The CBB
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/

Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7230
Author:  Lisa_T [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:42 am ]
Post subject:  Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
I was reading Lorna at Wynyards the other day, and was assailed by a sudden deep desire to write a piece of substantial CS fic. Nothing for GGB - just for me and for anyone else who wants to read it.

I've always wanted to read about Len going back to the CS as a mistress. I decided to stop wishing and start writing. The title should give you some clues about the slant this story could take. I've got a good number of scenes written, so have a look at this first one and see if you want more!

***

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door with one hand, whilst clenching a rolled newspaper in the other. The sound of the paper rustling seemed unnaturally loud to her ears, and she forced her hand to relax just as the door swung open and a familiar face, sharp and clever, appeared.

“Mary Helena Maynard! Well, this is a surprise. Come in, do.” Dr Eustacia Benson stepped back from her door with a smile, and Len felt her misgivings evaporate as the older woman welcomed her in.

“Would you like a cup of tea?” Dr Benson enquired once they were seated in her tiny living room. She half rose. “I can have it ready in a moment.”

Len brushed her shoulder length chestnut hair behind her ear in a gesture reminiscent of her childhood. “Only if you’re having one yourself, Stacie,” she said, with only the slightest bit of hesitation before the name. “I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”

Dr Benson laughed. “It’s no trouble, my dear. To tell you the truth, I can do with a cup. I’ve been going through some of my undergraduate essays and they’re enough to drive one to insanity. A nice refreshing jorum of tea would be just the thing.”

Len relaxed and grinned. “I know it’s not the same, but I can sympathise. I have ten French essays waiting for me when I get home, and I’m sure by the time I’m done with them I won’t be feeling much better than you are.”

Eustacia laughed again and handed her guest her tea. “There you are. Now, what brings you here? Or are you simply hoping to defer the evil day of marking?”

The younger woman looked sheepish. “Well, I was hoping you could give me a little advice. Professional advice, I mean.”

Eustacia’s eyebrows went up. “I see. I’ll help any way I can, you know that – but Len, I’m not a teacher! Not in the way you are, at any rate.”

Len smoothed the paper carefully over her knee. “It’s this. The Chalet School are looking for a new languages mistress, and I was wondering whether I should apply. I know I’ve talked about coming back and doing a doctorate after I’ve done a few more years teaching,” she added in a rush, “but – I do feel obliged to keep my old promise. After all,” with a light laugh, “it’s nearly seven years since I left school. There aren’t going to be that many of my old schoolfellows there now.”

Eustacia gave her a long look. “If you apply for a job at the school, it’s got to be for more than simple duty,” she said bluntly. “Going back as a mistress isn’t the same as going back as just another Old Girl – even one whose family home is literally next door. Are you sure it’s what you want? I rather thought you were settled here in Oxford for another few years at least.”

“Oh, I know. I thought so too. Only this does seem like too good an opportunity to miss – and you know, if I do go back, I’d rather it was this way. All shipshape as Mike would say. I don’t want it to just be a case of giving Auntie Hilda or Auntie Nell or Mamma a call and having it all settled cosily within the family, as it were.”

Eustacia eyed her over the rim of her cup. “I think that’s very wise. You certainly wouldn’t endear yourself to your colleagues if you were to get the job through such means, and I understand they’ve had quite a changeover in staff of late.”

Len grimaced. “More a shuffling. Matey has retired – she lives in your old wing at Freudesheim now.” She stopped and grinned. “Oh, Stacie, if you could only have seen Cecil’s face when she heard that! It was a scream! Talk about dropped-on! Dear old Sally-go-round-the-moon has also finally retired. She tried to keep going after Plato died last year, but she’s well over seventy and it was just too much. She’s living in Ste Cecile now. That’s why they’re looking for a new languages mistress. I know Miss Andrews left last summer, and Miss Bertram and Miss Charlesworth the year before that.”

“Which means that there’s going to be a number of new staff who have no idea who you are, my dear,” Stacie said. “Not only that, but - to be brutally frank - Hilda Annersley and Nell Wilson aren’t getting any younger. They’re going to want to retire at some point in the next few years as well – sooner, perhaps. If you do go back, it won’t be the Chalet School you remember.”

Len looked wistful. “I know.” She looked down at the paper on her lap. “That’s another reason I want to go now, Stacie. I know Nancy Wilmot’s a dear and she’ll do a great job when she takes over, but – I don’t think I’d like going back without Auntie Hilda as Head. After all, Oxford will still be here in five years’ time, and in the meantime I can save towards my doctorate. I know they don’t come cheap, and scholarships aren’t exactly thick on the ground.”

“What about Reg Entwistle?” Stacie demanded. “Is that completely off?”

Len went a fiery shade of red. “Officially, no. Unofficially … I wish I knew. I do love him, very much, and I know I could be happy married to him. At the same time, there’s so many things I want to do as me, and I don’t know if I could do them as Mrs Dr Entwistle if that makes sense.”

“Perfectly. Why do you think I never married?” Stacie returned her cup to her saucer and leaned towards the younger woman. “What does he think about the delay?”

Len’s face softened. “He says he loves me. He’s prepared to wait as long as it takes, for now. If – if the situation hasn’t resolved by the time I’m thirty, though, I think we both know it’ll be called off.” She studied her fingers as they curved around Stacie’s classically simple cup. “Returning to the Platz should help there too. Besides, I like teaching, and the Chalet School is a lovely place in fabulous surroundings … and it would be nice to see more of the family.”

Stacie’s lips curved in a wry smile. “I think you’ve convinced yourself, my dear. Just remember the words of Thomas Wolfe: you can’t go home again and expect to find it still the same.”
Author:  Nightwing [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oooh! This looks very interesting, Lisa! I'm looking forward to reading about all the changes at the school, and more about Reg and Len's relationship. (It's nice to read a drabble where Len's pursuing other interests but hasn't unceremoniously dumped him - yet, anyway!)
Author:  Liz K [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
*echoes* Nightwing's views about Len and Reg, would also like to see more of this please, thank you.
Author:  keren [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I thought, "Drabble by Lisa T, they are always worth reading", it starts off well and I am sure I will enjoy the rest
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This looks interesting :D .
Author:  Catherine [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
It will be interesting to see how Len reconciles her memories of the CS with the reality of it.

More please, Lisa! :D
Author:  jmc [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Looking forward to seeing how the CS has changed and seeing how Len copes with not only the school but her family and Reg.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  JB [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa. I was excited to see you'd started a new drabble.
Author:  Sarah_G-G [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This looks like it wil be good. I look forward to reading more! :D
Author:  ammonite [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Echoing all the 'ohh this looks interesting' comments.
Author:  Caroline OSullivan [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa :D Looking forward to more please
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Fascinating start. Looking forward to more.
Author:  Joanne [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa, I'd certainly like to see more of this. It brings in a lot of ideas that are intriguing.
Author:  cal562301 [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa. A very promising start. Look forward to reading more.
Author:  Chris [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Looking forward to more of this.
Author:  shesings [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Just saying 'ditto' to all of the above! :D
Author:  abbeybufo [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Echoes requests for more :)
Author:  Cumbrian Rachel [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
*Joins in the requests for more*

This looks really good so far - I can't wait to find out what happens next.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
*comes rather late to the chorus, but can't wait for more either*
Author:  M [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This sounds interesting - sounds like your Len is not a complete paragon if she's not married to Reg 7 years after they were supposed to be engaged.

Cecil, Phil & Claire would still be at the school, not sure about Felicity as there could be some interesting scenes if they are naughty middles.
Author:  Jenefer [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This looks interesting so hope there will be more.
Author:  Pat [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh Great! A Lisa drabble - they've been thin on the ground for far too long! More please!
Author:  Lisa_T [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks, Pat - and the rest of you! Here's the next bit - and the deal, as it were. I'm going to emulate something I've seen done on ff.net where a writer posts 1000 words a day. This works very well with my writing style - I generally do produce 1-2000 words per writing burst. On the other hand, it means that there will not always be a smooth finish to each post, so I may have to start copying the last few lines to remind folk!

However, that's not the case tonight....

*
Len tried not to eye her fellow candidates for the position of junior language mistress at the Swiss branch of the Chalet School too openly, but it was difficult. Even though she’d told Stacie Benson that she wanted to get the post fair and square – always assuming she did get it, she reminded herself – some small part of her considered the position to be hers by right. She hated herself for it, and talked the others up in her mind.

The older woman to her left – small and dark and quick – was so obviously a Frenchwoman that she had to be stiff competition. Then there was the girl who seemed to be the same age as Len herself, or perhaps younger, who had that especially intense look that four years of Oxford had taught Len to associate with the particularly brilliant.

Intellectual brilliance doesn’t always make for great teachers, she told herself firmly. Look at Stacie – a PhD, no less, and yet she admitted frankly that the few short weeks she’d spent teaching at the Chalet School eight years before was more than enough.

She glanced at the other two women again and resisted the urge to fiddle with the buttons on her jacket. It was so quiet – too quiet. If she strained, she could hear the soft rise and fall of voices through the closed door, but it was only on the very edge of her hearing, and doing so made her companions look at her oddly. She sighed, and examined her nails. If only Aunt Rosalie would hurry!

After what seemed like an age, the door opened, and Rosalie Dene, Head Secretary at the Chalet School, appeared. Len rose to her feet and noted in some distant part of her mind that there must be another door; there was no sign of the person who had just been interviewed. Miss Dene glanced at her and nodded slightly, but it was to the intense girl that she turned, and Len sank glumly back to her seat for another endless wait.

She looked at the Frenchwoman, but that lady seemed absorbed in some papers, and Len sighed again and decided to follow her example. As quietly as she could, she lifted her own folder from her bag, and winced as the rasping of paper and cardboard against fabric assaulted her ears. Then she flipped it open and became, to all appearances, completely buried in the notes the folder contained.

At last Miss Dene reappeared, and this time she smiled directly at Len. “We’re ready for you now, Miss Maynard.”

At that, Len blushed a deep shade of pink. Despite her two degrees and twenty five years, being addressed so formally by a member of the Chalet School’s staff could not fail to be anything but odd. If you get the job you’ll need to get used to it, she scolded herself as she crossed the room to the secretary and shook that lady’s hand through a haze. The sound of the door closing behind them returned her to her senses, and she stood demurely, one hand on her jacket and the other on her bag.

Rosalie Dene folded her arms and gave her a mock glare. “Well, Miss Maynard? Couldn’t you have given us a call and told us you were thinking of applying? You were nearly responsible for three admissions to your father’s new cardiac ward, let me tell you!”

Len forgot about appearances and being professional. She dropped her bag on a chair and flung herself on the older woman with a muffled squeal that was not at all grownup. “Aunt Rosalie! How absolutely splendacious to see you again!”

Rosalie laughed and returned the hug. “I see you’re still using startling adjectives! Well, it’s wonderful to see you too, my dear. There was quite a ferment in the staff room when it leaked out that you’d applied.”

Len frowned. “But –“ she began.

Rosalie shook her head a little and put one hand on Len’s elbow to guide her through the second door. “You’re right, that information should have remained confidential. Unfortunately, Claire Kennedy opened it, and she inadvertently let it drop in the staff room shortly after we received your form. She was terribly apologetic, but by then the damage was done.”

“I’m surprised at Claire,” Len said with some severity. “She was one of Mary-Lou’s crowd, wasn’t she? I’d’ve thought she’d have more sense than to be such a leaky cistern!”

Rosalie laughed again. “So she does. Excitement rather got the better of her, I fear. Now, to business!” and she pushed the door open and ushered Len through.

If someone had told Len Maynard that she would be shy of seeing her former headmistress and brevet aunt again she would have laughed the idea to scorn. Yet, as she went to begin the formal part of her interview, shy she was. It lasted for the time it took Hilda Annersley to cross the room to her, hands outstretched, and Len forgot everything but her delight in seeing this beloved aunt once more.

“Auntie Hilda,” she whispered, and once again found herself drawn into a tight embrace.

After a moment Miss Annersley drew back, and Len smiled tremulously as the Head scanned her with still-keen eyes that glimmered a little.

“Mary Helena Maynard, B.A., M.Litt. Oxon,” Miss Annersley murmured. “I forgot how much time has passed, my dear. You’ve grown up!”

Len began to laugh rather helplessly. “Anyone would think you haven’t seen me since I left school. You did come to my second graduation, you and Auntie Nell, and that was only two years ago. And you’ve seen me since!”

“Yes, but that’s different. At home you become a child again, isn’t that so? That will have to change if your application is successful! Shall we start?”

Len found that her mouth was suddenly dry, but she managed to compose herself sufficiently to say, “Yes, Miss Annersley,” and to seat herself opposite that lady.

Afterwards, Len would say it was the most difficult interview she had ever had with her former headmistress. As she remarked, she had never been the type to get into mischief, and so throughout her schooldays her encounters with the Head were mostly benign. Now, however, she found herself subjected to a grilling that was as thorough as it was gentle, and by the time Miss Annersley dismissed her half an hour later, she honestly did not know whether she was on her head or her heels.

Nor did Rosalie Dene follow her out; they were taking her at her word, Len thought ruefully. She had applied with all due formality for this post, and they were paying her in her own coin. She could not expect special treatment now, just because she was done. The process had yet to complete.

TBC, obviously :D
Author:  Nightwing [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Good for Len, doing things "properly" - hope she gets the job, though!
Author:  Abi [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh, this is wonderful! Loved Cecil's shock at Matey moving into Freudesheim. It's good that the school recognise Len's wish to do things formally and properly.

Thanks Lisa :D
Author:  cal562301 [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Really enjoying this. Thanks.
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Quote:
“Mary Helena Maynard, B.A., M.Litt. Oxon,” Miss Annersley murmured. “I forgot how much time has passed, my dear. You’ve grown up!”

Len began to laugh rather helplessly. “Anyone would think you haven’t seen me since I left school. You did come to my second graduation, you and Auntie Nell, and that was only two years ago. And you’ve seen me since!”

“Yes, but that’s different. At home you become a child again, isn’t that so? That will have to change if your application is successful! Shall we start?”


I love this section, I always felt I became a teenager again when I wnet home in my twenties. Eventually I was an adult, but only when I returned to work as a ward sister in my home town.
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh good - this is a situation I've always wondered about so am really pleased to see this. It's a great beginning, Lisa T, and I'll be looking forward to more - and hoping Len gets the job, of course. Thank you.
Author:  Miss Di [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 1:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Fantastic start thanks Lisa!
Author:  Kathy_S [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you, Lisa. Something to look forward to. :D
Author:  jmc [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Nice to se that Len was interviewed properly but it is a pity that the rest of the staff know that she applied. Hope she gets the job or she could find it a bit embarrassing when she goes home.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 6:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Becoming a child when you go back to your parents' home never stops - I still get it now!.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  JB [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa. She will get the job, won't she?
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
But what about the cries of favouritism if she does? :?

Thanks! Not sure which way I want this to go.
Author:  Chatelaine [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lesley wrote:
Becoming a child when you go back to your parents' home never stops - I still get it now!.

Thanks Lisa


Don't I know that! 42 on my next birthday and my mother still thinks I'm a scatty teenager!

This is a great story, Lisa. Looking forward to seeing how Miss Maynard the Second gets on at the School :D

ETA: that is, of course, assuming that the "Coming Home" of the title refers to Len getting the job, and not just coming home to live with the parents while she looks for a job elsewhere. . .
Author:  cal562301 [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Chatelaine wrote:
Lesley wrote:
Becoming a child when you go back to your parents' home never stops - I still get it now!.

Thanks Lisa


Don't I know that! 42 on my next birthday and my mother still thinks I'm a scatty teenager!

This is a great story, Lisa. Looking forward to seeing how Miss Maynard the Second gets on at the School :D

ETA: that is, of course, assuming that the "Coming Home" of the title refers to Len getting the job, and not just coming home to live with the parents while she looks for a job elsewhere. . .


I can identify with both of these.
Perhaps because I've never married, but my mum used to treat me as an errant teenager when I went home well into my 40s. Right up, in fact, to the time when she became too ill with dementia and didn't know who I was any more. :(

On a more positive note, looking forward to more Lisa.
Author:  cestina [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Hmm - interesting. Part of each year my 40 year old daughter and I live under the same roof and I very often get the feeling that I am the one being treated like an errant teenager...... :?

All a matter of perspective perhaps?
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 7:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Yay - a Lisa T drabble! What a lovely thing to find when I haven't been on the board for a couple of days. I hope Len gets the job - she does have the advantage that they do prefer to appoint Old Girls when possible, simply because they know the OGs know the system, but sensible of Len to apply "cold" because of fears of nepotism.
Author:  shazwales [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you looking forward to seeing more of this. :)
Author:  Lisa_T [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 8:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm blown away by the response to this! Thanks, all! Here's the next bit - a little shorter this time as it's pretty much self-contained. From tomorrow on the 1000 word a night policy will kick in. :D

*

Two eternal weeks followed, and time after time Len found herself standing by the phone, her hand stretched to lift the receiver and dial a number that was as familiar as that of Freudesheim itself. Nor was her resolve helped by the fact that her mother had heard of her application, and had taken to ringing her every two days to see if there was any news. Len consoled herself with the reflection that there was a very good chance that she was doing the same to the school.

Then Len came home from school one night to find a thick parchment envelope on the floor with a well-known postmark in one corner. Carefully, with fingers that trembled, she removed her coat and hat and put away her bag. She even made herself a cup of tea, and only when she was sitting down did she lift that innocuous envelope from where it lay next to her plate.

“Well, here goes nothing!” Using the edge of one nail, she ripped the envelope open and gave a silent sigh as she withdrew a thick wad of paper. “Thick packs are a good sign,” she remembered one of her colleagues saying the day before. “If it’s ‘no’, you’ll get a single slip and nothing more.”

Quickly, she shook the wad of paper open, and released the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding when the first words to greet her eyes were “We are glad to inform you that your application for the post of junior languages mistress has been successful…” and then she could read no further.

Home! she thought exultantly. I’m going home! She let her mind linger on memories she had kept boxed for seven years. Unlike most of her friends, who were open about how much they’d disliked their teenage years, Len’s memories were almost entirely good.

Yes, there were some difficult times, especially with Margot, the third of her triplet sisters, but by and large, she hadn’t found growing up to be a particularly painful experience. Coming to university had been a major shock on any number of levels, and she had carefully buried her longing for home and mountains and clear skies and air so cold it burnt your lungs and home in order to survive in her new surroundings.

When she fell asleep that night, it was with a blissful smile that truly made her a child again.
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks for the update. Pleased Len got the job.
Author:  shazwales [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you.
Author:  Pat [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I suspect that it won't be quite so easy and wonderful as she imagines.
Author:  Abi [ Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Glad Len got the job. :D
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Pat wrote:
I suspect that it won't be quite so easy and wonderful as she imagines.

I'm sure it won't be -- but it's lovely to see how fondly she remembers home!

Thank you, Lisa.
Author:  Kyrrie [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This is great. I'm so glad I got to read this today (very hot, stuck inside and that just lifted the day :D ).

The last update was just beautiful. Thank you!
Author:  jmc [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Very pleased that Len got the job. Hope Joey doesn't try to interfere to much. Thank you.
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Awwww, pleased that Len got the job. I don't think Joey will interfere - if she had to contact Len to find out whether she had got the job then Joey has obviously not been kept in the loop at the school.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  JB [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Loved how Len thought of it as going home. Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Aww, that was lovely. Thankyou!
Author:  cal562301 [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Great news that Len got the job. Looking forward to more of this.
Author:  sealpuppy [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Just spotted this drabble and finding it really interesting. Hope Joey won't interfere though... :shock:
Author:  Chris S [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 3:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Great story. I do hope Len will find herself somewhere to live which doesn't involve sharing a roof with Joey.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I have a confession to make.

I do in fact have another three scenes written and ready to post - but they go straight to a (rather long, whoops) staff meeting. But I think I'll write Len's 'comong home' scene to set up various out-of-school relationships which means I'm less ahead than I thought I was. Sooo... watch this space later tonight for more, or possibly early in the morning....
Author:  Mia [ Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm enjoying this, thanks Lisa. I'm looking forward to seeing Reg...
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
These scenes are just growing wisibly, but I'm not complaining. Talking PBs are GOOD. Nice plot bunnies...

Next bit:

*

Len took a deep breath as she lifted her small case – her trunk and boxes had gone the week before – and prepared to walk out of Basle airport to the pickup point she had agreed with her fiancée. Most new mistresses were given a train escort for the infinitely longer boat-and-train journey that they must know in order to meet the girls in the future, but Len’s status as an Old Girl and Platz resident meant that she could fly. The airport was busier than ever as a result of its recent expansion, so it was some moments before she was able to escape the crowds long enough to spot Reg.

She knew when he saw her by the way his thin face became incandescent, and, not for the first time, she felt a barb of guilt. Reg was so patient, waiting for her as he did. When she had accepted the position at St Mary’s two years before, she had offered to release him from the engagement, but he’d refused.

“You’ve things you want to do,” he’d told her earnestly. “You’re young, Len. Make the most of it and take all the opportunities offered to you. I’m not going anywhere.”

She had agreed to let their engagement stand, although not without some misgivings. On the other hand, she did love him, and as he made his way to her now she forgot everything else but that, and dropped her case and handbag in order the fling her arms around his neck and lift her face for his kiss.

“You’ve no idea how happy your letter made me,” he murmured into her ear. “I was starting to think this day would never come.”

“Then you’re an ass,” Len told him briskly after they’d collected her bags and began to make their way towards the car. “I did tell you that much as I love England, the Oberland is my home. I was always going to come back one way or another. It’s something to do with this air,” she added, pausing to sniff. “Once breathed, never forgotten.”

Reg laughed. “Come on, you. You look like a bloodhound when you do that. But I know what you mean. After our pure clean air, anywhere else seems … lesser, somehow.”

“That’s it exactly. Reg Entwistle! Why didn’t you tell me you’d got a new car?” She gave vent to a whistle that would have called reproaches on her head during her schooldays, and stood back to admire the vehicle as he threw her case into the back.

“Your dad gave me another raise after Christmas. Thought I’d told you. I needed a new car anyway and a friend had managed to get his across via the roll on-roll off. He didn’t want it any longer so I got a good price on it. Isn’t it a beauty? In you get, my lady!”

Len slid into the Triumph Spitfire, her eyes round. “Honestly, it really is a beauty,” she marvelled. Then she grinned. “Has Felix seen it yet? Mamma says he’s becoming a bit of a car-nut.”

Reg returned her grin as he started the car up. “Hasn’t he just! He came up from Montreaux just to see it and frightened the life out of Winnie Embury in the process. She says she’s aged ten years! The young limb didn’t tell anyone he was going, he just upped and left without a by your leave. Your dad swears he can jolly well make the trip up and down by himself from now on, so Felix is rather chuffed. He got to play with Regina and a little more independence to boot, and that means a good deal to a lad of his age.”

“Regina?! You never named your car after yourself? Of all the egotists!”

“Don’t be nasty, Helena my love. I did no such thing. My mother’s name was Regina, you may remember, and isn’t it appropriate? You can’t say this car isn’t a queen among autos!”

“Yep.” She yawned widely and looked across at him. “I hate to be rude, but would you mind terribly if I took a nap? I’ve been up for longer than I care to remember. I’m done and you know the fuss there’ll be when we get to the Platz. Please?”

“Nap away,” Reg told her easily. “I need to concentrate on driving in any case.”

She gave him a sleepily affectionate grin. “On these dead straight roads? Hardly. Driving here’s a picnic in comparison to England.” Her eyes began to droop, but just before she fell asleep she whispered, “I do love you, Reg,” and then she knew nothing more.
Author:  Miss Di [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank goodness someone has finally realised that flying is much easier than catching trains half way around Europe!

Leaving the PBs a mint cornetto for being so helpful.
Author:  Lesley [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lovely portrayal of Len and Reg's relationship.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
They are so lovely! Thankyou.
Author:  cestina [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Miss Di wrote:
Thank goodness someone has finally realised that flying is much easier than catching trains half way around Europe!


Um - where did she get the money from to fly? Aren't we still somewhere in the 60s or early 70s?

ETA - a lovely drabble, thanks Lisa :)
Author:  jmc [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lovely scene though is Len trying to convince herself that she loves Reg at the end?

Thanks Lisa
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That was nice :D .
Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
A one way air ticket would be within her means as a school teacher at that time. Glad someone recognised she did not need to learn the train journey.
Author:  Nightwing [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Really loving this! Reg is lovely, and Len has clearly grown up a lot.
Author:  shazwales [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa this is lovely.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Next bit! Glad you like my Reg. I'm rather liking him myself.

*
Something was shaking her. Rather hard as it happened, and she groaned when the pleasant dream she’d been enjoying suddenly became less so. Between one heartbeat and the next she went from rowing calmly on the Tiernsee to not rowing calmly at all.

In fact, she thought, she was becoming seasick, which was odd since the Tiernsee was a lake, and hadn’t someone said that you couldn’t get seasick on a lake? But all is not lost, she thought. Someone is calling my name. All I have to do is –

“Urrgh,” she said as she opened her eyes.

Reg reared back. “Well, that’s a nice thing to say! I hope you’re not planning on starting our days like that when we’re married.”

Len turned pink. “Stop it, you. If you must know, your shaking made me dream about being seasick. In fact,” she added, giving him a mock glare, “the seasickness is real. You must have shaken me pretty hard!”

Reg guffawed. “Sorry, love, but you were sleeping like the dead. Anyway, it’s time to get out. We’ve arrived!”

Len pulled herself together in a hurry. “We have? We have!” she repeated in delight as she saw the tall chalet that had been a ‘happy home’ to her for more than ten years. “And there’s Mamma!” She opened the door and almost fell out of the car in her eagerness to greet the tall, slim lady with dark hair and dark eyes who was hastening towards her.

