The CBB :: View topic - Madge Finds Out. Completed 30th Sept, pg 14

Madge Finds Out. Completed 30th Sept, pg 14

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The CBB -> St Mildred's House

What happens in the cosy cave?

Nature takes its course

66%

[ 18 ]

They smooch a bit, but Madge decides to be faithful to Jem

[ 2 ]

They smooch a bit , but Dr Schmidt decides that to take it any further would be unprofessional

[ 1 ]

There is a landslip and they are squashed, end of story

[ 1 ]

Thekla appears with a camera

[ 1 ]

They just chat companiably

11%

[ 3 ]

They smooch a bit, but then Madge realises she is menstruating

[ 1 ]

They smooch a bit, but Dr S has had too much wine to take it any further

[ 0 ]

Something else (please specify)

[ 0 ]

Total Votes : 27

#1: Madge Finds Out. Completed 30th Sept, pg 14 Author: Cryst,

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 1:05 am
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I have a wee bit of story that I thought had better go here rather than in the drabble in St Scholastika's. The two storylines are running at the same time, and you need to read that one to understand what's going on in here, but hopefully not vv. The earlier part of Madge Finds Out has been saved from the temporary board, I believe, and should arrive in the archives soon.

Madge Finds Out Page One

Madge Finds Out Page Two

Madge Finds Out Page Three

Madge Finds Out Page Four

Madge Finds Out Page Five

Above archives added, Cryst!
Lesley

With a small shudder of pleasure, Joey snuggled down beside Jack and rested her head on his shoulder. They had been pursuing their new hobby, jointly discovering new delights. Jack was tired after a busy day at the San, and now quite ready to drift off into a satisfied sleep. Joey’s mind, however, had not wound down so quickly.

“Oh Jack, imagine us missing out on this for so many years. What a waste.”

“Mmmm,” he agreed, giving her a little squeeze. “Sorry ‘bout that, Joey darling.”

“Still,” she added, “at least the next generation won’t miss out in the same way. I’m going to make sure of that.”

“Mmmm,” he agreed once more.

A minute or so passed before her sentence filtered its way into his befuddled brain, and a little alarm bell started to ring, quietly at first, but gradually increasing in volume as the implications of her words slowly sunk in. Reluctantly he hauled himself up onto his elbows, and shook his head slightly to try to wake himself up. “What was that again, Joey, about the next generation?”

“Oh, it’s all right, Jack, I’ve something rather exciting to discuss with you, but you’re tired, and it’ll keep until the morning.”

Tempted though he was to shut his eyes again, she had aroused Jack’s curiosity, and there was no way he could now let this rest. “No, it’s OK, I’m not so sleepy. Go ahead, old dear, spill the beans.”

“Not so much of the ‘old’!” She poked him playfully in the ribs, giggling. “Well, to cut a long story short, I’m going to be teaching the Chalet School girls all about the physical side of marriage, and, I can tell you, I’m going to make sure they realise how glorious it is. I’m not going to let them miss out on all this.”

“Er, I’m not sure I quite understand Joey, could you take it back a step or two and explain what’s at the back of this?”

Last edited by Cryst on Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:51 pm; edited 44 times in total

#2: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 1:25 am
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Yes, I can understand why Jack feels the need for explanations!
Thanks Cryst.

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

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:31 am
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Poor Jack, just when he wants to drift off to sleep! Laughing

Lovely to see more of this Cryst! Laughing

#4: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 7:40 am
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Laughing

Poor Jack!

#5: Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 7:40 am
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Joey teaching this!

Shocked

#6: Author: Rosy-Jess, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 9:03 am
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*giggles*

I SO want to be a fly on the wall in those lectures.

#7: Author: Katherine, Location: London, UK

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 9:49 am
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Please write the lesson where Joey explains the Facts of Life!

#8: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 12:41 pm
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Laughing

Poor Jack!

#9: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 12:49 pm
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The mind boggles, Jo teaching sex education!

#10: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 3:46 pm
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Thanks Cryst, I was looking forward to seeing more of this. I hadn't actually made the connection between Joey's new job and her new-found joy but now I can't wait for her first lesson!

Thank you Very Happy

Kathryn

#11: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 4:02 pm
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I am delighted to see this back!! Very Happy

Thanks Cryst, can't wait to see the lessons - please please write them!

#12: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 5:42 pm
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Thanks, Cryst. I wonder if Jack is going to try and talk Joey out of it.

#13: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:49 pm
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It's back, it's back! Yippee!

Thanks, Cryst.

#14: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 7:06 pm
—
Well, I was rather inclining towards the "talk her out of it" plot line. I'd need some help writing a modern approach to sex education, so you'd have to give me some ideas about that. I've tried asking the resident experts on contemporary education, but they go "Oh, Mum", roll their eyes, and slink off. When I was at school we were taught about rabbits and there was a little note at the bottom of the page (I can still picture it) that said. "N.B. human reproduction is similar."

Anyway, here's the next bit.

“Oh yes, of course, if you want the whole story now. Hilda called me up to the school this morning. The Board of Trustees is insisting that the girls are taught PSHE – that’s Personal, Social and Health Education, and there is a curriculum laid down in some detail. It includes all sorts of interesting topics, and human reproduction is one of them. Oh Jack, it’s such a marvellous opportunity to make sure that the girls have a wonderful married life. Just like us. I told Hilda I’d think about it and see what you thought, but I’m sure Anna and Rösli can manage the babies while I’m out – it’ll only be a few lessons a week at first, as we will be starting just with the younger girls. What do you think, Jack? Isn’t it a super opportunity?”

Those alarm bells were still sounding – now louder than ever. Jack was shrewd enough to realise that Joey expounding the joys of sex to a class of 11 and 12 year olds could well fall outside the accepted Chalet School way of doing things. “Well, I’ll tell you what, Joey, do you have a copy of this curriculum?” She nodded. “Well shall we go through it together and see what’s involved before you give your answer to Hilda? That way I can cast my eye over the ‘Health’ parts, to see that there aren’t any major snags, and maybe we could have a think together about how to go about the reproduction part.”

“Yes, all right then Jack. But can we do it tomorrow? I’m really excited about this. Hilda said I had until the end of next week to give her an answer, but if I’m going to go ahead, I can perhaps have a quick chat with Nell and Rosalie, and then just get stuck in. Wouldn’t that be a pleasant surprise for Hilda when she gets back from London – to find out it’s already started?”

“Oh yes, Carrots”, he replied, ruffling her curls affectionately, “that could indeed be a very great surprise to Hilda. Let’s have that little chat about it tomorrow night, then, shall we?”

“Yes, Jack, that would be good.”

“And you won’t do anything about it before we’ve discussed it again?”

“All right then Jack. Now, my boy, it’s time you got off to sleep if you’re to be any use at all to your patients in the morning.”

They snuggled down again, though Jack’s batteries had by now recharged and Joey was still keyed up with excitement at her new job, so it was a while before they felt like sleeping.

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

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 7:09 pm
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Just wondering if Hilda's heart is strong enough! Laughing

Thanks Cryst.

#16: Author: grover, Location: Dublin

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:37 pm
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So glad this is back! Thanks,Cryst! Very Happy

#17: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:52 pm
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Thanks, Cryst.

#18: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 9:56 pm
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Well handled there, Jack! He has far more tact than Jem will ever have! Laughing

#19: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 10:53 pm
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This next little bit's just rounding everyone up so that I know where they all are!!

Way across the continent in Armiford, Madge and Jem were also tucked up in their bed, but there was no snuggling in that household. They always carefully maintained a clear space between their bodies. Jem was asleep, snoring softly as he did, but Madge was wide awake - hot, sweaty and uncomfortable as usual. She was running through her plans for the next few days in her head. She would pack in the morning, then catch the afternoon train up to London. She would be helping Hilda with the interviews, staying at Hilda’s club until mid week. Then they were to travel together as far as Paris, and from there Hilda would return to Switzerland while Madge and Rosa headed for the Tirol. Madge was quite looking forward to having some time away from Jem, and full of hope that Doctor Schmidt would be able to help with her unpleasant menopausal symptoms.

#20: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 10:58 pm
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Poor Madge! I can't wait to see what she and Rosa get up to while they are away!

Thank you Cryst! Very Happy

#21: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 12:08 am
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Thanks, Cryst. What exactly is Hilda's club, please?

#22: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 12:11 am
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So glad this is back, Cryst. What a contrast between the couples - poor Madge (and Jem, I suppose, but I sort of feel he deserves it!). Joey and Jack are lovely, but the mind boggles at her leaping into class all agog to communicate the joys of sex! And her poor children, they will want to die. How's she going to cope with finding out she has to teach about all sorts of family structure, including same-sex ones? That'll confuse her! Shocked

More, soon, please. Very Happy

#23: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 12:22 am
—
Chair, I was assuming that when Hilda stays in London it's at a club - like a gentleman's club only for ladies. This is what a couple of old bluestocking schoolteacher friends of my mother used to do, anyway. But Embarassed

I didn't think very hard about this when I wrote it! However, a quick Google found me this place, which seems to be the sort of thing I imagined they were talking about.

#24: Author: Nina, Location: Peterborough, UK

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 12:22 pm
—

Cryst wrote:

“Oh yes, Carrots”, he replied, ruffling her curls affectionately, “that could indeed be a very great surprise to Hilda. Let’s have that little chat about it tomorrow night, then, shall we?”

*snort* ROFL Shocked

So that's where Phil and Geoff got their colouring from then ... Rolling Eyes

#25: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:02 pm
—
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

In case anyone is confused about the carrots and curls bit, Joey has had a haircut, and now has curly hair with red highlights. On her head. Embarassed

Like this.

(I knew I'd come to grief sooner or later splitting this story between two drabbles in different houses.)

Laughing

#26: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:16 pm
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Well, if she looks like that now, it is definitely an improvement!

I thought this was an update Sad

#27: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:49 pm
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I am giggling so much at the carrots/curls confusion!! And thinking I had better start reading your other drabble Cryst! Embarassed

#28: Author: Nina, Location: Peterborough, UK

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 5:31 pm
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*koff* I never read the other drabble *koff*

*drags mind back up from gutter* Embarassed

#29: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 5:40 pm
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*giggling uncontrollably ...*

#30: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:12 pm
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Thanks for all the updates Cryst. Words cannot tell you how relieved I am that Jack's going to have some involvement in Joey's teaching but I still wouldn't trust her not to do something completely outrageous!

