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A new start for Amy - updated 02/04
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=204

Author:  Catherine [ 02 May 2006, 14:04 ]
Post subject:  A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

sequel to 'Amy'
part 1
part 2

“Heigh ho! This time tomorrow, we’ll be starting our last year at school!” Daisy Venables sighed. Her sigh was echoed by her two great friends, Beth Chester and Gwensi Howell, who had joined her in the garden at Plas Gwyn. Joey Maynard glanced over at them and chuckled.
“To hear you three, you’d think there was no life after school!” she chuckled.
“Oh and you thought there was did you?” Daisy demanded awfully. “You were quite happy about the thought of leaving school, were you?”
“I was not and well you know it!” Joey remained unperturbed. “All the same, I was wrong. School is very jolly and wonderful while it lasts but life holds so much more.”
“If you say so,” Daisy returned sceptically. “I say! How do you think Amy will get on this term?”
“No reason why she shouldn’t get on perfectly well, is there?” Joey queried.
“If anything, she’s more likely to get on better,” Beth observed. “You hardly knew she was there before – she was so quiet, nobody had any reason to notice her. I don’t think she was particularly happy before the news came but nobody realised because they didn’t know her well enough. Now, she’s got those friends of hers joining her and the rest of us all know who she is and we can make sure we include her in things and keep her cheerful.”
“Quite right, Bethy!” Joey nodded. “But remember you must treat her normally. If you are all excessively kind to her, it will only serve to remind her of her loss and that’s what you mustn’t do. She’s still trying to adjust to her life as it is now and to be constantly reminded of what her life was like before, will only hinder the healing process.”
“It doesn’t sound easy,” Gwensi said doubtfully.
“It’s perfectly easy,” Joey returned. “You’ve all seen her over these holidays and you’ve all managed to have a perfectly normal conversation with her. Simply be as friendly with her as you are with, say, Gay Lambert, Jacynth Hardy, Gillian Culver and Peg’s particular group of friends,” she referred to Peggy Bettany, her brother’s eldest daughter who had been in the same form as Amy the previous term. “In any case, you three are Prefects so you can’t make a fuss of one particular girl or there’ll be cries of favouritism – just greet her when you see her and ask her how things are going. If you think she seems troubled or unhappy then ask her if you can help but don’t fuss her. You’ll find a way if the time ever comes!”
“I suppose!” Daisy sighed. “The form system is going to be rather different this year, isn’t it?” she added.
“Well it has to be,” Joey returned. “So many more of you are staying on until you’re well past eighteen, either because you’re specialising in something or because you need to have that extra year in which to mature before joining one or other of the services, that we’re rather top heavy. The Sixth Forms have to remain smallish due to the specialised nature of much of the work, yet it’s not fair to keep the Fifth forms doing the same work and not to promote the Upper Fourth. The only answer therefore is to create four divisions of the Fifth.”
“It’s good in one way,” Beth said thoughtfully. “I know it’s hard on people who thought they’d move up to the next year group but the forms will be so much smaller and so people can be spilt more by ability and the shyer people have more of a chance of being noticed and getting to hold responsibility – being form prefect and things. Amy should benefit – she could be quite an asset if you could only get past all her shyness.”
“Much of Amy’s shyness results from a lack of confidence and being very unsure of herself,” Joey replied. “I hope both of those will be overcome this year, as you say, Beth. She’ll be Upper Fifth B, won’t she?”
“She will,” Daisy confirmed. “Those twins will be as well.”
“Those twins!” Gwensi scoffed. “They have names! I wonder how they’ll get on?” she added.
“Any reason why they shouldn’t manage as well as most?” Joey demanded.
“No real reason but they both seem rather young to be going into Upper Fifth B and Louisa seems rather irresponsible and tactless at times.”
“So are we all at times,” Daisy replied, carefully avoiding pointing out that these were Gwensi’s sins too. “I expect they only seem young because they’ve been at a day school and well, going home every night doesn’t give you the same sense of responsibility as boarding school. You’re not as responsible for yourself or other people. They’re the same age as Amy and anyway, we don’t know them yet.”

Author:  KathrynW [ 02 May 2006, 16:31 ]
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It's great to see a sequel Catherine, I can't wait to see more :D

Kathryn

Author:  La Petite Em [ 02 May 2006, 16:36 ]
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Same as Kathryn! :D

Author:  Lesley [ 02 May 2006, 19:00 ]
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Lovely to see this - I like Amy.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  MaryR [ 02 May 2006, 20:41 ]
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A lovely start, Catherine. Thank you.

Author:  Alice [ 02 May 2006, 23:59 ]
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Glad to see a beginning to more of Amy's story. Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 03 May 2006, 00:11 ]
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Great to see a sequel to this. Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 03 May 2006, 12:05 ]
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The subject of their conversation, meanwhile, was over at Plas Howell and discovering that she was going to hold more responsibility than she would like over the coming term.
“But why me?” Amy looked at Miss Annersley, who had just informed her that she would be a dormitory prefect this coming term, with an appalled expression. The Head laughed.
“Under normal circumstances, Amy, I would not have asked you to take this on for another term or two but the fact of the matter is that Caroline Andrews, who was to be Dormitory Prefect of Bluebell, has left unexpectedly. That left us with a position to fill and since you are on the spot and a responsible, kind and helpful Senior, we have decided to appoint you to the position and in some ways, it’s rather a blessing in disguise. You see, the members of your dormitory are all First Formers, who tend to be rather nervous and homesick to start with, until they become used to it all. You already know Josette, of course, and you’ve met Vi Lucy and one or two more of that crowd.”
“But what about Louisa and Charlotte?” Amy objected.
“They will be in a dormitory with other Seniors for the moment,” Miss Wilson took a hand. “It’s only fair that they have the opportunity to be with others of your age. In any case, we could hardly expect you to help them and do the duties of a dormitory prefect.”
“It needn’t make too much difference to your friendship, Amy. The babies go to bed straight after Prayers and you people don’t go to bed until 21.00 hours,” Miss Annersley reassured her. “All you will be missing out on is the chance to sleep in the same room and since you’re forbidden to talk after Lights Out and there is little opportunity to chatter before then or first thing in the morning, you’ll hardly notice the difference!”
“I suppose,” Amy heaved a sigh and the two Heads watched her.
“Won’t you give it a try, Amy?” Miss Annersley’s voice was gently persuasive. “If you can’t manage it or it’s making you unhappy, come and talk to us and we’ll think again but we both think you can do it and that you’ll enjoy doing it.”
“You’d be helping Madame out,” Miss Wilson added skilfully. “She’s been very worried over Josette’s first term because Josette’s been so ill and been with her so much. From what we’ve heard, Josette has come to look on you as a big sister and Madame would be very relieved to know that you would be with her and ready to help her settle in.”
“I-if you think I can do it, then I will,” Amy agreed in the end. She was very grateful to the Russells for the kindness they had shown her and would do anything she could to help them.
“Good for you, Amy!” Miss Annersley exclaimed. “I’m sure you’ll make a success of it. Now, run along and find Matron so you can get unpacked.”

Author:  ibarhis [ 03 May 2006, 12:08 ]
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Looking forward to seeing how this pans out.

Author:  KathrynW [ 03 May 2006, 15:08 ]
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Thanks Catherine, I hope Amy makes a success of it :D

Kathryn

Author:  Eilidh [ 03 May 2006, 15:11 ]
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Thanks Catherine - I liked the first Amy and this one looks goo too.

Author:  Lesley [ 03 May 2006, 15:46 ]
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Pleased for Amy that she has this responsibilty.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  francesn [ 03 May 2006, 16:21 ]
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Lovely to see more of Amy - thanks Catherine.

Hope that everything will go smoothly for her as dormitory prefect. And well done Nell!

Author:  Catherine [ 04 May 2006, 10:14 ]
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“Well Amy! So here you are!” Matron greeted the girl. “Have you enjoyed your holidays?”
“I think so,” Amy hesitated before replying. “At least, they’ve been different.”
“It always takes time to get used to change,” Matron said understandingly. “Try not to dwell on things too much; you’ll find you adapt to the changes much more readily than if you analyse and think about them.”
“It’s hard not to think about how different everything is,” Amy confessed. “I don’t know how to stop,” she added, a little helplessly.
“By giving yourself fresh things to think about,” Matron said briskly. “You’re to be dormitory prefect of Bluebell this term and that will certainly give you something else to think about! You’ll have every day school activities to help you as well but don’t forget that help is yours for the asking. Nobody wants you to suffer in silence! Now run along and unpack, I have a feeling there will be plenty for you to do!” Amy obeyed, inwardly wondering what was meant by this. She soon found out. As she entered Bluebell there came the sound of wails and harassed voices, one of which she recognised as belonging to Sybil. She shut the door loudly and waited. Five people immediately appeared in the aisle; three looked harassed and two looked to be on the verge of tears.
“What are you all doing?” she demanded, genuine interest in her tones.
“Trying to help these two unpack,” Julie Lucy said despairingly, waving at Vi and Josette.
“Why are you here, Amy?” Sybil asked curiously.
“I’m dormy prefect here so I’ve come to unpack,” Amy replied. “I know it’s not even the first day yet but if you people carry on making a row, Matey will have something to say! Have you three unpacked for yourselves yet?”
“Not yet,” Betsy Lucy confessed. “We thought we should help these two first.”
“Well scram and get on with it and I’ll see to these two,” Amy told her. “You can come back when you’re done and then we’ll go and see if we can find something else to do.”
“But what about your things, Amy?” Julie asked anxiously.
“I’ll manage,” Amy answered confidently, although eyeing the mess in both cubicles, she wondered. The two infants looked at her and then looked at the mess.
“It’s a bit of a mess, isn’t it?” Vi ventured.
“It is a bit,” Amy agreed and pulled herself together as she saw the apprehension in the two pairs of eyes facing her.
“But you can make it all right, can’t you, Amy?” Josette, who in recent weeks had begun to demonstrate a tendency to think Amy could do anything, asked, albeit a little anxiously.
“I can,” Amy answered, confident that she could certainly put this right. “We’ll do Vi’s cubicle first and then Vi can help us with yours, Josette,” she said and proceeded to take charge of the pair far more capably than she had ever thought possible. By the time Matron appeared, to see how they were getting on, Josette and Vi’s cubicles were neat and tidy, with their clothes in their proper places and everything else arranged in the way that Matron always expected. The three were busy with Amy’s belongings and did not notice Matron, since she had come in quietly and said nothing. Nor did they notice that she had a companion: Lady Russell had accompanied Matron and stood observing the scene of industry with twinkling eyes. She too gave no indication that she was there and they simply slipped out as quietly as they had come and after exchanging a few chuckles and amused remarks, Lady Russell made her way down to the Heads’ study whilst Matron made her way along to the other dormitories, to see how the elder three were getting on.

Author:  ibarhis [ 04 May 2006, 10:39 ]
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Go Amy go!

Author:  MaryR [ 04 May 2006, 11:08 ]
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How lovely for the adults to see how their faith in Amy is so justified.

Wonderful, Catherine. Thank you.

Author:  Lesley [ 04 May 2006, 18:49 ]
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Amy's just the type that scared little Juniors will feel happy with.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  francesn [ 04 May 2006, 19:55 ]
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Aww bless them. Vi and Josette are so cute!

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 05 May 2006, 08:26 ]
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“Hilda Annersley and Nell Wilson! What have you two done to my Amy?” Madge demanded, as she entered the study and the two Heads looked up and laughed.
“My Amy?” Nell repeated, quizzically and Madge had the grace to blush.
“The family has started to think of her as ours,” she admitted. “The girls think she’s wonderful and David’s just glad there’s someone to keep his sisters out of his hair!”
“Isn’t it time you provided David with a brother or two?” Hilda teased, putting the question of Amy aside for the moment. “I’m sure he must need someone to instruct in the art of climbing trees and playing football!”
“Sybil can do both quite well!” Madge retorted. “It would have been nice to provide David with a brother but Nature has decided otherwise and since Jem and I both feel our family is big enough, he must do without. In any case, he’s got Steve and Charles if he wants male company that badly! What’s more, when he’s at school, he’s surrounded by boys and if he gets too lonely in the holidays, Mollie will have him!”
“How are things with Dick and Mollie? Have they got the house set to rights yet?” Nell inquired.
“Parts of it,” Madge replied. “They’ve spent most of the holidays out of doors and so only done up the parts the family use the most. I believe Dick and Mollie intend to really get to grips with things over the next few months though, whilst the family are away. I know Moll has some lovely ideas for Peg and Bride’s rooms.”
“And Maeve?”
“Is more of a tomboy than anything else, I believe,” Madge frowned suddenly. “Which dormitory is Maeve in?” she asked, changing tack.
“We’ve put her in Hyacinth with Peggy for her dormitory prefect,” Hilda replied, once she’d found the lists. “We thought that since all this is very new to Maeve and she’s getting used to all the changes that have happened recently, we’d put her with Peggy to ease her over the first term or so.”
“Is there a problem?” Nell inquired.
“I’m interfering here but I think they’d be better apart,” Madge began slowly. “From what Mollie has said and Peg and Bride have hinted at in their letters to me, Maeve rather resents Peggy. You see, hitherto, Maeve and Maurice have been allowed to go their own way, much of the time, with only Dick and Mollie and Ayah to interfere in their affairs. Those three being adults, it’s quite acceptable but when Peggy has tried to restrain Maeve from various wild activities or asked her to do things, there’s been trouble.”
“The natural result of being told what to do by someone you’d hadn’t met hitherto, I suppose,” Nell said.
“Yes and Mollie thought nothing of it to start with. As she said to me, Maeve would simply have to knuckle down and get on with it. But eight or nine weeks later, the problem still exists. I know Dick has been very stern with Maeve when he’s caught her being rude and that’s set her back up even more. Peggy has tried to back off but it comes naturally to her to step in if she sees her siblings causing trouble and since Dick and Mollie can’t be with them all the time and Maeve has to learn right from wrong somehow -,”
“Peggy has to be able to step in when necessary without being answered back,” Nell finished. “Well perhaps a term at School will help Maeve to realise that there is more than one form of authority!”
“But in the meantime, Peggy and Maeve must certainly be separated,” Hilda said. “I wonder!” she gazed thoughtfully down at her lists and Madge looked at her in sudden alarm.
“Hilda, don’t tell me you’re going to put her in Amy’s dormitory!” she exclaimed.
“It’s the only Junior dormitory with spare cubicles,” the Head replied, frowning slightly. “Is Maeve really such an awful child?”
“Heavens no!” Maeve’s aunt cried. “Taking her by and large, she’s as good as any child her age but I’m worried about Amy. Is it really fair to land another girl on her? Especially when nobody can say how Maeve is going to react to authority? After all, this is Amy’s first go at it – she’s not got the experience of troublesome children that some of the others have!”
“All the more reason why she should get it!” Nell said crisply. “In any case, who would you put her with? All the people in charge of Junior dormitories are relatively new to the job and some are Peggy’s closest friends. Besides, both Vi and Josette have elder siblings as do Josefa Wertheimer and Gretchen Mensch and won’t give her any sympathy if she starts to complain. Lesley Malcolm, Doris Hill, Anne and Angela Carter can all be quite squashing too. Besides, Amy’s going to have to get used to responsibility! She’s fifteen and it’s time she sat up and took notice of things!”
“Let us try it, Madge,” Hilda suggested. “Amy knows that if she can’t cope, we will rethink the situation but I have every faith in her and it will be better for Maeve to be with strong characters.”

Author:  MaryR [ 05 May 2006, 16:00 ]
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Of course Amy is the person for the job.

Loved Hilda's jibe about providing a brother for David, and also how each of them privately thinks of Amy as *theirs* :lol:

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  francesn [ 05 May 2006, 16:25 ]
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Hope Amy will cope with a troublesome Maeve!

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  KathrynW [ 05 May 2006, 18:27 ]
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Thanks catherine, I'm looking forward to seeing a troublesome Maeve! I hope Amy can cope with her.

Thank you :D

Author:  Lesley [ 05 May 2006, 19:31 ]
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Thanks Catherine - there's something in one of the books about Bride protecting Maeve isn't there?

Author:  Catherine [ 17 May 2006, 14:25 ]
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Sorry it's been so long!

Yes, Lesley, there is a mention about Bride protecting Maeve. I think it was the Jiu-Jitsu business in (?)Wrong


Amy, meanwhile, completely oblivious to the fact that they had been visited, was just setting the finishing touches to her cubicle. She had one or two photographs of her father but most were either at the Round House or in the small room at the top of Plas Howell that Gwensi had suggested she take for her own, last term. Both Sybil and Josette had seen photographs and their genuine desire to know about him had helped Amy to accept what had happened and talk about him without getting upset. Despite the loss of her father, she secretly admitted to herself that she was looking forward to this term more than any other – mainly because she now felt she had ‘found her footing’ in the School and knew that she would have friends to lean on if it got hard.
“It’s so good that you’re going to be here, Amy!” Josette’s excited chatter roused Amy from her thoughts. “I ‘spect I’ll have lots to say cos lots of ‘citing things will happen an’ I’ll be able to tell you all about it cos you’re my sister an’ not so bossy as Sybs!”
“But Amy’s not really your sister!” Vi objected.
“No but Mummy says that she’s got no family an’ so she’s part of our family now!” Josette nodded.
“That’s good, then,” Vi decided. “Maybe Amy can have lots of sisters! She could make all of us in here her sisters!” she suggested and Amy only just managed not to look horrified.
“You might not want me to be your sister once term begins,” she suggested instead. “I’ll be telling you what to do all the time!”
“Somebody has to!” Julie’s voice remarked as the three elder girls appeared, obeying Amy’s earlier instructions. With them were Julie and Betsy’s cousins -Nancy Chester, Vanna and Nella Ozanne – and Blossom Willoughby. “I say! You’ve managed to put everything away! I was sure you’d not have finished yet!” Julie exclaimed, looking round the tidy dormitory, whilst Amy looked at the motley crew in dismay, wondering what on earth she was to do with them all.
“I like your ornaments, Amy,” Betsy put in shyly. “Did you do that house?” she pointed to the model of a house that was sitting in the middle of one of Amy’s shelves.
“No,” Amy shook her head. “Someone in the village I used to live in made it for me before I came here. Have you all finished?”
“Yes,” Sybil nodded. “Matron’s been along and says all our cubeys are quite tidy. She said to tell you not to wait for her but to go and get our elevenses and then see what else we can do.”
“I want to tidy up the gym!” Blossom immediately announced.
“I want to see to the stationery!” Betsy promptly countered.
“I would like to do the needlework room!” Sybil added.
“Well you can’t do everything different because we need to have a Senior to supervise us and Amy can’t be everywhere at once!” Nancy pointed out.
“Suppose we go and get milk and biscuits and discuss it a bit more then?” Amy cut in. “You never know, there might be a way for you all to be where you want to be! Lead the way, you two!” she added to Vi and Josette, who promptly scampered ahead of their elders.

On arrival in the first form common room, where they had been told they could expect to find milk and biscuits, they found several other girls chatting. Many of those who lived nearby had come to unpack, in order to create less work for Matron when the main part of the School descended upon them the following day. Julie, Nancy, Betsy, Blossom and Sybil promptly made their way over to where Nella and Vanna Ozanne, Lavender Leigh, Lilamani, Flora and Fiona McDonald were all chattering eagerly, whilst the two little ones made a beeline for the milk and biscuits.
“Oh good! A fellow Upper VBite!” a voice sounded in Amy’s ear and she jumped and turned to find Mollie McNab regarding her, with a grin.
“Mollie!” Amy exclaimed. “I wish you wouldn’t creep up on people like that!” she added and a soft chuckle met her in reply.
“It’s no good, my dear,” Alixe McNab, Mollie’s elder sister, put in. “Vicky and I have been trying to change her for years but we’ve not managed it yet!”
“You’ll just have to put up with me as I am!” Mollie declared. “Are you coming to get a glass of milk, Amy? I thought maybe you and I could go and help Miss Burn with the Games stuff afterwards.”
“Perhaps Amy would rather do something else,” Alixe commented, noticing Amy’s reluctant expression. “Not everyone’s as Games-mad as you, Moll!”
“I’d rather do the library to be honest,” Amy confessed. “But I think we’d have to split anyway because the Heads don’t want the younger ones left on their own – and Vi and Josette are a bit little to be left. I think Blossom would quite like to help out with the Games stuff though.”
“I expect most of that crowd would!” Alixe laughed. “Go and grab yourself a drink, Amy and I’ll sort this little lot out. Miss Phipps mentioned something about help with setting up Kindergarten so Vi and Josette can go there and I’ll send the McDonald twins along as well. Julie and Nancy can help you with the Junior Library and I’ll take Lavender and Lilamani and see to the Senior Library. The rest can see to the Gym with you, Mollie and Miss Burn.”
“I think Sybil would quite like to do the needlework room,” Amy proffered shyly.
“Well then Sybil and Betsy can trot off and do that and the Ozanne twins and Blossom can do the Gym,” Alixe answered promptly. “I don’t think there’ll be much to do in the needlework room so those two can help out with Stationery when they’re finished there.” She sent Amy away to get a drink and went to inform the rest of the plans for the remainder of the morning, at the end of which they would all be returning to their respective homes for there was to be a Staff meeting that afternoon and nobody wanted several girls running around the place, with very little to do. Amy felt a little awkward, it is true, about returning to the Round House, feeling the Russells should have this last day as a family, but neither Madge, Sybil or Josette gave her any chance to act on her feelings, all making it clear in their own ways, that so far as they were concerned, Amy was part of the family. In any case, as Amy discovered on returning to the house, the last day was likely to turn into more of a riotous affair than a family one, for almost all of the Maynard household had decamped to the Round House for the rest of the afternoon.

Author:  ibarhis [ 17 May 2006, 14:27 ]
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Amy is really getting into the swing of things - good for her...

Author:  Lesley [ 17 May 2006, 19:20 ]
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They are all taking on responsibility there.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  KathrynW [ 17 May 2006, 23:33 ]
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Thanks Catherine, Amy seems to have taken to her new responsibilities like a duck to water!

Kathryn

Author:  Tara [ 18 May 2006, 01:37 ]
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Ooh, I've just found this, and it's lovely. Looking forward to more.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Jools [ 19 May 2006, 23:47 ]
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Really enjoying this Catherine. More please :D

Author:  Chair [ 20 May 2006, 11:27 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I read Amy's story in the Archives and I really enjoyed it. It's great to see more of Amy. I think that she is handling being dormitory prefect very well.

Author:  francesn [ 20 May 2006, 12:43 ]
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Thank you Catherine, Amy is coping beautifully and she's just right for the little ones standing up for them like that.

Author:  Catherine [ 03 Jun 2006, 18:37 ]
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Sorry it's been so long - moving got in the way!!

“The Abbess and Bill have gone mad – oh sorry, Amy!” Thus Gay Lambert as she threw herself into the seat next to Amy, very nearly landing on top of the girl.
“I wish you’d watch what you’re doing, Gay!” Jacynth, who had followed her into the Senior Common room, complained. “You’re not a kid anymore, you know!”
“You remind me of it daily,” Gay sighed, pulling a face at her chum.
“About time you started to listen then,” Gillian Culver, the third of their trio, remarked. “But go on! Why are the Abbess and Bill mad?”
“They’ve put me in Poppy dormitory!” Gay began dramatically. “My fellow roommates are all Middles! Why on earth have they put me, of all people, in charge of a group of Middles?!”
“For the same reason they’ve put me in charge of Juniors,” Amy murmured as Gay’s listeners chuckled.
“Madness!” Gay agreed, causing a chorus of shocked gasps.
“Gabrielle Lambert!” Jacynth exclaimed. “I don’t know how you dare!”
“Pay no attention to her, Amy,” Gillian added. “She doesn’t mean to be so insulting!”
“Oh gosh!” Gay broke in. “I’m awfully sorry, Amy! I never meant that it was mad to put you in charge of a group of Juniors -.”
“It is though,” Amy replied. “I don’t know the first thing about them. I hadn’t had a thing to do with any small kids until last term and the summer and then I’ve never been alone with more than one or two!”
“You’ll manage fine,” Gillian reassured her. “At that age, they’re mostly too much in awe of Seniors to cause much trouble and anyway, you’ll only see them first thing in the morning and at Lights Out for them.”
“It’ll mostly be helping them with buttons and laces and things,” Kathie Robertson put in. “You’ll need to make sure they say their prayers properly and keep things tidy and in their right place but that’s about it. Which dormy do you have? Bluebell? I’m in Snowdrop, which is opposite so if you need a hand, give me a yell. I’m sure you’ll be fine though; the Juniors aren’t a bad lot, really. And as for you, Gay Lambert, what on earth are you wailing about?!” she demanded sternly. “You’re not a kid anymore – quite likely we’ll all be Prees this time next year – and it’s time you started behaving more responsibly and put more thought into what you do! In any case, I can’t think of a better person to take charge of Middles! You’ve been there and done most things so you’re the ideal person to stamp a heavy foot on their ideas!”
“Look who’s talking!” Gay retorted. “You were no angel yourself, my dear! You and Moll had some wild ideas of your own!” she grinned at Mollie Avery.
“Which we haven’t acted upon since we were Fourth form,” Mollie replied with dignity. “You, on the other hand, were still doing mad things when you were Lower Fifth!”
“She’s improved considerably over the past year though,” Jacynth said fairly. “Where’s the rest of Lower, Amy? Why are you on your own?”
“Still unpacking, I think,” Amy replied. “I unpacked yesterday and Matey decided there were enough people milling about in the dormies without me adding to them so sent me in here.”
“Hang on a sec!” Gay exclaimed. “I’ve just realised! If you’re dormy pree, what’s happening to Louisa and Charlotte? Who’s looking after them?”
“Tactless idiot!” Gillian muttered as Amy’s face fell slightly.
“They’re in with other people,” Amy explained.
“Probably best that way,” Mollie Avery suggested. “You’ll be together for most of the day anyway so you don’t want to end up living in each other’s pockets – especially since you’ve not seen that much of each other over the past couple of years or so. You’ll all be a bit different so you’ll have space to be yourself.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” Amy owned, remembering that she had felt a difference in their friendship in their recent meetings. It wasn’t that they had grown apart, the friendship was still as close as ever, more that it was more of an equal friendship. Amy had become more confident about suggesting ideas of her own and speaking up if she didn’t want to do something or disagreed with something they had said.
“Well think of it now,” Gay told her, serious for once. “You’ve had a hard time recently and it’ll be much better for you if you don’t have to worry about helping two new girls to settle in. They’ll each have their own ‘sheepdog’ assigned to them, which means you’re free to be with them as much or as little as you like and seek out other people if you want. After all, this is your turf but it’s new to them and you don’t want to end up arguing because you’re frustrated with the amount of questions they’re asking or if they find it difficult to adapt to the way we do things. I’m sure they’ll settle in fine,” she added hastily, “but it’s as well not to risk putting a strain on your friendship when you’re almost getting to know each other again.”
“I thought things would be just the same when I saw them again,” Amy confessed. “They weren’t though.”
“They couldn’t be,” Jacynth answered. “For starters, you’ve been at boarding school for the past few years whilst they’ve still been living at home, not having to worry much about mending or how far your pocket money will stretch or making beds etc. You’ve learnt how to look after yourself and how to settle down to work at allotted times, instead of when you want to work. You’ve not had someone to hide behind so you’ve had to find out things for yourself. That all makes you much more independent and responsible than someone who hasn’t had to do any of that. Plus, you’ve become much more aware of what this war means than they have – even if you hadn’t lost your father, the School makes you think about the outside world far more than you would at home – especially in the country. The twins won’t have known any of that though and they’ll have expected you to be the same person you were when they last saw you. And of course, they’ll have changed too.”
“What Gay and Jacynth mean is that there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be as close as you once were, again, but that the opportunity, for all of you, to have your own time and space to think about things will let the friendship grow more naturally than if you were living in each other’s pockets,” Gillian summed up.
“You’ll enjoy being a dormitory prefect,” Kathie put in. “The Juniors can be pains and they’re not too young to be naughty but it’s quite rewarding work as they’re young enough to want to please you. In any case, most of us will be Prees before so very long, so the sooner we hoe in and get to know the younger kids properly, the better!”

Author:  Fatima [ 03 Jun 2006, 18:40 ]
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I hope that Gay isn't going to lead her charges astray! Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  KathrynW [ 03 Jun 2006, 19:30 ]
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Thank you Catherine, I think you've captured all the characters really well :D

Kathryn

Author:  MaryR [ 03 Jun 2006, 20:03 ]
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Jacynth was so wise and understanding there.

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  Lesley [ 03 Jun 2006, 20:26 ]
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Thanks Catherine, good to see more of this.

Author:  Chair [ 03 Jun 2006, 20:46 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. It was nice to see the advice the others gave Amy about her friendship with Louisa and Charlotte.

Author:  Tara [ 04 Jun 2006, 00:26 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. Enjoying these characters.

Author:  ibarhis [ 04 Jun 2006, 22:51 ]
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Lots of good Chaletian common sense there!

Author:  francesn [ 05 Jun 2006, 17:17 ]
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Gay and a bunch of Middles - that can only be a recipe for disaster!

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 24 Jun 2006, 18:17 ]
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There was no time for more; the door opened just then and the remaining members of the Common Room – all except the Sixth, who were helping to supervise unpacking, arrived just then, chattering like magpies, as Gay termed it.
“Hello, you people! Good hols?” she asked.
“Fab, thanks!” Hester Layng replied. “Pity we have to come back to School! Too much like hard work, if you ask me!”
“Lazy as ever, Hester?” Kathie Robertson grinned and Hester grinned back, unperturbed.
“It takes all sorts to make a world,” she informed Kathie, nodding her head wisely and a general chuckle went round the Fifth formers. “I say!” Hester continued, taking no notice of the chuckles, “has anyone seen Amy? She wasn’t in any of the dormies when we unpacked! I don’t think she’s come back this term! I couldn’t really blame her after last term, what with her father dying and everything. I wonder where she’s gone? Maybe she just couldn’t cope or maybe there wasn’t any money left for her -,”
“There was plenty of money, thanks,” Amy herself spoke up at this point. “Sorry to disappoint you Hester, but you’ll have to find some other piece of gossip to spread.”
“You’d get into a lot less bother if you only engaged your brain before your mouth, Hester,” Gillian Culver added as Hester went a fiery red.
“Hear hear,” Nita Eltringham agreed. “Had you even stopped to think, Hester that Amy lives locally and therefore would have unpacked yesterday?”
“But why wasn’t she helping us unpack?” Joy Bird demanded. “Charlotte and Louisa are supposed to be friends of hers, so why wasn’t she at least helping them or waiting to greet them in their dormy? Her name wasn’t on any of the lists Matey read out either!”
“Amy’s a dormitory prefect this term for a Junior dormy and she’s already done her fair share of helping others to unpack. In any case, both of you already knew that Louisa and Charlotte were to be looked after by other people – you heard Burnie tell them so at the station!” Peggy squashed Hester and Joy firmly.
“If you must try to spread bizarre stories about people, you might at least make sure they’re true!” Daphne Russell added her quota. “We’re not kids anymore and if the Heads got to hear of it…”
“Well they won’t, unless she tells them!” Joy responded hotly.
“Don’t be so ridiculous, Joy,” Amy sighed. “I’ve better things to do with my time than go running to the Heads whenever someone says something I don’t like! All Daphne means is that if the kids get hold of a tale you’ve started, it’ll reach the staff and Heads in no time at all. It’d not take them long to find out who started it and what was just a very silly thing for a Middle to do, will most likely be something much worse for a Senior to do.” Recent events had caused Amy to grow up quite fast and to gain some, at least, of the confidence she had previously lacked. The love and concern showed for her and to her by the Heads and the Jennings, the Russells and their extended family was slowly causing her to realise that although she might now no longer have any of her own family left, she was still able to have a place in the lives of others. She had also accepted that she had no need to feel lonely or unwanted and that she did not need to struggle on alone for there were plenty of sources of help and comfort available to her, should she need them. This was therefore the first time that most of her peers had seen this side of her and Hester and Joy and one or two others were open-mouthed in surprise. The rest were mostly too busy inwardly applauding Amy for her speech, to think about the change in her.
“That’s exactly what I mean!” Daphne backed Amy up. “We should be above spreading stories now – especially ones which don’t have a grain of truth in them. Anyway, enough of that! Has anybody else realised how weird it is to be starting a new school year and still be in the same form as last term? We’re going to be rather overcrowded in the Seniors this year!”

Author:  Chair [ 24 Jun 2006, 23:37 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I wonder what is going to happen about the overcrowding.

Author:  KathrynW [ 24 Jun 2006, 23:49 ]
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Thanks catherine, it's nice to see Amy standing up for herself.

Author:  LizB [ 25 Jun 2006, 09:49 ]
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*pokes Hester*

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  Lesley [ 25 Jun 2006, 15:50 ]
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Pleased Amy can answer the concerns so quickly - the others will see a number of changes in her, won't they?

