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| Unforgiven and Forgotten Finis 04/09/10 http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7307 |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Unforgiven and Forgotten Finis 04/09/10 |
Jemima Travers could not understand why nobody wanted to talk to her. She had a mane of satin blond hair, deep sapphire eyes, a creamy white complexion and the athleticism of a gymnast. But nobody wanted to talk to her. Everyone wanted to know her for her good looks and one liners and silver tongued come backs at Cheltenham Ladies College. Everyone laughed as she sassed the teachers and ridiculed others. Once she went to Oxford (on Daddy's money as she failed her A Levels) she found people did not respond to her in the way they did at school. She dropped out of Oxford having lost a bitter row with a classicist named Dr Benson and went to work for one of Daddy's magazines. It was whilst working for Daddy that she found out she could make money through her character assassination of people. She could rule the world! She could make or break anybody! Already she had destroyed the career of an American Senator by exaggerating claims of infidelity in an unauthorized biography. She had ruined the reputation of a European Princess and she was now turning her eye to the great figures of the literary world. She remembered how she teased a girl at school for reading an uncool J M Bettany book. J M Bettany! The squeaky clean authoress of many a children's book! There just had to be some dirt on her somewhere! Jemima rubbed her hands with glee. As soon as she made enquiries of the rich and famous who had connections with the Chalet School, she was slapped with a court injunction forbidding her from coming within a five mile radius of the Hope family in Australia. She was furiously scolded off the premises of the New York home of Lady Edgar Watson and had a narrow escape from some pitbulls as she was chased away from the van Alden mansion. These were just some of the problems she had on researching J M Bettany. The spoilt Miss Travers stomped to her desk; screamed at the editor to make her some coffee or she would see he was fired and that he would never get another job again and expected the rush of sympathy from her colleagues. No sympathy came. The coffee came, but she had no idea of the laxative which had been slipped into it. She glowered at her colleagues who did not make eye contact. Ha! She would see them fired! She stared at the Bettany, Russell, Maynard family tree. She knew what all J M Bettany's kids and nephews and nieces were up to. All squeaky damn clean! Something caught her eye. There was no information on one of the Maynard children. Sensing a lead, she checked the official and fan written biographies of J M Bettany which she had. She checked Who's Who and other sources. Little or nothing was mentioned of the sixth child after he was seven years of age; but there was no date of death. The closest she found was in one biography: "Joey fell ill after the birth of her final children, the twins Philippa and Geoffrey. It was at this time that her son Michael went to live with his Aunt. Just those two lines! Here was a mystery! There had to be some juicy gossip here and she would tell the world about it! Look out J M Bettany! Your reputation is gonna fall! Jemima cackled with glee. She now needed to find Michael. |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
Oh dear. What will she find?
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
Oh my! Please don't let Mike have been up to anything too bad, he was always harmless really. |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
ChubbyMonkey wrote: Oh my! Please don't let Mike have been up to anything too bad, he was always harmless really.    You know, for once I'd like something really different to happen!
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| Author: | Abi [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
| I wonder if there's anything to find out - and if so, what?
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
It might end up being nothing at all! |
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| Author: | JB [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
Fascinating. |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 9:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
Very interesting,looking forward to reading more of this,thanks. |
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| Author: | Miss Di [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
I'm intrigued... |
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| Author: | Kyrrie [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:36 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
Oooh I want to find out something mysterious and juicy. Not that I'm condoning Miss Travers' actions mind you. Thank you, fascinating beginning. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten |
Miss Travers was nothing if not tenacious. She could sense there was dirt to dig up on J M Bettany somewhere. Once she had published a juicy unauthorized life of the famous authoress, she would earn lots of money and publicity. She would go on talk shows and pompously moralize about what J M Bettany should have done. She checked the schools of Mike Maynard's brothers. No. he had not gone there. What about his cousins? No...except...she checked the records again, John Bettany (first cousin) went to Dartmouth and Mike Maynard did too, before....being expelled! Jemima felt a thrill of joy! But where was he now? Where? WHERE? Checks with Somerset House indicated no marriages or deaths. Shipping lists revealed he had not emigrated. He was not in the Army, Navy or Air Force List, he was not an ordained clergyman or in the medical or dental registers. Could he be in prison? Could J M Bettany's mysterious sixth child, be a jailbird? Jemima Travers had her sources for HM Prisons. She herself had done time for shoplifting and minor drug offences, minor in her book, anyway. A fortnight later, one of her "minions" as she called them, contacted her to say that Michael Maynard or Max Wynne as he called himself now was currently detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure, details of the instituition to follow! |
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| Author: | Abi [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
Why do I get the feeling that all is not as it seems? Or am I just being random? Thanks Phil. 
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
This is intriguing. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
| More than intriguing!
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| Author: | Lesley [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
What had Mike done?????
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:27 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
The mystery deepens. Thanks Phil. Looking forward to more. |
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| Author: | JB [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
Another one here who thinks all isn't as it seems. Thanks, Phil. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
Is it the Mike Maynard? Thankyou. |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
Phil 
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| Author: | Liane [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
Ohhh, interesting! Thanks Phil. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
Miss Travers was dressed in her best power dressing suit and flounced through the gates of HM Prison Loxfield as if she owned the place. In her mind, she did. She was a taxpayer, therefore these were her prisons, the prisoners were detained at her pleasure and the prison warders were there to guard her, never mind their roles in rehabilitation, education, integration, discipline control and many others. Their one purpose at that moment was to serve her and answer her every demand. To say "No" to her was in her view, a sackable offence. But never mind these overpaid public servants, Jemima thought. She was here for her juicy story. All methods were open to her to get her story and she was prepared to do just that by fair means or foul! Mostly the latter. The prison warders took one look at her and formed their own opinion of her, most of it inappropriate. Prisoner RR3939, Max Wynne, formerly Mike Maynard was escorted into the small room where Miss Travers awaited him. "Max Wynne! Or Michael Richard Maynard as you were christened! I have tracked you down at last! Do sit down." Jemima put on her best charm and manners. "Michael Maynard's dead. He died when he was seven and he is never coming back." "Michael, Michael, Michael! Or shall I call you Mike? Mikey Boy? Mick? Mickey?" "My name is Max." "Perhaps your middle name, Richie, Rich, Richard, Dickie, Dick?" An irritating kittenish laugh followed. Mike glared coldly at the girl. "I should be getting back to association. I was enjoying a game of pool; with a convicted murderer incidentally. Mr Stevens sir!" Mike called to the warder who made towards the prisoner. "You leave him alone or I shall see you lose your job, your home and your pension!" Jemima snarled with such ferocity at the warder, who simply smiled as Mike got up and walked towards him. "Go away! I've had enough of my life being the object of fun for so many girls." Mike growled. "Oh please, I'm writing a biography of your mother! Unauthorized of course! I'm after some really juicy gossip! I must have my story!" She fluttered her eyes at Mike. "I was brought up around girls. I know every trick in the book. Like I say, go away and leave me alone. I have had no family since they threw me out when I was seven years old. That's all I'm telling you." "I can get your sentence reduced! Maybe even a pardon!" She possibly couldn't, but Daddy knew some very good lawyers who could run rings around anybody! They had got Daddy off several drink driving charges before. Mike turned around. "I know every trick in the book." He said coldly and slowly. "Allright. I just dig dirt on people for a living. I can't stand people being successful and bringing joy to others when I can't. I'm a nasty bit of work and I know it. There's bad in all of us, I just get jealous when I hear of sickening goody goodies like the famous authoress J M Bettany. There's got to be something bad about her. There's got to be. Nobody from the Chalet School past or present wants to talk to me. I even traced the only surviving girl to have been expelled from the Chalet School and she did not want to talk!" "Who was that?" Mike had returned to the table. "Betty Wynne Davies. I offered her lots of money and she wouldn't take it. She said what she did was wrong and she didn't want it dragged up." Mike had heard the name. "Thekla von Stift died in a prison in East Berlin in 1960. She was my only other possibility." "And now you want me to dish the dirt on what was my family? I haven't seen them since I was seven! How could I possibly give you any information?" "We could tell your side of the story! Your life story! Why haven't you seen your family since you were seven? What was so terrible that caused you to be disowned. I can see how it has affected you. In prison for petty theft and vandalism, car theft and abusing a police officer! We shall split the proceeds fifty fifty!" Jemima wasn't thinking fifty fifty, more like ninety ten, but the fool wouldn't realise that! Jailbird! "Fifty fifty! Ha!" "Sixty forty?" "No I'm taking no money from this. Call it foolish male pride, but I want no part of your money. I will tell you my life story, for what it is worth and you can decide to publish it. I doubt it will sell. I will need to speak to the governor and my brief first!" Mike stormed off, upset. Jemima smiled. She had her story. Mike was too upset to listen to Mr Stevens or return to his game of pool. He stormed into his cell, screamed, "Get lost" at two cellmates, who did just that, sat down and wept. His life flooded before him, The ravine, the exile to England, bullied at school, the landmine incident, Dartmouth, expulsion, his love affairs, his nascent criminal career and odd jobs and every time anything to do with his family touched him, it always ended in tears. He hated his family, but he tried to quell a simple biological desire to love his family and desire to come home. He had never succeeded in quelling these desires. That was his tragedy. |
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| Author: | ammonite [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
You seem to have forgotten to post some of it? She seems a nasty piece of work! |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
I must say I don't like her either! But that really is a cliff
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| Author: | Abi [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 8th Feb update |
ammonite wrote: You seem to have forgotten to post some of it? Yes, the part where our questions get answered. What on earth has Mike been up to? |
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| Author: | Phil [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 9/2/10 |
Apologies, I got distracted, normal service has been resumed 
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 9/2/10 |
Aaah, that's a little better! Now if you could just tell us the story... |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 9/2/10 |
Poor Mike. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 9/2/10 |
Feel very sorry for Mike - and hope he really stitches Jemima up something rotten. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | JB [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 9/2/10 |
Jemima is so horrible - and feel sure she's underestimating Mike/Max. Thanks, Phil. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 9/2/10 |
The first interview. Governor Cassleton had reluctantly given his consent for Wynne to be interviewed. "First sign of trouble, Wynne is in solitary. Make sure he understands that." Cassleton's instructions to CPO Greaves were relayed to the unhappy lag. There was no need for this. In his brief moments where he was allowed rehabilitative therapy, Mike / Max was advised to go through with this to help cleanse his soul. Jemima could scarcely contain her triumph. She had already written a draft introduction about J M Bettany; the perfect author with the perfect family and how she kept a dark secret, that of her sixth child residing in a dark prison unforgiven and forgotten. The woman who made so much of her Christian faith could not extend that to her son and so as she disowned him, he had disowned her by taking on a new name. "So, what happened? Why are there no references to you past the age of seven years old?" Mike drew a deep breath. It looke like he was going to cry. A tear trickled down his cheek. This was too good! Thought Jemima, eagerly eyeing the tear like a vampire staring at blood. "What happened when you were seven?" "Mum and all of us kids went out for a walk with her. I can't remember where Dad was, he wasn't there. I had a craze for collecting birds' nests at the time and I saw a really good one halfway down a ravine. I asked Mum if I could have it, but she said no. I just had to have it, so I jumped and climbed and I didn't know it but Mum saw me jump. I think she thought I had fallen to my death. Anyway I got the nest and when I climbed back up I saw Mum had fainted, the kids crying and my brothers shouting at me, calling me a murderer. My triplet sisters were screaming at Mum to wake up. I was certain she was dead. I didn't move or say anything. I was just dragged home whilst my Dad and uncle arrived. I think the kids were taken elsewhere, I can't remember. All I know is I was shut in my room for three days. meals delivered to my door, escorted to the bathroom to wash. Looks of sheer hate in the eyes of the triplets and my brothers. They only spoke to me when they needed to, like giving me my meals and saying, "Eat!" You wouldn't believe how many adults came round to tell me what they thought of me. But my parents didn't, especially not my Dad. I remember hearing him yelling and screaming. He hated me. That wasn't the voice of a father. I heard people talking about me saying horrible things like why was I ever born, how much they hated me, how I had always been trouble. Everyone wanted a piece of me even people who had no business. All the so called brevet aunts and friends of my sisters. They all came to stop and stare at the wicked, naughty evil boy. They came out with their hatred with such feeling and venom. There were so many of them! Yes I disobeyed Mum! Yes I caused her to be ill, but the hate and bile that was directed at me with such force and vitriol from so many people was completely out of proportion. Nobody wanted to hear how sorry I was, nobody was prepared to punish me there and then. They were thinking up something that would keep me out of their lives forever. They made up their minds about me when I was seven years old! Seven years old! Mike had a few moments to weep. Even the heartless Jemima was genuinely horrified. There was something she didn't understand. "Sorry, what are brevet aunts?" "Well, Mum was the first Chalet School pupil and she kept in touch with all old teachers and friends and their families and indeed the current teachers. Every generation of girls who passed through the Chalet School always referred to her as Auntie Jo, especially if they were friends of my first cousins. So there was the Lucy family, friends of my Bettany cousins, all the teachers, all Mum's friends, all were called brevet aunts. They were members of the family. They were literally in and out of the home all the time, passing comment on other people and especially us boys. They were nearly always girls and to be a boy was very much an oddity. Large families of never ending girls. We had no private life, even during the holidays, Mum was always adopting some problem child. There was no time to be a family. Even then the family itself was too large. Mum seemed to have babies just for the sake of it. She should have stopped after the triplets. Sorry I've gone on too much!" "No...no...no... that's fine!" Mike was a gold mine to Jemima. A whole lot of things became clear to Jemima. "I kept crying in my locked room! I would bang on the door and plead to be let out! I got angry, then I would cry again. I was kept like this for three days! Three days and they never told me if Mum was dead or not. It go to be too much. On the third night of crying non stop, Len, the eldest triplet came in. I told her to go away, I thought she was going to tell me off again. She listened to how I felt. She comforted me. I felt hope. That hope was to be dashed!" Mike spoke with venom as he remembered what happened to him the morning after. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 11th Feb update |
Poor, poor Mike. This is so sad and yet so believable. Please don't keep us waiting to hear what happened the next day. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 11th Feb update |
" I never saw my parents. I was told by my Aunt Madge - and how she gave me a look of hate - that I would be living with her for at least a year. During the holidays, I would go to her and then "the matter would be reviewed" as to whether or not I could go home. She so didn't want me there. I was a mistake, a hazard, something to be endured until she could throw me out at the earliest opportunity. My uncle Jem hardly said a word to me. There were no goodbyes. I never saw Mum or Dad. I knew she was alive because Len had told me. My brothers had been packed off to a family friend and I was to learn that they resented this greatly, they felt they were being blamed too because boys are always seen as bad, me being the worst type. I remember I was to carry all my cases downstairs, load them into uncle Jem's car and get in. As the car drove away with me in it, I looked out of the back window. Nobody was watching to see me off; not from the door, the drive or a window. Can anyone imagine how I felt? I was so sorry for what I did and yet that wasn't accepted. I was constantly told "it's for the best." "How did you find living with your aunt?" "Horrible." "Horrible?" "Yes. A more cold, cruel woman you could never meet. Get on the wrong side of her and you are done for. Permanently." "Please..." "Of course. I had always been taught to believe my aunt Madge was a warm kind hearted, open minded lady who believed in reforming people and giving them chances. The exception is if you are a member of her family. If you are not born with the character of a plaster saint, you are bad news and never allowed to forget it. I never left her presence without a huge sigh of relief. There was always something, every second she would pull me up for something: elbows off the table, wash your fingernails, don't stare. Uncle Jem was absent nearly all the time and she made it obvious she didn't want me there. Neither did her kids. David Russell was the most stuck up git I've ever met; kept going on about honour and being a gentleman. Sibyl resented any intrusion by her cousins. When she had to share with our Bettany cousins when she was young, she resented it, but aunt Madge didn't tolerate that because she wanted the Bettany kids there. She didn't want me there and let Sybil, Josette and Aile show me what they thought of me. Her little boys, Kevin and Kester were so irritating, but followed the views of Sibyl and co, and six year olds can be horrid little monsters!" Mike paused for breath. "Even my good school reports were demeaned with a "you are capable of better" hnestly! How can you improve on an A in maths? |
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| Author: | shesings [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 11th Feb update X2 |
 Poor Mike but if that's how they behaved to him they deserve all the muck that's going to be flung at them.....