“You’ve arrived! Oh Len, today couldn’t have been longer if it had tried!” Joey Maynard held out her arms, and her eldest daughter threw herself into them.

“It’s so good to be home,” she whispered, and her mother’s arms tightened before she drew back and took Len’s arm in hers.

“Come along. We thought you might arrive around now, so Anna’s planned a special tea. More a high tea, really, but I wasn’t sure you’d want much to eat after all that travelling.” Joey glanced back at Reg at grinned. “I take it you’re joining us?”

“Now, Jo, when have I ever missed one of Anna’s special teas?” Reg asked teasingly. “Of course I’m joining you, but hadn’t the two of you better get a move on? There’s so much yelling coming from the house I’m surprised the roof isn’t coming off!”

His future mother-in-law sniffed and squeezed Len’s elbow. “If Freudesheim was that fragile, it’d have collapsed around our ears a long time ago,” she retorted haughtily and continued up the path very much on her dignity, whilst her daughter giggled.

Once they entered the house Len almost physically recoiled at the explosion of noise that met her. The youngest girls – Phil and Claire – were yelling. Cecil seemed to be doing her best to break her neck, judging from the speed with which she descended the stairs. Rufus II, Joey’s six month old St Bernard, was barking madly as sixteen year old Felicity tried to hold him. Anna was shrieking something from the kitchens, and Len’s father was trying with limited success to quell the riot.

And then everyone spotted Len and silence fell for a blessed moment before she found herself swamped by a forest of loving arms and a warm wet tongue from a very over-excited pup.

*

Calm – or such calm as Freudesheim ever did experience when the family was en masse – eventually came in the shape of Anna ringing the gong for tea. The four girls vanished almost at once, followed by Jack Maynard and Reg, both talking ‘shop’ hard. Len was just about to enter the dining room with her mother when a small, brisk figure came down the stairs, and Len’s smile froze as she paused to receive a hug from the Chalet School’s one-time domestic tyrant.

I never realised how small Matey is, she thought ruefully, only too aware of how fragile the older woman felt in her embrace. “It’s good to see you, Matey,” she said at last, the old familiar name coming first to her tongue despite any number of parental lectures and reminders over the need to use ‘Gwyn’.

“Same to you, child, same to you,” Gwynneth Lloyd responded with her customary briskness, and Len relaxed. It was true that Matey’s hair had faded to white and silver, and that she seemed somehow diminished without the starchy uniform she had worn so long, but the eyes that scanned Len's face were as sharp as ever, and the younger woman twitched nervously.

“I’m quite healthy, Matey, I promise you,” she said with a giggle. “I have my medical cert and everything. I won’t bring any bugs into the school. Not that I ever did,” she added.

Matey’s grey eyes twinkled. “No? What price smallpox?”

Len turned scarlet. “That’s not fair! The kid was breaking her heart and we couldn’t leave her. No-one could!”

Gwynneth laughed. “I suppose not and at least you didn’t bring it back to school. If you had, my child, we would not have loved you! Now, shall we go in for tea – and do try not to spill anything on the tablecloth!” With that, she bustled into the dining room, leaving Len to trail after her feeling very much a schoolgirl again.
Author:  Abi [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lovely picture of the family life and it was great to see Matey - sorry, Gwynneth - as part of the family. Thanks Lisa!
Author:  Kathy_S [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you, Lisa. :)

The noise level especially struck me as realistic, given how cacophonous I found Christmas with the tribe compared to relative peace and quiet with the cat.
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That was lovely - sad for Len in some ways to realise that Matey is getting older - but even without the uniform she can still reduce anyone to a schoolgirl again. :lol:


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Nice to see Matey with the Maynards.
Author:  JB [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That was lovely. Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  jmc [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
What a lovely homecoming and it was nice to see Matey as part of the family. Is the new pup better behaved than Bruno I wonder?

Thanks Lisa
Author:  ammonite [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Quote:
Is the new pup better behaved than Bruno I wonder?


by the sounds of it - no!

Loved how Len's dream was interrupted.
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
If Gwyneth can make Len feel like a school girl again, I wonder how the younger girls cope with her.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I wonder how Joey copes with living with her!

Thankyou, that was a lovely scene; and I like your Reg as well!
Author:  claireM [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Enjoying this, though the state of Reg and Len's relationship does seem to need sorting out.
Author:  cal562301 [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Really enjoying this. Thank you.
Author:  shazwales [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you that was a lovely scene :)
Author:  Nightwing [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lovely scene with Matey - thank you, Lisa!
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This is wonderful - it's the first thing I'm looking for when I come on to the board at the moment!
Author:  Lisa_T [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Mrs Redboots wrote:
This is wonderful - it's the first thing I'm looking for when I come on to the board at the moment!


Thanks! That's quite a compliment!

More.
*

“Did Matey put you in your place?” her mother asked Len as she slipped into the empty seat beside her. Joey’s dark eyes were filled with laughter and sympathy, and Len grinned, nodded – and gasped as she caught sight of the food on the table.

“Gosh! Anna really has gone to town, hasn’t she?”

There was clear soup and fresh crusty bread and cold chicken. There was lettuce and tomatoes and tiny red onions with Anna’s patented salad dressing. On a plate to one side stood tiny sauage rolls and other savouries of that kind – and a particular delicacy that made Len exclaim.

“Karen’s vegetable sausages! How did Anna do it?”

“She didn’t,” Joey explained. “You don’t think Karen would ever give Anna that recipe, do you? She says she’ll leave it to us in her will, but that’s not much good to us now –“

“Jo!” protested Jack, albeit with a grin.

His wife returned it unrepentantly. “Well, it’s true. Karen will probably outlive us all and we still won’t have that blessed recipe.”

Reg chuckled. “If I was Karen I’d start being careful where I go at night. Sounds like you’re contemplating something nefarious.”

“I couldn’t if I wanted to, which I don’t,” Jo returned. “Karen is like Gwyn here. When she looks at me in a certain way I find myself believing I’m fifteen again.”

“Enough of this!” Jack ordered. “Reg, stop giving my wife ideas and hand me the soup bowls. I’m starving even if you aren’t!”

“Hear hear,” Cecil muttered darkly, handing up her own bowl. “You’re not the only one, Dad. Anna wouldn’t even let us have afternoon tea.”

“An’ lunch was such an awful long time ago,” mourned nine year old Claire, a French child who had been legally adopted by the Maynards as a toddler and who could remember no other family.

“Well, dig in now,” Cecil advised as she passed the bowl over and attacked her own with visible relish. “I say, Len, it’s going to be awfully odd having you in school as a mistress.”

“I don’t see how it’s any different from Auntie Hilda and Co.,” her mother observed. “You’ll treat your sister just as you treat any other mistress, d’you hear?” To everyone’s surprise, she stopped and laughed.

“What’s the joke?” Len asked.

“I was just recalling the early days of the school, when Madge was Head, and what an awful time I had having to say ‘Miss Bettany’ or ‘Madame’. I did remember more often that not, but I thought her rather horrid for insisting on it.”

“What happens if we forget?” demanded eleven year old Phil nervously.

“Head’s Report, prob’ly,” little Claire said so gloomily that they all laughed and Felicity shook her head at her.

“You are a pair of little asses,” she said in her best elder-sister fashion. “No-one’s going to send you to the Head for that. Well, not unless you keep doing it,” she amended.

Both of the younger two girls fixed round eyes on Len in a manner that made her nervous.

“We’ll try to ‘member, Len,” Claire promised. “Honest we will.”

“What’re you going to teach anyhow?” Phil asked with real curiosity.

Len raised an eyebrow at her younger sister. “What do you think?” she asked drily.

Phil gaped at her and Cecil gave her a nudge. “Now you’re being a ninny,” the elder said. “C’mon, think. What did Len do at Oxford?”

The younger girl frowned, but presently light dawned. “Languages!” she said with an air of discovery. “You’re teachin’ languages!”

“We need someone,” Felicity observed. “With all the new kids we’ve had lately who don’t speak English, French or German with any fluency it’s becoming rather mad. Unless it’s sorted soon, our lot are not looking forward to becoming prees of any kind!”

Len nodded at her. “Auntie Hilda did tell me something about that,” she mentioned. “That was one of the reasons Sall – I mean Miss Denny,” she corrected in some confusion, “retired now. The workload was growing and it she didn’t feel she could handle it.”

“It’s about time they had a professional linguist on the staff,” Matey said abruptly, startling everyone. “Sarah Denny did her best, but she had no formal training and over the last few years it’s really started to show.” She smiled at Len and went on. “Even though at first you’re going to be taking over where Sarah left off, there’s a real opportunity for you to turn the role into something completely different if you so wish.”

Len’s eyes sparkled at this dictum. This was what she was hoping for, after all – not simply to come home, but to find something in these old beloved places that would stretch her and challenge her in a multitude of ways. She looked at across the table and found Reg watching her with understanding, and a slow smile blossomed on her face to be echoed on his.
Author:  JB [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I do like Matey as part of the Maynard family. It's lovely that she's found a home with them.
Author:  cal562301 [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
JB wrote:
I do like Matey as part of the Maynard family. It's lovely that she's found a home with them.


I agree with that. She deserves it, as she never really had a home of her own, apart from with her sister and her family, which wouldn't be the same.

Looking forward to seeing how this develops.
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Glad Reg is OK about it all.
Author:  Lesley [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa
Author:  shazwales [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lovely to see Matey as part of the family and it looks as though Len is going to have a chance to use her experience as a pupil to re-vamp the languages situation.thank you :)
Author:  Kyrrie [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa.

How wise of Matey to see just what Len and the school need to progress.

And I know I would find it very difficult to call my sister Miss Maynard if I were Phil and Cecil.
Author:  jmc [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
All that food sounded delicious. Looking forward to seeing Len revampp the languages.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  hac61 [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Kacca wrote:
And I know I would find it very difficult to call my sister Miss Maynard if I were Phil and Cecil.


I changed school for Sixth Form as ours didn't have one. I went to the school where my aunt was teaching.

The very first morning I was asked to go next door and see if there were any spare Sixth Form passes. I stood outside her room for five minutes trying to think what her surname was! :lol:
Author:  Emma A [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This is a lovely continuation, Lisa - and I'm glad I had so many episodes to read at one go! It does sound as though Len is definitely doing the right thing.

Thanks.
Author:  Cumbrian Rachel [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I've just caught up with several days worth of this. It's lovely. I'm enjoying the descriptions of the Maynard's home and I'm looking forward to finding out how Len make's the job her own. Thank you Lisa!
Author:  M [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Really like this. It always seemed a bit odd that German was taught by someone who wasn't a native speaker nor with a degree in it when they were in a German speaking country. Len would have the experience of having lived in a German speaking country and a French speaking one when in Canada but also of learning the languages herself as a child.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I can't wait to see Len in the role, I think she'll be good - and please can I just put in a plea for Len and Reg to end up happily? Thankyou!
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Good to see that Matey is part of the family (although I imagine that, if she is living in the flat, she can be quite independent when she wants to be) and still as sensible as ever.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Mrs Redboots wrote:
Good to see that Matey is part of the family (although I imagine that, if she is living in the flat, she can be quite independent when she wants to be) and still as sensible as ever.


That's exactly how I saw it. I don't think either Matey OR Joey would cope well with the other being under their feet all the time. The flat is a nice compromise.

Next bit. Finally at school!

*

It was the day before the girls returned for the autumn term, and the Chalet School’s mistresses, both new and old, were collecting in the staffroom in preparation for the customary beginning-of-term meeting. Len sat in her designated spot between Mademoiselle de Lachennais and the History mistress, who was new to her but not to everyone else.

Chatter and laughter filled the room as they awaited the arrival of the Heads and Rosalie, but Len, rather to her own surprise, was not as included as she had expected to be. True, those mistresses who remembered her had welcomed her affectionately, but they had so much else to speak of that there was little time to talk to a newcomer.

Tentatively, she smiled across the table at the other mistress who was new that term. She looked jolly, with her red hair (real copper curls, Len noted jealously) and a bright face, and she was relieved when the other young woman returned it.

“Is this your first post?” the girl asked eagerly.

Len shook her head. “My second. I taught at a girls’ school in Oxford before coming here.” She glanced around and gave a rueful smile. “It’s a little odd being back. What about you?”

Something shifted in the girl’s expression. “No, this is my first. What d’you mean, ‘back’?”

Len grinned. “Didn’t you guess from the row earlier? I’m an Old Girl of the Chalet School, and my family home is Freudesheim – the tall house next door that you probably passed on your way to the school. I left seven years ago though.”

“I see,” the young woman said – and was that a hint of stiffness in her manner?

“What are you teaching? Oh, and what’s your name? I’m Len – Len Maynard. Mary Helena, really, but I’ve always hated it.” Len was aware that she was gabbling on in a fashion most unlike her, but the other girl had turned wooden for no reason that she could fathom and she was thoroughly disconcerted. She was just about to ask another question when the door opened, and the two Heads entered accompanied by their senior secretary, and she gave a sigh that was mostly relief.

Once they had seated themselves, Miss Annersley smiled. “Welcome back to the Chalet School, all of you! I see a couple of new faces around this table, and that sums up this term, I think. We lost most of our Sixth form in June, which means that this year’s prefect body will have to hit the ground running. Not a new experience for us, I know, but it will be new for them and we can guarantee an unsettled period whilst they find their feet. Then, as I said, we have a number of new Staff, and over the summer Nell, Madge and I have decided on some curriculum changes which I’ll come to in a moment. First, however, let’s have the introductions. Len, as the – least new, shall we say? – would you like to begin?”

Every mistress at the table, familiar and unfamiliar, turned her eyes on Len and she gulped before telling herself to get a grip. “Um, yes,” she started, but relaxed as the Head’s eyebrows climbed to her hair and Ruth Derwent audibly groaned. At least those reactions were only to be expected!

“Sorry. Poor English, I know!” A wave of laughter rippled round the table, and the sound reassured the new mistress. “Anyway, as most of you know, I’m Len Maynard. I’m going to be teaching junior languages as well as helping with people who need coaching.”

“I’m starting to wonder how you ever managed to achieve a Master’s degree in any language, Mary Helena Maynard,” Ruth Derwent grumbled. “Hilda, d’you think we’ve been wasting our time all these years?”

“I haven’t,” the Head responded serenely, but with a twinkle. “I can’t speak for you, of course. Moving on.” She nodded at the redhead opposite Len and gave her a warm smile. “My dear?”

The girl turned a shade of red that clashed violently with her hair. “Me?!”

Len, most unwisely, chose that moment to muffle a giggle born of mingled nerves and amusement. It was smothered at birth, but the unfriendly glance the redhead sent her told her it had not gone unnoticed, and she gave a mental groan.

“Just follow Len’s example,” Miss Annersley encouraged gently. “Tell us your name and what you’re going to be teaching.”

The redhead turned a deeper shade of scarlet, and Len, along with the rest of the staff, found herself watching in fascination. Just how furiously could one blush?

Eventually the other woman regained her composure. “I’m going to be teaching the Juniors English,” she said in her light voice. She gave a smile that was suddenly shy. “I’ve always liked working with younger children.”

“Yes, Laura Chandler will be taking over Sharlie Andrews’ role,” the Head added, so smoothly that it took Len a moment to realise that she’d provided the information that the flustered Laura had clearly forgotten to give. Then she went on with, “Of course, we also have a new matron for St Therese’s now that Barbara Henschell has taken over from Gwynneth Lloyd as Head Matron, and that’s Heather Clayton. You may remember her, Len.”

Len beamed. “I could hardly forget her. She was games pree when I was in VIa but she left early to do her nursing training. That was when Margot took over,” she ended in parenthesis.

“Let’s hope it’s settled her a little,” the Senior mistress, Nancy Wilmot, noted darkly. “Heather was chockful of mischief when she was a Middle, I remember.”

“She got some sense once she hit the Fifth proper,” her great friend Kathie Ferrars, added tolerantly. She grinned. “Heather was one of the first girls I met when I was new here, twelve years ago now.” She gave Len and Laura a mischievous grin of her own. “Perhaps in a dozen years you’ll be sitting here saying those same words to someone else.”

“In Len’s case it’s most likely to be one of her sisters which hardly counts,” Miss Wilson remarked in response to the earlier part of Kathie’s speech.

Miss Annersley rapped sharply on the table. “Time is getting on, you people. I would like to have one staff meeting that doesn’t get dragged off track.” She gave Nancy a mock glare, and Len found herself grinning again at the look of innocence on the Maths mistress’s face.

Not that it’s any surprise, she thought affectionately once the Head had turned the attention of the meeting onto who was to be on duty to meet the girls at various stations. Miss Wilmot always was great fun.

She looked back at Miss Annersley just as that lady announced that, “Laura and Len are down for stationery duty this time, I’m afraid. I know it’s not the most exciting of jobs,” – Rosalie scoffed – “but it is necessary and it’s customary for new mistresses.” She flashed a smile at both young women. “Consider it an opportunity to become acquainted.”

Len smiled and nodded, but Laura dropped her gaze so that their eyes could not meet, and the new languages mistress bit her lip. This was not the beginning she had envisioned.
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I feel sorry for Laura :( . I felt quite sorry for Kathie Ferrars when she realised that Biddy, Peggy and half the other mistresses were all Old Girls. It must be far worse when you're one of two new staff members, you think you're both in the same boat, and then it turns out that the other one already knows everyone and how everything works.

Thanks - this is really interesting.
Author:  Nightwing [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I wonder if Laura thinks Len only got the post out of favouritism? I hope Len doesn't take Laura's stiffness too much to heart - although knowing her, she probably will!
Author:  Lesley [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Hope Len can overcome Laura's unfriendliness! :? Why is Nancy Senior Mistress - I thought it was Ruth Derwent?


Many thanks Lisa
Author:  Lisa_T [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Actually, by the last few books it's not Ruth at all. I'm not sure she ever was Senior Mistress - Head of English and thus Senior English Mistress certainly, but you're told multiple times (including most clearly in both Summer Term and Challenge) that it's Jeanne de Lachennais who is Senior Mistress. Which, considering the CS's preference for seniority amongst their staff does make sense.

As to why Nancy over Ruth or Jeanne, I refer you to the title of this drabble :D :devil: .
Author:  Miss Di [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 3:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Foiled again...I thought I was going to get two updates!
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Hmm, interesting. I wonder just why she's taken against Len, but I hope that Len can solve it!

Thankyou.
Author:  Thursday Next [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I wonder if one of her friends had applied for Len's job? They might have planned to go to Switzerland together and Laura thinks Len got her job through favouritism.
Author:  JB [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Laura. Looking forward to seeing what's at the bottom of her stiffness.
Author:  cal562301 [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Loving this. Feel a bit sorry for Laura. Trust Len to get the giggles at the wrong moment! Hope they can sort out this early misunderstanding and become good friends.
Author:  Liz K [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 1:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
cal562301 wrote:
Loving this. Feel a bit sorry for Laura. Trust Len to get the giggles at the wrong moment! Hope they can sort out this early misunderstanding and become good friends.


I think a bit of water may pass under the bridge before they become good friendsa :(
Author:  MaryR [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Have been reading avidly, Lisa, and am so glad to see a Matey as nice as mine! :D Long may she reign!

Hopefully, Len will be able to disarm Laura in the end, though I have to say I too would have cowering in my seat at having to introduce myself to a crowd of people who all know each other.

Thank you.
Author:  sealpuppy [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
ChubbyMonkey wrote:
I can't wait to see Len in the role, I think she'll be good - and please can I just put in a plea for Len and Reg to end up happily? Thankyou!


Nooo, I still want Reg to suffer some dreadful torture. But apart from that, I'm loving this drabble. :D
Author:  Lisa_T [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
More. Those of you coming from ND may be amused to find that Linda Stone is fairly prominent here. Complete coincidence, I promise! :D

This one is a bit of an infodump, so apologies...

*
Len had to pay attention again when the History mistress asked about the curriculum changes, and the faces of the others became intent. The two Heads exchanged glances, and Miss Wilson began to explain.

“We’ve decided to change how we handle our trilingual system,” she started. “As you know, until now we’ve operated on the assumption that ‘when you hear nothing but French, English or German around you for two days a week you’ve no choice but to learn the language’ and, by and large, it’s worked well. However, now that we’re so well established in the Oberland we’re starting to get more girls for whom none of those languages are a ‘first’ and that changes things somewhat. It’s hardly fair to prevent them from speaking their own language at all for five and half days a week, so the first thing we're doing is extending the 'anything goes' policy to before Fruhstuck and after Prayers in the evening every day.”

The art mistress, Rosalind Yolland, nodded thoughtfully. “I did notice we’ve had a huge increase in Italian, Greek and Spanish children. I know we’ve always had a good number of Dutch girls, but somehow it never seemed to be such an issue with them.”

“Dutch is close enough to German to manage if you must, and most Dutch children are taught English almost from their cradles,” Miss Wilson commented. “But you’re right, Rosalind. It’s the influx of Spanish, Italian and Greek speakers that’s causing concern at the moment. If things continue as they are, the school population is going to fall into a number of distinct camps: British, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Dutch and a growing number from the former Balkan States. We started our trilingual system to begin with because it wasn’t fair to French or German girls to have to speak English and nothing else; now we must modify it again to reflect changing times.”

“Does this mean we’ll have to teach in all of those other languages?” one of the junior mistresses, Linda Stone, asked in a horrified tone.

The two Heads laughed, but Miss Wilson was quick to reassure her. “Hardly, Linda! Granted, you Junior people might be able to cope with a shove, but how, I ask you, are the Advanced level staff supposed to teach in those languages at the drop of a hat?”

Linda blushed a little but stood her ground. “You expect new Seniors to do it.”

“And that’s exactly why we try not to take new girls in the higher forms unless they already have a degree of fluency in all three of our main languages,” Miss Annersley told her crisply. “Honestly, you people, can’t you give us a little credit?”

It was Miss Wilson’s turn to grin. “Yes. I’m slightly disturbed at how little common sense you lot seem to think we have.”

Whereat all the mistresses laughed, even Len and Laura, and then it was time to settle down and listen whilst the Heads explained the new system between them.

“After much discussion we’ve decided to keep our current three main languages,” the Head began. “English is increasingly becoming the modern lingua franca, and German and French are also still widely used, although less universally so, perhaps. However, Italian and Spanish will become compulsory additional languages for all girls from Lower III up and have been timetabled accordingly. We do specialise in languages,” she reminded her stunned staff. “This is only formalising the rather ad-hoc language teaching system we’ve had for years, when people could do other languages as extras.”

“Or just for fun if your name is Joey Bettany,” Rosalie murmured, and the atmosphere lightened a little.

Miss Annersley smiled at this sally, but continued almost at once. “Greek will become an option once girls go into Lower IV, but only if their other work is up to standard. I won’t have people taking on more than they can handle and making themselves ill, miserable or both.”

“That’s not all,” Miss Wilson supplemented. “And this is where the changes become more noticeable. We’re going to create a floating group for girls who need additional support in English, French, German or all three.”

“Do you mean you’re creating additional forms?” Rosalind Moore asked, frowning. “As Inter V was – so Inter III, Inter IV and so on – but what happens to the current Inter V?”

“Nothing at all, because we’re not actually creating new forms. This is just a group whose members may change from day to day according to the language, although we may end up with some girls being more or less permanent fixtures at first. This will be Len’s province, by the way,” Miss Wilson went on, nodding at her god-daughter. “Her specialism is linguistics, and that should be very useful here.”

Len looked so horrified at this prospect that Miss Annersley stepped in with, “It’s not as bad as it sounds. The number of girls working with you will change by lesson as well as by day. For example, no-one will need to come to you during their actual language lessons, art, needlework, or games, and Rosalie has designed the timetable with this in mind. Furthermore, now that we have the new sports pavilion, it’s possible for us to send huge portions of the school off to games lessons at once, and that gives us a flexibility we haven’t had in the past.”

“Do not look so anxious, cherie,” Jeanne de Lachennais put in while Len sat and chewed her lip. “Julie and I will help, and I believe that those prefects who have expressed an interest in teaching or languages for their futures will also act as your assistantes.”

Her former pupil let out a slow breath of relief. “Whew!” she said, causing a few laughs. “I was having visions of getting to the straw-in-hair stage long before half term.”

“There’s no need for anyone to get anxious or put straw in their hair,” the Head told her firmly. “This is something in the nature of an experiment, so we’ll see how things go and change the arrangements accordingly. Nell, Rosalie and I have been through all the mark books from last term and allocated people who need the help, so that’s already organised. You’ll get the details shortly – and that goes for all of you, not just Len. I have one more thing to say about the languages and then we’ll move on. We’ve made the decision to change the school’s entrance requirements, so in future we won’t be accepting girls who show little or no aptitude for languages in the tests unless there’s other reasons why they need to come here. There’s no point in wasting time – theirs or ours - in teaching girls who struggle in their own language as it is, even without adding a further two.”

Len was not surprised by the general murmur of agreement that greeted this speech. Even she could remember any number of girls who struggled with the trilingual system and did poorly as a result.

Edited to correct idiot sentence structure - and from one of the Heads, no less! :shock:
Author:  ammonite [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Sorry - five languages will be compulsory? That what does that make them quilingual? Is that a word?

But more, thanks LisaT
Author:  Lisa_T [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Hmm, that does seem unclear. I mean they keep their three languages, but also have 'normal' lessons in Italian and Spanish but they don't actually have to spend the day speaking them. Make sense?