Thanks Catherine

Author:  MaryR [ 25 Jun 2006, 16:13 ]
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Oh, what a lovely difference in Amy's approach to life, learning from others how much she is loved still and how much she has to offer. How wisely and humorously she answers all the criticisms.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 25 Jun 2006, 18:26 ]
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“Charlotte’s had an awful thought,” Louisa confided glumly to Amy as the three managed to congregate together in a corner.
“Oh? What?” Amy turned curiously to Charlotte.
“That we might end up in different forms as well as different dormitories,” Charlotte answered, sounding as glum as her twin. “It’s bad enough not being in the same dormitory as you and it’s even worse not being in the same dormitory as each other but it’d be unbearable if we were all in different forms!”
“Well that won’t happen, at any rate,” Amy answered confidently. “There are only two forms in the Fifth and I’m not moving up so either one of us will on our own in either Lower or Upper or we’ll all be together. Who are your sheepdogs?”
“Anthea Barnett and Barbara Henschell,” Louisa answered promptly.
“Well they were both Lower V last term and I don’t see how anyone can be moved up when we’re packed as tight as this so I imagine we’ll be together in form. And you know, the dormy thing isn’t as bad as all that. I didn’t like the idea at first but there’s never much time for talking in the dormies and visiting isn’t allowed so it won’t make a lot of difference.”
“Maybe not to you but it will to us,” Charlotte responded, still glumly. “We’ve never been separated before and we’ve never been away from home before!”
“Ask to be allowed to be together then,” Amy suggested, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I’m sure Matron will understand if you explain that it’s your first time away from home and you don’t want to be separated.”
“And have her think us a pair of babies?” Louisa cried. “No thank you!”
“Not a chance!” Charlotte added. “I didn’t say we couldn’t manage, I just said I didn’t like it!”
“Just checking,” Amy grinned.
“You knew you were going to react like that, didn’t you?” Louisa eyed her friend suspiciously.
“Yes all right, I did,” Amy admitted. “If I thought you’d take my suggestion about Matey seriously then I’d never have said it! I do know what you mean,” she continued, anxiously. “I hated it at first and well, until last term, I never felt much better about it. But now, well, if Daddy was still alive, I’d not like it any better,” she swallowed hard at this point and the twins each squeezed a hand reassuringly.
“But now what?” Louisa pressed.
“But now I know how kind everyone is and how helpful they are if I need it and I know that if I’d told them I was homesick and things when I first started, they’d have tried to help,” Amy fidgeted slightly. “And I’ve got you two now,” she ended, and was thankful when the bell rang to summon them to their evening meal.
This being the first night of term, the girls sat where they wanted and amongst the younger girls, at any rate, there were scraps and arguments aplenty as friends struggled and pushed to sit with each other. Beth, very much the Head Girl, and the other Prefects, were here, there and everywhere, hushing loud voices, putting an end to arguments and in one or two cases, guiding new girls to a seat, their sheepdogs having forgotten them in their haste to sit with their friends. In the end, seeing the fraught faces of her fellow Prefects and feeling fraught herself, Beth strode up to the staff table and hammered on it until she had complete silence.
“I don’t what you people think you’re doing but let me remind you that this is a not a school for hooligans!” she said sternly. “If you aren’t able to find seats for yourselves without pushing and shoving and yelling at the of your voices then first night or not, I shall dock you all of an order mark and what’s more, I’ll march you all back to your formrooms – and that includes the Seniors!” she added, looking pointedly at Joy Bird who had chosen to talk to her next door neighbour during all of this, a thoroughly fed up and bored look on her face. Sylvie La Touche dug her in the ribs.
“Shut up, idiot! D’y want a row with the Head Girl before term’s even started?” she hissed and Joy, realising that most of her contemporaries were glaring at her by now, went a fiery red. Beth, seeing her point had hit home, turned back to the rest of the School.
“Will those of you who haven’t yet found seats, please do so quietly and properly. Anyone caught pushing or shoving, will be made to stand out until everybody else is seated. Those of you who have new girls to look after, please ensure you take them with you and don’t leave them standing on their own!” The line moved off again, in a more orderly and quiet fashion this time and the Seniors, who were already seated, turned back to their own chatter.
“Is it just me or does anybody else think Joy Bird is simply spoiling for trouble?” Gay addressed her table.
“It certainly looks that way,” Mollie Avery agreed. “Let’s hope she gets over whatever it is or life could be quite unpleasant! Remember how she was in Upper Third anyone?”
“Lavender Leigh and her little crowd got the worst of that,” Kathie Robertson pointed out. “We were Upper Fourth mostly. All the same, Joy isn’t someone you can reason with – at least, not in this mood she isn’t – best just leave her alone to get whatever it is out of her system.”
“Bit of a difference in young Amy, isn’t there?” Peggy Burnett commented. “She seems very grown up all of a sudden! And the way she spoke to Hester and Joy! She’d have run a mile last term!”
“She’s had a lot to deal with,” Jacynth answered gravely. “It does make you see things differently and you start to care about different things. Amy found out last term who her friends were and because of everything that’s happened, she’s not so bothered about the attitude of people who’ve never bothered with her. Hester and Joy deserved everything they got – they could do with a spot of growing up themselves!”

Author:  KathrynW [ 25 Jun 2006, 18:48 ]
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Thanks catherine, what a lovely long update! It's good to see how well Amy is taking to school and is able to share her experiences with Louisa and Charlotte.

Author:  Chair [ 25 Jun 2006, 19:57 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I loved the idea of the prefects taking the Seniors back to their formrooms!

Author:  Lesley [ 25 Jun 2006, 21:17 ]
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Thanks Catherine - lovely seeing how the dynamics of the forms are falling into place.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 25 Jun 2006, 23:24 ]
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Fascinating little insights there. Thank you.

Author:  Nell [ 26 Jun 2006, 11:57 ]
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Lovely updates, intersting to see how things are settling down.

Thank you Catherine.

Author:  MaryR [ 26 Jun 2006, 16:44 ]
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Gorgeous to see so much more of the girls we already think we know so well.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 26 Jun 2006, 21:44 ]
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Prayers followed the evening meal and then Amy, along with various other members of the Seniors, deserted her peers to go along and supervise her dormitory changing for bed. She opened the door to find the room in chaos, with its occupants talking at the tops of their voices, some changing in the aisle and not in their cubicles and clothes strewn around the room.
“Amy! Can you help me?” Josette, clothed in vest and knickers only, came to her, twisting this way and that in an effort to get out of her vest. Amy came to the rescue and then clapped her hands for silence.
“What are you all doing?” she demanded severely. “This room is a mess!”
“That’s cos we’re getting changed!” Maeve said cheekily.
“You don’t get changed in the aisle, you get changed in your cubicles and you don’t drop your clothes on the floor, you put them in your soiled linen bag or you hang them up again. Most of you aren’t new and so you know the rules just as well as I do!” she looked at Vi Lucy and Lesley Malcolm who were standing nearest her. “Pick up all your clothes and go back to your cubicles. Nobody is to talk until I say so.”
“You can’t tell me what to do!” Maeve answered back. “You’re not a mistress an’ I don’t have to do anything you say!”
“I’m your dormitory prefect, Maeve and that means that you must do what I ask you to do. Either do as I have said and take your clothes into your cubicle and finish changing or I shall have to ask Matron to come here and undress you like a baby,” Amy replied.
“That means you’re telling on me! Tell-tale, tell-tale!” Maeve began to chant, dancing around. Amy opened her mouth to try to contradict Maeve but remembered, just in time, what Joey Maynard had done when Margot had displayed the exact same behaviour and the advice Joey had given her.
“Don’t argue with them, don’t try to shout them down or try to get them to do what you want,” she advised. “If they’re behaving like this, just ignore them. Pretend they’re not there and no matter what they do, even if they throw a screaming tantrum, apart from half an eye to make sure they’re not likely to hurt themselves, pay no attention to them whatsoever. They’ll soon tire themselves out and when they see you’re not interested in them, they’ll soon start behaving like normal human beings.” Amy applied this advice now and turned to Vi Lucy who was the first to be dressed in her pyjamas.
“Put your dressing gown on, get your washbag and go and wash,” she told Vi who gave her a frightened look and then fled to do her bidding. Amy turned her attention to the rest, chivvying them along and reminding them to tidy up and all the while, Maeve stayed where she was. Eventually, just as Anne Carter, the last, fled to the bathroom, she stopped dancing.
“Why isn’t anybody looking at me?” she wondered aloud.
“No talking please!” Amy reminded the room’s occupants just in time to stop them all from giving Maeve all the attention she wanted. “If you’ve finished in the bathroom, make sure your cubicles are tidy and you’ve tidied everything away and then say your prayers and get into bed. Maeve, if you don’t hurry up and get changed, you’ll have to do it in the dark and then you’ll not be able to see anything.”
“I don’t care,” Maeve wasn’t quite prepared to give up the battle just yet.
“Fair enough,” Amy turned her back on the small girl and proceeded to do a tour of the cubicles, finding various items that weren’t in their proper places and getting their owners out of bed to replace them. By the time she reached Josette’s cubicle, Maeve had thought better of her bravado and slipped into her cubicle to change. Amy had to suppress a grin as she heard Maeve’s footsteps running out of the dormitory to the bathroom, the small girl anxious to be back before the lights went out.
“Amy, are you very cross still?” Josette wanted to know and Amy had to suppress another grin as there came the sound of various people sitting up in bed.
“A bit,” Amy replied. “I thought I had a nice dormitory!”
“You do!” half a dozen voices bravely assured her.
“Well maybe you could show me that tomorrow?” Amy suggested. “If you say you’re sorry now and promise to be good tomorrow, I’ll stop being cross.”
“And tell us a story?” Doris Hill asked hopefully.
“There’s no time now but if you promise to be good and quick tomorrow, I’ll read a bit of a story before the lights have to go out,” Amy promised. “You’ll all have to be good though; I can’t read one if some of you are being naughty still.”
“We’ll all be good!” Vi answered, very fiercely. “And we’re sorry for being naughty.”
“Sorry,” the murmurs came from all sides.
“I forgive you!” Amy assured them. “Now as soon as Maeve is back, I’ll turn the lights out so lie down again.”
“Amy, when will you be coming to bed>” Josette clutched at her.
“Soon,” Amy promised, tucking her in and giving her a sisterly kiss. “Sleep tight,” she smiled.
“An’ you,” Josette murmured, already sounding sleepy. “You’re ever so nice, Amy!”
“Very nice,” various sleepy murmurs agreed.
“Go to sleep!” Amy bade them laughing. “Goodnight Maeve,” she added as the child came flying back and by the sounds of it jumped straight into bed. “Don’t forget your prayers!” she snapped the light out and left the room, wondering anxiously whether she was really cut out to be a dormitory prefect.

Author:  Chair [ 26 Jun 2006, 22:19 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I think that Amy is doing really well.

Author:  Lesley [ 26 Jun 2006, 22:36 ]
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She did really well there.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  KathrynW [ 26 Jun 2006, 23:12 ]
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Thanks catherine, it was lovely to see Amy be able to control the younger girls yet still have then admire her so much.

Author:  Fatima [ 27 Jun 2006, 05:15 ]
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Amy was wonderful there. I hope they decide to give her an easier time of it now.

Author:  LizB [ 27 Jun 2006, 09:02 ]
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Maeve sounds like she'll be rather a handful - but I think Amy handled her in just the right way.

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  Nell [ 27 Jun 2006, 14:26 ]
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Of course she is iff that performance is anything to go by.

Thank you Catherine.

Author:  francesn [ 27 Jun 2006, 23:31 ]
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Aww she makes a wonderful dormy prefect!

Thank you Catherine

Author:  Catherine [ 28 Jun 2006, 22:03 ]
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“How did it go?” Mollie McNab caught Amy up as she made her way back to the Senior Common room, taking advantage of the fact that it was first night and rules were mostly still in abeyance. “Were they all right for you?”
“In the end,” Amy, grateful for the chance to get somebody else’s view, described what had happened.
“Little horrors!” Mollie chuckled. “Mine were just as bad! Believe it or not, they were actually having a game of jumping on the bed – or that’s how they described it to me! I ordered them down and all they could say in response was “Well at least it’s only the first night, so you can’t do anything to us!”
“What on earth did you say to them?” Amy demanded, as well as she could for giggling.
“In the end I decided to ignore it. I could have told them that first night or not, order marks could and would be given but then I decided that the staff and Prees wouldn’t take a very good view of me handing out order marks on the first night! I told them that I just hoped their beds weren’t on the point of collapsing after all their jumping and that sent half of them diving under their beds to find out! I don’t think any of them were in bed by the time I put the Lights Out!”
“Poor you!” Amy sympathised, although she was still giggling and Mollie swiped at her indignantly before breaking into giggles herself.
“Let’s just hope that none of the beds collapse in the middle of the night – I wouldn’t like to have to answer to Matey if they did!” she chuckled. “Your lot seem like little angels in comparison – though young Maeve sounds like she’s going to be a handful.”
“You won’t mention anything to Peggy, will you?” Amy asked slightly anxiously.
“Why on earth not?” Mollie demanded. “She’s the kid’s eldest sister! Who better to sort her out?”
“I know but they’re still getting to know each other and well, would you have liked it if someone complained to Vicky or Alixe every time you did something wrong?”
“No,” Mollie owned. “I’d have hated Vicky and the person who complained and done my best to play them up even more just to get back at them! OK, I won’t say a word. Here we are! I wonder if the others fared any better?”

If the expressions on some of the faces of the rest were anything to go by, then they had fared no better than Amy and Mollie. Gay, in particular, looked to be in despair.
“Mollie! Amy!” she greeted the newcomers with open arms – quite literally. “Tell me your little lots have been absolutely awful!”
“Not exactly good but not exactly awful either,” Amy answered thoughtfully. “I think they were just so excited they forgot about dormitory rules,” she looked questioningly at Mollie.
“Sounds a fair judgement,” Mollie considered. “I’d say that lots of chattering and tossing clothes off just anywhere could just be first night excitement. Jumping on the beds, on the other hand, could not!”
“Who did that?” Gillian Culver demanded, in amazement.
“Norah Bird and Lilias Robertson to name but two,” Mollie answered.
“Mollie, I could kiss you!” Gay said dramatically at this point.
“No, please don’t!” Mollie shrieked in dismay as Gay looked like doing that very thing. “Save me somebody!” This last as naughty Gay decided to relieve her despair – incidentally caused by finding her dormitory in the midst of racing up and down the dormitory and in one or two cases, hanging from cubicle frames – by chasing Mollie round the room, with arms outstretched. Nobody came to her rescue however, being too busy shrieking with laughter at the pair of them.

Author:  Chair [ 28 Jun 2006, 23:07 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. It was interesting to see them discussing it between them.

Author:  KathrynW [ 28 Jun 2006, 23:22 ]
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Thanks catherine, that was a lovely scene and I really enjoyed hearing all the stories :D

It will probably be a big help to Amy though to learn she is not alone.

Author:  Lesley [ 29 Jun 2006, 05:02 ]
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That will have helped everyone - knowing that it's not you, that your peers have had similar problems will boost their confidences.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Nell [ 29 Jun 2006, 10:03 ]
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A great post - lovely to see the cameraderie between the friends and them sharing their experiences will have helped!

Thank you Catherine!

Author:  Catherine [ 02 Jul 2006, 21:09 ]
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For once, nobody came to quieten their shrieks. The Prefects were at the top of the building, congregated in Gwensi’s room, enjoying illicit cups of cocoa and biscuits and discussing the term ahead, whilst the staff were busy putting the staffroom to rights and pushing chairs and tables together prior to a staff meeting. They heard the shrieks of laughter emanating from the Senior Common Room but all were too busy wondering just why the Heads had called for an important Staff meeting on the first evening of term when they had had a long meeting only the day before. They were not kept in suspense long. The two Heads were not long in arriving and Miss Annersley came straight to the point.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your evening with yet another staff meeting,” she began with a smile, which was reflected in the smiles and chuckles of those around her. “However, I’ve received a phone call from a Mrs Maples. She runs or perhaps I should say ran, a large school on the outskirts of a town which is an hour or so away from here – don’t ask me where, for the good lady was less than coherent at times! To put things in a nutshell, the school buildings have been bombed and are now little more than a pile of rubble,” she had to stop here for a chorus of horrified exclamations threatened to drown out her speech. Eventually, she held up her hand and they quietened down, to allow her to continue. “Fortunately, their term has not yet started so no girls were on the premises and nobody was hurt. However, she and her husband, who attended to the grounds and all maintenance etc., intended on retiring at the end of this academic year. Circumstances now mean that they have decided to bring this forward and Mrs Maples is now ringing round as many schools in the area as possible to see how many if any of her pupils can be accommodated elsewhere. Once she has ascertained this, she will be contacting parents to appraise them of the full situation and to let them know where their daughters could be schooled instead.”
“Hilda and I have discussed it and decided that we can accommodate 50 of them – 70 if she is desperate,” Nell put in. “We would have consulted you people first but felt that the urgency of the situation didn’t allow for it so we’ve made an executive decision,” she smiled apologetically. “As yet, we have no idea who or how many we will get, or which age groups. The girls ranged from 5-18.”
“But we’re crowded enough as it in our Seniors!” Pam Slater exclaimed.
“In terms of numbers only,” Nell Wilson replied. “We have plenty of space and a little bit of reorganisation should sort things out. We couldn’t refuse to help; we should have had to house some of them for a term if nothing else, to give them time to get the buildings sorted. As it is, this is much the best course of action. The girls will come as new girls and adapt, we hope, to our ways and traditions without thinking that they have no need to do so since they will not be staying here permanently and feeling that this is not their School. We’d already planned to divide up the two Fifths into Four Fifths and if needed, we shall split the Lower Sixth as well. That should allow plenty of room to manoeuvre should we get inundated with Seniors. I imagine, however, that it is more likely we shall get a lot of Middles, a few Seniors and a few Juniors.”
“So who is deciding who we get and who we don’t?” Mary Burnett demanded.
“The situation is this: Mrs Maples is organising a meeting for the day after tomorrow.” Nell continued briskly. It will be held in their local town hall and representatives from each of the schools will be present as will parents and pupils. Formal presentations won’t be given but parents and pupils will be invited to wander round the representatives and chat informally, each party exchanging information where relevant and necessary. Prospectuses and Uniform lists will be handed out and two days later, parents will be asked to contact their chosen school. Places will go on a first come, first served basis and although the children are not to know it, the places will be given for a trial period of a term. The situation being what it is, there is no time for parents to visit schools and assess them for themselves or for schools to receive a full and proper background on the children. It is therefore suggested that the schools involved all stay in contact and look into the possibility of reshuffling, depending on the needs of the child.”
“I should have said we could handle most types of children here,” Pam Slater remarked.
“Not all types,” Hilda answered gently but firmly. “This is a boarding school; not all children would be happy at a boarding school. I know that we are greatly privileged in that we have a happy set of girls who care about the well being of each other and upholding the traditions of the School and we mistresses care about these things too, which all helps to make for a good school. However, we are by no means perfect and we cannot provide a cure for every situation. This is an unusual situation and parents may well simply put their child down for the first school they see, regardless of whether the type of education and opportunities that school has to offer are right for their child. It would therefore not be right to ask a parent to remove their child; far better that by staying in contact with other schools, we can find an alternative.”
“Also, for whatever reason, parents may decide that they don’t wish their child to be so far away from them,” Nell Wilson added. “We will all try to avoid as many mistakes as possible by seeking the opinion of Mrs Maples, once decisions have been made but unless she strongly advises against a child joining us, the decisions of the parents will be upheld.”
“So are you both going?” Dollie Edwards demanded.
“No,” Hilda replied. “Madame will attend for it is still her school and Nell will go with her. We’re also asking that you go, Hilary. You are our Games expert and I suspect there will be a few questions along those lines, besides which you were a pupil and can answer questions from both perspectives. Ivy,” she turned to Ivy Norman. “We’d like you to attend also since we suspect there may be a fair number of Juniors and you have more to do with them than Nell does.”

Author:  MaryR [ 02 Jul 2006, 21:17 ]
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That should cause flutterings in the dovecote! :lol: Wonders how they will all shake down together.

And I loved Hilda's clear-eyed assessment of their school:
catherine wrote:
However, we are by no means perfect and we cannot provide a cure for every situation.


Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  KathrynW [ 02 Jul 2006, 21:33 ]
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Thanks catherine, this will definitely serve to liven things up I'd imagine...if they were not already lively enough!

Author:  Lesley [ 02 Jul 2006, 22:22 ]
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Hmmm, that will cause a few raised eyebrows in the School - 50 new girls?? All originally from one school?

Looking forward to seeing more.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 03 Jul 2006, 01:15 ]
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Now that promises to be interesting!! Nicely handled, Hilda - and a clear recognition that the CS doesn't suit everyone.

Author:  francesn [ 04 Jul 2006, 01:52 ]
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Well that's one way to shake things up!

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Chair [ 04 Jul 2006, 12:57 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. It will be interesting to see how the girls get on at the CS.

Author:  Catherine [ 06 Aug 2006, 20:38 ]
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The girls, needless to say, were told nothing of all of this. Indeed, as the two Heads had foreseen when discussing the new form arrangements for the term, the news that several of them had gained an unexpected remove, whilst others had to stay where they were, provided quite enough of a shock. There were no surprises amongst the girls listed as members of the Upper Sixth but ears were pricked up sharply as Miss Dene came to the Lower Sixth. “Lower Sixth: Margaret Anstey, Mary Anstey, Marjorie Burn, Peggy Burnett, Esther Collins, Gillian Culver, Marilyn Evans, Frances Grey, Melanie Kerdec, Roosje Lange, Lysbet van Lange, Marie Varick, Barbara Wallace, Dorothea Wentworth and Hilary Wyatt,” Gay and Jacynth exchanged rather forlorn looks with their third as Gillian moved to take a seat in one of the rows behind them, although if they were honest, Gillian’s promotion was not unexpected. All were far too matter of fact to let it upset them however and they turned their attention back to Miss Dene as she moved onto Upper Fifth A. “Upper Fifth A,” there was a little rustle of expectancy. “Mollie Avery, Esme Beranger, Dorcas Brownlow, Nancy Canton, Jacynth Hardy, Mary Ireson, Marney Jennings, Gabrielle Lambert, Jean Mackay, Kathie Robertson, Janet Scott, Anne Walker and Pamela Whitlock. Upper Fifth B,”
“Good luck,” Gay contrived to murmur to Amy, as she moved to take her place in the row in front of Lower Sixth. Amy looked slightly startled at this but before she could say anything, the Secretary was continuing:
“Anthea Barnett, Frances Coleman, Mary Everitt, Barbara Henschell, Charlotte Jennings, Louisa Jennings, Meg Lyall, Jean MacGregor, Mollie McNab, Ursula Nicholls, Amy Rutherford, Roswitha Saxon and Eilunedd Vaughan.” As the names were read out, the realisation that Peggy, who had shown her so much kindness the previous term, had not been promoted, hit Amy and she turned an appalled look on that young person who just shook her head and gave her a smile, before fixing her eyes back on the Secretary, in time to hear that she, along with Mollie Carew, Claire Duhammel, Nita Eltringham, Lavender Leigh, IIonka Maico, Natalie Mensch, Doreen O’Connor, Daphne Russell, Joan Sandys, Barbara Smith and Nina Williams would be Lower Fifth A. Joy Bird was not amongst them and she looked very black when she discovered that she would be in Lower Fifth B with people such as Anne Montague and Loveday Perowne who had been amongst the Middles until now.
“I’m sorry we’re not going to be in the same form,” she said to Peggy as that young person caught up with her, outside Peggy’s formroom door.
“We’ll still see plenty of each other,” Peggy smiled. “And after all, it isn’t that much of a surprise. Most of us are a good six months or so younger than you are and you’re no dud so it would have been more of a surprise if we’d been kept in the same form. All the same, I’d like to know just what else the Head has up her sleeve!”
“What do you mean?”
“The staff kept looking at each other as though they were enjoying some huge joke,” Peggy replied. “That usually means they know something we don’t and something we may not like either!”
“You’ve just got a suspicious mind!” Amy laughed but Peggy shook her head.
“Not suspicious at all,” Peggy answered. “You mark my words, something’s up!” With that, she departed, leaving Amy to enter the room that would be sacred to Upper Fifth B.
“Amy, thank goodness!” Ursula Nicholls exclaimed. “Come and do something about this!”
“About what?” Amy demanded.
“This!” Ursula indicated the twins, who had bagged two desks together. “However are we to tell them apart if they sit next to each other?!”
“You’ll have to learn to tell them apart at some point,” Roswitha Saxon intervened. “All the same, you two, it’d probably be better if you were apart. It’ll be easier to learn the rules and things if you sit next to somebody who knows them. You might as well move now, whoever our form mistress is will only move you when she comes in.”
“It won’t make much of a difference; there’s not much time for talking anyway,” Amy comforted them before she caught up Charlotte’s things and set them down on the spare desk beside Roswitha. Charlotte, with a regretful look at her twin, followed and Amy slid in the seat next to Louisa – just in time. The door opened a moment later and their form mistress walked in. She cast a look round the room and gave an approving nod and smile, before bidding them sit down.
“Glad to see you’re all organised and Louisa and Charlotte are being looked after,” Miss Burnett smiled. “Before I start, I just want to reiterate what Miss Annersley had to say just now. This is a new form system for you all and your positions in the School have been determined by your work last year and your exam results. However, whilst we hope that you will all benefit from the smaller class sizes, it is quite likely that there may be a few changes before the next few weeks are over and some of you may find yourselves moved up or down. If it is up, all well and good, if it is down, then remember that it will be because we feel you will profit most and succeed better by doing the work of the lower form. It will be no reflection on you, yourselves and no reason for you to feel disheartened and certainly no disgrace.” Even as she spoke the words, Mary Burnett knew they were futile and the girls knew it too. It would be a disgrace if they had to move down and each and every one of them determined then and there not to give anyone any reason to move them down. “I’ve just one more thing to say before I carry on,” she continued, nevertheless. “All the staff and Madame are keen for this new form system to work out and for that reason, we ask that you give your work the fullest attention possible and do not use the smaller class sizes as an opportunity to claim more of a mistress’ attention by asking needless questions. As I have said, it is quite likely that that may change,” here she allowed herself a secret smile and Amy, seeing it, wondered whether there was some truth in Peggy’s words after all. “And the only way the form system will work if you are all honest with us in your work and when asked about your work,” the mistress finished and then feeling she’s said enough on the subject, moved on to drop a minor bombshell.

Author:  MaryR [ 06 Aug 2006, 21:03 ]
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Now what would that be then, Catherine? :lol:

Mary Burnett has just ensured she gets really hard work out of her class by that little speech, crafty woman!!

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Lesley [ 06 Aug 2006, 21:35 ]
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Yes,none of the girls are going to want to go down a form, are they?

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  LizB [ 06 Aug 2006, 22:34 ]
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*all agog to hear what the bombshell is*

Thanks, Catherine :D

Author:  Cath V-P [ 07 Aug 2006, 00:58 ]
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Lovely to see their reactions to the form arrangements.

Author:  abbeygirl [ 07 Aug 2006, 14:08 ]
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I really like this story - but am going insane trying to find the first story featuring amy - Help!!!!

Author:  Lesley [ 07 Aug 2006, 17:39 ]
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abbeygirl wrote:
I really like this story - but am going insane trying to find the first story featuring amy - Help!!!!


Look in the drabbloram (top of page in St Therese) under Catherine's name - first story.

Author:  Chair [ 07 Aug 2006, 22:41 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I hope the new forms will work out well.

Author:  Catherine [ 08 Aug 2006, 21:49 ]
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I don't think this bombshell is what you thought it was going to be ... :wink: - or maybe it was!

I do have the first story available as a word doc for anyone who wants it - PM me if you do!





“Form Prefect is Roswitha Saxon, her second is Amy Rutherford,” she said briskly and without exception, the form stared at her open-mouthed. Neither Roswitha nor Amy were known to be outgoing and whilst neither were by no means unpopular, nor were they popular girls with their own crowd.
“The Head must have gone batty,” Ursula Nicholls contrived to mutter to her neighbour, Mary Everitt. “What did she choose those two for?”
“Don’t be so rude!” Mary retorted, under her breath and with one eye on Miss Burnett. “They’ll do as good a job as any and a far better one than you, if that attitude is anything to go by! Shut up and listen!”
“As I’m sure you’re aware,” Mary Burnett continued placidly, although not unaware of the muttered conversation happening in one corner of the classroom, “neither Roswitha nor Amy have held these positions before so I hope that you will all support them in whatever way you can and be patient whilst they get used to their new positions.”
“I don’t think I like the idea of sitting next to the deputy form prefect; she’ll be a bit too close for comfort,” Louisa mused at this point and Amy forgot herself enough to wallop her friend over the head with a handy book. The ensuing laughter helped to break the rather tense atmosphere in the room and the rest of the arrangements proceeded in a much more relaxed manner. All the same, more than one of the girls wondered at the choices from time to time, being used to form prefects and seconds who were popular, outgoing girls.

The fact of the matter was that Amy’s situation had made the two Heads and the rest of the Staff very much more aware of the dynamics in certain forms and had brought them to the realisation that there was a tendency to appoint the same girls to positions of responsibility with no consideration given to the development that other girls had made during the year.
“That’s all very well but what about those girls who are natural leaders?” Hilary Burn had argued when this was discussed at the staff meeting. “They will naturally come to the fore and putting them under the authority of a quieter girl would do no good. Are you suggesting we pass them over?”
“Not in all cases, no. We both realise there are girls who are natural leaders,” Hilda had responded quietly. “However, there are plenty of girls who, given the opportunity, would have a positive influence over others and we would like to give that opportunity to more than those girls who stand out from the crowd. Having said that, we do realise that in some forms, it would be wrong to appoint anybody other than a natural leader for the reason you have pointed out, Hilary.”
“There seems to exist a popular but false belief that only popular, clever girls will get to be form prefects and we need to get rid of that,” Nell Wilson had added bluntly. “The qualities needed to be a form prefect are many and varied but it is the girl’s character that is most important. Is she honest and trustworthy? Does she take responsibility for her own actions? Can she be relied upon to lead others both through setting an example and through the issue of instructions? Is she able to issue instructions in a manner which does not cause resentment in others? For example, Blossom Willoughby is a leader but she would be no use as form prefect since she never troubles to think more than is necessary. Loveday Perowne, on the other hand, is a quiet girl who, left to her own devices would fade into the background, but in the position of form prefect, would manage very well and quietly lead her form in the right direction.”
“We recognise that amongst the Middle forms, strong leaders are necessary to prevent the wilder spirits from ruining the form’s reputation or dragging it into unnecessary mischief,” Hilda had taken up the point again. “Equally, the people at the helm of those forms need to be people who can be relied upon to keep the rules or there will be cries of ‘Why should we, when you don’t?!’ However, we would ask that when you provide us with your nominations for the Junior and Senior Forms, you consider the quieter members and ask yourselves whether one of those girls could do the job just as well as a girl of a stronger, more forceful character. You may seek each other’s opinions, if you wish, and Nell and I are available for consultation also but we would like to see a variety of suggestions when we come to make final decisions.”

The two Heads had departed after that, leaving their staff to enjoy a heated discussion on the subject before they eventually came round to the idea. The result was that in some forms, such as Upper Fifth B, unexpected people had been given a bit of responsibility. If truth be known, the only choice the two Heads had had any doubt about was Amy herself, neither being convinced that Amy was ready for anything that would throw her into the limelight.
“Nonsense!” Matron declared, when she heard their worries. “It’s just what Amy needs – the more she has to occupy her mind the better! And what’s more, it will mean she’ll think twice before slipping off to brood – as her form’s second, she’ll have to be on hand to help out. If you think her capable of being dormitory prefect for a crowd of Juniors, she’s more than capable of being her form’s second! After all, in the main, all she will be required to do is to back up Roswitha and it’s a Senior form so the girls aren’t likely to want to go against authority as Middles’ might.”
“Why not do it on a term by term basis?” Rosalie Dene proposed suddenly. “The appointments don’t necessarily have to be for the whole year – after all, we don’t know how any of them are going to work out. If it is done for a term at a time, then it gives you the opportunity to change things if they aren’t working or even give other people a chance if you feel that’s what you want and if things aren’t working, you could perhaps swap people about at half term without it being a problem. Give it a term and if you think Amy or anybody else is struggling, you’re in a position to change everything without upsetting people.”