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 11th Feb update X2 |
How on earth could they treat Mike like this? Even if Joey had died, which she didn't, I don't see any justification for it at all. He was only a kid who played a joke that went too far, for goodness sake!  (((((((((((Mike))))))))))) ETA Sorry, getting too emotionally involved in the story! |
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| Author: | JB [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 11th Feb update X2 |
Poor Mike. Scarily believable portrait of Madge here. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 11th Feb update X2 |
What a fascinating alternative universe. Thankyou. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 11th Feb update X2 |
Jemima could not believe her ears. This was abuse, pure and simple and this wasn't even the tip of the iceberg! "All through that summer I wasn't allowed to write or even speak to my family on the telephone. I remember once when Auntie Madge was on the phone to Mum, I asked her if I could speak to Mum. Auntie Madge simply turned her back on me. She let all her children speak to Mum! I tried to send a letter once but couldn't get the address right and had no money for a stamp. When I was found out, all hell broke loose! How dare I make trouble! How dare I upset my poor, sick, frail mother? Hadn't I caused her enough pain and grief?" "What about school Max?" Max was pleased Jemima referred to him by his new name. "I was sent to a different school from my brothers so my aunt Madge could keep tabs on me and so my brothers wouldn't have the shame of being associated with me. Every half holiday or exeat or half term that came up, I was one of the few boys who was never taken out. Any communication I heard was always to work hard. I was never given permission to go out with any family of my friends. The Headmaster told me my aunt and uncle had given him a set of instructions about what I could and could not do." "My God! But how on earth did you survive? Didn't you boys have tuck boxes or pocket money or something? "Money for things like uniform or maths sets or exercise books were no problem, but I had no tuck box or treats like the other lads. The reason given to me was "sweets are unhealthy" I was given the bare minimum for pocket money. There was a lad from a poor area of the east end who had a scholarship to the school and even he was given more money than I." Jemima felt sick. Either Max was lying (further research would find that out) or she was coming face to face with a reality so horrific and evil, it made her develop a conscience. "Are you allright? Mr Stevens, shall we terminate this?" Jemima was always impressed with how well this mere common criminal spoke! He cared! Something she had never done! This man shouldn't be in here, she thought. "Could I have some water please?" Jemima gratefully accepted the polystyrene foam cup of cool water. "I did make friends there! It was a distraction from that cold house of my aunt. It stopped me from worrying about Mum, although for some weird reason, I still had faith that she would come and collect me one day. Childhood innocence! Some of the teachers were fun and even the strict ones could be fun too, provided you played by their rules. Oh, I had little moments of rebellion and got my comeuppance. I did work though, but only to escape boredom and for myself. I also thought that if I worked, I go home! Ha! What a mug! Poor kid! Poor, poor kid! The first Christmas was the worst. Seeing that ice cold man and woman and those catty cousins be all jolly and happy and singing carols and having cuddles and inviting friends round, playing games and stuffing their faces and talking about family! It was too much! I looked at my sole Christmas card from "your loving mama and papa" written in Dad's writing and it finally sank in. I received no presents or tokens from them. Just a new maths set from my uncle and aunt. I wanted to be on my own, but I was called down to be put on show with the rest of the kids, I was told to smile, cheer up and sing, when all I wanted was to run away to school. Every time I escaped I was ordered back and more than once I heard my uncle mutter, "Anti social boy" I knew what they were really like. Sybil and Josette's friends kept alluding to the incident. Their hatred of me was now mutual." Spoilt Jemima could not believe how anyone could be treated like this. "Eventually I was allowed to stay at friends over the holidays, but only so that Aunt Madge would not be able to have me back. That suited me just fine! Then when she went to live in Australia, I was sent to live with my uncle Dick Bettany. Things got slightly better then." |
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| Author: | clair [ Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 12th feb |
This is awful - can't believe not even Steve or Len would have been in touch. What were the other children told about Mike's disappearance? Funnily enough I find this Madge far more believeable than sweet Lady Russell! Thanks Phil - more when you have time please
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 12th feb |
Max smiled. "I had to work hard on Uncle Dick's farm. All his children had left home except baby Daphne. She's four years younger than me and she was always a happy kid. There had been some rift between Uncle Dick and Mum because Mum had called Daphne "The Bettany Afterthought". Uncle Dick knew that wasn't my fault. He also knew that my sister Len had said to Daphne's sister Maeve, that Daphne was "old news" when my sister Cecily was born. That really didn't make the Maynards popular with the Bettanys. Uncle Dick told me that the only reason the triplets were bridesmaids at Peggy's wedding was to avoid a big family scene. I'm sure Uncle Dick felt frustrated at times with Mum and Aunt Madge. I opened up to him about what happened that day at the ravine and how I felt about Aunt Madge. He was very sympathetic. It was lovely, just me, Daphne, Uncle Dick and Auntie Mollie. I started to make plans for my future. Good plans. I wanted to be a farmer." "What happened to stop it?" Aunt Madge said I had to go to Dartmouth. It was "ordained" my career was settled and chosen when I was only two years old. How ridiculous is that? Even my little cousins Kevin and Kester were "one for the army, one for the navy" decided when they were born! For God's sake!" "Didn't you want to go into the navy?" "No! I like boats and sailing, but I never wanted to go into the navy and Dartmouth sealed that. It was horrible!" "What happened at Dartmouth?" "Brutal bullying. Brutal. I ad to learn to how to fight there and I did!" "Was that what you were expelled for?" "No." "What then?" Max sat grim faced. "What?" "I'll find out!" "The love that dare not speak its name." Max stared at Jemima. CPO Greaves entered. "This interview is now terminated. Wynne you're to come with me to the governor's office, now. Mr Stevens, escort Miss Travers off the premises." "What's going on? How dare you interrupt me! I shall complain!" Jemima uttered furious oaths as she left. Max was led up to the governor's office. Why, he had no idea. As CPO Greaves knocked and was bidden enter, Max was surprised to see someone he had not seen since he was a boy. "You!" Stephen Maynard was standing in the governor's office. Both brothers glared at each other. "How dare you!" began Stephen. "Mr Maynard, please! Wynne! Your brother has something to say to you." "I came to tell you to stop associating with that vile woman! I warn you Mike, if you make any scurrilous acusations, you will be facing court action and your girlfriend will be in the dock with you!" "Excuse me?" Max said with insolence. "You've always been trouble, Mike. You clearly have no concern for our family, you never have!" Max ignored his irate brother, laughing at his pomposity. Stephen was furious he was not getting his own way. "Look Mike, the family can offer you money, good money to stay away and support you. You would never be without! We can offer you a house and find you a job on your release. All you would have to do is not go ahead with this rubbish, stay away, keep quiet and take the money. Do we have a deal?" "Governor sir, isn't that bribery?" Governor Cassleton looked uncomfortable. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 13/02/10 update |
Wow, that was a turn up for the books! Though with the skeletons that have already come out of the cupboard, and presumably more to come, I'm not surprised the family is prepared to pay to keep Mike quiet. If Mike experienced 'the love that dare not speak its name' at Dartmouth, how can Stephen threaten his girlfriend now? Or am I reading something into that that isn't meant?  ETA Unless Stephen is referring to Jemima as Mike's girlfriend? |
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| Author: | shesings [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 12:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 13/02/10 update |
It sounded as if he was referring to Jemima as Mike's 'girlfriend'. Poor Mike, if someone at Dartmouth offered him love and comfort who could blame him for responding, even if he wasn't homosexual by nature. What an evil lot the Maynards are in this universe.......more please, pretty please??
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| Author: | thefrau46 [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 13/02/10 update |
Actually up until the last post I was expecting a twist in the story somehow to make it all OK in the end and so that Miss Travers could get her comeuppance. Having read the last post I'm now not so sure. Sorry but the whole RMB clan (with possible exception of Dick) sound too evil to be true! lol |
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| Author: | sealpuppy [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 5:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 13/02/10 update |
| Shuddering! How on earth have they kept this quiet for all those years? More please!
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 13/02/10 update |
Stephen Maynard had been obliged to leave the prison, without the assurances he required from his ex younger brother. He sulked all the way back to his hotel. The phone rang. "Stephen Maynard! Yes...yes....yes I've found him....yes...no...yes... but dash it all......no...no...no I didn't. I kow mother is seventy five, yes, I know father is eighty one and aunt Madge eighty seven, but they are still alive and well and sharp as a trout! All three of them. If Mike's story got out... this particular journalist girl he was with is renowned for filhy gossip and lies.... it could be a very costly court battle. I just want to protect the family from him, just like Auntie Madge. Mama needs protecting from him. Well I'm hardly here for the good of my health am I? Goodnight!" Stephen slammed the phone down. He must protect the family at all costs! Max did not sleep that night. Memories of Dartmouth and being Mike kept resurfacing. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 13/02/10 update x2 |
Personally the sooner the story gets out the better - and although I disliked Jemima intensely at the beginning I'm now liking her as even she was horrified at the abuse to which Mike was subjected. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 13/02/10 update x2 |
Jemima Travers was resigned to the fact she was going to lose the story. She was also reaping the rewards from being such a horrible person in her life. As soon as her magazine editor and colleagues found out she would have to abandon the project due to a threat from Stephen Maynard's solicitors; everybody was happy to see her fall and rub her nose in it. For once in her life she left quietly. She ignored the cheers and popping of champagne corks that started even before she had left the building. It was brought home to her just how unpleasant she was. She did not wail on her father's shoulder when she got home. In fact she handed back some money which she had borrowed. But what had happened at Dartmouth to Max, when he had been Mike? Max was writing his own account. He was going to give this to Jemima. He was due out in a few weeks and this could be earlier in that he had helped save the life of a prison visitor who had a heart attack whilst visiting his son. Max had been serving the tea and leapt into action before the warders knew what was happening. He handed over to the proper authorities and doctors as they arrived. It had made a good impression! He wasn't going to post the account. Letters would be censored and he was sure his evil brother Stephen would use his influence to intercept any correspondance from Max to anybody. This was very true and Stephen Maynard would wait in vain for any written or electronic evidence that Max was going to blow the lid on the Maynards. "Dartmouth. Nobody from my old school. Thoroughly lonely. Wished Uncle Dick had stood up to Aunt Madge and told her to go away. Senior boys very cruel. Horribly painful initiation rites. Masters weren't any better; seemed to encourage it. One kid couldn't take it and was crying. He got smacked for blubbing. Another kid told the Head and soon felt the bite of the cane for sneaking! I hate this place! I hate it! Landmine incident. A party of us boys were allowed to go down to the beach. Simon, who I was starting to be good friends with ran to catch a ball, he disappeared over a dune and suddenly there was an almighty explosion. BANG! The masters kept us boys back. We never saw Simon again. We were all put to bed and given an injection to make us sleep. We were later told an old landmine from the war was on the beach and Simon had fallen on it. Poor boy. No service or anything! None of our parents or guardians were ever told. We were ordered not to speak about it. One master said, "We are making you into little soldiers here! No grieving is allowed! Don't be a sissy!" Max closed his eyes. He was coming up to his expulsion. "New boy in our class. Seemed quite a happy chap. I showed him around the school and we were friends from the start. His name's Oliver and he has lots of older and younger brothers and sisters. He's the pig in the middle like me. I told him about my frustration at being bossed around by five older siblings and made to sit with babies as a punishment. We learnt to deal with each other's pain. I was very much in love with him. Disaster struck one day when he said he had to change schools because his family were moving to America. I got very emotional and I told him I loved him. With tears in his eyes he said he felt the same way. We kissed. We had secretly kissed and rolled around before, but we just couldn't help ourselves. Then the games master caught us. Oh the violence! The screaming! The abuse! Both of us got a flogging for being evil and immoral. If Oliver hadn't been leaving he would have been expelled too. I remember the Head telling me coldly that "Due to the illegal and immoral nature of your perverse actions we are expelling you from this school forthwith!" I found the whole thing funny. After all that had happened to me; this was just ridiculous! "Get out!" screamed the Head. He had completely lost control by then and was foaming at the mouth. He looked so funny, I couldn't stop laughing and had to be sedated. I bet he wishes he could have been gay!" Max roared with laughter at the memory. "Uncle Dick wasn't very happy. I soon discovered he could be as nasty as Aunt Madge. He hated what I had been expelled for and he turfed me out of my room in his home, the Quadrant, and sent me to live with one of his farm managers. I worked on Uncle Dick's farm until I was eighteen. I rarely saw him then and only at a distance. I got various odd jobs and hoped to get in contact with my family. Surely I would be forgiven now? prodigal son and all that stuff? Was I going to get a rude awakening. I was aware, whilst living at Aunt Madge and Uncle Dick that it had been set in stone that Con was to go to Oxford. I had heard Margot was to be a nun or medical missionary. I didn't want to speak to her anyway. She was horrid and nasty and that's all I remember of her. I would have liked to speak to Len but apparently she had taught at the Chalet School for a year before marrying a doctor and was living not too far from the family home. Con hadn't changed much. Long black hair and piercing, dark eyes. An expression of hate and contempt swept over her face in a wave of revulsion at the sight of me. "Yes?" she snapped impatiently. "I want to come home." "Why?" "Why not?" "Because you are trouble! That's why! You always were the disobedient one! Do you realise Mama could have died after what you did? I'm only seeing you out of my personal kindness because we were all forbidden to talk about you or say anything to you! It was for the best! Auntie Madge knew best! She knew best for us and best for Mama and Papa! All you had to do was obey and you didn't! You made your bed..." "I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD!" "...now lie in it!" "And Mum followed Auntie Madge's instructions blindly, in regard to her own son? And what about Dad? I know he had a temper but surely..." "Security? Please escort..." Con was speaking into a telephone. "ALLRIGHT I'M GOING!" Tears ran down Max's face at the memory. It had to be told. Jemima had to publish this. His life now consisted of odd jobs, hostels and prisons. On his release, he got a job as a landscape gardener and went to the local library to look in Who's Who to get an address for Jemima Travers or at least post his manuscript care of her rich and powerful father. Jemima nearly wept with relief to hear from the unhappy Max and receive his manuscript. The stage was now set for an almighty court battle and a blaze of publicity. |
