Hooray, yippee, this is brilliant.
| The CBB http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/ | |
| Liberation (updated 26.03.09) http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5865 |
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| Author: | Liss [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Inspired by the current discussion about Joey bashing, viz whether it's her character that becomes so annoying or just how EBD writes her. Apologies to Lesley for echoes of the earliest RCS!! ===================================== Liberation There were certain things about the Chalet School that Elinor Brent-Dyer held sacrosanct. Hilda Annersley would never need glasses, and could quell even the most troublesome Middle with a glance. Doctors were always desirable marriage material. And any conceivable problem could best be solved by Jo Maynard. * * * The Maynards’ bed was wide, well-sprung, and extremely comfortable. Jack Maynard had come home early from the San. The children were all either at school, out for a walk, or playing in the back garden. Jo had taken advantage of these facts and lured her husband upstairs, and they were engaged in one of their favourite pastimes when suddenly Jo froze. “Damn!” she said violently. “Damn, damn, DAMN!” “I say, Jo,” said Jack mildly, struggling onto his elbows and looking up at his wife. “What the devil?” he added as she climbed off him. “I am struck,” she said drily, heading for the bathroom that was attached to their bedroom, “by a sudden urge to visit the Prefects and see how they’re managing.” Jack groaned, and flopped back onto the bed. “They’ll be managing perfectly well,” he called out, listening to the sounds of Jo washing and dressing at a remarkable pace. “They always do!” “Don’t I know it,” said Jo, emerging, a black scowl on her face. “I don’t see why I have to be leaping over there every day of the week to solve all their problems. Ten to one it’s some wretched new girl, and they’re all having kittens, when if they’d just leave these kids alone in the first place, they’d soon get used to it all.” She was putting on a green cardigan – “And I really bar this colour, sometimes; I can’t see why I can’t wear something else from time to time!” – as Jack scrambled off the bed, sheet clutched round his waist. “Look, don’t go,” he said, catching hold of her around the waist and drawing her close. “I’d – much – rather – you – stayed.” This last was punctuated by a series of kisses, which Jo returned enthusiastically, before breaking away and picking up her coat off a chair and then hunting around for her gloves. “I absolutely must,” she said crossly. “You know how this works, Jack. When She says jump, we…” “…Ask how high. Yes, I know. Aren’t I always sending you to bed and dosing you up?” Jack perched on the end of the bed and crossed his arms, looking sulky. From where she was scrabbling around under the dressing table, Jo flashed him a wicked grin. “Don’t tell me you really object to sending me to bed, Jack!” He laughed, a little reluctantly. “You witch! No, of course not, except for those times when it’s all day and She just makes you sit there forlornly wearing a jade green bedjacket.” Jo found the other glove, blew on it futilely in an effort to get some of the dust off – Anna might be a wonder everywhere else, but She had never gone to the bother of having her clean the marital bedroom and Jo wasn’t one for dusting – and headed for the door. “It can’t be us forever,” she offered, with a softer smile, but Jack’s expression became sterner. “No,” he agreed. “She’ll be moving on to Len, next, mark my words.” Jo’s face fell. “I know,” she said, then winced. “Look, I’ve really got to go.” “Me too,” said Jack, jumping off the bed and heading for his dressing room. “Emergency at the San. We’ll talk later.” “Other things too!” called out Jo with a chuckle, as she departed Freudesheim and headed for the gate in the hedge. * * * The French windows that led from the Chalet School Staff Room onto the terrace stood ajar as Jo made her way across the lawn, and she slipped in without ceremony. “Hello, my dears!” she said cheerfully. “Jack’s been called to the San and I thought I’d come over and hear all the hanes!” Her arrival elicited little reaction. Only Peggy Burnett made any response, lifting her head from the Mills & Boon novel she was reading. “Middles are awful; new girls are either homesick or firestarters; prees are having a meltdown over the Sale; Hil’s currently reaming Jocelyn Marvell in her study. Oh, and Kath and Nance almost got caught shagging in the Juniors’ splash.” Jo collapsed into an armchair and raised her eyebrows suggestively. “I say, not really?! Gosh! D’you think She noticed?” “Not hardly!” said Kathie Ferrars, joining them, cup of coffee in hand. “Nance’d’ve been packed off to head some dreary place in deepest darkest Scotland, and I’d’ve been lost in an avalanche somewhere and