Kathryn

#31: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 12:28 am
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That University Women's Club is wonderful! I used to belong to an association that was affiliated to it Embarassed

It was a very long time ago!

#32: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:41 pm
—
Thanks Cryst, good to see this back again. Madge and David's conversation about her being a handmaiden of the lord still makes me snigger...

Bring on Dr Schmidt, that's what I say!!

#33: Author: Vashti,

Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:44 pm
—
Oh dear, dear me. My SLOC thinks I've gone quite mad. This is the funniest thing I've read in ages.

*mutter mutter handmaiden giggle mutter giggle*

#34: Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:06 am
—
please, please, do a joey teaching sex ed lesson!!!!!

apparantly these days the curriculum ranges according to which model education authorities follow: I went to a talk at my kids' primary on the new way they are teaching sex ed, which involves mentioning it officially from Yr 2, instead of leaving it to Yr 6...this is only new round here, I gather from friends in London, where of course they're much more advanced than us countrymice, there the kids get very explicit detail from day one.....perhaps its cos they're teaching the teachers things...
anyway, the only bit I struggled with in the stuff we were shown (lots of lovely stick people boucing horizontally, bythe way, including one with the lady on top which I just KNOW will horrify my eldest (female)) was the prescise anatomical names for one's bits from the start...i feel someone should warn the local casualty dept to expect an influx of fathers needing the heimlich manouevre performed after dinner-table anouncements by seven-yr-olds of "Guess what Daddy, I know where my clitoris is...."

my 11-yr-old asked me the other day what a condom was....it came up in a playground ditty...so I said something men wore when they had sex to stop the woman having a baby...she said why would they want to do that? now, I may hav got my 'little chats' a bit wrong, as she clearly couldn't grasp why anyone whould want to have sex at all if they didn't intend to make a baby, as that's what I've told her its for....perhaps joey on the joy of sex is just what she needs......

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

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 7:19 pm
—

alicat wrote:

was the prescise anatomical names for one's bits from the start...i feel someone should warn the local casualty dept to expect an influx of fathers needing the heimlich manouevre performed after dinner-table anouncements by seven-yr-olds of "Guess what Daddy, I know where my clitoris is...."

Giggling uncontrollably at this thought! Laughing

#36: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 8:35 pm
—

alicat wrote:

please, please, do a joey teaching sex ed lesson!!!!!

apparantly these days the curriculum ranges according to which model education authorities follow: I went to a talk at my kids' primary on the new way they are teaching sex ed, which involves mentioning it officially from Yr 2, instead of leaving it to Yr 6...this is only new round here, I gather from friends in London, where of course they're much more advanced than us countrymice, there the kids get very explicit detail from day one.....perhaps its cos they're teaching the teachers things...
anyway, the only bit I struggled with in the stuff we were shown (lots of lovely stick people boucing horizontally, bythe way, including one with the lady on top which I just KNOW will horrify my eldest (female)) was the prescise anatomical names for one's bits from the start...i feel someone should warn the local casualty dept to expect an influx of fathers needing the heimlich manouevre performed after dinner-table anouncements by seven-yr-olds of "Guess what Daddy, I know where my clitoris is...."

my 11-yr-old asked me the other day what a condom was....it came up in a playground ditty...so I said something men wore when they had sex to stop the woman having a baby...she said why would they want to do that? now, I may hav got my 'little chats' a bit wrong, as she clearly couldn't grasp why anyone whould want to have sex at all if they didn't intend to make a baby, as that's what I've told her its for....perhaps joey on the joy of sex is just what she needs......

I am doing a sex ed course at the moment (from a teacher/ta pov) very enlightening!
This is the second one I have done (last one was SEN Sex and relationships education)and can't believe that some teenagers WANT sex after the STI talk (with pictures!)

#37: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 9:58 pm
—
Thank you for the suggestions - keep them coming, I'm taking notes ... but still somehow can't see Joey pulling this sort of stuff off with the CS girls.

Hoping to get back to some drabbling this weekend so maybe inspriation will strike!

#38: Author: Sarah-D, Location: Cambs

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:41 pm
—
please, please, do a joey teaching sex ed lesson!!!!!

apparantly these days the curriculum ranges according to which model education authorities follow: (sorry alicat I've forgotten how to do the boxes round quotes)

The film we saw at my son's primary school showed a naked woman chasing the man (also naked) round the house with a feather duster Laughing

Collective jaw dropping from assembled parents who all rushed home to hide the feather dusters...

#39: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:01 pm
—
Madge was walking briskly from Die Blumen to catch the mountain train on the first leg of her journey to Innsbruck. She stopped briefly to drink in the beauty of the early morning view over the lake, with the sun just rising, casting pink and orange tones into the swirls of grey mist rising from the lake. She heaved a deep sigh of satisfaction before continuing on her way. She was surprised how much she was enjoying this visit to the Tiernsee. The journey from London had been long but not particularly arduous. She and Rosa had, after all, had Hilda’s excellent company as far as Paris, followed by a comfortable overnight stop in their usual hotel. The proprietor had, as always, given them a tremendous personal welcome and made sure that they had everything they needed.

She and Rosa had had a compartment to themselves for long train journey across France and Germany and felt no need to converse continuously. Madge had been able to doze, gaze out of the window, flick through her magazine, and just put her mind into neutral. When they eventually arrived at Die Blumen the day before yesterday, everything had been immaculately prepared for them, with the stoves lit to take the chill off the evening autumn air, the beds made up and aired, and food in the larder. She had insisted that this was to be something of a holiday for Rosa too, and Rosa had thus made her arrangements to visit family and old friends each day, coming back to keep Madge company in the evenings. With Rosa away on the first of her visits, Madge had enjoyed a peaceful day pottering around the house, fixing herself a light lunch in Joey’s well equipped kitchen, and ambling slowly around the lakeside, reacquainting herself with her old haunts.

“Maybe this was all I really needed,” she thought contentedly, “some time to myself, with no pressure, nothing in particular to do. No fetes to open, no WI, no Jem, no children, no phone calls from Joey, no more mysterious new ‘facts of life’. My mind just needs to absorb and process all this new information and go over some of the things that have happened to me in the past few weeks. Time to assimilate, analyse, accept. This is just the ticket, plenty of time to myself. A little gem of a holiday, small but perfectly formed – and a complete break from being Lady Russell. Now, if this Doctor Schmidt can just sort out this ghastly menopause business for me, I’ll be a happy woman.”

#40: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:12 pm
—
Thank you Cryst, it's fabulous to see this back again! Poor Madge, must all be so overwhelming for her!

#41: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:25 pm
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Glad to see this back too.

#42: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:15 pm
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Hooray, it's back!

Looking forward to finding out just what Dr Schmidt can sort out Wink

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

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:22 pm
—
Good to see more of this - poor Madge, it's all been a bit overwhelming for her, hasn't it?

Thanks Cryst

#44: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:43 pm
—
Glad this is back!

#45: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:06 am
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Thanks, Cryst, I'm so glad to see this back again!

#46: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:36 am
—
Hurrah! An update! Thank you!

#47: Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:53 am
—
Oh joy, oh happy day, to have this back (even if it does make it difficult to work without disrupting the office with my fits of giggling)

Update on how sex ed was received by 11-yr-old: she burst into the kitchen last night and told me that "if that was what sex was all about she definitly wasn't doing it THAt way" Laughing

and this was just the horizontal stick figures with the man on top!!!! Embarassed

and the baby being born bit was "soooo gross, there was all this blood and stuff and it looked soooo ugly. was I like that when I was born?"
as she was a waterbirth and came out ready washed, so to speak, I was truthfully able to tell her no she wasn't. Wink

please please can we have more soon?

can't wait to hear dr schmidt's views on madge

#48: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:56 am
—
It's great to see this back, thanks, Cryst.

#49: Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 3:08 pm
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I get the feeling Madge is not going to be peaceful much longer...

Thanks Cryst Smile

#50: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:12 pm
—
Oooo, I love the sex education descriptions -- do keep them coming, as we'll be returning to Joey later and I need all the inspiration I can get for that part of the story. In the meantime, back to Madge ...

Following in Joey’s footsteps of just a few months before, Madge walked down the quiet street, stopped outside the building with the brass plate, consulted the piece of paper she held in her hand, nodded, went up the steps to the front door and rang the doorbell. She entered into the Reception area and announced herself.

“Ah, good morning, Lady Russell,” smiled the Receptionist, “Herr Doktor Schmidt will see you shortly. Perhaps if you wouldn’t mind seeing our nurse here first, and she will take down a few details for our records?”

“Certainly,” Madge replied, and followed the tall, fair haired uniformed woman into a side room. There was something familiar about her, but Madge could not quite place the face. “I’m sure I know you from somewhere. Have we met before?” she asked with a friendly smile.

The nurse replied with a stony face, “As far as I am aware, I have never been introduced to a Lady Russell - I’m sure I would have remembered. Now, please can we get on with this form?”

With that she asked Madge a series of questions – some such as her name and address for administrative purposes, others of a more personal nature, exploring issues such as the date of her last period and whether or not Madge had experienced certain symptoms. With all her recent reading, Madge was able to reply confidently to most of these, only stumbling slightly on “frequency of sexual relations” and related questions. However, she managed to give non committal answers to these, and the rest of the interview proceeded quite satisfactorily. At the end the nurse handed Madge the completed form, and asked her to take a seat back in the waiting room and wait to be called. Madge thanked her and left the room, none the wiser as to the nurse’s identity, but the unusually icy reception leaving her with a slightly uneasy feeling. Her concerns would have been further aroused had she turned round as she left and seen the sneer and the blue eyes glittering with hatred following her out of the room.

#51: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:22 pm
—
Hurrah! It's back! Now Madge can find a miracle cure (plus a flowered coffee service and a hot doctor) in the Alps!

Am I talking crazy, or could we maybe identify the sneering receptionist by dangling a piece of raw bacon in front of her?

Just brainstorming here...

#52: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:40 pm
—
Laughing

I assume this is the same receptionist/nurse whom Joey saw, in which case the raw bacon would definitely work!