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| Author: | JB [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten update happy valentine's day 14/2 |
This just gets better and better. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten update happy valentine's day 14/2 |
Good - seems Jemima has grown up and I really want Mike to get his revenge. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten update happy valentine's day 14/2 |
Max Wynne held on to his job as a landscape gardener and was even employed by Jemima's father. He met his probation officer regularly and lived a quiet life giving the odd interview to Jemima when required. It was good that Jemima's father was helping to keep Max's movements secret. It wouldn't do for any of the Maynards to track him down. The feeling of liberty after incarceration was very strange and took some getting used to. In some ways it was like leaving your house for the first time after a long illness or having a sunny day after weeks of wind and rain. Months later, Stephen Maynard walked down the King's Road, Chelsea one day and nearly had an apoplexy when he saw advertised in a book shop window a book called "Unforgiven and Forgotten". In a rage, Stephen stormed in and demanded the book be taken off the shelves. Some customers laughed at him, others became aggressive and threw him out. He stamped all the way to Bedford Row, Holborn, where his solicitors were based and demanded action. How dare Mike tell his story? He was in the wrong and he knew it! It shouldn't be allowed! A convicted criminal allowed to tell his life story? It was a disgrace! What was the country coming to? The put upon solicitor sighed and said the book was to be read so that any specifically libellous statements could be challenged. Messrs Slipcock and Beadpole happily took on the case. They hadn't had a juicy libel action for all of two weeks! Upon further investigation, they were unable to find anything specifically libellous. The book very much focussed on the feelings of Max Wynne and the facts of how he was excluded from his family life. He did not specify anything of a slanderous nature against his relatives, just that in his opinion, they had treated him with unforgiveable cruelty. It was most frustrating! It was as if a master barrister had already read the book and advised Wynne what to say. This was in fact the case. Mr Travers had seen fit to obtain the services of his legal eagles Messrs Softe and Bedding who had spoken in detail to Max and Jemima... Stephen Maynard did not rest there. If there was no libel over inaccuracies, then what about the damage to the reputations of Mama and Auntie Madge? Surely it could be proven that this was a deliberate attempt to smear these famous and much loved people? Messrs Slipcock and Beadpole felt they were going to lose this one. Messrs Softe and Bedding were a tough act to confront in court. How could they prove Max was doing this out of malice? It was felt the answer was to focus upon Jemima Travers and to bring up Max's reputation as a petty criminal. Meanwhile, Stephen Maynard had called a family meeting of his siblings after their elderly parents had gone to bed. This was a rare occasion, all of them gathered under one roof, but Stephen had stressed the utmost urgency. Stephen surveyed the Maynard clan. What had become of Len? She was all lovesick now and doted on her husband. Margot was far away serving the Lord. Of the triplets, only Con backed Steve to the hilt. Charles agreed with Steve, but not with such vehemence. He just wanted to forget Mike. What was unsettling to Stephen was the attitude of the younger ones. Felix, Felicity, Cecily, Philippa and Geoffrey never really knew Mike. He was just a distant memory to Felix and Felicity. They were five when they last saw him. To the other three, Mike did not exist. They had to be told how bad Mike was! They had to obey! Stephen explained everything. How Auntie Madge had taken control of the family; how Mama was as frail as she was when she was a baby, how she must never be worried or upset, that was why Mike was never allowed to return. He would be a constant threat to his mother's life. Stephen was flustered to see his five younger siblings were not convinced by his arguments. Con butted in and elaborated the points Steve had made. She too saw that the five youngest resented being spoken to in this manner and wanted to make up their own minds. Con and Steve decided to call cousin Daphne, who was about the age of "the kids" and had known Mike, especially at the time he was expelled from Dartmouth. Yes! That was it! Someone of that generation's age, who could convince them that Mike was all bad. They reckoned without Daphne's feelings of being christened an "afterthought" and "old news". she also had feelings of her own for Mike. Her father had never fully explained why Mike had been thrown out of the quadrant. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Oh dear, it all seems to be falling apart! |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Glad Stephen's machinations appear to be having no effect. Very proud of the younger Maynards for wanting to make up their own minds! More soon, please. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Oh dear - how sad that they cannot harm Mike - good for him! 
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| Author: | JB [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Good for the younger ones. Looking forward to seeing this go to court. |
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| Author: | shesings [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Go to it, Daphne! Tell the supercilious bampots where to get off! |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
shesings wrote: Go to it, Daphne! Tell the supercilious bampots where to get off! Oh yessssssss! I agree with shesings. The Downfall of the Maynards/Bettanys/ Russells!?!?!?!? |
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| Author: | sealpuppy [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Crumbs! This is gripping in a scary kind of way. Re the land mine: this is reminiscent of a terrible incident on a beach near Swanage, in the 1950s, I think. Small prep school boys playing on a beach discovered a landmine and several? were killed.
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| Author: | Phil [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
sealpuppy wrote: Crumbs! This is gripping in a scary kind of way. Re the land mine: this is reminiscent of a terrible incident on a beach near Swanage, in the 1950s, I think. Small prep school boys playing on a beach discovered a landmine and several? were killed. Ah yes, I was thinking about something I read in a newspaper just before Princess Diana died, about landmines. There was an interview with a Tory MP, I think it was Nicholas Soames or Robert Key or someone and they described how they were present at this incident. It certainly rings a bell and was my inspiration for that part of the story. Of course I may have got my facts wrong or twisted. |
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| Author: | sealpuppy [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Aha, Robert Key, that's who it was; I couldn't remember his name. It made a great impression on me, living just along the coast in Poole, and because I was much the same age as the kids concerned. Never knowingly kicked anything suspicious on the beach since!
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Daphne Bettany was now happily married and living in the Quadrant with her husband and two children. Father and mother had passed away some years ago and none of her elder brothers and sisters were keen to take over the running of the place. They were happy to see her now and again, but Daphne had always felt very much an "only" child. Her son Karl brought her the news that her cousin Stephen was on the phone. Inwardly, Daphne rolled her eyes. Probably another request or demand veiled as a request to put him up for the night whilst he attended a conference in the area. She was just wondering how to wriggle out of her overbearing cousin's conversation when she was shocked to hear what Stephen had to say. "You remember my brother Mike, well he's calling himself Max Wynne now. He has released a biography of himself. Why he isolated himself from the family. He says it's all Auntie Madge's fault. It's all lies. COmplete lies. Anyway the kids - Daphne felt irritated when Stephen referred to his younger siblings as the kids - they are not convinced by what Con and I were telling them about how wicked Mike was. Now we are taking Mike to court, but could you talk to the kids about how bad Mike was? You knew him until he was eighteen. Will you help?" Staggered at the audacity of her arrogant cousin, he didn't even say please! Daphne took in a deep breath. "Steve I only knew Mike when I was a toddler. I remember someone who to all intents and purposes loved me and looked after me as I was pretty much an only child. Then when Dad threw him out of the house, I only saw him from a distance, like at the other end of a field or something. I really cannot help you!" "Yes but Uncle Dick must have said something about him, why he was expelled from Dartmouth..." "Dad never really spoke about Mike. I did ask sometimes, but he always just closed up and the conversation was over when he did that!" "But..." "There's really nothing to say; except I shall be sending Geoff and Philippa's birthday presents tomorrow in order to catch the airmail. Love to everyone, Bye!" Daphne paused after she put the phone down. She reflected how she had happy memories of Mike. She sped up to the great rambling attics of the house to see out Dick Bettany's diaries. She had not looked at them and in a fit of grief after his death, she had consigned all of her late father's stuff to the attics never to be seen again. She was curious about cousin Mike. The Maynard family arrived in force a week later. They were staying at Plas Gwyn which was still in the family. Len had not come, she had twittered about leaving Reg and decided not to come. Con was growing steadily more impatient with Len as that lady had deteriorated into a "sweet little wife" how could she? Thought Con. Stephen had arranged a secret meeting with Max's lawyers to get Max to withdraw the book or at least say it was fiction. Stephen was disappointed. In the meantime, Geoffrey and Philippa Maynard arranged to meet the brother they never knew. "Nervous?" asked Geoff. Philippa nodded and took a deep breath. "Me too!" Geoffrey gulped his tea in the humid cafe where they had arranged to meet Max. Both twins were concerned that Max may get unpleasant. After all they had only heard bad things about him and he had done time inside! A tall man entered, with shaven head and goatee beard. He wore a long duffel coat. A slight frown permanently creased his face. His bone structure was unmistakeable Maynard! Geoff got up. "M...M....Mi..Mi..Mister Wynne?" Mike stared at the red headed man for a few seconds. He then spotted the red headed lady staring worriedly at him. After all these years of hurt. These were the innocent ones. They had not wronged Max. They did not make him suffer. Max became Mike again and he wept as he hugged Geoffrey. Philippa ran in tears to join them. The cafe patrons and staff stared in disbelief. "I'm sorry Mike, I am so sorry. Please... I am sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry." Geoffrey sobbed onto his long lost brother's chest. "Come on, come and sit down." "I know we must be strangers to you Mike, but I don't want us to be." sobbed Philippa. "No. No. I know. You are not to blame. Not to blame." Tea soon soothed distressed nerves. "The book...I mean...every word..I don't want it to be real...but..." Geoffrey enquired cautiously. He had to ask. "Every word of it is true." "But Auntie Madge, she was so cruel. I knew she was harsh..." Philippa began. "I always felt she was stuck up and intolerant." Geoff finished. "I want to know about Mum and Dad. While you were growing up, did they ever think of me?" A long pause. How were they to answer Mike's question? "Well, we don't know what happened immediately after that stuff about the ravine..." "But by the time we were seven, I think you got expelled from Dartmouth, that's the earliest time I remember your name being mentioned. Mum and Dad rowed with Uncle Jem and Auntie Madge about you coming back home. It was more Auntie Madge, but they both seemed to have a hold over Mum and Dad. They saw I could hear them shouting and Auntie Madge really went for me telling me to go to my room and stay there. Mum and Dad wanted you back but Uncle Jem and Auntie Madge had something to stop them from getting you back. I am not sure. Mike was intrigued. What could Auntie Madge know that would stop parents finding their own child? |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 20/02/2010 UPDATE :) |
'Auntie Madge' is going to deserve everything that's coming to her. Really pleased Mike got to meet Geoff and Philippa Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | JB [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 20/02/2010 UPDATE :) |
Mike isn't the only one who's intrigued. Thanks for the update, Phil. |
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| Author: | Kyrrie [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 20/02/2010 UPDATE :) |
JB wrote: Mike isn't the only one who's intrigued. Thanks for the update, Phil. Add me to the intrigued list. Curioser still. Thanks Phil. |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/2 update X2 |
Phil wrote: Mike was intrigued. What could Auntie Madge know that would stop parents finding their own child? What indeed? Phil, this is absolutely flippin' brilliant. How DO you do it?????? 
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:53 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 20/02/2010 UPDATE :) |
I am also intrigued. What on earth couild Madge and Jem have on Jack and Joey to prevent them bringing their own child home? |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 20/02/2010 UPDATE :) |
Joining the people who are wondering why Madge and Jem could stop Joey and Jack having Mike back? Thank you this is really good. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 20/02/2010 UPDATE :) |
Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 20/02/2010 UPDATE :) |
Mike nearly fainted. He was finally getting the reasons why he was exiled, forgotten and unforgiven. He couldn't help crying. His saviours were to be the brother and sister whom he had last seen as sleeping babies before he went after that wretched bird's nest. "Mama, mama, Papa..." he whimpered as if a baby himself. Philippa held on to him tight. "We...er we don't know for sure, but something went wrong at the San and both Mum and Dad had mismanaged their money. We don't know how but they did. So Auntie Madge took over. Then because Auntie Madge and Uncle Jem had spent so much getting Mum and Dad out of trouble, they had lost nearly all their money." "but they didn't tell Mum and Dad that." interjected Geoff. "No, they just made Mum and Dad feel that they had to repay every penny and Dad had to keep quiet about his mistake at the San." Philippa finished. "Hang on, how do you know all this and someone like Steve doesn't?" "Benefits of being the youngest. We were meant to be seen and not heard, but nobody said anything about us not hearing! Oh it's rude to eavesdrop, but so many quarrels and rows going on it was difficult not to hear. Anyway as the family babies, they all thought we couldn't understand." "Steve and Charles always spent their holidays with friends; since they were ten or eleven, this was the case until they left school. They never came home for eight or nine years. Uncle Jem called it character building. It was strange how whenever the holidays came round, Auntie Madge had already arranged what the boys were doing for Christmas, Easter or Summer. The triplets had as good as left and Stephen lapped up anything Auntie Madge told him. " Mike gasped. |
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| Author: | JB [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:16 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 21st Feb 2010 |
Quote: "Benefits of being the youngest. We were meant to be seen and not heard, buut nobody said anyhting about us not hearing! Love this. Thanks, Phiil. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 21st Feb 2010 |
So Steve and Charles were exiled as well and probably blamed Mike for it. It explains some thing of his attitude to Mike. |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 21st Feb 2010 |
 Oh my goodness, Phil, this is soooooooooo brilliant!
