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... that begins and/or ends with a quotation from a CS book
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3312
Author:  Cryst [ Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:12 pm ]
Post subject:  ... that begins and/or ends with a quotation from a CS book
Well, I almost plucked up the courage to come to the Summer Gather, but wimped out in the end. I did "write" a bedtime drabble though and I expect the rules will be different if I ever do manage to get myself to a gather. So I thought I might as well post this ...

“If only I knew what to do with you boys!” said Madge in worried tones.

“Dear old Madge! You really mustn’t worry about Joe and me”, replied Dick. “I’ve a plan all ready for us”.

“Let’s hear it,” she commanded.

“You see,” began her brother, “whatever happens, Joe and I must keep together. But there’s very little money. So last night I thought and thought after I had gone to bed; and honestly I think my plan’s the only one possible.”

“Oh for Heaven’s sake”, groaned his sister. “What do you want to do?”

“Start a school,” was the sufficiently startling reply.

“Start a school!” She stared at him. “My good chap, that sort of thing requires capital. And it’s an awful undertaking. And you look such a kid! Who on earth would have you as Headmaster? And anyway, you haven’t told me yet where you want to start your blessed school!” she protested.

“D’ you remember that little lake in the Austrian Tyrol? Tiern See?”

“Rather! Topping little place. Is that where you plan to have your school?”

“Yes, there was a big chalet there not too far from the lake. I shouldn’t want a large number of boys, not at first – about twelve at most, counting Joe. I would teach English subjects; Monsieur Le Pâttre would come with us and he would take the French and German – and the woodwork too. Music we could get in Innsbruck.”

He stopped and looked at Madge somewhat doubtfully. A frown was robbing her face of her girlishness.

“Just think how we are situated,” he continued. “We are orphans, with a brother twelve years younger than ourselves to be responsible for. You’re due to go back to India in three weeks time; Joe is delicate and shouldn’t live in a wet climate. We can’t live in England. Even if I did get a post in a school it would mean school fees for Joe. But we could manage in Austria. I know one other boy we could have for the asking – Griswold Cochrane; we’d have to advertise for the others. I don’t see why we shouldn’t make it pay in time.”

“I suppose I must say ‘yes’”, replied Madge, “but you must promise to cable me at once if anything goes wrong, and write at least once a week.

“All right, I agree to that. Now go and fetch Joe, and we’ll tell him. He’s upstairs reading.”

“Joe reads entirely too much” Madge grumbled, as she went to the door. “That’s one thing I hope you’ll alter a little.”

“He’ll have plenty to take him out of doors,” replied her brother evenly. “Call him, old thing.”

Her yell of “Joe” resounded through the house and was answered by a shriek of “Coming!” There was the sound of flying footsteps, a thud in the hall and then Joe, or, to give him his proper name, Joseph, fell rather than ran into the room.

Anything less like Dick and Madge it would have been hard to imagine. His cropped black hair was so straight as to be described as lank, his big black eyes made the intense whiteness of his face even more startling than it need have been, and his cheeks and temples were hollow with continual ill-health. What made things more difficult was the fact that Master Joe possessed at least five times as much spirit as strength, and fretted continuously at the restrictions they were obliged to enforce.

“Why did you call me, Madge? Is anything settled about us yet?”

“I suppose so”, she growled.

“Yes,” replied Dick. “It’s my idea and I hope you’ll like it.”

“Well, what is it?”

“Dick is going to run a school.”

“Dick, run a school!” Joe sat bolt upright. “No! He’s much too young.”

“I’m twenty-four – “ began Dick heatedly when Madge interrupted him.

“You’re going to Tiern See. Dick will open the school in that big chalet not far from the lake. Monsieur Le Pâttre will come with you and help with the school.”

“What a simply ripping idea! When are we going? Who are the pupils? When do we leave?”

“Don’t quite know,” replied Dick. “I’d better go and see the Cochranes. I know they’ll be thankful to get rid of poor little Griswold. They can afford the £120 in fees - they’d pay even more to get rid of him.”

And so they did. But that, as Mr Kipling says, is another story.
Author:  Róisín [ Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
Very clever! :lol:
Author:  Fatima [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:34 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Cryst. Now, how about a sequel.... :D
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Like it! But yes, a sequel beckons - what was Madge doing in India, for one!

And Cryst - we'd love to welcome you to a gather - we don't bite, honest! :lol:
Author:  Chair [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:28 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Cryst. This is really brilliant! I am also wondering what Madge is going to do in India.
Author:  Liz K [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:32 am ]
Post subject: 
Surely she's not chopping down trees?!?!?!?
Author:  Liane [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Very clever, thank you.
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:15 am ]
Post subject: 
Maybe she's going on one of those "fishing trips" when women from England went out to India to look for rich husbands :wink: .
Author:  Jennie [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:54 am ]
Post subject: 
Please, Cryst, continue this.
Author:  Rosalin [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
That was great, I'm another one who'd like to see more, particularly what Madge was doing in India.

I like the idea of her being part of the Fishing Fleet :lol:

Thanks Cryst.
Author:  Dawn [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 4:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
That's brilliant Cryst - and I'm sure there's lots more you could add to answer our questions :wink:
Author:  Aquabird [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
I was reading this with a grin unfurling on my face, but when I saw 'Griswold Cochrane' I laughed out loud! :lol:

Thanks, Cryst.
Author:  Pat [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Cryst. May we have some more please?
Author:  Rebecca [ Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Griswold Cochrane had me chuckling too!

Thanks Cryst, really enjoyed this.
Author:  Pado [ Sat Sep 08, 2007 12:26 am ]
Post subject: 
:) More please?
Author:  Tara [ Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh, clever. And doesn't it sound strange!
Author:  Mel [ Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
I love the idea of the CS being for boys! I wonder how the Austrian boys would make it thoroughly English from reading school stories? Being tossed in a blanket? Roasted in front of a fire?
Author:  wheelchairprincess [ Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Clever... very clever. But absolutely begging for a sequel.
Author:  linda [ Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Fantastic!!! How clever to reverse the roles. A sequel would be great!
Author:  Carolyn P [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Very clever! Love it. :lol:
Author:  leahbelle [ Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
A sequel would be fantastic.

I just started a re-read last night and read that very chapter from School At. I love your take on it!
Author:  Cryst [ Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yes, I've been thinking about this off and on. Rewriting all 50 however many it is books as a boys school is a bit daunting. And anyway, I want to finish Hepsy off first (drabble in another house that seems to have got a life of its own).

But ... if I could be indulged in setting a few little ground rules first, I think this could be fun as a sort of communal thing, if some people are up for it. We could try the first book anyway. What do you think?
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