Hope a handsome Tyrolean mountaineer sweeps Madge off her feet Very Happy

#53: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:40 pm
—
A wee bit more to be going on with ...

Madge did not have long to wait before she was asked to go through into Dr Schmidt’s consultation room. Her calm, confident mood and feeling of freedom had not been shattered by the form-filling exercise and she smiled as she walked forwards to shake hands with Dr Schmidt and hand over the form. He stood to greet her and she saw with approval and some relief a kindly and distinguished looking man, a few years older than herself, slightly portly and greying at the temples, but with an impressive head of hair and in good shape for his age. A recent widower, he had about him a slight air of sadness and vulnerability, combined with a confidence inspiring air of professional competence. He in turn saw an attractive, well educated, friendly, and stylish woman, immaculately made-up and elegantly dressed. An almost instant rapport was established.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:09 pm
—
Go for it Madge! Jem is a waste of space. Laughing

#55: Author: keren, Location: Israel

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:44 pm
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happy to see this back.
hope nurse wont do anything bad.

#56: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:52 pm
—
Well that would certainly be one way for Madge to explore sex...

Thanks Cryst!

#57: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:11 am
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Oh, the good doctor is sounding even better now!

Thanks Cryst.

#58: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:25 am
—

Cryst wrote:

He stood to greet her and she saw with approval and some relief a kindly and distinguished looking man, a few years older than herself, slightly portly and greying at the temples, but with an impressive head of hair and in good shape for his age. A recent widower, he had about him a slight air of sadness and vulnerability, combined with a confidence inspiring air of professional competence. He in turn saw an attractive, well educated, friendly, and stylish woman, immaculately made-up and elegantly dressed. An almost instant rapport was established.

Now if that isn't fate, what is?

Thanks for the update Cryst.

#59: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 8:43 pm
—
Yay its back, Thanks Cryst

#60: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:03 pm
—
Dr Schmidt started the consultation by reading through the form, asking Madge an occasional question to clarify the response that had been written down earlier. Madge found herself relaxing – her initial concerns that she would find this embarrassing were soon allayed by his considerate and matter of fact manner. But once again, when they got to the series of questions about Madge and Jem’s marital relationship, things started to get more difficult.

“For the question on frequency of sexual relations, I see that you have responded ‘about average’. Could you explain this a little more? Do you and your husband still enjoy intimacy regularly?”

“Er, well, no, not really” replied poor Madge.

“I see. Is that because of pain or discomfort on your part since the onset of your menopausal symptoms?”

Madge considered carefully. “No, I don’t think it hurts. I don’t really know though. I’m usually asleep.”

“That is quite unusual, Lady Russell. Are you, then, a heavy sleeper?”

“Well, no. Oh, yes, I suppose I am. When I’ve had the hot milk.”

“You find that hot milk relaxes you enough to sleep through sexual intercourse?” replied Dr Schmidt, trying desperately to keep the note of surprise out of his voice.

“Um, no, I don’t think so,” Madge replied, her voice starting to wobble, and her eyes to fill, as she was suddenly overwhelmed by the memory of that dreadful revelation, experiencing once again the full force of her feeling of betrayal after hearing of Jem’s clandestine nocturnal activities.

“I’m not really following this at all, Lady Russell,” said the Doctor, setting aside the form and moving his chair round to the side of his desk. He leant forward and touched her hand, passing her his clean white handkerchief. “This is clearly difficult for you to talk about, but I can assure you that you can tell me anything in complete confidence. I have years of experience in this field, and I can assure you that there is very little you could tell me that would surprise or shock me. Why don’t you just start at the beginning and tell me about it in your own time?”

Madge did just that, and once she had started she found the whole story spilling out in a great cathartic flood. Dr Schmidt listened with mounting horror, aghast that a fellow member of the medical fraternity could have behaved in such a way to his wife. As he struggled hard to subdue his indignation and maintain a neutral listening stance, he reflected ruefully that he had spoken too soon about having heard everything before. This was quite outside his experience. At last Madge’s monologue came to an end, and she looked down at her hands which were folding and unfolding the now sodden handkerchief. Then she looked up, awaiting his response.

#61: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:00 pm
—
Ppor Madge but I'm glad she told him the truth. I wonder what on earth he's going to say?!

Thanks Cryst!

#62: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:03 pm
—
Poor Madge
Thanks Cryst

#63: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:07 pm
—
I don't suppose he was expecting that!

#64: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:08 pm
—
Goodness! I wonder what he will say!

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

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:37 pm
—
Bet this did surprise and shock him!

Poor Madge - such a terrible thing to do to her.

Thanks Cryst

#66: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:14 am
—
Yay! Just returned from holiday to find this back - wonderful!

What a relief for Madge to have spilled it all out, but what on earth is the poor doctor going to do with all that? Shocked

Also wibbling about those eyes glittering with hatred. They might well spoil Madge's 'small but perfectly-formed' holiday!

Sarah-D wrote:

The film we saw at my son's primary school showed a naked woman chasing the man (also naked) round the house with a feather duster

#67: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:53 am
—
I'm feeling rather sorry for Dr. Schmidt now - what a shock for him!

Thanks Cryst.

#68: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:55 am
—
Dr Schmidt paused, choosing his words very carefully. In truth he should report Sir James to the authorities, but he was keenly aware of the effect that this would have on Lady Russell, and he could not put her through this. He also felt that the particular circumstances, combined with the international reputation of the man as a TB specialist, meant that Dr Schmidt was unlikely to be putting any patients at risk by keeping silent.

“I can see that this has been a very difficult discovery for you, Lady Russell. It is certainly very unusual for a married woman of your age to be so ig… er … completely unaware of the facts about reproduction and normal sexual behaviour. However it is by no means unknown – indeed I recently came across another English woman in a strikingly similar situation. What is outside my experience is the way your husband used a medical procedure to secretly inseminate you to enable you to become pregnant. This is most unethical behaviour for a doctor, and one possible course of action would be for you to report him to the British medical authorities. That would, though, have very unfortunate consequences for his career, and would no doubt drastically affect your own life. There would be shame, disgrace, and loss of income. This may not be something you could contemplate. It is good that this is out in the open between you, and you may able to forgive him and begin your relationship afresh? You need, perhaps to take some time to think this through?”

Madge gave a little shake of her head. “Thank you for listening so patiently, Doctor Schmidt. I have already made up my mind. My marriage will continue as it always has, in name only. Superficially nothing will change. For the sake of the children and the rest of our family and friends I feel unable to do anything else. I have, however, made it clear to him that I will not tolerate any further unapproved additions to my milk. There will be no sexual relationship – the necessary element of mutual trust is just not present.”

“You are a brave woman, Lady Russell, and I wish you well in your chosen path. I hope it has helped for you to be able to talk of this. Now, if you will permit me to get back to the subject of your visit, I think I have all the information I require concerning your menopausal symptoms. I am as sure as I can be that you are indeed experiencing the change of life, and that your symptoms are unusually severe. In a moment, if you will permit it, I would like to take a small sample of blood from your arm. It is a painless procedure. It should confirm that you are indeed menopausal. It will also help the research work that my team at the hospital is doing on this condition.”

Madge nodded. “Of course, Doctor. Anything I can do to help your work. But do you have any suggestions as to how I can get rid of these dreadful symptoms?”

“There are no miracle cures as yet, Lady Russell. But we are having excellent results by giving women daily doses of an extract made from the urine of pregnant mares.” He noted the look of alarm crossing Madge’s face. “Oh, do not be alarmed dear lady. I can assure you that the preparation is condensed into tablet form, and therefore very easy and pleasant to take. What is more, we have not, as yet, discovered any serious side-effects. It appears to relieve the symptoms in most cases. If you agree to try this treatment, I shall give you several months supply today, and you will just need to take one tablet each day. Further supplies can be sent by post. We will keep in touch by telephone, and should you experience any problems, we can decide what to do. Thereafter I will just need to see you once a year or so to monitor you. Does this sound like something you wish to proceed with?”

Madge spared just the briefest passing thought for the pregnant mares, wondering how their urine was collected, and conjuring up some bizarre mental images of the process, but she quickly dismissed her concern and nodded enthusiastically. She was, after all, desperate – she would try anything!

#69: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:46 pm
—
Pregnant mares' urine - blee! At least she doesn't have to drink it!

#70: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 2:21 pm
—
It doesn't taste of anything, not in tablet form.

#71: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:06 pm
—
Thanks Cryst, I hope the tablets ( Confused

) will help!

#72: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:38 pm
—
Oh poor Madge - having to explain all that and be faced with the prospect of consuming pregnant mare's urine...Even in tablet form, it sounds daunting.

Thanks Cryst.

#73: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:48 am
—
Do hope it works!

#74: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:23 pm
—
Well it works for me, anyway!!

Here is the next bit - complete tripe really ...

Thereafter, the consultation proceeded briskly. Dr Schmidt took Madge’s blood pressure, weighed her, measured her height and gave her a package of tablets. He also gave her a sheet to monitor her symptoms, and described what she should look for, and how to fill it in. He presented his bill and indicated that he would be pleased to receive her husband’s cheque in the post in due course. They shook hands warmly as they parted.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help, Doctor Schmidt. If there is the slightest improvement in the symptoms it will have been worthwhile. And thank you too for listening so sympathetically to my tale of woe.”

“Not at all Lady Russell. I wish you well with the treatment, and all the very best for your future. You are a beautiful, charming and courageous lady.” He bent over and touched her hand with his lips. “God go with you,” he added quietly.

An unfamiliar little shiver ran suddenly down Madge’s spine. It had been a long time since she had responded in this way to a man.

She nodded to the receptionist and nurse as she passed through the waiting area and walked out of the building onto the street. She paused and looked at her watch. There were a good few hours before she had to catch her train back to the Tiernsee. “A little shopping expedition is in order, I think, Madge my dear,” she said to herself, and she headed purposefully towards the main shopping area.

It was a few hours later when she made her way back towards the station, laden with all shapes and sizes of parcels. She still had plenty of time to spare and was sauntering along the riverside, enjoying the walk. The river was swollen with the autumn storms, rushing past, turbulent and brown. The pavement was wide here – a promenade of sorts - planted with trees, their leaves turning yellow, orange and brown, with one or two starting to fall in the autumn afternoon. The street was quite busy, with office workers hurrying home for the day, mothers walking their children home from school, and a few late tourists enjoying the sights. Madge stopped for a moment to pick up a soft toy that an infant had dropped from his pram, and exchanged a smile with a tall handsome young man with curly fair hair as he walked past her, whistling.