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| Author: | Phil [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 21st Feb 2010 |
"I simply don't understand how they managed to keep this up for so long. Aunt Madge and Uncle Jem I mean." Philippa and Geoff shrugged. "We are not sure ourselves. I think Uncle Jem sent Dad loads of cases at the San and was supervising his work all the time. I spent some time at the San, being trained up for medicine, but my heart isn't in it!" Geoff smiled at his pun and Philippa rolled her eyes and gave him a playful swipe on the back of his head. Mike giggled. "So what are you now?" "Don't know. Quite happy doing academic stuff. Another degree here, a course there." Mike smiled. "But surely Mum..." "Kept really busy at the Chalet School, even after my time there. Auntie Madge encouraged her to take a more active role. She even overshadowed Len when she came back to teach. Len and Mum had an almighty row about it. Len appealed to Auntie Madge who promptly backed up Mum and told Len she was a disobedient, naughty girl. Len felt rejected and just detached herself. She just concentrates on Reg and nothing but Reg now." "Did Mama NEVER stand up to Aunt Madge?" Mike was incredulous. "There were times. Horrible rows. Mama was broken after Auntie Madge finished with her. Mama and Papa were brought up in the generation that did as you were told and to question orders was tantamount to heresy! Especially if it was your elder relatives." "Auntie Madge and Uncle Jem expected total obedience from Mama and Papa. Us, they just regarded as babies. Small fry. I hate that expression." "Can't I ever return home?" Mike practically begged. Another long pause. "We don't think Mama and Papa have totally given up hope; but they are so crushed right now." "It might be easier now because Uncle Jem passed away a few years ago, but Auntie Madge has seen fit to move into what was Auntie Stacie's wing." "Oh good grief!" Mike looked at the twins who both had expressions of horror on their faces. "What?" "What?" Mike looked behind him. Staring in amazement at him were Cecily, Felix and Felicity. It was quite a reunion. "Please...please don't tell...don't tell Steve and Con..." Philippa quivered. Felix, Felicity and Cecily looked as if they had seen a ghost. To all intents and purposes, they had. "You..." Felix breathed. "I don't believe it..I just don't believe it." from Felicity. "Mike?????" Cecily stared with astonishment. "Do you realise what a terrible shock.." "A quick fifteen minutes for a cup of coffee you said..." Felicity exclaimed. Geoff looked at his watch. it had been half an hour. "Was this arranged?" asked Cecily. Geoff and Phil nodded. "You didn't think we would like to see Mike as well?" Felix was very hurt. He and Felicity had the vaguest memories of Mike, but they were still memories and were like treasured gold dust! "It's my fault, I didn't think..." began Geoff. "Steve and Con will have a fit." worried Philippa. "Don't blame them, please, I am sorry to have caused such problems I'll just disappear." Mike was embarrassed and thought to disappear for good. However, even after all these years, his relatives could read one of their own like a book. Felicity grabbed him in a frenzy. "No! NO! We've got you now, you're ours! We want you! We need you! Stay! Don't go! Don't disappear! Please!" Mike was astonished and could see in his sister's eyes that she meant it. "I have no career, no qualifications, nothing except a prison record. How will I survive? Steve and Con do not want me, I don't know about Charles. Len doesn't seem to bother with the family from what I hear and Mama and Papa are under Aunt Madge's thumb. What CAN be done?" "Unite. We can be together at last." Philippa said these words so quietly, but the power behind them was a bond that would repair this fractured, unhappy family. For Mike, he thought he must have died and gone to Heaven. Could he be remembered? Forgiven? Loved even???? It was tempting. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 22nd Feb update |
(((((Mike))))) So pleased the others want to know Mike just as much. Wonder why Steve is so against Mike? Has he taken on Jem's mantle? Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 22nd Feb update |
Quote: "Unite. We can be together at last." That is so lovely, I am pleased the younger ones want Mike. Hope they can repair some of the damage. |
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| Author: | ammonite [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 22nd Feb update |
I'm glad that Mike can see the whole family aren't against him. I'm also starting to feel sorry for Joey and Jack. |
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| Author: | JB [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 22nd Feb update |
I liked Felicity there. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 22nd Feb update |
Pleased to see that they're bonding together. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 22nd Feb update |
The preliminaries of the court case against Mike had begun. The prosecution contended that the book was a distortion of facts with the wicked intention of causing distress to his former family and to gain money for himself. Jemima Travers had been called to the witness box and all her unpleasant past behaviour to anybody who knew her was gleefully raised for all to see and condemn. Jemima had been expecting this and her own counsel pointed out that Jemima was not on trial, her past behaviour was irrelevant and since meeting Mike, she had turned over a new leaf. Indeed, she had had the opportunity to sensationalise Mike's story into something worse, but she chose not to. Stephen Maynard then took the stand. He was most elaborate on the effect of the ravine incident. The defence looked at him with incredulity. "Are you seriously telling me Mr Maynard, that because of a typical silly mistake that your brother was exiled from his family for nearly forty years? Members of the jury, I put it to you that what was meted out to my client was nothing short of child cruelty and neglect!" "He was never neglected, he had a loving Aunt who took him in..." Mike nearly spat in disgust at that last comment. "An Uncle whom he betrayed by getting expelled from Dartmouth for sordid reasons..." "Sounds to me like your late Uncle was prejudiced!" "It was all for the best, he was always disobedient..." "You only knew him for seven years, then he was exiled! How can you determine what sort of character he would be?" Stephen fell silent at the question. "Please answer the question Mr Maynard, how can you determine what sort of a person a seven year old boy is going to be?" Stephen couldn't answer. "You don't know Mr Maynard. Members of the jury, I find it difficult to believe that anybody could expect total obedience from children aged from birth to seven years old. Not forgetting the defendant was slap bang in the middle of a large family. he was either going to be treated as a baby or as someone who was embarrassing to the older siblings, because he was growing up. It is also of note that he rarely saw his parents; his father being at work all the time and his mother either writing her novels or being involved in the school to which she was the first student. He lacked male company as a child...All this is mentioned in the book. It is the case of the defence that Mike Maynard has a right to tell his story and not be gagged by his family." Stephen tried to interject. "But it will upset..." "Whom? Whom will it really upset Mr Maynard? A family that cruelly turned its back on one of their own? For a very flimsy reason I might add! Former students and families of the Chalet School? Compare that to the population of the UK if not the world, then maybe that is a price worth paying. The truth will out!" Stephen was left feeling humiliated. The court went into recess. Stephen was aware that only Con was by his side. Daphne Bettany arrived. The Maynards were amazed. Mike was astonished to see her suddenly turn up. He had not seen her for years. She saw Stephen and Con first and greeted them warmly. "Daphne! You've come, you've got some evidence?" Stephen was so relieved. "Oh yes! I've got evidence all right!" Daphne smiled in a peculiar way. She held on to her late father's diaries. This wouldn't be the evidence Stephen Maynard would be expecting. Then Daphne saw Mike. Stephen and Con nearly had an apoplexy as Daphne made her way to him, kissed and embraced him. "Don't worry." she whispered. "It will all be fine." Court resumed and Daphne took the stand. |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Please please please please please Phil, you CANNOT leave it like that, this is absolutely brilliant. What evidence does Daphne have? Thank you. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Fantastic - glad to see Stephen humiliated and love Daphne greeting Mike. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | JB [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
That was so good. Looking forward to what Daphne has found. |
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| Author: | Mona [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Looking forward to hearing Daphne's evidence. This is wonderful Phil, thanks! |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Lesley wrote: Fantastic - glad to see Stephen humiliated. Exactly! |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Phil please come back soon. Loved the court scene. Pleased Jemina is growing up as well. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Just caught up with the last few posts. This is wonderful and so believable. But you have to come back soon and tell us what Daphne knows! Please?
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| Author: | shesings [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
better and better
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| Author: | Kyrrie [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Excellent! Can't wait to see what Daphne has found. Thank you for the update (would it be really rude to beg and plead for the next one?  ).
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 3:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Kacca wrote: (would it be really rude to beg and plead for the next one? ).Not at all! We all want to know. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 |
Judge Hubert Wheelberry was most put out. He understood Ms Daphne Bettany would be appearing in evidence for the Crown, now she wished to present evidence for the defence! Various precedents and letters of the law were looked up and Daphne was allowed to proceed. Con started to look afraid and so did Stephen. For the first time in decades both of them looked as if they were scared little children who were quite out of their depth. In fact, they looked just as they did forty years ago when Joey had collapsed. Con and Steve now felt estranged from their siblings. Charles never really cared since Margot left. He missed his sister but did not begrudge her a religious life. Len was besotted with Reg and now the small fry were moving away. All Con and Stephen had left were each other. How could this have happened? It was a sad irony that their parents home was Freuedesheim or "Happy Home". In reality it had been anything but. Mike and Margot were blamed for their tempers, disobedience and naughtiness and then Mike had been exiled. None of the Maynards had had children, a legacy perhaps of their own large, extended and adopted family. "I had to do as I was told! I had to! I had to!" Stephen gave a pleading look at his sister. Con nodded, reluctantly. Daphne took the stand. "Ms Bettany, you were appearing for the Crown, would you please tell the court why that is no longer the case." "Upon reading my late father's diaries, I found a number of passages about how my Aunt Madge had dealt with cousin Mike and how unjust this was." "Would you please read them?" "Madge very harsh with Mike. No birthday presents, just vague promises of possibly seeing his mother again. It's quite clear she hates the boy, so why not send him here?" "Very worried as to how obsessed Madge is with Joey. She keeps thinking Joey is about to die on the spot. Not healthy. She keeps taking it out on Mike. At least she sent him here." "Mike's no trouble at all, just an ordinary boy in need of some attention. It's just him and Daphne at the moment and Mollie and I are pleased he is looking after her. Daphne is always following him around." "I honestly don't know WHAT Madge is thinking about with Joey's health. When our parents died she was never this hysterical and she was twelve then. She seems to be making up for lost time. Endured a rant on the telephone about keeping trouble (Mike it seems) away from her." "Madge ordered me to send Mike to Dartmouth. I refused vigorously, then Madge became aggressive and said I would have to pay for Mike; she knows money's tight. Well, if she is willing to pay, Mike needn't stay in the navy and Jackie enjoyed it there." "Mike expelled for having an inappropriate relationship with another boy! Oh my God! I wish it had been for theft or smoking or fighting, but that! It's just..." Daphne looked up. "My Father goes into some detail about his prejudices here your honour." "Turfed Mike out immediately. He is no nephew of mine. Daphne misses him, but she will forget him soon. She is only young." Daphne finished, tears in her eyes. Silence fell. "Ms Bettany, thank you." Daphne nodded and sobbed, "I never forgot you Mike. Daddy said I wasn't to have any contact with you. Then when I had a chance to run and meet you, you had already gone!" "Call Mary Constance Maynard" Con took the stand. "Miss Maynard, when your brother came to meet you in Oxford, why did you not feel you had a responsibility to help him back into the family? It was seven years since you had seen him!" Con flushed. She really had no excuse. She was ashamed to say she never really liked Mike, often regarding him as a nuisance at best. It seemed so inhuman now that she would have to say that in court. The counsel for the defence showed no mercy to her and she left the stand in tears begging Mike for forgiveness. She was reminded Mike had come especially to her in the trust that some element of kinship might see him forgiven. It did not take the judge long to throw out the case against Mike. "This man has endured a lifetime of exclusion from his family well into the realms of child neglect. As a result he has found himself detained at Her Majesty's pleasure on several occasions for petty offences, he has no qualifications or skills and all because of a mistake he made when seven years old. This should never have happened and he is well entitled to some compensation. I can only hope that God has mercy for all his relatives, even those that are of late getting to know their long lost brother. They could have helped him years ago had they the willpower." Mike walked from the Crown Court a free man and several thousand pounds richer. Of his future he had yet to decide. Felix, Felicity, Cecily, Philippa and Geoffrey took him to a pub. They passed a broken Stephen and Con on the way. "What about them?" asked Cecily, a touch of ice in her voice. Mike stared for a long time at them. All the bitterness and anger, the hate and betrayal. "I am finding my family again, I can't exclude you even if you can for me." Mike hugged his brother and sister and all the rancour of the years fell away. Jemima organised the drinks at the bar. Mike and family sat by the pub fire and Mike noticed a man approach him. "Oliver..." he breathed. |
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| Author: | sealpuppy [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 X2 |
Wow! That's all I can think of to say! Wow!More please, and very soon! |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 X2 |
Pleased Mike won his case - and he was far more forgiving than Con or Steve had a right to expect. Are we ever to discover the reason for Madge's treatment of him? Now, who is this Oliver? Only one that springs to mind is the one with who he had that 'inappropriate relationship'... Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 X2 |
Would it be spreeing if I did three updates in a day? I'll just have some dinner to recharge the old brain cells.
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| Author: | JB [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 X2 |
Absolutely not! I've loved both updates and I want to know what happens next! Is it possible to spree in your own drabble?
