?”

Jack smiled mischievously and said nothing. Before the San had moved back onto the continent, Jem had briefed him well on the running of a large hospital, giving him useful tips on staff and equipment at well as assuring his brother-in-law that he would always be on hand for advice. What Jack hadn’t been expecting was that Jem would instruct him in matchmaking. Of course, Jack had gone to Jem about his own attachment to Joey and asked advice, but he hadn’t thought that other people would have done the same, and certainly not that the operation had been going on at such a large scale!

“You have to face it Jack” Jem had said one day before the move. “Working in a place like our San, the staff are cut off from the outside world. It’s only natural that they should fall in love with the people they see everyday, and who more natural to come to than their superior. Especially when he is a happily married man himself. And with the school so near and in close contact, well, sometimes attachments form that way, and all they need is a little helping hand from you.”

Then Jem had outlined some of the matches he had made over the years, between doctors and nurses, and doctors and school staff. “Of course I don’t tell Madge about it very often, she’d not like the fact that I was responsible for losing the school so many staff. So don’t let on to Joey, but I think you’ll find that you can help people a lot with their love lives Jack.”

Jack smiled to himelf, remembering how he had initially been sceptical about Jem’s advice, then been astonished when, a few weeks after opening the San, a young doctor had come to him to request shifts together with an attractive nurse. Jack had been happy to oblige, and the couple had announced their engagement. A few weeks after the marriage of that particular couple had come a phone call announcing that Margot had fallen into the icy waters of Lake Lucerne on a school excursion. Jack and Joey had arrived to find that the situation was being taken care of by Jack’s old friend Eugene Courvoisier. When they were sure all danger was over for Margot and the other girls involved, Eugene had taken Jack aside.
“Jack, can I asked you about something privately? It’s about Miss O’Ryan. She was there on the scene you see, and coping with everything. She’s a pretty girl, and I’d like to see her again. Can we arrange it somehow Jack? I need to see the school for Frau Bertoni’s children, and if I could see Miss O’Ryan as well…well it would be perfect.”

Jack had been happy to oblige. Dr Courvoisier had made the trip to the San to talk over ‘professional’ matters with Jack, and then to the school, ostensibly to arrange for the admission of his patient’s daughters, where he claimed time with Miss O’Ryan as the member of staff he had spent most time with already. Jack grinned as he remembered Joey had suggested that they entertain his old friend along with some school and San staff, a scheme which had fitted in with Jack’s plans perfectly. Biddy had seemed acquiescent, and the couple’s engagement had come as no surprise.

Well, no surprise to Jack. And it had taken no time for him to remind his wife of the light-hearted bet they had entered into and demand his winnings. He had also had a long conversation with Jem, from the privacy of his office at the San, in which Jack had recounted all the details. Jem had approved heartily of his brother-in-law’s success and had suggested something else.

“I know it’s early days yet Jack, but you maybe could be thinking about who your girls are going to marry. Big family Jack, and the triplets will all be of marriageable age together. If I were you, I’d be keeping my eyes open for any promising young doctors”
“Hmm, that’s a thought. Thanks Jem, I’ll see what I can arrange.”
Of course it was early for that yet, but Jack was sure that he would be able to find suitable candidates if he kept his eyes open at the right time.

At that moment, Joey cut into his thoughts, “I wonder who our girls will marry? Wonder if one of them will get a doctor like their mother.” she smiled at Jack.

He paused for a moment, a grin on his face. “That’s exactly what I was thinking Joey. I wonder.”

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

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:05 pm

It's interesting that Jack also liked to matchmake and that Jem put the idea into his head that the triplets could marry doctors.

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

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:58 pm

He he he he he!

Love that Jack doesn't let Joey or Madge know as they'll blame him for losing so many teachers!

Thanks Joyful.

#20: Author: Helen C, Location: Sheffield/Luton

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:51 am

Thanks Joyfull that was great Laughing

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

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:43 pm

Thanks Joyful

Liz

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

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 2:50 pm

Excellent!

thankyou

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

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 6:23 pm

wonderful, Joyful - truly inspired!

#24: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:07 pm

Thank you Joyful! Loved the idea that Jack takes over from Jem in so many ways!!

#25: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:40 am

Thanks, Joyful.

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