It was then that it happened. She heard a voice from behind calling her name, and whirled round to see who it was. She just had time to notice Dr Schmidt hurrying along the promenade towards her, when the momentum of her turn caused her momentarily to lose her balance. Dropping her parcels and handbag, she grabbed at a handrail to steady herself and fell heavily against it. To her intense dismay there was a dreadful groan and then a sharp crack as the rusted rail snapped in half. She screamed loudly as she felt herself falling, arms and legs flailing wildly, headlong into the river.

Bet you can't guess what's going to happen next ...

#75: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:53 pm
—
Yippeeeee!!! She's going to be rescued by a doctor! Laughing

Thank you Cryst, this continues to be wonderful!

#76: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:26 am
—
It does, indeed.

I thought Thekla was going to appear and push her in - this is much nicer!

#77: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:54 am
—
She's going to be a good chalet girl - have an accident and be rescued by a doctor! I hope he can swim....

#78: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:08 am
—
This is fabulous! Thanks Cryst.

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

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:15 am
—
Oh wonderful - just what she needs! Laughing

Thanks Cryst.

#80: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:50 am
—
Hooray -rescued by a handsome doctor!

#81: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:10 am
—
Let's hope he rescues her in more ways than one.

#82: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:29 am
—
Excellent!

#83: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:53 pm
—
How splendidly perfect!

Thank you Cryst Very Happy

#84: Author: gwynne, Location: Norwich

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:09 pm
—
perfect! she deserves a charming doctor!

#85: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:46 pm
—
Loving this, thanks Cryst!

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

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:47 pm
—
Brilliant - and all her parcels are safe - will she happen to have a nice glamorous outfit to change into after the rescue Wink

#87: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:32 pm
—
Woohoo a doctor for Madge!

Thanks Cryst

#88: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:51 pm
—
Dear me, you are rather leaping to conclusions here, girls!

As soon as she hit the water Madge could feel the force of the current dragging her mercilessly downstream. With a surge of terror she managed to kick her way to the surface and found that she could just about keep her head above water long enough to take the occasional breath, but there was no resisting that terrible force. The water was icy cold and she knew that she would not survive long. She tried to orientate herself and propel herself somehow towards the bank, but the current was spinning her round and round and she could not get her bearings. It seemed to Madge like an eternity, but in fact it can’t have been more than a few seconds before she felt a strong arm around her waist and a reassuring voice in her ear. “Be calm, good lady. You are safe now.” Then suddenly, before she knew it, she was being pulled out of the water onto a tiny beach of stones by the side of the river.

Panting and shivering, but slowly starting to catch her breath, she looked up into the strong, concerned face looking down at her. A stranger. No wait, it was the young chap she had passed just minutes earlier, who had smiled at her as he whistled his way along the street. “Ah,” she sighed, swooning back into his arms, “you must be a doctor.”

“A doctor?” he replied in surprise. “No, good lady, I am a slaughter-house worker.”

Madge looked back, perplexed. Surely this wasn’t how it was supposed to be?

#89: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:30 pm
—
I hope he washed his hands before rescuing people!

Oh well, maybe after Jem a doctor wasn't such a great idea after all ....

#90: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:33 pm
—
Go Madge! Break the mould! Have a fling with someone who ISN'T A DOCTOR!!!

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

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:34 pm
—
'Strong arm around her waist, reassuring voice in her ear, young'

Who cares what his profession is! Wink

Thanks Cryst.

#92: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:18 pm
—
Laughing

I do hope I haven't just woken up my family with the loud laughter that came out as I read that last bit!

Thank you so much Cryst!

#93: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:31 pm
—
I think I could life with his profession! Thanks Cryst Very Happy

#94: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:44 pm
—
And she's still being pursued by Dr Scmidt. Perhaps she'll have a choice?

A slaughterhouse worker indeed! Shocked

Thanks, Cryst.

#95: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:23 am
—

Quote:

Dear me, you are rather leaping to conclusions here, girls!

Not leaping, just a small side step and there conclusions were! (TM Joss Wheedon and the Buffy crew)

Dr Schmidt can still rescue her from the inevitable pleuro-pneumonia and
shock!

Schnapps anyone?

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

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:20 am
—
Jump back in, Madge! Dr Schmidt must be on the way...

#97: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:37 am
—
Maybe she could have them both - the young butcher now and the old doctor once she's developed pleuro-pneumonia...

Thanks Cryst.

#98: Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:31 am
—
Oh dear me! poor madge! how on earth will she cope with having to make the choice????

#99: Author: Liane, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:39 pm
—

Fatima wrote:

Maybe she could have them both - the young butcher now and the old doctor once she's developed pleuro-pneumonia...

I like this idea!
Just caught up on this, thanks Cryst

#100: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:24 pm
—
Thank you all for your witty comments and ideas for what happens next - I'm giggling like a maniac here. Anyway, here's the next bit.

“But I am a doctor, and this is one of my patients,” said a voice from behind the handsome young slaughterhouse worker. “Step aside please, sir, and I will check her over.”

“She is conscious, Herr Doktor, and appears uninjured. Please wait while I lift her up onto the embankment. You can then assess her fully, but I suggest we need to get her warm as quickly as we can. Your overcoat, please?”

Doctor Schmidt meekly took off his overcoat and handed it over to the young man who wrapped it round Madge before scooping her into his arms and lifting her up onto the pavement. Both men climbed quickly up the steps cut into the embankment wall adjacent to the little beach and bent over Madge. Doctor Schmidt took her pulse and felt her temples. “Are you injured at all, Lady Russell?”

“No Doctor Schmidt, I don’t think so, just rather cold and a little shocked”, she replied, her teeth chattering.

“Then we must get you into the warm and out of those cold clothes immediately. Young man, please could you call us a cab. I will take the lady back to my apartment which is not far from here.”

“But I live just around the corner,” replied the young man, “and my mother will see to her immediately.”

“I’d rather take her with me so that I can keep an eye on her condition – I am after all a medical man,” replied the doctor firmly. He rushed across the road and hailed a cab which fortuitously happened to be passing.

The younger man lifted Madge into his arms once more and placed her gently in the cab. “Thank you so much, my friend,” Madge said weakly. “You saved my life. I hope I can repay you some day. Tell me, how can I find you again?”

“It was my privilege, gentle lady. No repayment is necessary.” With that, he touched his forehead in salute and quickly set off down the street. Doctor Schmidt gave directions to the cab driver, and they drove off. As they moved out into the stream of traffic Madge thought she caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, of a tall blonde figure, dressed in a rather shabby raincoat, slipping behind a tree. Something about her furtive movements suggested that perhaps she did not want to be seen.

#101: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:41 pm
—
Lucky Madge, having all these men fighting over her!

Thanks Cryst

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

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:03 am
—
Laughing

I'm very jealous of Madge now.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:24 am
—
Hmm, tall blonde figure in shabby raincoat - wonder who that is? Wink

Thganks Cryst.

#104: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:36 am
—
I wish the young man had not disappeared so quickly - but maybe Madge is a little old for him! Thanks Cryst, this is inspired!

#105: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:47 am
—
Hmm, Madge could manage a toy-boy, I'm sure.

#106: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:48 pm
—
I am not at all sure why I have written this, or how it will fit into the story, but here it is anyway ...

Thekla had been on her way home when she witnessed the riverside scene. She lived in a little rented flat in one of the poorer parts of town, small and dark, but her pride and joy. After the ultimate disgrace of expulsion from the Chalet School her life had not been easy. Her parents had sent her to stay with an aging great aunt in a small provincial German town, where she had attended a day school – a convent with strict rules, an emphasis on a practical education and few opportunities to be academically stretched or enjoy music, art, drama or other activities out of school. Outside school hours she was expected to act as companion to her great aunt – a crotchety old lady in poor health. She liked Thekla to read to her, but was almost completely deaf, so the girl was perpetually hoarse from shouting.

As soon as she was old enough to leave school her father enrolled her, without consulting her about any ambitions of her own, to train as a nurse. The work was hard and often unpleasant. She soon got used to the more unsavoury parts of the job, and was deft and efficient at her work, but never achieved that ability to empathise with her patients that distinguishes a truly great nurse. When war broke out she spent six exhausting years in field hospitals, dealing with an endless procession of broken men with hopeless injuries – she was often cold and hungry, and always tired. Her immediate family had more or less disowned her after the expulsion. They corresponded periodically, but one day the letters stopped and she was unable after that to discover what became of them, and could only assume that they were lost somewhere in the hell of the German empire when the allies advanced across Europe.

She was in East Germany when the iron curtain came down, and for these few years was glad of her nursing profession as it enabled her to survive, although this was just about all it was – living in a dingy hostel and working long, long hours. She sometimes managed to earn money for extras but she was deeply ashamed of these brief excursions into minor crime, prostitution and blackmail, and she strove hard to avoid these traps and to put the memories of these times behind her. There was little romance in her life as a young woman. The few men she did become close to were driven away by her aloof manner – a part of her still regarded herself as a cut above other people, and this showed, acting as a barrier to both friendship and romance.

When an opportunity came to escape to the West with a group of dissidents who needed someone with some medical knowledge in their party, she took it without hesitation. They undertook a terrifying and tortuous journey through the countryside, using rivers, sewers, tunnels and underground hideouts to avoid border sentries, searchlights, and dogs. By the time they finally arrived in safety her travelling companions were thoroughly irritated by her airs and graces, and abandoned her to her own devices. With no money and only very little food she somehow made her way across Germany and Austria to Innsbruck – subconsciously perhaps trying to make her way back to the area where she had, despite all her problems, spent the happiest time of her life.

In order to resume nursing she had to work her way up from hospital cleaner to auxiliary, eventually being able to train and qualify. With her first month’s meagre salary as a qualified nurse she had put the deposit down on her tiny rented flat and moved in. It was the first place she had been able to really think of as home. By this time she had managed to decorate it to her taste and amass enough furniture and other items to lead a civilised life. There was a little back yard which she had cleared of junk and scrubbed, making herself a little patio with pot plants and a makeshift bench where she liked to sit in the evenings. A thin and sickly stray cat had adopted her and she had been able to respond to its pathetic pleasure at seeing her when she returned home each evening.