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 X2 |
Its only spreeing if there are no posts between and you have posts asking for more. So Please please posy again and tell us who has turned up at pub. I am hoping Mike can meet Jo and Jack again, but have no sympathy for Madge in this world. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 X2 |
Two men who shared an adolescent relationship for which they were both brutally punished were once more face to face. Silence fell amongst the Maynards and Jemima. "It is you. I read the book and saw this case reported in the papers." "Oliver, what happened to you?" "Mum and Dad weren't too impressed but they forgave me. Said it was just a teenage boy phase. I got teased by the family though. That was harsh. I read how you were treated. I'm sorry." Mike nodded. He sipped his pint and stared into Oliver's round blue eyes. "I...thanks for not revealing my real name in the book. I told my wife it was me. She was quite relieved I had had a relationship when I was younger. She always says how uptight I am." "Your wife?" Even though Mike 's orientation was definitely straight now, he harboured some love for his old friend. He was glad Oliver was happy. "Wife and two boys. One is named Mike. I don't have to tell you why." Both men smiled and regaled the assembled company of tales of the brutality of Dartmouth. On the periphery of the group were the shamed Stephen and Con; hearing first hand accounts of what the boys suffered, tore their fragile consciences apart. Like their relatives, they wept. "Oliver, I would like to stay in touch. Would that be a probl.." "With the wife? No, Carolyn would love to meet you. Here's my card." Mike took the card and was interested to see Oliver was an architect. Mike smiled. "I remember you saying you wanted to build things. You loved meccano." "I've still got every piece, and the boys' lego!" As Oliver sat and drank with his old soulmate and family, wounds were being healed, but for Stephen and Con their shame at their behaviour worsened. How cold they have done this? How could they ever make it up to Mike?" That night Mike was taken back to his first home, Plas Gwyn. A home he didn't remember. He was reborn. He was to be reunited with his parents as the family flew out to Switzerland. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 3rd update! Wow! |
Pleased Oliver, at least, had a normal loving family. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 3rd update! Wow! |
Pleased to see that they met each other again. Thankyou. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 3rd update! Wow! |
Pleased the meetings went so well. Looking forward to Mike in Switzerland Thanks for the three posts. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 3rd update! Wow! |
Thanks for the updates. Glad everything is working out so well for Mike. I also would love to know what motivated Madge to be so cruel. |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 3rd update! Wow! |
Thanks Phil, when I first started to read this I wondered if Joey had been told Mike had died and that's why everyone was so upset he had resurfaced, but this was much worse. Madge and Jem were wrong but Joey and Jack should have stood up to them for their children's sake. Poor Mike! Glad the younger ones had more sense and came looking |
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| Author: | clair [ Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 3rd update! Wow! |
Thanks Phil, this is fascinating - do we get to see Mike with Jo and Jack? Would love to see a showdown with them, Madge and Jem as well! |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 3rd update! Wow! |
Just caught back up with this,it's absoulutely brilliant. Thank you Phil. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 27/2/10 3rd update! Wow! |
Mike stared at his belongings all packed up and ready for the airport. He was thinking how he had never even been in an aeroplane before. Now he would be flying, actually flying to Switzerland. "Felicity." "Yes?" Felicity gazed at her recovered brother with a fondness that reassured Mike. "Flying. I've never flown before. What's it like?" Felicity smiled. "Nothing to worry about. A bit noisy, you feel the lift of the plane as you become airborne and a little bump as you descend. It's quite safe." Mike looked doubtful. Panic started to set in. Auntie Madge was still there in Switzerland. What if his own parents rejected him? Altenatively if they were desperate for him to return, what if something went wrong with the plane and they crashed? He wrote a letter to Oliver expressing his fears. Oliver and his charming wife Carolyn vowed to help Mike if things did not work out. Mike was gratified. He could also see that his younger siblings desperately wanted him and would find a way of supporting him if he were rejected by the senior members of the family. As he sat in the plane, Felix and Felicity on either side of him, he clenched and unclenched his fists. He wished Jemima and Oliver were with him. Felicity smiled and placed a slender hand over his large fist. "Don't worry Mike! It will be OK!" Mike nodded and gasped as the plane sped along the run way and was airborne with a slight bump. "Look at that view! That should take your mind off things." Felix smiled and Mike looked down on the UK. "Holy Smoke! It's so small..." Mike had started to relax and enjoy air travel. He managed to crack a few jokes with Cecily, then realised that time and he had flown by. The descent to Switzerland was beng made. Mike started to clam up. Felicity hugged him and kept holding on to him. Mike needed the sibling comfort. Cecily and Philippa joined him. Felix and Geoffrey kept shooting looks of encouragement. Mike shuddered when Stephen and Con left to fetch the car. Home was suddenly getting nearer and nearer. Mike wasn't sure he wanted to be there. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
((((Mike)))) Not surprising, after the life he's had, that he finds it difficult to believe things are going to go well for him. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
((((((((((MIke))))))))))) I really do hope that he can be reconciled with Jack and Joey at least. And get some sort of explanation of why it all happened. |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
Poor Mike. I think Joey and Jack should have see Mike in his home not made him go back to Switzerland to see them |
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| Author: | JB [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
((Mike)). Looking forward to seeing him meet Madge again .... |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
((((((Mike))))), Hoping all goes well. Pleased the youngest sibbings at least are supportive. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
Hope that it all goes well. |
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| Author: | sealpuppy [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 2:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
Goodness, this is so addictive - and yet so unsettling. I can't get my head round the idea of wet and wimpy Jo and Jack! Dying to know what will happen next. |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
Looking forward to the next bit, would be good to see the Maynard children joining forces to sort Madge and Jem out and tell their own parents what they feel. Thank you Phil |
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| Author: | Phil [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 28/02/2010 update |
Little by little as they neared Interlaken, Mike began to feel more and more like a frightened child. He tried to force a grin at Felicity's jokes. These then turned to nods, then to stony expressions and silence. All the while Felicity shot worried looks at her siblings and soon all were looking at Mike. For his part Mike tried to focus on similar unpleasant journeys he had had to make. he remembered his first time in a prison van being driven through the terrifying Victorian gates. He was manacled and cuffed then and people were looking down on him. He was accompanied by all human low life and he had no idea what would happen to him in prison. His other rides in the prison vans were more familiar as he knew what to expect. For the ride home, he had caring relatives around him, but this was his worst terror ever; His parents and the power behind the throne, his Aunt Madge. It was worse than Dartmouth, worse than expulsion, worse than rejection by the family, worse than court and worse than prison. He could be rejected all over again. The car had to stop whilst a wheel was changed. In a trance, Mike got out of the car. "Breathe deeply, slowly in and then out." Cecily advised her zombie like brother. "What's happening to him?" Cecily sobbed in desperation. Mike saw a path. Suddenly tearing free, he bolted like a hare, his family screaming after him to come back. He heard the screams, "Mike! Mike! Mike! MIKE! MIKE! MIKE!" The years tore away from him and the sound of the screams echoed in his head. "MIKE! MIKE! MIKE!" "MIKE!" They found him staring into a ravine. Stephen and Con knew exactly what that ravine was. He was back where it had all started. "I remember this place. Something terrible happened here. I'm so sorry. So very sorry!" Mike could barely whisper. He swung round to Steve. "I must stop him going down for that bird's nest! I must stop him, I must!" For the first time in his life Stephen saw the true suffering of his brother. Stephen was terrified. He knew not what to do. "It's allright Mike it is over. Nobody was hurt and Mama is safe and well." "Mama?" Mike looked at Con, who with her black hair appeared most like Joey. Con was about to tell Mike of this, but decided to get him to calm down. "Mama is safe and well, so are you and so is the family. You're safe now Mike, safe, safe, safe! Sh Sh Sh!" Mike was led back to the car. He was still in a trance like state as the car swept through the gates of Freuedesheim. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated ist march 2010 |
Oh dear, not a good start! |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated ist march 2010 |
Maybe this is what he needs,to go to the place where it all started? think Con was very sensitive there reassuring him like that. Thank you Phil. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated ist march 2010 |
((((Mike)))) At least Con and Steve can see just how much he was affected and have helped him. |
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| Author: | jmc [ Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated ist march 2010 |
Just read through all of this. Brilliant but feel so sorry for Mike. Hope Madge gets what coming to her. Maybe an accidental fall down that ravine. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated ist march 2010 |
Mike's state of mind should bring the doctor out in Jack so it may be for the best. Interesting that Aunt Mage can still cause a feeling of fear. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 12:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated ist march 2010 |
Stephen took one look at Mike's face in his mirror and suddenly swung the car around, speeding out of Freuedesheim as he did. "Steve, what are you doing?" "What do you think you're playing at?" "Hey!" "What's going on Steve?" Stephen only replied with one word. "Len." "Len?" Con queried. Why on earth would Steve bring wet blanket Len into this? Surely she would be no help at all and Len would be twittering all over 'Reggie'. "I know what you're thinking Con, but we can't leave Len out of this, and Mike's in no state to return home. He needs some time to adjust." "Surely Len is so..." "I know she's obsessed with Reg, but this might reawaken the old Len in her!" The drive to Len's was short and Mike started to come out of his trance. A bewildered Len wandered out of her home about to ask if she had forgotten someone's birthday or something. She got a shock at the vision that stepped from the vehicle and stared back at her. In the eyes of both Len and Mike, there was a connection. Len's already soft features seemed to soften further, a sense of longing in her was brought to the surface. Mike's eyes were a mixture of relief and hope with a little uncertainty. "Len" he breathed "You were the only one who spoke to me..." "I know." she whispered. "Why did you never come for me?" "I'm very sorry Mike." "I am so sorry." Len took her brother inside the house, the rest of the family following. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 6:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update |
Yes, wake the old Len - anything's better than the wet hen she is now!
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update |
I'm pleased that he got such a good reception from her. Thankyou! |
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| Author: | ammonite [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update |
Well done Steve for finally getting something right! |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update |
well done Steve and Len. Hope it helps Mike. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update |
Well done Steve and Len. Hope she can give Mike the support he needs right now. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update |
There were no children or grand children in Len's house. Perhaps she had had enough of looking after babies. Perhaps Len and Reg could not or would not have children. Mike had always associated his older sister with being the leader of the pack of children. To see her house devoid of anything child like was curious, to say the least. "This is the best surprise visit I have ever had. I am so proud!" Len's eyes welled with tears as she said this. She saw Mike wanted an explanation. "After Mama collapsed, Auntie Madge was taking charge of everything. Overnight she became a dragon and a despot. She arranged for you to be sent away without consulting Mama or Papa. Both she and Uncle Jem kept them busy. She confined Mama to bed, even using force on her. Mama tried to get up and see you, but by the time she escaped from her room, your room was all packed up, stripped and emptied. You were in England." Mike's stomach turned. Something it was quite used to by now. "I remember her scolding Mama that even as an adult Mama couldn't look after herself, Papa was no help and she and Uncle Jem would have to take over. Auntie Madge claimed she did it out of sisterly love for Mama and she was so worried of Mama dying that she had to take over everything." "Why couldn't Mama or Papa...?" "Why couldn't they just escape?" "They controlled all the money and took all the documents. It was all so quick." "We were always farmed off to friends or brevet aunts or Mary Lou who took strict instructions from Auntie Madge alone. By the time three years had passed and Auntie Madge had not allowed you to return we started to give up hope." Mike looked upon his relatives, tears of mixed emotions flowed like waterfalls. A wave of despair hit him. "When I got to Oxford, I tried to look for you, but Uncle Dick was told not to allow me to see you. After Oxford and when you were older I tried to track you down, but you didn't want to be found. The last I heard was that you were living on the streets of Manchester." Mike grimaced. A year on the streets of Manchester! He agreed he hadn't wanted to be found then. "We thought things might be easier when Auntie Madge and Uncle Jem were in Australia, but Uncle Dick was looking after things too well." Mike was hurt. He had thought Uncle Dick was better than that! "Then when Auntie Madge got back from Australia, she was even worse. She was nastier than before." "What happened in her life to make her like this?" Mike wondered out aloud. "Uncle Jem was unfaithful to her and all her children deserted her as soon as possible. That is the only defence we can offer for Auntie Madge." |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
Well that is a turn up for the books as they say! Pleased len had tried to find him and could give some explanations of why things happened. Hope the family can control Madge now. |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
Poor Mike and well done Len for trying, though can't understand Con's reaction when Mike saw her unless she was brainwashed or blamed Mike for the changes in the home. I don't think Madge has a chance with all the kids united against her |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
Madge deserved all that happened - and deserves all that is going to happen to her. Evil woman. |
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| Author: | Jennie [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
Perhaps we can push Madge over the cliff. Hopeful smiley? |
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| Author: | clair [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 2:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
At least Len tried to find him in spite of the rest of the family - lovely to see the instant rappoirt for her and Mike. Hope that they can murder Madge together - thinking Murder on the Orient Express now! |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 3:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
The real revenge will be seeing all of the Maynard children united against her 
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 3:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
Even if Jem was unfaithful to her, there is no excuse for Madge's behaviour. I'm not normally vindictive, but I really hope she gets what she deserves. If anyone deserves to be 'Unforgiven and Forgotten' it is she! |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
Pleased that at least Mike has some answers now. Thankyou. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 8:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
"Hang on! I'm sorry it's your story Mike, but hang on Len. Mike turned up at Oxford and I told him to go away! I never knew your were trying to find him, why didn't you say?" Con was very aggrieved. All these years and up until a few weeks ago she had swallowed Auntie Madge's view that Mike was bad. "I didn't want to drag you into it. You might have let something slip, besides I was the only one who actually had time for him when he was a boy." This shocking truth uttered, Steve and Con looked very guilty. "Why didn't you keep looking?" Mike asked quietly. "Auntie Madge found out. 'Sweet Lady Russell' has contacts everywhere and one of her friends overheard me making telephone enquiries about Mike." "That's eavesdropping! And from one of Auntie Madge's generation! How disgusting and two faced! Do we know who it was?" Con was furious. Len shook her head. "I suspect it might have been Lady Papworth, wife of one of Uncle Jem's colleagues, but I can't be certain. She used to be as nice as pie then I saw her pass me one day when I was making enquiries about Mike. She stared and I ignored her, but how she stared! She was as cold as ice afterwards with me." "And?" "And Auntie Madge reminded me that thanks to her money, I had a roof over my head, my course was being paid for and if I wanted to teach at the Chalet School or even a comprehensive, I would do well to obey her. I just took comfort in Reg after that, especially with her and Mama breathing down my neck at the Chalet School. Mama was doing that on Auntie Madge's orders though. Poor Reg! I wish I could tell him!" "Oh you just have my pet. I am sorry to say I overheard." "Reg!" Len ran to Reg. "I wished you could have confided in me sweetheart." "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" "So you are back with us Mike?" The stern looking Reg broke into a smile and offered his hand to Mike. "I always thought that what they did to you was wicked and evil. Totally out of proportion to what you had done. But I kept my opinions to myself, especially with your Uncle Jem at the San." This was too good to be true! Mike was so happy. "I don't feel I could set foot in Freuedesheim." Mike blurted this out emotionally. "Aye lad. I don't blame you. You can have a place here. As long as you like. Though we all have to confront our demons sometime." So it was that Mike settled down in his sister and brother in law's house. Once Charles Maynard was appraised of the facts by his siblings he too was firmly on their side. Charles wanted to help so he volunteered to inform Mama and Papa that their forgotten, unforgiven and prodigal son was now home. Charles viewed his frail parents sitting by a roaring fire, together on the sofa. They were both fast asleep after a filling lunch. Charles had found it distrubing how often his parents slept, lest it should be their last and they should never wake up. Charles had been upset when as a younger man he had noticed his parents first have grey and white hairs. It just hadn't seemed natural. Joey stirred. "Chas darling! How nice to see you! Now what can Mama do for you?" "Rest Mum, just rest!" He picked up one of his mother's novels. A rare one that did not have a great print run. "I don't remember this one Mum!" He looked at the dedication and got a shock. "To my lost boy, wherever you may be, Papa and I will always love you, Mike." "Mum, he's here! He's home! He's on the Platz!" Joey's eyes filled with the tears of an old woman bullied, who had long since given up hope. "Please don't say tings like that darling. It would upset your father." Jack opened his eyes. "What's the matter?" "Is he really back Chas?" "Who?" asked Jack. "Our son. the one!" Jack knew in an instant who Joey meant. Shaking with energy, he got up with an alacrity that alarmed his second son. "Is he really back Chas? take us to him! Please! Now!" It was Jack's turn to cry. "Who is back? What on Earth do you think you two are doing? Who is back Charles? Answer me!" A sprightly, octagenerian harridan with round, watery eyes and a voice like a knife limped towards Charles Maynard. "Mike." Charles looked directly into the eyes of his fuming, twisted Aunt. |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 8:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 6/3/10 update x2 |
Phil wrote: A sprightly, octagenerian harridan with round, watery eyes and a voice like a knife limped towards Charles Maynard. "Mike." Charles looked directly into the eyes of his fuming, twisted Aunt. O M G! Please, someone keep the old bat away! |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 8:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 7th March |
Can't wait to see what Madge does! |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 8:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 7th March |
Pleased that both Jack and Joey seem to want to know Mike - as for 'Auntie Madge... Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 7th March |
Wow looking forward to the next bit.Thank you Phil
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 7th March |
Well! We got a lot of answers there. The reason Len is bound up with Reg, and Joey had dedicated a book to Mike. I wonder if Madge is using the small dose on Joey and Jack to keep them under control as they are so sleepy. Glad Charles is prepared to stand up to Madge. Love Reg's response Quote: Aye lad. I don't blame you. You can have a place here. As long as you like. Though we all have to confront our demons sometime." So it was that Mike settled down in his sister and brother in law's house. Looking forward to your next post. |
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| Author: | JB [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 7th March |
I wondered about the dose, too. Really looking forward to the next update. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 7th March |
"We want to see our son. To forgive him and ask for his forgiveness. He may only be here once and we may never see him again, except in Heaven." This from Joey, safely in the arms of Jack. "Do you think a son, your own flesh and blood who nearly killed you and then spent a life of wickedness is here for good reasons? In any case, I doubt he would be a strong candidate for Heaven! Ungodly boy!" Charles led his tearful aged and frail parents away to a waiting car, shielding them from the abusive gorgon Madge. "Come back here! Josephine! Come back here at once! Do as I say! Wretched disobedient child! Josephine! Jospehine! Josephine!" As the car sped away from Freuedesheim, Madge could be seen raging and shaking her fist from the front door. "We're going to Len's Mum and Dad, that's where Mike is." Steve uttered this from behind the steering wheel. Joey and Jack were quite bewildered, but vague lights of hope and understanding were beginning to fire up within them. The frail couple were led into the back garden by Len and Reg to see all their other children (save Margot). The siblings melted away to reveal Mike. Silence fell. Jack and Joey saw the man who had been dragged throught he gutters of life, who had been persecuted and reviled for such a long time. Mike saw how his parents had aged forty odd years. He had last seen his mother when her unconscious body was taken away on a stretcher and he had last see his father at breakfast of the fateful day. So much water under the bridge had passed. Mike had formed his negative view of his family and the feeling was mutual. It was time to break the cycle. This was commenced through tears and embraces. |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Poor Mike |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Well done Jack and Joey for finally breaking free of Madge. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | JB [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Thanks Phil. Am I the only one wanting something very bad to happen to Madge? |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Quote: As the car sped away from Freuedesheim, Madge could be seen raging and shaking her fist from the front door. It looks like Madge is about to have a stroke! Thanks for the update, I hope the tears help to heal wounds and make the reunion work. |
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| Author: | Mona [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Quote: Am I the only one wanting something very bad to happen to Madge? No
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Wow. What can I say? SO glad that Joey and Jack are to be reconciled/reunited with Mike at long last. I don't normally use the word hate, as it's so strong, but I could easily hate Madge in this. Are we to find out what made her so bitter and twisted? |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Pleased that they got back to Mike. Thankyou. |
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| Author: | Lyanne [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
PaulineS wrote: Quote: As the car sped away from Freuedesheim, Madge could be seen raging and shaking her fist from the front door. It looks like Madge is about to have a stroke! Thanks for the update, I hope the tears help to heal wounds and make the reunion work. Though it would serve her right, I hope she doesn't as it would spoil the memory of their regaining the family - Mike his parents and siblings, and Joeya nd Jack their son. Plus I want to know what on earth has been going on in her mind! |
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| Author: | clair [ Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:16 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
A stroke would be far too easy - Madge needs to pay for what she's done to the family, especially Mike
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| Author: | hac61 [ Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
A stroke would be hard to live with, especially if it rob her of her speech.