*wondering if post needs editing*
Author:  ammonite [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Yeah perfectly clear! Though I suppose if they got good enough...
Author:  Sarah_G-G [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Wow, quite a challenge for Len in her first term! It sounds sensible though, and giving proper options in the other languages as well does sound like a much better system than "if you want to do another language then go to Miss Denny", which seemed to be the main arrangement previously! :lol: I'm looking forward to seeing how this pans out. Thank you for the frequent updates! It's exciting knowing I can come on here each evening and see the next bit!
Author:  Elle [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Just found this, and really enjoying it. I can sympathise with Laura. When I was an NQT there was another one who seemed to fit in perfectly, know all the in jokes etc right away. She then got all promotions over me because she could talk the talk. She is an excellent teacher, but SLT seemed to love her. Oddly enough I am now her boss! She was over promoted, and I got Head of History when she was Head of Humanities, then she quit and went back to being an AST because it was all too much for her! She then tried SLT, and gave up on that too. My mother refers to us as the tortoise and the hare. Sorry, have gone completely off topic.
Author:  Nightwing [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
It's great to see the CS repositioning itself with more emphasis on it specialising in languages - hopefully this will limit the number of new girls who turn up not knowing they're expected to speak more than just English! :lol:
Author:  brie [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Really enjoying this. I like this Len and Reg better than EBDs
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Rosalie! What a headache those timetables must have been. I think I've just about got the system though... *wanders off pondering this*
Author:  JB [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
What a great system, Lisa and what a great opportunity for the pupils.

Elle- what are an SLT and an AST please? :?
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I really like that - the CS will build an excellent reputation for languages now.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Lisa_T [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
It was partly inspired by the more recent developments of my own old school (http://www.maryhare.org.uk or something like that). Deaf children often have severe language delay and the school have decided to remedy this by pulling kids out of some lessons/giving additional remedial lessons to those who need it. I think it's long overdue - the fact that any number of people managed a C-plus in GCSE French yet got D and below in English is testimony to the fact that deaf children do very well when they are language properly - it's just that even English needs to be taught as a foreign language. Which in truth, to many it is!
Author:  cestina [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
And NQT please Elle.

A lovely drabble Lisa_T :D
Author:  Billie [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I've just come to this and am really enjoying it. Thanks Lisa_T. :)
Author:  Abi [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I like the new plans for the school - that really does make sense (very interesting point about deaf children often needing to learn English as a foreign language; I hadn't thought of it like that before, but it makes perfect sense when you think about it). Very much enjoying this, Lisa.

NQT - Newly qualified teacher
SLT I assume is similar to SMT - senior management team?
Don't know about an AST though!
Author:  Lisa_T [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Google is our friend.

SLT - Senior Leadership Team, though SMT makes more sense!

AST- Advanced Skills Teacher = super teacher :mrgreen:
Author:  Kathy_S [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Goodness, they didn't tell Len this plan during the interview process? Scary! However, I'm sure she'll cope. Relations with the other new teacher seem more ominous somehow....
Author:  jmc [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I somehow seemed to miss a couple of posts but am all caught up now. This is going to be a big change but feeling a bit sorry for Len as this is different from what she expected. Hope she and Laura don't have too many dramas.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I think the term'd be "quintilingual" :D .

This does seem fairer. I always felt so sorry for those 2 little Norwegian kids in Jo of who were dumped in a school where no-one spoke their language and they didn't speak anyone else's languages!
Author:  Kyrrie [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Very nice idea, and what an exciting new role for Len to develop.

Alison H wrote:
This does seem fairer. I always felt so sorry for those 2 little Norwegian kids in Jo of who were dumped in a school where no-one spoke their language and they didn't speak anyone else's languages!

I always felt sorry for them too. And for everyone struggling through a school day in German for example and then still having to speak it in the evening. And not forgetting when you first get up and doing all the morning chores still in a sleepy haze :shock: I would have been fined every morning.

Thank you Lisa.
Author:  Elle [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Apologies!


JB wrote:
Elle- what are an SLT and an AST please? :?


cestina wrote:
And NQT please Elle.



Thanks to the people who have already explained!
Author:  Lisa_T [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I remember the funny looks my parents gave me when I started talking about G&T students... :mrgreen:

Next bit. Rather short tonight.

*

“Are we nearly done?” Nancy asked plaintively into the lull that followed. “I’m parched. Jeanne, where’s that blessed coffeepot of yours?”

Mademoiselle laughed and indicated the coffeepot behind her. “It is on the table as always, ma chere. Is there something wrong with your eyes, that you did not see?”

Nancy grinned and rose to collect the coffeepot while Kathie and Rosalind Yolland, casting meaning glances at Len and Laura, went to seek cups. Len interpreted the looks correctly and blushed a little before jumping up to help – after all, she knew where the staff kept their bits and bobs, even if the other new mistress did not!

Before long everyone was served with the delicious coffee, and Len watched Laura eagerly to see her reaction to her first sip. Mademoiselle’s coffee was legendary throughout the school.

She was not disappointed. Laura’s eyes grew very round and she peered into the cup as if, as Len said later, she’d never seen coffee before.

“What is this?” she demanded almost reverently, her shyness gone for the moment.

Len leapt at this slight thawing out and grinned. “It’s a closely guarded secret. Even when I was a kid, we all knew about Mademoiselle’s coffee and begged her to tell us what she put in it, but she never did.”

“It would not be a secret if everyone knew,” Mlle herself said placidly.

“It’s one of our favourite games,” Kathie put in dreamily. “Guessing the contents of Jeanne’s coffee. Nancy,” she nodded at her friend, “once displayed her rather impressive knowledge of liqueurs and spirits in the process.” She giggled. “Oh, do you folk remember the look on Matey’s face when she just kept going and going?”

“You’re sidetracking again,” Miss Wilson complained after the laughter had subsided. “Leave Jeanne’s coffee alone and let us finish. I still have things to do before I can join in the fun this evening.”

“Perhaps the rest of us are just better organised than you are, Nell,” Peggy Burnett told her with a wicked grin. “I’m sure I’ve heard Gillian Culver complain about you on that score a time or two.”

Nell Wilson gave her a glare that should have made her feel like a schoolgirl again, but Peggy Burnett had been teaching for too long now to be fazed by anyone, even the notoriously imperious ‘Bill’, so Miss Wilson gave it up and ended the meeting by telling Rosalie to hand out the pile of thick brown envelopes that sat in front of her.

“It’s nearly time for Abendessen in any case,” she added, raising her voice slightly so as to be heard over the growing chatter. The younger mistresses took the hint and settled down again. “These packs contain the all the information you need: your classes, forms, new girls, duties and so on. It should all be self-explanatory, but if you have any questions you can come to Hilda, Nancy, Julie, Rosalie, Claire, Gillian or I. Oh, and Jeanne knows most of it too since we called her in for discussions in order to ease the transfer of the Senior Mistress position from her to Nancy. Any questions? Not one? Good grief! Remember everyone’s to be in Hall by 20:00. And there’s the bell!”

TBC.
Author:  JB [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks, Lisa. I take it a G&T student isn't relaxing as it sounds. :)
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Love that Jeanne's coffee remains a secret - will she leave the secret to someone in her will?


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Abi [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Love Nancy trying to guess what goes into the coffee - and Matey's face as she goes on and on! :lol:

Thanks Lisa, am loving this!
Author:  shazwales [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa just caught up to date with this and am really enjoying it. :)
Author:  Cath V-P [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lisa, this is lovely and I am enjoying it very much. And such a believable situation too between Len and Laura - who is probably feeling very gauche and new and just waiting to make a mistake. And I do foresee problems for Len in that others might expect too much of her precisely because of her Old Girl status - and of course it has been a good few years since she was at the school . . .

Loved the idea of Nancy's extensive alcoholic trivia! :D
Author:  jmc [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Loved Nancy's knowledge of alcohol and the fact that Matey gave her a look. The staff all seem so friendly and relaxed so I hope Laura will soon feel as though she is one of them.
Author:  Kyrrie [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I've always loved staffroom scenes and this was great. Thanks Lisa.
Author:  2nd Gen Fan [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I have just read all of this, and really love the take on Reg and Len's future. It is still close to EBDs original intentions, but also alowing them (Len especially) to mature in a way that she couldn't allow. Looking forward to future updates.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Your writing of the staffroom scene is just like EBD! Alcohol aside, obviously :lol: Thankyou, I'm really enjoying this.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This is wonderful. I love the staffroom scenes.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Whoops, sorry for the late update. For me this is Friday's update, but technically it's really Saturday's, so I've missed a day. Had friends round and they stayed.... a long time. Which was fun but my batteries were going flat, so I've spent most of the past two hours studying the wood grain on my breakfast bar while the others argued about transport and Northern Irish politics. How I love being deaf(!)

*

Len opened her eyes and frowned. The room seemed oddly familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, and it was not until she turned her head and saw the cretonne curtains at the window that memory returned. She was back at the Chalet School, and today was the day the girls would return and term officially commence.

Energised by that thought, Len jumped out of bed and headed for the tiny (and much appreciated) en-suite shower-and-toilet facility that had appeared in the resident staff bedrooms in recent years. As she pulled on a pair of jeans and a jumper – she knew from experience that helping Rosalie with the stationery was not the cleanest of tasks – her thoughts went to the night before and she began to giggle at the memory.

The event in Hall had turned out to be nothing more or less than paper games and a quiz – very much the sort of evening that Len remembered from her own schooldays. However, the old favourites of Consequences and Book Reviews and so on were lent novelty by the company. Even though Len, in common with the rest of the long Maynard family, thought of a goodly number of the school’s staff as relatives, she was unprepared to watch the stately Miss Annersley get involved in a vigorous – and in some cases loud - debate with her fellow English specialists over some obscure literary reference. Her eyes had nearly fallen out of her head at that, much to the amusement of Kathie Ferrars who had given her a surreptitious poke.

“Don’t do that,” the young and recently promoted Head of Maths had hissed. “Haven’t you ever seen Hilda let her hair down before?”

Len had grinned. “Literally?”

“Now you’re just being provoking,” Kathie had grumbled. Then she grinned as the entire Science department – which included Miss Wilson for the purposes of the evening’s entertainment – whooped and cheered.

“Is it always like this?” Laura had asked from Kathie's other side, her eyes wide.

Len was too busy laughing to answer, and it fell to Rosalind Yolland, who was with them, to reply. “It’s not normally quite this insane, but this is the last night of the holidays, technically speaking.” She flashed both new mistresses a smile. “It is a bit of a shock, especially if you’re an Old Girl as I was. You don’t expect to see your former mistresses behaving like a bunch of Senior Middles.”

“Everything will calm down again,” Kathie added, “and by tomorrow night we’ll be on our best behaviour – until we’re next in the staffroom, of course!”

But Len was hardly listening, for she had seen how the animation fled Laura’s face at Rosalind’s confession and her heart sank. She had hoped that the other young woman would be a friend, but that was starting to seem increasingly unlikely.

Back in her room, Len’s giggles over the memory began to die. She would have to work with Laura today in a professional manner. She had no doubt she could manage it, but she guessed that Laura was some years younger than she was and very inexperienced at that. Would she be able to be professional around Len? She did seem to have a chip on her shoulder about Len being an Old Girl – and of course, Len remembered, Rosalie Dene was a very old Old Girl who was proud of that fact and would not scruple to mention it.

Actually, she thought as she finished brushing her hair and twisting it up, that might be all to the good. Perhaps Laura will say something and we’ll get this thing, whatever it is, sorted before term actually starts. And with that optimistic thought kept uppermost, she left her room and sauntered whistling towards the Speisesaal, relishing the fact she would never have dared to do so as a schoolgirl.

“Breaking rules, are we, Helena?” a sly voice said behind her as she reached the head of the stairs, and she whirled guiltily to face a smirking Nancy Wilmot and Peggy Burnett.

“I don’t need to keep that rule now,” Len responded smugly. She grinned at them. “Come on, Miss Wilmot and Miss Burnett. Are you telling me you never ‘broke’ a rule when you came back yourselves?”

“I’ve never broken a rule in my life,” Nancy declared piously, but with a wicked twinkle. “Peg?”

The P.T. mistress elevated her pretty nose. “I’ve broken a few, but not while I was a mistress. And don’t you dare mention the words ‘bubble bath’,” she added, glaring at the other two.

Len nodded solemnly although her lips twitched. She had kept her promise to say nothing of Peggy’s impromptu bubble bath at the hands of a certain enterprising Junior Middle many years before, but the memory still made her laugh. “You didn’t break that rule, though,” she said when she was sure she could control herself.

“No, but if she’d kept her head and hadn’t yelled none of us would have known about it,” Nancy retorted as she led them into the dining room and up to the staff table. “That was a result of Matey’s training, I fancy. Bubble bath may be all very well for our noble selves, but for the kids it’s verboten, you know, and Peggy was at the school from the time she was an infant.”

“Quite apart from the minor detail of Jack Lambert’s rule-breaking in coming up to our corridor in the first place,” Peggy grumbled as they seated themselves. “But of course it’s my yelling you all remember.”

At that point Miss Annersley demanded to be told what they were talking about, and after a brief explanation for the benefit of those who had not been at school during the incident in question, she moved the discussion on to the forthcoming term.

TBC.
Author:  Miss Di [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh I did enjoy seeing the staff act like middles!
Feel that there is trouble ahead with Laura tho'. She probably feels like a total odd one out with all these ex-student mistresses.
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Love Len's shock at seeing her ex-teachers all acting human! Hope Laura's problem can be sorted out - because I should imagine that if she cannot learn to accept Old Girls she won't remain at the CS for long.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Alison H [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm not surprised Laura feels like the odd one out. Maybe Kathie could have a word with her - she must have felt the same way when she realised that Biddy and Peggy and Nancy were all Old Girls.
Author:  JB [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I don't think Len's optimism about Laura is justified. I think it'll take a lot longer for to settle down. Hope she can talk to Kathie.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I guess that Laura's feelings are understandable, but I think that she needs to talk to someone about it - and of course Len is always good to listen!

Thanks for the update :D
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
More!
*
Len, in between sips of her milky coffee, saw how Laura relaxed as the conversation turned away from the past, and once again wondered. All the same, Len Maynard had not been a Chalet girl for nothing, and as soon as she had finished her own meal and saw Laura finish hers, she leaned over to speak to the other woman.

“Are you ready?” she asked with her most winning smile. “I think Aunt Rosalie – that is, Miss Dene – wants us in her office as soon as we’re done and she wants me to show you the way so you don’t get lost. She told me so last night.”

Laura glanced down the long table. “Isn’t she here?”

“Aunt Rosalie likes to eat early the first day of term,” Len explained. She grimaced. “My sisters and I used to find ourselves chucked over here at the most unearthly hour to help because we lived next door and it made it easier for everyone if Platz residents were sorted out before everyone else. Which reminds me,” she added, turning to the Head, “Auntie Hilda, if anyone needs help for anything extra, I’m sure I could ask Mamma to send Felicity and Cecil over.”

Her brevet aunt glanced at her quickly and smiled. “There’s no need, dear. Hasn’t anyone told you? We have a reasonable secretarial staff these days, so it’s less necessary for girls to spend their last few hours of holiday time at school. Oh, I know you didn’t mind,” she went on as Len opened her mouth, “but we always felt it was unfair and as soon as we could stop the practice, we did. Now hadn’t you better run along to the office? Rosalie will be waiting.”

The suggestion was gently made, but Len felt her cheeks flushing as she murmured her agreement and drew Laura from the table. You’ve just made a real ass of yourself, she scolded herself mentally. Remember what Stacie said. Things have changed. You can’t make assumptions that everything will be as you remember.

“At least you know where you’re going,” Laura said coolly as Len led the way towards the Annexe. “Always an advantage when one returns to one’s alma mater, I would have thought.”

Len tried to ignore the slight sneer she thought she heard in those words. “It is a bit of a rabbit warren,” she agreed as cheerfully as she could. “When we first came here, it took days and days for us to find our way around.” She paused to give Laura a chance to say something, but the other girl remained resolutely silent and Len sighed as they entered the secretary’s office.

“The very people!” a harassed Miss Dene greeted enthusiastically as the younger pair came up to her. “There seems to have been some mix-up with the new language readers. They’ve sent us double the amount of Spanish and no Italian. Len, if I give you the number can you give them a call? Presumably you know the texts Jeanne wants – they should have been in that pack Nell gave you last night, and with your flypaper memory you should have no problem remembering them.”

Len nodded and went to look at the textbooks, where she quickly saw that Rosalie was correct, but she could do nothing more until the secretary was finished with Laura.

“I’d like you to sort out the exercise book piles,” Rosalie was saying. “It’s just a case of making sure that the boxes of vocab books, scribblers, file block and so on are properly separated and in small piles so that the stationery prefects from each form can collect them with a minimum of fuss tomorrow morning. You’ll need to work in the stock cupboard for that, though. Come along and I’ll take you there. I’ll be back in a moment, Len.”

Len dropped into a chair by the window and leaned her arm on the broad windowsill. Her eyes went to the view outside, and she felt herself relax. The cloud-tipped peaks had not changed – or rather, they were no less changeable than they had ever been, and she found them soothing. For the past twenty-four hours she had constantly been caught on the hop, as it were; lulled by sameness one minute, and jarred by differences in unexpected places the next.

“Where’s Rosalie?” the Head’s voice asked, and Len jerked automatically to her feet. Miss Annersley might be ‘Auntie Hilda’ out of school, but the Maynard girls had learned from babyhood that when in school she was, as the second of the triplets had once said, ‘the Head and finish!’ and in this environment old habits died hard.

“She went to show Laura the stock cupboard,” Len replied with a quick smile.

“Ah. What about your own task?”

Len indicated the Spanish readers. “I’ve to phone the publishers and tell them they made a mistake.”

Miss Annersley groaned. “Again? Sometimes,” she said whimsically as she went to retrieve some papers from a filing cabinet, “I think of what it would be to start a school year without any textbook-related dramas, but I don’t think it’s happened yet. Either the firm goes out of business, or the book is no longer in print, or someone – your Auntie Nell, for example – has written so illegibly that the publishers complain that they couldn't read the order to fulfil it!”

Len laughed. “We didn’t have that problem at my last school, but then they were in Oxford and within easy reach of all the major publishing houses. That, and the fact that our Senior Mistress seemed to know all of them personally and apparently threatened them with horrible things if they messed up an order.”

“What’s that about messed up orders?” Rosalie demanded as she came back into the room.

“We’re discussing our annual fracas with the publishers,” Miss Annersley said cheerfully. “Rosalie, I’m taking these files to sort. I’ll put them back when I’m finished.”

The secretary looked doubtful. “You don’t need to do that, Hilda. That’s not your job and you’ve plenty to do as it is, what with the heavier teaching load you and Nell are taking on this year.”

“That’s exactly why I do need to sort them,” the Head responded sweetly before disappearing through the connecting door into the study. Rosalie shook her head and Len could have sworn she heard something about ‘no sense’ but decided she’d invented it.
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
No, she probably did hear it - I expect Rosalie would get extremely irritated with Hilda on occasion! :lol: Pity Laura seems determined to play the victim here - after all it's not Len's fault that she happens to be an Old Girl - is it?


Thanks Lisa
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
:lol: I'm with Lesley!

Thanks for the update.
Author:  MaryR [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
But maybe there are more reasons for Laura's behaviour than her feeling out of it through not being an OG. Is there a mystery lurking in her background, I wonder? After all, Kathie and a goodly few others managed - or so EBD would have us think! :D

Love the staff letting their hair down. :twisted:

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I, too, am wondering whether there's more wrong with Laura than just resenting Len's being an Old Girl.
Author:  Bride [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Maybe Laura wanted to attend the CS as a child but wasn't able to, so thought she would like to teach there to make up for it - but now she's jealous of those who really did get to be pupils?? Which would be awkward.

Mind you, speaking as another teacher, I'd probably be quite irritated to find myself in the middle of such an Old Girls' Club...
Author:  ammonite [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Yay two posts to catch up with today!.

I'm glad the girls don't have to come and help now - that always seemed unfair.
Author:  Alison H [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'd also be annoyed that there seems to be such an old girls' clique, but she really needs to get over it and try to make an effort to fit in. I think that starting a new job and finding that the only other new staff member calls the boss "Auntie" would be pretty off-putting, though :roll: .
Author:  Abi [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Can understand how Laura feels - I know I'd feel horribly self-conscious and out of things if I were in that situation. Loved the staff letting their hair down, though!
Author:  Kyrrie [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I really feel for Laura too. Now I'd probably love chatting to Len about her experiences as a pupil but as a beginning teacher in her early 20s this would be very daunting for Laura.

Am starting to suspect there's something else behind her attitude though.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  jmc [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
We actually have quite o few of our ex students on staff and I know that other new staff are often a bit envious of the way they know what's going on, understand school routines, know their way round etc. Like Len the hardest thing they have to deal with is learning what their old teachers are like in a social context and learning to call us by their our first names. But Laura will just have to get over it and do her best to fit in. Both Laura and Len will face their own difficulties with fitting in, they will just be different.
Author:  JB [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I don't think Len's helping herself here with her "Aunt Rosalie" and "Aunt Hilda". If poor Laura is feeling left out because she isn't an old girl, most of Len's conversation here would have made her feel worse.
Author:  M [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Len is well into her 20ies by this time, I'd have thought Rosalie at any rate would have suggested she dropped the Aunt bit and just called her Rosalie. Hilda and Nell would be a bit more difficult as they are older and Nell is her godmother but wouldn't they suggest it to make her fit in more?
Author:  Lesley [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Rosalie is older than Len's own mother though - so probably just as difficult - plus age has nothing to do with it - I still find it very difficult to address my Aunt Doreen as just Doreen - I'm 48 and she's 77. :roll:
Len could have remained formal and addressed all as Miss 'whatever' but she probably didn't even think about it. :lol:
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I was amused by some of the comments, for reasons that will become clear....!

*
“Here’s that number, by the way,” the secretary said, handing over a slip. “You may use that phone, but remember to use the code for an external line. It’s written on the paper next to it,” she added. “If you don’t add the code you get put through to the S.P.O. and they won’t be happy.”

Len’s brow wrinkled at this – what was the S.P.O.? – but she obeyed and before long was involved in a verbal wrestling match with the publishers in question, who argued vehemently that they had not made a mistake. It look Len nearly half an hour of hard talking before they were persuaded they were in error, and agreed to send out the German texts if the school immediately despatched the surplus Spanish books.

Once that task had been completed, Rosalie set her another, and the two worked quietly with only the sound of music coming from the Head’s wireless in the study to break the peaceful silence. Miss Annersley departed on her own occasions at half past ten, and at quarter to eleven, Len’s attention was interrupted when Rosalie gave vent to an almighty yawn.

“I think it’s time to stop for a bit,” the secretary declared as she stretched. “The bell for break – elevenses, rather – will be going shortly.” She got to her feet and crossed the room to perch on the corner of Len’s table. “How are you getting on?”

Len glanced up from the nameslips she was sorting and her mouth quirked. “With this or generally?”

“This. I can’t imagine you know about the other quite yet!”

The younger woman laughed. “No, that’s true.” She put down her pencil and looked up at Rosalie. “Aunt Rosalie, when you first came back did you find it weird?”

Rosalie laughed again. “What, before the girls came back? When that happens this place is weird enough for anything. Seriously, though,” she went on as Len rolled her eyes, “of course I did. Returning as an adult to the places you knew as a child is always strange at first, and you feel constantly caught out. Ah,” as Len’s face changed, “I see I’ve hit a nerve.”

Len turned scarlet. “That’s exactly how I’m feeling,” she confessed. “Nothing major, just a lot of little things. Matey not being here, but at home – and she looks so old! I’d never thought of her as old, before. Auntie Hilda this morning saying that the Platz people don’t help just before term any longer. You, just now – what is the S.P.O.?”

“So you didn’t read that pack of Nell’s from cover to cover last night,” Miss Dene said drily. “If you had, you’d know.” Len’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. “The S.P.O. – or ‘SPO’ as Nancy calls it when she’s trying to be funny – is the school’s …post office, so to speak. As Hilda told you, between here, St Nicholas’s and St Mildred’s, we’ve got a reasonable secretarial staff, so we converted a room in St Nicholas’s to be used for sorting mail and telephone calls. A lot of the routine work is done there, and that frees the rest of us up significantly for more important things.

“When you were at school,” Rosalie went on reminiscently, “Hilda and I were quite frequently stretched to the limit. Gillian Culver at Millie’s did try to help, but there wasn’t much she could do. I was making myself ill and Hilda wanted to do less admin work and more teaching, so – with your mother’s help – we evolved the S.P.O. between us.”

“I see,” Len said thoughtfully. “It’s a good plan. It just seems rather – well, rather formal for us.”

Rosalie laughed. “My dear girl, we are a business as well as a school. It behoves us to make sure the place is run as efficiently as we can for everyone’s sake – pupils, mistresses, secretarial, parents – even the domestic and cleaning staff.”

At that moment the bell rang, and Laura appeared at the door. Her expression changed when she saw Rosalie and Len apparently deep in friendly conversation. “I think I’ve finished in the stock room,” she said abruptly. “Don’t bother to show me the way to the staffroom. I think I can remember.” With that, she turned on her heel and stalked off, and Len gave Rosalie a troubled look.

“She’s been like that ever since I told her I was an O.G.,” she observed. “And she wasn’t much better when Ros Yolland said the same last night in Hall. We – weren’t coming over her about it, or anything, so I don’t know what her problem is.”

Rosalie’s face became grave. “I see. Well, Len, that’s something you’re going to have to deal with. Besides Laura, there’s a number of new people who aren’t Old Girls on the staff – new to you, I mean. There’s Paula Clarke in history, Gerry Challoner in music – although she at least did encounter the school when we were in Tyrol, so she’s found it easier, I think. Lorna Carey struggled a little more, but her cousin married a cousin of the Willoughbys, so she’s also part of the school’s extended orbit and had reference points as it were. Paula came to us completely fresh and she only really settled in last term even though it’s now more than two years since Rosemary Charlesworth went.”