She had moved to work for Dr Schmidt just a year ago, and was enjoying her work in this small private practice. Her calm, efficient manner was appreciated, and Dr Schmidt was a considerate, pleasant and generous employer. Thekla felt that they got on well together, and when his wife died a few months ago she had even started to hope that in the fullness of time a romance could grow between the two of them.

The sight of Joey earlier in the summer, and now Madge, both so obviously affluent and successful, had upset her hard won equanimity. The shame, anger and resentment at how she had been treated had come flooding back and once again darkened her existence.

So, her frame of mind as she watched the touching rescue scene from behind her tree was bordering on a murderous rage born of intense jealousy. She cursed to herself and, as the cab drew off, started back towards her flat. But within a few paces her curiosity got the better of her. She was intent on seeing how this turned out, so she changed direction and made towards the more affluent suburb where Dr Schmidt lived. She would observe.

#107: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:31 am
—
Oh, poor Thekla, what a barrren and chilling life. No wonder she feels such violent emotions.

I do so wonder what's going to happen, and hope she has a happy ending.

Thanks, Cryst.

#108: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:40 am
—
Such an empty life - and that is so easily what could have happened.

#109: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:09 am
—
Yes, it's so easy to imagine Thekla having that sort of sad and lonely life; now I almost hope that Madge goes for the toy boy and leaves the doctor for Thekla. After all, Madge has an old doctor of her own, and could do with some fun, whereas Thekla could just do with a nice man. Thanks, Cryst.

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

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:20 am
—
What a horrible existence - no wonder she is angry seeing Madge and Joey's affluence.

Thanks Cryst.

#111: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:44 am
—
What a rotten life she's had - poor Thekla.

#112: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:14 am
—
I think Dr Schmidt would be more fun than Jem.

#113: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:46 am
—
What a horrible life, although sadly, probably a best case scenario for what happened to her.

#114: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:50 pm
—
Thank you Cryst, I feel rather sorry for Thekla now Sad

#115: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:02 pm
—
Oh, for heaven's sake, everyone, there is really no need to feel sorry for the woman. She is horrid. I'm surprised the cat can stand her.

By the time Thekla reached Dr Schmidt’s home dusk was falling, and she was easily able to slip into the bushes at the side of the front garden without being seen. The curtains were not yet drawn, and she could see through the windows a scene that made her blood boil. In the dining room, the housekeeper, whom Thekla knew to be a daily employee living nearby with her family, was busy setting the table for two. In the other front room, Madge, immaculately dressed in an expensive little dress, with an elegant black evening stole around her shoulders, was sitting very close to Dr Schmidt on the settee. They were talking earnestly, gazing into each other’s eyes, and sipping from little glasses. They looked to all the world, and certainly to Thekla, like a courting couple having a romantic and intimate evening in, enjoying their pre-dinner aperitif. She even began to suspect that the whole riverside rescue had been staged to provide an innocent excuse for Madge to spend the night with her would-be lover.

The housekeeper placed starters on the table in the dining room, and then closed the curtains in there. She next appeared in the living room, where she spoke briefly to the couple. Dr Schmidt put a loving arm round Madge’s shoulders and they got up together and left the room arm in arm, unable to keep their hands off each other for a moment. As the housekeeper closed the living room curtains, Thekla’s view was completely cut off, but she was now out of sight of the inhabitants, so she manoeuvred her way round into the shrubbery in front of the dining room window. She was no stranger to the art of eavesdropping at doors and windows. Now - if she could just hear what they were saying…

#116: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:35 pm
—
But she's had a tough life and deserves sympathy (and a dashing doctor to help her shed her bitterness!).

Thanks Cryst.

#117: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:36 pm
—
Maybe Thekla could get together with Jem Laughing

#118: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:06 pm
—
Thanks Cryst

#119: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:09 am
—
Thank you Cryst, I'm with Thekla peeping in here! What's going to happen between Madge and the good doctor?!

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

Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:10 pm
—
Pleased Madge and the good Doctor are getting 'friendly'

Thanks Cryst

#121: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:43 pm
—
After half an hour or so straining her ears at the window, getting as close as she dared, stiff from crouching behind a bush, and getting colder by the minute, Thekla had heard nothing at all. The curtains of all the windows of the house were tightly drawn, with no chinks that she could peep through, so she concluded that she was unlikely to learn any more. Checking down the street to make sure that she remained unobserved, she slipped out of her hiding place and began the long walk home. Her evil mind was churning – and she was determined to exact her revenge on Madge and Joey. By eavesdropping at Madge’s consultation she had managed to pick up most of her sorry tale. Knowing, as Dr Schmidt did not, that Joey and Madge were sisters, she had also realised that Joey had been subjected to the same treatment by her husband. As she saw it she had several possible ways to upset their lives, and she weighed up the various options in her mind. She could report one, or both, of the doctors to the British General Medical Council, and get them struck off. Or she could blackmail one or both of them. Or she could blackmail Madge who would presumably not wish her friends and family to know about her adultery. She smiled grimly. Yes, there were plenty of options. She would consider the pros and cons carefully before taking action.

Inside the house, the reality was very different from that imagined by Thekla’s jealously poisoned mind. Madge had been weak, shivering and close to collapse when the cab had arrived at the house. Dr Schmidt had helped her inside, rapidly explaining the situation to his very capable housekeeper, Berta, who dashed upstairs to run a warm bath. Berta helped Madge out of her wet clothing and into the bath, where she rapidly warmed up. After a while the shivering stopped, but she was left very shaky, needing help to get out of the bath, dried, and into the almost complete change of clothing which she fortunately had with her, courtesy of the earlier shopping expedition. Not the most appropriate of outfits, perhaps, but Madge was at least decent. Berta slipped an old black woollen blanket around Madge’s shoulders, led her down to the living room and helped her onto the settee by the fire. She then made up a bed in one of the guest bedrooms and warmed it with hot water bottles. Dr Schmidt was expecting his sister later that evening for dinner, and while Madge was in the bath he phoned her to ask if she would bring an overnight case and be prepared to stay the night, to act as chaperone and assist Madge if required.

In the scene that Thekla had witnessed, Dr Schmidt had given Madge a restorative glass of schnapps, taking one himself – for he too was somewhat cold having been deprived of his overcoat on the river bank and during the journey home. With some effort, he managed to persuade Madge that she could not possibly make the return journey to the Tiernsee that evening, and that she should stay the night, explaining that his sister would be at hand. At Madge’s request he promised to phone Die Blumen to let Rosa know what had happened, so that she did not worry when Madge failed to return from Innsbruck. Her schnapps finished, Madge had become very drowsy, and he had to help her off the settee and up the stairs, where Berta once again helped her undress and get into bed.

So a romantic, intimate evening was certainly not on the cards. There would be no impropriety between Madge and her doctor that night, although the event had brought them closer and added a dimension of shared adventure to their embryonic friendship.

#122: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:17 pm
—
Oh how disappointing! Laughing

This is not what we were hoping for!

Thanks, Cryst.

#123: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:17 pm
—
What a gentleman!
Thanks cryst

#124: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:06 am
—
But how very worrying that Thekla has all this information, and is prepared to use it. Have abruptly stopped feeling sorry for her!

Thanks, Cryst.

#125: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:14 pm
—
Thanks, Cryst. I have just caught up on reading this. I am worried about what Thekla is planning to do.

#126: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:02 pm
—
That was a big disappointment, Cryst. I was hoping that Madge would find out.

#127: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:11 pm
—

Jennie wrote:

That was a big disappointment, Cryst. I was hoping that Madge would find out.

Sorry about that, Jennie. But let's make sure the pills have started working first, otherwise Madge may have trouble with her ... er ... china ...

#128: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:07 pm
—
Not much happens in this post either, I'm afraid, just getting her back on her way.

Madge woke up the following morning to the sound of a hearty “Guten Morgen” from Berta who had brought her a cup of milky Kaffee on a little tray. The clothes she had been wearing when she fell into the river had been washed, dried and pressed and were neatly folded on a chair ready for her to wear. Berta asked her how she was feeling and Madge was relieved to report that she felt no ill effects at all from the adventure of the day before. She was able to assure Berta that she was fine, and would get up shortly. Berta informed her that breakfast would be served in about 15 minutes in the dining room - Herr Doktor and his sister were just getting up and they would all be able take it together.

Up and dressed, Madge rummaged in her handbag, found her packet of pills, and swallowed the first one with the last of her coffee. She was determined to get on with the cure as soon as she possibly could.

Fraulein Clara Schmidt was a charming woman, friendly and educated, a schoolmistress by profession, and she and Madge got on like a house on fire. Dr Schmidt was relieved to find Madge fully recovered and enquired about her plans. Madge was insistent that she would be fine to return to Die Blumen that morning, and he therefore offered to run her to the station before he went to work.

He enquired further as to her plans for the remainder of her stay in Austria, and on learning that she would be there for another 10 days, he suggested that he and Clara drive out to visit her on Sunday, proposing that they take lunch at the grand hotel by the lakeside. He would be able to assure himself that all was well with her, and also check that there were no ill effects from the tablets. Madge was delighted with the idea and replied that she would look forward to it.

They parted at the station with a warm handshake – the good Doctor clasping her hand in both of his and giving it a long squeeze, Madge embarrassingly responding with one of her long, slow, uncomfortable flushes. Fanning herself with her magazine, Madge thanked him for his medical attentions, his prompt actions the previous evening, and the overnight hospitality. She got into the train and waved goodbye as it pulled out of the station.

#129: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:46 pm
—
Thanks, Cryst. I'm glad they will be keeping in touch.

#130: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:16 pm
—
Let's hope it's the start of a happier time for Madge.

#131: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:12 am
—
Absolutely - and a healthier one.

#132: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:14 pm
—
Thank you Cryst, had great fun catching up!

Very Happy

#133: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:14 pm
—
Janice Chester was rather proud of her ability to get up in the mornings, and always made fun of her friends who found it a trial to get themselves out of bed when the alarm bell sounded. She often woke before the bell, and lay in bed waiting for it impatiently. If she was asleep when it rang, she awoke instantly and completely, usually in good humour, and this was how it was on this occasion. The bell sounded, and amidst the usual groans and grunts from her neighbouring cubicles, Janice alone was out of bed in a trice. She was due for second bath that day, so immediately set to to tidy her cubicle and strip her bed. She removed her plumeau and hung it out of the window as the girls were all required to do. Then she turned back to the bed to remove the sheet and to turn and hump the mattress.