been rescued by one of the docs!” “Whose turn is it, now, anyway?” asked Jo curiously. “I keep losing track of them.” “I think it’s that Hamilton chap,” said Peggy. “Assuming the Reg and Len thing is going ahead as planned.” “Good Lord, I do hope not!” exclaimed Jo, extracting cigarette and lighter from her bag. “She’s far too young to be even thinking about it! It’s all very well Her planning these things, but Len – well, all the trips, really, are such kids. Reg is a nice chap, and I wouldn’t object if they felt the same way in a few years, but it’s far too soon.” As she spoke, the door to the Staff Room swung open, and Hilda Annersley, the Headmistress of the Chalet School, entered. “Well, I can always rely on our Middles to think of some new badness to astonish us all!” she said mildly. “Hallo, Hilda, it’s me!” said Jo, jumping to her feet, and one would have to look closely to see the flicker of irritation that crossed her expression. “Joey! How lovely!” “What are the little wretches doing now?!” “Oh, young Jocelyn Marvell thought it would be highly amusing to make one of the girls in her dorm an apple pie bed!” “What will those beasts think of next?!” There issued forth gales of laughter from the staff present at these witticisms, until they were relinquished from the invisible force that governed them, and returned to their previous activities. “Apple pie bed?” said Jo, pulling a face. “Is that the best She could come up with? Bit weak, isn’t it?” Hilda slumped down beside her, and stole her cigarette. “I had to keep her in my study for a quarter of an hour! A quarter of an hour, Jo! With the best will in the world, I can’t scold someone for an apple pie bed for that long. We ended up talking about the Hardy Boys books.” Jo giggled. “Well, that sounds…” She broke off, and heaved a sigh of discontent. “Damn! I have to go and see the Prees, though I can’t imagine they have any desire to have me interfering yet again! Thanks heavens it’s nearly the end of term, that’s all I can say.” Hilda nodded blissfully. “Six weeks, uninterrupted. I can’t wait!” “I’m just hoping we don’t have our hols laid out for us,” said Jo, as she left the room. “I would like to spend at least a little time with our boys!” Five minutes later saw her outside the Prefects’ room, and she tapped lightly on the door, hoping (vainly) that they might not hear and she would be allowed to slip away back to Freudesheim, where Jack might be waiting to… The door opened, and the dark head of her second daughter peered round. “Oh,” said Con Maynard, blankly. “Mother.” Jo rolled her eyes. “Fraid so. What ghastly challenge is facing you all today, and can it be solved speedily, because I’ve got half a dozen things to do at home, besides getting ready for a dinner party your father and I are having tonight? I do have better things to do than hang around with you lot!” “Well, we’d be quite happy to sort things out ourselves!” retorted Con. “Anyway, you’d better come in. Lay off the crumpets, though, Mother, there’s only enough for us.” Joey swept into the room, beaming affectionately at the assorted prefects of the Chalet School. “Hello, everyone!” she said in her usual clarion tones. “Mamma!” said Len, jumping to her feet. “How simply luscious to see you!” “And awfully timely,” said Ted Grantley. “We’re having dreadful condundrums!” “Well, I’m glad I came when I did,” said Jo, plumping herself down in the chair that Carmela Walther had hastily swept clear of text books, sheet music and other detritus. “Have a crumpet, Mrs Maynard,” offered Eve Hurrell, holding out a plate. “Oh, the staff have just fed me well, Eve, thank you!” said Jo, with barely a flicker of a glance at Con. “Now, what’s this problem you’re having?” “It’s the Sale,” said Len. And then she paused, and after a moment or two, a frown appeared on her forehead. “The Sale?” prompted Jo, then she too paused. “Damn the Sale!” she said experimentally. “I don’t see why we can’t recycle for once,” said Con, and her eyebrows shot up as this statement went unchallenged. “Sound plan, if you ask me,” said Margot briskly. “Well,” said Jo. “That was all, wasn’t it?” said Len, addressing the others. “OK. Push off, then, Mother, there’s a lamb!” “Suits me,” replied Jo briefly, and pushed off home, where Jack Maynard had returned, having found himself suddenly unnecessary at the San. * * * The rest of term passed without any further interference from Her. The Sale went off as well as ever, even if they had happily recycled a theme from several years ago. Reg Entwhistle had somewhat sheepishly explained to Jack Maynard that his growing passion for Len appeared, in retrospect, to be rather ill-advised. Jo summoned her sons back from their previously proposed plans to spend the summer in England, and spent the rest of the term assiduously avoiding the school and getting on with the rest of her life, which interested her a good deal more, as well as