Author:  Lesley [ 08 Aug 2006, 22:02 ]
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Interesting - and like the link to Loveday Perowne too.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Catherine [ 09 Aug 2006, 16:40 ]
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The appointments of Roswitha and Amy were therefore not the only surprises, as the girls found when they congregated in the dining room at Break time.
“Loveday Perowne! I mean, Loveday, of all people!” Joy Bird could be heard proclaiming as Upper Fifth B entered the room.
“What about Loveday of all people?” Ursula Nicholls demanded.
“She’s been made our form prefect, can you believe it?” Joy responded in disgust.
“What’s so wrong with that?” Gay Lambert queried as Upper Fifth A joined their sister form.
“Everything! Firstly, she can’t say boo to a goose and secondly, she was only a Middle last year and people like me were Seniors! She’s new to the form and so’s Anne Montague and she’s the Second!”
“You’re all new to the form,” Jacynth pointed out quietly. “There hasn’t been a Lower Fifth B before and most of you in that form used to be Middles! Loveday and Anne will do well together.”
“And anyway, why would anyone want to choose you or one of your little pals for the position of form prefect?” Gay demanded. “If you’re going to be a form prefect you have to lead by example and none of you are known for working hard or keeping to the rules! You spend half your time grumbling about things or about other people and you always think you know better than they do! Loveday may have just moved up but she’s polite and respectful, works hard and doesn’t order people around! She’ll do stuff for the good of the form not for the good of Loveday herself!” Joy went a fiery red at this and glared at Gay, who remained unperturbed by it and for once, nobody complained about Gay’s lack of tact. Joy was not a popular person and everyone had suffered from her grousing at some point.
“Anyway, Loveday’s not the only weird choice,” Ursula decided to air her grudge. “We hardly know anything about them and they’re both really quiet too but Roswitha Saxon is our form prefect and Amy Rutherford’s our second!”
“Jolly good for them!” Kathie Robertson struck in. “What’s wrong with you people? Why can’t you be pleased for others instead of grumbling selfishly because the honour hasn’t befallen yourselves? If you were honest with yourselves, you’d know that neither of you are likely choices for either form prefect or second – you’re both far too fond of letting other people make the decisions and then grumbling when you don’t agree with them! Nobody has any right to expect to be made any kind of prefect – you have to show you deserve it and that you respect and support the authority of those positions! Grumbling selfishly because you’re not form prefect or second is only showing the rest of us what a good thing it was nobody chose you!”
“Have you even thought that none of those four are likely to be particularly pleased about it?” Mollie Carew put in. “They don’t push themselves forward on every occasion and they’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure about themselves and the decision that’s been made. They could do with knowing you’ll help and support them – they shouldn’t need to worry because you’re over here complaining to all and sundry and undermining them.”
“Pull yourselves together and grow up!” Gay advised. “You’re Seniors and you’re supposed to be setting an example to the kids! A fine pickle we’ll all be in if the kids take their lead from you and refuse to do what they’re asked by their form prefects because they think they should have been form prefect instead!” With that, Upper Fifth A moved on to collect their elevenses, leaving a crushed Ursula and a resentful Joy behind them.
“I wasn’t trying to say I wanted to be a form prefect,” Ursula murmured helplessly. “I just couldn’t understand why those two had been chosen!”
“Well I think I should have been form prefect,” Joy responded. “I’m one of the oldest in the form and they shouldn’t try to make us look fools by giving the little girls in the form all the responsibility!”
“Oh shut up, Joy, do!” Ursula snapped, irritated by Joy’s complaints and realising uncomfortably that all Gay and the others had had to say was right and that she was in no position to question the Head’s decisions. With an inward sigh, she pulled herself together, as Gay had suggested, and went to collect her elevenses.

“You look rather shell shocked,” Daisy Venables had noticed Amy’s stunned expression as Upper Fifth B had entered the room and feeling some responsibility for her, moved over to greet her.
“She’s been made our form’s second," Mollie McNab chipped in. “Roswitha is our form prefect and I’m in charge of our form’s games!” she ended gleefully and Daisy, the School’s Games Prefect, grinned.
“Somebody must be out of their mind then,” she teased. “You? Organise something? Impossible!”
“Mean!” Mollie grinned and Daisy chuckled. “At least I’m pleased about it!” Mollie added. “Roswitha and Amy have done nothing but look stunned!”
“It’s a bit unexpected,” Roswitha answered. “I mean, neither of us are exactly talkative or forceful!”
“Neither’s Beth and she’s making a jolly good Head Girl,” Daisy pointed out. “It’s not really about being popular or outgoing – it’s about being able to direct others in the right way without making them resentful and treading all over their feelings. You’re both approachable and liked so you’ll both do fine!”
Daisy departed after that and Roswitha and Amy looked at each other ruefully before Roswitha mentally shook herself and slid a hand through Amy’s arm.
“Oh well! We are it and no amount of moaning is going to change it or even help matters!” she sighed. “Let’s grab elevenses and then we can find somewhere to sit down and take in the news! Are Louisa and Charlotte coming with us?” she added, looking round for the pair.
“We’re here!” Louisa said from behind Roswitha. “And here are your elevenses!”
“Oh gosh, thanks!” Roswitha exclaimed. “This isn’t really done! We’re supposed to be looking after you!”
“Actually, we’re their official sheepdogs!” Barbara Henschell commented, laughingly, as she and Anthea Barnett came over. “They don’t seem to need much sheepdogging though! Congrats, Amy and Roswitha by the way!”
“How does it feel?” Anthea asked, with a grin.
“Weird,” Amy replied. “I can’t say I really understand why they’ve picked on me!”
“I bet every person who’s ever been chosen has said that!” Anthea grinned. “Anyway, it’s only our form and we’re not that big. Plus, it’ll not be that long before they’re looking at us for School Prees so the sooner we all get used to having a bit of responsibility the better!”
“Change the subject!” Mollie McNab overheard this. “These two will spoil the rest of the day if they’re allowed to worry all the time over their responsibilities! And after all, they’re not that great and the rest of us will all back you up!”
“Peggy thinks the staff are up to something,” Amy proffered by way of a change of subject. “I didn’t believe her at first but Miss Burnett looked like she was secretly finding something really funny earlier and Peggy was saying most of the staff were doing the same in Prayers.”

Author:  MaryR [ 09 Aug 2006, 19:47 ]
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Catherine, I have really enjoyed this discussion on choosing form, and other, prefects. You - or rather your characters! - make some very telling points about what constitutes leadership.

Thank you.

Author:  leahbelle [ 09 Aug 2006, 20:17 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I hope Roswitha and Amy get the support from the other girls in their form that they need.

Author:  Lesley [ 09 Aug 2006, 20:46 ]
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Love Gay and the others' point of view.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 09 Aug 2006, 21:35 ]
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Whilst their Seniors were busy discussing the various form appointments, the Middles, who had no such concerns, were either welcoming new members or discussing why Miss Dene had been going in and out of formrooms and counting heads, desks, chairs and lockers. The two Fourths were congregated together and Rosalie Way of Lower Fourth was eagerly introducing two new girls to the rest of her crowd.
“Tom, Bride, everyone! These are Bess and Madge Herbert – the sisters I told you about that I know from home last term.”
“Awful English!” Bride said severely. “It’s a good thing the Abbess is nowhere around if that’s the best you can do!”
“Never mind young Rosalie’s English,” Tom interrupted. “How about welcoming Bess and Madge to the Chalet School?”
“Get on with it then!” Nancy grinned at Tom.
“Not me,” Tom grinned back. “That’s young Bride’s job. It’s her aunt’s School after all!”
“Welcome to the Chalet School, you two,” Julie Lucy leant forward, a welcoming smile on her face as she talked over the wordy squabble that had broken out between Bride and Tom. “Rosalie did talk about you a little last term and it’s good you can be here now. Are you Upper Fourth, Bess? I know Madge is Lower Fourth, like me.”
“Tis not a bad place to be,” Flora McDonald chimed in.
“True enough,” Nella Ozanne agreed.
“And Bess is Upper Fourth,” Nancy cut in. “Isn’t there another of you, though?”
“Nan,” Bess agreed. “She’s in Lower Third.”
“Same form as Blossom Willoughby, Sybil Russell and young Betsy then,” Nancy said thoughtfully.
“I think Blossom is looking after her,” Madge proffered shyly.
“Poor Nan!” Primrose Day sighed, her eyes twinkling wickedly. “She’ll get into endless scrapes then!”
“Nan needs no help on that score,” Bess grinned.
“She’ll fit in jolly well then!” Bride had finally settled things with Tom. “So what do you people think Deney was up to then?”
“Maybe she was making sure she’d told the right people they were in the right form!” Vanna suggested wildly and was promptly howled down.
“D’y think the staff are stupid by any chance?” Tom Gay demanded. “Deney had a list to read from and anyway, all the mistresses would’ve known who was to be in their form and would’ve said so!”
“Maybe we’re to change formrooms?” Primrose suggested. “I mean now that the forms are all different, they could want us to move to a bigger or smaller room or something?”
“It’s possible, I suppose,” Bride considered this. “You know, I can’t get used to Loveday and Anne being shoved up a form! They’re Seniors now!”
“In name only,” a fresh voice remarked. “Shove up you people and make room for us!” the pair in question appeared and Anne pushed and shoved until Bride and Tom moved apart to make room for them. “What are you all talking about?”
“Deney!” Bride answered – mystifyingly so far as the elder pair were concerned.
“What about her?” Loveday asked, puzzled.
“She went round our formrooms and counted how many people were there, the lockers, desks, chairs and things,” Julie Lucy explained. “We’ve been trying to guess why she was doing that. Primrose thought it was because they might want to swap formrooms about because of the new forms.”
“I doubt it,” Loveday frowned thoughtfully. “Not at this stage of the term, anyhow! After all, they knew how many people were going to be in which form before term began so they’d just have rearranged all the formrooms then.”
“Perhaps she was just checking to make sure there were enough desks and chairs for people?” Anne suggested. “I mean, we generally manage to destroy at least one desk or chair a term so perhaps she wanted to see which rooms had spare ones!” she ended with a giggle.
“Or perhaps they’re going to combine some of the forms for prep?” Loveday proposed. “If the two Fourths are going to have prep together then Deney would need to know how much room there was and how many desks etc. there were.”
“Well why lockers then?” Bride demanded.
“Probably in case people have to move up or down,” Anne replied. “If she’s doing a count of heads and things, then it’s just as easy to do lockers as well. I think either Loveday’s right or they’ve got some money or something to spend on new furniture and want to see which formrooms need it.”

Author:  LizB [ 09 Aug 2006, 23:21 ]
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Or maybe Miss Dene just felt the need to practise her counting :wink:

Thanks, Catherine :D

Author:  Cath V-P [ 10 Aug 2006, 01:14 ]
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Fascinating to see the various points of view on leadership and how and why form prefects should be chosen.

Author:  Catherine [ 10 Aug 2006, 22:35 ]
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The rest of the day proceeded much as normal but more than one girl was thankful when bedtime came and she had the time to think about what the day had brought forth. Amy was amongst them and her eyes strayed to the pictures of her father as she entered her cubicle, wondering what he would have made of her appointment and wishing she could tell him. She did not have time to brood for long however for the sound of muffled sobs reached her ears. Investigation led her to Vi’s cubicle, where her appearance almost caused a loud howl from its occupant. Fortunately, Vi recognised her and stopped just in time, much to the relief of Amy, whose heart had stood still for a moment at the thought of Vi rousing the entire dormitory.
“What’s wrong?” she asked softly, lifting the small girl onto her knee as Vi clung to her. “Why aren’t you asleep? It’s late.”
“I w-was but I needed the bathroom and when I got back I couldn’t sleep and there are monsters waving their arms up and down outside my cubicle!“ Vi sobbed. “Look!” she pointed at her cubicle curtains and Amy, who had been puzzled for a moment, quickly realised what she meant. It was still quite light outside and there was a breeze which was blowing at the branches of the trees, their shadows showing through Vi’s cubicle curtains.
“Those aren’t monsters, Vi,” she hastened to reassure the small girl. “It’s windy outside and you can see the branches on the trees moving up and down through your curtains. Come and see!” she half carried, half walked the small girl into the aisle and then lifted her onto the window seat at the end of the dormitory so she could see the trees herself and feel the breeze.
“Oh!” Vi breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s just the trees! Not monsters at all!”
“So you don’t need to be scared,” Amy finished. “Do you think you could go back to sleep now?”
“Yes – only my sheets are a bit of a tangle,” Vi confessed, scrubbing at her eyes.
“I’ll tidy them up,” Amy promised, leading her back to her cubicle. “Here,” she unhooked Vi’s washbag from its hook. “Go and sponge your face whilst I’ll tidy your sheets. Be quick though!” Vi scampered away, leaving Amy to tackle the mess that was now Vi’s sheets, which involved stripping the bed and then remaking it from scratch. Vi returned whilst she was doing it and watched her with ever more sleepy eyes.
“You won’t tell any of the others, will you?” she murmured sleepily when Amy tucked her back into bed.
“Not a word,” Amy promised and with a contented sigh and clutching her teddy, Vi rolled over and went to sleep, leaving her weary dormitory prefect to leave her cubicle and prepare to go the rounds of the rest. The door opened as she exited the cubicle however and Miss Annersley, entering softly lest she should wake any sleepers, looked startled as she discovered that Amy was not only still up but fully dressed.
“Amy? Why aren’t you in bed?” she queried.
“VI was upset. I-I haven’t even had time to check on all the others,” Amy confessed, a distinct quiver in her voice. The Head heard it.
“It’s all right,” she reassured gently, giving the girl a comforting hug. “I’ve not come to scold; I thought we might have a few minutes together since I’ve not seen you all day. Take yourself off to the bathroom and wash and change whilst I see to your charges. Go on!” she released Amy and gave her a push towards he cubicle, taking no further notice of her but slipping into a cubicle and from there, softly making her way round the dormitory, straightening sheets and tucking sleepers in more tightly. She ended in Amy’s cubicle and drew back the sheets for her, before sitting down to await the girl’s return. She had glanced over at Amy during Abendessen and then Prayers and felt the girl was looking rather strained and trying a little too hard to be cheerful. Keen to make sure the girl understood that help and support was still hers, if she wanted it, and guessing Amy would be feeling rather unsure about things, she had decided to spend a few minutes with Amy before she went to sleep.

Author:  asgaard [ 10 Aug 2006, 23:23 ]
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Fab..

Heather

Author:  Lesley [ 11 Aug 2006, 05:05 ]
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That's lovely - having Amy as a Dormitory Prefect is much better than having someone much louder who has far less empathy. And how good of the Head to check up on Amy herself - she should be able to help calm Amy's fears.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  MaryR [ 11 Aug 2006, 13:12 ]
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Two thoughtful and loving people - Amy handling Vi's fears in such a patient and motherly fashion and Hilda keeping a watchful eye on Amy and taking the time to come and listen to her troubles. And behaving like a quiet angel as she makes the sleepers more comfortable.

Lovely, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 14 Aug 2006, 08:26 ]
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This is a bit waffly, sorry!


Amy returned a few minutes later, looking distinctly red-eyed and once she was in bed, the Head left the chair she had been sitting on and came to sit on the bed beside her.
“I think we’re safe from Matron,” she confided to the girl, a twinkling smile on her face.
“I-I’m not very good at this, am I?” Amy said anxiously.
“This?” the Head queried, although she was fairly sure she knew what the girl meant.
“Being dormitory prefect,” Amy murmured. “I’ll be even worse as a second.”
“You will manage perfectly well at both,” the Head refuted swiftly and firmly. “In fact, you are managing perfectly well as a dormitory prefect. Yes, you are a little later into bed than you ought to have been but I would have been worried and annoyed had you left Vi to cry and merely concentrated on getting yourself into bed. As it is, you are showing that you can put your charges’ needs first and Amy’s needs last and that you can do it quite successfully. What was wrong with Vi, by the way?”
“She could see the branches moving through her curtains and thought it was monsters,” Amy explained, still in subdued tones. “I-I gave her a cuddle, took her to the window and showed her what she could see and that they were moving because it was windy outside and then I sat with her till she fell asleep.”
“I couldn’t have done better myself,” the Head smiled. “You handled it superbly well – you didn’t fuss her or pet her which would have encouraged her to keep crying, you merely explained what it was and proved it to her and then you stayed with her, just to make sure she would settle properly again. The rest of your dormitory are fast asleep and weren’t roused by Vi’s crying or your talking and they all have more or less neat and tidy cubicles. Those aren’t the signs of a bad dormitory prefect, they’re the signs of a good one,” she smiled encouragingly at Amy. “As for being your form’s second, tell me why you think you’ll be no good at it.”
“B-because I’m quiet and not very clever a-and I only have two friends a-and they’re both new,” Amy’s voice quivered and she swallowed hard. Hilda took both of Amy’s hands in hers and squeezed them.
“Amy, it is the quality of your friendships rather than the quantity that should be important to you,” she said gently. “Popularity comes and goes and with it, friendships. Real friends are those that support you in good times and in bad times; who aren’t afraid to tell you when you’re being silly or doing something wrong. If you were to ask Beth Chester about her friendships, she would tell you she had any number of people whose company she could seek out and enjoy if she wanted but only two people she could rely on to support and help her through everything – Daisy and Gwensi. However, I think, if you open yourself up to other people and allow yourself to trust, you will find that there are quite a few girls who would prove to be good friends to you. I also imagine that if you think back over the day, you would be able to identify who had shown you friendship and which of those girls you would like to have for a friend.” There was only the sound of the quiet breathing of the sleepers in the dormitory for a few minutes after the Head had finished and Miss Annersley, alert for any sounds which might indicate their talk was disturbing them, waited patiently for Amy to respond.
“W-what if they laugh at me?” Amy asked eventually, confiding her biggest fear.
“No one, who is worth your friendship, will laugh at you,” the Head responded firmly. “I’m not suggesting you tell half a dozen people you want to be friends with them, just respond to their friendly approaches with friendly remarks of your own and through having conversations with people, you’ll soon find friendships springing up. As far as your other worries are concerned, I happen to know that you are far more than ‘not very clever’ and if the level of noise a person produced was a consideration, then I am afraid that I certainly would never have become Headmistress and more girls than I care to mention would never have been made Prefects or Head Girls!” she gave another twinkling smile. “None of the characteristics you have mentioned are ones that I consider important. I want girls who are willing to lead by example. I want girls who know they have a responsibility for their own actions and extend that responsibility towards others by encouraging or discouraging certain behaviour, even if it comes at the expense of their own popularity. I want girls who are kind, considerate and helpful, who are willing to put others needs before their own and I want girls who are willing to obey the rules and back up the authority of a mistress where necessary, without putting people’s backs up or causing feelings of resentment. I also want them to care about the reputation of their form within the School and thus take responsibility for its behaviour both inside and outside the grounds. In order to do that, of course, they have to have the respect of their fellow classmates and they have to be liked. The position of ‘Second’ is one that requires you to back up your form prefect in all things and to have the maturity to discuss any differences of opinion privately. There may be times when you are asked to fulfil the role of Form Prefect itself, due to absence for instance, but in essence you are there to support and help the Form Prefect govern the form in whatever way she deems necessary.”
“B-but why me?” Amy repeated.
“This year, with more forms than before, there was a need for different girls to take on the roles and I wanted to give quieter girls the opportunity to show us that they can manage just as well as the more outgoing girls. I want to get rid of the belief that you have to be popular and clever to be a form prefect or second. Instead, I want more emphasis on the qualities needed to be either of those and so the Juniors and Junior Middles can grow up knowing why those qualities are so important. I therefore asked each form’s mistress for the year to come and the year that has just gone, to nominate girls. Miss Linton and Miss Burnett both nominated you and having got to know you, Miss Wilson and I feel that you have a lot to offer other people and that you can do that best by being in a position that allows you to do it without you worrying that you may be forcing yourself on other people. Having said all of that, I know how difficult last term was and that you’ve yet to feel really happy here so if you feel, after a few more days or at any stage in the future, that it’s too much for you then come and tell us. We’d far rather you did that than made yourself ill or unhappy over it – and that goes for anything else that may worry you at any time. Miss Wilson and I are both still available to talk to you if you want it or need it and we don’t want you to hide away, thinking that because it’s been a few months since your father died, you have no right to come to us. Neither do I want you to think that all this responsibility means that you have to deal with all your problems on your own – it doesn’t. We’re both still here for help and advice whenever you need it. Now, I think I’ve given you enough to think about it for one evening so I had better let you get some sleep.”
“I miss him,” Amy whispered as the Head bent to hug her.
“And you always will,” the Head answered her gently. “You will find ways to cope with it though and the longing will fade as time goes on. Now lie down and close your eyes or you’ll not be awake enough to deal with excitable Juniors in the morning!” she tucked Amy in and very much as Amy had done with Vi, settled down to wait until she was sure Amy was safely asleep, leaving her with a kiss and a murmured blessing.

Author:  Lesley [ 14 Aug 2006, 19:11 ]
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Lovely Hilda - just what Amy needed to hear.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Chair [ 14 Aug 2006, 20:44 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. It's good that the staff are giving the quieter girls more responsibility. Hilda made some very wise comments.

Author:  LizB [ 14 Aug 2006, 23:17 ]
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It's nice to see Amy is well supported in her new roles.

Thanks, Catherine :D

Author:  Kathy_S [ 14 Aug 2006, 23:49 ]
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Good job there, Hilda -- and Amy, of course.

Thank you, Catherine. :)

Author:  MaryR [ 15 Aug 2006, 22:37 ]
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That was so *right*, Catherine. Hilda's views, not only on friendship but on leadership, were just what Amy was needing to hear - and of course Hilda knew it.

Loved the bit about how she wouldn't have been Head if loudness was one of the qualities needed!! :lol:

Thank you.

Author:  Catherine [ 21 Aug 2006, 19:37 ]
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“Where on earth have you been?” Nell Wilson demanded as Hilda entered the study. “I was about to send a search party out for you! None of the staff knew where you were and even the Prefects are on their way to bed, if they’re not there already!”
“I was not aware I had to account for my every move,” Hilda replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“Only when you go missing for hours on end!” Nell retorted.
“I see your powers of exaggeration have not diminished in recent days,” Hilda commented as she poured herself a cup of coffee. “On the contrary, they seem to have heightened quite considerably! Either that or you are sadly lacking in the skill of telling time! You certainly lack the skill of coffee-making!” she ended as she surveyed the weak, unappealing mixture that was now in her cup. “Remind me to speak to Anna Mieders – I think a few lessons might be in order!”
“And I think you need that head of yours examining again! Honestly, you’re getting as bad as Jo Maynard for talking rubbish and being insulting!” Nell complained. “You’re lucky the contents of that cup aren’t being thrown over your head at this present time.”
“So dignified,” Hilda murmured before backing hastily away as Nell jumped to her feet and removed the cup and saucer from her hand.
“If you don’t sit down and start talking some sense, I will reconsider!” Nell warned, holding the cup at a threatening level and Hilda held her hands up in defeat, subsiding laughingly into a chair.
“I went to see Amy,” she answered.
“Oh!” Nell put down the cup of coffee and looked at her friend and co-Head, a trifle anxiously. “Is she all right? Today hasn’t been too much for her?”
“Do you know, I’m really rather thirsty,” Hilda commented, mischief in her eyes.
“All right, all right! I give in! I’ll make you a fresh cup!” Nell sighed in defeat. “I want to know about Amy, though, Hilda!”
“Make that coffee and I’ll tell you,” Hilda promised, chuckling at her friend’s impatience. Nell glared at her but condescended to make a fresh cup of coffee and managed to contain her patience long enough for Hilda to have a few sips. At length however, Hilda gave in and related the conversation she had had with Amy. “I think she’ll be all right now she understands why she’s been chosen,” she ended.

Waking up the next morning, Amy remembered the conversation with Miss Annersley and vowed to prove that the Heads had been right to trust her with this responsibility. She was already beginning to realise that she was going to have her work cut out as dormitory prefect and she became more convinced of this when it took her almost five minutes to get all the dormitory’s occupants out of bed and even then, Maeve flatly refused to get up. In the end, Amy left her to it, knowing that time was getting on and that whatever else happened, if she weren’t ready on time, things would look even worse.
“Hello Amy! You’re late!” thus Kathie Robertson on her way back from the bathroom. “Everything all right?” she added, as she noticed the younger girl’s harassed expression.
“It’s taken me ages to get them out of bed and Maeve still won’t get up!” Amy said worriedly.
“Haul the bedclothes off her and wash her face with a cold, wet flannel,” Kathie advised. “If that doesn’t get her in up short order, nothing will! And another tip, don’t go round persuading them to get up. Stand in the middle of the aisle and shout ‘Everybody out’. Anyone who doesn’t get up is either playing the fool or ill and you’ll know the difference when you go in. If they’re playing the fool, give them the same treatment you’re about to give Maeve and if needs be, threaten them with Matey. Go and get your bath and then see to Maeve. There’s no reason why you should make yourself late so if she or anybody else that plays you up isn’t ready on time, let them get themselves out of a row! Anyway, got to go! See you later!” she was gone after that and Amy made for the bathroom, having her bath in record time.

Kathie’s advice worked and Maeve shot out of bed but it had done nothing to endear Amy to her and she called Amy all sorts of rude names. Infuriatingly, however, Amy could only see the funny side and in the end Maeve stalked off to the bathroom in a very bad temper.
“Everybody out!” Amy called suddenly, whilst Maeve, the last of the dormitory to need a bath, was in the bathroom and in various states of dress, the Juniors appeared in the aisle. Amy was inwardly surprised and pleased at how well Kathie’s tip worked but she had no time to ponder on it. “Listen to me, you people,” she said gravely. “I don’t want you to repeat any of the names you’ve just heard Maeve call me. I might have found it funny but other people might get upset and think you not very nice. I want you to promise me that you won’t use those names to other people, please.” At her words the faces of Lesley and Doris, who had been intending to use the names on one or two people, fell but however glumly, they gave Amy their promise. “Thank you. One more thing – I don’t want you to tease Maeve about what I did to her. She might have deserved it – and anyone who does the same thing will have the same thing happen – but she’s in a very bad mood and teasing will only make it worse. Now hurry up and finish dressing or we’ll be late and I’ll have to explain to Matron that we’re late because none of you could be bothered to get up!” None of them wanted that so they scampered back to their cubicles and there was silence whilst they finished dressing, apart from the odd request for Amy’s help with buttons and ribbons. Vi sidled up to her at one point and making sure nobody was looking, she put her arms round Amy and gave her a hug.
“Thank you,” she whispered to that surprised person before running back to her cubicle and busying herself with tidying it up. Amy grinned to herself and then went the rounds, offering a helping hand where she could. At length, everybody was ready, even Maeve although the less said about the state of her cubicle the better.
“I feel like I’ve done ten rounds of a wrestling match this morning and it’s not even eight o’clock,” Amy groaned to Louisa and Charlotte as she thankfully joined her form.
“You look a bit harassed,” Charlotte agreed. “What’s happened?” It was all the twins could do to keep straight faces as they listened – supposedly with sympathetic ears – to Amy’s description of the morning’s events so far. They did just manage it but their expressions of sympathy did not deceive Amy.
“You’re not supposed to find it funny!” she complained. “You have no idea of the row that would have happened if we’d been late down. Matey does not like latecomers!”
“I can imagine,” Louisa agreed, growing serious. “Still, Maeve might be a handful but it sounds like the rest are all right. At least they’re not likely to follow her example.”
“She’ll probably be better in a few days,” Charlotte added. “I expect she’s rebelling a bit because she’s new and wants to get herself noticed.”
“It does,” Louisa agreed. “She probably just wants to let people know she’s not the shy, retiring type to stay in the background and only speak when spoken to!”
“Well you two would know,” Amy murmured, much to the indignation of the twins.

Author:  Lesley [ 21 Aug 2006, 20:02 ]
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Hmmmm, sounds as though young Maeve needs a few sharp lessons. Love Hilda and Nell!

Thanks Catherine

Author:  francesn [ 21 Aug 2006, 20:16 ]
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I do like Louisa and Charlotte! Are we going to see more of them?

Glad Amy's settling in as a dormy pree.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Nell [ 22 Aug 2006, 09:26 ]
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Thanks Catherine - Amy's doing well though it's going to be hard work especially at first and Louise and Charlotte are great fun!

Author:  Chair [ 22 Aug 2006, 10:21 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I'm glad that Amy found the right way to sort things out.

Author:  LizB [ 28 Aug 2006, 12:58 ]
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I wonder how many other dormy prefects have similar problems with their charges? Hopefully they'll al be able to support each other.

Thanks, Catherine :D

Author:  Catherine [ 07 Sep 2006, 17:02 ]
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The fact that they were in a public place prevented the twins from doing anything more than glaring at Amy but they more than made up for it on the walk that followed and kept Amy and Roswitha – their partners – in fits of laughter.
“I give in,” Louisa sighed in disgust. “You’re just not listening to a word we’re saying, are you?”
“She is; she’s just not paying us the attention she should be,” her twin corrected. “I vote we stop – it’s not our duty to amuse her, after all!”
“Good idea,” Amy advised. “It’ll give you the chance to rest your brains before all the work starts.”
“I hope we’ll manage all right,” Louisa said anxiously, ignoring Amy’s intended insult.
“You seemed to manage yesterday and they wouldn’t have put you in this form if they didn’t think you’d cope – especially not with the new form structure,” Roswitha reassured them. “At least you don’t have to worry about being form prefect – I do wish I knew why they pitched on me for the job,” she sighed. Amy said nothing but her thoughts wandered back to her conversation with the Head. She thought it would help Roswitha to know what the Head had told her but couldn’t decide whether Miss Annersley would want it repeated or whether it had been for her ears only.
“And if I can pass it on, what on earth do I tell Roswitha when she asks how I know?!” Amy thought to herself. She was intelligent and sensitive enough to realise that some of the other girls wouldn’t take kindly to the news that the Head had been to see her last night and that there would be cries of favouritism. Not that it was something she wanted to spread about in any case. She was still thinking about it when they returned to School and forgetting to concentrate on where she was going, almost crashed into Daisy.
“Hey! Careful!” Daisy protested. “I like you, Amy but not enough to want to lie down and worship you!”
“Sorry,” Amy apologised, albeit with a giggle for Daisy’s comment. “I was thinking and didn’t see you.”
“That much I guessed,” Daisy agreed, drawing her out of the path of the rest of the Seniors who were returning from their walks. “Anything I can help with?”
“Why would you want to?” Daisy’s question took Amy by surprise and she said the first thing that came into her head.
“Lots of reasons,” Daisy replied, raising her eyebrows in surprise at Amy’s question.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude!” Amy said hastily.
“OK, I know that,” Daisy answered her. “Look, there’s not time enough now but I’ll find you at Break and we can have a good old chinwag! You’d better scram now though or you’ll be late!” Amy took the hint and fled, leaving Daisy to make her way up to the Prefects room.
“Where on earth have you been?” Beth demanded as Daisy entered. “I thought you were following us up the stairs!”
“I never actually set foot on the stairs,” Daisy replied. “Amy almost cannoned into me, she was so busy thinking so I stopped to ask if I could help.”
“Could you?” Katharine James asked.
“She was too surprised at the idea that I might want to help to tell me then so I’ve arranged to catch her at Break and find out then.”
“Can she not solve her problems herself? She’s not a baby,” Joan Leeming suggested.
“Even the oldest of us needs help sometimes,” Beth pointed out. “Amy has nobody of her own anymore -,”
“Yes, she jolly well does!” Daisy interrupted hotly. “She has Prim and me and all the aunts and cousins and the Heads are there too!”
“But Amy might not see it like that,” Alixe McNab put in quietly. “Her father was her own – she was much a part of him as he was of her. She didn’t have to try to be someone she wasn’t or to try to live up to the expectations she thought somebody else had of her when she was with him. She’s had everything she knew and loved taken away from her in recent months and she’s still trying to accept all of that. Plus she’s not the type to force herself on other people so whilst all of you might be quite happy to have her as part of your family, it’s not so easy for her to accept it and it’s going to be a while before she realises she is part of your family and can ask for advice.”