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| Author: | Liz K [ Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 7th March |
Phil wrote: Charles led his tearful aged and frail parents away to a waiting car, shielding them from the abusive gorgon Madge. "Come back here! Josephine! Come back here at once! Do as I say! Wretched disobedient child! Josephine! Jospehine! Josephine!" As the car sped away from Freuedesheim, Madge could be seen raging and shaking her fist from the front door. Something not quite right with Madge, to state the glaringly obvious. I agree with everyone, she should be made to pay and I'd also like to know what she's thinking. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Mike's siblings had left Len's house so he could be reunited with his parents alone. It had been decided by Len to go on a picnic; not that they would be in the mood as anxiety tore through each one of them. How would mother and father react once they were reunited with their son? Charles had dropped off his parents and each one of the Maynards hugged and kissed their parents for good luck as Len let Jack and Joey in. There had been similar hugs and displays of affection as they left Mike who was sitting in Len's beautiful garden. It had been Mike's idea to see his parents all by himself. Oh the emotions that tormented him like red hot irons! Surely! Surely in the course of forty years they could have got some message to him! Why hadn't they tried to trace him? Why? Anger gave way to tears and longing. Mike stared at the stone fairy collectig a jug of rainwater. Len always had an eye for beautiful gardens. Mike could vaguely remember a happier time in Freuedesheim when Jack and Joey were clearing the old vegetable patch into a spectacular rose garden that Len had been the most helpful and active, even the most dirty in her eagerness to get to grips with the garden. She had bossed her father and mother, making suggestions for flowers, beds and ornaments. Jack and Joey had laughed and even taken up some of Len's ideas! Mike smiled at that memory. He could remember a very determined Len saying, "No Papa! The roses must go there! Oh Mama! Do tell him!" He had been taken away! Mike stared in silence at the stone fairy. Then behind him he heard the French windows open. He gasped with shock at the frail, fragile figures who appeared. For their part, Joey and Jack had been gripping each other in suspense and floods of tears. "He's in the garden." Len had whispered. Through the French windows they had caught a glimpse of a scruffy man. The shape of the head was unmistakeable Maynard. Even the posture. A Maynard by blood. Joey had to hold Jack's hand steady as he fumbled with the catch. "I can do it Joey!" The man turned. Those blue eyes, those blue eyes they hadn't seen for years. The same baby boy blue eyes... "Mike! Mike! Mike! Mike!" Forgetting their age and running as if their lives depended on it, the aged parents fell upon their long lost son holding and kissing him with every last bit of strength in their bodies. "Now I can die a happy mother at last!" sobbed Joey. "No don't die Mama! Don't ever die! I want you! I need you! I want you both so much! Forty years, forty long years I have wanted you..." Mike's howls and wails joined that of his parents. How long the storm lasted, nobody could say. Grief at the lost years, relief, love, happiness and despair over the enforced separation and the torturous pain it had brought. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I love you." spoken by all three. "Nobody ever let me say sorry about the ravine.." "Shhh Shhh Shh. Forgiven. Doesn't matter." "Why? Why??? Why? I want to know why?" Mike and his parents settled in Len's Speisesaal. "So many bad things happened that year. I had lost a lot of money in some overseas investments, I made a severe clinical error at the San, Phil and Geoff's birth were acutely difficult for your Mama and Margot was facing expulsion from the Chalet School." "I didn't hear about Margot until many years later." Joey interjected. Mike was amazed as he was given the details of the Zermatt incident. He knew Margot could be difficult, but really! "By the time Uncle Jem had bailed me out and really stuck his neck out for me on my clinical error, Auntie Madge had found out about Zermatt from Hilda Annersley. Madge had seen the disciplinary paperwork and letter of expulsion, which was never sent, in Hilda's office when she visited. Naturally she challenged Hilda about it. Anyway, Madge knew how fragile Mama was and she was lying in wait to deal with Margot the moment she arrived home from that walk you were taking." "Then you went down that ravine darling." Joey held Mike's hand. "Because Mama had collapsed, I had some sort of breakdown and I lost all reason. I went beserk, Mike. You must have heard me." Mike nodded. The nightmare of his father's furious screams had never left him. "Suddenly, Margot's crimes paled into insignificance. In any case, she had taken the tinies away with Con and so she was out of Madge's way for a few days." "Lucky Margot." Mike thought grimly. "Madge and Jem browbeat us into taking you away. Mama protested from day one she knew what was happening; and when I calmed down, I backed her up, but both of them reminded us who pulled the purse strings." Jack looked away ashamed and embittered. Joey took up the story. "When I could get up and walk, the first thing I did was run crying to your room. It was empty. Then Madge came upon me and confined me to bed. I cried and nearly made myself ill and Madge took that out on you. Tears welled up in the eyes of everyone. "We wrote, we asked on the phone if we could speak to you, this was refused. Madge became more and more angry with us. Jem hardly paid attention to us. We weren't even told what school you went to. Then when they went to Australia and you wnt to live with Uncle Dick, we thought everything would be allright. Then you got expelled and Uncle Dick turned against you. He followed Madge's orders to the letter. Money was that bad we could not get to England to see you." "Well, I did make it once, but then I found that Erica Jane girl and I got mixed up with her." Mike breathed deeply. "From then on, trying to find somebody who didn't want to be found was very difficult." Jack added. Mike nodded. "Even when our situation improved and we could afford to go to England By then Madge was practically living with us. This put a stop to many of our plans." "Please son, we are begging you for forgiveness." Mike looked at the pathetic, frail old man whom he remembered as having such manliness and strength. How could he punish these people? "I forgive you and I love you. Both of you." He whispered. Mike told them of how he felt in his exile, his relief at going to Uncle Dick's, his relationship with and love for Oliver, his expulsion, his prison life and his desire to come home. "Oh, you are home now darling. We shall alway love you. We are so sorry. We never stopped loving you." The siblings returned to hear this and burst into tears, cheers and applause. |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 9/3/2010 |
Phil wrote: Mike's howls and wails joined that of his parents. How long the storm lasted, nobody could say. Grief at the lost years, relief, love, happiness and despair over the enforced separation and the torturous pain it had brought. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I love you." spoken by all three. "Nobody ever let me say sorry about the ravine.." "Shhh Shhh Shh. Forgiven. Doesn't matter." "Why? Why??? Why? I want to know why?"  I wanted to cry at this. So sad! |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Quote: "Oh, you are home now darling. We shall alway love you. We are so sorry. We never stopped loving you." The siblings returned to hear this and burst into tears, cheers and applause. Thank you, those last sentences say so much. It makes Madge's actions all the more terrible. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Not really a good enough excuse there from his parents - however little money they had they could have done more. But at least Mike is able to forgive them and they can be together. ((((Mike)))) Now I really want to see Madge pay for what she did.
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| Author: | Liz K [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Lesley wrote: ((((Mike))))Now I really want to see Madge pay for what she did. Oh yes indeedy! |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Thank you. Time to deal with Madge?
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 5:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
I still wish they had done more. They could have talked to all the other children and asked for their help as well. Then when Mike went to Con, things would have been sorted out and Steve and Con could have been different. Poor Mike, he's extremely compassionate and forgiving |
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| Author: | shesings [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Lovely post - but why do I get the feeling that there was more to the ravine tale than we have been told? |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
I'm joining shesings! Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 3:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Very touching scene. Lovely to see Mike and his parents reunited. I agree with whoever said there's still more of the story that hasn't been explained and would love to see Madge get her come-uppance. Looking forward to more please. |
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| Author: | jmc [ Sat Mar 13, 2010 7:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Pity Madge didn't die of shock at hearing the news that Mike back with his family. Lovely reunion scene. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
jmc wrote: Pity Madge didn't die of shock at hearing the news that Mike back with his family. Lovely reunion scene. Thanks Phil Noooooooooooo, want to see Madge get her come-uppance before she dies!