branching out her writing to some of the more literary avenues she had been eager to pursue. One evening, a couple of weeks into the summer holidays, she sat out in the rose garden with Elisaveta Helston, who was staying in Switzerland for a few weeks, and Rosalie Dene, who had finally announced her deep affection for one Herr Pfitzer, a middle-aged lawyer from Berne who occasionally dealt with some of the School’s Swiss affairs. “Do you think She’s left us alone now?” asked Jo idly, puffing out smoke into the inky twilit sky. “I think she must have done,” said Ros, leaning back in her deckchair. “I don’t feel like I’m wed to the school any more.” “And I don’t have to keep coming by every ten seconds,” said Jo, “which is certainly a relief!” “And I’m thinking of taking the girls out of the school,” added Veta. “Not that they don’t enjoy it, of course, but there’s no reason for them to be here. Dad’s still in Australia; I think we’ll emigrate.” “Rudi’s asked me to marry him,” admitted Ros, her blush hidden by the growing darkness. “I’ve given Hilda my notice.” “What about you, Jo?” asked Veta. “What will you do.” Jo smiled, and stretched out luxuriously. “Write a decent book. Travel. Get some damned contraception!” Her voice softened and she stared up at the stars. “Get to know my family properly. Grow up.” She glanced at her two companions. “We can do anything now.” THE END |
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| Author: | JB [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Brilliant, Liss. What a good reward for finishing my funding application and financial projection!! |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Hooray, yippee, this is brilliant.
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| Author: | Emma A [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
I liked that! All the characters having their own lives outside of the text, and Joey a sympathetic character, too. Loved the bits about Peggy Burnett reading Mills and Boon novels and Kathie and Nancy almost being caught shagging Thanks, Liss. |
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| Author: | JS [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Definitely a better end to the series than Prefects... thanks Liss. |
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| Author: | Alison H [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Love it! |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
That was fantastic! 
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| Author: | RroseSelavy [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Aww, that was lovely! Thanks Liss. |
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| Author: | Sugar [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
That was great Liss. |
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| Author: | trig [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Great! Reminds me of Sophie's World when they realise they're characters from a novel. 
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| Author: | shazwales [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Thankyou that was brilliant.
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| Author: | Lesley [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
No apologies needed, Liss - that was excellent!
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| Author: | Nightwing [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Liss, thanks for pretty much writing the one fic I've always wanted to read! Jo is so perfect here
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| Author: | Pat [ Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Like the others, I really enjoyed that. Beautifully wicked!! 
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| Author: | snowmaiden [ Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
| Brilliant, Liss, thank you! |
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| Author: | Cat C [ Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Thank you - that was great! |
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| Author: | abbeybufo [ Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Enjoyed that, Liss. Thank you
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| Author: | keren [ Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Thanks Liss, It's lovely reading stories by you when you have some time |
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| Author: | Jenefer [ Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Wonderful Just what I needed after a fraught afternoon at work. Thanks |
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| Author: | crystaltips [ Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
Loved it. Thanks Liss. |
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| Author: | Abi [ Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
| That was great! Thanks Liss!