Len frowned. “I don’t remember a Gerry or Lorna last night.”

“Gerry had to go to Florence on music business, and Lorna’s mother died over the holidays,” Rosalie explained. “Gerry will be back tonight so you’ll meet her then. She’s around Grizel’s age. Lorna is the same age as your cousin Peggy, more or less, and she’s one of the junior mistresses.” She grinned. “I understand the original intention was to teach older girls, but we had a dreadful epidemic her first term here and she ended up spending a lot of time with the younger girls. When everything returned to normal, she begged to be allowed to continue with them, and Sharlie Andrews backed her up, so the Heads agreed. She teaches general subjects as well as some history and the odd bit of language coaching, so you’ll probably come across her there.”

“I hope Laura gets over it,” Len said wistfully. “After all, we are the two youngest on the staff. It would be nice if we could be friends, Aunt Rosalie.” Rosalie gave her such a quizzical look that Len was puzzled. “What is it?” she prompted.

Rosalie glanced at the clock. “We really should go for our coffee,” she remarked. “But I do think someone needs to say this. Len, now you’re a member of staff it’s probably a good idea to drop the brevet titles. It was one thing when you were a child, but it’s not necessary now – after all, we’re none of us that ancient!”

Len went scarlet all over again. “I couldn’t! Well,” she amended, “I could with you, just as I’ve done with Stacie, but you’re only around Mamma’s age. I couldn’t possibly drop the ‘aunt’ for the Heads. It’d be so rude.”

Rosalie laughed. “All right, I’ll let that one go for now. I must confess,” she continued with a twinkle, “it was a good ten years after I left school before I was able to say ‘Madge’ to your aunt instead of ‘Madame’. She was my headmistress, you see. At least you're accustomed to addressing Hilda and Nell informally, so it should be easier for you to adjust.”

The younger woman’s scepticism showed so plainly on her face that the secretary could not help but laugh again. Then she pulled Len up from her seat and the two went to seek their coffee.
Author:  Lesley [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Rosalie didn't really help Len with her problem with Laura, did she? At least she could understand the difficulty Len might have dropping the title for the Heads.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  MaryR [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I guess Len will have to sort out her own problems and try to make her peace with Laura. The latter might turn to the other staff who aren't OGs to help sort out her rawness and resentment - if that's all they are - as she apparently feels she can't open up to Len.

ThANKS, Lisa
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Yay, Gerry!

*cough* Thanks for the update; it's going to be good to see Len trying to muddle through - as I assume we will?
Author:  JB [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lisa - thank you so much for bringing back Gerry and Lorna. Are we to find out who Kit married?

Am luckily in on my own so there was no-one to comment on the bouncing and squeaking caused by this update. You've made my day. :)
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lovely to see Gerry and Lorna :D .

I can understand how Len feels, but addressing your boss as "Auntie" in front of your colleagues is going to make everyone else feel uncomfortable, surely.
Author:  Abi [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Nice to see Gerry and Lorna! Hope that Len can sort out her difficulties with Laura, though.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you, Lisa. :D

I can sympathize with the "Auntie" problem, give that there are still people I have problems calling by first name rather than Mrs. Surname, decades later. However, Len used to have to edit out the "Aunties" in favor of formal titles, so I'm sure she'll eventually learn to manage, at least in public.

Laura's reaction to old girls could very well just be that she's feeling an outsider. Then again, one must never underestimate the author's devious mind. :twisted:
Author:  Llywela [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm really enjoying this story - thanks for the regular updates :)
Author:  Lisa_T [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Next bit. Shorter updates tonight and tomorrow!

*

When the break was nearly over, Hilda Annersley announced that she did not want either of the two new mistresses to be burdened with any further jobs that day unless it was an absolute emergency. “Most of you should be ready for the new year by now,” she reminded her staff. “It’s not fair on the ‘staff babies’ to expect them to make up for your shortcomings from before the holidays.” Several mistresses studiously avoided looking at her and her mouth twitched before she turned to Laura and Len with her most delightful smile.

“Well, girls, it seems I’ve got you off the hook,” she told them. “I suggest that you use this free time to go through the pack Nell Wilson gave you last night and familiarise yourselves with everything in it. As Len already knows, tonight will be rather hectic, and tomorrow not much better even though we don’t start proper work until Monday. I’ll be in the study if anyone wants me.” She smiled around at the assembled staff once more and departed with Rosalie.

Len gave a luxurious stretch and smirked as Kathie Ferrars muttered something under her breath as she scanned a list she was holding. The other mistress glared at her. “Just you wait, Len Maynard,” she promised. “This will come to you in time. Nancy!” she called, causing her friend to turn to her, “What did you do with the Maths reports from last term for Inter V? I want to look over them again.”

The pair went off to find their reports, and gradually the other mistresses followed their example until only Laura and Len were left sitting in the staffroom.

An awkward silence fell, and Len opened her mouth to attempt a conversation with her colleague, but the look she got from the other girl froze her on the spot, and she could only watch as Laura crossed the room and settled herself at the desk-and-bookcase affair that every mistress was allocated on her arrival at the school.

“Laura,” Len tried tentatively. They were adults, after all. She should at least make the effort.

There was a fierce rustling of paper, but the young woman made no move to turn, and, after watching her for a long moment, Len quietly slipped out of the staffroom and headed for her room and her own paperwork, a deep crease between her eyes.

She spent the rest of that afternoon carefully studying her papers, and found them to be, as Miss Wilson had said, more or less self-explanatory. As she raised her head after reading a reminder to all form-mistresses about stationery collection on the first morning of term, she did spare a moment to wonder how Laura was coping. There was such a lot to take in, even for Len, and - as her mother was fond of saying - the Chalet School was in her blood.

Her brows came together when she came to her own form list and she groaned. She’d been assigned to Upper IVa which was the highest form in Middle School. The chances were good that it also contained the highest number of sheer menaces, and – just to add insult to injury – the name ‘Cecilia Marya Maynard’ was listed under the ‘M’s. Len glared at the list and for a moment contemplated going to seek Rosalie and complaining, but she abandoned the idea almost at once. After all, why should she? She had known there was a possibility this could happen – she’d just hoped it wouldn’t happen so soon.

Cecil’s sensible, she told herself firmly. She won’t mind. Yet she could not help wondering; in the few short days at home before moving over to school she’d overheard a couple of arguments between Felicity and Cecil, and the younger girl shouting at the elder about always ‘coming the Senior over her’.

Nor was Cecil the only worry; Len knew almost half of the girls in her form and they knew her on a first-name basis. From what Rosalie had said, it was a while since an Old Girl had returned to teach, and this was possibly the first time that Cecil’s generation would encounter this issue. It would be a learning process for everyone, and, for the moment at least, Len found herself envying Laura’s complete newness and her ability to start with a blank slate.
Author:  JB [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Len. I don't envy her. I'm looking forward to meeting Cecil and Felicity, though.
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 8:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Len knew it was likely - though I think perhaps Rosalie has been particularly evil to ensure Len gets the one Form that has her sister in and all the girls that would know her.

Laura doesn't even want to meet Len halfway, does she?


Thanks Lisa
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I wonder if Miss A. insisted for some deep reason that only she knows? (She could, after all, rival Dumbledore in the "knowing what is best for everyone all the time" stakes :lol:)

Thanks for the update!
Author:  M [ Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Given the number of wards, cousins and sisters Len has it would be quite hard to find her a form without one in it. Given that she's not a junior school mistress the forms she'd be likely to get would be thirds or fourths which would be likely to have Daphne, Cecil, Phil, Marie Claire or Marjorie or Lois Graves or Biddy's daughter who I think Len was godmother to in them.
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
A few girls at our school had parents (I don't think there were any siblings) who were teachers there and the school had a strict policy of making sure that those teachers didn't teach their own children's forms. I think both Len and Cecil've been put in a very awkward position here.
Author:  Eilidh [ Tue Feb 02, 2010 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
All these comments about 'as Len already knows' and the like really won't be helping I wouldn't think. Laura must feel really out of things.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  jmc [ Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Bit tough on Len having Cecil in her form and I think it should have been avoided. Like the fact that Hilda intervened to make sure the two new staff could have some time to themselves but Laura isn't making things particularly easy for herself is she.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  Elbee [ Tue Feb 02, 2010 3:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Just read all of this and am very much enjoying it.

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  MaryR [ Tue Feb 02, 2010 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
It might seem tough for Len to have her sister, but Hilda could hardly change every teacher round just to suit Len. And as it's not Len's first teaching post, there shouldn't be any problems.

Laura is making life difficult for herself, when really she needs all the help she can get. This is her first post, after all! I'd have been clinging to Len like crazy! :roll:

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This story is crawling at snail's pace, or so I can't help thinking. I hope no-one's getting bored!

Next bit - sorry I'm late!

*

After Mittagessen, Len collected her papers and ventured back down to the staffroom. She could not help the sigh of relief that escaped her when she found it occupied by Peggy Burnett - who gave her a cheery nod - and Rosalind Moore in addition to the 'new' history mistress, and Laura, but her heart sank once again when she realised that her allocated desk was next to Laura’s.

As soon as she put her books down, Laura gathered her own and departed, muttering something about needing to see Miss Dene. Len watched her go wistfully. It could be the truth, but it was a little too much of a coincidence, she thought. She puffed out a breath that made her papers move, and settled down.

After a time, a groan broke the silence. “Why oh why do I need to have Inter V again?” Miss Moore complained to the room at large. “I had them last year, and the year before that. Rosalie promised me last time I could have someone more reasonable – such as Va, for choice. Inter V are turning my hair grey!”

“Inter V always were a problem,” Peggy returned lazily. “From the very start, when one half of the class were hard workers and the other half were lazy little slackers. That was Kathie’s first term,” she added reminiscently.

Len lifted her head and looked at the P.T. mistress. “I was in that form,” she reminded Peggy. Then, curiously, “Were we really that bad?”

The two older women exchanged glances. “You could have been worse,” Rosalind conceded while Peggy took up the tale.

“You certainly had more than your fair share of mischief makers, that’s for sure. Your own Margot, the Dawbarns, Heather Clayton, Emmy Hope … oh, the list goes on. I remember feeling rather sorry for Kathie. What a group to land her with, her very first term! Monkeys every one of them!”

“At least the Heads appointed her with that in mind,” Rosalind commented. “They knew what that lot were like. They wouldn’t have chosen someone who couldn’t do the job.”

Paula looked up, a quizzical expression on her sharp features. “Are you sure of that?” she asked in her clipped voice. For a moment – a very short moment – Len thought the other woman’s eyes lingered on her, but then Paula continued and Len thought she had imagined that look. “Now if you don’t mind, Peggy, some of us have real teaching to prepare for. Keep it down!” The smile with which the history mistress finished was glacial, and Len knew that her own eyes were wide with surprise.

“Peggy’s teaching load is as heavy as yours, Paula,” Rosalind said coolly, and Peggy gave her a grateful nod. “We’ve never gone in for that sort of staffroom snobbery here. I hope you’re not going to start it now.”

Paula raised thin blonde eyebrows. “You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion, as I am to mine. Peggy, I apologise if I offended you.”

Peggy murmured something in response, but Len could see that her eyes were sparking and her cheeks were more flushed than usual. Clearly this was not the first time Paula and Peggy had disagreed, and she found herself remembering Rosalie’s words about how long it had taken the history mistress to adjust to life at the Chalet School.

She shivered as she thought of the tension between herself and Laura which at this moment seemed to be symbolised by the other girl’s empty desk and the suddenly icy atmosphere in the room.

I’ll just keep on being friendly, she thought hopefully. If I’m pleasant, surely she’ll eventually reciprocate. All the same, the glances she sent in the direction of the now thin-lipped Peggy and the rigid Paula were troubled, and she was very quiet throughout Kaffee und Kuchen when it came.
Author:  Miss Di [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Goodness me, looks like the staff room isn't the friendly place EBD always depicted!


Not getting bored at all, rather loving all the detail.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Factions in the staff room? :shock: Looks like we're in for a less than comfortable term....

(but more, please)
Author:  Nightwing [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I suppose the more the staff grows the more likely it is that rifts start to appear, but I hate to think that that kind of inter-departmental fighting might be going on at the CS! Paula seems quite unpleasant here - whereas Laura only seems overly touchy. I hope Paula doesn't take Laura under her wing :? .
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Wonder why Paula doesn't think the Games Mistress has such a heavy load? Maybe she doesn't have marking etc but she will have a great deal more extra-curricular work and it's unlikely her weekends will be free. Perhaps it's the lack of degree? Pleased Ros Moore was there to keep the peace but it's not all sweetness and light in the staffroom is it?


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Unfortunately all this "office politics" is much more typical of a real workplace than the lovely friendly staffroom atmosphere in EBD's books was ...
Author:  JB [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Not remotely bored. Looking forward to (and enjoying) every update.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh dear! Office politics here we come, I fear....

:hiding:
Author:  cal562301 [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Really enjoying this and not at all bored. Work politics are tricky everywhere.
Author:  Kyrrie [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lesley wrote:
Wonder why Paula doesn't think the Games Mistress has such a heavy load? Maybe she doesn't have marking etc but she will have a great deal more extra-curricular work and it's unlikely her weekends will be free. Perhaps it's the lack of degree?


Agree, perhaps Paula has been too busy fuming to look at what goes on. Peggy would have no less in preparation and programming and more than makes up for any less in marking by the organisation of matches.

Plus Peggy has them outside *shudder*

Laura seems less odd now we've met Paula :P
Author:  Lisa_T [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
More :) Thanks for the little bits of discussion, you people - you're keeping iinspiration flowing nicely.

*
It was after six o’clock – or 18:00 hours, European time – and the staff had gathered in their room once again. Usually at this point they would be getting ready to move into the hall in order to welcome the girls back, but for some reason the coaches were delayed, so now every mistress from the Head herself right down to Len and Laura were congregated in the staffroom awaiting news.

Len sat quietly in her corner amidst all the talk and laughter. Several people had smiled at her and talked to her, and she had been introduced to the newly arrived Gerry Challoner by Dorothy Lawrence, the school’s Head of Music. Len had liked the older woman at once, especially when Gerry had provided her with a new take on an old tale by telling her of her first encounter with the school, back in the ‘Dark Ages’ when Joey Maynard – then Bettany – was only a very new sub-prefect. However, as a result of her lateness, Miss Challoner had had to excuse herself very quickly, and Len found herself alone once more with her thoughts.

Finally, the phone rang and Jeanne de Lachennais answered it. Almost at once she turned back to call, “Hilda, cherie, Rosalie says the coaches have passed the San.”

“Very well. Tell Rosalie to pass that on to Karen as well. Barbara too, I think,” the Head returned before getting to her feet, and silence fell almost at once. “Ladies, it’s time for us to adjourn to the hall to welcome the girls. Allow me to take this opportunity to wish you all a very pleasant term, even the newest of you.”

Her smile was a benediction, and Len, whose emotions were so tightly coiled she feared she would snap, relaxed slightly. She looked over at Laura through her lashes and saw a similar response in other girl’s face and, for the first time since yesterday’s staff meeting, Laura did not immediately glare back. Len mouthed ‘Good luck’ across the room, but it was lost as the other mistresses began to move towards the door. Even Laura exited, urged on her way by Paula Clarke, whilst Len herself remained rooted to her seat.

“Len?”

She looked up and saw that the Head was standing at the door, and managed a shaky smile. Miss Annersley gave her a keen glance and seemed to realise how she was feeling, for she crossed the room at once.

“Terrified?” she asked with a smile.

Len looked up into the well-known blue-grey eyes that faced hers and nodded. “Idiotic, isn’t it?” She rose, hoping she did not look at wobbly as she felt. “I wasn’t this frightened last time,” she went on indignantly.

Her Headmistress laughed. “There’s no rhyme or reason to it, I’m afraid. Like you, I was calm for my first post, but I was a bundle of nerves when I joined the Chalet School. Don’t look so surprised!”

“It doesn’t sound like you,” Len admitted as Miss Annersley guided her to the door. “I can’t imagine you in a flap, Auntie Hilda. Well, not much,” she amended with a grin.

“There you are, then,” the Head returned firmly. “Now you know. I was in even more of a flap – really, my dear, must you use such expressions? – when I became Head. It’s about appearing calm and confident. You know that, you’ve been teaching for several years. Ah, there’s the coaches.”

“OK then, let’s do this,” Len said, sounding so grimly determined that Hilda Annersley could not repress a smile. “I do feel a bit of an ass, though,” she went on as she followed the Head out of the room. “Laura’s as cool as a cucumber, and I’m like a jelly – but I’m the O.G. here! If anyone should be doing impressions of cucumbers, it’s me. I mean, I! Do I? Ignore me, Auntie. I’m babbling.”

Len gave a sepulchral groan and her brevet aunt laughed and put her hand through the younger woman’s arm. “Your English does seem to have deserted you,” she teased. “You can work that out for yourself. After all,” very gently, “you’re the linguist, h’mm? Now go and stand with Jeanne and Julie!” and Len found herself being pushed in the direction of the languages department.

She had no time to think about her fear – which the Head had largely banished – or how her legs were trembling, because already she could hear the sound of girlish voices, and she blinked, disorientated by the knowledge that she was here as a mistress. After all, standing here on the stairs awaiting the others was not new to her. She had stood here for most of the School’s years in the Oberland, and, as Head Girl, had frequently taken her place next to Miss Annersley. Indeed, a quick glance showed her many familiar faces including her own sisters and their friends, and she forced herself to breathe.

At that point the doors flew open and the girls marched in, and poor Len blinked again, for here was another change that she had not fully realised until now. Only the Seniors wore the gentian dress with red, cream and gold trimmings from her own schooldays. The Middles wore skirts and jumpers, and the Juniors tunics of a paler gentian blue, together with ties of silver, crimson and gold.

She must have made a sound that expressed her surprise, for Julie Berne turned to whisper in rapid French, “Did you not know of the changed uniform, ma chere? It was decided only last year. The Middles and the Juniors, they are careless, yes, and so we thought that only the Seniors should wear the dresses, for often – but very often! – the younger girls were going through all their dresses and left with none but their Sunday clothes. It is easier to replace a jumper or skirt or tunic than all.”

Len mumbled something incoherent in response, but already she found she liked the new system. For one thing, it was possible to tell a girl’s place in the school by simply looking at her. For another, she remembered from her own time as a schoolgirl how much she had enjoyed ‘marking’ her growth by the changes in her uniform – until the school had changed its uniform altogether when Len herself was in the senior school.

But there was no time for further thought, for the long lines of girls had entered and organised themselves by form as was their wont, and the Head had moved one step down the stairs in a time-honoured gesture that indicated she wished to speak.

Len drew a deep breath as Miss Annersley began her customary welcome speech and closed her eyes in order to better to absorb the information her other senses were sending her. Peace descended, allaying her worries. It was in the smell of the polish that Karen used on the floors, and in the smooth wood beneath her fingertips. In the soft coughs and rustles and even softer murmurs in a multitude of languages around her. And above all, in the deeply beautiful tones of the Head preparing them for another term. She opened her eyes again and smiled. She was ready for anything.

NB: I contemplated finishing the story at this point ... but changed my mind! :devil:
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
And how pleased I am that you did! I love the sound of the uniform, but I bet that Len isn't the only nervous one in the crowd! Thanks for the update :D
Author:  Mia [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lol, you would have been lynched!

Thanks Lisa - looking forward to seeing how they all settle in...
Author:  ammonite [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Good :D

We still need Laura and Len to be friends and to find out whether Len has problems with her sister in the class. Not to mention the resolution of the Len/Reg thing!

So not much more to write about :lol:
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I think you might have been lynched had you chosen to finish the story there, LisaT - at the very least you would have found yourself obliged to supply us with a sequel!! :D :D

Thank you for this - I'm really enjoying it, but do hope the differences in the staff room can be sorted before sparks really start flying. That sort of problem is bad enough in a day school, or office environment, but then at least, everyone goes home at the end of the day. To have a similar situation in a boarding school would be so much harder to endure.
Author:  Pat [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I am so glad you changed your mind! Too many loose ends to be cleared up.
Author:  JB [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm glad you changed your mind, Lisa.

Not convinced it's a privilege to wear those dresses. :devil:
Author:  Abi [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Yes! The mind changing was a good plan. Glad Len has lost her nervousness, but I hope she and Laura make up their differences before this ends!
Author:  Miss Di [ Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Don't stop now!

Interesting to have the older girls in dresses and the younger girls in skirts and blouses - think we were the other way round 100s of years ago when I was at school.
Author:  Kyrrie [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Very glad you changed your mind. I love this drabble.

Although that was a beautiful ending to this update Lisa.
Author:  shazwales [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lisa this is lovely,don't stop yet please! :) :) :)
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Awww, love Len being so nervous - and of course the Head would be able to calm those fears.


Good luck Len


Thanks Lisa
Author:  janem [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Don't stop there. I'm really enjoying this and loving all the detail. Slow - certainly not
Author:  JS [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I hope that Hilda finds some time to calm Laura's fears too - and maybe gets to the bottom of her resentments?

Thanks Lisa, I've been enjoying this.
Author:  Cumbrian Rachel [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm glad you're not stopping this drabble Lisa - it's one of my favourites at the moment.
Author:  jmc [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Please don't stop as I'm really enjoying this. I'm sure that more than Len are nervous although probably not quite as much. Many teachers I know are nervous at the start of the school year until they know just what their classes are like. Hope tensions in the staffroom settle down although they make it seem a bit more realistic.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  MaryR [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Loved the benediction of Hilda's smile. :P

And have now caught up and hope Laura and Len will not find the whole thing too daunting.

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thought you'd like that bit, Mary! :D

Next bit. And we finally see a classroom....

*

The first full day of term found Len walking alongside Nancy Wilmot as the latter brought her to her form.

“I know you know where you’re going,” Nancy had said as they left the staffroom. “But form is form, and the girls know you’re a new mistress this term” – whereat she grinned and Len turned an unattractive shade of purple – “and they’ll be expecting someone to do the polite and introduce you properly.”

Len huffed softly. “This is going to be a farce, do you know that? I mean, after last night at Abendessen - !”

Nancy’s grin widened. “You’ll get over it. We all had to go through it, you know.”

Len huffed again and shook her head slightly as she remembered her embarrassment the night before. After the Head had sent the girls to their various Splasheries to freshen up and get out of their outdoor clothes, the staff had followed her into the Speisesaal to take their places formally at the staff table that ran across one end of the long, gaily furnished room. Len, seated in between Kathie Ferrars on her left and Nancy on her right, had sunk down slightly in her chair and tried to look inconspicuous. She had had a horrid feeling that she knew what was to come.

Clearly, she was not the only one. The other Old Girls on the staff were watching avidly as the girls filed in to their tables, and even Miss Annersley’s eyes had danced as she looked at her brevet niece.

“Are you ready for it?” Kathie had asked Len, her brown eyes twinkling madly. “They’ve never failed us yet. Nance, how about a countdown?”

“How old are you?” the Head had mock-scolded. “Stop trying to corrupt my Senior Mistress, do!”

“Too late,” Kathie returned smugly, just as a certain young woman with golden curls and bright blue eyes at VB’s table did a visible double take. “Win’s got it.”

Sure enough, Win Everett was on her feet. “It’s Len! Len Maynard! Len’s a mistress! Flix, why didn’t you say?”

Miss Annersley touched her bell and the sound had reminded the over-excited Fifth former of where she was. She had subsided in short order, helped on her way by Felicity Maynard, who was every bit as scarlet as her eldest sister, and the movement had caused Win to miss her seat and land ignominiously on the floor. She had scrambled onto her seat almost at once, looking as if butter wouldn’t melt, but - fortunately for her - the Head simply ignored the entire incident once relative peace was restored. Even so, that did not prevent quite half the school from trying to steal less-than-surreptitious looks at the not-so-new mistress, and poor Len had been acutely aware of it, and as a result had made a very poor meal.

Now as they arrived outside the door of Upper IVa’s form room, Nancy stopped. “Here you are. Ready?”

Len drew herself up. “Bring ‘em on,” she said with a certain amount of grimness.

“That’s the way!” The Senior Mistress opened the door, and her smile changed to a glare almost at once. “Katharine Lucy, what do you think you’re doing?”

Katharine – known to friend and foe alike as ‘Kitten’ or ‘Kit’ – sat back on her haunches where she had fallen and gawped. She was a slender thing of almost fourteen, all arms and legs, with bronze curls and a puckish-pixie face that reminded the staff of her elder sister Betsy. “We – we were just wondering where our form mistress was,” she muttered, sounding foolish.

“Well, wonder no longer. Now, get up and go back to your place – and count yourself lucky that this is the first day of term!”

Visibly squashed, Kitten returned meekly to her place beside Daph Bettany, and Miss Wilmot gave her another glare for good measure before saying, “Miss Maynard will be your form mistress this year and –“

“Three cheers for us!” yelled the irrepressible Kitten. “It’s Len, you folk! Hurrah!”

“Miss Maynard, if you please!” Miss Wilmot said, giving Kitten an icy look that was more severe than the glares that had gone before. “Remember that, all of you. Before I go, allow me to remind you that Miss Maynard was a prefect and Head Girl not so very long ago. I understand she was famed for her punishments, so I shall leave you in her very ... capable ... hands. Miss Maynard.” She nodded and left, leaving Len and her form to gaze at each other for a very long interval.

“She’s joking, isn’t she?” Daph Bettany asked. “We don’t really have to call you ‘Miss Maynard’, do we? I mean, you’re my cousin, and Cecil’s sister, and most of us have known you forever.”

Len leaned back against her table and gave her cheeky young cousin a very straight look. “I’m afraid not, Daphne. Whatever you may say out of school, in school it must be ‘Miss Maynard’. If you think about it, it can’t come as that much of a surprise.”