Daisy remembered Alixe’s words as she sought out Amy at Break and led her to a quiet corner and at first, she kept the chatter light, asking about Amy’s morning and how she was getting on as dormitory prefect. Initially, Amy’s responses were non-committal – Daisy was a prefect, after all and she had no desire for anyone to start thinking she couldn’t cope with her dormitory. Struggle she might, but she had pride just like anybody else and had no wish to be removed from her position.
“I’m not trying to catch you out,” Daisy guessed what Amy was thinking. “Look, Amy, I know we don’t know each other that well but you’re part of the family now and I’d like to think you can come and ask me for help if you need it. I know I’m a Prefect but we’re there to help as much as anything else! You’ll be one yourself before too long! All I’m trying to say is that I’m interested in what you’re doing and if you need help with anything, I’d like to be able to give it – if I can! How are you finding being a dormitory prefect? I know I found it a struggle at first – you don’t realise just how much time it takes to get yourself sorted out until you’ve several other people to deal with as well! And you’ve got a bunch of Juniors!”
“I’d rather have Juniors than Middles!” Amy confessed and Daisy chuckled.
“Oh not all the Middles are that bad! It’s usually just the Fourths but I admit that they’d be very daunting if you’ve never had any kind of responsibility before. And you’re a deputy form prefect as well, aren’t you?!”
“I never even expected to be a Prefect when I was in the Sixth,” Amy admitted.
“Oh they’d have pitched on you for some sort of responsibility at some point!” Daisy informed her. “They don’t let many people get away with it! All the same, they do seem to have chosen some unusual people for form prefect and second this term.”
“I-I saw Miss Annersley last night and she told me why,” Amy volunteered hesitantly. “That’s what I was thinking about earlier.”
“Oh? What did she say?” Daisy asked, in genuine curiosity. Amy told her and Daisy listened thoughtfully. “I don’t think any of us had ever thought about it like that before but as usual, the Heads have a point,” she said. “You don’t have to be a noisy, outgoing person to be able to be an effective form prefect and there isn’t one right way to do it so I suppose everyone who has enough common sense and kindness towards others deserves the chance. The desire to help other people and to help to improve the appearance and regard of the School in the eyes of the general public are the most important things I suppose. That and being able to get others to do things without putting their backs up. But what was it that was worrying you about what she said? Or were you just turning it all over in your mind and trying to make sense of it in relation to you?”
“A bit of both, I suppose. It’s just Roswitha said that she wished she knew why she’d been chosen as form prefect and well, I sort of know and thought that it might help her if I told her what Miss Annersley told me. Only, I’m not sure if other people are meant to know and whether I should be the person telling them and if I can, how I do it! I don’t want people to think I’m getting special treatment or finding out things they aren’t because I’ve seen the Heads during the holidays – I’m not and I don’t want people to think I am or maybe think Miss Annersley isn’t being fair to them because she is. And I don’t really want people to know that she came to see me last night – they wouldn’t understand that either and some of the might think I can’t cope as dormitory prefect, having to get the Head to do my rounds.” Amy’s worries tumbled out.
“Gosh! You do worry, don’t you?!” Daisy exclaimed. “OK, first things first! I imagine Miss Annersley won’t want it to become general knowledge in case some people get frightened by it and think they might be next. There are a lot of girls who are too shy and quiet to be any good at it – at the moment, anyway. Equally, it might inspire some of the kids to think it doesn’t matter about making an effort to be friendly at all times since they’ll get to be a prefect at some point anyway. It might also inspire some of the little darlings to try to prove that the Heads have got it wrong and that quiet people are no good, causing trouble in various forms and upsetting various people into the bargain. But I also think she would have told you if she meant you to keep it a secret. Her reasons for telling you will have been to reassure you and help you understand but also because she knows you’ll use the knowledge wisely – and you are. Some people would think nothing of making it seem that they’ve become the Head’s confidante or some such thing whilst others would let the knowledge go to their heads and think they’re more important than they actually are. You, on the other hand, are thinking about how best you can use that knowledge to help other people – and that, for the record, Amy, is part of what being a Chalet girl is all about! They weren’t wrong in choosing you!” Amy flushed red with pleasure and Daisy gave her an understanding smile. “I agree that if you start telling people how you came by the knowledge then there will be cries of favouritism all over the place. I would only recommend you tell Roswitha – as far as I can tell, everyone else has pretty much accepted the status quo – and I’d suggest you just say that you bumped into Miss Annersley last night on your way to bed and she asked you how your day had been, so you asked her why you’d been made your form’s second and she told you. That’s all quite true – nobody needs to know you were in your dormitory. I’d also tell Roswitha that you’re telling her because you thought it might help but that you’d rather she didn’t repeat it in case the kids get the wrong idea. You can tell her what I’ve said, if you like and if she’s worth her salt, she’ll keep quiet. If she doesn’t keep quiet and starts spreading it about, she’ll soon find herself on the wrong side of the Heads! You’d be all right because you told her to help her and asked her to keep quiet. Somehow, though, I don’t think you need worry too much. She doesn’t strike me as the type to broadcast things and I doubt the Heads would have appointed her if they thought she might. As for being a dormitory prefect, it sounds like you handled Vi just right and you can’t always do everything you’re supposed to do as dormy prefect! It won’t happen every night and it doesn’t matter if you don’t manage to get all your duties done. Matey’s more likely to go off the deep end if you let a child wake up an entire dormitory or more because you’ve gone to bed on time without dealing with said child than if you’re late to bed because you’ve been dealing with a kid! Equally, if it’s late, sometimes you just have to leave doing the rounds. No point in overtiring yourself! Kids of that age will let you know if they’ve got a problem! Anyway, enough of me preaching!” Daisy grinned. “How’s young Josette doing? And Maeve?”
“I think Josette’s enjoying herself but I don’t know about Maeve,” Amy answered carefully.
“Don’t take any nonsense from her,” Daisy advised. “Bride told me she’s been difficult at home,” she added as Amy looked startled. “I don’t suppose it’s any different here. Hopefully her own crowd will soon make her see where she’s going wrong but in the meantime, don’t let her run rings round her and don’t run round picking up after her. She’s got to realise she’s just one of many and no more important than the rest of us.”

Author:  Chair [ 07 Sep 2006, 18:16 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I'm glad that Daisy was able to talk so wisely to Amy.

Author:  Lesley [ 07 Sep 2006, 18:33 ]
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Glad Amy has heard from someone else about Maeve - think she'll need all her famed patience with that one.

Well done Daisy.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  leahbelle [ 07 Sep 2006, 18:37 ]
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Good for Daisy. Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  MaryR [ 07 Sep 2006, 20:54 ]
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That was wonderful, Catherine. Poor Amy, struggling with so many new thoughts and not wanting to make herself seem important. Alixe's words about her were very wise, as were Daisy's when she tries to make sense of it all for Amy.

I chuckled over Daisy's comment about not wanting to lie down and worship Amy. :lol:

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 08 Sep 2006, 00:24 ]
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That was all so very wise - both in terms of Amy's and Daisy's perceptions. And Maeve is findng it very hard isn't she?

Author:  Squirrel [ 13 Sep 2006, 01:22 ]
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Read through this tonight Catherine - it's a wonderful touching piece, showing the gradual development of Amy. I love the way you have managed to do it - so realistic, and showing where the real friendships you have created.

I may well get back to you on this at some more reasonable hour, when I am thinking straight, but Thank you.

Author:  Catherine [ 01 Oct 2006, 15:38 ]
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Sorry it's been so long ... blame the vision! :wink:


Amy duly sought out Roswitha and told her what the Head had said. Despite Daisy’s advice, she was still anxious as to Roswitha’s possible reaction and waited nervously during the ensuing silence, whilst Roswitha pondered what she had heard.
“Amy, you idiot!” Roswitha began to laugh, having looked up and caught Amy’s expression. “You look like I’m going to eat you! What on earth’s the matter?”
“I-I wasn’t sure what you were going to think,” Amy confessed. “I-it wasn’t favouritism.”
“Amy, it would only be favouritism if, for instance, I was to go to Miss Annersley with the same question and she refused to answer my question,” Roswitha replied, pointing out something that hadn’t crossed Daisy’s mind. “And if that were the case, it wouldn’t be your fault, it would be hers. That wouldn’t happen though – both of the Heads are too fair for that. I don’t say that Miss Annersley would necessarily have asked somebody else she saw about their day but then we haven’t had to cope with everything you have and they want you to feel comfortable around them as you’ll see them in holidays and things. I’m not saying, either, that everyone would see it that way so I think you’re right not to broadcast it but I’m glad you told me. It does make sense now. I know some of the others don’t agree with either of us being chosen but it will help to know why we’ve been chosen instead of them. You will help me, won’t you? I’ve not been a form prefect before – anymore than you’ve been a second – maybe we could help each other muddle through?”
“I-if you want,” Amy looked slightly taken aback.
“I do want,” Roswitha replied. “And Amy, if there’s ever anything you want to talk about, well I might not be able to help but I don’t mind listening.”
“Thank you,” Amy wasn’t quite sure what else to say and there was a slight awkward pause.
“We’d better get back,” Roswitha got to her feet and pulled Amy up with her. “Louisa and Charlotte, at any rate, will be looking for you.”

The next few days saw the School start to settle into their normal routine, completely unaware of recent developments. That is not to say that the Middles had stopped trying to guess at what Miss Dene had been doing when she made her tour of the formrooms but they were finding other things to interest them. It was the Prefects who were first made aware of the shock that was in store for them, when the Head appeared at one of their first meetings. They had only just convened when the Head appeared and so the girls had to contain their curiosity as to why Beth wanted to hold another meeting so soon after their first.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, girls,” she smiled as she entered. “I know you’ve got one or two things you need to discuss but I wanted to warn you of something that will be happening very soon and to give you the chance to work out how best you will all manage it.” She took the seat Beth had vacated at the head of the table and smiled round the girls, before going on to briefly explain the situation. “We had expected to accommodate approximately 50 girls however, with things being the way they are at the moment, many of the parents who expressed an interest, did not agree with our ethos and expressed reservations regarding our origins,” she paused here, as a volley of horrified exclamations met her ears.
“But how can they think like that?! Surely people don’t actually want to be at war!” Terry Prosser exclaimed.
“No I don’t think they do,” Beth said consideringly. “It really isn’t all that surprising though. No, wait!” she broke off as more exclamations arose. “Think about it. We make it clear to new pupils that our thoughts and prayers and actions consider those of – of Non-British nationality as much as our own. To us, it has to be that way because of the school starting in Austria and many Old Girls being German or Austrian or whatever. Because we know these people or have heard stories about them or know their friends, we can understand that it is as hard if not harder for them than for us and – and empathise with them. New girls and the little ones are taught about it and one of the important things we do in this School is try to see things from other people’s points of view. We are able to know that being German or Austrian does not necessarily mean that you are also a Nazi and that other countries are suffering as we are. But to your average person on the street, this war is the fault of the Germans and any school which is seen to sympathise with Germans isn’t going to be one they want their children to attend. Some parents will take the time to understand we sympathise with those who are being made to suffer as a result of Nazism and not with the Nazis themselves and will appreciate it and want their daughter to be educated about it but others think it is unpatriotic.” She ran down here, suddenly remembering the Head was still there and listening to everything she said.
“You’re quite right, Beth,” the Head agreed quickly, whilst inwardly reflecting that the School could not go far wrong with a leader than thought about matters as deeply as Beth did. “People have very different ideas about what is and is not patriotic behaviour and thinking – influenced mainly by the Press. We are fortunate in that our background means that we are able to see things from a more balanced point of view but I’m afraid that we can only try to convince others of the need to empathise with those in different countries and understand that they are suffering too. There is much anger amongst people and some will regard our ethos as being unpatriotic. However, there isn’t time to discuss it now. At the moment, I am more concerned with the influx of new girls that will occur next week. We are expecting no more than 30 girls – I expect it to be nearer 20, most of them younger girls, although there will be three or four for the Fifth forms I believe. It is an unusual situation and will lead to some reorganisation of Middle forms which, I suspect will not be welcomed! Many of the girls who join us will find things difficult at first – they have had little or no preparation for this and will be dealing with their separation from old friends at the same time as finding new ones so I would ask that you be on the lookout for any grumbling from our girls that may cause resentment amongst our newcomers.”

Author:  MaryR [ 01 Oct 2006, 15:47 ]
Post subject: 

Two very wise girls there in Beth and Roswitha. They both talked a great deal of sense, and Miss Annersley is clearly impressed by Beth's insight.
Thank you, Catherine.

Author:  Lesley [ 01 Oct 2006, 17:10 ]
Post subject: 

Yes, there would be some that were unable to see the School's ethos in the same way - interesting.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Chair [ 01 Oct 2006, 20:29 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, Catherine. Beth had a lot of insight there.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 02 Oct 2006, 04:35 ]
Post subject:  A new start for Amy

Am really glad to see this back. Am loving this so far. Thanks

Author:  Cath V-P [ 02 Oct 2006, 08:44 ]
Post subject: 

Fascinating; I hadn't thought that the school's origins and ethos might cause some suspicion and resentment, but I canm see how it might happen.
And what thoughtful people Beth and Roswitha are.

Thank you Catherine

Author:  Nell [ 02 Oct 2006, 12:20 ]
Post subject: 

Exactely what Cath said. Thank you Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 04 Nov 2006, 21:25 ]
Post subject: 

I know I'm totally rubbish at updating this but ...


“Well! What do you make of that?!” Daisy demanded of the assembled Prefects, once the Head had gone.
“I foresee ructions,” Jack le Pelley pronounced gloomily. “We’ve only just avoided a riot over the new forms in the Seniors – I can’t see us managing it a second time! Especially not with Middles!”
“And what’s more, we don’t yet know what sort of new girls we already have without being landed with another twenty or thirty, who will all be resentful at being pushed onto some other school and separated from friends etc.!” Isabel Allan added.
“Anymore objections, grumbles, whinges?” Beth inquired and the prefects swivelled round to face her.
“What’s the why of that?” Katharine James gasped.
“You lot!” Beth retorted. “You’re all sitting there looking gloomy! In case you’ve forgotten, nobody’s asking any of us to move to a new school or make new friends! Yes, I have no doubt there will be problems but we must just do our best to overcome them. Life isn’t going to be easy for these new girls – not until they’ve settled down anyway! Remember, they’ll be coming to us after term has started when everyone is already settling back into school ways and on top of that, they’ll have to forget their old way of doing things and adapt to the way we do things.”
“Perhaps,” Alixe McNab, who had remained silent hitherto, spoke up, “we could spend the time before they come organising some sort of welcome activities for them.”
“You know, it’s a pity the Head doesn’t intend to tell the rest of the School just yet,” Joanna Linders commented. “If she did, we could organise a committee and get them to think of ideas.”
“But we still could!” Meg Farrant jumped in. “We could organise a – a social committee! Two girls from each form with say three or four of us and we meet say once a week to discuss ideas for special occasions or a different idea for a Saturday evening. We could say that we want our first event to be a sort of welcoming event for our new girls – they don’t need to know that we could be getting more.” This idea met with acclaim from the rest of the Prefects.
“Which of us should be on the committee?” Daisy asked, at last.
“Alixe, Meg and Joanna since it was their idea,” Beth answered promptly. “But I don’t think we should have more than one person from each form on the committee – if we have two from each form then we’re going to have ten from the Seniors and about twice as many from the rest of the School – and that’s with the way the forms are at the moment! In any case, nothing can actually be decided at the moment – we need to run it by the Heads first and get their say so on the matter.”
“True for you,” Daisy agreed.
“You know, this is all going to take a lot of re-organising,” Gwensi said thoughtfully. “Maybe we should offer to help go through the dormy lists or form lists or something.”
“We’d be better to put our brains together and occupy the kids for a day so that the staff can get together and make decisions,” Beth replied. “I propose that Alixe and I go and see the Heads later and discuss the committee proposal with them and also getting the rest together for a day sometime. If they agree, we’ll put our heads together and think of how we’re going to entertain them – we’ll not be able to do it until they’ve decided who they’re going to take, of course!”
“Sounds sensible to me,” Daisy approved. “By the by, Beth, what was the first cause of this meeting?”
“Yes, do tell us!” Terry Prosser exclaimed. “I’m agog with curiosity to know why we’re having a meeting again so soon after our first.” Beth laughed.
“It’s rather pointless now but there’s an uneasy atmosphere amongst the Seniors at the moment – mainly because of the new forms business – and I wanted to know what you people thought about it and if there was anything we could do.”
“I don’t see that it is pointless,” Katharine James said thoughtfully. “Something needs to be done, I think, or our problems will only increase ten-fold when the new arrangements come into force amongst the Middles. And it’s not good for discipline if they see the Seniors squabbling amongst themselves over pretty much nothing or taking no notice of their form prefects. Not that I see what we can do.”
“Call a meeting of all the form prefects and seconds and tell them to get their act together and start sorting out their forms,” Gwensi said bluntly but Beth shook her head. Alixe, however, was before her.
“That won’t work,” she said firmly. “For one thing, this isn’t the fault of the form prefects and seconds. Some of them never asked for or even hoped to be put in the positions they’re in and they’re having trouble adapting to their new roles, just as others are having trouble accepting them. If we wade in and tell them to get on with it, it’s not going to help – just make matters worse. They’ll resent us and their positions even more. It’s party the fault of the Heads for changing things without giving us any warning and therefore giving people time to get used to the idea and it’s party the fault of the girls for not accepting their decision and getting on with it as they would normally.”
“So what do you suggest?” Beth glanced at her.
“Well, if it were me, I’d want encouragement,” Alixe said thoughtfully. “Not all of them need encouragement, of course – in fact, come to think of it, it’s the two Fifth ‘B’ forms that are having the problems. Lower Sixth and the two As are pretty much as expected and are handing any resentment at form places fine but Roswitha, Amy, Loveday and Anne have rather been dropped in it.”
“I’ve had an idea,” Meg said slowly as Alixe paused. “Why not see what the Heads say about this social committee idea and if they agree, we could give those four and the others a break from their duties and maybe Alixe, Joanna and I could go for a stroll with them and tell them our ideas and get their opinions etc.? We could work the conversation around to them broaching it with their forms and then casually – or as casually as we can,” she amended, with a grin, “ask them how they’re getting on. Hopefully Peggy and Gillian, at least, will be forthcoming and the others will join in.”
“Jolly good for you, Meg!” Daisy exclaimed. “You are coming up with ideas today!” Meg, usually a fairly quiet person, blushed at this compliment, which was followed by several more from the others. Eventually Beth took pity on her.
“I think that’s about as good an idea as we can hope to come up with,” she agreed. “Should it not work out for any reason, then we’ll rethink. Well if everyone’s agreed, we’ll draw this meeting to a close.” Everyone was agreed and the meeting was closed.

Author:  Lesley [ 04 Nov 2006, 21:30 ]
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Pleased to see more of this Catherine - that's a very inventive and caring set of Prefects you have there!

Thank you.

Author:  Chair [ 05 Nov 2006, 00:19 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, Catherine. I like all the ideas that they have come up with.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 05 Nov 2006, 01:58 ]
Post subject: 

This is complicated - and the prefects are being very astute in realising just where the problems are.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 05 Nov 2006, 06:00 ]
Post subject:  A New start for Amy

This is great. Am really glad to be reading an update. Thanks

Author:  MaryR [ 05 Nov 2006, 21:31 ]
Post subject: 

catherine wrote:
Anymore objections, grumbles, whinges?” Beth inquired

Fantastic way to pull them all up short. :lol: Well done, Beth, and well done the rest of them for sorting this out so sensibly and thoughtfully.

Thanks for updating, Catherine

Author:  Catherine [ 05 Nov 2006, 21:31 ]
Post subject: 

A few minutes later saw the group strolling off down the drive and Meg proceeded to relieve the curiosity of their companions by enlarging on her idea.
“So how do you think the rest of your forms would take it?” she asked casually, when the younger girls had expressed their appreciation of the idea. “You see, we thought it might be a nice idea for it to be someone other than a form prefect or second to sit on the committee but what with all these new arrangements, none of us can work out who might be likely individuals in the forms.”
“Actually, we’ve been pretty lucky,” Kathie commented. “Everybody in our form is pretty much who you’d expect to be there – there are one or two who’ve gone up or in B form, of course,” she cast a grin at Gillian Culver who was now a member of Lower Sixth but still counted as one of their ‘set’. Gillian returned it.
“Yes, your form is lucky,” she agreed. “Our form is too – we all expected to be Upper A or Sixth Form anyway so it’s only been a pleasant surprise, if it has been a surprise! Actually, I’d say it’s the ‘B’ Fifth Forms that seem to be a rummy mixture.”
“Tell me about it,” Loveday murmured. “Why on earth the Abbess decided to move Anne and I, and the others, up instead of leaving us as Middles, I don’t know! And as if that wasn’t enough of a surprise, she goes and makes us form prefect and second!”
“That’s more or less what we thought when we found out about us,” Roswitha put in.
“Well why not you four?” Joanna asked quickly. “Might as well be you people as anybody else!”
“But the others all have so much more experience!” Loveday complained.
“Experience has nothing to do with it,” Alixe said firmly. “What counts is whether the person is able to influence others for the better, keep the peace and keep order. Both of the Heads have far too much sense to appoint people to the positions if they aren’t able to do the jobs! They believe that you people can do it and so you have to believe it too!”
“It doesn’t matter – or it shouldn’t matter - what other people think,” Joanna added. “The fact of the matter is that you people have been appointed to these positions by the Heads and you can either spend the next ten weeks moaning and whingeing about it or you can get on and show everyone just why you should hold the positions you do. If the rest of your forms cause problems, give them an ultimatum – either respect your authority and decisions or be reported to their form mistress for disobedience and rudeness.”
“But isn’t that rather like telling tales – or showing that we can’t cope without going to a mistress?” Amy wondered doubtfully.
“Of course not!” Meg struck in. “You’d be asses for allowing the situation to carry on instead of taking the necessary steps to sort it out. Look, Amy and you other three, whether you like it or not – and whether anybody else likes it or not – you are form prefects and seconds and you’ve simply got to get on with it. If you do end up reporting people then you can be sure that whichever mistress you report them to will tell you if they think it’s unnecessary. Have confidence in yourselves and in turn, other people will have confidence in you.”
“It does come with practice,” Gillian put in, comfortingly. “I hated it at first but I soon realised nothing awful was going to befall me if I did assert myself – more likely to be the other way round! Just give it a go and remember that you are in the right!”
“I shouldn’t worry too much though,” Jacynth put in. “If you give them that ultimatum, they’ll soon pull up and behave themselves. They’d get very short shrift if they had to face a mistress – and nobody would have any sympathy with them!”
“Most of the people causing trouble are people who’d be no use at all as form prefect or second,” Peggy pointed out. “They’re all featherheads or troublemakers and are merely jealous or resentful because you’ve been chosen and not them! So the less notice you take of them the better – if you keep hesitating and wondering if you’re right and things, they’ll just keep on thinking the Heads made a mistake!”
“And now, having drummed those wise words into your heads, let us return to the original subject!” Alixe grinned, deciding enough had been said. “Let’s hear any ideas you might have for this committee and who might be suitable – or who definitely wouldn’t!” she ended, with another grin.

Author:  Lesley [ 05 Nov 2006, 22:16 ]
Post subject: 

Let's hope that helps - the girls just need to gain a little experience and they'll be fine.


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Chair [ 05 Nov 2006, 23:22 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, Catherine. It was nice to see them all talking.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 05 Nov 2006, 23:37 ]
Post subject: 

That outlined the position very clearly. Hopefully, they will gain some confidence from this advice.
Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 06 Nov 2006, 11:01 ]
Post subject:  A New start for Amy

Nice to see another update. Am enjoying this

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 06 Nov 2006, 15:08 ]
Post subject: 

It's really nice to see more of this but is it too soon to start asking for more?! :lol:

I love the interaction between Amy and the others and the way she is maturing and growing. This is probably my favourite period in the CS books/history.

Author:  Squirrel [ 06 Nov 2006, 15:18 ]
Post subject: 

Lovely last couple of updates. I'm really enjoying seeing the sensible seniors banding together, to help each other through - and how they take on the advice they are given. I wonder how they school as a whole will react to the information that they are expected to take in a whole hoast of new girls!

Thanks Catherine

Author:  MaryR [ 06 Nov 2006, 17:12 ]
Post subject: 

Well done, Joanna, Meg and Alixe - plenty of sound common sense and good advice, which I hope they will take.

Thank you, Catherine

Author:  KathrynW [ 06 Nov 2006, 22:52 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Catherine, it's been fab to see more of this :D

Author:  Catherine [ 11 Nov 2006, 23:26 ]
Post subject: 

“This term is going to be plain awful if something isn’t done about this state of affairs!” Ursula Nicholls was heard proclaiming as Roswitha and Amy, with Louisa and Charlotte, approached their Splashery a day or so following this. “How on earth the Abbess and Bill could possibly've thought that Roswitha and Amy could be any use whatsoever as form prefect and second, is beyond me! Of course, Amy’s the Head’s pet, so I suppose that might explain her -,”
“Oh be quiet do!” Mollie McNab broke in, impatiently. “You do talk some rubbish, Ursula!”
“I don’t think she does,” Eilunedd Vaughn stuck up for Ursula. “You hardly know they’re there half the time and that’s not what we want in our form prefect and second! What do you suggest we do about it, Ursula?”
“Do about it?” Pamela Whitlock echoed. “Why that’s obvious isn’t it?”
“We have to get rid of them, of course!” Mary Everitt announced.
“Oh do you now?” Roswitha strode into the Splashery at this point, leaving the other three to collect their wits and then follow her. The rest of the form were struck dumb at their sudden appearance and Amy glanced round them all, a queer smile on her face.
“Why have you stopped talking? You seemed to have plenty to say a few minutes ago,” she commented. “What was the state of affairs you were complaining about, Ursula?” She waited but again, only an uncomfortable silence was the response. A gleam, matching the queer smile on her face, appeared in her eyes. “You might as well tell us – after all, if you don’t, I’ll just go and find Miss Annersley. She’ll do whatever I ask her to do – including getting you to tell us what you were talking about – after all, I am her pet. At least, according to you, I am.”
“We were complaining because we don’t think you and Roswitha are making very good prefects of this form – and I think we’re all right!” Mary declared boldly.
“Oh do you now?” Roswitha eyed her curiously. “Well, just so you know, neither Amy or I care what you think about us or about how we’re doing our jobs. We are form prefect and second and we will continue to be, whether you like it or not! However, neither of us expected to be placed in these positions and since neither of us have any experience, we’re still finding our way. Now, you can either be grown up enough to recognise this and therefore support and help us to do this or, if you choose to, you can continue to grumble and moan and think badly of us.”
“The choice is entirely yours,” added Amy. “We’re not bothered which you choose – all we would like to say is that quite frankly, some of you are setting a very bad example to the Middles and Juniors by grumbling and defying our authority in public places and thus you are disgracing the form and yourselves.”
“And if you continue to do so, you will leave us with no option but to report you to our form mistress or the Prefects,” Roswitha continued. “Yes, you may think us weak or whatever you like but we will not let anybody disgrace this form either now or in the future! Now, I believe we have a walk to get ready for. Anybody who is late will be left behind and will lose an order mark!” Whilst she and Amy,made their way to their lockers and then the basins to wash and tidy and change into outdoor clothing, the rest of their form watched them in opened mouthed astonishment – all except Louisa and Charlotte who were still too new to feel any inclination to get into any kind of trouble. Nobody had been quite prepared for this and even those who had faithfully supported Roswitha and Amy were too taken aback by the sudden change of attitude to know what to do with themselves.
“Get a move on, idiot! D’y want an order mark for being late?” Roswitha hissed to Mollie McNab as she passed her on the way out of the Splashery. Mollie certainly did not and the discreet poke that Roswitha had given her brought her to her senses. Several of the others followed their example but – stupidly, as they later discovered – some decided to test Roswitha and Amy to see how deep this new attitude went, only to get quite a shock when they arrived on the drive and found their form had gone and nobody but Matron and some of the Junior forms were left. They couldn’t avoid that lady’s eagle eye and a few trenchant questions soon elicited the story from them – it has to be said that they were honest enough to admit to the warning Roswitha had given them – and in addition to the order mark they were already to lose, another was removed and they were split up and condemned to joining the remaining Junior walks.

Thanks to the advice offered by the Prefects and the action taken by Roswitha and Amy – and similar by Loveday and Anne, the tension that had been apparent amongst the Senior half of the School eased considerably, much to the relief of all concerned. It is true that there were struggles and tussles still within Lower Fifth B and Upper Fifth B but the new no-nonsense attitude meant that the troublemakers never came out on top and for the moment, at least, soon gave up causing problems. In any case, their attention was turned elsewhere when the Head called a meeting of all the Seniors. On reflection, the two Heads had decided to tell each portion of the School individually, guessing that different issues and worries would arise within each section that would be irrelevant to the rest of the School and therefore prolong the meeting.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 12 Nov 2006, 00:28 ]
Post subject:  A New start for Amy

This is fabulous. Well done Amy and Roswitha

Author:  Chair [ 12 Nov 2006, 00:52 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, Catherine. I'm glad that Roswitha and Amy took the prefects' advice.

Author:  Lesley [ 12 Nov 2006, 01:06 ]
Post subject: 

Well done both of them - and those idiots that still didn't take notice deserve everything they were given!


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Kathy_S [ 12 Nov 2006, 02:08 ]
Post subject: 

Well done Roswitha and Amy!
Likewise their supportive advisors. :)

Author:  Cath V-P [ 12 Nov 2006, 03:32 ]
Post subject: 

Oh excellent! Roswitha and Amy did exactly as they should and followed it through.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  MaryR [ 12 Nov 2006, 14:51 ]
Post subject: 

Always follow through on your threats! :lol: This should show them all that Amy and Roswitha are not the meek and mild nobodies that the others had thought.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Elle [ 12 Nov 2006, 22:30 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for this Catherine. I found it this evening, I had to go back and read the whole of 'Amy' and then I contined with this. I has taken me a couple of hours but it has been worth it! I am looking forwards to the next bit very much.

Author:  Squirrel [ 12 Nov 2006, 23:07 ]
Post subject: 

That was excellent team work by Amy and Roswitha. I am glad they can work together so well. If they continue like this (and if their counterparts in other forms do as well) they will certainly become trailblasers in their form, and others will have to sit up and take notice.

This bodes well for the continuation of form prefects not just being the more outgoing girls who seem to be more usual.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Catherine [ 19 Nov 2006, 22:05 ]
Post subject: 

The Head had been wise in delaying her announcement until the last moment possible, although it has to be said that for the most part, the reaction was more a mixture of anticipation and curiosity than dismay. There were the odd few girls who grumbled over it – Joy Bird was one of those who was not happy – but they were promptly squashed by the Prefects, who, as Daisy described it, were forewarned and forearmed. It helped that the proposed form splits amongst the Middles and Juniors did not hold as many shocks as first feared and that many of the younger ones, at least, had not yet had time to fully settle in and form strong friendships and also that the prospect of new girls could only be an exciting one for them. The School was buzzing with excitement and curiosity therefore, when the girls finally arrived.
“They don’t look very unusual,” Blossom Willoughby hissed to her chums, Sybil Russell and Susannah Wills – the three had managed to sneak out to the landing and were peeping through the banisters at the girls.
“Well of course they look normal, idiot! They’re just girls like the rest of us!” Sybil retorted.
“So why are you here then?” Blossom argued, irritated by this.
“Yes, why are you here?” a voice inquired and the three jumped and turned round guiltily.
“Amy!” Sybil breathed a sigh of relief, on realising it was Amy and not a Prefect or mistress. “What are you doing here?”
“Some of the new girls are to be in my dormitory so I, and some of the other dormitory prefects, are going down to collect them and take them to unpack,” Amy answered her. “Look, I don’t know what you three are doing here – other than being spies and being generally nosey – but if you don’t scram now, you’ll be in a whole heap of trouble! Now!” she ended sharply as the three opened their mouths to object to what she had called them. Thinking better of it, they scrammed and Amy continued her way to where the new girls were milling around in the entrance hall. Her attention was immediately caught by two girls who were standing apart from the rest, both looking very lost and miserable and more than a little wet and bedraggled. A quick glance round showed her that the staff and Prefects were too busy trying to bring some order to the chaos to pay particular attention to any one individual so she wandered over to them.
“Are you two all right?” she asked, touching the elder girl’s arm. “Can I help at all?”
“W-we don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing,” the elder girl tried to pull herself together.
“I don’t think anyone does at the moment,” Amy grinned. “Why don’t you go and join up with some of your friends? You’re a bit out of things over here.”
“We don’t know them,” the younger girl piped up. “We were to start at their school this term.”
“Well what about waiting with your parents or guardian?” Amy suggested. “I know the Heads have arranged to interview them all this morning so if you wait with them, someone will tell you what to do.”
“They’re not here,” the younger girl spoke up again. “Daddy’s away with the war and Mummy’s had to send us away cos Cardiff kept being bombed – we’ve been ‘vacuated.”
“I-it only happened in August,” the elder girl swallowed hard. “I don’t think the people we were sent to really want us so they’ve sent us here. Our grandparents have set up trust funds for us both and so that’s how they could afford it,” she added.
“Fair enough,” Amy replied, for want of anything else to say. She couldn’t help thinking this was all very strange. “What are your names, by the way? And how did you get here? I’m Amy Rutherford and I’m in Upper Fifth B.”
“I’m Rosalynne Jones and this is my sister, Gwen,” Rosalynne replied. “We don’t know about forms or anything yet.”
“I expect Miss Dene will be able to tell you that when she gets round to you,” Amy replied quickly. “But how did you manage to get here? You both look a bit wet,” she suddenly noticed the pair were looking a little damp and bedraggled.
“They dropped us off at the end of the drive and we walked up,” Rosalynne replied and Amy suddenly swung round and made her way over to Miss Dene.
“What is it, Amy?” that harassed lady greeted her rather sharply and for a moment, Amy recoiled. Then she pulled herself together. “I’ve been talking to Rosalynne and Gwen Jones, their guardians couldn’t bring them to the door so they had to walk up the drive and they’re a bit wet,” she explained and Miss Dene immediately understood why Amy had interrupted her. Matron was far from sweet-tempered at the moment, due to all the extra work created by a bunch of new girls arriving after term had begun and two girls developing a cold from standing in wet clothes was the last thing anybody, particularly Matron, needed. She promptly followed Amy over to the pair, her harassed look and sharp tone disappearing as she greeted them with a warm smile.
“Welcome to the Chalet School!” she smiled. “My name’s Miss Dene and I’m the School Secretary. We’ll be seeing each other again later so I shan’t detain you for long now. Amy tells me you’re both slightly wet and since we don’t want either of you to come down with colds or chills at this early date, I’ll just give you a couple of bits of information and then Amy will take you to change. As it happens, Rosalynne, you’re to be in Upper Fifth B with Amy here and in Heather dormitory with some of your own form. Gwen, you’re to be in Amy’s dormitory so it’s rather fortunate she found you!” she paused to laugh. “Amy, perhaps you wouldn’t mind doing sheepdog for Rosalynne? Mollie Avery is her dormitory prefect and Jean MacGregor can help her out with dormitory duties etc. Gwen, you’re to be in Amy’s dormitory, along with two other new Juniors,” she turned round. “Christine Vincent! Catriona Watson!” A pair of small girls emerged from the throng and she promptly handed them over to Amy. “Ask Vi Lucy, Doris Hill and Lesley Malcolm to see to them, please Amy.” With that, she went back to the throng and Amy, quailing rather at the task before her, was left with four expectant faces looking at her. Wishing, not for the first time that term that someone else had been chosen, she took a deep breath and pulled herself together.
“Have you all got everything?” she asked and the four nodded. “Well then, we’d better go. Rosalynne, come with us and you can change your stockings and things in my cubey. I’ll help you unpack once I’ve sorted these three out.” She led the way from the entrance hall up towards the dormitories. Rosalynne followed her in silence but the three small girls were already chatting away to each other, although they fell silent when Amy opened the dormitory door to reveal almost as much chaos as there had been in the entrance hall.
“What on earth are you all doing?” she demanded, surveying the Juniors.
“We’re changing cubicles for the three new people,” Vi informed her importantly. “Oh and Angela has to go to another dormy cos there’s only two empty cubeys an’ there’s three of them!”
“But that’s OK cos I get to be with my other friends!” Angela put in cheerfully. “Come on, Anne! Let’s take these next door!”
“Not yet, you don’t!” Amy stopped them firmly. “Rosalynne, that’s my cubicle,” she pointed it out. “Hop in there and change, with Gwen, whilst I sort this little lot out – if I can!” she ended sotto voce to Rosalynne who found herself chuckling as she collected her small sister - who, in common with the other two, had been staring wide-eyed at the scene – and slipped into Amy’s cubicle. Amy turned back to her charges. “Firstly, which of you are moving cubicles?” she inquired.
“All of us!” Lesley promptly replied and Amy only just managed to avoid clutching at her hair in despair.
“’cept Josette cos she wants to stay next to you an’ Maeve cos she won’t move!” Doris put in.
“Nor should she,” Amy answered briskly. “There is no need for you all to move cubicles! There are two spare cubicles at the end – one next to Vi and the other next to Lesley, on the opposite side. Christine and Catriona may have those two cubicles and Gwen may have Angela’s cubicle, between Doris and Josette. Now, take your clothes back into your cubicles and put them away again, neatly! Angela, take everything back to you cubicle for the moment and I’ll be there in a second. Josette and Maeve, since you two haven’t taken anything out, you may help Christine and Catriona to unpack. Josette, would you take Christine and Maeve, will you look after Catriona, please?” For a wonder, Maeve didn’t make a fuss, in fact she looked pleased at the idea – something which Amy put away for further consideration at a later date. For now, she ensured everyone was doing as she said and then went to Angela’s aid, sorting out the heap of clothes into smaller manageable piles, which she then put onto one of the packing trays that had been left ready for the use of the new girls.
“Can we do anything to help?” Rosalynne and Gwen appeared at this point.
“If you don’t mind, you could help me to carry this next door,” Amy suggested, indicating the tray and Rosalynne agreed. “Doris, would you look after Gwen, please?” she parted the cubicle curtains and Doris, busy putting away her clothes, turned round and full of importance, promptly summoned Gwen to her. With an infectious grin at Rosalynne, Amy sent Angela ahead to open the doors and then the two Seniors lifted the tray and carried it out and into the new dormitory – Kathie Robertson’s dormitory. All was peaceful order in there and Amy cast Kathie an envious look.
“How do you manage to have such a peaceful dormy?” she asked and Kathie chuckled.
“What’s happened now?” she demanded.
“Nothing much – apart from all but two of them deciding to change cubicles and taking as much of their clothes as they could carry out of their cubicles,” Amy groaned and Kathie dissolved into fits of laughter.
“I wish I’d been there!” she said yearningly, laughing again as Amy glared at her. “Stop glaring at me and introduce me, won’t you?” Kathie changed the subject, glancing at Rosalynne.
“This is Rosalynne Jones. She’s new for Upper Fifth B,” Amy replied swiftly. “She’s got a younger sister, Gwen who’s to be in my dormy. Rosalynne’s to be in Heather dormitory and when I’ve finished with my little lot, I’ve said I’ll take her over and help her unpack. Rosalynne, this is Kathie Robertson – she’s in Upper Fifth A.”
“Welcome to the Chalet School,” Kathie smiled kindly at the girl. “There’ll be time to get to know each other later but for now, you and Amy had better scram or goodness knows what that little lot will get up to next!”