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| Author: | Liss [ Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (complete) |
So, I wrote more. It could happen to anyone... *g* Thanks to everyone for the feedback! ============================================== The Maynard triplets, Len, Con and Margot, sat in their large, airy bedroom at Die Blumen, and contemplated each other and the bottle of wine they had purloined from the Salon. “I don’t think I’m going to become a nun,” announced Margot, pouring herself a glass. “Ha, ha,” retorted Con. “As if there was ever the slightest possibility!” “Well, She seemed pretty keen on the idea,” said Margot. “She thought Reg and I would be great together!” said Len, nabbing the bottle. “Just goes to show she hadn’t a clue. But if not nunning, what? Are you still going to go in for medicine?” Margot shrugged. “Dunno. Haven’t really thought about it.” She glanced across at Len. “What about you? Still Oxford-Languages-Teaching?” Len pulled a face. “Don’t think so. Certainly not teaching! I can’t imagine anything more vile!” She hesitated, rubbed the base of her wine glass. “And I’m not sure about Oxford, either.” Con looked up in surprise. “No Oxford? Why on earth?” “It’s just…” Len trailed off, struggling to express herself. “I’ve always had to try so hard. I mean, Margot’s a five-star genius, and no-one minds about Con…” “…Thanks!” put in Con drily. “…but everyone’s been expecting me to be brilliant, and I’m really not. To be quite honest, I’m not really sure how well I’d cope with Oxford.” With this admission, she knocked back the remains of her glass, and looked defiantly at her sisters. “I’m sure you’d manage,” offered Margot, a little warily. Len grinned. “Oh, probably,” she said. “I’m no genius, but I’m not stupid! Thing is, though, I’m tired of having to try so hard at everything. I mean, it’s no wrong, is it, to go for something a bit easier? I was thinking Manchester or London or something.” “They’re perfectly good unis,” said Con loyally. “And no, there’s nothing wrong with taking it a bit easier: you’ve worked jolly hard all these years. Send you to Oxford and you’d probably have a nervous breakdown or something.” She hesitated. “Look here, Len, you wouldn’t mind if—well, if I still went, would you?” Len looked at her, astonished. “Mind? Why should I? Honestly, Con, we’ve always done our own thing – well, as much as we could with Her all over the place! – I don’t see why that should change now.” “Dunno, just thought you might,” replied Con with a sheepish smile. “Still English for you?” asked Margot, and Con nodded. “Rather. I do want to be a writer, you know, it wasn’t just her. I’d like to travel, though. Get a bit of experience of life. You can’t write properly when you’ve been as sheltered as we have. I want some adventure!” Her dark eyes glowed at the prospect, and her sisters giggled. “Yeah, and I know who you want some adventure with!” exclaimed Len. “Could it be, Helena, that the chap in question is tall?” “Why, yes it could, Margaret!” “And might he have hair of a ruddy hue?” “I do believe he might!” “Why, Helena, do you think…” “Constance lo-o-oves Roger! Constance lo-o-oves Roger! Constance…” All the triplets looked up sharply, where the eldest of their sisters danced in the doorway. Felicity was dressed in a leotard and one of their mother’s scarves, and her fair plaits had seen better days. Con chucked a book at her. “Push off, Flix! Little girls are not wanted!” Felicity stuck her tongue out. “Push off yourself, Con! I’m telling everyone you’re in love with Roger! Con and Roger, sitting in a tree…” She broke off as Con jumped up, pushed her younger sibling clear of the doorway, and slammed the door shut. “I’m telling Mamma!” Felicity bawled through the door, then kicked it for good measure. “Tattle-tale!” shouted Con, and they listened to the sound of Felicity running down the hall. “I think I liked Flix better under Her,” mused Margot, and her sisters laughed. “It did have its moments,” agreed Con, abandoning her post by the door. “The kids were a lot easier to manage!” “Ours, anyway,” said Len. “I reckon the prees are going to have an easier time of it now – I’ve always been sceptical about the amount of mischief the Middles seem to get into.” “The feuds have always been a bit OTT,” said Con. “Never mind all that,” said Margot with a glint in her eye. “We have got very off track here! Con was telling us about how she yearned to go adventuring with young Roger!” “Why, I do believe that’s so,” said Len gleefully, showing every sign of entering into the spirit of things once again. Con scowled both of them. “Oh, you’re both hilarious.” “Yes, we are,” said Margot, and eldest and youngest triplet clinked glasses. “Anyway, what’s wrong with liking Roger?” demanded Con. “He’s a nice chap. We get along. Remember that time we went hiking up Mondscheinspitze? It was nice.” “Nothing wrong at all!” declared Margot. “He is pretty dishy!” Len, having discovered the wine bottle to be empty, lay back on the bed, long chestnut hair flung over the bedspread. “Margot and Roger, sitting in a tree, k-i-” “Shut up!” said Margot, laughing. “I don’t poach, Len Maynard!” “Probably as well you’re not planning