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The new girl: a Gather drabble
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=6676
Author:  Pat [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:  The new girl: a Gather drabble
“Do I have to Mum?” asked Margaret plaintively, only just managing not to whine.
“Yes, you do. You’re the only girl in the family since Uncle Jimmy left that money in Trust, and therefore you are going to the Chalet School! Tomorrow we’re off to London to get your uniform, and in September you’ll be off to Switzerland instead of the comp.”
“That’s the problem! All my friends are going there, and I bet they’ll think I’ve gone all snobby, even if I haven’t.”
“Looking at the prospectus, you’ll be getting a far better education than they will, learning two languages really well, and getting the chance to see Switzerland on their expeditions. I wish I could go!”
Margaret - or Mags as she was generally called - giggled, and stopped arguing. After all, she’d known all her life that she’d be going to the Chalet School when she reached 11, and so did her friends.
The next day Mags and her mother got the London train early in the morning, and spent a good part of the day in the school suppliers getting the rather extensive uniform together. Even Mags thought that it was rather smart. Dark blue trousers or skirt, with a cream polo shirt and a gentian blue jumper over it with the school badge embroidered on it. The Sunday uniform was a gentian blue dress, a bit old-fashioned, but comfortable to wear. Then there was all the sport gear that was needed, not just the PE kit that her friends had got but a skiing outfit and skis, nailed walking boots, and goggles.
“The girls wear their own clothes in the evening, madam,” said the Assistant. “But they aren’t allowed anything too daring, so be careful what you pack!” She winked at Mags behind her mother’s back.
When everything, including ordering the name tapes, was finally settled, and the outrageous bill paid, after organising delivery of the whole lot, Mags and her mother were shattered, so they headed for the nearest Macdonalds for a normality break. Then, feeling much more like themselves, they headed off for Madame Tussauds until it was time to catch the train back up north to civilisation.
September finally arrived, and Mags travelled back down to London with her father this time, to meet the other girls and the escort mistresses at Victoria Station. The throng of girls milling about in front of the departure board were hard to miss, and her father soon had her name ticked off the list, and was giving her a farewell hug.
“You’ll be fine love,” he said. “Now don’t forget to write, will you?”
Mags shook her head and swallowed the lump in her throat. Then he was disappearing into the crowds, and she was alone with her new school.
“Let me see, who can we get to sheepdog you?” said a voice behind her, and she turned to see the mistress, a Miss Mason, looking around her. “Oh yes, there’s Susy Winterton. She’s responsible enough to look after you properly.”
Before she knew it Mags was being introduced to a girl of her own age and the friends that were clustered around her. Then an older woman came up and marshalled them all across the station to the platform where the strain to Dover was waiting.
The journey seemed never-ending to Mags, and by the time they reached the Gornetz Plats she was exhausted. To her great relief they were given a quick meal and then sent straight off to bed, where she slept as soon as her head touched the pillow. The next few days were a whirlwind of new impressions and strange things happening, settling into her form room and getting all her books. She guessed that her friends were doing the same sort of things at home, and that helped a bit, but she still felt bewildered as she settled down to sleep each night.
The strangest thing was the invitation she received to go to tea with a Mrs Maynard who lived next door. She had no idea why all the new girls went there, even though it was explained to her - it just made no sense. But by this time she’d grown used to shrugging mentally, and going along with whatever new thing was thrust at her. Which was why she found herself, with Susy beside her, walking through the gate in the hedge into the next door garden, and being rapturously greeted by a woman nearly old enough to be her grandma. At some point that afternoon, she found herself alone with the lady. Having given her name, she was stunned to see that Mrs Maynard seemed to be lost in thought.
“You’re name rings a bell,” she said. “Kettlewell...Kettlewell. Oh! Are you related to a James Kettlewell by any chance? My sister and I met him years ago, and he asked her... er, never mind.”
Feeling totally bemused, Mags could only nod.
Author:  abbeybufo [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Love it! :lol:
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Oh no! What will come out now, I wonder?

Thanks! :lol:
Author:  Sugar [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
ChubbyMonkey wrote:
Oh no! What will come out now, I wonder?

Thanks! :lol:


In terms of the drabble .... absolutely nothing! It does say it's a Gather drabble!

Great, Auntie Pat (with appropriate punctuation! cos you isn't my Great Aunt! :shock: )
Author:  Pat [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Sugar wrote:
ChubbyMonkey wrote:

Great, Auntie Pat (with appropriate punctuation! cos you isn't my Great Aunt! :shock: )


Norty, norty!!!! :devil:
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Sugar wrote:
In terms of the drabble .... absolutely nothing! It does say it's a Gather drabble!

Great, Auntie Pat (with appropriate punctuation! cos you isn't my Great Aunt! :shock: )


*splutters* But but but! You can't just leave us there!
Author:  Pat [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Yes I can!! Gather drabbles were to be one side of A4 paper in a font no smaller than 12. That's the challenge.
Author:  JB [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Thanks Pat. That was unexpected - I couldn't work out who Uncle Jim could be.
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Pat it looks like the start of an interesting drabble, please can we have more.
Author:  Liz K [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Nice one, I like it!

Thank you.

ETA time must have moved on, seeing as trousers are part of the uniform!
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Very nice, thank you, Pat!
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Uncle Jimmy, huh. :lol:
Thank you, Pat!
Author:  Mia [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Haha, very clever!
Author:  Smile :) [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Thanks Pat :)
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
That's fantastic, thanks :lol:
Author:  JS [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
I was trying to think of who Uncle Jimmy could be too - and failed! Thanks Pat, that was unexpected :)
Author:  aitchemelle [ Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The new girl: a Gather drabble
Fabulous story thank you!!
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