It was then that she stopped in her tracks and stared in horror at the bed. There was a large red circular patch on the sheet. It looked like blood. She twisted round so that she could see the back of her nighty and gasped. That too was covered in blood. Despite her terror she was a level headed girl, and did not at first panic. She stuck her head through the curtains and spoke with her dorm prefect, Susan James, a kindly and sensible girl.

“Susan, I think I must be ill.”

Susan shooed the remaining first baths out and then came into Janice’s cubicle. She assessed the situation instantly.

“Don’t worry, Janice. Pop your dressing gown and slippers on and I’ll take you up to Matron.”

Janice did as she was asked whilst Susan fetched her own dressing gown and quickly stripped Janice’s bed and turned the mattress over.

By now Janice was starting to get worried, and was close to tears. As they walked along the corridor she slipped her hand into Susan’s. “I’m scared,” she said. “Will I die?”

“No, silly, you’ll be fine. It’s all part of growing up. Have you found your skirts getting short recently? Blouses tight around the chest, hair growing where it never used to, that sort of thing?”

Janice nodded.

“Don’t worry. It’s just the curse. Matron will explain it to you, but you mustn’t discuss this with anyone else, do you understand? It’s just not a thing one talks about. Not even with your own chums. It must stay a complete secret. See?”

Janice nodded, although she didn’t see at all. She now believed that she was bleeding to death, had been placed under some sort of dreadful curse, and should not discuss it with anyone. The tears were now starting to flow in earnest.

#134: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:31 pm
—
Poor Janice. What a shock it must have been. Thanks, Cryst.

#135: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:46 pm
—
I'd never thought of that before, but by the law of averages it would've happened to about 3/4 of them whilst they were at school rather than at home. Poor Janice.

#136: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:12 pm
—
Happened to my Mum like that. She was on holiday with a friend and came on over night. Grandma had never warned her, she had nothing prepared at all. Luckily her friends Mum was great, but it made her very determined that she would tell us everything well before it happened. The attitude that it was something that wasn't talked about is very true. In fact I think Steve's Mum had something similar happen to her too. I don't understand why mothers didn't tell their daughters, but they didn't.

#137: Author: Rowena, Location: NE England

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:33 pm
—
I just had a vision of *that* scene from 'Carrie' and the following mayhem Shocked

(pushes bunny firmly under sofa til Hallowe'en Twisted Evil

)

#138: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:51 pm
—
Thank you, Cryst.

Poor Janice Sad

If the mothers remembered how scared they were, why could they not warn their daughters? It would save so much upset Sad

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

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:15 am
—
I think it was because it was seen as something to be ashamed of - even the name 'the curse' - probably a holdover from the Church's attitude.

Poor Janice - hope Matey can reassure her.

Thanks Cryst

#140: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:28 am
—
Poor Janice.
I wonder if they were just so indoctrinated in the 'you must not talk about it' frame of mind that the embarrassment stopped them. After all, they all survived the shock, so their daughters would do the same.
Thanks Cryst.

#141: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 1:41 pm
—
By the time they arrived at Matron’s room, Janice was feeling very scared. She was still crying, and worrying that she might have bled through her dressing gown so that everyone she passed would see it, or that perhaps she was dripping blood. She thought she could feel it damp on the insides of her thighs.

Susan left her with Matron after a brief explanation, saying that Janice’s bed linen and nighty were bloodstained, and the mattress also needed to be dealt with.

Matron thanked Susan and glared severely at Janice. “Who have you told about this?”

“No-one Matron. Well, just Susan. Am I ill?”

“No, it happens to women every month. It’s perfectly normal. Did your mother or sisters never mention anything?”

Janice shook her head, puzzled. Matron nodded, grimly pleased. This was how she liked it – she had absolute control of the information flow. If the girls heard about menstruation from other sources they were apt to discuss it among themselves, and that would never do.

“It is nothing to worry about. Once a month from now until you are about fifty, you will experience bleeding between your legs. It will last a few days each time. You may get tummy ache with it, and you must just ignore that and carry on with your normal day. The only thing you can’t do is swimming. While you are bleeding, just excuse yourself with the mistress in charge. Say ‘I’m sorry, Miss Whoever-it-is, but I can’t swim this week’. It’s important that you use those words, then they will know exactly why and not ask any more questions. Now, let’s get you kitted out. You can’t help having made such a mess this first time because you didn’t know about it, but in future you are expected to manage things more carefully.”

She reached into a cupboard behind her and took out a wide band of elastic with two hook devices evenly spaced around it. “This goes round your waist.” She gave it to Janice along with a paper package. “The towels have loops on the ends and you use the hooks on the belt to hold them in place. There are ten in here. That should last for this month. You keep them in a hidden drawer at the back of your handkerchief drawer. I’ll come down with you to show you how it operates. The dirty ones should be wrapped up and left in there too. The maids will collect them every day. They will also make sure that supplies of clean towels are provided when you need them. If you go out for the day you must take a spare towel or two with you and bring back the dirty ones. You must tell no-one about this. I mean no-one. If anyone asks any questions you must send them to me. Do you understand?”

Janice’s head was reeling, and she didn’t really understand at all, but she nodded anyway.

“Good. Now come along with me, and I’ll bring a bowl of hot water so that you can sponge down your mattress – we don’t want it to stain.”

With that, Matron marched Janice back to her dormitory. By now the other inhabitants had made their way to Fruhstuck, so Matron was able to show Janice her secret drawer, and how to sponge the mattress. She left Janice with a curt “Now run along to have your bath, and mind you wash between your legs carefully. Put the belt and towel on when you get dressed. You’ll have to miss your breakfast for once, and you should be able to catch up with the others in time for your first lesson. Now, have you got any questions?”

“Er, I don’t think so. No, wait, please can you explain again about the belt and towel. Does it go over my clothes or underneath?”

“It goes underneath your knickers, of course. It wouldn’t be much good otherwise, now would it?” Matron smiled at her own little joke, and Janice managed a wan smile in response.

“That’s it. Chin up. Nothing to worry about. Come back to see me if you are confused about anything. And remember, ladies just don’t talk about this, we just get on with it with dignity.”

Her tears now starting to stop, but still completely bemused by the whole encounter, Janice got her washing things together and made for the bathroom. “I think I’ll go for ‘chill off’ this morning,” she though to herself. Normally a stalwart of the cold bath, Janice had decided to celebrate her initiation into womanhood by awarding herself a little luxury.

#142: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 1:45 pm
—
I remember those belt thingys - they were dreadful! What a joy it was to finally get the sticky pads that actually stayed where you wanted them to!

I don't like the idea of hiding the dirty ones down the back of the hanky drawer, though. Gross!

Thanks Cryst.

#143: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 2:57 pm
—
This sounds awful! Periods are bad enough without Matron's rigmarole of hiding things. And only ten pads! What if she has a really heavy one. Poor Janice.

Loving this. Laughing

Thanks!

#144: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:22 pm
—
Poor Janice
10 Pads Shocked

#145: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:19 pm
—
& not very nice for the maids having to take the used ones away. Wonder if Matron has a chart so they know whose secret drawer to look in when Rolling Eyes

#146: Author: Liane, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:17 am
—
Just caught up on this, poor Janice!
Thanks Cryst

#147: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 5:01 pm
—
Wow, Matron, don't wrap her in cotton wool or anything, tell it like it is! Shocked

Also somewhat grossed out at the secret drawer behind the hankies...

#148: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:18 pm
—

Lizzie wrote:

Also somewhat grossed out at the secret drawer behind the hankies...

OK, Matron takes the point and is working on it ...

Matron was inordinately proud of the regime that she had that she instigated to deal with the delicate issue of menstruation within the school. She had invented her scheme some twenty years ago, and had the furniture designed especially. Throughout this time she had managed to maintain complete secrecy and silence on the matter, and she was certain that this is how it should be. Girls had no knowledge of it until they encountered it first hand, and they did not discuss it with each other, or with the staff. In most cases they did not discuss it with their families either. There were no vending machines or bins in the splasheries to give the game away. Her arrangements meant that the whole thing was conducted with the dignity expected of young ladies of the time. It was as though the problem just did not exist.

However, during the past few years Matron had begun to have doubts about the disposal operation. In this day and age it did not seem quite hygienic, and it was as though distant voices were pointing this out to her and urging her to find another way. She was therefore in the process of installing concealed bins in the splasheries. Of course the operation had to be completely hush-hush, and she was having difficulty commissioning the work when she was so constrained as to what she could say about it. So it was all taking much longer than she had anticipated. As she left Janice, therefore, she was fervently hoping that this would be the last time she would have to instruct a girl in that particular aspect of the operation.

She did not dwell on this matter for long, however, as she had another more troubling matter on her mind. It had come to her attention that the school curriculum was to be extended to include PSHE. Being a member of the support staff, rather than the teaching staff, she could not, of course, be a part of the team delivering this subject. Yet many aspects of this subject had always belonged firmly in her domain, not that of the teaching staff. She was feeling this erosion of her empire very keenly, and the news that Joey was to be involved in the teaching did not allay her fears one bit. Something would have to be done about it.

#149: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:42 pm
—
Thanks, Cryst!

#150: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:10 pm
—
The PSHE curriculum will probably involve periods, so I suspect Matron's complete control of the matter will be ended unless she can find some way of interfering with Joey's plans.

#151: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:03 pm
—

Quote:

In this day and age it did not seem quite hygienic, and it was as though distant voices were pointing this out to her and urging her to find another way.

Thanks Cryst!

#152: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:13 pm
—
I'm just so glad that I didn't grow up in a time when this sort of thing was considered top secret. It's frightening even when you know the score, I can't imagine having had to deal with it all on my own...

On a lighter note, I'm glad to see that Matey is beginning to move with the times. And I love her concealed bins in the Splasheries, it's brilliant how she's making the disposal of sanitary towels sound like espionage. Actually, what with her empire eroding at the threat of Joey's PSHE lessons, and the strictly-need-to-know information being passed on by word of mouth alone, this is beginning to sound like the plot of a James Bond movie.