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 19 Nov 2006, 22:15 ]
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OK to start with I thought they had been told by Matey to change cubicles. How I would have loved to have seen THAT seen. But yay Amy for taking charge and doing what had to be done. She's really growing and changing and developing as a person as this progresses isn't she?

Thank You!

Author:  Lesley [ 19 Nov 2006, 22:32 ]
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Well done Amy, both for seeing that there were people that needed your help and for helping! As for her dormitory - definitely major problems there! :lol: But she dealt with them very well. Glad Amy has noted that Maeve was unusually helpful!


Thanks Catherine

Author:  Cath V-P [ 19 Nov 2006, 23:13 ]
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Amy handled that very well - both the new girls and her dormitory. Poor Gwen and Rosalynne, feeling new and unwanted.

Author:  Vikki [ 20 Nov 2006, 14:56 ]
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*giggles at Amy's dormy* :lol:

Thanks Catherine. And well done Amy for seeing what needed doing, and doing it!

Author:  MaryR [ 20 Nov 2006, 16:08 ]
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Amy fully justified the Heads choice of her as Form and Dormy prefect there, didn't she? She was as kind and considerate as could be to the new people - and forceful enough to please anyone with those miscreants in her own dormy. :lol: One really felt for her in that chaos.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Chair [ 20 Nov 2006, 20:09 ]
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Thanks, Catherine. I'm glad that Amy was able to help them all out.

Author:  KathrynW [ 21 Nov 2006, 17:59 ]
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Thanks Catherine, it's lovely to see Amy blossoming here

Author:  Catherine [ 01 Jan 2007, 20:55 ]
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At this point, I should probably say that I've no idea when Christine, Catriona and Gwen joined the School so they've joined now! If the timing's wrong, apologies! :D


Fortunately, when the elder pair returned to their dormitory, it was to discover its occupants getting up to nothing more harmless than performing the art of introductions – although since they were all talking at once, neither of the Seniors could quite work out how the three new girls were supposed to tell them all apart. They fell silent however as Amy shut the door rather more loudly than she had intended and turned to look at her.
“Are you cross?” Josette ventured.
“Well you haven’t been behaving very well, have you?” Amy replied, not directly answering Josette’s question. “I wanted Christine, Catriona and Gwen to see how sensible and helpful you all are but instead, you were all out of your cubicles and you’d taken all your clothes out of their drawers and the wardrobe! You weren’t even carrying them properly and so some of them had dropped on the floor! Did Matron say you all had to move cubicles?” Amy felt safe in asking this question since Matron had told her of the arrangements the previous day.
“No,” Vi admitted. “She told us to wait for you.”
“We just wanted to help you!” Josefa Wertheimer put in miserably. The small girls were rapidly becoming very fond of Amy and they had genuinely thought they were helping earlier.
“But why were all of you trying to change your cubicles?” Rosalynne, feeling rather sorry for them, asked the question she’d been dying to ask since they’d walked in earlier. Immediately though, both she and Amy regretted it. All talking at once, the crowd embarked on a long and convoluted explanation which made no sense to anybody but themselves. Eventually, aware of the passing time, Amy put a stop to it and hustled them back to their tidying.

“Thank goodness for that!” Amy breathed a sigh of relief, as she saw the last of her charges into their common room and shut the door on them. “What possessed Matey to let everyone be in their dormy, I’ve no idea! Anyway, we’d better go up to your dormy and get you unpacked. The Heads’ll want to see you at some point.”
“Why?” Rosalynne asked, suddenly nervous. “I-I thought it was all all right to be here. I didn’t know there was more than one Head.”
“Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson, they’re co-Heads,” Amy explained. “A few terms ago, Miss Annersley and a few of the other mistresses were hurt in a bus crash. Miss Wilson managed to come back after a few weeks and she took over the Headship until Miss Annersley was able to come back. She came back last term and they share being Head now.” It was a concise explanation but it was all Rosalynne needed to know. “They’ll want to see you just to introduce themselves. They usually see all the new girls at some point but it’ll only be for a few minutes. But I’d better stop talking – we’re not allowed to talk in the corridors or on the stairs!” she flashed a grin at Rosalynne who returned it uncertainly. She followed Amy up the stairs and along a corridor to her dormitory, which much to her relief was empty at the present moment. Amy wasn’t quite so relieved – despite outward appearances, she was actually quite nervous about sheepdogging Rosalynne, not having ever done it before. She liked what she’d seen of Rosalynne and her anxiety not to mess things up made her more nervous. Fortunately, thanks to her role as dormitory prefect, she knew exactly what she was talking about when it came to cubicle and dormitory arrangements and since she didn’t need to struggle for something to say, she relaxed and gradually the pair’s chatter became less strained and more friendly, extending to other topics as they worked.

The nervousness of both of them returned however as, everything put away, it was time to make their way along to the Senior Common Room. Amy knew that more than one person would have doubts about her new role and that there would quite likely be hints, if not comments, about favouritism from one or two quarters and Rosalynne was nervous about meeting a lot of new people at once.
“Do people think it goody goody to help with a new girl or do you not like the others?” Rosalynne asked hesitantly, picking up on Amy’s nervousness. Amy shot her a startled look and Rosalynne went red. “Sorry, I’m not being rude. It’s just you seem nervous and this is your School.”
“I know,” Amy replied automatically and then sighed. “It’s complicated. You see, I’ve been here a few years now but until the start of last term, I was just there. I didn’t really say much, just followed the crowd and kept to myself. People were friendly enough but nobody sought me out and well I suppose I was just in the background. But I was quite happy with that. I had two special friends at home and well, there’d always just been me and my father so I was quite used to finding my own things to do sometimes. But then last term, my father was killed in the War.”
“I’m sorry,” Rosalynne said quietly as Amy paused to swallow hard. “You don’t have to tell me anymore if you don’t want to – it must be hard.”
“It’s not as bad as it was and I want you to know,” Amy smiled, regaining control of herself. “You see, when the news came, suddenly everyone knew I was there and people were very kind and helpful – especially the Heads. I found it quite hard because people suddenly wanted to talk to me and things.”
“And you didn’t know whether they just wanted to be seen to be doing something nice or whether, now they’d noticed you, they really wanted to get to know you and maybe be friends,” Rosalynne nodded. “I know. A lot of people just use this sort of thing as a way to further themselves and get honour and things and when time goes on and people start to forget, they fade away and are like they’ve always been but if you’ve accepted their offer of friendship, you’re hurt. It’s not quite the same but I’ve a cousin who was made sports captain of her form and had that sort of thing.”
“Yes, that’s it,” Amy nodded. “Things seemed to sort out as term went on and then this term, well, my two special friends from home – Louisa and Charlotte, they’re twins and you’ll see them later – joined us as they came to see me last term and the Heads suggested they try for scholarships to here as their parents said they weren’t really learning stuff where they were anymore as most people weren’t as clever. So some people think they came here just for me and then I was made dormy prefect and moved up to Upper Fifth B instead of staying in Lower Fifth A with some of the rest of my form last term and now I’m your sheepdog. But I was only made dormy prefect because someone left unexpectedly and I was an available Senior.”
“And you were only made sheepdog because you happened to be talking to me at the time and you were there because you’re a dormitory prefect and had new girls in it,” Rosalynne finished.
“Yes but some people see it as favouritism and well, it does look a bit like that.”
“Only if that’s the way you want to see it,” Rosalynne objected. “I think it’s more that now people have got to know you, they know what you’re like and what you can do and want to make sure you don’t fade into the background again and get forgotten about. They’re giving you a chance to show them you can handle things and deserve as much attention as everyone else but it’s for you to take the chance and go with it and that’s what you’re doing. I think maybe if you’re nervous and unsure then people will realise that and try to make you look stupid and things by saying it’s favouritism.”

Author:  Lesley [ 01 Jan 2007, 21:10 ]
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Good to see more of this Catherine - thank you.

Rosalynne seems a very level-headed person.

Author:  Elle [ 01 Jan 2007, 22:03 ]
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Hurrah! An update. Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 01 Jan 2007, 23:57 ]
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Thank you Catherine, that was lovely. Good to see Rosalynne reassuring Amy.

Author:  Miranda [ 02 Jan 2007, 00:34 ]
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I am liking Rosalynne also. But I also like Amy's dormitory crew :) They're so cute...

Thanks Catherine, this is a very realistic and insightful story.

Author:  Squirrel [ 02 Jan 2007, 10:43 ]
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That was lovely, thanks for the update Catherine.

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 02 Jan 2007, 11:55 ]
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Yay an update! Thanks Catherine! Rosalynne seems nice and Amy has changed so much since this story began in the previous story (ugh, bad English but I can't make it make sense otherwise!) but it's all very realistic and true to how things probably would have been.

Author:  MaryR [ 02 Jan 2007, 14:03 ]
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Do I detect a new and understanding friend for Amy in Rosalynne? She's lovely and talks a great deal of sense. :D

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Kathy_S [ 03 Jan 2007, 19:21 ]
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Very perceptive of Rosalynne.

Thank you, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 06 Jan 2007, 23:15 ]
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Rosalynne was right in what she said but it wasn’t quite as easy in practice. All the same, Amy made an effort and pulled herself together before leading the way out of the dormitory and down to the common room, just behind Kathie Robertson, Gay Lambert, Gillian Culver and Jacynth Hardy. Gay stopped in the middle of the room and announced with a dramatic flourish, narrowly avoiding hitting Amy and Rosalynne:
“This School has taken a hate at me!”
“Déjà vu!” Amy murmured, amidst the giggles that greeted Gay’s announcement.
“What was that, young Amy?” Gay caught the murmur and swung round as the pair walked past her.
“She said déjà vu,” Jacynth replied. “And she’s right! You almost sat on her after the last time you made one of your announcements and now you’ve almost hit these two in the face and almost knocked them over!” she scolded as Gillian steadied Amy and Rosalynne. “For goodness sake stop being so dramatic and behave like a sensible human being!”
“And less of the young!” Kathie Robertson added. “Amy’s not all that much younger than you are! By the way, people, while these two recover their balance and breath and since I’ve already met her, I’m bagging the job of introducing Rosalynne Jones, who is to be in Upper Fifth B and in Heather dormitory, Moll!” she grinned over at her own particular friend, Mollie Avery, who gave Rosalynne a welcoming smile.
“Who’s sheepdogging her?” Joy Bird demanded suspiciously.
“I am,” Amy informed her, secretly pleased at how confident she sounded.
“You are?” Joy sneered slightly. “Favouritism, I suppose!”
“Personally, I wouldn’t know,” Amy replied. “I’m sure Miss Dene would be more than happy to let you know why she chose me, though, if you were to ask her, Joy.”
“You think you’re so funny!” Joy snarled as various people giggled.
“Oh grow up, do Joy!” Gay broke in impatiently. “You’re always growling over something – in fact you’ve gone about in a sulk since you came back to School and we’re all fed up with it!”
“She’s always in a sulk,” somebody else interrupted and Joy flounced out the room, banging the door behind her.
“Ass!” Mollie Avery commented. “She’ll bring Matey down on her if she behaves like that!”
“Never mind her!” Gay broke in again. “Find seats you two and hurry up! I have something to say!”
“We guessed that much,” Gay’s chum, Jacynth Hardy, observed as Amy and Rosalynne found themselves seats with the twins and Roswitha.
“This School has taken a hate at me!” Gay repeated once again. “I have two new girls in my dormitory! Their names are Kirsty and Katy Faulkner!”
“So what?” Gillian demanded.
“So what? I’ll tell you so what!” Gay responded with growing indignation, making everyone chuckle. “They’re twins! Identical twins and they’re both naughty!”
“How on earth can you know that? They’ve only just arrived!” Dorcas Brownlow protested.
“I sense it!” Gay said dramatically. “And I spy it in their eyes!
“How old are they?” Nancy Canton demanded, as well as she could for laughing.
“About eleven. They’re in Lower Third, at any rate, with Sybil Russell and Blossom Willoughby!”
“I thought you said you had Middles in your dormy?” Marney Jennings broke in at this point.
“So I do. Lower Third are Junior Middles and I have Freda Lund and Hilary Wilson and a few more from Upper Third mixed in! It’s too bad!” Gay groaned.
“Well if you feel that way about it, I’ll ask the Abbess and Bill to take you off dormy duty,” a voice suggested from behind her and Gay swung round to face Daisy Venables, whose eyes were twinkling wickedly.
“I wish you wouldn’t creep up on people like that!” Gay complained and Daisy chuckled.
“If you weren’t so busy moaning and groaning, you’d have heard me come in! What’s gone wrong with your dormy now?”
“She’s got two new girls who she thinks are full of mischief, that’s all,” Gillian informed Daisy who grinned.
“That all? You can handle imps of mischief, surely, Gay? You were one yourself for long enough!”
“Well I like that!” Gay gasped indignantly. “You were no angel yourself!”
“Too true,” Daisy giggled suddenly. “Enough of this nonsense! I’ve come to co-opt a few people! Gay, you’ll do for one! Gill and Jacynth will do for two more and Joan Sandys, Mollie Carew and Natalie Mensch will do for three more!”

Author:  M [ 06 Jan 2007, 23:25 ]
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Good to hear more of Amy, the style is very much EBD. Read part one recently and it brought a lump to my throat.

Author:  Lesley [ 06 Jan 2007, 23:38 ]
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Love the way Amy handled Joy Bird - came across very confidently there.


Thanks Catherine

Author:  Squirrel [ 06 Jan 2007, 23:56 ]
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That was great! Joy Bird needs taking down several pegs, and Amy did very well. I'm sure she will flourish this term, with such friends arround her.

And what is Gay like!

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Cath V-P [ 07 Jan 2007, 00:12 ]
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That was nice Catherine; Amy is such a lovely EBD character that EBD didn't invent - if you see what I mean! And I could see and hear that conversation...

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 07 Jan 2007, 07:37 ]
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Glad to see an update. Really enjoying this

Author:  MaryR [ 07 Jan 2007, 14:24 ]
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What an enjoyable mix of the comic and the serious, Catherine! And Amy is handling herself so well. I loved that response to a charge of favouritism. :lol:

Thank you.

Author:  Ruth B [ 08 Jan 2007, 10:34 ]
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Good comeback from Amy! I see Joy hasn't changed. :roll:

Author:  francesn [ 09 Jan 2007, 00:36 ]
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Love the way that Gay can sense mischief!

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 21 Feb 2007, 13:59 ]
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Sorry it's been so long. I'd promise to do better but I'd never manage to keep it! :wink:


“What’s all that about?” Louisa demanded of Amy, as the door closed behind Daisy and her helpers.
“How on earth should I know?” Amy stared at her.
Louisa grinned, before beginning to count off on her fingers: “One, you’re our form’s deputy prefect, Two, you’re a dormitory prefect, Three, you have new girls in your dormy, Four, you’re sheepdogging a new girl!”
“That means nothing!” Amy retorted. “The Prees don’t go around telling all and sundry their ideas, you know! I’ve not the faintest idea what’s going on and since none of the committee members are here, you stand no chance of finding anything out until later! You can turn your attention to welcoming Rosalynne instead! Rosalynne, this is Louisa Jennings and her sister Charlotte. They were both new at the start of term so they’re still working out what’s what and who’s who – and this is Roswitha Saxon, who’s your form prefect. We’ll introduce you to the rest of the form at some point.”
“These three have been friends for years, so don’t worry about their squabbles,” Roswitha put in at this point, grinning at Rosalynne. “You’ll get used to it in time – I have!”
“I’ve just realised what a nightmare this is going to be!” Louisa interjected, waving aside this comment.
“What is?” Roswitha demanded, frowning.
“You two! You both have similar names! We can’t shorten you both to ‘Ros’ and both your names are far too long for every day use!”
“So call them ‘Wita’ and ‘Lynne’,” Charlotte suggested wickedly.
“Not on your Nelly!” Roswitha retorted. “You can either put up with shortening us both to ‘Ros’ or call us by our full names! In any case, Rosalynne may not want to have her name shortened!”
“I’m sometimes shortened to ‘Rose’,” Rosalynne answered, shyly.
“We’ll call you whatever you want,” Amy stepped in, hurriedly. “Don’t feel you have to let us shorten your name if you’d rather be known as ‘Rosalynne’. It’s a really pretty name.”
“What is?” a fresh voice demanded, as Mollie McNab came to join them. Hitherto, being one of the representatives from Upper Fifth B, she had been busy with the affairs of the Social Committee.
“Mollie! Oh good!” The cries came from various corners of the room.
“Gosh! I didn’t know you all liked me so much!” Mollie exclaimed, her eyes twinkling as greetings poured forth. “It’s awfully nice of you all to have missed me!”
“We haven’t!” Nancy Canton chuckled. “We merely want to know what’s happening this evening and since you’re the only committee member we’ve laid eyes on – apart from Daisy – we want you to tell us!”
“Not a chance!” Mollie retorted. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy! In any case, you’ll find out soon enough! The Prees want us to go down to Hall in about ten minutes – oh and they said could we Upper Fifths round up the rest of the School too.”
“Mollie McNab!” Kathie Robertson exclaimed, in horror. “Why on earth didn’t you say so earlier? It’ll take us ten minutes to round up everybody and most of us need to wash and tidy first!”
“Oh I wouldn’t worry about that!” Mollie grinned.
“Whatever they’re planning to do with us – or to us – it would be jolly rude to turn up looking a mess!” Kathie told her severely. “No, stop you people!” This as there was a concerted rush towards the door. “If the entire lot of us leave at once, we’ll make no end of noise and the staff will be down on us like a ton of bricks! You Lower Fifths can stay here for the moment – you’re not needed just yet. Upper B, you people can take Lower Thirds and below – the Juniors will probably need help. The rest of us will tackle the Middles! Two per form, anyone left over comes back here to wait! Put your chairs etc. away before you go. Peggy, you and Loveday might make sure the room’s tidy before you leave – Matey will only haul us away if it’s not and I’d rather be spared that!” Her grin was reflected on the faces of those around her.
Peggy and Loveday acquiesced and then the two Upper Fifths, having tidied away their things, departed.

Eventually, everyone was assembled in Hall, full of anticipation to know what the Prefects had in store for them. All the Prefects had worked jointly with the Social Committee on this occasion, although in future, they would only be represented by Joanna, Alixe and Meg as previously agreed.
“Quiet please!” Beth clapped her hands for silence, which, to the surprise of the new girls, fell rapidly. “Thank you. We’ve arranged today in order to welcome those of you who are new – whether you’ve arrived today or at the beginning of term. We’ve various things planned for you, all of which are connected to the theme of ‘Helping each other’. New girls have ‘old girls’ appointed to help them through the first few weeks and we also want to remind you all of the importance of helping each other out, whenever and wherever it’s needed.” She stopped there, feeling she had said enough and indeed, more than one person looked conscious as they remembered things said and done that would have been better left unsaid and undone.
Joanna took the stage next.
“We shall start with a game of ‘Follow my Leader’ – one each for Juniors, Middles and Seniors.”

The Prefects swiftly organised everybody into three groups and after a riotous time, which left everyone gasping for breath and anything but tidy, Daisy came forward and having requested them to sit down, something much appreciated by everyone, she gave a short history of the School. The ‘old’ girls, had heard it all before, of course but they were glad of the chance to get their breath back so no objections were made. Naturally, there were a few questions after Daisy had finished and for a few minutes, the Prefects allowed a question and answer session. It came to a very abrupt end, however, when Sara Brown, a new girl, demanded to know if the School was in league with the Nazis.
Sara had come with something of a reputation for trouble and this, along with her age of fourteen, had prompted the authorities to place her in Upper Fourth A, which contained strong characters such as Bride Bettany and Tom Gay. At her previous school, Sara had had a group of admiring followers, who all thought she was very clever to ‘buck’ the system as she did. Some of them had gone to other schools now but the remainder had joined the Chalet School and the startled silence that had followed Sara’s question was broken by their giggles. They were soon silenced however, by the glares and disgusted looks of those around them.
“Sit down, you young nincompoop and stop asking such stupid questions!” Tom Gay hauled Sara back down to the floor, with more force than care.
“No, we are not in league with the Nazis,” Beth had found her voice, which to Sara’s indignation, sounded faintly amused. “I realise that some of our little new girls might mistakenly think that,” she added, her eyes looking firstly at Sara and then to the various girls that had giggled. “Let me assure you, therefore, that we have no sympathies with the Nazis. We do, however, have sympathies with the German and Austrian people who are being forced into more and more terrible situations and are suffering quite as much as those in other countries. But we are not here to discuss Politics – if you wish to continue this conversation, then please let me know and I will ask one of mistresses to discuss the situation with you in greater detail.”
“It’s my turn next!” Terry Prosser bounced forward, almost landing on Beth’s feet, much to the amusement of the rest of the School.
“Your turn or not, I shall banish you if you cause anyone an injury!” Beth retorted.
Terry chuckled and then returned her attention to the rest. “Right! Before I explain what we’re doing next, I want you to separate! Sheepdogs on the right hand side, Sheep on the left hand side and everyone else in the middle!”

Author:  Ruth B [ 21 Feb 2007, 14:39 ]
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Glad to see more of this Catherine. If I was a new girl, I think I might take exception at being called a sheep!

Author:  Squirrel [ 21 Feb 2007, 15:13 ]
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Sounds like quite a fun game. I'm glad that Beth and Tom managed to handle the questions between them. Some of the girls might have been pretty upset by such a question - though I guess that the majority of them will have left by this stage.

I hope that the rest of the evening goes well.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 21 Feb 2007, 18:18 ]
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Ruth B wrote:
Glad to see more of this Catherine. If I was a new girl, I think I might take exception at being called a sheep!


Better than being called a "shadow", which was what we were called - the "sheepdogs" were called "substances".

Thanks for the update - this is one of my favourite stories, very EBD in many ways, and I'm always glad to see it updated.

Author:  Lesley [ 21 Feb 2007, 19:11 ]
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Beth handled that questionvery well- and in a way that should make silly Sara think twice - I'm sure she didn't like being referred to as a little new girl.


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  francesn [ 21 Feb 2007, 23:18 ]
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Mrs Redboots wrote:
Ruth B wrote:
Glad to see more of this Catherine. If I was a new girl, I think I might take exception at being called a sheep!


Better than being called a "shadow", which was what we were called - the "sheepdogs" were called "substances".

Thanks for the update - this is one of my favourite stories, very EBD in many ways, and I'm always glad to see it updated.


Shadows? Substances? Ouch!

Thank you Catherine - I do love Louisa and Charlotte!

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 22 Feb 2007, 07:42 ]
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Really glad to see an update. This is one of my favourites

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 25 Feb 2007, 18:43 ]
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What a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon reading updates from one of my favourite drabbles.

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  Catherine [ 25 Feb 2007, 20:01 ]
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Thank you for all the nice comments! I had no idea so many of you class it as one of your favourites! :D

As a thank you, here's another update




In the rush that ensued, Seniors, Middles and Juniors got well and truly mixed up but eventually everyone was sorted out and there was much laughter as the Prefects came forward carrying trays of ribbons. There were black and white ones for the Sheepdogs and white ones for the Sheep. Amy had to bite back a laugh as she saw Vi, Doris and Lesley attaching theirs with proud expressions on their faces – in complete contrast to the suspicious expressions of Louisa and Charlotte. Rosalynne was torn between amusement at their comments and anxiety at what would happen next.
“Sardines – with a twist!” Terry announced and it wasn’t just Louisa and Charlotte who exchanged wary looks at this point! “Your teams will have people from all age groups in them and the two eldest girls will hide. But in separate places!”
“What? How? That’s not going to work!” Exclamations arose from all over the room.
“It’s up to each team to make it work!” Terry told them, impressively. “Firstly, the hiders in each team will be given a clue about where they are supposed to hide. Once everyone has their clue, the hiders in each group should work out the clues together, asking any of us Prefects for help if they need it. The rest mustn’t know or the team will be disqualified. Once the hiders think they know both answers, they must find a Prefect and check the answers with them. It’s important you do that – if you’ve got one or both wrong and go haring off, you’ll end by taking someone else’s hiding place. If you have one or both wrong, you’ll be given a further clue and sent back to work it out. Once you have both right, you must leave the room. The Prefect who said you could go, will give you two minutes to find your hiding places before sending the rest of your team to find you. The team must split into no more than pairs – we’re letting you go in pairs because there’s so many of you and we want this game finished tonight! We hope that what will happen is that some of the seekers will end up with one of the hiders and the others will the other hider. At some point, each of the hidden groups must decide amongst them whether they have enough members to set off and find the others or whether they should stay put a bit longer. Whatever you decide, each group must remain together and you mayn’t come down until your team is complete. That means that you will have to take notice of who is in your team so that you know whether you have all your members or not!! The first team back here with all of its members is the winner. If you come back without all your members, you’ll be disqualified!”
“What if we can’t work out our clues?” Someone wanted to know.
“You’ll be given more clues until you can work them out!” Terry informed her. “New girls should stay with their sheepdogs, so if you’re a sheepdog and also a hider, the girl you’re looking after must go with you. If one of the two eldest happens to be a new girl then the next eldest must take her place. Nobody must go off on their own, by the way. There’ll be too many of you wandering about the place as it is! Daisy has borrowed Miss Burn’s whistle and if you hear it sound, you must return here at once – no matter what stage you are at. The Kindergarten, kitchens, dormitories, San, Matron’s room, the staff bedrooms, the Head’s rooms and the staffroom are all forbidden. Nobody may hide or go outside either – and please don’t use this as an excuse to play any mad tricks. Oh and one more thing and then this lecture ends! Please don’t run anywhere and take care around each other – especially the Juniors. We don’t want any injuries to spoil things.”
“If anyone finds themselves on their own, they should make their way back here,” Beth put in. “Also, if you happen to get lost – and some of you don’t know your way around yet so it might happen – tack yourself onto the nearest people and stick with them. If there isn’t anyone around, stay exactly where you are, even when the whistle goes and someone will find you. Does everybody understand?”

There was a chorus of assent but some of the Juniors were looking puzzled. Noticing this, Beth promptly called them all to her and taking them to a quiet corner, explained what they had to do. She then distributed them evenly amongst the groups that were forming.

Amy and Rosalynne found themselves part of one group, with Jean MacGregor, Lavender Leigh and Anne Montague making up the other Seniors. The Middles, to Amy and Jean’s private dismay, were represented among others by Hilary Wilson, Freda Lund and Kirsty and Katy Faulkner, the twins that had reduced Gay to despair. Their Juniors were composed mostly of those in Amy’s dormitory, much to their joy and their dormitory prefect’s resignation.
“I don’t seem to be able to escape them!” she complained to Rosalynne and Jean, as they waited for the Prefects to bring them their clues.
Rosalynne and Jean chuckled at this, knowing it was only a token complaint. Amy had been as pleased to see them as they were to see her.
“Oh golly! Here we go!” Jean exclaimed as Isabel Allan handed them two pieces of paper. “Scram somewhere, you lot and let us three get down to it!” she said to the rest of their group. “At least, I suppose Rosalynne is helping us?”
“She is,” Isabel confirmed, overhearing this. “Though I don’t know what use she’ll be since she doesn’t know the building yet!” she added, with a grin at Rosalynne, who returned it shyly. “Don’t forget you have to wait until everyone has their clue though. Daisy will blow a blast on her whistle.”
“I’d forgotten that,” Jean murmured to Amy and Rosalynne. “Jolly good thing we’ve not turned over the papers yet!”

Eventually, Daisy blew a blast on the whistle and there was a rustle of paper, followed by groans from all corners of the room and chuckles from the Prefects. They alone, had produced the clues, not even the other members of the social committee knowing what was in them.
“Elephants have helped make this room,” Jean read. “What on earth does that mean?”
“Not a clue!” Amy returned. “What about this one: “Know the contents of this room and ye shall be the font of much knowledge. Find a cushion and the long screen and enjoy the view as you rest yourself.”
“Ugh!” Jean exclaimed.

Author:  Lesley [ 25 Feb 2007, 20:32 ]
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Do you think Beth could spare the time to go over that with me too? :wink:

Most confusing - though a good way to mix everyone and get to know the building.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 25 Feb 2007, 21:32 ]
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I don't think I could work that out either. Thanks for the update

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 26 Feb 2007, 17:27 ]
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I think one of them is the trunk room but I had thought that would be out of bounds. no clue about the other!

Love this.

Author:  Catherine [ 03 Mar 2007, 20:17 ]
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After a few more groans, the three got down to it in real earnest. As yet, nobody had guessed their clues but it was only a matter of time before somebody did and nobody wanted to be the last to leave Hall.
“A view – that would mean somewhere with a window, wouldn’t it?” Rosalynne mused, thoughtfully.
“The only other view would be through a banister, I suppose and you wouldn’t be hidden then,” Amy replied, thinking hard. “So that must mean a window but what about a cushion and a screen?”
“Got it!” Jean exclaimed. “A window seat, with a long curtain in front of it!”
“And you can get knowledge from books!” Amy echoed Jean’s exclamation. “The Library! There’s a window seat in the library! I just hope it’s not drafty – I don’t want Matey on my back!”
“Well that’s you sorted!” Jean grinned. “Now, what on earth does mine mean? What on earth could elephants have to do with this part of the world?! Unless they’re talking about heavy people, of course!”
The three puzzled over it but in the end they needed another clue, so Jean sought out a Prefect, who confirmed that Amy’s guess was correct, before giving them another clue.
“What is it?” Amy asked eagerly as Jean returned.
“Tsk tsk, apparently,” Jean replied, puzzled.
“Tusk!” Rosalynne exclaimed. “They’re made of Ivory – and so are piano keys!”
“One of the music rooms then!” Jean exclaimed. “It must be the one that only has a piano in it. The rest are all set up for other instruments as well.” She dashed off to consult a Prefect, who once again confirmed that she was right and then the three of them set off for their hiding places.
“When there’s at least six of them come to join each of us, we set out to find the other, picking up any strays on the way,” Jean said to Amy. “If we haven’t got everybody when we join up, then we’ll have to go back to one of the hiding places and wait there until we do! All the same, they could have chosen rooms nearer to each other!”
“Too easy!” Amy grinned. “We’d better scram – two minutes isn’t an awful long time!”
“Too true!” Jean grinned. “See you later then!”

