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Why don't I have grandchildren?
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4314
Author:  claire [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Why don't I have grandchildren?
1979
Joey Maynard threw down the letter from her elder sister with a sigh, she was pleased for her sister, truly she was but she couldn’t help feeling jealous as well, her sister had just become a grandmother for the twentieth time and she didn’t have a single one.

‘It’s not fair’ she muttered under her breath ‘I had 11 children you’d have thought at least one would have given me a grandchild’
Ever since her eldest daughter Len had married Reg Entwhistle after graduating from university Joey had been pinning her hopes and desires on the next generation but unfortunately it wasn’t to be, for many reasons.

Len had made no secret of the fact that she wanted children, although not as many as her mother, and Joey knew what a great sadness it was to her that she had failed to conceive. Len had masked her disappointment by throwing herself into her career, she had been promoted to headmistress of the Chalet School just after her 35th birthday, and into cream cakes, resulting in her weighing the same amount as both her triplet sisters combined. Joey had noticed, however, that her face seemed slimmer over the past year although her girth had not seemed to decrease.

Con had achieved even greater accolades from her writing than her mother, having had a book on the Times best seller list every year for the past 16 years and becoming the first female poet laureate in 1972, surprising everyone who had expected Sir John Betjeman to receive the honour. However despite success in her career, Con’s personal life had been anything but, a few brief affairs had fizzled out long before reaching what could be termed ‘relationship’ status as she neglected each man in favour of her imaginary heroes.

Margot was happy in her chosen vocation, but since she had made her decision to become a nun whilst still in her teens Joey had known not to expect grandchildren from her, and both parents had been so proud when she received Holy Orders, their ‘naughty’ daughter had matured into a deeply caring woman and they could not imagine her doing anything else.
Author:  abbeybufo [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
This looks interesting, claire - looking forward to news of the rest of the family . . .
Thanks :D
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Poor Len - still, Headmistress of the CS. :lol:


Thanks Claire
Author:  claire [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Stephen, the eldest of the Maynard boys, had followed in his father’s footsteps in many ways. He had completed his medical training and joined the Gornetz Platz Sanatorium as a junior doctor. Like his father he had married at 34 and had a 12 year age difference between him and his spouse. It wasn’t that Joey didn’t like Kathy, quite the contary but when he had married Kathy Ferrars he had accepted they were extremely unlikely to have children of their own due to her age and he was happy with that.

Charles had followed his third sisters example and joined the priesthood, he was extremely happy watching over his ‘flock’ as he termed them and spent the vast majority of his time in what had been the slums of East London.

Mike had joined the Navy as everyone had expected and shared a flat with his shipmate during their leave. He’d never made any announcements about their relationship but Joey had her suspicions.

Felicity, Jo crossed herself as she always did when remembering her daughter, had come closest to providing the longed for grandchild, though not in the circumstances anyone would have chosen. Felicity had become pregnant at 16 and had died as a result of a botched back street abortion. Jo didn’t know who the father was but given the speed at which Roger had departed to go to Australia, his face matching his hair he was the strongest suspect, especially as he had not contacted the Maynards since. Despite her Catholic faith Jo voted to legalise abortion two years earlier, as she felt Felicity would still be alive if she had not gone to some old biddy, if a woman was that desperate then she should have access to good medical facilities, however the majority of the Swiss population had nto agreed with her and the situation remained the same.

Felix was perphaps even more tragic than his twin, Shortly after hearing of her death Felix had taken a large overdose of painkillers with fatal results, Jack now refused to have any ‘doses’ in the house.

Cecil had married Rupert Embury aged 24, and following her father’s advice had gone for her first smear test, fully expecting to be assured that everything was as it should be. The results of cervical cancer had come as a massive shock to all concerned, following a radical hysterectomy and chemotherapy she was now in remission, 3 years on she was still too grateful for her life to be too upset at the loss of her fertility.

Phillipa had never had become fertile, the mastoid and polio troubles she had suffered in toddlerhood had ensured that. However she had no interest in children, perhaps as a result of knowing it was never a possibility, and had become a professional flautist and played with London Symphony orchestra

Geoff was enjoying his career as an officer in the Army having joined the regiment his father served with during the war, however in a strange twist of fate a bout of mumps at 16 had left him as infertile as his twin, not that he showed any interest in settling down with one girl at the present.

Still thought Joey, at least she had her grandpuppies to try and fill the gap, following Bruno’s demise at a ripe old age her three youngest children had clubbed together to buy a pair of St Bernards Moidl and Mallone and Joey had kept all four of their first litter, insisting that she always knew she’d have quads one day.
Author:  abbeybufo [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
claire wrote:
Joey had kept all four of their first litter, insisting that she always knew she’d have quads one day


:lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks claire - convincing stories for them all, if harrowing at times.
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh how sad - poor Felix and Felicity. :cry: Love Joey's suspicion re Mike, mind. :wink:

As for Stephen - Kathie you cradle snatcher!!!! :lol:


Thanks Claire
Author:  Sugar [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:47 pm ]
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Awww poor Second twins :cry:

LOL @ Kathie and Steve and Mike
Author:  PaulineS [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:25 pm ]
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Wondering at len loosing weight on her face and not elsewhere though, Joey could still be suprised.
Author:  Kat [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:41 pm ]
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More! Please Claire? *begs*

Poor family though :?
Author:  Fi [ Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Also have my suspicions about Len.

:lol: :lol: :roll: At Joey's long awaited quadruplets.

I would love for you to continue this......pretty please!

Thanks Claire
Author:  keren [ Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:06 am ]
Post subject: 
How can such a short drabble be so upsetting?
Author:  Jennie [ Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
It's the children I feel sorry for, knowing Jo's expectations and feeling failures.
Author:  Fatima [ Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
:cry: That's so sad about Felix and Felicity.

And what's going on with Len?

Please come back and tell us some more, Claire.
Author:  Carys [ Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:56 am ]
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That was so sad about Felix and Felicity. :(
Author:  claire [ Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
I may carry it on, but not yet - I have enough on the go I think
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:56 pm ]
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Oh, poor Felix and Felicity, that is so sad. And poor Cecil, too.

Thank you for that.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:53 am ]
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All of that is so sad; especially Felix and Felicity

But love the fact the St Bernard at least gave her the quads she so desperately wanted
Author:  Liz K [ Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:05 am ]
Post subject: 
Fiona Mc wrote:
But love the fact the St Bernard at least gave her the quads she so desperately wanted



:shock: :lol: :roll:
Author:  Mona [ Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:26 am ]
Post subject: 
Very moving. Thanks claire.
Author:  crystaltips [ Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh, what a lot of sad stories within a single family. :cry: Feel so sorry for all of them (although perhaps a ray of hope for Len?)
Thank you Claire (I think)
Author:  leahbelle [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
Very moving, especially reading about Felix and Felicity. That was tragic.

Thank you for a very sensitive drabble.
Author:  Vick [ Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
That was lovely and very poignant too. Thanks Claire :D
Author:  Smile :) [ Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Lovely Clare - so sad about Felicity and Felix though :(
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