“I’ll never remember,” groaned Kitten. “It’s all right for Cecil and Daph and – and Lois, but you’re all used to calling the staff one thing to their face and another thing when they’re not there.” Len bit her lip as she tried not to laugh at this. “But I’m not and I’ll never remember.”

“Oh, you will,” her form mistress assured her sweetly. “In fact, Katharine, from Monday if you forget you’ll lose an order mark. A few of those will result in a trip to the Head, as you well know, and I imagine that prospect will improve your memory somewhat.”

“See?” Cecil Maynard said, a trifle loudly. “I did tell you, Kit. You are an ass!”

“Now that we all understand that, let’s return to formalities, shall we?” Len went on, ignoring her sister’s unparliamentary language for the moment. She took her seat, got out her register, and began calling down the list of girls. Upper IVa was not a very large form this year, being comprised of only seventeen girls, and Len had plenty of time to study each as she answered to her name.

The first two – Jean Allison and her own cousin Daphne – she knew. Then came a slimly elegant French girl, Leonie Dubois, who was new to the mistress. Meta Gordon she recognised as one of Cecil’s closest friends, and the same was true of Lois Graves, who was the daughter of an enormously popular Old Girl who had, as Hilary Burn, taught P.T. at the school for some years. Of the rest, she knew only her sister, Kit Lucy and Hilary Simpson, who had come to the school during Len’s last year there.

In addition to these, there were a handful of French and Swiss girls who were completely new to her, as were a pair of non-identical twins named Hilary and Margery Wilton. Len hid a grin as the twins introduced themselves, for she was reminded of the MacDonald twins, who had lived with the Maynards when the triplets were very small. Like Flora and ‘Fauna’, Hilary and Margery shared the same features and – so far – build, but one had dark hair and eyes and the other was fair. Apart from that, they greeted their form mistress with soft, shy voices and seemed only too glad to sink into the background when she moved on.

“Now that we’ve done that, let’s get on with other business,” the mistress commented as she closed the register and replaced it on her desk. First of all, form officials!” She flashed a smile around at them, and was vaguely startled to note that Cecil refused to meet her eyes. Len gave a mental shrug and smiled at Lois Graves. “Lois, you’re to be our form prefect this term, with Meta as your second. As you all know, these are Head’s appointments, but we need to vote for the others. Meta, please hand out the slips.”

The slight Scots girl nodded and rose to collect the slips Miss Maynard held out. She moved quickly and neatly through the aisles, and it was a matter of moments before she returned to her own place, and the mistress gave her an approving look. “Very well done, Meta. Now, remember you need to vote for Stationery, Flowers and Tidiness – unless someone’s added another since I left,” she added with a laugh in which most of the girls joined.

“We did have a prep monitor for a while,” Lois volunteered, “but it was such a bother having to chase everyone and the prep was still late, so the Head said to let it drop and to make everyone be responsible for their own prep. That’s what the big pigeon-hole thing outside the staffroom is for,” she ended.

Len grinned. “I can imagine that whoever had to do that for people of your age found it quite a trial! Much better to make you do it yourselves – fewer people to blame when work goes astray!” and several girls, who had indeed taken advantage of the prep monitor system in precisely this fashion, went darkly red. Miss Maynard ignored them and continued with a glance at her watch. “You’ll need ten minutes for your election, so you may start – now! I’ll tell you when the time is up.”

The form bent its collective heads over the slips of paper, and their mistress exhaled a long breath of relief. Now that she was in the classroom all her nerves had vanished. She could tell from looking at them that this was a form of imps, but she did not think any of them would take advantage of her in the way she had feared. All the same, negotiating a new relationship with those girls with whom she was already familiar would not be easy.

In between watching the clock tick its way through the allotted span, Len examined her form once more. Kit Lucy and Lois Graves were clearly the leaders of the form, but she was sure that Meta Gordon exerted a quieter influence of her own or she would not have been appointed their Second. Where Cecil fit into this group she was not yet sure, but she was certain time would tell. Then there was Daph, who was the youngest of her family and rather badly spoilt in consequence. Her response to Miss Wilmot’s order to address her cousin as ‘Miss Maynard’ showed that that young woman had difficulty recognising that rules applied to her, and Len foresaw trouble there.

A soft rustle from the girls recalled her attention to them and she checked the clock. Seeing that the ten minutes were up, she got to her feet and called for everyone to put their pencils down. “The bell is about to ring for Break,” she told them. “It’s a little earlier today to allow everyone time for unpacking between Break and Mittagessen. And there it is,” she added as the gong sounded. “I’ll collect and sort your slips now and give you the results when you get back. Off you go!”

Upper IVa needed no second telling, and were off almost at once. Len quickly gathered the slips and went through them. Long practice enabled her to do so quickly and it was not long before she had noted the names of the new officials in the register and clapped it shut. She still had almost fifteen minutes for her own coffee, and in her opinion it was more than time for it!
Author:  ammonite [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I love the girls (and staff) reaction to Len at Abendessen! :D

Thanks Lisa.
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Wonder what Cecil's problem is? She seemed to be okay at squashing Daphne but then refused to meet Len's eyes.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Miss Di [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Cecil, I wouldn't want my sister as my form mistress either!
Author:  JS [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Yes, I'd hate to be in Cecil's shoes.
Thanks Lisa.
Author:  JellySheep [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This is one of my new favourites. I was so glad you didn't stop. It will be interesting to see how Len manages with her form and with Laura...
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm another who feels sorry for Cecil! I'm oldest in my family, so I was ok, but I know people who were "X's brother" or "related to Y?" Having a relative as a form mistress must be even worse!

Thanks for the update.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
More!

*
“And here she is, our other baby!” Peggy Burnett greeted cheerfully as she slipped in. “Well? How did it go?”

Len turned scarlet at this very public notice and silence fell throughout the room, except for Paula Clarke who carried on talking to Gerry Challoner and Laura Chandler. “It wasn’t bad,” she admitted as she accepted with a smile the cup of coffee that Jeanne handed her. “Cecil and Co. were their usual cheeky selves. No, that’s not fair,” she amended. “Cecil hardly said anything, except to call Kitten Lucy an ass. Daphne was the cheeky one.”

Peggy’s eyes twinkled. “Let me guess. She couldn’t believe she had to call you ‘Miss Maynard.’”

“Got it in one,” Len agreed ruefully.

“She’ll learn. I know I had to when Mary came back.” Peggy gazed dreamily into the distance for a moment in a manner that was most unlike her. “I was in Upper IV at the time, and I couldn’t believe anyone would be mean enough to make me call my sister ‘Miss Burnett.’”

“How long did it take you to remember?” Len asked curiously. “I know it was awfully hard for us three to remember to call the Heads ‘Miss Annersley’ and ‘Miss Wilson’ but not too horribly difficult. After all, they are the Heads!”

Peggy went faintly pink and leaned towards the younger woman. “Well, if you must know, I didn’t do too well,” she confessed. “I found myself on the carpet before the Abbess a few times, and she was her usual gently ironic self. After a few doses of that, I soon pulled up.”

Len physically winced. “You would!” She took another sip of her coffee. “And coming back yourself, as an Old Girl? We three were in Canada then, but my cousin Bride was in the Sixth and she would have remembered you.”

“That, my child, was a pushover,” Peggy told her. “Like you, I’d been a prefect – Games pree, as it happens – and I’d made a sufficiently unpleasant impression on enough people that I didn’t have much trouble. Not that they’re really comparable,” she added honestly. “Teaching P.T. is very different from teaching history or languages or maths – but if you tell Madam Clarke that I said that, there’ll be ructions!” She ended so darkly that Len could not help grinning, but the grim set to the P.T. mistress’s mouth told her that she was not altogether joking.

At that point the bell went, and Len hastily went to the little sink in the corner to carefully rinse her cup. Too well she remembered the rows at St Mary’s over unwashed cups! She found that she was standing beside Laura, who was in the process of drying her own cup, and she gave the other girl an uncertain smile.

“How did you find this morning?”

Laura’s face lit up. “I’m with Lower IIIb,” she bubbled, excitement apparently causing her to forget her usual coolness towards Len. “They’re absolute pets, and so keen.”

Len smiled. “How marvellous. My own lot are proving to be imps, I think.” She glanced at Laura quickly, and then tried, “Being an Old Girl isn’t completely a walk in the park, you know. My form will try to push me a lot further than yours, simply because they already know me and they think they can get away with it.”

The light in Laura’s face dimmed a little. “Yes. I suppose they might. Oh,” casually, “is Philippa Maynard related to you?”

“Yep. She’s my baby sister – well, blood sister. The real baby of the family is Claire, but she’s in Lower II, I believe. She’s adopted,” Len finished, seeing that Laura looked confused.

Laura nodded and turned away, and Len realised that the bell had gone and it was more than time for her to be with her form again. She gave a squawk and left the staffroom, almost running down the corridor in her haste. Fortunately for her, the girls had already returned to their rooms. Unfortunately, she ran straight into Miss Wilson, and that lady gasped.

“Len! Can’t you watch where you’re going?” the Second Head demanded with some asperity once she’d recovered her breath. The younger woman hadn’t quite knocked her over, but it had been a near thing.

Her goddaughter went scarlet. “Oh, Auntie Nell, I’m so sorry! I was rinsing my cup and it took longer than I expected.”

Miss Wilson looked amused. “I see. Don’t worry about the cups – for the first fortnight, at any rate. We’ll forgive you any lapses there until then. As for the other, there’s no need for panic quite yet, my dear. The second bell hasn’t gone yet, and your little darlings won’t expect you until it does – and there it goes!”

Len’s flush subsided. “Oh. I hadn’t realised that,” she confessed. She turned so that she was walking backwards. “I’d better get back to them now. I hate to think what Upper IVa could get up to when they’re left on their lonesomes!” And she turned the right way round and sped – with more dignity this time – to her formroom where she found a group of almost suspiciously angelic damsels awaiting her.
Author:  JB [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Please Len. Stop mentioning you're an old girl. :roll:
I expected Miss Wilsont to call Len out calling her "Auntie Nell".
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Yes Len is not really being very tactful, is she? I thought that was Con's preserve. Glad that Laura enjoyed her morning but wonder whether having Phil in her class will be a problem.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Nightwing [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Len probably would have done better not to bring up the OG thing again just yet! Hope Laura doesn't take that chip on her shoulder out on poor Phil, though... :?
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Just caught up with this - lovely, and I laughed out loud in a few places (glad the SLOC is held up with poorly trains tonight!). Am very glad you decided not to stop where you could have!
Author:  shazwales [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks for the update Lisa; think I would be more uncomfortable being an 'old girl returning as staff ' than a new member of staff! great to see more of this :)
Author:  MaryR [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh, Lisa, this just keeps on gettng better and better. I loved the session in the classroom - cheeky madams!! :P And at least Laura is happy with her class, and clearly likes being with the younger ones. Me too, Laura! :lol:

Thank you. :D
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm very suspicious of this angelicness! What have they been up to?
Author:  abbeybufo [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Another who is glad you changed your mind - I may not be posting often, as I've only got on the board sporadically in the last week or so, but have enjoyed catching up when I've got here :D
Author:  Eilidh [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
JB wrote:
Please Len. Stop mentioning you're an old girl. :roll:


This... She's not going to get anywhere if she keeps rubbing it in.

Thanks Lisa.
Author:  Artemis [ Sat Feb 06, 2010 2:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I think I may be about to feel very sorry for Philippa . . .
And Cecil, come to think of it . . .

This is a really good drabble - more please!

Is someone going to explain to Laura that Joey adopts all and sundry? Might she perhaps understand what it's been like for Len always having to be the oldest one and responsible and always having to share her parents?

Is Laura from a big family or a small family or is she an only child?

I wonder . . .
Author:  Miss Di [ Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I wonder what relation she is and to whom :lol:
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Posting a wee little bit tonight 'cos I'm in London between tomorrow and Wed, and while I should be able to do some writing I can't guarantee it, and I don't want to run out of material! :devil:

If you remember, Len's walked back into her formroom to find the girls looking altogether too angelic...

*

Their form mistress eyed them with understandable caution as she sat down – having first checked her seat for unexpected ‘presents’ first. “What have you all been doing?” she demanded, pulling the register towards her once again.

They looked injured.

“We haven’t done anything, L- Miss Maynard,” Daphne protested, her tongue stumbling over the name. She gave a cheeky grin. “We’ve got more sense. Besides,” she went on, causing her cousin her blink at her self-confidence, “we’ve decided to turn over a new leaf this term.”

“Last term was rather too much of a good thing,” Kit agreed dismally. “I think the Head and I have come to a mutual agreement that the less we see of each other this term the happier we’ll be. I don’t want to lose all my fun again.”

A general grin went around at this and Len’s eyebrows climbed as high as they could go. Just what had Miss Lucy been up to? Knowing the family, Miss Maynard was certain it was something inventive, and she made a mental note to investigate later. In the meantime, there was work to be done!

“It sounds like you deserved to lose your fun, Katharine,” she said severely. “Especially if you spent as much time in the study as you imply! Now, we’ve things to do, so I suggest we leave this discussion for now. Unless,” very gently, “you care to put it in German? This is Thursday, and while I’ve let it go thus far, I should really be insisting that you use the proper language for the day. You’ll find it all the harder on Monday if you don’t.”

Len hid a grin as the form immediately became as complaisant as any teacher’s heart could wish. She already knew that Upper IVa was dominated by English and French speakers, and judging by their blank faces now, German was no favourite with any of them. She picked up the list of form officials and looked over the girls. “Well, the results are in! Leonie, you’re Tidiness,” and she smiled at the French girl, who looked pleased. “Margery, you’re Flowers, and Kit, you’ve been elected as Stationery.”

Kit looked thoroughly startled. “Really, Miss Maynard? I couldn’t possibly - I'd mess it up!” She sounded almost scared.

“Don’t be silly, Kit,” her form mistress said briskly. “There’s not very much to it. All you have to do is collect books at the beginning and end of term and keep on top of everyone’s paper-and-pen needs, more or less. Besides, you’re fourteen, aren’t you?” Kit nodded. “Next year you’ll be in a Fifth, and shortly after that you may find yourself acting as a dormitory prefect-“

She was interrupted by a gale of laughter, and frowned. “That’s enough,” she told them with a touch of sharpness. “You may think it’s funny now, but you won’t be Middles forever. Before so very many years are up, many of you will be taking on positions of responsibility in the school. Remember that the next time you’re tempted to play up!”

Len winced as she heard herself and the girls became very still. That was too harsh, she knew. After all, they were still Middles, and the thought of prefectship was many years away for most of them. She sighed. Finding the balance between the prefect and Head Girl she had been and the mistress she had become was proving harder than she had thought.

She extracted the list of Upper IVa’s textbooks for this term and handed it with a smile to Kit, who forgivingly returned it. “Well, it’s time for you to undertake the first part of your responsibilities! As Stationery monitor it’s your job to go to Miss Dene and collect the books you’ll all need for the term. You’ll need some help. Who would you like?”

“Lois and Cecil, please,” Kit replied with something resembling her usual eagerness.

“Very well. Lois and Cecilia, please go with Katharine to the office. Remember,” warningly, “don’t dither. There and straight back. In fact, I’ll time you. You have fifteen minutes.”

“What if there’s a queue?” Cecil demanded abruptly. “Or – or more books than we can handle with only three?”

“Then one of you must return and let me know so that no time is wasted,” her sister said firmly. “Go on, time’s a-marching!”
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
She's probably wise to show them she means business right from the start - difficult for her mind, when so many of the class are people that knew her just as 'Len'.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  shazwales [ Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa,really enjoying this :)
Author:  Kyrrie [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you Lisa, this is great.
Author:  cal562301 [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa. Really enjoying this.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I don't think that that was too harsh really - but I'm not a teacher, so I wouldn't know! Thanks for the update, it's lovely getting to see Len settle down like this.
Author:  ammonite [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa.

What trouble was Kit in last term, do we get to know?
Author:  MaryR [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Better to be sharp at the beginning till they know she means business - then she can relax and have a joke with them! Says one who knows! :twisted:

Thanks, Lisa
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh that's lovely - and so true to life, too. Far better for Len to start firm until she has the measure of her class fully, she'll know herself when she can loosen the reins a bit. (Hmm, seem to remember someone giving Kathie Ferrars that advice when she was very much a 'New Mistress at the Chalet School')
Author:  Lisa_T [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Posting from London.

And yes, we were told about the 'don't smile til Christmas' thing too... :)

*

The three disappeared almost on the spot and Len sighed again as she turned back to the others. “In the meantime, we should be doing dictee. However,” she went on with a sudden twinkle as many faces fell, “we can’t as yet due to the lack of implements! What we can do is play a game to remind you of your German since today is German day. Can anyone tell me what a 'round robin' is?”

“I’m guessing it’s not a fat bird,” Daphne muttered, not quite sotto voce, and even Len laughed although she shook her head at her cousin.

“I’m afraid not. Anyone else like to try?”

“Is it something to do with telling stories?” Hilary Wilton, the dark twin, asked shyly.

Miss Maynard beamed at her. “Well done! Hilary, isn’t it?” The girl nodded. “Have you done this before?”

Hilary’s face turned crimson as everyone turned to look at her. She usually preferred to remain invisible, and the concentrated attention she was presently receiving was something of a trial. “Mummy taught me and Margery when we were wee,” she said timidly now. “She said the advantage of being twins was that we could always entertain each other if we knew how.”

Len smiled. “That’s very true,” she remarked. “I’m not a twin myself, but I am a triplet, and my sister Con always loved to tell stories and she would get Margot and I involved as well. Would you like to explain how to play ‘round robin’ to the others?”

Hilary shrank so visibly that the mistress decided it would be cruel to force her, so she turned to give the explanation herself. “A round robin is when one person begins a story. They must take care to stop at an exciting point and the next person needs to take it up from there and so forth. It’s often written, but not always.”

“Like ‘rigmarole’ in Little Women,” an Australian girl, Amarilla van der Kock, put in suddenly. “I think the chapter’s called ‘Camp Laurence’,” she added.

Len smiled to herself as the faces of the others showed dawning comprehension. Louisa Alcott’s tales had always been great favourites at the Chalet School. “Exactly like that – Amarilla?”

The Australia girl turned pink. “Amy, please, Miss Maynard. Amarilla is way too much for every day!” She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

“Amy it is,” Miss Maynard agreed solemnly, even though she was dying to laugh. Amarilla – or Amy – was a jolly looking girl who reminded Len irresistibly of Emerence Hope from her own schooldays, and there was no doubt that ‘Amy’ was much better suited to her than her true name. “At any rate, that was an excellent example of what we’re going to do. We’ll work clockwise from me, so I’ll start, and Meta will follow.”

Everyone nodded their understanding, although the Scots girl did seem rather alarmed. Len, feeling considerably more relaxed now that they were doing something constructive, grinned and began in her pretty German with that old cliché, “It was a dark and stormy night at ….”

“The Chalet School,” Meta continued morosely in German that was correct enough, but rather lacking in accent and intonation. “Because there was a storm outside and the generator went down.”

Len blinked as the form erupted into laughter once more, and this time she joined them. Leonie, her dark eyes sparkling with fun, took up the tale and so it went on around the room, each girl adding a sentence in German in her turn. She glanced at her watch; it was more than time for the Stationery people to return, and almost as she formed the thought in her mind, the door opened and Lois and Cecil entered, so overburdened that Len gave an exclamation and sprang to take the books lest they be dropped.

“Honestly, haven’t you got any sense?” Len scolded, again slipping back into a prefect role. “Why didn’t you take fewer books and make more trips? It would have been much safer - for you and the books!”

“We thought you wanted us back right away,” Cecil told her. “Kit’s coming with the trolley. Lucky for us Inter V finished just as we arrived!” She flashed her widest smile at her sister, and Len realised for the first time how very subdued the younger girl had been this morning.

Before she had time to consider this further, there was a bang at the door and Lois went to open it, permitting a flushed Kit to wheel the book trolley into to the classroom.

She collapsed on the nearest desk. “Whew! That was tough going. I thought I’d never get here. But,” she ended triumphantly. “I got them all here and not even one fell off!”

She looked so delighted with her achievement that Len grinned at her sympathetically before directing two of the French girls to carefully unpack the trolley with all speed, since the sooner the books were done the easier it would be when the prefects came to call the girls for unpacking.

The form fell to it with a right good will, and in good time, for just as Amy shut – ‘banged’ would perhaps be a more apposite term – her desk lid, a knock sounded on the door and the Second Prefect entered.

Len smiled. “Carlotta. Come to take them for unpacking?”

The enchantingly pretty girl – now that her sister Wanda had left, Carlotta von Eschenau was the school’s undisputed beauty – returned the smile. “Ja, Fraulein Maynard.” She went on in English for the benefit of the younger girls. “Matron wishes me to take all your girls who do not live here to the attics now, so that they may be finished sooner.”

The mistress nodded in approval, and ordered the non-residents of the Platz to follow the prefect. As soon as the door had closed behind Margery, the girls remaining in the room converged around the mistress’s desk, and devoted themselves to ‘catching up’ until Len, recalled to herself by the sound of a bell, calmed them down with a spot of the threatened dictee.
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Liked that - Len managing to get the class involved and even cheer up her sister Cecil.

Must be a story about the generator there?

Thanks Lisa.
Author:  Abi [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Loving seeing Len as a teacher - she sounds like a lovely one!
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks, have really enjoyed this drabble and can't wait to see how things pan out
Author:  JB [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks, Lisa. Can't be great for Cecil having her sister as her form teacher.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That was a lovely idea - how I wish I could have had lessons like that! :lol: Thankyou.
Author:  shazwales [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
After a rather hectic day this was lovely to come home to read.

Thank you :)
Author:  MaryR [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
What a glorious classroom scene, Lisa. Len might be worried about her performance but she has no need to be.

Thank you. :D
Author:  Lisa_T [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks again to everyone who has commented! :D As you know, I was in London over the weekend and only got home last night. I had intended to post more then, but was literally overcome with exhaustion and went to bed just before eleven - ostensibly for a nap, but I ended up staying there. So here you are!

*

By the time proper schoolwork started on the first Monday of term, Len felt that she had more or less settled in again. Her worries about her colleagues and her form were still there, but a few days had turned them into issues that could be dealt with, rather than jarringly wrong notes in a familiar tune. In addition, both Laura and Len were given Sunday afternoon off, and Len spent a refreshing afternoon with Reg before returning to school to finish her preparation for the coming week, for the language support classes could not start until the timetable itself was in full swing.

She was relaxed at Fruhstuck, not least because a study of her own personal timetable had shown that it was likely to be an easy day for her – at least at first. Nell Wilson, who was with them for once, grinned across the table at her.

“You look entirely too happy for the first Monday of term,” she observed. “Good day ahead?”

Len returned the grin. “Pretty much. I’ve got my own little lot for lit and lang., and a few support sessions.” She eyed the Second Head and leaned forward. “Which reminds me, I see you’ve got Botany and Chemistry with the Fifths this afternoon. Am I likely to see any of them?”

“I doubt it. That crowd have had very little in the way of new girls, for a wonder, so if they’re not sufficiently fluent in our languages by now they ought to be! Vida will correct me if I’m wrong.”

Davida Armitage, the School’s other science mistress and form mistress to Vb, nodded vigorously. “Yes, that’s it in a nutshell. They’ve had the odd flying visitor, as it were, but the permanent inmates haven’t changed in years.”

“Goodness, Vida, anyone would think this was a prison the way you talk!” Nancy Wilmot remarked, and most of the staff laughed.

Miss Annersley looked at the term’s other new mistress with a smile. “And you, Laura? Are you looking forward to beginning proper lessons?”

Laura blushed furiously and murmured that she was, but Len had a suspicion that the other girl was more nervous than she appeared. After all, it was Laura’s first post, even if her teaching degree gave her an advantage over those new mistresses who arrived with nothing more than their subject qualification. Once Frushstuck was over, Len hastened to her side.

“Fraulein Chandler,” she said quietly, mindful of the fact that girls were milling around them and this was German day. “Are - well, I wondered if you were OK.”

Laura looked at her. “What makes you think I am not?” she fired back in German that was certainly fluent, but lacked Len’s colloquial turn of phrase.

Len’s smile faded a little and she shrugged. “I’m just being friendly,” she said softly. “We’re the only two new people –“

“You’re not new,” Laura returned with a viciousness Len had not seen from her before. “It’s perfectly clear that you’re already part of the furniture, so don’t try being pally with me and pretending you understand.”

In her annoyance, the other woman had lapsed into English, and Len winced as several girls fired startled glances at them as they went past. Ignoring Laura’s protests, Len pulled the younger woman into the office – mercifully empty at the moment – and glared.

“I’m not pretending!” she snapped back. “I’ve got adjustments to make as well, you know. I know you’re probably trying to find your feet and settle in, but please don’t think that everything in my garden is rosy just because I went to school here.” Laura scoffed and pulled away, and Len bit her lip. “Laura, please,” she tried again. “No matter what we may think of each other, we at least need to try and be professional –“

“There’s not much of that around here from what I’ve heard,” Laura fired back bitterly. She turned on her heel and left the office, and Len stood staring after her, trembling a little. She got on well enough with most people as a rule, and she found it difficult to handle such overt dislike, especially in a place that she considered home.

“I wish I could tell someone,” she murmured to herself, “but I can’t. Somehow I’ve got to get to the bottom of this myself.” With that decision made, she made her way quietly to the small classroom that had been allocated to her for her support work. She recognised it as the old form room for Lower II, but an extension had allowed the little girls to move to a more spacious classroom, freeing up this one for other purposes.

TBC.
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
There's more to this than just one new teacher feeling jealous - Laura as much as said it with her comment about lack of professionalism - wonder if she has been listening to the woman that had a row with Peggy Burnett?