They separated, Jean to her music room and Amy and Rosalynne to the library where they curled up on the window seat, drawing the curtain across them.
“So many books!” Rosalynne said yearningly.
“You like reading then?”
“Love it!” Rosalynne replied promptly. “I had to leave most of my books behind though when we were evacuated though.”
“You’ll be able to borrow most of the Fiction books,” Amy promised. “We probably ought to keep quiet now, though or we might be heard.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me if your dormitory know exactly where to find you,” Rosalynne commented darkly, before falling silent. She had to swallow her giggles at Amy’s open mouthed expression but she remained convinced that she was right.
The curtain was pulled aside several times before they were discovered by any of the people who were meant to discover them! Amy shot a triumphant look at Rosalynne when the first people to find them were Katy Faulkner and Hilary Wilson.
“Freda and Kirsty will be next,” Hilary informed the elder girls, as she and Katy wriggled in.
“How do you know that?” Rosalynne asked curiously.
“Cos Katy and Kirsty say they can always find the other one when they’re apart,” Hilary answered. “If it’s true then Kirsty’ll be next. You’re new, aren’t you?” She looked curiously up at the elder girl.
“If you carry on talking like this, the rest will find us straight away and that’s not the point of the game,” Amy interrupted severely. “I’ll introduce you later.”

Hilary subsided but her expectant air was all too obvious and when the curtain was parted a minute or two later and Freda and Kirsty crammed into the space, her expectant air changed to a triumphant one. Amy glanced with interest at the twins and couldn’t help but give a low a chuckle at the mischief which was so evident in their faces. They saw her interest and grinned at her.
“You can’t possibly be planning any mischief yet! You’ve only just arrived!” Amy protested.
“Just the right time for it!” Kirsty informed her.
“It’s never too early for mischief!” Katy added.
Their four listeners could only giggle and Amy was privately thankful that none of the Juniors were there yet – and more particularly that Maeve wasn’t part of her group. That young person needed no encouragement in that line, she felt.

They fell silent again, awaiting the next arrivals and it was Rosalynne’s turn to look triumphant, when the next people to find them were certain members of Amy’s dormitory.
“Time to move!” Amy decided, a moment later. “We’ve to find Jean and the others now but we have to stick together so we’d better hold hands. Come on!”

The group made their way out of the library – and that, as Rosalynne reflected later, was where the fun really began. The stairways and corridors were crowded with girls, some shrieking and laughing, others squealing with dismay as they got separated from the rest of their group. Still others were going in and out of rooms, looking increasingly puzzled as they looked for their team.
“It’s chaos!” Rosalynne gasped, alarmed.
“That’s the point!” Hilary grinned. “It’d be too easy if the place was empty! We have to try to stick together even with all this crowd of people – yikes!” She broke off as a line of people came flying towards them – and through them – causing her to lose hold of Rosalynne’s hand. She quickly grabbed it again but it set the pattern for what would happen as they tried to make their way to find Jean – who, having collected six of the remaining members – had set out to find them.

Author:  Lesley [ 03 Mar 2007, 20:32 ]
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Glad they got the clues - total bedlam!

Thanks catherine

Author:  Cath V-P [ 04 Mar 2007, 02:01 ]
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That sounds like fun - thank you Catherine.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 04 Mar 2007, 03:03 ]
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Cath V-P wrote:
That sounds like fun - thank you Catherine.


It does

Author:  Miranda [ 09 Mar 2007, 15:34 ]
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What an excellent game! I'm really pleased that Amy and Rosalynne are getting on so well, though I'm a bit apprehensive about this ability of the twins...what on earth will they get up to?

Thanks catherine

Author:  Catherine [ 14 Apr 2007, 15:57 ]
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By some miracle, they did manage to meet up but not before, having reached the music room to find it empty, they had chased each other along several wrong turns. They did meet however and after that, they faced the challenge of making their way back to the Hall without losing any of their members – something that was easier said than done. Several times they had to retrace their steps to collect separated members but they weren’t the only group to suffer this and took it all quite cheerfully. Those of the staff who had sneaked into corners to watch the fun were torn between giggles and the desire to shout out as they watched groups fall apart. They managed to refrain from doing this last but many were the disapproving looks they received as the girls came across them doubled up in laughter. Despite this, more than one nervous Junior was glad of their presence for whenever any of them became separated, there was generally a staff member on hand to grab them and keep hold of them until the rest of their group should return to claim them, thus preventing them from losing themselves. Eventually, Amy’s group arrived thankfully back in the Hall and Josette scarcely waited for Isabel Allan to check them all off, before she loosed Amy’s hand and raced across to her eldest cousin, who laughingly caught her up and listened to her excited tale and proud statement that she “hadn’t never got lost.”

The rest of the time, fortunately, was devoted to slightly less energetic activities but they did their job and by the time bedtime came, most of the new girls didn’t feel quite as ‘new’ as they had done that morning. All the same, repercussions were felt the next morning by more than one person. The day was a Sunday which inevitably meant that it would be a very quiet day and after the excitement of the day before, several of the Middles felt very flat over this prospect. The weather had not improved either which did not help matters. Some managed to be satisfied with filling their home letters with descriptions of what had happened and discovering how their peers had got on but others amongst them were bored and restless and were consequently grumpy and irritable. Likewise, many of the Juniors, having gone to bed in a high state of excitement, woke up tired and irritable and in the case of a few, inclined to tears. The Seniors fared much better, most of them being glad of the peace and quiet of Sunday and the chance to catch up on home letters, reading and other quiet hobbies. They had been later to bed than the younger girls and so had had more time to calm down and in addition, they were all very much aware that as Seniors, they had a certain duty towards the younger ones and reputation and dignity were important to them, so what squabbles there were, were held in private and soon over. There were two people who were badly affected, however: Joy Bird and Amy Rutherford.

Joy had calmly absented herself from the majority of the proceedings and since the entire school had been present, she had managed to get away with it, for once. Strangely enough, this didn’t make her happy, it only added to her list of grievances. Firstly, she was hurt and annoyed that none of her inner circle had gone to find her and coax her out of her bad mood but had joined the others and entered into all the fun without her. Secondly, she was annoyed that none of the Prefects had made an attempt to find out where she was and get her to join the fun. Bizarrely, she was even annoyed because nobody had punished her for breaking rules by hiding in her dormitory and then refusing to join in the fun. She had privately hoped this would happen so that she would get the chance to air her grievances and perhaps get some sympathy. As it was, even her own crowd were much to full of what had happened to pay any attention to the fact that she hadn’t been there and Joy was left to sit and fume in silence. She did, on occasion, try to change the subject but it was without success and since she was used to being the centre of attention, this did not improve her mood. At one point, she actually got up and left the room, intending to seek the solace of her dormitory and console herself with the thought that when her friends tired of talking of the same thing, she wouldn’t be there to give them a fresh subject. That would make them come and find her, she thought and then she would let them coax her and flatter her into going back to join them. Unfortunately, she had reckoned without Matron. That lady, having been well primed by the Prefects who had also promised her that nobody would enter the dormitories or the San, had removed herself to the staffroom the previous evening and like the rest of the Staff, had turned a blind eye to the goings on, no matter how many rules they heard or saw being broken. Today was a different story, however. By the time Joy left the Senior common room, several of the younger girls had been sent to bed and as a result, Matron was well and truly on the warpath. She appeared just as Joy had entered her dormitory and on finding out that the girl hadn’t been sent to bed and that nothing more than a fit of pique was ailing her, she gave her short shrift, and sent her straight back to the rest, remarking that if she caught her again, she would put her to bed like a Junior, in the furthermost corner of the San and there she would stay until the following morning. Joy had no wish to be humiliated like that, so, with her tail well and truly between her legs, she crept back to her common room, even more piqued to realise that nobody had even missed her. With Matron’s threat before her eyes, she dared not do anything but suffer in silence. Fortunately for her temper, after a while, the subject of the previous day was exhausted and she was able to join in subsequent chatter.

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 14 Apr 2007, 16:49 ]
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Ooh, an update! How lovely - thank you so much.

Author:  Lesley [ 14 Apr 2007, 18:52 ]
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Good to see more of this - silly Joy - the only person she's hurting is herself!


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Miranda [ 15 Apr 2007, 01:32 ]
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Yay an update!

Thanks catherine :)

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 15 Apr 2007, 08:05 ]
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Glad for the update but am curious as to what squabble Amy Rutherford had and with whom?

Author:  leahbelle [ 15 Apr 2007, 13:51 ]
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Lovely to read more of this. Thank you :D .

Author:  Catherine [ 15 Apr 2007, 16:41 ]
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Fiona Mc wrote:
Glad for the update but am curious as to what squabble Amy Rutherford had and with whom?


It wasn't actually stated that either Amy or Joy had had squabbles ...

This:
Quote:
There were two exceptions, however: Joy Bird and Amy Rutherford.


was referring back to:

Quote:
The Seniors fared much better, most of them being glad of the peace and quiet of Sunday and the chance to catch up on home letters, reading and other quiet hobbies.


However, I've now changed it to make it clearer.


Next bit - and I've no more written so don't expect another update in a hurry - :



Amy was a different story. She had woken suddenly, in the middle of the night, from a dream in which she was telling her father all about the previous night and the unexpected promotions that had come her way since the start of term. She had woken with a start – and to the realisation that it had only been a dream and could never be anything more than a dream. Alone, and in the middle of the night, she felt as though she were discovering the news for the first time and hardly slept from that moment on. She was the opposite of her usual gentle self when the rising bell went the next morning and snapped at her charges until she had reduced half of them to tears and the other half to scuttling around in a terrified silence. Amy knew all this but she was powerless to stop herself and her guilt only made things worse – as did the new responsibility of Rosalynne, once she had left the dormitory. Louisa and Charlotte immediately realised things were not well with her and needed no one to tell them the problem, although they had no idea why Amy’s grief should have returned full force so suddenly. They knew better than to ask questions, however and contrived to have a murmured conversation with Roswitha and Mollie, who tactfully took complete charge of Rosalynne from that moment on. They insisted on introducing her properly to rest of their form as well as several of the other Seniors and managed to engage her in chatter for the rest of the morning. Louisa and Charlotte remained with Amy, although most of their time was spent in silence. Unable to face Mittagessen, Amy slipped away to her dormitory and there Matron found her, an hour or two later. That lady did not give her the same scolding she had given Joy for Amy was sitting on her bed with her head buried in her knees, which were drawn up to her chest. Conveniently overlooking the many rules that Amy was breaking, Matron pulled up a chair and sat down. The noise made Amy raise her head.
“I could think of more comfortable places to be,” Matron commented. “The dormitories are a little too chilly – unless you’re safely underneath the covers, of course! Still, they’re quiet and peaceful at this time of day, I suppose.”
“I-I miss him,” Amy whispered.
“I know you do, child,” Matron answered gently. “That’s natural. Hiding away up here won’t help matters though. You’d do better to talk things over with someone – why not run along and see Miss Annersley? She’s on her own this afternoon for Miss Wilson has gone over to Plas Gwyn so I’m sure she’d like some company.”
“I thought they’d be busy with the new girls,” Amy mumbled. She rubbed her forehead slightly as though she had a headache and Matron frowned slightly. She knew better than to send Amy to bed in this state but equally, the girl was clearly not very fit. She stood up purposefully.
“Not even the Heads work on a Sunday,” she answered briskly. “Now, off the bed and run along and see if Miss Annersley will have you. I’ll come down in a few minutes and bring you something for that headache and something light to eat; I don’t suppose you’ve had much today. Come along!” She set the chair back and firmly drew Amy off the bed and guided her out of the door and towards the stairs. “If Miss Annersley isn’t there, for any reason, come back to my room. Now, off you go!”

Slowly, Amy made her way down the stairs and was fortunate enough to spy the Head going towards the kitchen. She finished descending the stairs and went to wait by the kitchen door, Matron’s words and her own need spurring her on. Thus it was that Miss Annersley, exiting the Kitchen, almost jumped out of her skin as two hands grasped her arm. The Head had plenty of self control however and turned calmly to find herself looking at Amy, the torture and anguish clearly visible on the girl’s face.
“Amy! What a lovely surprise!” she exclaimed. “Come and keep me company for the afternoon! Miss Wilson has deserted me but you shall entertain me by telling me about yesterday! Come along!” She withdrew her arm from Amy’s grip, placing it instead around the girl and drew her along to her sitting room.
“M-Matron told me to come,” Amy stammered as they sat down.
“Did she? I expect she thought we could both use some company,” the Head replied matter-of-factly, as she rubbed Amy’s hands, to get some warmth back into them. “What have you done today? Miss Dene tells me you’re looking after one of our new girls. Is Rosalynne settling in all right?”
Some of the strain had left Amy’s face during this quiet, matter of fact conversation but at the reminder of Rosalynne, her guilt returned full force and her trembling lips preceded a storm of sobbing that lasted quite some time. Eventually, however, the storm ceased and after a little prompting, she was able to tell the Head, who had held her close the entire time, about her dream and its consequences. Miss Annersley heard her out in silence.
“Amy, there’s nothing to be ashamed about,” the Head said gently, when she’d finished. “You’ve managed excellently well so far and I’m sure you’ll continue to do so but there will be times when it all gets too much for you. I’m afraid though, that you won’t be able to predict those times and they will take you by surprise. As time goes on, they’ll become less frequent and more manageable but in the meantime, you must not,” she emphasised the words, “hide away and try to cope all by yourself. Come and find me or Miss Wilson or anybody and if you can, talk about how you feel and if you want to cry, that’s fine too. Above all, don’t keep it inside and pretend all is well when it is not. So far as Rosalynne is concerned, there is no need to feel guilty. There are plenty of other people capable of taking care of her and it gives her the chance to get to know different people and start to find her feet, without relying on you. I don’t think you need worry too much about your dormitory either – I suspect they were all a bit tired and grumpy this morning after last night and I don’t suppose for a moment they behaved as well as they could have done! In any case, it’ll do them no harm to learn you have a temper! Now, run along to my bathroom and give your face a good splash and tidy. When you come back, you shall have something to eat and then a nap. I’ll ask Matron to collect your things and you can spend the rest of the day here – no arguments!” This as Amy opened her mouth to object. “You need peace and quiet and you certainly won’t get that with anybody else!”

Author:  MaryR [ 15 Apr 2007, 17:48 ]
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Oh, lovely Miss Annersley. May I borrow her? :roll:

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  Lesley [ 15 Apr 2007, 19:57 ]
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Well done Matey and Miss Annersley - just what Amy needed.


Thanks Catherine. :D

Author:  francesn [ 15 Apr 2007, 23:14 ]
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Poor Amy - I'm so glad Miss Annersley is there for her.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 15 Apr 2007, 23:39 ]
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Sorry :oops: I think with the middles having squabbles and Joy having squabbles I must have mixed it up. Am really enjoying this. Hilda was lovely

Author:  Elder in Ontario [ 16 Apr 2007, 00:07 ]
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Both Matey and Miss Annersley, but especially the latter, at their caring and reassuring best - exactly the help which what Amy needed.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 16 Apr 2007, 03:45 ]
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That was exactly the right response from both Matey and Miss Annersley, and just what Amy needed.

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 16 Apr 2007, 19:27 ]
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What lovely, understanding staff you people your school with! If only it had been like that in real life.....

Author:  Catherine [ 04 May 2007, 22:04 ]
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Considering I've got very bad double vision at the moment, all thanks to an eye injection to straighten up my squint, I shouldn't actually be using the computer, but I'm so bored I have to do something!! :roll:


Miss Wilson, arriving back from Plas Gwyn an hour or so later, found her co-Head curled up in an armchair, reading, whilst on the sofa opposite, Amy was fast asleep.
“What’s happened?” she demanded quietly of Hilda.
“A dream last night which caught her unawares,” Hilda replied succinctly. She closed her book and uncurled herself from the armchair. “Come through to the study and I’ll explain properly. I don’t want to rouse her or risk her rousing and overhearing us.”
Once they were comfortably settled, Hilda filled Nell in on what had happened. “It’s nothing more than might have been expected and it’s only to be wondered at that nothing like this has happened before now.”
“Poor Amy,” Nell sighed. “Oh, you’re right! It was bound to happen at some point. All the same, it is hard on her. I thought we’d talked her out of keeping all her problems to herself though.”
“Matey tells me that she thought we’d both be busy with the new girls today,” Hilda replied. “I confess I was disappointed she didn’t come and find one of us but when I think it over, I half wonder if we ourselves are to blame for that.”
“Us? But why? We’ve been very supportive, I should say!” Nell exclaimed.
“Ye-es. But we’ve also put a lot of responsibility on her shoulders this term and I wonder if pride has got in the way – and a fear of letting us down. We both know, after all, how hard it is to admit that things aren’t going quite right when you’re in a position of responsibility,” she added, with a rueful smile.
“Yes, well you’re certainly not the best role model for her that way!” Nell retorted. “I see your point, though. In fact, it’s a wonder she’s not ended up resenting us! This time last term, neither of us knew her particularly well – in fact we knew her rather less well than we do the average girl. By the end of the term, we’re inviting her to spend part of her holidays with us and expecting her to confide her worries to us. This term, we pitchfork her into managing a roomful of Juniors and then she’s given the role of deputy form prefect – both of which mean that she has to go from being almost a ‘nobody’ to a ‘somebody’ and both give and receive attention – something she isn’t used to. And then, she’s asked to sheepdog a new girl!”
“Yes, I know,” Miss Annersley replied. “Rosalie was rushed off her feet and Amy rather settled the matter by talking to Rosalynne herself, otherwise Rosalie would have found someone else to do it. There’s nothing we can do about the responsibilities she holds – taking them away from her would cause more harm than good. But perhaps we need to reinforce the idea that she can come to us if she needs us. Apart from the new girls, the entire school knows of Amy’s situation so I can’t see that there would be too many raised eyebrows if we arranged things so that she spends one evening a week and/or a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, with one or both of us. I know Madge has offered her a home -,”
“But Amy isn’t used to a large family and besides, she spends most of her time here so it is you and I that she needs to help her,” Nell finished. “Yes, I agree, Hilda. She’s much improved on what she was but things will be better for her and us if she continues to feel that she has our help and support. One thing though – what are we doing about how she addresses us?”
“When she leaves school, I intend to suggest that she addresses us merely as ‘Hilda’ and ‘Nell’. We are not her aunts nor family friends or godparents so it would make no sense for her to call us ‘Aunt’ and I don’t think it would do for her to address us by our first names only whilst she is still at school. Therefore, unless you can think of something else, she continues to call us ‘Miss Annersley’ and ‘Miss Wilson’. In any case, it’s hardly a question that need arise at the moment – she barely has the confidence to start a conversation with either of us, let alone call us by anything other than the titles she’s used hitherto! Don’t borrow trouble, Nell,”
“Before trouble borrows you. I know!” Nell grimaced. “All right, Hilda! I agree – but it might be better not to mention what we’ve decided and just do it – I have a feeling Amy would be even more embarrassed over today than being Amy, she will be anyway, if she were to think of what we’d decided being the result of her getting upset over a dream.”
“Your English!” Hilda groaned.

Author:  MaryR [ 05 May 2007, 19:34 ]
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Considering how much responsibility Amy has assumed, Hilda and Nell are right. And yet, she has risen to the occasion magnificently. But I am certain she would enjoy some quiet time alone with one of them every week. How lovely they are! :D

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 05 May 2007, 23:30 ]
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Hope the vision gets better soon Catherine. And thank you for such a lovely update. Hilda was totally on the spot there as usual.

Author:  Lesley [ 08 May 2007, 22:54 ]
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Can really sympathise about the eye - and about having to come on computer regardless! Hope it improves soon, Catherine.

Hilda and Nell were lovely there - hope Amy starts feeling better soon.

Author:  Catherine [ 13 May 2007, 19:58 ]
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Freely cursing the genes that gave me a squint ... I am *so* sick of seeing two of everything and everyone! Anyway, here's the latest bit...

Before the day was out, the two Heads found themselves confronted with a very dismal set of Prefects.
“What on earth is the matter with you all?” Nell Wilson demanded, as the group found themselves seats. “I’ve never seen such a dismal set of faces!”
“We want to know what we did wrong,” Daisy said mournfully.
“Wrong? When?” Miss Annersley demanded.
“Almost everybody has been squabbling with everybody else today,” Beth explained. “But they all seemed to have a good time yesterday and we don’t know what we did wrong.”
“Ah! Well, I should say it was a mixture of tiredness, anti climax and nerves,” Miss Annersley spoke thoughtfully. “To judge by all I have heard, I should say last night was a success but possibly, the only mistake you made was not allowing sufficient time for everyone to calm down properly before bedtime.”
“You really mustn’t judge yourselves harshly though,” Miss Wilson added. “Unfortunately, this weather rather took us by surprise and we were all too busy yesterday to give a thought to what would happen today. Under normal circumstances, you would all have had a long walk after church, which would have helped blow away the cobwebs and wake everybody up. As it is, this weather has prevented all that and I’m afraid most people have found time lying rather heavily on their hands today.”
“But that is not your fault, girls,” Miss Annersley hastened to reassure them. “It isn’t possible to plan for every eventuality and nobody could foresee today’s squabbles. As I said, I think a variety of factors have contributed to those squabbles and the girls themselves must take responsibility for them.”
“Yes, indeed,” Miss Wilson agreed. “They can’t expect to have their every moment planned out for them and they should know quite well that they are expected to make their own amusement on days such as this. There is plenty for them to do, after all. Besides which, most squabbles are started by someone taking offence at a remark – no matter whether that remark was made in all innocence or whether it was designed to offend – and exercising a little self control would make all the difference. In the case of the Juniors and some of the younger middles, I admit that might be asking a little too much, but it does apply to the majority.”
“However, I shall be sending you all to bed early tonight and the weather shows signs of improving so that should put an end to it all,” Miss Annersley said briskly. “Stop looking so dismal girls and congratulate yourselves on a job well done! Both of us – and the rest of the staff – appreciated the free time your arrangements gave us and whatever the rest of the school may be like today, I know they all enjoyed themselves last night and that is the most important thing. It proves that the idea of a social committee is an excellent one and we both look forward to future events.”
“And hope that some of your ideas in the future will provide entertainment for us too,” Miss Wilson added, with twinkling eyes. “Now, off you all go and cheer up, do! The weather makes dismal enough viewing without adding your faces to it!” The Prefects, chucking over Miss Wilson’s last comment and feeling considerably happier than they had done, left the study and the two Heads settled down to more conversation, this time on more general topics, with one or other of them checking on Amy every so often. Amy roused up eventually, feeling rather awkward and ashamed over what had happened but other than the fact Miss Annersley sat down beside her, putting an arm round her and drawing her close, so that the girl could lean her aching head against her shoulder, no direct reference was made to what had happened. Instead, Miss Wilson enlarged on her adventures at Plas Gwyn, which led them onto a variety of other topics until it was time for the evening meal. At this point, Miss Annersley left her with Miss Wilson, who ensured she made a good meal and then suggested she have a hot bath whilst she and Miss Annersley took Prayers. On their return, Miss Annersley tucked Amy up in bed in the guest room and then both Heads stayed, talking quietly until Amy dropped off to sleep.

Author:  Lesley [ 13 May 2007, 20:08 ]
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Lucky Amy. :lol:


And pleased the Prefects were reassured about their ideas.

Thanks Catherine :poke: squint!

Author:  MaryR [ 13 May 2007, 20:34 ]
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Lesley wrote:
Lucky Amy. :lol:

Jealous, Lesley? :lol: :lol:

How reassuring they were to the prefects - loved Bill's tart comments - and to Amy.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Cath V-P [ 14 May 2007, 00:28 ]
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Hilda and Nell do have the gift of being able to address the needs of every situation don't they?

Author:  Kathy_S [ 14 May 2007, 02:10 ]
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Hope the treatment's working, Catherine. Double vision's soooo annoying!
____________________________
:roll: at Joy, annoyed that she hasn't been noticed enough even to be punished. Such typical behavior (not just for Joy).
(Yes, I'm a month or so behind on this.)

*admires Hilda & Nell's expertise at reassurance*
first the strategy for Amy, and now all the prefects. :)

Author:  Catherine [ 14 May 2007, 15:21 ]
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They both felt it best that Amy should return to lessons the next day and it was with some nervousness that Amy approached the Splashery to get ready for the walk that would come before Register and Prayers, since the weather had cleared. Fortunately, Matron had appeared in the Senior common room not long after she had sent Amy to find Miss Annersley to request that someone see to Rosalynne, since Amy had a bad headache and had gone to bed. The four who knew the real reason kept their mouths firmly closed on the matter and so nobody made very much of Amy’s appearance, much to her relief. Not that anyone had any chance to say anything, even if they had wanted to, since Mollie McNab seized on Amy the moment she entered.
“Amy! Oh good! Come and talk some sense into Rosalynne!” she exclaimed, grabbing Amy and towing her over to where Rosalynne was getting ready. “She’s just told me she doesn’t like Games!”
“Well, I don’t like them overly much myself,” Amy admitted.
“Yes but you’re no good at them,” Mollie told her kindly. “Rosalynne has said that she could have been in her old school’s hockey and netball teams but she turned the chance down!” she ended in tragic tones.
“There’s more to life than Games, young Mollie!” Gay Lambert said briskly, overhearing this.
“But you love Games!” Mollie protested.
“Not as much as I love working at my cello,” Gay returned. “And no matter how good you are at Games, you can’t get anywhere without working hard at other lessons – unfortunately!” she grimaced. “Besides, your job as form games captain is to encourage the rest of your form to do their best – and telling people they’re no good isn’t doing that!”
“It’s all right, Gay,” Amy put in hastily as Mollie subsided, duly squashed. “She’s only telling the truth.”
“Maybe but there’s no need to make a point of saying so,” Gay insisted. “Anyhow, you’d better get ready and so must I! No one will love us if we hold everyone up!” She vanished with a grin and Amy made haste to change into outdoor wear.
“Partner me?” Louisa demanded, coming up to her. “Char’s going with Roswitha and Mollie’s bagged Rosalynne – no need to ask what they’ll be talking about! So will you partner me?”
“If you want,” Amy agreed, privately thinking how nice it was not to have to worry about finding a partner for the walk and ending up the odd one out more often than not.
“I do want,” Louisa replied, slipping a hand through Amy’s arm as they left the Splashery to join the lines that were forming on the drive. Charlotte’s eyes lit up as her twin came in sight with Amy but beyond a delighted beam at her friend, she said nothing.
“We’re going with Upper A so we’re not to have a mistress or pree,” Roswitha told Amy. “It’s to be a long walk as we’ve been cooped up all weekend. Some of the kids had the most ghastly squabbles yesterday afternoon – you should have heard all the Head had to say on the subject of behaviour at Prayers last night! She packed us all off to bed practically the moment Prayers were over!”
“Jolly mean of her!” Mollie chipped in. “None of us had any squabbles!”
“I expect she thought everyone’d be better for extra sleep,” Amy said loyally. “I know my dormitory were awful yesterday morning – they were all tired still after Saturday evening – and we were all later to bed than normal so we had to catch up on our sleep somehow or people would still be in bad moods.”
“True enough!” Roswitha agreed. “And none of us may have squabbled, Moll, but I’m sure Joy Bird was simply spoiling for a fight most of yesterday. She disappeared for a while and when she came back she seemed a bit better.”
“Joy Bird’s an ass,” Mollie said shortly. “All that was wrong with her was lack of attention. For some reason the silly idiot stayed away from all the fun on Saturday night and then got into a grump because everyone was talking about it but nobody realised she hadn’t been there and so never mentioned it to her! I heard her telling Sylvie La Touche, who’s just as much of an ass, yesterday evening! Joy’s an idiot – if she’d been caught there’d have been a tremendous row!”
“Her lookout,” Roswitha replied and then changed the subject.

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 14 May 2007, 15:30 ]
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Yay I get to make the first comment

Two lovely updates there with too much to comment on.

Thank you Catherine

Author:  Lesley [ 14 May 2007, 18:41 ]
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Pleased that Amy's absence wasn't remarked upon - don't think Joy would be able to leave it alone if she knew where Amy had been the night before.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 10 Jun 2007, 20:55 ]
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On return to the school, they made their way to their formroom and Amy frowned slightly, wondering what to do about Rosalynne. Louisa was still new and although she liked Rosalynne, Amy wasn’t altogether sure she wanted to part with Louisa. Fortunately, Miss Burnett was already in their formroom when they arrived and she took the decision out of Amy’s hands.
“Good morning, girls!” she greeted them as they entered. “And this must be Rosalynne,” she smiled at the girl. “Welcome to Upper Fifth B and the Chalet School! I’m Miss Burnett, your form mistress and I’ll also take you for History. There’s a spare desk next to Mollie McNab, if you’d like to sit there. I know Amy’s in charge of you but I’m sure you won’t mind sitting next to somebody else.”
“I think it’s an excellent idea for her to sit next to me!” Mollie declared.
“I disagree,” Charlotte chuckled.
“Me too,” Louisa added. “Not that I want to be parted from Amy!” she added hastily.
“No chance of that!” Mollie retorted. “You’re best kept there – Amy’s the only one who stands a chance of controlling you – apart from Charlotte that is! And none of us would get anywhere if you and she were sitting together! You’re too identical for words!”
“How do you know you’re talking to the right twin then, Mollie?” Louisa asked, with dancing eyes.
“Because you’ve ten times more cheek than your sister!” Mollie retorted. “Anyway, to return to Rosalynne, it’s really for her own good that she should sit next to me – and for the good of the form too! Don’t you agree, Miss Burnett?”
“That rather depends on what you are talking about,” Miss Burnett, who had been listening to this conversation in growing amusement, responded cautiously. She began to laugh at the disgust in Mollie’s tones as the girl detailed the conversation she had had with Rosalynne. “You’re forgetting something, Mollie!” she laughed. “Nobody has asked Rosalynne to join any of the teams here yet and you have yet to see her play. Reserve your judgement until you’ve seen her play a few times and she’s had a chance to experience Games here. In the meantime, she has quite enough to be going on with so perhaps you can find something else to talk to her about! Sit down, Rosalynne and don’t stand for any nonsense! Amy, will you see to it that Rosalynne has the necessary books and stationery at Break, please.”
“Isn’t Mollie going to take charge of Rosalynne from now on then?” Ursula asked, in a supposedly innocent manner. “After all, she might have more time for her.”
“If you’re talking about yesterday afternoon, Amy had a bad headache and Matron sent her to lie down,” Mollie interrupted. “That could have happened to anyone and in any case, there were plenty of us about to make sure Rosalynne was all right! Anyway, I don’t want anymore responsibility than I’ve already got – Amy’s welcome to it!” she wound up, with a grin.
“Lazy as ever, Mollie?” Miss Burnett queried teasingly, privately thankful for the girl’s skill at lightening the atmosphere. She was aware of the tensions that still existed within the form, although the united front Amy and Roswitha were presenting was helping matters.
“Actually, I think I just like being irresponsible,” Mollie decided, leaving the mistress – and the form – with no alternative but to laugh.
“Idiot!” Roswitha said affectionately. “It’s probably a good thing Rosalynne’s in Amy’s charge – goodness knows what scrapes you’d lead her into!”
“Fortunately, that isn’t something we have to worry over, since Rosalynne is in Amy’s charge and that is where she shall stay, no matter what you, Ursula, or anybody else, might think. Now, if you don’t mind, I should like to take the register.” She gave Ursula a scathing look and that young person reddened and wished she’d kept her mouth shut. Miss Burnett had one more thing to say before she sent her form into Prayers. “You people are all Upper Fifth and it is at this stage of your school career that we start to consider your development in terms of Prefectships. How you behave now will influence how we think of you in the future. Remember that.”

Author:  Lesley [ 10 Jun 2007, 21:10 ]
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Hmmm, still some tensions there - Mollie seems to be good as dispelling them.


Thanls Catherine.

Author:  vicki_theterror [ 10 Jun 2007, 21:28 ]
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definately still some tensions, but great to see more of this

vicki

Author:  Sal [ 11 Jun 2007, 22:44 ]
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Good for Mollie a stop to any tension at least for now.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  francesn [ 19 Jun 2007, 00:39 ]
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Oh I like Mollie!

Interesting that Miss Burnett is leaving it to them to sort their problems out - it must have been tempting to jump in there and sort it out for them.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Catherine [ 18 Aug 2007, 20:58 ]
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Sorry it's been so long ... :oops:


The stir caused by Rosalynne may have been quite inadvertent on her part, but elsewhere, the new girls were causing quite a deliberate stir. In Lower Third, Katy and Kirsty Faulkner had calmly sat themselves one behind the other – unlike the Seniors, the Juniors and Middles had single rows and columns of desks – but whereas Upper Fifth B had objected strongly to Louisa and Charlotte sitting together, the Lower Third merely thought it highly amusing. They were very disappointed when Miss Bell, their form mistress arrived and took matters firmly into her own hands.
“Welcome to Lower Third and the Chalet School, Katy and Kirsty,” she began, once she had taken the register. “I hope you’ll be very happy with us but I think we must start as we mean to go on, don’t you?” She bestowed a wide smile on the pair, who looked back uncertainly, wondering just what was in store for them. Their new form mistress cast a thoughtful look round the form. “Yes, you know, I think it’s time we had a change round of seating. From what I know myself and what the other mistresses have said, I don’t think it really works having you sat as you are. No, it has nothing to do with Katy and Kirsty’s arrival amongst us,” she added sternly as one or two people tried to raise objections along this line. “Quite simply, this form is not working as well as it should and its behaviour is not as good as I would like. Therefore we will move you about and see if an improvement can be made. I think, yes, there is just nice time,” she said, glancing at her watch. “All of you out of your seats and standing against the wall, please.”