Thanks Cryst, more please!

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

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:38 pm
—
I can't actually see a problem with having concealed bins in the Splashery - after all they've managed to conceal the toilets for all these years! Wink

Thanks Cryst.

#154: Author: RroseSelavy, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:02 pm
—
Poor girls! I loved Susan's "Don't worry, it's just the curse." Laughing

And now I'm wondering if Matey also supplied them with minimiser bras to hide other, erm, aspects of womanhood...

Thanks Cryst.

#155: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:55 pm
—
Thanks, Cryst. I'm glad that I didn't have to hide it from everyone else. I was lucky that I realised mine had started 1st thing in the morning, so my Mum was able to help me out.

#156: Author: Michelle, Location: Near London

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:33 pm
—
I started during the night, but I didn't notice until after lunch. Very scary when I think about it now!

I was very excited about it, and quite proud to go to Matron and announce I needed some equipment, but I was shocked when I got home to discover my mum already knew.

Poor Janice! I'm so glad things have changed. And poor girls, having to ignore period pains. No pain killers, no hot water bottles, no chocolate... not even allowed to moan about it!

Thank you, Cryst.

#157: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:12 am
—
Always wondered how they managed in those overnight stays on coaches, in mountain huts etc!!!!!!! All those teenage girls - and not a hanky drawer in sight. But then, as Lesley said, no need for loos either. Shocked

Some things better not mentioned. Rolling Eyes

#158: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:30 pm
—
Sunday had arrived at last. Madge had now been taking the tablets for several days, and was astonished and delighted at the dramatic effect they were having, even after so short a time. Her hot flushes and night sweats were banished, as were her black moods and bouts of irrational weeping and anger. She felt twenty years younger, and was sure she looked it too. Hope had been rekindled in her – she was convinced that her life would now change for the better. She was determined to enjoy herself.

She was due to meet Dr Schmidt and Clara at the mountain railway station at noon. Dr Schmidt had telephoned her the previous evening to finalise the arrangements. An early lunch was booked at the Hotel, and they were all to come dressed for a walk in the afternoon, when Madge planned to show them one of her favourite rambles. This would be followed by afternoon tea at Die Blumen before brother and sister departed back for Innsbruck. Madge was filled with girlish excitement at the prospect. She felt sure that Clara was a kindred spirit - someone who could easily become a close friend. The feelings she had for the brother were more difficult to categorise – all she knew was that she had not felt this way about the prospect of meeting a man for many, many years.

#159: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:34 pm
—
An update !
Thanks Cryst

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

Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:16 pm
—
Good for Madge - glad the tablets are working.

Thanks Cryst.

#161: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:03 am
—
Oh, splendid. So glad she's feeling so much better.

Thanks for the update, Cryst.

#162: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:47 am
—
Dr Schmidt, meanwhile, was in something of a quandary. He too had been looking forward all week to his planned visit to the Tiernsee. He could not quite persuade himself that this was due to simple professional interest in his patient’s progress, nor was it straightforward anticipation of a pleasant day out in the mountains – there was something more, but he was not quite being honest enough with himself to scrutinize his feelings. He rose and breakfasted early, and was just getting ready to leave the house when Clara phoned. She had woken up with an uncomfortably sore throat, and although she’d struggled to get dressed and ready to leave, she was not at all well, and felt it best if she stayed at home. After making sure that she had everything she needed, and assuring himself that she was not seriously ill, he put the telephone down and scratched his head. Without his sister present to act as chaperone, the strictly honourable thing to do would be to phone Lady Russell and call off the arrangements. However, in this day and age, and with people of their age, such a formal protocol was not strictly necessary, and it would not be too badly thought of, he was sure, if he went alone. After a short debate with himself he decided to be bold and go.

He then had a further tussle with his conscience while he considered phoning Lady Russell to alert her to the slight change of plans. By the time he had spent a couple of minutes deliberating over this point, he realised that time was marching on, and if he did not leave immediately he was in danger of missing his train. So he put on his hat and coat, made sure his gloves were tucked safely in his pocket, picked up his alpenstock and made his way briskly to the station.

#163: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:22 pm
—
I wonder if Madge will be pleased to see the doctor on his own?

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

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:34 pm
—
Yes, can see him trying to justify the fact that, actually, he didn't want to give Madge the opportunity to say that they could reschedule. Laughing

Wonder if Clara really has a sore throat?

Thanks Cryst.

#165: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:49 pm
—
Laughing

Thank you, Cryst!

Like Lesley, I'm wondering how legitimate this sore throat of Clara's is!

#166: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:43 pm
—
As Dr Schmidt stepped down from the train he looked around anxiously for Madge, then he spotted her, and she him, and they walked towards each other, both smiling broadly.

“Ah, Lady Russell, how good it is to see you again, and looking so well.”

They both struggled against a sudden inappropriate but seemingly natural instinct to embrace, instead shaking hands warmly.

“It’s very good of you to come. I have been looking forward to your company all week,” Madge smiled. “But,” she said, looking around, suddenly realising that he was alone, “where is your sister?”

“I hope you don’t mind, dear lady, but she is unwell and cried off at the very last minute. Rather than disappoint you” he looked bashful, “and myself, I decided to come alone. I hope you feel that is acceptable, if not I assure you I am quite prepared to get back on the train right now.”

“Oh, of course not Herr Doktor, I wouldn’t hear of it.” Madge replied. “I am sure I will be quite safe in your company, and who would even let it cross their mind that a couple of people our age could be engaged in anything less than respectable?” She gave a little laugh, smiled reassuringly, linked her arm in his, and led him towards the Hotel by the lake where their lunch awaited.

Lunch was an exceptionally civilised affair. They steered clear of discussing any medical matters in public, but Madge and Dr Schmidt found that they could converse easily and with great mutual interest on any number of topics. At this time of year the hotel dining room was quiet, but they were by no means the only customers, and a pianist in a discreet corner played a medley of popular song tunes, loudly enough for their conversation to be private, but not loudly enough to make it difficult for them to hear each other speaking. The food was simple, traditional fare, but beautifully cooked and served. A carafe of very acceptable but unpretentious red house wine complemented the food perfectly.

Finishing off her last spoonful of Apfelstrudel which had been served encased in a cloud of fluffy whipped cream, Madge sighed contentedly. “Well, that was quite delicious. I don’t have room for another mouthful.”

“Indeed it was. Shall we have coffee before we set off on our ramble?” asked Dr Schmidt.

“Oh yes, let’s. It’s not one o’clock yet, so even with the nights starting to draw in, we have oodles of time left for our walk.”

They shared a small pot of coffee with more cream and some delicious little home-made sweetmeats, then Madge took herself off to powder her nose whilst Dr Schmidt settled the bill. Then they wrapped themselves up, Madge collected her little rucksack from the hall where she had left it, and they set off along the lakeside.

#167: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:50 pm
—
How nice! I hope they get very friendly!

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

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:24 pm
—
Very civilised. Glad they are enjoying themselves.

Thanks Cryst.

#169: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:34 pm
—
So far, so perfect!

*looks sternly at Cryst* Be nice to them! Laughing

#170: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:58 pm
—
As they left the village, and completely out of earshot of others, Dr Schmidt felt that he was able to check up on Madge medically. He broached the subject carefully. “Lady Russell, I will quite understand if you would prefer not to discuss medical matters as we are alone, but if you are willing, I would like to enquire about your state of health following the unfortunate accident on the riverbank the other day, and also ask if you have any observations about how you feel the treatment for your menopausal symptoms is suiting you.

“Oh, I was the tiniest bit shaky and shivery the day I came home, but I sat by the fire and read for most of the day, then had an early night. By the morning I felt fine. I have a couple of bruises where I must have hit the edge of the broken railing as I went down or something, but all in all I’m absolutely fully recovered – no lasting ill effects, thanks to my rescuer, your prompt actions and Berta’s assistance.

“I am most relieved to hear it,” replied Dr Schmidt. “On the other matter, I can report that the blood test showed that the symptoms you have been indeed experiencing are, as we strongly suspected, due the onset of the menopause. May I enquire whether you have started the course of tablets yet?”

“Oh yes, indeed I have,” enthused Madge. “The effect has been like magic. My symptoms disappeared almost overnight. I can’t tell you how much better I feel. Not only am I not experiencing the hot flushes and night sweats and so on, but my mood has lightened so much. I feel full of energy and somehow more alive than I have for years. Thank you for being able to help. It must be wonderful to be able to make such a difference to people’s lives.”

“You are most welcome,” replied the doctor, “I am very pleased that this is working for you.”

A group of people was by this time approaching them along the foot path, so Dr Schmidt skilfully changed the subject, and encouraged Madge to tell him about the early history of the Chalet School. This was a subject close to her heart, and she was easily able to hold his attention as she pointed out various places of interest and related the incidents and adventures that had happened at each one. She, in turn, was interested in his own life story, and he told her of his childhood and young adult years, growing up in a wealthy suburb of Vienna and studying medicine at the world famous university there. In this way they passed a very pleasant hour or so, scarcely realising how far they were walking, chatting freely as they gradually climbed the path high up into the mountains.

After a while they reached one of Madge’s favourite vantage points with the mountain wall rising steeply behind them and a wide grassy ledge in front. They sat down on a log and looked down on the lake, by this time a long way beneath them, still shining blue-grey in the autumn sunshine. Dr Schmidt got out his map and they poured over it, together identifying the various hamlets, mountains, and lakes they could see spread out in front of them.

Then Madge saw the cloud.

#171: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:59 pm
—
Fingers crossed for a) a mega thunderstorm and b) a conveniently placed little hut in which the two of them will have to take shelter!

#172: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 10:22 pm
—
Uh oh!

Laughing

#173: Author: janem, Location: Ash, Surrey

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:31 am
—
Cue an empty barn with lots of hay!

#174: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:23 pm
—
Is Madge going to "get it on"??!!

#175: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:04 pm
—

janem wrote:

Cue an empty barn with lots of hay!

Certainly not, that would be far too corny ... Laughing

“Oh dear,” she said, pointing. “Can you see that large black cloud over there? It is growing at a most alarming rate. The weather can be very changeable in these parts and that looks like a real whopper of a storm brewing. We had better head for home, I think.”

