That was very sweet. I like your Robin; thanks
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| May Morning http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9388 |
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| Author: | Sugar [ Sun May 01, 2011 11:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | May Morning |
“Ow….Mamma it tickles!” Con squealed. “I’ll tickle you in a minute! Hold still Connie pet.” Joey tucked flowers into Con’s hair securing them with a Kirby grip. There was a gentle breeze coming through the window, cooling the rather frazzled occupants of the Master Bedroom at Plas Gwyn. Daisy passed lemonade to Margot, whilst the Robin looked at Len exasperated. “Don’t you want to look pretty like the others? I’ll run and get pins from the sewing box; Daisy you hold onto that young scaramouche.” Robin was as good as her word, her sentence finishing as she reached the stairs, whereupon she found Josette sat on the stair, a scowl spoiling her pretty face. “Why are you sitting here? I nearly stood on you. I’m in a fearful rush, we will be late, then Jo won’t be impressed.” “’S not fair, they get all the fun!” Spat out Josette vehemently. Crumbs thought Robin. She thought something like this might happen when Madge had asked Jo to mind Josette. She wasn’t strong still, Sybil’s stupidity having scarred her and taken away all her childlike qualities. It wasn’t the best day to have her but there wasn’t much choice. “Why vey dressing up an’ not me.” She looked up, tears filling her blue eyes. “Josette…. We are going to a special Mass at Church today. It’s a special day so little girls can get dressed up in nice dresses and take flowers to give to Our Lady.” “Whozat?” “Jesus’ mummy” “Mary” Josette spoke with conviction. “Can I come too? I wants to see Jesus Mummy too. And dress up pwetty like Len an’ Con.” Robin took a deep breath. “You go to a different Church with Mummy and Sybil don’t you?” “Don’t like Sybil she hurted me an’ Mummy got cross.” Robin pulled Josette up gently hoping negative thoughts about Sybil would diminish in time, “C’mon Let’s go and get these pins then you can have some lemonade upstairs.” Anything to distract her. Rob thought, four was slightly too young for complicated denominational discussion. “Can I?” “Yes, there is lemonade upstairs, let's get pins first. Aunty Jo’s sewing basket’s on the kitchen table” “Can I come with you an’ dress up. I like Church, Mr Walker’s nice.” “This is a different Church, the one up the hill passed Mrs Pugh’s shop. "We go to Our Lady; you and mummy go to Christchurch.” “Wanna go wif you.” Josette’s lip wobbled dangerously. Robin thought for a minute, whilst fishing in Jo’s untidy sewing box for some pins. What was the harm in taking Jos. She was only tiny and it wasn’t as if Madge wasn’t ecumenical in her views, although she did know something Jo did not, having accidentally overheard a conversation: Madge wasn’t entirely happy about Joey converting to Catholicism. Having retrieved the pot she handed it to Josette. “Hold those, and we’ll go and find Aunty Joey.” Meanwhile upstairs, Daisy perched on the bed with Len on her lap, whilst Jo fixed Margot’s headdress. “It’s such a nice idea, especially when everything’s so bleak with rationing and blackout blinds and painted bulbs and heaven knows what.” said Daisy cheerfully paying no attention to sentence structure. “Yes I do like the ceremony at Our Lady” replied Jo, “And its in Latin, its always the same whether we go to Mass here, in Guernsey or in Tyrol…. Right Robin," she said as that young woman entered the room. “Lets pin Len’s sash back on ..I’d sew it but I’m already butterfingers, it’s having no breakfast I fear,” Jo laughed. “You are coming too missy,” she tapped Josette on the nose, “then we shall go and watch Maypole dancing on the green and buy toffee apples as a special treat." “Flowers, too” asked Josette beseechingly. “Stand still then,” ordered Daisy, “I’ll fix you one in your hair.” A minute later, they were ready, the triplets holding small flower posies to present to a Statue of Our Lady after the Homily. Walking up the hill, the children chatted and while Daisy pushed a sleeping Stephen in his pram, the adults had time for reflection. Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae; Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our light, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. Robin said the words, automatically, as she always said them, whatever else happened at least these words where always the same. Constant unchanging secure. The words her mother said. Mass always made her think of her mother. But today she was thinking less of the mother and more of her mother’s country. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Mayday was a processional Day, not for devotional reasons but to support the oppressive Communist movement. The Russians had taken Poland, technically it no longer existed, like Austria: Robin was without parents and without country. Communism might be a good idea in some ways, everyone has the same, no-one is better but why should people loose their identity their home, their religion, their whole culture. There would be no May Day processions to Mary in Poland. Robin thanked God that she was safe with the Maynards whilst wondering whether life would ever be the same again. Joey looked down at Robin kneeling, her dark circles framing her face, her head bent in Prayer and reflection She had grown into an intelligent loving girl whose faith was important to her. Madge had done well. She touched her gently on the nape of neck and Robin looked up. “Time to go Robinette,” she said ushering the triplets out of pew, stopping to genuflect as she did so. The girl’s copied her, to varying degrees of success, left and right was confusing at their age but Jo smiled as she caught Margot confusing all four points of the cross. As they walked down the aisle Robin tucked her arm into Jo. “Thank you”, she whispered her eyes full of tears. |
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| Author: | Beecharmer [ Mon May 02, 2011 3:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
Thank you, enjoyed reading this, had never thought about the effect on Robin about the situation in Poland. Also interested with the suggestion of Madge not being totally happy about Joey's conversion. Josette's point of view on the Sybil incident is also a different point of view on the story. Not sure if this is to continue or is a Mayday short, but hope to see more if you have any to post. Thank you. |
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| Author: | roversgirl [ Mon May 02, 2011 4:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
That was very sweet. I like your Robin; thanks
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Mon May 02, 2011 8:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
Thanks, really liked the different points of view |
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| Author: | janetbrown23 [ Mon May 02, 2011 9:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
Thanks Sugar, very different and good to see Robin and Josette. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Mon May 02, 2011 9:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
Thanks Sugar. |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Mon May 02, 2011 9:53 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
Thank you, Sugar, extremely interesting. Will there be more please, or is this complete? |
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| Author: | Identity Hunt [ Mon May 02, 2011 1:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
This was so lovely, Sugar - thank you !! |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Mon May 02, 2011 4:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
As others have said, it was really nice to see all of the different points of view that we don't get in the books. Thankyou. |
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| Author: | emma t [ Mon May 02, 2011 6:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
This was lovely, Sugar, and nice to see how Robin felt about religion. Any more to come?
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| Author: | Eleanore [ Mon May 02, 2011 9:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
That was very sweet. Interesting to see things from Robin's perspective too. Thank you
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| Author: | Liane [ Mon May 02, 2011 10:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
Nice to see the different perspectives. Thanks Sugar. |
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| Author: | Carolyn P [ Thu May 05, 2011 8:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: May Morning |
I'd never thought about Robin in relation to the events in Poland. |
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