Five minutes later, her form were taking their new seats and slowly realising that various people had been well and truly separated. Sybil, Blossom, Susannah, Hilary and Freda, to name but five, were now sitting on opposite sides and ends of the room with Blossom sat neatly in the middle of the front row, right under the eye of whichever mistress should happen to take them, much to the girl’s horror. Blossom was a lazy little thing who preferred chatting and playing tricks to doing work and when she had to do work, did as little as she could get away with doing. Now though, she would have no choice but to work and the idea appalled her. The other four, without the distractions provided by sitting near their bosom chums, could be relied upon to produce fairly steady work and took the move very much in their respective strides. Katy and Kirsty were also separated, being given desks near their respective sheepdogs. The twins were very much used to this sort of arrangement and took it all quite cheerfully, much to the disappointment of the rest, who had hoped they would be upset by their separation and thus cause the mistress to rethink her plans. As it was, nothing of the sort happened and Miss Bell saw her form off to Prayers and returned briefly to the staffroom to collect her books, feeling pleased at what she had achieved.

Elsewhere though, the stir being created was not such a pleasant one. Sara Brown, Arabella Smith, Laura Andrews and Sally Taylor, all new for Upper Fourth A, had followed their form onto the drive, ready for their walk but kept very much to themselves and when Miss Slater, their form mistress had appeared, they had proceeded to request that they be allowed to walk together and not with their respective sheepdogs. Thinking the girls were merely overwhelmed with all the new experiences, the mistress agreed but, much to their chagrin, tucked them into the middle of the line so that there would be no danger of them wandering off and getting lost. The four knew better than to say anything whilst the mistress was within earshot, but as soon as she was safely at the back of the line, Sara turned to Arabella who was partnering her.
“You would think that since we were the oldest, she would put us at the front and allow us to lead instead of putting us in the middle with all the babies!” she remarked.
“It isn’t good enough,” Arabella agreed. “We aren’t little kids and she should show us more respect!”
“Respect has to be earned,” snorted Tom Gay, who with Bride Bettany, was walking directly in front of the pair. Arabella, who considered herself to be as stately as her name, wrinkled up her nose at Tom’s snort, causing that young person to smile a trifle scornfully. “Anyhow,” Tom continued, “you might be the oldest here but you’re also the newest so you don’t know these parts at all and would get us all lost in a moment if we let you lead, so pipe down!”
“How rude!” Laura sniffed.
“Don’t see what else you can expect from such kids,” Sally commented. “They don’t know any better!”
“And they think they have manners,” Primrose Day murmured to Elfie, whilst Tom swung round on the four.
“Look here!” she began. “We’re not that much younger than you and it isn’t our fault you’re with us and not Lower Fifth! Pipe down or stop being so rude!” Tact was not one of Tom’s strengths and instead of helping matters, she merely made matters even worse, leaving the four seething.
“It isn’t so very much fun leading, really. You usually have to walk with a Prefect or a mistress and then you have to watch what you say and how you say it,” Bride tried to pour oil on troubled waters.
“Well of course, being such little girls, you would naturally find that hard!” Arabella sneered. “Girls like us have a better understanding of such things and know how to hold a proper conversation.”
“I’d like to know what she means by a proper conversation,” Elfie Woodward muttered to Primrose Day.
“Goodness knows! Something jolly boring anyway!” Primrose returned.
“D’y think she expects deportment classes and whatnot?” Nancy Chester chuckled. “You know all the stuff people need to know to be presented at court!”

Fortunately, neither Arabella nor the other three could hear their remarks and since the subject was changed just then, the rest of the walk proceeded relatively smoothly. There were more fireworks to come however, once they had reached their formroom.
“I say, you four,” Bride suddenly remembered something. “We’ll be going into Prayers in about ten minutes but before we do, you probably ought to know something about our Peace League – it’s bound to be mentioned cos there are so many of you that are new.”
“Why would we be interested in one of your stupid clubs?” Sara demanded scornfully.
“Oh but it’s not a club!” Half a dozen voices exclaimed and promptly joined Bride in trying to explain about the League.
“You mean you want us to join a club that says we should be friends with Nazis and help them?!” Sally broke in, eventually, her tone one of disbelief.
“You want us to help the Nazis?!” Sara echoed. “Just wait till we tell our parents!”
“They’ll remove us straight away!” Arabella added. “They couldn’t possibly leave us in such a school as this!”
“A traitorous one!” Laura put in. “They’ll go to the newspapers about this – we’ll jolly well make sure of that and then this school will get closed down and -,”
“Dear me!” A fresh voice sounded from the doorway and the form turned, most with a sigh of relief, to see their form mistress standing there, looking amused. “Is it really necessary to get so worked up over such silly nonsense?”
“It isn’t nonsense!” Sara flared.
“No? Well, if you truly believe the rubbish I heard you speak a few minutes ago, then you are either severely lacking in common sense or you are possessed of so few brains that I have to question whether you should even be as high up as Upper Fourth. Perhaps Upper Third might be more to the point.” Her tone was very scathing and did nothing to calm the hot tempers of the four girls but the mistress had not been blind or deaf on their walk and she had no desire to pander to them. “Of course, it could be that the explanation you have been given was not adequate, in which case there may be some excuse for you. Fortunately, that is easily remedied. Miss Wilson, one of our Headmistresses, will explain matters fully in Prayers so I advise you to listen carefully – if you wish to persist in this silly nonsense after that, that is entirely up to you but you won’t win yourself any friends if you do.”

Author:  Lesley [ 18 Aug 2007, 22:09 ]
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Well those four certainly know how to win friends and influence people, don't they? :lol:


Thanks Catherine - good to see more of this.

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 18 Aug 2007, 23:36 ]
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Me thinks those four will have a very hard time becoming Proper Chalet School Girls - if ever they actually do.

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 19 Aug 2007, 15:18 ]
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Good to see this back! My thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Cathie [ 31 Oct 2007, 20:38 ]
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Oh how how wonderful for Amy. Sorry about your sight though. I totally understand. But more, more, more please.

Author:  Catherine [ 06 Nov 2007, 23:12 ]
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Welcome to the Board, Cathie! :D

I'm sorry it's been so long, I am useless!! My sight is fine now - until the next time, anyway! - so I can't even blame that!! Just RL getting in the way! :roll: This is just a short update but I hope to post a longer one in the not too distant future - just don't hold your breath!! :D


Whilst Miss Slater had been talking to the four, the rest of the form had been hurriedly finding their books for Prayers and the first lessons of the morning and then taking their seats, so that by this time, only he mistress and the four new girls were standing. And here there was another altercation for four desks had been set at the front of the room in preparation for the new arrivals. Normally, Miss Slater would have had a change around meaning that the four would not have been sat together and probably not in the front. On this occasion, however, the mistress felt no desire to change things to accommodate the four – it would have brought the form to the verge of revolution and she had seen enough to feel that the new girls would bear watching, at least in the short term. She therefore curtly requested the four to occupy the seats at the front.
“Here?! Oh no! We’re not sitting here!” Sara burst out, startling the mistress.
“Indeed not!” Arabella backed up her friend. “We are the oldest in this form so we cannot possibly sit at the front!”
“You’ll sit where I tell you, my girl!” Miss Slater said grimly. “You say you’re the oldest, yet not even the babiest Junior would care to behave like this! If you want to sit elsewhere, you will have to show us you merit it. Now sit down in those seats and let me hear no more.” Whether it was this or the amazed looks they were receiving from the rest of the form, the four took their seats and the mistress heard no more about it, although she was quick enough to realise that she had by no means heard the end of it.

The rest of the form had no chance to air their views until Break but as the mistresses who took the form discovered, the atmosphere was strained to say the least and the more volatile members of the form looked wildly indignant. Fortunately, they managed to keep their attention on their work – nobody wanted to give the four any excuse to criticise the standard of work in the form, as Bride, in a hurried whisper to those nearest her, had pointed out. The message had been passed onto those who hadn’t heard so none of the mistresses had any complaint to make about the standard of work produced, although they were wildly curious to know what had happened since Miss Slater had not had time to update her colleagues before Prayers. She was not backward in doing so once the bell for Break had rung, however – and nor were her form. The row they made brought the Head Girl amongst them and the few trenchant remarks she made soon brought them all to their senses and most of them trooped out to the Splashery feeling very small – and if possible, even less willing to give the new girls a chance than hitherto, as evidenced by the way, when outside, the rest of the form marched off in a body, leaving four to their own devices.
“What’s wrong with Bride and Co.?” Beth demanded of her two great friends, witnessing this. “Goodness only knows what I interrupted earlier but they were all having a lovely time shouting at each other!”
“If there was a competition for the friendliest form, I should say that form would win hands down so whatever’s wrong, there must be a good reason for it,” mused Daisy. “Bride’s one of the sweetest tempered kids I know and young Tom isn’t one for losing her temper either!”
“Go and find out then!” Gwensi suggested, with a twinkle.
“I suppose one of us ought to,” Daisy sighed. “Whatever excuse they may have, they’re setting a bad example to the younger ones and they’re not giving the new girls the best first impression of the school.”
“Leave it for now,” Beth advised. “We’ll only do more harm than good at the moment – let’s leave their tempers to cool down and give common sense a chance to reassert itself. If the situation doesn’t improve then I suppose we’ll have to do something but that crowd are mostly jolly decent and they’ll soon sort themselves out, I’m sure.”

Author:  Lesley [ 06 Nov 2007, 23:44 ]
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Hmmm, it's all very well the Prefects saying that - but they really don't know the situation - I think Bride and co are perfectly justified in acting as they are.


Thanks catherine.

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 07 Nov 2007, 20:10 ]
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How lovely to see this back! Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  MaryR [ 07 Nov 2007, 20:32 ]
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Quote:
...let’s leave their tempers to cool down and give common sense a chance to reassert itself.

Very wise words!

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  roversgirl [ 09 Nov 2007, 20:04 ]
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Hi,
I just found this and I'm really enjoying it. I read Parts One and Two earlier today and have now gone through this. it's brilliant. thanks very much and am eagerly awaiting the next instalment :-)

Author:  Catherine [ 03 Jan 2008, 22:51 ]
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The reason for the form’s behaviour soon leaked out and amongst the Middles at least, there was little sympathy or understanding shown. Had it not been for the fact that the four were new, and all of the Chalet girls were well aware of their responsibilities towards new girls, they would have been ostracised. All the same, there was little friendship or warmth in their treatment - as the four complained to Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson when they were sent to the Library for introductions.
“You can but expect others to treat you as you treat them,” Miss Annersley replied. “So far as I understand matters, girls, you have hardly shown yourselves to be friendly or willing to learn and settle in here. We realise that things are very different for you here and it will take you some time to get to know us and our rules and traditions and we accept that your paths won’t always be smooth and free from difficulty. However, to criticise and mock something of which you know nothing or very little, is only to make yourselves look silly. Indeed, the remarks you made about being in league with the Nazis and telling the newspapers only served to make yourselves look exceedingly foolish.”
“Had you stopped to think, you might have realised that your parents would know all about our origins and our current traditions,” Miss Wilson commented. “It is all contained in the prospectus and it was a combination of reading that, talking to ourselves and to your previous Headmistress that made your parents decide to send you here. They were happy to send you here and so, I imagine, would have paid very little attention to your letters. I’m afraid, girls, that, no matter how much you dislike being here, it is here you must remain so you would be wise to settle down amongst us and make friends.”
“We realise that your classmates are somewhat younger than yourselves,” Miss Annersley continued. “How long you stay in Upper Fourth is entirely up to yourselves, however. If you apply yourselves to your work – both in lessons and prep – and accept any help offered with good grace, then I see no reason why you shouldn’t gain promotion to Lower Fifth B at the end of this term. So let us have no more tantrums over seating arrangements or babyish comments concerning things you have yet to understand – that is the type of behaviour we might expect of a Junior rather than a Senior Middle – much less Senior Middles of your age! It is as a direct result of your own poor work in the past that has led to you being placed in a form below your age but this is your opportunity to make a fresh start and show us all, your parents included, how capable you really are.”
“I’m sure that if you apologise to your form for your remarks over the Peace League, they will be prepared to forgive and forget,” Miss Wilson added, with a smile. “Now, you must go before you miss too much work and we have several more girls to see. Both Miss Annersley and myself are available between five and seven every evening should you wish to speak to us about anything.” The four mumbled their thanks and hastily exited the study, not sure whether to seethe over the manner in which they had been addressed or whether to find somewhere to crawl under and hide until they had recovered from all the two Heads had had to say to them.
“I do hope we’ve made an impression, Nell,” Hilda Annersley sighed, once she deemed the girls to have had sufficient time to be safely out of earshot.
“Oh, I’d say we’d made an impression, certainly,” Nell responded dryly. “Whether we made the right impression and whether it will have the desired effect, remains to be seen. Still, it isn’t as though we need to worry over the other new girls.”
“Isn’t it?” Hilda raised her eyebrows.
“Haven’t you heard? Apart from Pam Slater, none of the others have any difficulties with their new girls so the staff are agreed that it will only be those four girls who cause us any trouble,” Nell responded smoothly.
“Oh really?” was the only comment Hilda made as she bestowed a withering look on her friend and co-Head, who couldn’t quite suppress a chuckle.

Author:  Lesley [ 03 Jan 2008, 23:15 ]
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Lovely to see more of this - well that told the four, didn't it? Should imagine they totally slid under the door on the way out! :lol:


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 03 Jan 2008, 23:48 ]
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Lovely to see an update.

Author:  leahbelle [ 04 Jan 2008, 18:10 ]
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Thanks for the update!

Author:  MaryR [ 07 Jan 2008, 15:11 ]
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Great dry last line and withering look from Hilda. :lol:

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 09 Jan 2008, 22:03 ]
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There are some advantages to being bored at work ... :wink:


Amy, meanwhile, was finding that her display of temper had done her no harm in the eyes of her dormitory, as Miss Annersley had predicted. Before Break was over, she found herself face to face with Vi, Josette and some of the others.
“We brought you these,” Vi pressed some flowers, which had clearly seen better days, into Amy’s hands. “An’ we’re sorry about not being good for you.”
“So please will you come back an’ sleep in the dormitory again?” Josette ended, leaving Amy feeling rather overwhelmed.
“Dead flowers! Aren’t you lucky? They’ll look lovely in your cubicle!” Rosalynne, who was with her, muttered wickedly, grasping how she was feeling. Amy glared at her and Rosalynne chuckled inwardly.
“Thank you; they’re very pretty,” Amy pulled herself together. “I’m sorry for being cross with you all; I was tired and in a bad mood but I shouldn’t have got cross with you all.”
“But we were naughty a bit,” Vi considered. “You shouldn’t ‘pologise cos we should have been good an’ helped you an’ we didn’t.”
“Anyhow, we promise to be good now,” Lesley Malcolm struck in. “Only you will come back won’t you? It’s much nicer with you there.”
“I’ll be back tonight,” Amy promised and the small girls heaved a collective sigh of relief, before scampering away to play a game. Left alone, Amy turned to Rosalynne. “What am I supposed to do with these?” she demanded, indicating the flowers.
“Press them,” Rosalynne advised. “Put them in your Bible or something. You’ll have to keep them or you’ll hurt their feelings.”
“I’ll have to find something to do with them. I can’t carry them around with me all day,” Amy sighed.
“Carry what around all day?” Louisa, Charlotte, Roswitha and Mollie came up to them just then. “Ooh! Do you have an admirer?” Louisa teased, spotting the flowers.
“Don’t be a bigger ass than you can help,” Mollie squashed her. “Where did they come from, Amy?”
“Vi and the others, to say sorry for being naughty,” Amy explained guiltily.
“Bless them!” Roswitha exclaimed. “Not that I see them staying well behaved for very long!” she added. “They’ll soon be back to their careless, noisy selves!”
“They’re not really all that bad,” Amy protested. “It was my fault.”
“Rubbish!” Mollie interrupted. “They’re old enough to help themselves and each other – the sooner they learn not to depend on you for everything, the better. Anyhow, if they’re going to do mad things like run round the dormitory half dressed and shout and squeal, they’ve got to expect some sort of rowing!”
“What are you going to do with the flowers?” Charlotte asked curiously. “They seem a bit, well, dead!”
“I know,” Amy grimaced. “Rosalynne suggested I press them in my Bible so I’ll do that. I just need to find something to do with them until later.”
“Shove them in your locker,” Mollie answered. “They’re half dead already so it’ll not make any difference.”

Amy followed Mollie’s advice and Rosalynne’s suggestion – incidentally starting a new fashion amongst her dormitory charges, who were all most intrigued by the idea of pressing flowers and took it up with a vengeance, much to the despair of their mistresses, who had their lessons disrupted by pupils who very seriously explained that they couldn’t do the exercises on such and such a page because the page was holding a flower! When it was suggested that they find somewhere other than their text books to hold the flowers, the rest of the School were kept amused by flowers that appeared in the oddest places – under table or chair legs, under vases and other ornaments. Occasionally, people were offered the important task of pressing flowers by sitting on them, although this honour was generally declined! They didn’t quite go as far as sleeping on them, Amy squashing this idea heavily when Maeve proposed it but if they could find somewhere to press a flower, they did it and whilst the staff hoped the craze would soon pass, the girls hoped it would continue, so much amusement did they derive from it!

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 09 Jan 2008, 22:47 ]
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Love the girls offering of half dead flowers! :lol: Thanks Catherine

Author:  Lesley [ 09 Jan 2008, 22:58 ]
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Did they attempt to use any of the Mistresses books too? :lol:


Lovely Catherine - thank you.

Author:  Kathy_S [ 10 Jan 2008, 00:20 ]
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Very sweet of the little dears. :lol:

Ask Miss Wilson to explain about plant presses? (Guess what two of my nieces got for Christmas -- and it wasn't even my fault!)

Author:  MaryR [ 10 Jan 2008, 13:29 ]
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Thank you, Catherine.

Author:  Squirrel [ 13 Jan 2008, 17:06 ]
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*giggles* That was a most fun ending to the post! And I have enjoyed catching up with all the bits that I have missed.

Thanks Catherine. :D

Author:  Catherine [ 19 Feb 2008, 12:18 ]
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Fortunately, for the staff, the flowers did not last much longer and the Juniors were soon looking around for something else to keep them occupied. Some of the younger Middles volunteered to help them make scrapbooks, something the staff and prefects agreed to with enthusiasm, hoping it would make for a bit of peace and quiet.
“Just don’t go having any more ideas like that, you two,” Gay advised Amy and Rosalynne. “We coped this time but I’m not sure we could in the future.”
“We have to cope with you on a daily basis and the flowers business was much less strenuous,” Gillian Culver retorted.
“And far more amusing,” Jacynth added, a twinkle belying her grave expression.
“Anyway, it wasn’t their fault,” Kathie Robertson put in. “The kids started it by giving Amy a bunch of half dead flowers. All that Rosalynne and Amy did was to find a way of doing something with them! They weren’t to know the kids would take it up as they did! And anyway, most of it was pure mischief! They knew what they were doing when they used textbooks!”
“You’re all so squashing!” Gay sighed. “I really don’t think I deserve this.”
“We beg to differ,” Jacynth commented. “Change the subject someone before she starts again!” she added hurriedly as Gay opened her mouth to speak again.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, the Heads had been continuing to meet with the new girls – some of them talkative, some of them not. Gwen Jones, Rosalynne’s sister, was one of the former and she chattered happily about how excited she was to be at the school, how many friends she was making, how good it was that Amy and Rosalynne were friends and various other things besides. She did let slip one or two things about the people who had taken them in when they were evacuated and the Heads were concerned to hear that the pair hadn’t been welcomed or wanted.
“Well?” Nell demanded, once Gwen had left. “What are you going to do, Hilda?”
“We,” Hilda emphasised sweetly, “are going to do nothing until we’ve met Rosalynne. Then we will decide what, if anything, is to be done.”

Before they met Rosalynne, however, they met two more new girls – Katy and Kirsty, who were proving to be quite irrepressible but liked by whoever they met. The two Heads both found themselves smiling quite involuntarily as the pair entered, for the mischief in their faces was unmistakeable.
“I fail to see how you could have got into any mischief between leaving your lesson and arriving here so promptly, but something tells me you have,” Miss Wilson observed, laughter in her eyes as she surveyed the pair, who grinned at her - and a moment or two later, managed to hoodwink their Headmistresses very neatly, each pretending to be the other. It was only when Miss Annersley, referring to each of the pair by name, realised that not only were their reaction times slower than she expected but that the ‘other’ twin was instinctively looking up that they were discovered.
“Oh dear,” she broke off what she was saying and sat back in her chair, amusement clearly showing on her face. “I think we’ve been tricked, Miss Wilson,” she laughed. turning to her co-Head.
“I was beginning to think the same myself,” Miss Wilson asserted, laughing. “How many other people have you managed to trick?” she demanded.
“Not as many as we would like,” Katy sighed regretfully.
“But almost all of the staff,” Kirsty beamed. “Nobody’s found us out as quickly as you have though!” she added, with a sigh.
“Cheeky imps!” Miss Wilson laughed. “Have you no respect for your elders and betters?!”
“Yes, oh yes!” the twins chorused hurriedly. “We just like to trick people, that’s all,” Katy added. “But we’ll tell you how to tell us apart, if you want!”
“I think perhaps it might be a good idea if you did,” Miss Annersley agreed, laughing.
The twins explained the secrets of how they could be told apart and agreed to the two Heads informing the rest of the staff but extracted solemn promises that they wouldn’t pass the information on to any of their classmates – something the two Heads laughingly agreed to do.
“I don’t think I’ve any need to ask you if you’re settling down here, do I?” Miss Annersley inquired, her eyes twinkling.
“We love it!” the pair beamed at their Headmistresses, who once again found themselves laughing.
“Good!” Miss Annersley assented, laughing. “But if you should come across any problems that you can’t solve by yourselves or with the help of your friends, then come and see one of us and we’ll do what we can to help.”
“In the meantime though, don’t drag too many people into your mischievous doings!” Miss Wilson bade them, also laughing. “And don’t play too many tricks on your poor mistresses – we don’t want to see you in here on a Head’s Report!”
“We won’t! We’ve heard all about those,” Kirsty informed her, as she and Katy got up to leave.
“We’ll be good,” Katy put in. “Some of the time, anyway!” she called over her shoulder as they left the room and the laughter of the two Heads followed them as they scampered away.

“What a pair!” Hilda Annersley exclaimed, wiping her eyes. “But to trick us like that! We must be losing our touch!”
“Speak for yourself, Hilda Annersley!” Nell snorted. “I knew what they were doing, I was just waiting to see how long it would take you to work out!”
“Yes Nell, of course you were,” Hilda agreed. “And I was born yesterday,” she murmured, smiling imperviously at the glare she received in response.

Author:  Lesley [ 19 Feb 2008, 12:26 ]
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:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


They've got some nerve those twins!

Not so nice to hear about Gwen and Rosalynne being unwelcome - though it did happen.


Thanks Catherine, good to see another instalment.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 20 Feb 2008, 13:45 ]
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Love the Heads with the twins

Author:  leahbelle [ 20 Feb 2008, 18:10 ]
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Thanks for the update, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 29 Feb 2008, 14:49 ]
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Rosalynne, when sent for, appeared promptly but looking rather nervous and Miss Annersley hastened to reassure her.
“Come along and sit down, Rosalynne,” she smiled. “We won’t keep you long; this is merely an opportunity for myself and Miss Wilson,” she indicated her co-Head, “to meet you and for you to ask us any questions you may have or talk over anything that may be worrying you. How are you settling in? You’ve been placed in Upper Fifth B, haven’t you?”
“Y-yes,” Rosalynne stammered and then made an effort and pulled herself together. “I’m enjoying it, thank you.”
“Amy’s looking after you, isn’t she?” Miss Wilson queried.
“Yes but the twins, Mollie and Roswitha are all helping me out as well,” Rosalynne replied. “Amy’s lovely though and she’s doing it really well,” she added quickly.
“That’s good. Your little sister, Gwen, has been singing Amy’s praises as well,” the Head added, with a smile.
Rosalynne suddenly laughed. “All of Amy’s dormitory think she’s wonderful!”
“Yes, so we gather,” Miss Wilson laughed. “By the way, has Mollie converted you to her way of thinking yet?”
“Over what?” her co-Head demanded, this being news to her.
“I overheard Mollie complaining bitterly because Rosalynne doesn’t enjoy Games and doesn’t want to be considered for the form team – although I gather she’s far from being bad at them!” Miss Wilson grinned across at Rosalynne.
“It’s not that I don’t enjoy Games – I just don’t enjoy playing matches. I’m always worried in case I miss and stop the team from winning,” Rosalynne explained. “I’d rather concentrate on work.”
“Well if that’s the way you feel, we won’t force you into it,” Miss Annersley smiled. “How are you finding things otherwise? You were expecting to start a new school this term anyway, weren’t you, following your evacuation?” Rosalynne nodded, her face clouding over.
“There must be times when you feel your life’s been turned upside down and wonder just where you’re supposed to consider as home,” Miss Wilson suggested.
“Do you know how long the war will last?” Rosalynne ventured.
“I don’t think anybody knows that, my dear,” Miss Annersley said gently. “I do know, however, that there are plenty of people who would put your mother up, if you wanted to invite her for a few days. Unless, of course, you would like her to stay with your guardians and have all of them come for the day?”
“I don’t think they’d want her,” Rosalynne murmured. “They’ve not got much room,” she added quickly.
“I see,” Miss Annersley commented. “Well, if you and Gwen would like to invite your mother for a weekend, then come and discuss it with one of us and we’ll see what we can do.”
“Is it all right to write to her then?” Rosalynne asked.
“Write to her in general or write to her regarding visiting you?” Miss Wilson demanded.
“In general. The people we were evacuated to said that we shouldn’t as we had to get used to being away from her and she had to get used to being without us and that wouldn’t happen if we wrote.” Rosalynne swallowed hard as she finished for this edict had hit her particularly hard. Happy go lucky Gwen hadn’t troubled herself about it, content that Rosalynne would look after her and convinced that she would see their mother soon in any case and would be able to write to her then.
“Those rules don’t apply here,” Miss Annersley told her gently. “It was your mother’s choice to send you here and I’m sure she’d enjoy a letter. And Rosalynne, if there’s ever anything you want to talk about – whether it be to do with School, home or something entirely different, then please come and find one of us. We’re not miracle workers but I think I’m safe in saying we can find a way out of most problems!” She shot a laughing look at her co-Head. “Yes, I’d agree with you there,” Miss Wilson agreed, laughing. “I know things seem difficult at the moment, Rosalynne, perhaps even impossible, but Miss Annersley and I will do all we can if you need some help in tackling them.”

Author:  MaryR [ 29 Feb 2008, 15:30 ]
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And I'm sure they will both be enormous help and comfort to Rosalynne and her mother.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Elder in Ontario [ 29 Feb 2008, 16:16 ]
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Thank goodness for the understanding of these two very caring people - the whole experience of evacuation was so difficult for so many people and I'm sure Roselynne will feel comforted by Hilda and Nell's attitude towards things.

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  Lesley [ 29 Feb 2008, 20:44 ]
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Hmmm, well Rosalynne's information about what the edict from those she's being cared for by (yes, I know, dreadful English) will be very interesting to the Heads - telling a child not to write to their mother? :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:


Glad they were abkle to bypass that.

Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Billie [ 02 Mar 2008, 02:04 ]
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Thanks for this Catherine. I've just caught up after reading the original. I really love Amy's story. As I think someone said before, it's the EBD story that EBD never wrote. Good stuff. Keep up the good work.

Author:  Kathy_S [ 08 Mar 2008, 01:17 ]
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Thank you, Catherine.

I'm looking forward to more of this....

Author:  Catherine [ 11 Mar 2008, 17:54 ]
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Thanks for the comments ... and the very broad hint, Kathy!! :lol:

Rosalynne returned to her form looking flushed but otherwise composed, only Roswitha and Amy detected that something seemed to have upset her. Miss Burnett also realised it and left the girl to herself, inwardly wondering what the two Heads could possibly have said to have caused it. She didn’t have to wait long to find out however, for the bell for Break rang not long after and on arriving in the staffroom, she found the two Heads had joined them.
“This is an unusual departure from the norm,” Hilary Burn observed.
“Most ‘departures from the norm’ are unusual,” Gillian Linton pointed out. “That’s why they’re known as ‘departures from the norm’.”
“I sometimes wonder whether any of our girls received proper English teaching when we were in Tirol,” Nell Wilson observed, with a teasing glance at her co-Head.
“I wouldn’t have thought it was particularly unusual for you to have our company during Break,” Hilda remarked, refusing to rise to Nell’s insult. “In fact, I can remember doing so on several occasions already this term.”
“There’s a reason for it this time though,” Miss Burnett commented. “Rosalynne wasn’t her usual self when she returned.”
“You know she and Gwen have been evacuated, I presume?” Nell inquired. The assembled staff confirmed that they did.
“Rosalynne’s said almost nothing about it though,” Mary Burnett added.
“No; that doesn’t surprise me,” Hilda Annersley nodded. “She hasn’t said a lot to either of us but it would seem that they aren’t wanted and their guardians are ensuring they know that.”
“The poor children were actually told not to write to their mother since they had to get used to being without her and vice versa!” Nell Wilson interjected, bringing about a chorus of horrified exclamations.
“They were left to walk up the drive in the pouring rain when they arrived,” Rosalie Dene commented thoughtfully. “If it hadn’t been for Amy’s quick thinking, they might have started out with violent colds for I was too busy to notice!”
“Amy’s improving in all directions, even at Games,” Hilary Burn put in.
“No changing the subject!” Nell said severely. “You’re just as bad as Joey! Rosalynne clearly isn’t happy about things so if you could all ride her gently for the next few weeks. She’s had a fair amount of upheaval and although she seems to be coping, we’d rather she wasn’t put under any extra pressure. Gwen seems to have taken it all very much in her stride, probably thanks to the fact that she still has Rosalynne to lean on, but Rosalynne is old enough to feel it all keenly. That’s all.”
“So what did you make of the other new girls you saw this morning?” Miss Bell asked, with a twinkle.
“Imps, the pair of them!” Hilda returned, laughing. “Your life will be far from peaceful if Katy and Kirsty have anything to do with it!”
“I’m starting to think they thrive on mischief,” Miss Bell sighed. “I’m convinced they get away with far more than they should though … it’s impossible to tell them off at times. To say nothing of the fact that nine times out of ten, I’ve no idea which twin I’m talking to!”
“Ah! Well, there we might be able to help you! Hilda and I know how to tell them apart … and provided you all solemnly swear to keep their secret, we have been permitted to tell you all too.”

Whilst the two Heads were revealing the differences between the twins, Amy, Roswitha, Mollie, Louisa and Charlotte had carried Rosalynne off to a quiet corner. A friendship was developing between these six and in time, they would become a force to be reckoned with in their form. There were individual friendships being formed within the six as well. Amy and Rosalynne were pairing off, as were Roswitha and Charlotte and Mollie and Louisa, although it has to be said that in public, at any rate, the latter two were firmly separated!
“You’re both too excitable!” was the reason Amy had given them and since Roswitha and Charlotte backed her up, the two had had to give in. At the moment however, Rosalynne was of more concern to them. They, like Miss Burnett, had noticed that she seemed upset and had wondered what the two Heads had said. Amy, in particular, had worried, knowing now that neither Headmistress would scold without good reason.
“Can you tell us what’s wrong?” Roswitha asked tentatively. “You’re not in any trouble are you?”
“Not of the sort you mean,” Rosalynne answered, with a rather wan smile. “It’s all right, Amy, they were nice to me. It’s just they were asking questions about us being evacuated.”
“They’re not very nice are they?” Amy asked softly. “I’ve heard Gwen say some things in the dormy but you’ve never mentioned it so I didn’t like to say anything.”
“They don’t want us,” Rosalynne answered, with a shrug. “We’re expected to lay the table and wash up afterwards and to help clean and to do clothes washing and mending. The rest of the time they don’t want to see us; we can wander round the village by ourselves so long as we’re back for meal times and when we had to get our uniform for here, they just dropped us in the town and left us to do it. Said I was old enough to manage to buy everything and I know I didn’t manage it properly. Matron complained that Gwen doesn’t have enough vests and knickers. I probably don’t have enough knickers and things either. I didn’t know how much everything cost and I thought those things would be washed more. I don’t think they mean to be horrible but they just don’t want us and they don’t want to have to do anything with us or for us. They wouldn’t let us write to Mummy either in case it made us more upset. They said we all had to get used to being without each other.”
“Did you tell the Heads?” Roswitha queried, as Amy squeezed her friend’s hand in sympathy.
“Just about Mummy. They said that I could write and ask her to come and visit for the weekend and someone nearby would put her up, only I didn’t know I was allowed to write to her here because they wouldn’t let us. And how am I supposed to write to her now when I’ve not written for ages? I couldn’t tell the Heads about all the rest of it because they’re adults and adults always stick together.” Rosalynne was on the verge of tears and none of the group knew what to say to help. Fortunately, the Head Girl was passing and she paused on seeing their serious faces.
“Is everything all right?” she inquired. “You lot are looking very serious. Can I do anything to help?”
“Rosalynne and Gwen were evacuated just before they came here but their guardians don’t want them and aren’t looking after them properly and we don’t know what to do to help,” Mollie summed it up neatly.
Beth sat down beside Rosalynne. “Tell me exactly what the problems are, Rosalynne, and I’ll see what I can do.” Rosalynne repeated what she had said to the others and Beth pondered it. “I think you should be honest with your mother when you write,” she said at last. “I’m sure she already knows why you haven’t been in touch but if you explain it to her, at least you’ll be sure that it wasn’t because you didn’t want to write to her. Don’t mention anything about coming to stay just yet; the Heads will need some time to find someone for her to stay with and it will need to be a weekend where there isn’t an expedition or anything else that you might miss, planned. I think you’re right and that your guardians didn’t intend to be horrible but you were probably forced on them. It was probably a choice between taking you in and giving up their home. Whatever it was though, they shouldn’t be making you feel unhappy. If you can, I think you should tell Miss Annersley or Miss Wilson about it because if you’re unhappy in the holidays, you’ll be unhappy here but if they know, they’ll be able to do something to help. Also, this isn’t just about you and Gwen. I don’t know how long this wretched war will last but there’s always the possibility that the authorities might move you somewhere else, closer to here for example, which would mean that other children would go to your current guardians and there’s no need for them to suffer if speaking up can do some good. You can but try, anyhow! You don’t have to do any of it now, think about it – but if you are short of clothes, it’s best if you explain otherwise Matron will think it carelessness and you’ll be in a permanent row!” she finished with a grin. “The bell’s about to go for the end of Break but if you want to talk some more before you see the Heads. then you’ll find me somewhere about! In the meantime, cheer up! It’ll be some time before you need to worry about the holidays!”