“Indeed, good lady,” replied Dr Schmidt. “You are correct. I have experienced such storms in the mountains before and that does not look good.” He folded up the map, putting in into one of his enormous pockets, and picked up his bits and pieces in readiness to leave. Madge did likewise, but in the very few minutes this took, they were alarmed to see the cloud had grown even more, larger and darker, and the sky was visibly darkening. A chill wind whipped up around them and Madge shivered.

“Gracious, that is moving towards us very quickly,” said Dr Schmidt. “We are not going to get home before it reaches here, and it will bring heavy rain and poor visibility. We must find shelter if we can. Are there any barns or mountain huts around here Lady Russell, do you know?”

Madge thought quickly. “No, I’m afraid not,” she replied, “but I am pretty sure that there is a place just a little further along this path where the mountain rock forms a deep overhang, which could afford us some shelter. We can ride out the storm there. Come.”

She led the way, walking briskly with Dr Schmidt at her side. Her memory served her well. Not five minutes further on there was indeed a deep overhang of rock running for several meters. Alongside it for most of its length grew a dense thicket of bushes, and they were able to crawl into the sheltered space so formed. The overhang of rock would protect them from the downpour of rain and the bushes would further prevent them being soaked by rain blown horizontally by the wind. The wriggled right to the back of their cosy little cave just in time. There was a huge clap of thunder, a flash of lightening and the rain started.

They took stock of their surroundings. The ground was bone dry, of clean soil with a soft, deep covering of dead leaves and moss which had built up over the years. There was not much headroom – they could not stand, and only sit uncomfortably hunched up with their heads hard against the overhang of the rock. “At least we will be dry here, Lady Russell,” said Dr Schmidt. “We cannot sit like this for long though - we would be more comfortable lying down, I think”. He wriggled out of his coat and spread it on the ground, then unfolded his legs from underneath himself, and stretched out full length, propped up on one elbow. Madge lay down on the coat beside him. She gave a little shiver as she heard the thunder and the wind rustled the bushes. He moved closer and put his arm around her. “Do not be afraid,” he said softly, “we are warm and dry here, and the storm will pass quickly, I’m sure. We will be able to head down the mountainside again in a very short time, you’ll see.”

Madge shivered again, but this time it was not the usual sort of cold shiver that she experienced – not at all; it was more of a delicious tingling warm sensation, starting in her breasts and rippling downwards, then in her thighs and spreading slowly, delightfully upwards.

#176: Author: Mary, Location: Sussex University

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:54 pm
—
Oh Madge!

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

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:02 pm
—
Woo hoo! First time for everything Madge! Wink

Last edited by Lesley on Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:16 pm; edited 1 time in total

#178: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:10 pm
—
Go Madge! Very Happy

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

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:19 pm
—
*splutters*

Oh deary me, what is Madge about to do?!

#180: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:28 pm
—
What she ought to have done years ago, if Jem hadn't been such a wally.

It's never too late, Madge.

#181: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:44 pm
—
I'm having trouble deciding what happens next, so have added a poll ....

#182: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:09 pm
—
PLease let nature take its course!

#183: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:18 pm
—
Agree with Sue! Jem is a waste of space - Madge deserves a bit of fun!

#184: Author: Vick, Location: Leeds, Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:25 pm
—
I think nature should be allowed take it's course.

#185: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:08 pm
—

leahbelle wrote:

PLease let nature take its course!

Oh, all right then! Rolling Eyes

Madge lay silent and still for a couple of minutes, her eyes closed, luxuriating in this new sensation, basking in the warm man smell coming from beside her. She imagined what would happen next. Perhaps he would run his hand up her thigh – she could feel it tingle just at the thought - or maybe start with a slow, lingering kiss? Or he might begin by caressing her breasts, perhaps pushing up under her coat to reach them, his hand warm from his gloves. Her body yearned for his touch. Mentally, too, she was fully prepared for what was to come. She resolved that it was time to find out what she had been missing all these years. She would be unfaithful to Jem – yes, indeed she would. The thought gave her no guilt, did not make her feel in the least bit uncomfortable. As she felt Dr Schmidt’s breath hot against her neck, his breathing becoming steadily louder, she reflected that she had never felt this intense excitement and anticipation at the thought of Jem’s touch. Yes, it was certainly time. This was a kind and thoughtful man, and at the age of fifty she would lose her virginity at long last to a practised, considerate, and gentle touch. She squirmed deliciously, noticing as she moved that another of those troublesome menopausal symptoms was definitely banished. She edged slightly closer to her lover, and parted her lips gently in readiness for his.

There was a little noise from beside her. She could not believe her ears. A snore? Yes, it was a snore - another followed, a little louder - it was most definitely a snore. She opened her eyes and confirmed her suspicion that Dr Schmidt had indeed dropped off to sleep.

“Well, I never,” she thought with some amusement. “I suppose I should have expected that. A fifty something year old man, full of good food, having consumed most of a bottle of wine, indulges in a spot of moderate exercise, then lays down in a warm, dry, dark place, next to a menopausal woman. I can hardly blame him - what else could possibly happen – nature has taken its course.”

She moved carefully away, so as not to disturb him, and drew herself up into an uncomfortable sitting position. She looked down on him fondly – even asleep and snoring at such an inappropriate moment she was drawn to him. She reached for her knapsack and giggled. “So I might as well have a cup of cocoa while I wait,” she thought, pouring herself some from her thermos flask.

( Twisted Evil

)

#186: Author: Simone, Location: Newton le Willows

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:31 pm
—
Laughing

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

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:50 pm
—
Poor Madge!

Thanks Cryst

#188: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:01 pm
—
Loving it! Good old nature, but poor Madge.

#189: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:13 pm
—
She really doesn't have much luck, does she Laughing

#190: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:45 pm
—
NORTY Cryst! You *know* that isn't what we meant!!

#191: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:20 pm
—
I think we've been had! Laughing

#192: Author: Vick, Location: Leeds, Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:49 pm
—
Rolling Eyes

Typical Man!! Rolling Eyes

#193: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:20 pm
—
Laughing

Poor Madge!!

#194: Author: vlindsay,

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:29 pm
—
there is always the young workman chappie who fished her out of the river - i seem to remember some nice sounding muscles and a few looks between him and madge.....or mabye thats just wishful thinking on my part!

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

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:32 pm
—
Cryst = Ratbag! Wink

#196: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:13 pm
—

vlindsay wrote:

there is always the young workman chappie who fished her out of the river - i seem to remember some nice sounding muscles and a few looks between him and madge.....or mabye thats just wishful thinking on my part!

Yes, I've been wondering about him too, but we don't know his name or address and I can't think how to bring him back in without it seeming *very* contrived.

#197: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:25 pm
—
It can't possibly sound any more contrived than Jem happening to fall over Madge's sister at the ice carnival a few months after encountering Madge after the train crash with Frau Berlin!

I'm sure he could turn up to do some work at the surgery or something. Please Wink

#198: Author: vlindsay,

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:36 am
—
get her up a cable car, cable car breaksdown, young man to the rescue???

#199: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:14 pm
—
After about twenty minutes Madge could hear that the rain had eased up. She wriggled to the end of the cave to check – yes the storm had disappeared as quickly as it had materialised. It was time to head back down the mountain. She said quite loudly, “Ah yes, it’s clearing up nicely – time to get going, I think Dr Schmidt.” He roused quite quickly for a man of his age, looking around puzzled for an instant before remembering where he was. “Please forgive me, Lady Russell, I must have dropped off to sleep for a few minutes.” He brought the rest of their things to the entrance and they shook the leaves out of their clothing and got themselves ready to leave. The path back down the hillside was slippery in places from the rain, but both were experienced alpinists with good walking boots and stout sticks, and they made their way safely back to the village.

Madge led the way back to Die Blumen, where Rosa was waiting with afternoon tea ready to serve by the merrily blazing fire in Joey’s comfortable salon. She brought in the steaming teapot and hot water jug, then left them alone to enjoy their meal.

They resumed their easy conversation - Dr Schmidt was fascinated by Madge’s account of the movements of the school in the period before and during the war, and Madge was equally enthralled by his descriptions of some of the more amusing incidents from his time as a young doctor just starting out in general practice. A convivial hour passed quickly, interrupted by the clock striking five. Dr Schmidt made to get up. “Gracious, is that the time? I must make my way back to the railway station or I will miss my connection for Innsbruck.” Madge rose to accompany him, but he would not hear of it. “No, dear lady, you need not go out again – stay here in the warm – we have had enough adventures for one day, I think.”

He paused, and looked at the floor, blushing slightly. “I should perhaps not mention this, Lady Russell, but I must say how much I have enjoyed your company. In other circumstances I believe we could become good friends – very close friends indeed, if you know my meaning. But you are a married woman, and I am your doctor. Should your circumstances change, and you find yourself in need of a friend, I do hope you would feel that we know each other well enough for you to get in touch. I could pass your medical care on to an excellent colleague of mine, who is also working in this area, and then nothing would stand in the way of,” he paused again, searching for the right words “a different kind if relationship between us.”

Madge replied warmly, “Yes indeed, I have very much enjoyed the day too, and I will always remember your kind words.”

He smiled affectionately, resisting a strong temptation to kiss her, but instead sliding skilfully back into his professional manner. “I hope the treatment continues to suit you, Lady Russell. If you should experience any unpleasant side effects at all, please telephone me. There are other combinations of drugs that we can try, and adjusting the mix might help.”

“Yes, I will,” replied Madge, “but what sort of side-effects do you mean?”

“Oh, nothing too alarming, I can assure you, but some women do experience swollen breasts, palpitations, irregular bleeding, abnormally increased libido, headaches, bloating, that sort of thing.”

“Very well, I will be in touch if I have any such problems, but certainly it seems to be very promising at this stage.”

They made their way out onto the doorstep and shook hands.

As he left, Madge asked casually, “Oh, by the way, you don’t happen to know the name and address of the young man who helped you pull me out of the river, do you? I would very much like to write and thank him.”

“I will make enquiries, Lady Russell. Goodbye, and thank you once again.”

Madge watched as he made his way briskly down the street. “Just my luck,” she thought, smiling to herself. “He’s a lovely attractive man but a true gentleman. One for the future, maybe, but for now I could do with someone younger and with fewer scruples.”

#200: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:24 pm