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Abi [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Len; I hope this doesn't turn out to be too much for her to handle alone.

Thanks Lisa.
Author:  Nightwing [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lesley wrote:
There's more to this than just one new teacher feeling jealous - Laura as much as said it with her comment about lack of professionalism - wonder if she has been listening to the woman that had a row with Peggy Burnett?


My thoughts exactly! And Laura is being unprofessional, although if it's her first job perhaps she hasn't realised it yet. If she's already this unhappy about the place, though, I can't see her lasting long.
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Laura really needs to try harder to fit in, or she's going to be very unhappy.
Author:  JB [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Agrees with Lesley too. And, Len, there is someone you can talk to.

* Pushes Len in the direction of Kathie Ferrars *
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I must also agree with Lesley, I feel. I hope that Len can help her - and that her first Monday goes ok!
Author:  MaryR [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I've been saying form the beginning there's more here than just jealousy of Len - can it be that for once I've got it right? :shock: But the viciousness noted by Len doesn't seem warranted whatever the problem is. What on earth could have happened to make her lose her self-control like that? I do hope Len can get to the bottom of it before Laura causes problems for herself in school.

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  clair [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm loving this, surely Laura has a more serious problem than Len being an old girl though?
Wondering why none of the older mistresses are trying to help Laura rather than just Len though

Thanks Lisa
Author:  Kathy_S [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I think I might have lost patience with Laura by now! Nice that Len'll keep trying, and that her class seems to be responding reasonably....

Thank you, Lisa.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I think I'm starting to lose patience with her myself, Kathy! Especially since while I do have a glimmering of what's going on here, I don't think I know the full story yet either. I didn't intend for her to be there, you know. She just appeared.

Next bit!

*

With that decision made, she made her way quietly to the small classroom that had been allocated to her for her support work. She recognised it as the old form room for Lower II, but an extension had allowed the little girls to move to a more spacious classroom, freeing up this one for other purposes.

She spent the rest of the first lesson annotating her personal copy of her timetable with the names of the girls she could expect to see in each period, and received an unpleasant shock when she realised that one of the names on the list for the lesson before Break was that of her own small sister Phil. She worried about this on and off as she tried drum the principles of German grammar into her own form, who were distinctly grumpy this morning, and it was almost a relief when the bell went for the start of the third lesson and she was able to return to her languages room.

There she found three little girls, all of whom were looking very anxious. In addition to Phil, whose thin length caused her to tower over the other two, there was an American child, Terry van Alden, and a little Italian girl, who was new that term and still looked permanently terrified. Len groaned internally as she tried to put the children at ease.

“Why don’t you sit down here?” she began in careful German. Phil and Terry could clearly cope with this, for they obeyed on the word, and, after a moment’s hesitation, Catarina di Ricci did likewise. “I’m Miss Maynard, and I’m going to be helping you with your German until you’re fluent enough to cope. Now, you should all be in history at this time, shouldn’t you?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Phil nodded, but Terry and Catarina still looked blank, and their mistress silently groaned again. Switching to English – the little Italian understood English reasonably well – she ordered the three girls to take out their German history textbooks and they read through the section on Charlemagne together, translating as they went. Once they had finished the double spread, the three sat back and grinned at her.

“Did you all understand that?” the mistress demanded. “Catarina?”

The child beamed. “Ja, mein Fraulein,” she answered, pleased that she knew those words at least.

“Phil? Terry?” They nodded, and Len smiled at them before she went on, still in German, “Well done! Do you all have vocab lists for the words you didn’t know?”

“I put them in my vocab book,” Phil said, and her sister frowned. Clearly Phil could cope with German verbally, so why did she need extra help? But time enough to worry about that later, for the younger girl had seen her frown and her cornflower-blue eyes clouded. “Was that wrong?”

Len gave her a reassuring smile. “Not at all. Exactly right, in fact,” and smiled again when the anxiety visibly left Phil’s thin face. “Did you do the same?” she asked Terry and Catarina, and both children flipped open their vocab books to show their lists. Catarina’s was much longer than the other two, but Len was impressed at the neatness of her script for a child of ten, and told her so.

“That all for today,” she announced. “Remember, learn ten words a day in each language you’re unsure of. Do you have native German speakers in your dormitories, by the way?”

“We’re in the same dormy, Phil and me,” Terry told her. “We’ve got Chris Willoughby, Anne Russell, us two, some new kid, and Susanna Gruenwald. She’s not German though, she’s Swiss.”

“But she speaks German,” Phil added. Her face brightened. “I’ll ask her for help tonight, Len. I promise.” She was so in earnest that Len did not have the heart to scold her for her usage of the forbidden Christian name.

“And you, Catarina?” she asked in Italian, with a smile for the youngest of the three.

The Junior beamed. “There’s me, and Claire, and Bianca, and Hilde, and –“ She frowned. “I don’t remember the other girl’s name, Signorina, but I don’t think she speaks German.” She looked so disappointed that Len was about to comfort her, only to be forestalled by Terry, who put an arm around the younger girl’s shoulder.

“We’ll help, Phil an’ me,” she promised. “We can help each other. And p’rhaps you can teach us some Italian. Mom always said that Phil’s momma learned every language the Chalet School did, and I wanna be just as good as she was!”

Len’s lips twitched as she heard this rather startling proposal. “I think that’s a very good idea,” she told the girls solemnly. “Terry, please watch your English, or you’ll find yourself fined in short order even on English days. Off you go, you three – and remember, it’s German day, so do your best.”

With that, she chased them out of her room and stood watching them disappear down the corridor, chewing her lip. She glanced at her watch, and saw that the bell was about to ring for Break. Perhaps if she hurried, she would be able to have a word with Rosalie Dene.
Author:  MaryR [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lisa_T wrote:
I think I'm starting to lose patience with her myself, Kathy! Especially since while I do have a glimmering of what's going on here, I don't think I know the full story yet either. I didn't intend for her to be there, you know. She just appeared.

Oh, I know that one. Most of my non-CS characters just walked on stage fully clothed, so to speak, and disrupted everything. Laura will tell you her story eventually, Lisa, and you'll just have to go along with her till she does. :lol:

Loved the little scene and can see all Len's - and the school's - problems there with all their languages. Bonne chance, buena suerte, Len! :devil:

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
So why is Phil there then? :?


Thanks Lisa
Author:  ammonite [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
*Echoes the puzzled comment of Lesley.*

Nice to see Len properly teaching and been relaxed enough to know when and where to call Phil up about the use of her name!
Author:  Bride [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Hmm, why would Phil need extra help with German when she's supposedly been brought up trilingual like all Maynards? Maybe she's just lazy when writing and spelling the language?
Author:  Abi [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Also wondering about Phil. Len was really sweet with her there. :)
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Don't forget that Phil had a lot of illness at one time (if that still applies in your universe, LisaT) and she may well have missed some of the foundation work in writing and reading German, even though she can speak it fairly fluently. That might be why she's in Len's remedial class there.

Thanks, LisaT - I'm really enjoying this. I do hope someone can get to the bottom of what is troubling Laura before she gets too angry or upset with everyone.
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I assume Terry is Cornelia's daughter, and is Catarina di Ricci's mum Bianca di Ferrara (I got so confused when EBD gave Bianca the same married name as Vanna di Ricci's maiden name!!)?

Also wondering why Phil needs extra German lessons.
Author:  Kyrrie [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Len. If settling in wouldn't be hard enough she now has strange goings on with Laura, Phil and Cecil to worry about. Not to mention possible problems with Kitten.

They're all intriguing problems. I love this drabble.
Author:  JB [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks, Lisa. I enjoyed seeing the "grand daughters" of the school. Looking forward to finding out more about Phil - and Laura.
Author:  PaulineS [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 2:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lisa This is a lovely drabble. I have just read most of it at one sitting. I had read some before I lost my internet connection and am pleased to catch up with this universe. Len is realistic and the problem are ones which are also probable. Thank you.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm another most intrigued by Phil's presence, but I'm sure that you'll tell us all in time! Thankyou.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you Lisa. I wondered whether Phil has dyslexia, and so struggles with written languages.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Heh. Dyslexia never even occurred to me and it should have!

*
Len opened the office door cautiously and peered around it. “Rosalie?” How odd it was to leave off the ‘aunt’!

The secretary looked up from her typewriter and smiled. “Len. What can I do for you?”

The younger woman leaned against a table. “I was wondering why Phil needs extra help with languages. None of the rest of us did.”

“I see.” Rosalie eyed her for a moment and Len dropped her own gaze, suddenly wondering if her question was inappropriate. The older woman sighed. “I think you’re better speaking to Hilda about that,” she said at last, nodding towards the study. “She’s free at the moment – go on in.”

Len nodded her thanks and went to tap on the study door, feeling absurdly like a schoolgirl again. She was rather taken aback when the Head herself opened the door, instead of calling ‘Herein!’ as Len had half expected her to do.

“Would you like to come in?” Miss Annersley asked patiently as Len stood blinking at her.

That young woman felt her face flame. “Oh. Sorry, yes please.” She cast a nervous glance back towards Rosalie. “Miss Dene - that is, Rosalie – said that I should speak to you.”

“Come on in then,” the Head told her briskly. “How about elevenses? I was going to go to the staffroom for a change, but we can have our refreshments here if you prefer.”

“Would you rather I came back later?” Len queried guiltily. “I don’t want to take up your free time. I know how busy you are.”

The Head glanced at the big master timetable for the day that hung behind her desk. “I’m free next lesson, and so, I see, are you. After that I won’t have another moment to myself until Abendessen is over, so if you want me, now is your best chance.”

“OK. Well – it’s just – Auntie Hilda, what’s wrong with Phil?” The words came tumbling out, and Len winced at herself. She sounded so ridiculously childlike.

Miss Annersley looked at her for a long moment before picking up her phone and putting a call through to the kitchens. Then she moved to the sofa and indicated that Len should join her. “There’s nothing wrong with Phil,” she said at last. “At least, not in the way you mean.”

“She hasn’t got behind from being ill again, has she?” Len enquired anxiously. “She was always so much quicker than Geoff when they were little, remember? I don’t understand how she can need extra support now.”

“But she was very ill as a small child,” Miss Annersley reminded her gently. “Either polio or mastoid trouble alone would have been difficult enough, goodness knows, but the combination has really set back her development, especially where her reading and writing skills are concerned. As well as that, she’s acutely sensitive and has to be handled very carefully.”

“She always was a sensitive kiddy,” Len said thoughtfully, “but it was much worse after the polio. She was so friendly before then and after that she became a little mouse. She used to flinch if someone she didn’t know spoke to her.” She fixed troubled eyes on her brevet aunt. “Papa said it was a natural result of being so ill and she would outgrow it, but she hasn’t, has she?”

“My dear, use your head. If she hadn’t improved significantly, we could hardly have her in the school, could we? However, she has remained nervous and easily startled and stressed. When that is combined with linguistically challenging subjects, she tends to panic, and on a couple of occasions she has ended up in san with a minor breakdown. I have a feeling,” Hilda Annersley went on thoughtfully, “that her ability to cope in a lesson partly depends on who is teaching it, but that’s instinct rather than knowledge on my part. Once Laura Chandler has settled in a little more, it would probably be a good idea to discuss this with her, as both of you will be involved in supporting Phil for the immediate future.”

“Why didn’t anyone tell me about this before?” Len burst out, leaving the question of working with Laura to one side. “Mamma should have said –“

“You’ll need to take that up with her,” the Head told her firmly as she rose to pour the newly arrived coffee. “I do think that your parents decided it wasn’t necessary for you to know. None of this affects how you interact with Phil as her sister, does it? Now, of course, it’s legitimate for you to ask. You weren’t informed about her case specifically because, to be frank, hers is not unique, apart from her history of ill health. Otherwise, the general story holds true for Margery Wilton in your own form, for example, or Rosamund Eltringham in Va, who you will also see from time to time.”

Len chewed her lip. “But Margot was ill as a kid too,” she pointed out. “She didn’t have these problems.”

“She did, in her own way,” her brevent aunt said. “On the other hand, Margot is exceptionally bright and that gave her a huge advantage when it came to clawing back lost ground, and she didn’t have Phil’s nervousness to hamper her further. Don’t compare the two. In fact,” she added, “don’t compare them at all. That’s not being fair to Phil. After all, you wouldn’t be able to do so in the normal run of things, would you? Don’t make things difficult for Phil – or yourself! – because of your relationship.”

The younger woman looked thoughtful. “I see. What about Cecil?”

“What about Cecil?” the Head repeated with an amused smile as she took a sip of her drink.

“I don’t think she wants me for her form mistress,” Len said ruefully. “She’s been – odd – ever since last Thursday.”

Miss Annersley’s eyes twinkled. “My dear girl, her response is only to be expected. She’s probably worried that you’ll embarrass her horribly. You are her sister and she is fourteen – or nearly so.”

“I don’t see why it should bother her,” Len complained. “After all, she’s had you and Auntie Nell –“

The Head laughed. “To her, we’ve always just been grown ups. Granted, grown ups she may have affection for,” as Len opened her mouth to protest, “but still grown ups and elderly grown ups to boot! That’s very different from an older sister.”

Len grinned and drained the last of her cup. “I suppose there’s some truth in that,” she grudgingly admitted, before hurriedly adding as Miss Annersley's eyebrows went up, “oh, not the old part! OK, I’ll leave the reins loose with her for now. Loose-ish, at any rate. It seems the only way with my little darlings. Which reminds me, what did you do to Kitten Lucy?”

“I can’t imagine what you mean,” Miss Annersley responded blandly, although her eyes danced. “Now, I think it’s time for you to go, my dear. We’re both teaching next lesson and I have things to do before then. Oh, one thing before you depart,” as Len rose obediently, “I’d like to ask both you and Laura to tea in my salon this Sunday. Will you pass on the invitation? You can RSVP to Rosalie if you don’t see me in the meantime, but I’m sure you will. Off with you!”

And Len left on the word, only just remembering at the last moment that it was no longer necessary to curtsy.

TBC
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Interesting - quite understandable about Phil - poor kid. And love Len's faux pas about 'elderly' too! Wonder if Hilda's aware of the problems between Len and Laura?


Thanks Lisa.
Author:  cal562301 [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Phil, though it explains a lot. Hope Len and Laura can help her.

Has Hilda seen the awkwardness between Len and Laura and so is inviting them to tea together?

More soon, please.
Author:  Nightwing [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lisa_T wrote:
...Which reminds me, what did you do to Kitten Lucy?”

“I can’t imagine what you mean,” Miss Annersley responded blandly, although her eyes danced.


That made me actually laugh out loud, Lisa! Thanks for the update - here's hoping Miss A. can start some Len-Laura bridge building :?
Author:  Celia [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Have just read this right through and love it. Agree with others that there must be more to Laura's antipathy to Len than meets the eye.

Thank you Lisa
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I agree that Phil's problems are not so unusual when you remember her earlier ill-health, and I'm sure Len will now be comfortable in helping her as much as she can. And I giggled out loud at Hilda's explanation of Cecil's attitude to Len!!!

I also think Hilda is already well aware of the tensions between Len and Laura, and that that is as much behind her invitation for Saturday as is her natural wish to get to know her two new staff members outside the day to day teaching world.

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I do hope that her invitation helps! But I hope what I fear is going to happen doesn't. Thanks for the update!
Author:  Abi [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Well, that will be an interesting tea. Loved Len nearly curtseying to Miss Annersley!

Thanks Lisa :D
Author:  jmc [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 5:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I like the fact that Len is having to discover some things, such as what's wrong with Phil, by herself as that it is more usual with teachers. Tea with Laura could be interesting. Thanks Lisa.
Author:  JB [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
What a lovely scene. How sensible Miss Annersley was and quite right that Len should speak to her parents about Phil. Briliant job of separating work and personal lives.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you, Lisa. :D
Author:  Lisa_T [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks for the comments. Anyone with bright ideas about where this could go - please do PM me. As I said, in some ways I'm in the dark just as much as you are, and if someone lights a candle in said darkness, I will fall on their virtual necks with shrieks of gratitude.

More!

*
The grin Len wore as she exited the study and then the office faded as she made her way back to her classroom. She was free for another twenty minutes, but that was not particularly welcome as it gave her time to worry about Miss Annersley’s sudden invitation.

I hope to goodness Laura behaves like an adult on Sunday, she thought anxiously as she reviewed her plan for Upper IVa’s German literature lesson. It could be stiffish if she doesn’t, and Auntie Hilda will notice, I know she will, and then it could all get horribly awkward.

Fortunately – or unfortunately, depending on how one viewed it – most of Upper IVa were blankly ignorant of the text they had been told to prepare for today’s lesson, and Len quite forgot about Laura in the resultant tussles with them. By the time she left her form at the end of the lesson, her eyes were sparking with annoyance, for Daphne Bettany had gone out of her way to say ‘Len’, Kit Lucy would forget to use German, and Cecil had remained resolutely silent throughout. This last was particularly annoying, for her sister had caught the younger girl reading Das Fliegende Klassenzimmer for fun more than once.

As a result, Len headed straight for the staffroom and a soothing chat with Kathie Ferrars, and she never thought of Laura again for the rest of the day, for their various ploys took them in different directions.

Tuesday brought more of the same, as well as another support lesson with Phil and her two small coadjutors. With the memory of the Head’s words ringing in her ears, Len paid particular attention to her young sister, and was forced to admit that Miss Annersley had been only too correct. Phil was nervous, palpably so, and Len could not help wondering how the girl coped when she was in normal lessons.

With that in mind, therefore, she approached Phil's form mistress on Wednesday during Break. “Laura?”

The younger woman turned. “Yes?”

“Could I have a word?” Len indicated a couple of free seats slightly away from the other mistresses, and Laura nodded – grudgingly, Len thought – and allowed herself to be seated.

“What do you want?” she asked abruptly.

“Two things,” Len responded, carefully keeping her tone cheery. “First, Miss Annersley has invited us both to coffee – or perhaps it’s English tea,” she amended thoughtfully, “on Sunday. We need to let her or Rosalie know before then if we’re coming.”

Laura looked genuinely startled. “She’s invited both of us?” she repeated in a normal tone of voice. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. She asked me on Monday and told me to pass it on.” Len went faintly pink and dropped her eyes. “I should have told you before, but I forgot. I’m awfully sorry.”

Surprisingly, Laura smiled. “So you’re human after all.”

Len turned even pinker, if that was possible. “And how!”

Laura fidgeted with her nails. “What do you think the Head wants with us?”

Len shrugged. “Who knows. It could be anything from having a professional pow-wow to just, well, just being nice.” She glanced at the other woman, and continued, “Because she is, you know. If ever you’re in trouble at any time, you can go straight to her and she’ll sort you out, no matter what it is.”

“What was the other thing?” Laura asked, changing the subject so suddenly that Len blinked.

“I’m sorry?”

“You said there were two things. The Head’s invite was the first, if you recall. The second?”

Len’s face became hot again at the edge in the younger woman’s voice, but she kept her temper. If only Laura would be consistent in her dealings with other people, especially her colleagues! This hot-coldness was extremely difficult. “I’ve had a couple of sessions with young Phil,” she began. “I was wondering if-“

“Of course it’s your sister you’re interested in,” Laura said, perhaps more loudly than she had intended. “How could it be otherwise?”

“Len teaches several of her sisters,” Peggy Burnett put in at that moment, her tone at its driest. “I haven’t noticed her asking about Felicity or Marie-Claire, so if she’s asking you about Phil, Laura, you may be sure there’s a reason.”

“And Laura is Philippa’s form mistress, Peggy,” Paula added, her tone as sweet as Peggy’s had been dry. “She’s got a right to question any … unwarranted, shall we say? … interest in her girls.”

“Excuse me, Miss Clarke, but I did have a reason,” Len returned with exquisite politeness. Behind Paula, she could see Peggy silently clapping, but Laura could see it too, she realised, and she swallowed and continued. “So if you don’t mind, Miss Chandler and I were having a professional discussion, and we haven’t finished it yet.”

At that point the bell rang, and Laura rose smoothly from her seat. “Oh, I think we have, Miss Maynard,” she murmured before slipping through the staff to disappear.

Len put her head back against the wall and groaned. She was starting to dread Sunday.

TBC
Author:  Kyrrie [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh poor Len. Although Laura sounds nicer than Paula (glad I'm not Peggy).

How is Laura going with the kids? It'd be interesting to see if she is as inconsistent with them, I don't think they'd react too well if she was. Or is she one of those people who's great with kids but not with adults?
Author:  Abi [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 1:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Len - and probably poor Laura too. Hope Hilda can get to the bottom of their troubles.
Author:  keren [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
will be worse if Laura takes it out on Phil

(hope i did not give you bad ideas)
Author:  Nightwing [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Peggy shouldn't have interfered there - but Paula's remarks were just uncalled for. As much as I want Laura to realise that there isn't actually much in the way of favouritism among staff, I equally want Paula to get her just desserts! :twisted:
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I think Laura needs a boot up the rear - she's continually accusing Len of favouritism and not allowing her any benefit of the doubt. I wonder if she's come across problems when she was at school with a teacher unfairly promoting a member of family rather than Laura? As for Paula Chandler - I think she is part of the problem and really want her to be caught out. Unlike Len I also hope Laura will not behave well when with Miss Annersley on Sunday.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  JB [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Bless Len. She's still worrying too much about other people (how Laura will behave at tea with Hilda).

Also hope Paula gets her comeuppance.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I do hope that the tea can help to sort some of this out! I can sort of see Laura's point of view, though. Len isn't showing such interest in any of the other pupils, and though it's natural that she should show particular interest in Phil, I do think it could be viewed as favouritism through the wrong eyes!
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This is very awkward all round.
Author:  Sarah_G-G [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Len, how awkward for her! And yes, of course she would look out for her sister when said sister seems to be having problems with Len's specialist subjects and so there's something she might be able to do to help! Paula and Peggy are only going to make the situation worse though if they keep butting in and making it seem like an "us" and "them" scenario. There's obviously something bothering Laura and I don't think Paula or Peggy are helping the situation by letting their problems spill over onto the new teachers.
Author:  Jenefer [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Perhaps Len could have a quiet word with whoever was Phil's last form teacher. She will have a better idea of Phil's problems.
Author:  Lyanne [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Jenefer wrote:
Perhaps Len could have a quiet word with whoever was Phil's last form teacher. She will have a better idea of Phil's problems.


Ideally Len and Laura would talk to Phil's last form mistress (if she's still at the school?), but I think if Len deliberately sought her out to talk about Phil without Laura, Laura would very justifiably regard it as going behind her back. Of course, Laura is hardly being approachable though, so if the opportunity arose for an informal chat, Len could hardly be blamed for taking it.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Keep those comments coming, they're giving me ideas! Just an itty bit - I'm still trying to catch up from being away last weekend.

*
That night Len was curled in a corner of the staffroom, fathoms deep in the first novel in her mother’s new series based on the life of the Empress Josephine, when Rosalie tapped her on the shoulder.

“H’mmm?” Len murmured, not even taking her eyes off her page. Monsieur le vicomte de Beauharnais had just been arrested, and she wanted to know what was going to happen next.

“Len!” Rosalie said again, more sharply this time, and the younger woman blinked as she roused herself from her eighteenth century absorption.

“Is there something wrong, Aunt Rosalie?”

The secretary gave her an exasperated look at her automatic use of the brevet title. “Your mother’s on the phone. Take it in the office.”

Reluctantly, Len closed her book, and rose to go. As she did so, she caught a particularly unpleasant glance from Paula, and suddenly all desire to know the fate of Alexandre de Beauharnais fled. Wordlessly, she handed the book to Rosalie, and had her reward when the other woman’s face lit up.

“Is this Joey’s latest?” she asked enthusiastically. Len nodded. “How marvellous. She did give us a copy, but Hilda requisitioned it before I was able to snaffle it, and she’s been so busy lately I haven’t liked to worry her about something so trivial. I’ve checked the library, but Ruth Derwent says it hasn’t been in for any length of time since we got it, so – oh listen to me! Run on ahead, Len. Here’s the key.”

Len smiled her thanks, took the key, and left the staffroom as quickly as she could. Suddenly she found herself longing to slip out of one of the side doors and make her way through the shrubbery and the gate into the grounds of Freudesheim itself, but she repressed the longing. Talking to her mother would need to suffice.

I’ll tell Mamma about it, she thought as she unlocked the office, let herself in, and closed the door behind her. Her face split in a smile as she picked up the receiver and sank into Rosalie’s chair. “Mamma?”
Author:  shazwales [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Just caught up with this and really enjoying it.

Thanks Lisa :)
Author:  Lesley [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That Paula seems to be a particularly poisonous piece of work. :banghead:


Thanks Lisa
Author:  jmc [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Could someone push Paula of the closet cliff on their next ramble please. Hope Joey can give Len some help with Phil. Thanks Lisa
Author:  JB [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm interested to see if Len gives in to her urge to talk to Joey and how Joey responds.

I think it's perfectly reasonable of Len to talk to Laura about Phill. She isn't interfering about her sister but trying to make things easier for a pupil whom she has for special coaching. She has inside knowledge, ie that Phill is having a problem with languages that none of the rest of the family did, but I think that'll just make it easier for her to help.
Author:  PaulineS [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks for the update. Paula is getting nastier as the drabble develops. How has she managed to servive so long at the Chalet School?
Author:  Catherine [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm torn between thinking that Len should stand on her own two feet and thinking that Joey might be able to offer her advice.

Thanks Lisa.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I think that Jack might be a better person to talk to - he's just as sympathetic and understanding, and will just as gladly listen, but he's not so connected to the school so he might be able to take a more objective view.

Or perhaps I just like Jack! :lol:
Author:  Lisa_T [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Funny, I never even considered Jack! Apologies all Jackomaniacs....