to be a nun, though, if you think thoughts like that!” said Con. “I’ve always wondered,” said Len, “if nuns just don’t think about stuff like that, or whether they do and have to sort of squash it.” Margot giggled. “Maybe Auntie Rob’s been squashing ardent fantasies about Cary Grant for years!” The three girls howled with laughter at the thought of Soeur Marie Cecile pining for the Hollywood star. “It’s not even that funny!” said Len, clutching her stomach. “I think we drank too much wine,” admitted Con, peering down the neck of the bottle. “What would Matey say?” asked Margot, and they all fell about laughing again; so hard, in fact, that Len fell off the bed with a thump. They were still giggling when there was a knock at the door a couple of minutes later, and Steve poked his head in. “Dad says, are you killing each other up here? Either way, keep it down.” “We’re a little bit the worse for wear,” announced Len, who had reclaimed her position on the bed. “Go away, Steve, darling!” “No, wait a sec,” interrupted Con. “What was the hoo-hah earlier?” Steve grinned. “Chas talked Mike into some stunt on the lake and Dad went ballistic.” “Why?” asked Con curiously. “I doubt Mother went into fits.” “Not she!” replied Steve. “But they nearly crocked the boat. Chas nearly ended up on bread and water for a week.” “Chas is such a wretch,” said Len. “He swans around looking all innocent and priestly, and he’s the worst of us all.” “Too right,” said Steve fervently. “I’ve a devil of a time trying to keep him out of trouble at Winchester. Come next year, I’ll not bother.” “Well, Mike shouldn’t be too much trouble,” offered Len. “He’s a nice kid under the mischief!” “And Chas is always ready to make the most of Mike’s mischief!” said Con. “They’re like thingy and thingy – you know, one of them thinks of things, and the other does them.” “With bells on!” finished Len. “Elizabeth Arnett, wasn’t it, and Betty whatshername?” “Whoever,” said Steve, bored. “Anyway, keep it down.” He departed, closing the door behind him. The triplets were silent for a minute or two, then Margot spoke. “I’m glad I don’t have to be a nun. I’d’ve been a rubbish nun.” “And I’m glad I don’t have to marry Reg,” said Len. Con stretched herself out on the rug. “I think we’re pretty lucky She disappeared,” she said. “Hear, hear,” said Margot. “And on that note, who wants to volunteer to go on a wine mission?” Len and Con exchanged mischievous glances. “Margot Maynard!” they chorused, “What would Matey say?!” |
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| Author: | Emma A [ Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Very funny! I love that all the Maynards are so different to EBD's portrayals! Thanks, Liss (so are we to expect more? I wouldn't mind that at all *innocently whistling*). |
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| Author: | JS [ Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Wee bit more from the staff's perspective? Please? But thanks for the extra bonus anyway.... |
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| Author: | Alison H [ Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Loving this .
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| Author: | Tara [ Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
This is great, Liss! I love the way some things stay the same and some are quite different (Jo going off to get contraception was an interesting idea!). Please write some more ... |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Good to see this from the triplets perspective. |
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| Author: | blue1 [ Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
That was great. thanks.
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| Author: | Miss Di [ Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:53 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Wicked. Brilliant. Wickedly brilliant! |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
This is great, absolutely loving it! |
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| Author: | JB [ Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Excellent to see more of this. |
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| Author: | Abi [ Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
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Loved the bit where they couldn't remember Betty's and Elizabeth's
names! And wouldn't be at all disappointed to see more of this... |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Thanks, I read it earlier and didn't realise I hadn't posted on it.  I'm really glad for the extra bit-thanks
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| Author: | brie [ Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
This is great! Can't we have just a little more though????
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| Author: | linda [ Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Brilliant!!! Thanks
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| Author: | Maeve [ Sun May 03, 2009 11:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Liberation (updated 26.03.09) |
Very nicely done, Liss
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