The CBB :: View topic - But what shall we do for prizes? complete

But what shall we do for prizes? complete

through

[^/[Print]\]

The CBB -> St Scholastika's House

#1: But what shall we do for prizes? complete Author: abbeygirl, Location: ely, cambs

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:40 pm
—
One can only wibble about posting for the first time for so long.... The AC is at the printers and I have the feeling this emerged from a book review I wrote in the last few pages...

“But what will we do for prizes?” Joey asked perplexed. She had not expected her visitors and hence did not have the usual stash of small but thoughtful trifles ready to be handed out to the lucky winner of progressive games. Luckily the ever resourceful Daisy stepped in. “Oh Joey don’t you remember! You found that spare copy of Cicely Holds the Fort in the attic the other day – I’m sure that would do as a prize!”

“That old thing!” scoffed Joey – “I can’t see anyone wanting that! Its been out of print for twenty years now!”

There was a strange, eerie quality to the silence in Joey’s much loved sitting room at Freudisham. One girl stepped forward to break it “Oh Mrs Maynard – we’d all be simply thrilled to own one of your books – is it a first with dust jacket by the way?”

“Oh yes” replied Joey – “And signed of course.” The tense atmosphere grew even more so and the air of expectancy increased.

Joey and Daisy set out the tables and put several interesting challenges in front of their guests – “funny, though” thought Joey – “I can’t remember Hilda saying she was sending over any girls for help and advice today. And I had the new girls tea party last week. I wonder …” But Joey was ever hospitable and her door always open, so she gave up trying to solve the mystery and set Daisy to supervise, while she went to arrange tea for her unexpected guests with her faithful servant Anna.

Daisy had never seen such a clumsy set of girls. The first casualty was apparently just about to win threading the most needles but – as Daisy had her back turned she didn’t quite see how the accident had taken place - she had somehow managed to fall, still clutching the needles – and stabbed herself in several places. Daisy didn’t think the injuries were life threatening, but she was out of the contest nonetheless. Bleeding profusely all over Joey’s new rug, she was sent protesting back to school and the tender mercies of Matron. The second accident had not been long in coming – one girl, a look of dawning triumph frozen into place had somehow managed to knock herself out. “Tilting!” thought Daisy and strictly forbidden but “girls will be girls” she added indulgently to herself. The second girl was put to bed – and would also be dispatched matron-ward when she had recovered consciousness. Another appeared to faint – and was out for the count after muttering something that sounded like “Oh No! – not a dose of something to make me sleep!” The fourth looked like she had several dried peas and a knitting needles pushed up her nose – quite how that had happened Daisy could not decide, and certainly the other three girls on her table looked innocent enough. In quick succession a further four girls fell out of the competition for one reason or another. “Matron is going to be busy today!” thought Daisy and hoped uneasily that she would not get the blame for this.
“Oh do let me help Mrs Maynard” cried one of the girls and she leapt forward to help with the heavily laden tea trolley. Somehow she appeared to trip and went down in a heap in front of her hostess. Another girl – who had been standing right behind the latest casualty – stepped over the prostrate form of her fellow guest and with a winning smile began to help hand round.
Joey looked uneasily round her front room – there seemed to be a number of bodies in various stages of consciousness – some groaning pitifully – at least as far as she could tell as one or two appeared to be smothered below a strategically placed cushion. There were only two girls left standing and although both were smiling – the smile did not reach their eyes. From the corner of her eye Joey saw what looked like two pale arms clutching at the French windows. Joey dismissed the thought as it was a virtual blizzard outside and surely no one would have gone outside for a walk. They did look a bit stiff thought Joey – maybe one of the garden statues had fallen down.
“Oh!” came a cry of dismay and Joey quickly turned round to find one of the two girls clutching her head and swaying back and forth. Joey could see a large lump rapidly emerging on top pf her head and her solid silver tea tray seemed to have a slight dent in it.
“She fell on top of your tea tray Mrs Maynard – it was an unfortunate – accident” said Joey’s one remaining upright guest in silky smooth tones. “Can I suggest that as I am the only one left, I be declared the winner of progressive games?”
“I don’t see why not” rejoined Joey “Daisy – go and find me that book will you Old Thing?”
Daisy left the room and came back clutching a book. The girl’s eyes gleamed with the avaricious light usually reserved for the hallowed precincts of the Haunted Bookshop and involuntarily she started forward – arms outstretched.
“Sorry Joey – couldn’t find Cecily – but found this one of Werner instead.”
Joey turned to her one remaining guest with a sigh of relief. “Oh I’m so glad – I feel much better about giving you this nice new ABC Publishing reprint. I do hope you enjoy it. And come back soon..”
Numbly her guest took the proffered book and left Freudisham with Joey and Daisy waving her farewell. It had all been for nothing then. But then she brightened – after all she had managed to dispose of several serious collecting rivals in the space of just a few hours and wasn’t there some sort of party going on at EJO’s place soon – maybe she might finally get her hands on The Twins of Castle Charming!

#2: Author: Liz K, Location: Bedfordshire

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:45 pm
—
Nice one, I like it!!!! Very Happy

#3: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:39 pm
—
Laughing

Who managed to kill the rest of us off like that???

#4: Author: Rosalin, Location: Swansea

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:10 pm
—
Laughing

All that work and not a HB to show for it.

Thanks Fiona

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

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:13 pm
—
Laughing

Love it!

#6: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:52 pm
—
Razz

Great!

#7: Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:53 am
—
Snork. Choke. Splutter.

Oh and BTW, I would have no hesitation in killing or maiming the lot of you in creative ways for a first of Nancy meets a Nazi.

#8: Author: Torri, Location: Connecticut

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:34 am
—
Laughing

Heee! Brilliant!

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

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:02 am
—
A woman after my own heart...... Laughing

#10: But what shall we do for prizes? Author: abbeygirl, Location: ely, cambs

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:40 am
—

Miss Di wrote:

Oh and BTW, I would have no hesitation in killing or maiming the lot of you in creative ways for a first of Nancy meets a Nazi.

Shocked ... But Miss Di surely only if it had a dustjacket?!

Thank you very much one and all for your kind comments - much appreciated!

#11: Author: abbeybufo, Location: Romsey, Hampshire - UK

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:59 am
—
Why oh why do you choose a night that I'm out to make your first post Shocked

Thanks, Fi - now you just need to write a bit for the AC about the party [here, or at Wendy's?] where TOCC is the promised prize rofl

#12: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:01 pm
—

Quote:

One can only wibble about posting for the first time for so long

You can indeed, Fiona. Some of us have to be blackmailed into that first post. Right, Lesley?? Twisted Evil

Wonderfully devious guest - she'll go far! rofl

#13: Author: roversgirl, Location: France

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:34 am
—
thanks very much! very clever Smile

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

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:02 am
—

MaryR wrote:

Quote:

One can only wibble about posting for the first time for so long

You can indeed, Fiona. Some of us have to be blackmailed into that first post. Right, Lesley?? Twisted Evil

Wonderfully devious guest - she'll go far! rofl

Don't know what you mean Mary. Wink

*Innocent whistle*

The CBB -> St Scholastika's House

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod. All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1