*

“Who else?” her mother’s golden voice demanded laughingly. “I was hardly likely to change into someone else in the short time it took your Aunt Rosalie to find you!”

Len grinned. “It doesn’t hurt to be sure. With you, one never knows!”

“Cheeky brat. I wanted to see how my teacher-daughter is doing at the Chalet School. I’d hoped to be over before now, but the book is going well and you know how it is. When inspiration burns, don’t argue!”

“We should get you a cap like the one Jo March wears,” her daughter returned wickedly. “It’d be a good signal system for when we can approach you.”

“That’s a libel on my character. When has my writing ever interfered with your needs, may I ask?”

Len’s levity fled all at once. “Never, Mamma. You’ve always been there when we’ve wanted you.”

“What’s the matter, honeybird?” Joey asked gently. “You sound rather despondent.”

“Oh, I’m not, not really.” Len chewed her lip and gazed unseeingly at the cream curtains that covered Rosalie’s windows. “I suppose the fault was mine. I thought everything would be so easy coming back. That was stupid, I’m coming to see. Nothing stays the same forever, not even the Chalet School.”

“Well, of course not,” Joey said briskly. “Change is part of life. When something ceases to change, it ceases to – to live, in any real sense. It becomes static. Not a good thing for a school to be!”

Len gave a rather forlorn laugh. “Oh, I know. Doesn’t stop it being a shock, though.” She examined the nails on her left hand and sighed. “I’m making a mountain out of a molehill, aren’t I? So Cecil et al are cheeky brats. I can deal with them all right, and Auntie Hilda will back me up to the hilt. They’re not bad, just – Middles! And my support classes are going well, although I was surprised to see Phil.”

There was an awkward silence, and then Jo said, “Auntie Hilda told me she was considering putting Phil into one of the support classes, but at that point she hadn’t decided whether it would be you or the other new mistress who’d take her. What’s she like, by the way?”

“Phil – or Auntie Hilda?” Len demanded with a grin.

“Neither, you monkey! The new mistress, Laura-whatever-her-name-is.”

“Chandler. She seems well enough. Very inexperienced, though.”

“Says she from the great height of three years teaching!” Joey mocked gently. “Oh, I know what you mean. You have been teaching in the rough and tumble of a real school, and Laura hasn’t had that – or has she?”

“She’s had some,” Len said cautiously. “I know she did a teaching degree, at any rate.”

“So she’s not a complete tyro. What’s the problem?”

“She seems to have a bit of a hate against all of us who are Old Girls,” Len confided. “Not only that, but she’s so temperamental. One minute she’s as jolly as can be – and I’ve a feeling she can be awfully jolly – and the next she’s so freezing she’d make Alaska seem warm. Just when I think she’s starting to ease up, she stiffens again and we’re right back to square one.”

“Give her time,” Joey advised tolerantly. “We’re rather idiosyncratic at the Chalet School, you know, and it does take new folk a while to shake down. You ask Kathie Ferrars about her first term! That wasn’t a bed of roses by any means!”

“No, because she had to deal with our little lot,” Len retorted. “I’ve already heard all about that, thanks very much.”

“There you are then! Cut the girl some slack, Len. After all, you have the advantage. You’re home, in a sense.”

“Yes. But … oh, I’m being silly. I’ll do as you say, Mother. After all, it’ll resolve itself in time, won’t it? Either she’ll learn to live with us, or she’ll hand in her notice and pack her traps and depart. Worrying won’t help. I’ll just keep on being friendly – but what do I do if she can’t even be professional?” Len could not repress a hint of panic in her voice. “Because we’ve got to be. Auntie Hilda told me she wants us to work together to help Phil, and she’s invited us both to tea on Sunday.”

“Oh, so that’s what’s worrying you? I don’t think it need, you know. This Laura would have to be a complete idiot to sabotage her job by behaving inappropriately in front of her boss, wouldn’t she? No, I imagine your tea with Auntie Hilda will go just fine. As for the other – just give it time.”

“You’re not being very helpful,” Len grumbled.

“There’s not much I can do,” her mother returned. “You’re grownup now, sugarpie, strange though it may seem. You need to make your own path. I can’t do it for you, and honestly, I think you’re making too much of it. Just knuckle down and concentrate on your own work and it’ll all come out in the end.”

“I wish I could be sure of that.”

“Well, I am. I’ll even venture to prophesy that by the end of term you and Laura will be bosom buddies.”

Len scoffed at that, but decided to let the subject drop and followed her mother’s lead for the rest of the conversation. Perhaps she was right, after all, and Len herself was making too much of things. She did tend to be a bit of a worrier, she knew, and it wouldn’t be the first time she’d got worked up over nothing very much. Hopefully the tea with the Head would help to smooth things over, and with that optimistic thought, Len finished her phone call and left for her room in a much pleasanter frame of mind.

*
And now I really must stop procrastinating....
Author:  ammonite [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh no keep procrastinating, its nice to have another update! Thanks Lisa.

I'm glad Joey told Len to stop worrying.
Author:  Elle [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Indeed! Keep this up, I am really enjoying it.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh, well, maybe Jack can come in at another point.... please? :lol:

Thankyou for the update!
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Good luck with whatever it is you have been procrastinating from - been there, done that, bought the t-shirt all too often!! But please keep on writing this story whenever you have time. I'm really enjoying it.
Author:  Abi [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Think Joey gave Len some very sensible advice there - it is something Len will have to sort out for herself. But I hope she will manage it soon.

Thank you!
Author:  JB [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Good advice from Len. I hope she talks to Kathie. It's simplistic to dismiss her problems as being just because of teaching "our little lot".
Author:  MaryR [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Having just caught up with all I've missed, Lisa, I did notice that Laura seemed to freeze competely when Len said how kindly Hilda was if anyone had problems. Does Laura have a problem with Hilda? :shock: Or was that just a red herring and me reading more into it than was there?

You've concocted a nice little set of problems for your Len, haven't you? :twisted: Good luck with the unravelling of them, but I'm enjoying the journey so much. :D
Author:  Nightwing [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
MaryR wrote:
Having just caught up with all I've missed, Lisa, I did notice that Laura seemed to freeze competely when Len said how kindly Hilda was if anyone had problems. Does Laura have a problem with Hilda? :shock: Or was that just a red herring and me reading more into it than was there?


I thought she was irritated with the fact that Len was already familiar with Hilda's ways, rather than that she was irritated with the idea of Hilda herself. But your interpretation would certainly make a more interesting storyline... :D

Thanks, Lisa, this drabble continues to be very more-ish! :lol:
Author:  sealpuppy [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I love Joey leaving it to Len to sort out. EBD's later Jo would probably be over there like a shot for a 'quiet' word with Laura. :shock:
Author:  Lesley [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Nice that Joey's so supportive but prepared to let len find her own way. Re Laura -0 I didn't get the idea the problem was Hilda - but with Len displaying that she was already familar with her.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  shazwales [ Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I like the way Joey was so practical and supportive with her advice,she's there for Len but letting her sort it out for herself.
Thanks Lisa :)
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Joey was surprisingly sensible there!
Author:  Lisa_T [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 1:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Next bit!

*

For the rest of the week Len put the thought of Sunday’s coffee – or English tea – right out of her mind and focused on work. There was plenty to do as the days went by and the term began trundle along. All the same, she could not pretend that she did not see how Laura continued to ignore her, or the increasingly pointed exchanges between Peggy Burnett and Paula Clarke.

By Saturday night, however, nerves were starting to set in. She tried to tell herself that she was being silly, and even laughed at herself a little, for never before had the prospect of private time with ‘Auntie Hilda’ filled her with such trepidation. That being so, she tried to shake her worries off and focus on the cheerful conversation and chat that flowed around her.

“- and then Felicity Maynard declared that the Romans invented wearing clothes so that people wouldn’t catch cold!” Paula Clarke said loudly, causing a general laugh.

Len eyed the Head of History with some interest as the others teased about the seemingly dubious content of the other woman’s lessons. She accepted the raillery with apparent ease in a manner that made Len’s brow crease in confusion. Laura said something at that point that caused Paula to laugh again, and Len bit her lip at the look of affection that passed between the two.

“You look as if all the cares of the universe were on your shoulders,” someone said, and she looked up to meet the concerned brown eyes of Kathie Ferrars. “There’s no need for it, you know. We’re only teachers. We’re not expected to save the world.”

Len’s face brightened as her one-time form mistress sat down next to her. “Did I really look that worried?”

Kathie laughed. “Well, perhaps not that anxious, but you certainly didn’t look your normal sunshiny self. What’s the trouble?”

Len nodded in the direction of Laura and Paula. “Did you know Auntie Hilda has invited Laura and I to tea on Sunday?”

“That’s the new tradition. Once upon a time, your mother invited new staff for tea, but we had a temporary mistress three years ago who objected rather strongly to the practice. She point blank refused to go – said that your mother had absolutely nothing official to do with the school –“

“Poor Mamma! What did she say to that?”

“She was very hurt at first, I think. Then she saw it as an opportunity. Young Claire had just joined us and she was agitating to become a boarder and be a ‘big girl’, and there were no more babies at home. I think Jo was at a bit of a loose end for a time, and running over here filled that void.”

“So what happened?” Len asked with real curiosity. This was all news to her.

“Hilda and Nell pointed out that now was the time to start research on that fictional biography of Napoleon she’d been talking about for years, and since eventually there’d be grandchildren –“

Len turned pink. “I hope they weren’t talking about me!”

Kathie grinned. “Well, there are eleven of you. There’ll be plenty of opportunities! Anyway, since Joey was particularly free at that time, and there was no saying how long it would continue, they suggested that it might be as well to make hay and get cracking. She took their advice, and Yeyette was the result. I’ve told Rosalie I want it when she’s done with it, by the way.”

“Oh you did, did you! When am I going to get to read it?”

“The author’s your mother! You’ll have plenty of chances!”

Len sniffed. “I can’t argue with that one. And?”

“And what? Oh. Well, Hilda told Joey in her firmest She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed voice that she could jolly well toddle off and do her research in her own sweet time and she’d take care of the termly welcome parties. Nell backed her up and Joey took the hint and the suggestion. She’s never looked back since.”

The younger woman was fascinated. “Auntie Hilda took over the welcome parties?” she repeated. “All of them? New girls and everything?”

“How much time do you think Hilda has? Use your common sense, my girl! Of course she doesn’t do the new girls. Well,” Kathie amended, “we do have ‘welcome parties’ in the common rooms the first weekend of the autumn term, and anyone who wants to ‘drop in’ can. I believe Hilda and Nell make a point of at least showing their faces, but the rest of us can pick and choose as we like.”

“And what happens the rest of the year?”

“If there’s only one new girl, the Head will often do an invite then, but it generally ends up being for most of the form. Those invitations are highly prized, let me tell you!”

Len grinned. “I can believe it. Tea with Auntie Hilda was always rather special.”

“Which brings us neatly back to our muttons,” Kathie observed. “What’s worrying you about tea with Hilda tomorrow? You’re hardly likely to be intimidated, after all!”
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 1:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
It's good to hear that Joey got back some time for herself! And I hope that the tea goes well *is also wibbling*

Thankyou for the update - I think!
Author:  JB [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
So pleased she's talking to Kathie. I can't tell how much I like your explanation for the changes in Joey (and the school), Lisa.
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 3:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Pleased Kathy is talking to Len. Hope she can help with the problems. Is it time to get worried about Paula and Laura getting on so well?
Author:  abbeybufo [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
PaulineS wrote:
Is it time to get worried about Paula and Laura getting on so well?


Well I'm certainly wibbling :shock:

Thanks Lisa :D
Author:  MaryR [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh, well done, Hilda. :D

Poor Len, though, when Laura is such a changeable so and so. Wonder why she and Paula hit it off so well?

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Anyone else wondering if there was an ulterior motive in Paula mentioning Felicity Maynard? Especially as Felicity must be a Senior now, mustn't she?


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Catherine [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Yes, Lesley, I thought Paula's comment seemed rather pointed - both because Len was in the room at the time and clearly meant to hear and because it happens to be Len's sister she's chosen to talk about.

I hope Kathie can make Len feel a little better; I'm not sure that Paula will prove to be good for Laura.
Author:  Nightwing [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Paula just gets worse, doesn't she? I'm surprised she's got this far without Hilda or Nell having a quiet word with her - several quiet words, in fact!

Laura clearly has some hero worship going on there - I can't wait for Paula to show her her true colours (because surely she will!)

Lisa, you better write that morning tea soon, I think I'm just as nervous about it as Len is!!!
Author:  Abi [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Liked hearing about how Joey's relationship with the school has changed a little - to the benefit of each, by the sound of it. I do hope this coffee with Hilda goes ok, though.
Author:  Kyrrie [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Wow some interesting dynamics going on in the staffroom.

It does seem like a natural progression for Joey and the school, much healthier as well.

Thanks Lisa. Is it time for tea yet? Although I like the Kathie and Len conversation too.
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 10:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Brilliant, Hilda!! & I'm glad Len's been able to talk to Kathie.
Author:  JS [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
So did Paula and Laura know each other before, I wonder. Thanks Lisa.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh, this is fascinating; it's interesting to see how the school has altered since Len left, and also the way in which the satff have evolved.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks, Cath. I have to confess I've been wondering whether this isn't awfully boring. All that's happening is people talking - no real action!

...and for those of you looking forward to the tea with Miss A, well you're just going to have to wait a little longer :devil: .

*

Len grimaced. “That’s what you think! Seriously, though, have you noticed the … stiffness between Laura and me?” She spoke tentatively, for the last thing she wanted to do was to prejudice the ‘old’ staff members against Laura.

Kathie gave her a swift look. “Of course. I’m not blind!” She gave a rueful smile. “I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but starting work here as a tyro is no mean feat. Everything is so – so involved. There’s all this history and mythos and complicated relationships that have to be absorbed. And then Laura has the additional obstacle of knowing that you, a fellow new mistress, are already completely au fait with that same history. It must be rather galling.”

“I see that, but it’s not my fault! And it’s not as if being an O.G. has been as much of an advantage as that!”

“It’s true that things have changed a good deal in the past few years,” Kathie admitted, “but all the same, the essence of the Chalet School remains. Most of the people are the same, even if we’re a little greyer than you remember!” She grinned at Len and the younger woman grinned back.

“Nothing much grey about you, anyway. Oh, well, I suppose it’ll all work out in the end, as Mamma says. I just don’t want Auntie Hilda to think we’re behaving like a pair of kids. I’m trying not to, at any rate.”

“That’s extremely kiddish, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Kathie commented.

Len looked puzzled for a moment before her face flamed. “You mean the ‘Auntie’ title? That’s what Rosalie said. I dropped it for her, you know, but I just can’t drop it for the Heads.”

Kathie nodded. “Len, may I give you some advice?”

“Oh, please! I’ve been longing to talk to one of you about it, but – well, I didn’t like to.”

“OK, then. When you’re with Hilda tomorrow, don’t say anything about being an Old Girl unless Laura mentions it first. And, whatever you do, don’t address Hilda as ‘aunt’. Be formal if you can’t bring yourself to say ‘Hilda’ – although you’ll learn, eventually – but don’t rub Laura’s face in the fact that you more or less consider your boss to be a family member.”

“Have I been doing that?”

Kathie smiled. “Perhaps just a little. I’m sure you weren’t doing it consciously, but … given how nervous new staff tend to be around the Heads, it can’t have been easy for Laura to deal with your Auntying Hilda and Nell all over the place.”

Her former pupil went scarlet. “No, I suppose not.” She rubbed her face with her hands. “Thanks, Kathie. Now I feel like a complete idiot. No wonder she hasn’t wanted anything to do with me. She probably did feel as if I was trying to show her how much I was already ‘part of the furniture’.”

“Don’t blame yourself too much,” Kathie warned as she rose. “Laura hasn’t been blameless by any means.” She glanced quickly across the staffroom. “Never to mention the behaviour of certain members of staff who ought to know better. At least the two of you are both young and relatively inexperienced. You do have an excuse. Now come on and help Nancy and I set up another game of rummy. I refuse to let her win again!”

TBC
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh well done Kathie - and she would know how it feels to be in Laura's shoes too. Pleased that she's also noticed not only that Laura has some blame but also other members of staff.


Thanks Lisa

PS - I love conversation
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That was a lovely conversation, and I'm pleased that someone was able to hint kindly to Len to stop being quite so - familiar, I guess, if that makes sense. Thankyou!
Author:  Abi [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I love the conversations - that's how we find out about people, after all, and these people are fascinating. Thanks Lisa!
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That was definitely 'well done, Kathie'. And Len would take the advice far better when it came from someone like Kathie. I rather liked the latter's oblique reference to the other 'staff room squabble' too.

Thanks, LisaT - I am continuing to enjoy this - and it is certainly not at all boring. :)
Author:  cal562301 [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Glad to see Kathie giving Len some sensible advice.

Please keep posting - this is not at all boring.
Author:  Kyrrie [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Ah well done Kathie.

This is not boring at all. It's really getting to know people which is fascinating. This is one of the drabbles I constantly am checking because I look forward to the updates so much.
Author:  jmc [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Kathie gave Len some great advice there. Hope Len can remember to follow it. Not at all boring and I look forward to reading more.
Author:  JB [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This isn't at all boring. You really bring the characters to life through the dialogue. Very good advice from Kathie.
Author:  ammonite [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Good advice from Kathy and it shouldn't be to hard for Len to go and be formal to Hilda, after all she has done it through school for years.
Author:  shesings [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Great stuff and I can't wait for the tea party!
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Well said, Kathie - Laura needs to accept that the CS staffroom is full of Old Girls, but a new member of staff addressing the boss as "Auntie" must make everyone feel awkward.
Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Well done Kathy. Just what Len needed, some advice and some reassurance.
Author:  Elle [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Not boring at all Lisa! I am really enjoying this.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
So am I, and it isn't in the least bit boring. Good for Kathie!
Author:  gwynne [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
just to chime in (which I don't often do) I'm also loving this - not at all boring.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks for the reassurance. Sometimes you wonder :D

And at last, the infamous tea....

*

Sunday afternoon found Len meeting Laura in the entrance hall, and they exchanged looks that were equally nervous as they made their way into the Annexe.

“You’d better knock,” Laura whispered, as Len came to a stop outside a door.

The latter nodded and obeyed. A moment later the call came to enter, and the two young women sidled in.

Miss Annersley smiled. “There you are. Tea and biscuits will be along shortly, so sit down and make yourselves comfortable – and stop looking so anxious, the pair of you! Anyone would think you were Middles being sent for a scolding!”

Len relaxed at the familiar teasing, and took her favourite armchair without even thinking about it. Laura, however, remained visibly wary, seating herself on the armchair across from Len and nearest to the door.

They had only just settled themselves when Miggi arrived with their tea and biscuits, and Len had to remind herself not to jump up and help, as she was accustomed to doing, but she couldn’t help grinning at her brevet aunt as that lady supplied her with a cup and saucer and a plate of biscuits that she recognised as coming from Anna’s kitchen.

“These biscuits were sent over from Freudesheim,” the Head remarked as she handed Laura her cup and offered the plate. “They’ve been great favourites here for many years, and Karen doesn’t make them – or not as well as Anna does – and I thought you would like to try them.”

Laura smiled awkwardly as she accepted a biscuit, but she only nibbled on it, and Len could see how her cup trembled.

Clearly Miss Annersley saw it too, for she drew over a small table and set it between the two armchairs. “Here you are,” she said briskly. “No need for you to sit holding your cups like that when there’s somewhere to put them. Now,” she went on as she took her own seat, “tell me how you’ve found this first week.”

An awkward silence descended, for Len was determined not to speak until Laura did, and the Head raised her eyebrows as the moment lengthened. “Good heavens, has it really been that bad?”

Laura flushed. “It’s been fine,” she said quietly. “I like my form.”

Miss Annersley smiled. “I thought you would. It’s a nice age for they’re still young enough to be keen to do well. You have a handful of new girls there, if I remember correctly – how are they settling in?”

“They’re fine, I t-think,” Laura stammered. “Terry van Alden leads that form from what I’ve seen, and the rest have just… absorbed!”

“Terry is one of our ‘granddaughters’,” the Head told her laughingly. “If I know Cornelia, she’s been well drilled in our traditions, and one of those traditions is that we try to include new people – girls and staff – as thoroughly as possible until they can find their own way.”
Author:  Abi [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
A nice opening there if either Len or Laura cares to take it. I can't help wondering why it is that Laura is so nervous her hands are shaking.

Thanks Lisa - glad to get to the tea at last!
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Lisa_T wrote:
“Terry is one of our ‘granddaughters’,” the Head told her laughingly. “If I know Cornelia, she’s been well drilled in our traditions, and one of those traditions is that we try to include new people – girls and staff – as thoroughly as possible until they can find their own way.”



Ah, Hilda has seen what has been happening - and is trying to show Laura. Also wonder why Laura is so nervous - has she had a bad experience with a Head Teacher before?

Thanks Lisa
Author:  JB [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Nice intro there from Hilda (and Lisa :) ).
Author:  jmc [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
So far so good but am also wondering why Laura is so nervous. Thanks Lisa
Author:  JS [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Maybe Laura is nervous because she's actually a secret assassin sent to go after Hilda :lol:

I like that she seems to think the biscuits are somehow contaminated - poor girl, she is getting Len's 'in-ness' rubbed well into her at every point.

Thanks Lisa
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I think that if I was called to tea with my boss, I'd just be generally nervous anyway! :lol:

Thankyou for the update.
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I wonder what Paula has said to Laura before she went to the tea?
Thanks for the update.
Author:  Emma A [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
This is absolutely fascinating, Lisa - I've had lots of updates to catch up on, and am really looking forward to seeing how Len and Laura reconcile their differences, or whether they ever do.

Thank-you.
Author:  Lisa_T [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Only a little bit tonight. I'm doing computer jobs for my housemate and that's taken quite a bit of time. Should get more written over the next couple of days!

PS - love the image of someone being sent to assassinate Hilda. Whilst she does likewise with the poisoned biscuits, no?

*

Len stiffened, but Laura only murmured, “I see,” and continued to study her cup.

“And you, Len?” the Head asked, her eyes dancing. “I hope Upper IVa aren’t proving too much of a trial.”

“They’re quite trial enough,” Len retorted. “Honestly, if I have to remind Kit Lucy of the language for the day one more time - !”

Miss Annersley laughed. “Kit’s always been that way. She’s a good girl, but very featherheaded. We live in hope that she will steady down somewhat, for she has real leadership potential and we’d like to see it developed, hopefully before that crowd become Seniors!”

Len grinned. “Well, I’ll do my best, but if it doesn’t work I’ll have to send her to you. She did say that she doesn’t want to see you this term – officially, that is – so hopefully the threat will make her use her wits a little more.”

The Head laughed again. “I’m glad I’ve made such an impression! By all means do that if you think it’ll help. You too, Laura.”

“I – I’d rather not,” Laura gasped, and Len opened her eyes widely. “Shouldn’t I be trying to sort it out for myself?”

“Of course you should, and I’m sure you will, but there’s no denying that a word of warning can work miracles with some of those young monkeys.”

“W-what will happen to them if I do send them to you?” Laura asked nervously.

“They’ll get a talking-to they won’t forget in a hurry,” Len said ruefully, forgetting her good intentions for the moment. “Au – Miss Annersley won’t say much, but they’ll remember what she does say, I guarantee you that!”
Author:  PaulineS [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks for the update. Poor Len she is finding it hard not to display her knowledge of CS, and Laura make heavy weather of situations which does not make it easier for Len.
Author:  Abi [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Well, the last moment passed, but surely this one can't? The tension is palpable, Lisa. :shock:
Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 12:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Quote:
“W-what will happen to them if I do send them to you?” Laura asked nervously.

Goodness, what on earth is worrying her? It's true I always thought that CS "head's reports" piled the punishments absurdly high, but it sounds almost as though Laura is worried for herself -- or someone she needs to protect.

*hopes Lisa finds lots more writing time* :D
Author:  Lisa_T [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Actually I never thought much of it. When I was at school we had school gating and house gating - if you were unlucky enough to get the lot, it was effectively a Head's Report PLUS having your behaviour commented on in every lesson, during meals (when you had to do serving/sweeping duty regardless of whether it was your turn or not), and during your free time you had to report in to the staffroom as often as 15-20 minutes! Oh, and you couldn't leave your boarding house, let alone go further afield.

Not that I'm speaking from personal experience. I was very careful to avoid such punishments. :D
Author:  shazwales [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Also wondering why Laura seems so worried about the outcome of a 'heads report' Shouldn't new staff be told what resources the staff have when dealing with unruly pupils?
Thank you Lisa :)
Author:  jmc [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
The new staff don't seem to have much of an induction program. Even Len who is an old girl would benefit especially as things have changed so much. Do they have mentors? If Paula is Laura's mentor that might explain her attitude a bit.

Thanks Lisa. Looking forward to the rest of tea.
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Len, shut up! Every time it seems as though Laura is starting to thaw you rub her nose in the fact that this is all old hat for you! :lol:

Laura seems very worried - has she been told that it will reflect badly on her should she refer pupils to the Head?

Thanks Lisa
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I wonder if it's the old Kathie Ferrars fear that you'll be seen to be lacking if you can't control them yourself.

Thanks for the update - those punishments sound horrible, by the way!
Author:  Nicci [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Gah no! I've read this from the start this morning, and now there's no more :cry:

The atmosphere is so tense, and yes, Len isn't helping by jumping in all the time with comments about the past. Paula is indeed a nasty piece of work as she seems to be intentionally stirring things up. Wasn't there a rather unpleasant mistress back in the early Swiss days?Although I don't think she was as bad as Paula.