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| Author: | ivohenry [ Wed Apr 07, 2010 4:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Please may we have some more of this soon! |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
Joining ivohenry,please may we have some more of this??? |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 4:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten updated 11th March 2010 |
The initial meeting over between Mike and his parents went so well; in truth all parties were pleased to be reunited and anxious to make amends, however this brief meeting did not hide the pain a gap of four decades made within Mike's soul. It had been agreed not to rush this rapprochement; after all, Joey and Jack were both frail and Mike was equally so, especially in his mind. Now all hell was to break loose. It had not taken Madge long to deduce that Len's residence would be the perfect place to give sanctuary to Mike and spurred on by her insanity, she had called for a cab to take her there. She let herself in, pleased to note theat Joey's children were absent. Madge gave a disapproving glare to Len's choice of decor. By now, Madge thoroughly disapproved of all the Maynard children. Jack Maynard was not a patch on his twin Mollie and it showed in his children! None of them had the backbone of her precious Davie! The thought of her son briefly gave her a shudder. Even David had deserted her. Disgusted with his parents' behaviour towards his cousins he had given up medicine to become a vet instead. Madge had hoped she could bend Sybil to her will, but Sybil had finally stood up to her and fled to Hong Kong. Josette had married too quickly, a definite sign she wanted to get away from her all controlling mother and Ailie, well, there was a battle royal with Ailie who claimed Madge had never wanted her. Threats to Ailie's financial security were laughed off and Josette, the sister who had always scolded Ailie, instantly took her in and told her to enjoy her life. As for the boys, Kevin and Kester had resented the "one's for the army, one's for the navy" tag and both were now penniless musicians, but very happy. Everyone had betrayed her! Madge thought bitterly. Then when Jem took off with a Japanese nurse the humiliation had been too much. He had passed away in a hotel in the less salubrious area of Tokyo; the manner of his death suspicious and unresolved. One thing was for certain, he had still left all his money, which was really Jack's to Madge. Perhaps he had had some sort of conscience after all. Madge was determined she would remain matriarch of the family until her last breath. Trouble was to be rooted out. At least Margot had gone quietly into a convent before Madge could deal with her; but Mike had to be made to wish he had never been born. Thus a tyrant had developed over the years. Now that tyrant was standing on the patio looking down at the weeping scene below her of the Prodigal Son. "Enough of this!" she screeched. "You! How dare you come back here! How dare you! You were offered an allowance to stay out of our lives and you have had the nerve to throw it back in our faces! How dare you cause all this suffering!" "Madge!" Joey quaked feebly. Mike who had had a moment of terror when he had heard that voice again saw nothing before him but a tiny old lady screaming her octogenerian lungs at him. She looked so sad and pathetic. Suddenly he laughed. All that had happened to him since he was born and now he was still being treated the same. It was so sad. Whom did this reflect badly upon? Not him. He had suffered forty years of exile. "Josephine! You and your husband are to return to Freuedesheim at once. That creature can make his own way back home. Have you stolen anything from Helena's house?" She fixed Mike with a glare. Mike's anger boiled over. "No!" He roared. "How dare you suggest I would steal anything from Len?" He bellowed. "Well you do have a criminal record!" "Which wouldn't have happened if you hadn't ruined my life and if I had been forgiven after that DREADFUL day!" It seemed as if Mike was talking to his parents as well as Madge. Jack collapsed and fell into his son's arms. Weeping, he said, "Mike, please forgive me, the fault is mine, all mine I am a bad father..." Mike looked at the man he had last seen from the perspective of a seven year old boy; back then, Jack had been an olympian giant of superhuman size and strength. Now he was a feeble old man. "I made so many clinical mistakes with patients including with your mother when she was pregnant, I hadn't been eating or sleeping properly, I put your mother in danger, Uncle Jem found out, then I lost money, everything was all over for me. I was about to be struck off for malpractice, Jem retrained me, supervised me, but I had no salary, we had to live off Jem and Madge...forgive me..." Joey had been listening wide eyed. "You put me in danger?" "Oh Joey darling, how could I ever tell you? You are the most precious person on God's Earth to me!" "But I knew about the other malpractice cases, you were ill seizures from your injury in the war, after your operation, you never had another seizure and you became a brilliant doctor again." "By then Jem had all our money" "Which he gave to you Madge!" "And I had to protect you from your own husband and children. My children left me, how long before yours would do the same? I had to make them dependent upon me." "You evil woman!" Mike spoke with feeling. "Your siblings will come to my way of thinking. The small fry never knew you. Your older siblings only remember the naughty brat who needed a good hiding every day of his life." "Felix and Felicity are desperate to see me. They remember me very well; and don't insult them by calling them small fry. They are living, thinking, sensitive people. You have had your time. You are a figure of the past. You founded an excellent school, well done, that's it now go!" "You're not afraid of me are you little boy?" "I'm not a little boy anymore. I'm not afraid of you anymore. You can't scare us." Madge and Mike stared each other out whilst Joey and Jack wilted onto a bench. It was this eyeball to eyeball confrontation that greeted Len and the other Maynards on their return. Thunder rolled overhead and a heavy shower began. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
Good to see more of this. Pleased Mike can stand up to Madge. Hope that the others handle Madge as well. |
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| Author: | charli [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
I have just read all of this. It is very very good Poor Mike. I hope that Madge finds herself well and truly stood up to my a united Maynard front!! |
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| Author: | ivohenry [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
Wow, back with a vengeance! Great to see this again. |
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| Author: | Sandra [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 7:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
Yay - it's back. I really hope that Madge gets everything that she deserves. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 7:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
Great to see this back. Looking forward to Madge's final defeat! |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
Thanks Phil for coming back and letting us know what happened. Hope the other Maynards are able to stand up to Madge just as well |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
This could be a good one! Thankyou. |
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| Author: | Jennie [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 1:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
It's great to see more of this, even psychotropic weather. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 14/08/10 update |
"Can't you see what you are doing to us? We aren't even your immediate family!" "Why don't you just go?" "Leave us in peace!" "Stop hurting us!" "Go away!" A chorus of these exclamations were thrown at Madge with such ferocity, the old woman seemed perturbed for a minute. "I still have enough friends in high places to deal with you and enough money." She stalked her way off the premises looking like a malevolent hen. Len, Con and Steve ushered their shaking parents and brother out of the rain. "Is she...were does she...live?" gasped Mike. "She owns Freuedesheim now; legally." Joey sobbed. "She has our shares in the Chalet School." choked Jack. "We really have nothing." "There must be something we can do." Mike tried to keep the despair out of his voice. "Nobody from any of the families wants to help us." "We're nothing to do with the school now." Mike could not believe his ears. "I might as well go back to Britain..." he began "No!" a unanimous and alarmed chorus exclaimed. Meanwhile Madge had returned to Freuedesheim to see whom of her connections she could use to bully the Maynards into submission. "You! What are you doing here?" Margot gasped in terror. She had arrived at the old family home on sick leave. She had had barely any contact with her family since her vocation; now she was sick. She was about to get a good deal more sick and that wasn't the worst of it. She had shocking news for her Auntie Madge. How was she to tell her that Jem was alive? Dying, but alive. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 15/08/10 |
Oh now that's interesting - wasn't Jem the one that owned the shares in the San? Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 15/08/10 |
Wow, powerful stuff. What horrible old lady Madge has become. Hope Margot can sort her out. Maybe the shock news that Jem is still alive will be the final straw? Thanks for the update, Phil. Looking forward to more. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 15/08/10 |
Poor Margot walking into Madge in that mood. Hope what ever she has is curable and that she finds her family soon, before Madge can cause her more problems. Thanks for the updates. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 15/08/10 |
Ooh, interesting twist! Thankyou |
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| Author: | Chatelaine [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:22 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 15/08/10 |
You know, I could well imagine the Madge of EBD's world turning into this demented, controlling harridan. . . Well done, that was a brilliant performance by Mike - love the way he's realising that the people he was afraid of when he was a boy have shrunk so much! |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 5:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 15/08/10 |
Wow! thanks Phil. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 15/08/10 |
"Auntie Madge!" The frail nun quailed. She did not know what her Aunt had become. All she knew of Mike's story was that he had been sent away and because the boys rarely came home anyway, she had assumed he was making friends and improving in his life over in England. By the time he was eighteen, she was well into her medical and religious training. She had not much time to deal with family matters during those long and busy years of study and charity work. Thus Margot did not know what she was letting herself in for. How could she? The financial blackmail and bondage that Madge and Jem had kept Joey and Jack in; the abusive isolation and treatment of Mike; Margot knew nothing. To Madge, this creature before her was 'the one that got away' and she was not going to get away with it now. "Answer me this instant Margot! What are you doing here? How selfish of you to take a break from God's calling! Just like you I suppose!" In fact, Margot had been practically coerced by the Mother Superior to take some convalescence. Mother Superior had seen one of the humblest and hard working nuns wracked by painful arthritis and a heavy cold on top of that decided matters. Margot was to take some rest after nearly forty years of back breaking hard work in the service of the Lord. The distress it caused Margot to acknowledge she was ill and that she needed to leave her children in the orphanage nearly made Mother Superior think twice, but even the children were unanimous - once the situation was explained - that poor Sister Margot needed a rest. "Auntie Madge I didn't expect to find you here, I thought you were in Australia or England. I'm ill, but I'm very pleased to see you..." Margot moved to embrace and kiss her Aunt, expecting a loving kiss and cuddle in return and quite ignoring Madge's sharp commands earlier. She was physically rebuffed as a gnarled hand pushed her away. Margot felt like a child who didn't know what she had done wrong. She was indignant and upset. "Auntie Madge! What was that for? And where's Mama and Papa?" No reply as Madge glared at her. A horrible thought passed through Margot's mind. "Oh they're not dead are they?" A sly smile crept on Madge's face, but even she could not lie. "They are with your sister Len. The whole of your little clan. That reprobate , wicked, evil jailbird brother of yours has returned! He's there with them. Probably holding them all at gunpoint whilst he robs them!" "Auntie Madge what on earth are you talking about? is one of the boys in trouble? How can I help? Please, Auntie Madge, I just want to help." "Oh you can help young lady." Margot raised her eyebrows at the 'young lady' remark. Madge took Margot's bags out and put them on the drive of Freuedesheim. Then she nodded towards the door. "On your way." "What?" "You never did learn manners! You should say 'I beg your pardon' now go to your sister's house and send your parents back here to me." "But I don'tknow where Len lives..." "It's only two miles away the old JungfrauHaus. You can walk." "But I can't I am sick I tell you! I have arthritis and I can't walk two miles with those heavy bags!" "You should have been packing your bags and leaving forty years ago for what you did! At least I managed to punish your brother he is well and truly disowned and the family won't have him back now. Oh they may pretend to be pleased to see him, but he will hurt them again and so will you! You escaped punishment once, but now I shall make you sorry for your crimes, which if your mother had heard them could have killed her! Now get out!" Margot felt sick. She realised Auntie Madge was alluding to that dreadful visit to Zermatt and to Mike's fateful trip down that ravine months later. She shivered and stumbled as she made towards the door. "Please..." she was going to beg for help. "Go!" "Uncle Jem! Uncle Jem! Uncle Jem!" Madge flew into a rage. "Don't ever mention that man's name again! He's dead do you hear? Dead!" Margot fell, but managed to get up on her knees. "He's alive, but he's dying! He is dying in my convent. He wouldn't tell me anything of what happened, but he is desperate to make amends." "Liar! You always were a bad girl Margot! We should have left you in Canada!" "I'm not a liar! I'm telling the truth!" "Liar!" "No!" "Liar! Liar! Liar!" Terrified, Margot stumbled out of Freuedesheim. How she made it to the gate she did not know; fear overcame her aches and pains. She collapsed in a sobbing heap on the road. Fortunately, a postman was doing his rounds and offered to carry the distressed lady to hospital. Bravely he collected her bags from Freuedesheim Drive, Margot praying for him lest the monster Aunt savage him. Margot insisted he take her not to hospital but to her sister's address. There was little that could be done for her at hospital. She needed the comforts of a home right now and some love. When Stephen Maynard opened the door of Len's house, he was gobsmacked to see a sobbing Margot who promptly put her arms around him. "I've never been so pleased to see anyone!" she began before weeping on her brother's shoulder. Stephen took her in whilst Charles collected her bags. Mike stiffened when he saw Margot. He still felt very hurt that Margot had got off 'scot free' for her sins. Margot for her part, had no idea what Mike was feeling and why. She was once more the centre of attention, just like the old days. She flew to her parents, to her triplet sisters, then the younger members of the family, then the boys, Stephen, Charles and then...Mike. Margot was puzzled and taken aback by his appearance and the look of hurt and anger in his eyes. Had she jumped from the frying pan into the fire? |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 16th August update |
Poor Margot. Hope things get sorted out for her as well |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 16th August update |
Am intrigued by why he would be angry - this is all very tense! Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 16th August update |
Madge is really twisted and evil here. Wondering how Jem wants to make amends and to whom? Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | charli [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 16th August update |
Poor Margot. So many questions...why is Mike cross, why is Jem not dead like everyone thought? What's going to happen to Madge now? Too many questions for my small brain..better answer them quickly  .Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Tue Aug 17, 2010 5:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 16th August update |
Poor Margot - hope she and Mike can be reconcilled. |
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| Author: | 2nd Gen Fan [ Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 16th August update |
Fantastic to see this back - poor Margot, as well as poor Mike. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 16th August update |
"Margot...Margot darling...he knows about Zermatt." Joey warned her daughter. Mike looked fit to burst. Margot's eyes widened. Before anyone could stop him Mike launched into a diatribe. "How could you? How dare you? Why did you do such wicked things which could have hurt Mama as I did when I went down that ravine? Why wasn't it you and not me?" Mike's face was all red, his eyes were nearly popping out of his head. He started to cry. "Why me? Why did it happen to me? You got away with it! You always did! Oh how could you?" Mike could speak no longer, he fell backwards onto a sofa. Margot forgot all her physical pain and wept for forgiveness. "I'm sorry Mike, I didn't think...I know you think I wasn't punished...believe me I was. I am sorry you suffered. I didn't know what to do when you went down that ravine...I just didn't know. Please! I don't know what to think, I don't know waht to say to ask your forgiveness...I just want to help you now. Mike, I do care..I am sorry." Margot was utterly broken. "My babies! My babies!" Joey moaned. She went to embrace her children. Everything stopped as Jack and Joey wept. "This is all my doing. If I hadn't been so strict you wouldn't have done this, there would have been no vindictive punishments. I'm sorry." Jack looked like a ghost as he uttered this. No family could deal with this tension for very long. "Everybody please! We are together again! What more do we want? We don't need this recrimmination and hurt, surely Margot and Mike hating each other is what Auntie Madge wants? Can't we unite? Cecily's plea started a new direction for the Maynards. "There's something Auntie Madge needs to know: Uncle Jem is still alive." "Margot!" "He confessed to me that he faked his own death to leave Auntie Madge. He regrets everything he has done and he even wants to make it up to you Papa. He said the mistakes you made that got you into trouble in the first place were exaggerated by him so he could have power over you. He was hungry for money as well as women. He is truly sorry now." Margot had dropped quite a bombshell. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 18/08/10 |
WELL!!!!! Margot has dropped a bomb shell there. I do not think Madge is ready to hear that information yet. Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 18/08/10 |
That could be quite, um, explosive! Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | charli [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 18/08/10 |
Wow! *gasp* I'm speachless! What an update. Wonder how everyone will react to that. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 18/08/10 |
I hoped Jem would be on their side - eventually!
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 18/08/10 |
Love to see Madge's reaction to that!!
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| Author: | Myth Tree [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 18/08/10 |
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| Author: | shesings [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 18/08/10 |
What Myth Tree said!