I can sympathise with Laura as there is clearly more going on than just being annoyed at Len being an OG, and I suspect someone has been telling her a few lies or stories about the staff team.

Edited to make more readable.
Author:  Mona [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Just found this today, and really enjoying it! More please Lisa?
Author:  clair [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Just what has Laura so worried I wonder? Although Len does seem to be putting her foot in it maybe that's better than her saying nothing - after all she IS an old girl and shouldn't have to watch what she says all the time

Thanks Lisa - looking forward to more of this
Author:  Shander [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm enjoying this story so much!
I do sympathise with Len a bit here though. Not talking about previous experiences with the school essentially amounts to censoring herself in just about every work related conversation and despite one's best efforts it can be hard to remember all the time.
For myself, when I moved halfway across the country six months ago, I tried really hard not to keep comparing things to how they were back east. But because I was continually being startled by differences, it was hard to remember sometimes. And also, in some conversations, if i didn't use previous experiences I wouldn't have anything to say at all.
Not quite the same thing I know, but I feel like the dilema is similar.
Author:  MaryR [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
The trouble is, when you start teaching, you do think you have to supply the discipline yourself and that you will look useless if you send them to the Head. But I have to say Laura's nervousness is extreme, and one can't help wpndering was she this bad when bein interviewed? Because she would hardly have got the job! :shock:

I'm trusting that Hilda will realise there is a problem here - or even more than one, maybe.

Thanks, Lisa - and blame illness for no posts from me this week. :roll:
Author:  Lisa_T [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 2:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
No update yet, though will post more this evening. Then you'll have to wait until I can get a bit ahead of myself again. Shouldn't take long!

Next bit, as promised.

*

“My dear girl, what do you think I’ll do?” Hilda Annersley demanded of Laura. “It won’t be anything too terrible – although I grant you they may not think so. First and foremost I’ll try to get them to think about what they’ve done, and any punishment that follows will be appropriate to the crime, but even at our worst we’ve rarely gone beyond docking of privileges or – in extreme cases – isolation.”

Laura’s face lost colour so fast that the Head gave an exclamation and crossed the room to bend over the young woman. “Laura! Len, refill her cup. Laura, don’t look like that, child. Here, take this.”

“I put heaps of sugar in it,” Len added anxiously as she handed the cup to Miss Annersley. “Drink it, Laura. It’ll help – and you do look rather sick.”

“I don’t want it!” Laura said, shaking her head so vigorously that Miss Annersley only narrowly avoided spilling the hot tea all over her. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry -“

“Laura.” It was all the Head said, but it was enough, and the girl jerked to a stop. Len thought that she looked even paler than she had done, and the slight tremor she had noted earlier had turned into full-body trembling.

“What’s wrong? Can you tell us?”

“It – it was what you said about isolation, Miss Annersley,” Laura burst out jerkily, her eyes fixed on the polished floor. “W-what did you mean by it?”

“Bread and milk and time in the san to reflect on your sins,” Len responded promptly before the Head had a chance to reply. Then, “What did you think it meant?”

“I was put in isolation. Twice. The Head had a tiny … cloakroom, I suppose it was… that opened off her study. There was nothing in it but a desk, a chair, and a lightbulb. In fact, getting the desk and chair in was a squash…”

Hilda Annersley and Len exchanged glances, but Laura seemed to forget they were there.

“She closed the door, the Head did. Locked it, even. There was no window. The first time was bad enough – I’ve always hated enclosed spaces. The second time…” Laura had to stop to steady her voice. “The second time the bulb went. Miss Darke went off to teach, or something, and I was alone in the dark in that tiny room for what seemed like hours…”

Laura’s control broke, and tears began to trickle down her face. Her fingers twisted and wrenched the fabric of her dress again and again, pulling it so taut that her listeners wondered if it would rip. “I hadn’t done anything wrong! If I’d deserved it…!”

Miss Annersley laid very gentle hands on those frantic fingers. “I hope you went straight home and complained to your parents. That was an unforgivable breach of your Head’s duty of care.” The ice in her lovely voice seemed to get through to Laura, and the younger woman lifted her head to meet Miss Annersley’s eyes.

Len, watching, held her breath. She knew from both experience and hearsay the effect those blue-grey eyes could have, and she found herself praying that they would work their magic again.

“You’re a-angry,” Laura stammered in surprise as she took in the grim expression on her new Head’s face.

“Yes. But not with you, child. Tell me, if you can, what happened next.”

Laura freed one hand to wipe her eyes. “Nothing. No-one would’ve believed me. What was the point? I was only a kid.” She sniffed. “That’s why I wanted to become a teacher, to help kids in the position I was in…. Honestly, Miss Annersley, I wasn’t a bad kid. I hadn’t done anything wrong!”

“Shhh. It’s all right,” Hilda Annersley soothed. “Even if you had, your headmistress’s response was still despicable.”

“D’you mean that?” The young mistress was beginning to calm down.

“Of course she does!” Len butted in. “What happened to you was abuse, pure and simple. Auntie Hilda would never do that to anyone, if that’s what’s worrying you.” In her indignation, she quite forgot Kathie’s strictures on the use of ‘Auntie’ and it slipped out before she realised.

Laura turned and eyed her cautiously – as if, Len thought, she was a poisonous snake preparing to strike. “A-are you two really related?”

Len turned pink, but it was Miss Annersley who answered. “No. The title is merely brevet rank. I taught Len’s mother – Joey Maynard – and after Jo left school we continued to see a good deal of each other and became friends. When the children started to come along, it was natural for them to call Nell and I ‘aunt’.”

“Not that that matters,” Len added. “Between one thing and another we’ve always seen more of you and Auntie Nell – sorry Laura, Miss Wilson – than we have of either Auntie Madge or either of the Auntie Mollies.”

“And it didn’t make any difference in school when you were a pupil?” Laura pressed, her gaze intense.

“How could it?” Len asked simply. “My Auntie Madge – my real aunt, that is – started the school when Mamma was only a kid herself. We’ve always had close relationships of all kinds between staff and girls in this school, and it would’ve led to a right mess if people started making a fuss over it.”

Laura looked down. “That was what happened to me,” she whispered. “The Head’s niece or cousin was in my form, and she – she was awfully mean to me. Not in a big way,” she hastened to add, “but in the multitude of small ways that wear you down and leave you feeling quite alone.”

Miss Annersley nodded. “Girls are particularly good at that form of bullying. We’ve always set our faces against it here, but I’m sure it goes on although we’re continually on the lookout for it.”

“Your pupils are lucky that you care, Miss Annersley,” Laura told her bitterly. “My form mistress found me in tears one day during break, and she made me tell her what was happening. I did, and she – she was only young herself, around Len’s age now, I think. She thought she could help. She told me she would sort it out and complained to the Head…. And I was called up, and Miss Darke, she blamed me and said that clearly I’d provoked Louise and I needed to learn greater self-control…”

As the tears began to trickle again, Miss Annersley acted. “Len, go and beg Karen for some hot milk – or you can check my kitchen first, if you like, but unless Jeanne or Rosalie have picked up milk on their own account I doubt there’s any there. Laura, I’m going to put you in my spare bedroom for a while. I think a quiet nap will help you, and we’ll talk again later. Tell me, child, have you talked to anyone about this?”

Laura was too distraught to do anything more than shake her head, and Miss Annersley put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll see if we can exorcise some of those demons for you. Come along. Len, off you go – as quick as you can!”

And Len, with a confused mixture of pity and fury at how Laura had been treated raging within her, went.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh, poor Laura! No wonder she has been hating Len so much - far too many ghosts. I hope that, now it has all come out, the ghosts will die and they can be friends.

Thanks, Lisa - this is terrific!
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
So sorry for Laura - what a horrible thing to happen. Glad she was able to see both Miss A and Len's anger at her having been treated so badly.


Thanks Lisa

BTW - could you please put in when you update on the title? I nearly missed this! :shock:
Author:  Abi [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh, poor, poor Laura. No wonder she seemed so uptight about things. So glad she's been able to talk about it, and I do hope things will seem a little easier for her now.

Thanks Lisa.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh, poor Laura! Personally, I would love to transport her back in time; I think a hug with the young Robin would be wonderful for her right now. No wonder she was so upset at Len harping on about connections all the time. I hope that Miss A. can help her.

Thankyou for the update.
Author:  cal562301 [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Glad to see Laura opening up and Hilda and Len being so understanding.

Another one who would appreciate it if you could put the date of the update in the subject line, as I find it much easier to locate ones I haven't read. Thanks! :D
Author:  shazwales [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you Lisa that was beautifully written,Poor Laura.
Author:  PaulineS [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you Lisa. It good that Laura has been able to share and got such a quick response from Hilda and Len, both blaming the Head not her.
Author:  clair [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thanks Lisa, no wonder Laura was having problems with Len, maybe now she and Len have a chance to be friends and Laura can settle into the CS properly
Author:  jmc [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 4:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Gee it must have been so difficult for Laura once she realised the close relationships between so many people at CS. Hope she can feel better now.
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Ah, that explains things. Poor Laura.

Could I third Lesley's request about update dates, pretty please? I nearly missed this as well.
Author:  brie [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Ohh poor laura!

Thanks Lisa
Author:  ammonite [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
I'm sure Hilda will help Laura and I'm glad it is all coming out. But what is with Paula's attitude as well?
Author:  Catherine [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That explains Laura's attitude - I hope Hilda and Len are able to help her.

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  MaryR [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Beautifully written, Lisa. Thank you. :D
Author:  Nightwing [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Thank you, Lisa - no wonder Laura's been having such a hard time of things. I hope that Hilda will be able to sort things out - and I daresay Len's going to do her best to mother her, too :D .
Author:  Kathy_S [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
That explains a lot! Poor Laura.
Thank you, Lisa.
Author:  Miss Di [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Have just caught up with pages of this after being internetless for two weeks and am pleased we've found out what Laura's issue was. Thanks for a gripping read!
Author:  2nd Gen Fan [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Everything becomes clear! A beautiful twist in the story here; it will be interesting to see how Len handles matters with Laura in the future, given her new knowledge.
Author:  JB [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Poor Laura. I didn't see that one coming.

Thanks, Lisa.
Author:  Elbee [ Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Really enjoying this, thanks Lisa.
Author:  charli [ Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Oh no! I've just read the last 5 or so pages in one go and have got really into this, and suddenly there was no more!

Really really enjoying this, although feeling very sorry for poor Laura.

Thanks
Author:  Lisa_T [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again
Well, I've managed to restore my big laptop to something resembling functionality after my Windows 7 RC started making threatening noises and - get this - refusing to burn CD/DVDs. So much for being able to use it more or less in full til June! That being so, was able to write more here and thus am a little ahead again. Not at much as I'd like to be, but any progress is better than none!

*

Did I mention tonight's post is itty-bitty?

*

An hour later found Len apparently staring at Lower IVa’s attempts to introduce themselves and their families in Spanish, but her thoughts were in the Annexe with Laura and the Head. She was fairly confident that at some point either Laura or Miss Annersley would tell her more – although she realised with a grimace that if Laura demanded confidentiality, the Head would most likely keep it, especially since they were all adults. In the meantime, the walls of the staffroom were closing in on her, and the fact that Peggy Burnett and Paula Clarke seemed engaged in another of their periodic bicker-fests was not helping. Indeed, sometimes Len wondered if the two women enjoyed their spats, for surely someone would have said something before now if they were as malicious as they sounded!

All the same, right now she was filled with a desire to get as far away from school and school matters as she could. With that in mind, she clapped her books shut, put them away, and headed for the office to use the phone. When she opened the door she stopped dead, for Miss Annersley was there, and had clearly just finished making a call on her own account.

She turned as Len came in. “Did you want to use the phone?”

“I wanted to give Reg a ring and see if he’s free this evening,” Len responded honestly. “I want to get away for a while.”

The Head raised her eyebrows. “Atmosphere in the staffroom not conducive to working?”

The dryness in her tone made Len blink, and she gave a rueful grin. Of course Auntie Hilda would have noticed! “Well…. Let’s just say I’m finding it rather confining. I thought it would be nice to see Reg for a while, too.” Her voice lifted as she finished, turning the statement into a question, and Miss Annersley smiled as she moved to leave.

“I’m sure that would be delightful,” she said warmly. “Go ahead. Oh, and Len?” She paused at the door to look back at the younger woman.

“Yeah?”

Her brevet aunt momentarily lifted her eyes heavenward at the slang. “Don’t worry about Laura. She’s sleeping at the moment and we will find a way to help her. Now, call that fiancée of yours and run off and have fun for what’s left of the day!” And she left laughing at the grimace that was her only response.

Len felt much more like herself as she placed the call to the san, just to check that Reg actually was off this afternoon. No point in making him feel guilty by ringing only to find that he was working! Five minutes later, she emerged from Rosalie’s office wreathed in smiles, and with a slight flush on her cheeks.
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
Of course the Head would have noticed! :lol:


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
Some people do seem to enjoy arguments!
Author:  JB [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
Thanks Lisa.

Even if Peggy and Paula are enjoying their arguments, they must create a bad atmosphere for the rest of the staff. I'm surprised one of the other staff hasn't told them to cut it out.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
I hope that she enjoys her time with Reg! Thankyou for the update.
Author:  jmc [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
It must be quite uncomfortable in the staffroom when Peggy and Paula are arguing. Hope Len enjoys her time away from the school.
Author:  MaryR [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
Quote:
“Atmosphere in the staffroom not conducive to working?”


When are they ever? And after all she's spent enough time in one as teacher - and knows her present staff, presumably.

Lovely, Lisa, thanks. :D
Author:  ann S [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
Just caught up after 4 days as computer went down with the big storm here in Normandy

Saffrooms seem to be as cliquey as some of the nursing homes I worked in in the UK !
Author:  Lisa_T [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 1:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
Next bit after yet another weekend in London. By the way - for those of you who are Londoners, head to Cafe Vergnano (sp) if you haven't already. There's one on the Charing Cross Road and another on South Bank. They made the most divine hot chocolate, although I personally prefer it without the feather bed of whipped cream. With, it's a little too much of a good thing!

*

“Let me out here,” Len said abruptly as Reg prepared to turn his car up the long drive that lead to the school’s front door.

Her fiancée’s eyebrows shut up, but he did as he was asked, being careful to park the car as close to the ‘kerb’ on the optimistically dubbed ‘road’ as he could. “I’d have thought you’d have had enough gallivanting around for one evening,” he teased. “Besides, the light is starting to go. I’m not sure I like the idea of you walking up that long drive by yourself.”

Len scoffed. “Don’t be silly. How could anything happen to me up here?” Her brows contracted a little as she remembered Laura, and despite herself, she glanced over towards the window that belonged to Miss Annersley’s spare room. A low lamp gleamed against the growing darkness of the autumn evening, and she sighed.

Reg frowned. “Whoa there, don’t blow me away.” Len gave a reluctant grin which he returned. “That’s better. Now cheer up. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad, and at least it wasn’t enough to put you off your feed.”

The wistfulness on Len’s face vanished with comical alacrity, and she thumped him. “Hey! Are you accusing me of being a pig?”

“Well, if the cap fits…” Reg fired back and grinned again when Len glared at him.

“I’m glad I told you to stop now. I’m not going to sit and be insulted like this!” The mock-hauteur in her face and voice was replaced by a dreamy smile. “Then again, I suppose I did eat rather a lot, but that food was glorious. And the hot chocolate! I defy even Karen or Anna to improve on it.”

“You certainly put enough cream on it, so I should hope it was good!”

“Oh it was.” Len gave another sigh – a happy one this time. “You really should try it sometime, Reg. I don’t know why men always seem to set their faces against hot chocolate. Dad’s just as bad.”

“It’s jealousy,” her fiancée told her solemnly. “We’re never quite sure whether our women would go for us or the chocolate if they had to make the choice, so we prefer to ignore the existence of the stuff.”

“Oh, you! Well, I’d better get on or it will be dark by the time I get back. I’ve missed Prayers as it is so I need to go and apologise to Auntie Hilda.” She grimaced. “There I go again! Oh well. I don’t think she’ll mind, at any rate. She knew I was phoning you and that wasn’t even four hours ago, so she must’ve known I wouldn’t be back before twenty o’clock.”

“Off you go then. Give us a ring when you get in.”

“Old fusser!” Len teased as she leaned over for his kiss. She slipped out of the car and pulled her jacket closer around her as Reg waved and moved the car away. Even though it was still September, the nights were starting to become chilly, and she was only wearing her mac.

She turned to face the school gates and took a step towards it – and paused. To one side she could see the friendly lights of Freudesheim beckoning, and she chewed her lip. Would Auntie Hilda really mind if she was later since she’d missed Prayers in any case? It would be pure bliss to go home and sleep in her old room for the night, and she could just run over early in the morning. It wasn’t as if everything wasn’t in order for Monday’s classes. She moved towards Freudesheim and halted again – only to spin around, gasping, as someone spoke.
Author:  Miss Di [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 2:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
...SPLAT...
Author:  shazwales [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
:?: :?: :?:
Author:  JS [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
Oh dear, somehow I have Rosalie and the long walk in Highland Twins in my head.....
Help us quickly Lisa.
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
Nice cliff! Love the relationship between Len and Reg - seems very normal and natural.

As for Len going to Freudesheim? Not sure that's a good idea - after all, the rest of the Staff don't have their parents place next door, do they?


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
A choice between Reg and hot chocolate ... :D . Although he does seem very nice here.
Author:  jmc [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
Lovely relationship that Len and Reg have here. Hope len doens't go home. It might not sit too well with some people as they might see it as running home to Mummy. Curious as to who is outside with her. Thanks Lisa.
Author:  JB [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
I was hoping she wouldn't go to Freudesheim (or that Joey would send her back if she did) but I didn't want her to be stopped by a cliff!
Author:  Sarah_G-G [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
I fell straight down that one! Was also thinking of Rosalie in Highland Twins, but now I'm wibbling slightly that it's Paula and she's going to start in on Len for running home...
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
*another who thought of Rosalie*

...EEEEEEEEP.
Author:  shesings [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: Is this an "ooooohhhhh nnnnoooooo!" moment :shock: :shock: :shock:
Author:  MaryR [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
Thank you, Lisa! :twisted: :twisted: *walks away whistling*
Author:  Abi [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
*wibbles*

Thanks Lisa!
Author:  BethC [ Sat Mar 13, 2010 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again (3/3 Update - a teeny update!)
*resolutely ignores cliff*

Lisa_T wrote:
Next bit after yet another weekend in London. By the way - for those of you who are Londoners, head to Cafe Vergnano (sp) if you haven't already. There's one on the Charing Cross Road and another on South Bank. They made the most divine hot chocolate, although I personally prefer it without the feather bed of whipped cream. With, it's a little too much of a good thing!

I second that! And of course the Charing Cross Road one is very convenient for bookshops :D

Really enjoying this, Lisa - thank you!
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
Thanks Lisa, would love to see more :D
Author:  Emilyc [ Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
I just read the entire drabble to date at one sitting. I love it. Is so engaging.

Poor Laura, it sounds like she had a beastly time at school. I hope Len can help her no she knows what's going on - after all Len always was kind.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
Len & Reg are lovely :D, but --

What about this cliff? :shock:
Author:  Nicci [ Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
Gahh. Drat that cliff.

Lisa, please can we find out who is behind Len? Soon?
Author:  shazwales [ Sun Mar 14, 2010 3:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
Lisa if we ask very nicelycan we have some more please :?:
Author:  Lisa_T [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 11.03
I'm sure you can, but the question is whether you may... *ducks*
I'm going to kill this thread with this post since we're now on page 21 and the next post will start a new chapter. I know it hasn't read as chapters from your pov, but I'm writing in chapters, so it will help me. Plus, the next bit isn't being co-operative, so it may be a few days while I try to write (and no doubt rewrite!) it. Aspects of this chapter have surprised me, which impacts on the next and prevents things from unfolding exactly as I'd anticipated. Who says people write 'cos they like playing God?!

...oh, and I'm awfully amused by your lurid imaginations. :devil:

*

“Is that some new dance you’re trying out?” Jack Maynard asked with interest as he came up to her – or was towed towards her by an enthusiastic St Bernard. “No, Rufie, down. You can’t jump up. Silly pup.” He looked at his eldest daughter again. “It’s a shame we didn’t get the behaviour along with the name, isn’t it?”

Len suddenly relaxed and laughed aloud. “No. Is he as bad as Bruno was?”

“Not quite. He hasn’t destroyed the salon curtains yet or eaten your mother’s latest manuscript. On the other hand, he has an evil genius for sneaking into the kitchen when Anna’s back is turned. I believe those biscuits she sent over to your Auntie Hilda this afternoon were the third batch. This bad lad scoffed the first two.”

Len choked. “Well, I hope he gets his just desserts, then!”

“Mary Helena Maynard! What an appalling pun! You’re lucky neither your mother nor your respected aunts are near enough to hear it or you’d know allabout it!” He grinned. “But since it’s just me – I like it. Now, why were you standing dithering there?”

The laughter fled from Len’s face. “I was trying to decide whether or not to go home for the night.” She made a sound that was half-scoff, half laugh. “Idiotic, isn’t it? I’ve spent a huge portion of my life in that building, and another six years away from the Platz altogether… and yet now I’m suddenly more homesick than I’ve ever been.”

Her father offered her his arm, and she took it gratefully.

“What are you homesick for?” Jack asked softly.

Len looked up at him in some confusion. “What do you mean? Home, of course. You and Mamma and Anna… even Matey – sorry, Gwynn! – now that’s she’s just family.”

“Are you sure that’s all? Perhaps you’re missing Oxford more than you expected. Perhaps you’re homesick for the past. There’s been more than a few changes at the School since you left, and perhaps you’re finding that harder to deal with than you’d anticipated.”

His daughter bit her lip as she considered his words. “I suppose there’s some truth in that, and there’s been ructions in the staffroom lately. Funny, even though I’ve seen my share of staffroom politics, it never even occurred to me that we would have them here. Perhaps I am homesick for the simplicity of my schooldays – but I don’t regret coming back here one bit,” she finished fiercely. “I really do think this is where I’m meant to be – for the moment, at least.”

Jack freed a hand so that he could raise her chin and look into her eyes. “If that’s how you really feel, I think you’ve solved your own dilemma, haven’t you?” He took her head in both hands – having carefully threaded the dog lead further down his arm – and kissed her forehead. “Your home is at the school, Helena. Perhaps it always was.”

She blinked at him. “Yes. Yes, you’re right. There’s things I can do there, and it’s right to do them.” She looked down. “Did Mamma tell you about my run-ins with the new mistress?”

“Laura, isn’t it? She did. She seemed to think you were worried about nothing.”

Len gave a rueful grin. “Well, she was half right. I was right to be worried, but I was worried about the wrong thing.” She put her head against his shoulder and sighed. “I’m starting to realise how fortunate – how blessed – I’ve always been. Between you and Mamma and the aunts and the school… It’s all wrapped a cocoon of security and love around me, and that’s given me foundations. How do you give someone those foundations in adulthood?”

She felt rather than heard her father’s answering sigh, a warm breath against her hair. “Not easily. Not quickly. Look at your aunt Grizel. Despite everything, she never had those foundations until after she met Neil Sheppard. Then again, Juliet O’Hara’s childhood was even worse than Grizel’s, if your mother is to be believed, and she seemed much less affected. It depends on one’s own character as much as anything else.”

Len made a face he did not see, but she heeded the unspoken warning. She could not expect everything to change dramatically between herself and Laura, just because of what she’d heard and seen that day. In fact, her presence during today’s revelations might make things more difficult in the short term. She glanced towards the school, and smiled when she saw that the light in the spare bedroom was out. Hopefully that meant Laura was at peace and resting quietly. For the moment that was all that could be expected.

As for herself, her father was right. She had made her decision over where to spend the night. It was time to return home, to school – so she kissed him, ruffled Rufie’s ears, and began to walk thoughtfully down the long drive that would bring her to the school’s front door.

TBC
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
That was good - I think Jack was a far better person for Len to meet - someone not quite so intimately involved in the School but still someone that can give Len good advice.


Thanks Lisa
Author:  Abi [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Jack was lovely there, and gave Len some very good advice. Still can't help hoping that things will be better between her and Laura, though.

Thanks Lisa. :D
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Thanks for this chapter Lisa T. Jack is caring and positive here. Hope they can train Rufie better than they did Bruno.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Jack was lovely. Thanks Lisa
Author:  Nightwing [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Phew - when I saw the "please archive" note I was worried you'd given up on the story!

Thanks for the update - glad Len has made her decision. I hope that she'll be able to help Laura now that she knows what's wrong, and I'm glad she didn't go home!

Looking forward to the next chapter, Lisa!
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Jack was truly showing his SLOC qualities, there, and he was absolutely lovely. I want to wish Len good luck on her journey, I seem to have forgotten that this is fictional :oops:

Anyway, thankyou for the update.
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Jack did well there.
Author:  JB [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
How lovely Jack was there. And what sensible advice.
Author:  JS [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Nice Jack - glad Len didn't go to Freudesheim. Thanks Lisa - looking forward to next chapter.
Author:  jmc [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
I like it that Len realises that things will not necessarily be better after what happened with Laura. Looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks Lisa.
Author:  hac61 [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Want more. Soon. Please. Thank you.
Author:  Miss Di [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
Very sad that Jack feels that his own daughter's real home is a school.
Author:  Chris S [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
I have really enjoyed this story and really felt for Len when she decided that school was really her home.
Author:  MaryR [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Coming Home Again / Update 15/03 PLEASE ARCHIVE
What a lovely and loving father-daughter relationship - just how it should be and so satisfying to see.

I fear Len may be right, though, about Laura's reaction to Len seeing her fall apart and knowing all her secrets.

Thanks, Lisa.
All times are UTC
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/