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| Author: | Phil [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 18/08/10 |
"He must be pushing a hundred by now!" gasped Con. Margot nodded slowly. "And he will soon be pushing up the daisies! Or he will be when Auntie Madge gets hold of him!" added Stephen. "He's not very far. He can travel. He's desperate to see us before he sees Auntie Madge. He..er...doesn't know Auntie Madge is at Freuedesheim." "Goodness gracious!" breathed Jack. "All that time he ruined my career just to line his own pockets and indulge his pleasure! He wrecked my family and I was the fool who went along with him!" The elderly Jack was shaking with rage. Felicity went to calm him. "Dad, we can sort this out, we are all here now." "It can't undo forty years of hurt. I've been blessed to have my lost boy returned to me after all the pain I've caused him and my little triplet has finally come home expecting love and rest and she has to put up with this!" "Jack! We have a chance to settle all of this now. You don't have to see Jem. It doesn't make you any less of a person to not see him after what he has done!" Joey held her husband's hand in a loving way that showed Jack and all her children that he was still Joey's solid lump of comfort after all these years. Jack looked deep into Joey's eyes, the connection of pure love he felt for his wife was still there. He was calm in her hands with all his children around him. "Mike?" Mike turned to Len. "Can you, will you forgive Margot? I know you are angry with her because you feel she got away with doing something bad and you were the one who was punished quite out of proportion when you did something wrong..." Len did not need to finish her words. Mike was too old to hang on to anger. He firmly believed that hate destroyed the hater and he was not going to be a hater. How often he wished as a boy that Margot could be nicer; now here she was: frail, that pleading look in her blue eyes...how could he resent her further? Margot and Mike embraced each other to tears of relief from everyone including themselves! The whole family jumped as a sound was heard. A tortoiseshell tabby had decided to join in the scene. Everyone laughed. "Oh Minette!" Len picked her feline up. "Minette?" Mike queried. He could vaguely remember the Chalet School cat. "A descendant of the original!" Len handed to her brother a most inquisitive cat. Minette decided to take to Mike instantly. Here was a man who would feed her on demand! Or so she thought! For a long time the entire Maynard family sat down to a happy family occasion. It was a happy home, far removed from their rightful happy home at Freuedesheim. A day later an old man was awoken by a nurse in his hospital bed. He was a man with a lot of sins on his conscience. He had been around the world trying to make amends. He could see his eldest son now, in his mind's eye, "Father, I can never forgive the way you treated mother and the way treated us like we were in the army!" A similar response had been elicited from his eldest daughter, "You and mother NEVER loved me!" His second daughter had simply refused to talk to him and as for his little girl! Oh the cold response from her! "You never cared! I was always a failure and an indugence in your eyes, just a spare child!" His twin baby boys were the final ones to turn their backs on him. "You didn't bother to consider we were unique individuals!" "You just believed we had no right being independent! Or making our own decisions!" He had had to fight a lengthy legal battle to obtain all the money he had acquired back from his Japanese mistress. He had had to associate with some characters he would rather not associate with and just when he thought the end was near, he met his niece, Margot. "Here are your visitors Sir James!" The wizened baronet looked hopefully to the door. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 19th August update |
Thanks for the update. Glad Joey and Jack are still in love and that Mike and Margot can be at peace with each other. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 19th August update |
Thanks for the update. Glad to see a glimmer of hope and really pleased that Mike and Margot were able to make their peace. What Mike said is so true: negative emotions such as anger and hate do far more damage to the person who holds on to them than to the object of their anger/hatred. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 19th August update |
Well done Mike - and so pleased the family can sit down together as a happy family. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 19th August update |
I hope that they can all work it out. Thankyou. |
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| Author: | charli [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 19th August update |
Nice to see Margot and Mike reunited. Thanks for the update
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| Author: | Phil [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 19th August update |
Jack Maynard glared at the gnarled old goat he used to believe was his trusted mentor. "Jack!" "Dr Maynard to you!" Jem qualied. Justice was about to fall upon him. Jack berated Jem for the son Jack had never known for forty years! "How could you do this to your own nephew? The boy was seven years old for crying out loud!" Jem bit back. "You were mad yourself at the time Maynard!" Jack felt sick in his stomach as he knew this to be true. "Why have you returned? I can't believe it was down to a guilty conscience! You wouldn't know what a conscience was!" "But it is Jack...Dr Maynard! I am sick of running away and indulging in my own pleasure..I am sick of shirking responsibility. I refused to be responsible as a husband, as a father and as a doctor, and finally as a brother in law." Jack almost laughed at the pathetic creature. "I tried with my own children, my own flesh and blood and they have rejected me. I have come to find you and Joey and I have come for Madge; if she will have me." This time Jack roared with laughter. He could imagine the witch hag's response to the sudden reappearance of her wicked husband. A thought occurred to him. "If you're so keen on making amends and Mike hadn't found us, would you have made any effort to find him?" Jack expected Jem to evade this question, but the wrinkled worm of a man jumped as if Jack had forgiven him. "Yes! Yes! Yes! that was the first place I looked! If I found Mike and earned his forgiveness, he would lead me to you and..." Jem suddenly deflated; the excitement was too much. "Don't die on me Russell! I am bringing you to face the enormity of what you have done!" The ageing physician was bundled into a wheelchair; as he was swung out into the corridor he met Mike. Jem was speechless with terror. He had no option but to go through with his making amends to the family. None of the Maynards spoke to him. He shook under their glares and coldness. Jem could not help but notice how affectionate the whole family were with each other. The big grizzled Mike had Felicity on one side and Cecily on the other cuddling him like he was a huge bear. Mike revelled in their affection. Joey was as she was years ago, mothering her babies with such looks of affection despite their years. Jem missed proper affection and felt shame as Joey held on to Jack and shot Jem a look of anger and hate. She looked like a hurt child. The silence was horrible and there were some unpleasant smiles directed at the bad man as they approached Freuedesheim. Madge Russell was finishing a cold dish of tapioca. She was not pleased at the interruption. "Someone to see you Madge!" Joey stormed in and folded her arms in defiance. Jack wheeled Jem in. Jem baulked at the furious harpy. There was a silence as Madge boiled and seethed in rage. "You!" "How dare you have the audacity to show up! How dare you be alive? Why aren't you with your bit on the side? Thrown you out has she? You vermin Jem Russell! I could kill you for what you've done! Do you hear me? I could kill you!" "Now you know what it's like to be on the receiving end of that thing!" Mike snarled at Jem before Cecily dragged him back. "You hold your tongue boy!" screamed Madge. "Don't you ever talk to any of my children like that again, you fiend!" Joey screamed at her sister. Madge was shocked. Now she knew she had lost her own little sister. The look in Joey's eyes told her as much. Madge had not cared for Dick and she had dominated him. She had never wanted a brother, only a sister. When Joey was born, she was overjoyed. She had had to look after the child growing up, suffering Joey's illnesses in terror. Jem had let her down, absorbed in his work, or so Madge thought until she noticed an unusual number of Tirolean maids having after hours appointments. Joey had married Jack and taken her from Madge. Then they had had children and that wicked boy! Madge had had enough of men. She was certain Colonel Bettany resented her for being a girl and she blamed her father for his posting in India where both Col and Mrs Bettany had died of cholera. "Why couldn't you be really dead Jem?" she sobbed. "What have you come for?" "Forgiveness Madge! I have only just realised how selfish and thoughtless I have been all my life." The look the twisted Madge gave Jem told him forgiveness was not an option. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 25 . 08 . 10 |
Thanks for the update. Love the Maynards response to both Jem and Madge. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 6:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 25 . 08 . 10 |
Madge and Jem deserve each other. |
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| Author: | charli [ Wed Aug 25, 2010 6:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 25 . 08 . 10 |
Lesley wrote: Madge and Jem deserve each other. Agreed. Thanks for the update Phil. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 25 . 08 . 10 |
Thankyou for the update! |
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| Author: | Phil [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 25 . 08 . 10 |
"How could I ever forgive you?" screeched the harridan. "You are making a spectacle of yourself Mrs Russell and in my parents' home!" Len was all ice towards her Aunt. "Your parents' home? My home now your parents are dependent on me for every penny!" Madge doubled up with laughter. "I don't understand" croaked Jem. "After your so called death, Sir James, the money that went to that thing over there bought our parents' home, sanatorium, shares in the chalet school, the lot! Nothing could be done without her authorisation!" This from Con. It was Jem's turn to look shocked. "You're as bad as I am!" "At least I didn't ruin a colleague's career and run off with some hussy!" "At least our children didn't reject me first!" It was a cruel thing to say and the source of all Madge's general bitterness and jealousy of her sister. Madge fell on to the sofa; sobbing and spluttering the names of her children and begging them to come to her. "Davie..my first born...why didn't you love your mummy? What did I do wrong? Sybil..I'm so sorry. Josette...sorry...Ailie you were a good girl..I should have told you. Kevin, Kester my twins, my only twins I'm sorry." Jem staggered the short distance to be with his wife. "I'm sorry. I should never have said that...I should never have come into your life. Perhaps you would have been better off with that merchant chap you met on the train when you first moved to Austria." Madge looked at him, bewildered. The Maynards melted away to show Mike and Margot their old home. "Madge I have done dreadful things, but now..I am dying...it really is a matter of days, every specialist under the sun concurs with the prognosis, as soon as my lover heard she was so happy she thought she was going to get my money. I was disgusted with her and myself. I took great pleasure in telling her that the fortune I had accumulated after my "death" was not going to her. She kicked me out. I knew I had to make amends. I was sick of a life of selfishness. I missed proper companionship. I know we were growing apart, but you were the only woman, in the early years of our marriage, whom I ever loved. I hoped after all these years, we could reignite that? One last time? Please?" Madge was silent. "Don't be moved by hate Madge!" pleaded Jem. He cut such a pathetic figure; no pompous baronet, no waistline overflowing with fine wines and meats, no arrogance of knowledge and power. Madge turned away to a mirror. She was secretly shocked at the wicked, spiteful, hate filled old harridan she was. She had become a harpy, a witch, a hag; but somebody loved this hag! Even after all his lovers, he had returned for her! As Madge turned to him, she thought she caught a glimpse of her younger self in the mirror: a happy, kind twenty four year old again. Madge wanted to reconnect with that young woman; not to be nasty, but so she could reform "But after all we have done? To everybody? And have we really changed? The old doctor held out his arms to her. Madge hesitated. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 26th August update |
Should I still be hoping for a happy ending for them all? Thanks for the update! |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 26th August update |
Hope Jem can move Madge so that Jack and Joey can get their house and self respect back. |
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| Author: | Nightwing [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 26th August update |
Glad to see more of this, Phil! Crossing my fingers that things really do work out... |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 2:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 26th August update |
I'm still hoping for a happy ending. Thanks Phil |
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| Author: | Phil [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten 26th August update |
Whilst Jem and Madge were reacquainting themselves with each other, the Maynards were indulging Mike's fascination with his old home. Mike was initially reticent. His home was full of bad memories. Nevertheless, he joined his family; it was either that or stay with the Russells. "Oh dear, this wallpaper is coming away." Muttered Jack. "And underneath that wallpaper is another one, sort of cream with thin red flowers!" Mike suddenly butted in! He gently peeled the wallpaper to reveal the thin red flowers that had been the wallpaper he knew when he was a boy. The joy on his face when he made such a discovery warmed the hearts of his family. "And my room was just..." Mike rushed into his old room - untouched for forty years - Joey and Jack had forbidden any disturbance of the room. It was the one piece of Mike they were allowed to keep. Mike was speechless as he saw everything as he left it that fateful day Madge had yanked him out of the room with his suitcase. There were his old toys: old companions, ghosts of the past, for whom it was a heartbreaking wrench to part with at the age of seven and in such horrific circumstances. Whilst of no use to a forty seven year old man, they were of great use to a seven year old boy who then was convinced his mother was dead through his own misadventure. Nobody could know the effect on Mike's mind. He collapsed onto the bed and held his toys close to him, sobbing and crying as if he were back as a seven year old. Jack and Joey went to comfort him. There was no room for his siblings in the cramped bedroom and they had to wait outside; how dearly they wanted to help! Felicity and Cecily shot frequent, anxious and tearful looks through the door. It was as if time had reversed and Mike had indeed regressed to seven and his parents were forgiving their seven year old child for a transgression. "I'm sorry I went after that bird's nest!" Mike roared in despair. His parents held onto him. It is difficult to calm your middle aged son when you yourself are elderly. "I know! I know! It's all over dear! All forgiven darling! All over! You're safe now!" How long the hysterics continued, nobody knew, but Jack and Joey finally placated their son. "That woman!" Joey hissed. In her eyes she no longer had a sister. She stormed into the speisesaal where Jem and Madge were. "I don't care if this house is legally yours! You give it back to me now, and all the money you have taken from us and you publicly apologise! I will be contacting that journalist Miss Travers to make sure you keep your word! I no longer have a sister!" The shamed Madge and Jem nodded. Both had confessed all their wicked deeds and thoughts to each other and agreed that they were thoroughly unlikeable beings whom nobody else would have except each other. The least they could do was hand everything back to the Maynards and exonerate the reputation of Jack. "My son is going to need a lot of counselling and psychiatric help! Think of that!" Jem wanted to offer the services of a psychiatrist he knew well, but even he realised that his offer - albeit genuine - would be refused. Joey would have nothing to do with his controlling ways. Joey looked Madge in the eye and said, "Until you make amends, I no longer have a sister. However, remember this: I am NOT afraid of you!" Madge could not bear to meet Joey's look. |
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| Author: | Naomila [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 28/08/10 |
Ooh, nice drabble... |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 28/08/10 |
Good for you Joey - such a pity it took 40 years.
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sat Aug 28, 2010 8:36 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 28/08/10 |
This last update brought tears to my eyes. (But I'm glad that Jack Joey and Mike are finally reconciled and that Madge and Jem are finally getting what they deserve. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 28/08/10 |
I'm glad that they seem to be working things out at last. Thankyou. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Aug 28, 2010 12:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 28/08/10 |
Hopefully Mike will recover quickly and the rest of the family will be able to as well. Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 28/08/10 |
Am glad Joey is finally standing up to Madge |
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| Author: | charli [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 28/08/10 |
Poor poor Mike. Hope he is able to cope with everything soon. Thanks for the update.
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| Author: | Phil [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten u/d 28/08/10 |
Things were slowly looking up for Mike. He had rediscovered the joys of the Jungfrau, the Auberge and other sights that his family had taken for granted. He spent a lot of time with Margot. He told her about his conversations with the prison chaplain. Every time Mike harked back to these conversations he always finished by saying, "I just wanted forgiveness." Mike was not unintelligent. He knew he had to get a job. he was also painfully aware he had no qualifications and that his family were elderly. He was grateful for a job as a sanatorium porter, taking patients to X-rays and their appointments. Some people were very fussy over the silliest things and Mike had to resist the urge to tell grown adults to stop acting like babies. His friend Oliver came to see him several times. Jack and Joey watched them both from a window as they waved and headed off for a walk. Jack and Joey held each other's hands. "He's back! He's really back! Oh Jack!" Jack kissed his wife tenderly. Madge and Jem Russell were back in England. The dying baronet was about to have a most troublesome meeting with an inspector from the Serious Fraud Office! Jem qualied, and Madge had no more fight in her. It was time to write long letters begging forgiveness of her children. |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Tue Aug 31, 2010 4:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten August 30th update |
Really hope Mike is able to get his life back on track |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten August 30th update |
Glad Mike and Margot are making friends and Jack and Joey are happier. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten August 30th update |
Good to see that they're happier. Thanks. |
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| Author: | Phil [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 5:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten Finished 4th September |
Madge wrote in vain. The addresses she had for her children were long since out of date and all the Russells were scattered around the world, rarely in touch with one another. Jem woke one morning to find a pack of paparrazi on his doorstep. "Sir James, are you facing disciplinary action from the General Medical Council?" "Will you apologise to the Maynard family?" "Why did you return after all this time Sir James?" "Is it true your knighthood is rescinded?" "Do you have another interview with the Serious Fraud Office?" "Sir James, you do realise that silence does look like an admission of guilt?" "Sir James are you in contact with your children?" "Why has your wife taken you back?" Jem slammed the door. Gasping for breath, he tried to reach the stairs. It was the last thing he ever did. Madge screamed as she saw the lifeless body of her husband. The ghoulish press peered through the window, mercilessly snapping away. Madge managed to draw the curtains shut. She telephoned for an ambulance. It was too late for her. The police had to break down the door to gain entry for the ambulance and the vulture press had their field day. Lurid stories were written in the tabloids, but the news value of the wicked baronet and his domineering wife was quickly over. Joey and Jack attended the funeral as did all their children, but more to support their ageing parents than anything else. As the Russell children heard over time, they did feel some grief inwardly, but they did not show it. They had their own families to care for. Madge and Jem were truly exorcised now. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten August 30th update |
Quote: Madge and Jem were truly exorcised now. A fitting end. Hope Jack and Joey are left in peace by the press. Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | Sandra [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten August 30th update |
I can't believe that I was feeling sorry for Madge at the end. Great drabble - thanks. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten August 30th update |
Can't say I have any sympathy for them - they deserved it - though am curious as to what Madge actually died of - did she have a heart attack while waiting for the ambulance? Thanls Phil |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 8:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten August 30th update |
Thanks for the update. |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 8:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten August 30th update |
Thanks Phil. A suitable ending for Jem and Madge in this universe. |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten Finis 04/09/10 |
Missed the last update. Thanks, it was a fitting end. I'm kind of sad the Russell kids didn't stay in touch with each other at least |
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| Author: | wheelchairprincess [ Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unforgiven and Forgotten Finis 04/09/10 |
Glad the Maynards are all back together now. It is sad that the Russell family ended up that way but totally understandable. |
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