Author:  roversgirl [ 11 Mar 2008, 18:18 ]
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thanks for the update. hope the situation gets sorted!

Author:  Squirrel [ 11 Mar 2008, 18:27 ]
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I'm glad that Beth came along and the girls were able to talk to her. Though Amy and co were well able to go and find someone, it was better that someone noticed and came to them.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Lesley [ 11 Mar 2008, 21:58 ]
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Beth was lovely there - and I really want to see Miss Wilson talk to the people that are treating those two girls so badly - yes they may have been forced to take in evacuees but it's hardly the girls' fault, is it?


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 11 Mar 2008, 23:17 ]
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But you read about that happening a lot back then with evacuees. Not that it makes it right.

Beth was lovely there with them

Author:  MaryR [ 12 Mar 2008, 18:46 ]
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Many evacuees stories are pretty horrifying, actually. :cry: I'm sure Hilda and Nell will find some discreet way of changing things for them.

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  Kathy_S [ 13 Mar 2008, 06:52 ]
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Sounds like Rosalynne & Gwen are definitely better off at the CS. Nice that Beth came along just then!

Thank you, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 31 Mar 2008, 12:56 ]
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I'm not quite sure whether to be glad for myself because by pure chance, I seem, so far anyway, to have given a realistic description of some evacuees' experiences or sorry for landing Rosalynne and Gwen with the experience!!


By this time, Rosalynne’s head was whirling with all the information she had been given and had it not been for the Heads’ warning at Break, she would have been in trouble more than once for not concentrating in class. Matron, encountering her after Mittagessen, could see the strain in her face and when Rosalynne confessed to a headache, promptly packed her off to bed. The peace and quiet, plus a nap, helped her headache but it didn’t help her with the thoughts that were still going round and round in her head. She was generally a quiet, steady person who kept her thoughts and worries to herself so she was finding it hard to recognise herself in the person who had confessed her troubles to Amy and the others earlier. She admitted as much to Amy later, when she squeezed in a visit after tea.
“This place does that to you,” Amy grimaced. “It’s strange, really. I feel more a part of things now than I did before Daddy died and I suppose that’s only because I’m telling more people about things but it still doesn’t feel right. But then I’d never have got any help if I’d not said anything.”
“You needed it,” Rosalynne replied. “Gwen and I don’t really. We have somewhere to live in the hols and it might not be very nice but it’s safer than Cardiff and we’re here most of the time. We can write to Mummy from here and Miss Annersley says we can see her here too, so maybe I shouldn’t say anything more.”
“You don’t have to, of course, but what if you two get moved somewhere else and other kids get posted to them? They might not be lucky enough to go to a boarding school like this. And even if that doesn’t happen, why should you have to be unhappy in the holidays? They’re wrong to treat you like this but if you keep quiet, you’re letting them get away with it and saying it’s OK for them to behave like that. And what about if you get ill when you’re there and Gwen isn’t allowed to see you for a few days? What will she do then?” Amy pointed out. “I don’t really see that you have a choice and your Mummy would be unhappy if she knew about it and that you weren’t taking the chance to help yourself.”
“You’re right, I suppose,” Rosalynne sighed. She still looked doubtful but Amy changed the subject.
“You’ve missed the latest!” she chuckled. “Remember Katy and Kirsty?”
“How could I forget them?!” Rosalynne retorted, with a chuckle. “What have they done now?”
“Hoodwinked the Heads,” Amy returned giggling. She proceeded to describe what had happened. “I saw Sybil earlier and she was telling me all about it; it’ll be all round the School by the time supper comes! Anyway, I had better go otherwise I’ll be late for prep! I’ll try and get up again a bit later.”
The tale did indeed spread round the School and when they all congregated for the evening meal, the two Heads found themselves the subject of many pairs of eyes – some interested, some awe struck, some disbelieving.
“I think we’ve been sprung, Hilda!” Nell chuckled. Her friend echoed the chuckle, even as her amused eyes swept the room, picking out the twins, who far from being embarrassed merely beamed conspiratorially at her as they caught her gaze. She laughed.
“The culprits are showing no remorse, I may say,” she observed, turning back to Nell.
“They’re just enjoying their moment of glory,” Matron said tolerantly.
“You’re in a very benevolent mood, Matey!” Nell raised her eyebrows.
“It does the girls good to realise that you two are only human after all,” Matey returned equably. “You’re always complaining about the way they put you both on a pedestal!”
“Actually, it’s Hilda who complains. Personally, I quite enjoy it but then, being the model of perfection that I am, I’m in no danger of falling off it.”
“I think you’d better come to me for a dose, you’re clearly not well if you can spout rubbish such as that,” Matron retorted, thereby adding to the mirth of the rest of Nell’s colleagues.
“Traitors!” Nell commented, surveying her younger colleagues with twinkling eyes. “I shall remember this!”
“I think we’d all be grateful if you could just manage to remember to eat your meal,” Hilda observed, with a pointed look at Nell’s untouched plate. “We can hardly scold the girls for talking and not eating when one of their Headmistresses is setting them such a bad example. I really do think you would be best to come down off that pedestal before you fall off. How’s Rosalynne doing, Matey?” She changed the subject, smilingly ignoring Nell’s mutterings and that lady, knowing her friend of old, gave it up and concentrated on her meal.

Author:  Elbee [ 31 Mar 2008, 16:10 ]
Post subject: 

:lol: Love Nell on her pedestal :lol:

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Celia [ 31 Mar 2008, 17:07 ]
Post subject:  A New Start for Amy

Thanks for the update Catherine I am really enjoying your writing
about Amy. Watch out for reprisals Nell. :D

Author:  leahbelle [ 31 Mar 2008, 17:14 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, Catherine. I'm really enjoying reading about Amy and Rosalynne.

Author:  Lesley [ 31 Mar 2008, 18:24 ]
Post subject: 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 01 Apr 2008, 00:13 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for the update, Catherine

Author:  MaryR [ 01 Apr 2008, 19:35 ]
Post subject: 

Both Amy and Rosalynne worry about revealing their problems, but if you don't show you need help you deprive others of a chance to show their love for you and to offer you new ways of being.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 02 Apr 2008, 15:31 ]
Post subject: 

Rosalynne returned to lessons the next day but her concentration was still sketchy; it was only thanks to Mollie giving her a dig at the appropriate moments and the knowledge the staff had that she avoided trouble. Amy had said nothing more to her on the subject, recognising that Rosalynne still had some doubts she needed to work through. She had prevented the rest from questioning Rosalynne over it, introducing distracting topics of conversation, but even so it had remained at the forefront of Rosalynne’s mind. Even if she could reconcile herself to seeking help, she wasn’t sure she had the courage to do it and she still wasn’t convinced that it might not make the situation a lot worse.


The two Heads were not prepared to let it ride, however, no matter what Rosalynne’s innermost feelings were, and Miss Annersley was only waiting to see if Rosalynne would come to them of her own accord. If she did not, then the Head intended to force Rosalynne’s confidence. She freely admitted that it wasn’t something she wanted to do but she felt she had no choice for it was starting to affect Rosalynne’s health and her work. In the end, there was no need for her to force Rosalynne’s confidence for things rapidly came to a head.

Just before Break that morning, Rosalynne found herself summoned to the study, where she found Miss Annersley awaiting her, looking anything but pleased.

“Sit down Rosalynne,” she said gravely. Rosalynne obeyed wordlessly, wondering what had happened. “Now, I would like to know why two large cases arrived for you and your sister this morning. They appear to be from your guardians, who have enclosed a note, addressed to myself, to say that these are your belongings, as they stated in their letter to you. Now, whilst you might be new, I would hope that your common sense would tell you that if you wish to send for some of your belongings, you need to ask first. There is only a limited amount of space for each girl and we cannot allocate extra without good reason. Quite apart from anything else, there should be no need for you to have extra belongings – everything you need for the term is detailed on the uniform list and prospectus. It is one thing to request a book or two but quite another to request half your bedroom or such like!”

“I d-don’t understand,” Rosalynne stammered, when the Head came to a stop. “I-I haven’t asked for anything from them. I haven’t even heard from them!”

“Have you said anything to them in your letters that could have caused them to think you wanted your things?” the Head queried, her expression relaxing as she realised the girl was genuinely bewildered. Rosalynne shook her head. “Are you sure?”

“W-we haven’t written to them,” Rosalynne confessed, her cheeks very red. “They didn’t want us to – they said so!” she added defiantly.

The Head passed over Rosalynne’s defiance, although she was all the more determined to get to the bottom of things. Now, however, was not the time. At the moment, there were two cases standing in the entrance hall and since they couldn’t stay there indefinitely, they had better take priority. Besides, she reflected, it might be as well to find out exactly what was in the cases and see if that couldn’t answer a few questions.

“I-I suppose Mummy could have sent some things onto them and they might have just sent them on here,” Rosalynne volunteered.

“Well that might be a possible explanation,” the Head agreed. “Suppose you run along now and get your elevenses and then after Break, you had better go to Matron and unpack your case. I think we’ll leave Gwen’s until we know what you’ve been sent and why. You had better have someone to help you, I think. Who would you like?”

“Amy, please,” Rosalynne answered promptly.

“Very well. I will explain to whichever mistress is taking you why you won’t be present. And Rosalynne, if things aren’t are clear once you’ve unpacked, we had better contact your guardians and see what explanation they can offer. I’ll speak to them, if you would rather,” she added, catching Rosalynne’s change of expression. “Now, run along or you’ll miss out. I’ll see you a bit later on when, I hope, we’ll be able to get to the bottom of things!”

Author:  MaryR [ 02 Apr 2008, 16:08 ]
Post subject: 

Quote:
Remember your own advice, Mary!!

But I did, Catherine. Why else start a thread and ask for prayers? :wink:

Wondering what's in the case now.... poor Rosalynne.

Author:  leahbelle [ 02 Apr 2008, 17:02 ]
Post subject: 

Oh, dear. Poor Rosalynne.

Author:  Lesley [ 02 Apr 2008, 19:06 ]
Post subject: 

Has a letter gone astray or have they not written? Are the Guardians dumping them on the School?


Interesting - thanks Catherine. :lol:

Author:  Catherine [ 04 Apr 2008, 13:05 ]
Post subject: 

Rosalynne left the room and walked through the corridors to find the others and her elevenses, puzzling over the arrival of the cases but unable to think of an explanation for it. Amy had been keeping an eye out for her and was by her side before Rosalynne had even had a chance to work out where they were.

“What did the Head – or Heads -want with you?” she queried, as she linked her arm with Rosalynne’s and steered her through the crowds.

“Some cases have arrived for me and Gwen and Miss Annersley thought we’d sent for some of our stuff but we haven’t,” Rosalynne explained. “There was a note and it said something about the cases coming as they’d said in their letter. But I have no letter from them.”

“Perhaps it’s been delayed in the post?” Amy suggested. “The cases were probably sent off at about the same time and they’ve arrived first. Not that it explains why they’ve come.”

They had reached the rest by this time and once Rosalynne had been supplied with a seat and her elevenses, the rest wanted to know where she’d been.

“Give her a chance!” Amy protested. “She’s not had anything to eat or drink yet!”

“Well then you can tell us!” Mollie informed her. “Unless Rosalynne doesn’t want us to know?”

“It’s fine,” Rosalynne answered quickly. “I don’t mind.”

Amy promptly explained what had happened but the rest were as puzzled as Rosalynne as to why two cases should suddenly have arrived for her and Gwen. Rosalynne’s suggestion that they might have originally come from her mother was deemed to be the most likely explanation – until Amy and Rosalynne unpacked and discovered that Rosalynne’s case contained everything she had left behind at the home of Mr and Mrs Coslett.

“Now don’t jump to conclusions,” Matron said kindly, as Rosalynne’s anxiety increased. “The chances are your guardians assumed you would need more than what you brought with you and chose to send everything so that you could choose. Have a look through and if there’s anything you particularly want or need, you had better take it out. Otherwise, for the moment, I suggest you put everything back in the case. Once we know definitely, we’ll decide what’s to be done.”

There was nothing that Rosalynne wanted so Matron bade the pair repack the case, whilst she reported to Miss Annersley. That lady, after a moment or two’s thought, bade Matron send the pair back to lessons, deciding to wait and see what the following day’s post brought before making any calls. As she said to Matron, it was just possible that there was an innocent explanation, although privately she doubted it.

The following day brought with it the missing post and Rosalynne found it waiting for her when she checked the slab before, having had elevenses, they went outside.

“If you open it, you’ll find out who it’s from and what it says,” Mollie suggested practically, catching Rosalynne staring at the unfamiliar writing in the envelope and turning it over and back again, trying to pluck up the courage to open it. Rosalynne grimaced at her but she took her advice, giving a gasp of horror a moment or two later that made her the focus of all their attention. Mollie removed the letter from her grasp and read it aloud.
“Dear Rosalynne and Gwendolyn,
This a brief note to inform you that you will not be coming back here for your holidays. Mr Coslett and I are leaving and going to stay with our daughter in Cornwall. We are writing to the relevant authorities and have arranged for your belongings to be sent to you at school.
Regards
Mr and Mrs Coslett.”

Before Mollie had even finished the letter, Rosalynne was in tears and when the comfort offered by her friends, failed to stop them, Amy removed the letter from Mollie and slipped away to the study, where both Heads were taking their ease.

“What can we do for you?” Miss Annersley smiled, when Amy had bobbed her curtsey.

“Perhaps she just wants the pleasure of our company,” Miss Wilson observed. “Have you tired of your friends, Amy? Or are you just seeking more intellectual company? Or have you come to try to beat me at a game of chess?”

Amy, who, despite her concern for Rosalynne, had found her mind wandering back to the day she, too, had received unwelcome news, was brought firmly back to the present when these questions were hurled at her. Miss Wilson had noticed the rather sad expression and the questions had been asked deliberately, to distract her. She smiled rather smugly at her co-Head, as they saw Amy’s expression change, albeit to one of confusion.

“You’ve confused her now,” Miss Annersley remarked, shaking her head at Miss Wilson. “Amy, take no notice. Did you want one of us for something?”

“Rosalynne’s had this.” Amy held the note out and Miss Annersley took it from her, reading it through swiftly and passing it to her co-Head. “S-she’s a bit upset and we couldn’t do anything and I knew you’d want to know so I thought I should bring it to you. W-was it wrong?” Amy stammered nervously into the silence that followed, for it was heavy with disapproval.

“Not in the slightest!” Miss Annersley pulled herself together, swiftly reassuring the girl. “It was the right thing to do. Where is Rosalynne now?”

“I left them in the entrance hall.”

“I’ll find her and send her to you,” Miss Wilson remarked, getting to her feet and going to the door.

“Thank you. Amy, wait a moment!” Miss Annersley called Amy back as the girl turned to follow Miss Wilson from the room. Amy turned back and regarded her rather anxiously. “Stop looking so worried!” the Head protested, laughing. “You’ve done nothing wrong. I merely wanted to suggest that you join me this evening after you’ve seen your dormitory charges into bed. We haven’t seen very much of each other lately. And yes, I’m quite sure I want you, before you ask,” she ended teasingly, forestalling Amy’s next question.

“What about Rosalynne?” Amy asked instead. “I don’t mean I want her too – at least -,”

“It’s all right! I understand!” Miss Annersley laughed. “I’m sure one of the others could see to Rosalynne tonight, if she needs it. Leave it with me. At the moment, though, you had better run along or you’ll have no Break at all. I’ll see you later.” She bestowed another smile on the girl, who bobbed her curtsey and slipped out.

Author:  Lesley [ 04 Apr 2008, 14:46 ]
Post subject: 

Is it too nasty to hope Mr and Mrs Coslett's house gets destroyed by a bomb? Oh and their daughter's house too?

Unfeeling, nasty pieces of ****



Thank you Catherine - glad Rosalynne has Amy to help her, and the heads as advocates.

Author:  roversgirl [ 04 Apr 2008, 19:04 ]
Post subject: 

Just caught up on this - How horrible of them! Thanks for the updates :)

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 04 Apr 2008, 20:41 ]
Post subject: 

Poor Rosalynne and Gwen to find out in such a cold way but hopefully they'll live with someone nicer now

Author:  abbeybufo [ 04 Apr 2008, 20:45 ]
Post subject: 

Just found this and read right through from the beginning

Beautifully written - first part very moving and good to see Amy enjoying herself and developing so well in this section.

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Celia [ 06 Apr 2008, 21:53 ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Catherine, I've just got to read this last section.Amy is being so
sensible, but what a hard time Rosalynne and Gwen are having.
Looking forward to the next part.

Author:  Catherine [ 07 Apr 2008, 13:26 ]
Post subject: 

Sorry about this ... I kept deleting certain bits but then they kept reinserting themselves ... :oops: :oops:


A moment or two later, Mollie appeared with Rosalynne. The latter had demurred when Miss Wilson had come to send her to the study but that lady had taken no notice, merely asking Mollie to take her along, although Mollie had ended up more or less towing her along.

“Go on,” Mollie gave Rosalynne a gentle push through the door, shutting it firmly behind her and leaving Rosalynne, who had stopped crying when Miss Wilson had appeared, with no alternative but to face Miss Annersley.

“Rosalynne, you looked scared stiff,” Miss Annersley observed gently, coming round the desk. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

“Send us away!” Rosalynne whispered, looking frightened.

“I’m not going to do anything of the sort!” Miss Annersley responded firmly. “I realise that you and Gwen ended up here because of your evacuation and the closure of the original school you were to attend but the decision of your guardians doesn’t alter your right to a place here. It was your parents’ decision to send you here and nothing has changed that. Oh dear!” She broke off as Rosalynne’s tears returned full force and reaching forward, she gently pulled the girl into her arms.

“Nobody wants us!” Rosalynne sobbed, after a while. “I don’t even know how to tell Gwen!”

“Let me worry about Gwen; you’re not responsible for her,” the Head soothed. “Let’s just think about you for a bit and let me see how I can help. Come and sit down and talk to me.” She led Rosalynne over to the settee. “Fifteen and all the cares of the world on your shoulders,” she observed, with a sympathetic smile at the girl. “Suppose we see if we can chase a few of those cares away and leave you feeling happier? To start with, I don’t want you to think that Mr and Mrs Coslett made their decision because of you and Gwen. I suspect that they would have behaved in the same way, no matter who it they had staying. You see, many people who have large houses in the country are being forced to take in children from the cities because of the War and whilst most people will be welcoming and friendly, there are a few who aren’t because they, wrongly, blame the children for disrupting their lives. It’s far from ideal and the authorities do what they can but nobody can work miracles. So, I think perhaps it isn’t an altogether bad thing that Mr and Mrs Coslett have made this decision. I don’t suppose that they were any happier than you were, really. That doesn’t excuse their behaviour but it might help to explain it.”

“I-it was so lonely,” Rosalynne sobbed. “Gwen was happy so long as I was there but I was so frightened and I miss Mummy so much.”

“I know and I’m sure she misses you just as much,” the Head comforted. “Could you manage to tell me about it all, do you think?”

“I-I wet myself,” Rosalynne confessed, in an embarrassed whisper. “Th-they met us at the station b-but they weren’t very pleased because we had more bags than they thought we would and Gwen had had a bit of an accident and they said she was disgusting. W-when we got to the house, they showed us the room we would share. The toilet was outside and they didn’t have a bathroom so we just had to bathe downstairs. They wouldn’t let us have anything to eat until Gwen had changed and Mrs Coslett told me off for not making sure Gwen went in time and I-I was frightened and I wet myself in front of her. She got really angry and smacked me. I couldn’t help it! I’m sorry!”

“Oh Rosalynne!” The Head’s voice conveyed all her sympathy to the embarrassed girl. “I’m so sorry!”

“A-aren’t you cross?” Rosalynne asked, puzzled.

“Not with you or Gwen, no,” the Head answered. “These things happen when you’re frightened and miserable and I certainly wouldn’t dream of punishing anybody for it. You’ve no need to be embarrassed - you’re not the first girl to suffer in that way and it’s certainly not the first time I’ve had a girl tell me she has. I’m not embarrassed by you or disappointed in you and I don’t want you to be either. If you’d been welcomed and Gwen had met with understanding, then I’m certain it would never have happened. Did things get any better?”

“The first day was horrible but then they showed us where the village shops were and things and said we could do what we liked so long as we were back for mealtimes and didn’t disturb them at other times. We were out most of the time and we spent the evenings by ourselves in our room.”

“How long were you there before you came here?” Miss Annersley inquired.

“About six weeks.”

“And did things get any better when they learnt you were coming here?”

“Th-they didn’t agree with it. They said spending money on education was only for snobs but since it was Mummy’s decision, they couldn’t do anything about it. B-but they w-wouldn’t help and left me to get all the uniform because they said I was old enough but I’m not because I messed it up! A-and then when it was the day to come here, they didn’t really speak to us and they just dropped us at the end of the avenue and it was so cold and wet and then everyone seemed to know each other and we were just on our own. But then Amy came and, I don’t know how, but she made it so much better and she’s been so kind!”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Miss Annersley replied. “I think you’ve done her some good as well. You seem to be settling down well – your marks are good and I know you’ve made friends with quite a few of your form. The Juniors seem to like you as well – although we could have done without their craze for dried flowers!” She laughed but Rosalynne suddenly broke down completely at this point and the Head, recognising it was several weeks’ worth of unhappiness, held her tightly and let her cry, soothing her with gentle remarks now and again. Inwardly, she was consumed with disgust and fury over the way the Cosletts had behaved but at the moment, Rosalynne needed all the reassurance and comfort she could give. Eventually, the tears died away and Miss Annersley took her along to her bathroom, leaving her to freshen up whilst she ordered some coffee.

She was busy with her correspondence when the girl returned and it wasn’t until Rosalynne gave an involuntary shiver that she looked up.

“Sorry, Rosalynne! I’m afraid my correspondence never gets any less – quite the opposite in fact! There are days when Miss Wilson and I seem to spend all our time answering letters!” she laughed. “Come along and sit down! I should think you could do with a cup of coffee by now.”

“W-what if they change their mind? I-I don’t want to go back to them – o-or to anyone. I-I’d rather just stay here, even if it means being by ourselves.” The words tumbled out in a rush and it took the Head a moment to make sense of them.

“Rosalynne, you have no need to be frightened. Even if the Cosletts do change their minds - and I consider that highly unlikely - we won’t allow you to go back to them. Miss Wilson and I will talk to the authorities and see what we can come up with for you but wherever you end up going, we will make sure you’re completely happy. Pull your skirt down, by the way – it’s all caught up.”

She glanced at Rosalynne’s skirt which was tucked up and Rosalynne burst into tears again, her cheeks burning red with embarrassment. Miss Annersley moved over to her and pulled the skirt free, putting her arms round Rosalynne once more.

“Rosalynne, I’ve been teaching for quite some years now and I’ve seen all sorts of things; there’s no need to be embarrassed,” she said gently. “I would like to know why you’re not wearing school knickers, however. I know they’re not pretty but they are practical and hard wearing; Matron often does spot uniform checks and I’m sure you would rather be spared that embarrassment!”

Matron had no scruples and would simply remove the offending article in full view of the rest of the dormitory, before standing over the girl whilst she put on school knickers. Moreover, at regular intervals over the next few weeks, Matron would appear at the end of dormitory work and check that everyone in the dormitory was wearing the correct uniform. More than one person’s dignity was wounded when this happened and the offender was far from popular for quite some time so it was rare that a girl tried it more than once.

During her first terms at the school, Lavender Leigh had tried it more than once but had vowed never to do it again after Matron, seeing no other help for it, had arrived in her dormitory every day for a week, and treated her like an infant, dressing her herself. Now, she was amongst the first to warn new girls about it, much to the amusement of her peers.

“I haven’t got enough,” Rosalynne sobbed now. “I told you I’d messed it up! I didn’t know how much things cost and I thought they’d be washed more than other things but I still didn’t get enough! I know what Matron does a-and I don’t want it to happen to me b-but I don’t know what to do!”

“Matron may be strict, Rosalynne, but if she had found out and you’d explained, she would have understood,” the Head said gently. “We all would. Deliberate disobedience is one thing but this is quite another! I’ll speak to Matron and ask her to go through your uniform – and Gwen’s too. She’ll order what you’re missing and help you out with anything else you might need.”

“But I don’t know if there’s enough money left,” Rosalynne sobbed. “I-I’ve still got what’s left b-but there wasn’t time to go back and get more things because the Cosletts were picking us up!”

“Let me have what’s left and we’ll sort something out if there’s not enough,” the Head answered. “If there’s anything you think you may need then ask Matron or come to me. There’s no need to be embarrassed about anything – as I said, I’ve been teaching for quite some years and I’ve seen and heard all sorts of things. That goes for Matron and Miss Wilson as well. Some of the mistresses may not have had quite as much experience but nobody will laugh at you or think you strange if you go to them for help. You haven’t got your parents here to help you so we expect you to come to us if you’re having difficulties or worried about anything.”

“W-when can I see Mummy again please?”

“I don’t know, darling. I expect she’ll want to see you and Gwen for herself when she finds out what has happened – yes, she’ll have to know and I should imagine she’ll want to know. Once we find out what the situation is, we’ll try and arrange a weekend for her to come and visit you. In the meantime, as I said, I’m here if you want me.”

“I didn’t think anyone would hug me again till I saw Mummy again!”

“Well, there’s plenty more where they come from, if you want them!” the Head laughed. “Dry your eyes and come and have your coffee before it gets cold.”

Rosalynne wasn’t fit for anything other than bed once she’d drunk her coffee, which is no more than the Head had expected. She took the girl up to Matron and explained everything fully to her. Rosalynne was both relieved and surprised to find Matron very understanding.

“I had started to notice you seemed to be lacking one or two things,” she admitted. “Never mind! Now that I know, we’ll soon have you kitted out properly! Never be afraid to come to me if you need something or run out of something, Rosalynne. I won’t have carelessness or deliberate disobedience but I do understand that sometimes things happen unexpectedly and there’s nothing you can tell me that I haven’t seen or heard a hundred times before! Now, say goodbye to Miss Annersley for the time being. You’ll feel better for a nap.”

“I’ll pop up and see you later, Rosalynne,” Miss Annersley smiled, giving her a quick hug. “Don’t worry about anything anymore; it’s in my hands now.” She bent and kissed the girl and then sent her off with Matron, returning to her study where Miss Wilson, duly warned by Miss Dene, was waiting for her, with a hot cup of coffee and a sympathetic ear.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 07 Apr 2008, 14:08 ]
Post subject: 

Poor Rosalynne. That's been a terrible burden for her to carry. And I can completely understand why she would find Matey intimadating. Hope she gets to see her mother soon

Author:  roversgirl [ 07 Apr 2008, 14:14 ]
Post subject: 

Poor Rosalynne, I hope things improve for them now. Thanks for the update :)

Author:  abbeybufo [ 07 Apr 2008, 15:38 ]
Post subject: 

Catherine wrote:
“I didn’t think anyone would hug me again till I saw Mummy again!”
“Well, there’s plenty more where they come from, if you want them!” the Head laughed.


Oh lovely Miss Annersley!

Thanks Catherine

Author:  Lesley [ 07 Apr 2008, 18:28 ]
Post subject: 

Catherine - please, please, please let Miss Annersley have a quiet word or two with the Cosletts about their treatment of the two girls? *Pleading smiley*


Thanks you BTW. :wink:

Author:  Lisa_T [ 07 Apr 2008, 19:53 ]
Post subject: 

Kinda but not quite caught up on this, Catherine. I like. ... although I do notice a certain resemblance to Growing Pains, which I re-read last night! :lol: I hope this one will also be posted to the SDL when it is finished to facilitate easy downloading. :wink:

I also agree with Lesley that I'd like to see Miss A take on the Cosletts! :lol:

...and best of all, I can nag too.

*starts nagging for more*

Author:  MaryR [ 08 Apr 2008, 14:49 ]
Post subject: 

Good to see Hilda so understanding. :D

Thanks, Catherine

Author:  Billie [ 09 Apr 2008, 11:35 ]
Post subject: 

Lovely to see some more updates. Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Kathy_S [ 10 Apr 2008, 03:43 ]
Post subject: 

Well done, Hilda!

*:poke: Cosletts*
*hugs Rosalynne*

Author:  Celia [ 11 Apr 2008, 23:18 ]
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Thanks Catherine, Rosalynne should feel comforted by Hilda's understanding.Hopefully she will soon be in touch with her mother. :?:

Author:  Catherine [ 01 May 2008, 16:55 ]
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Thanks for all the comments ...

“Ignorant elephants!” Nell snorted, when she had heard all her co-Head had to say. “Buffoons! Toads! Snakes!”

“Do you intend on naming every animal that ever existed?” Hilda inquired, interrupting her. “Either way, you’re being remarkably restrained!”

“That’s for your benefit!” Nell retorted. "Who, under the sun, was ignorant and stupid enough to think those two – two monstrous nitwits – were capable of caring for those two girls?! I feel very sorry for their daughter and any other children there might be of theirs, if that’s the treatment they hand out! Could they not see how frightened they were?! Two young girls, away from home for the first time and just off a train that was no doubt overcrowded and delayed! Thank God they came here – perhaps we can start to put right some of the damage they’ve done!”

“Unfortunately, the one thing they need above all at the moment, is something we can’t give them –or not immediately, anyway,” Hilda sighed. “And that creates another problem!”

“Ye-es,” Nell agreed, following this train of thought. “Their mother is the only one who can reassure them and comfort them properly. I suspect Rosalynne feels she’s let Gwen down and she’s obviously very embarrassed over her own accident. I agree that at fifteen, she’s too old for that to be happening but given the circumstances, I’m not surprised it happened and smacking her for it was just making it worse. If they’d not stood, shouting at Rosalynne over something that couldn’t be helped and been kind over Gwen and thought that perhaps the first thing they’d both like to do was to wash etc. it would never have happened. And Gwen herself is just a little girl!”

“Rosalynne took on the role of mother to her but got none of the mothering she needed,” Hilda replied. “Well, recriminations aren’t going to help. With Matron’s help, Gwen and Rosalynne can have their full complement of uniform, which will ease one of Rosalynne’s worries at least. I hope that with time and plenty of reassurance, Rosalynne will put all this behind her. I’ll ask Dollie Edwards to talk to Gwen – I see very little of that crowd. Gwen is young enough to forget all about it and I think, so long as Rosalynne is around, she will be quite accepting of whatever happens next.”

“What will happen next?” Nell demanded.

“We will be consulting a Lady,” Hilda returned sweetly, as she rose to her feet to seek Dollie Edwards, a glance at the timetable revealing that she was free just then.

“A lady? What on earth are you talking about?” Nell demanded. She got nothing more than an answering chuckle, however as Hilda left the room. “Aggravating woman!” Nell muttered to herself. “Oh well! I shall just have to possess my soul in patience until she decides to tell me!”


It was with a mixture of concern and amusement that various staff members watched several Juniors form a ring round Amy at the end of lunch.

“What’s going on?” Amy demanded, eyeing them suspiciously.

“Gwen wants to know where Rosalynne is an’ we want to know for Gwen,” Vi informed her. “Please,” she added, with a belated remembrance of her manners.

“She’s gone to bed with a headache,” Amy answered, guessing this likely to be true.

“Another headache,” Gwen sighed. “Why does she keep getting headaches?”

“It’s because she spends so much time worrying about you,” Amy replied. “She knows how naughty you are and how naughty your friends are and she’s always worrying you’ll get into trouble.” Her eyes were twinkling with mischief and she began to laugh as howls of outrage greeted her remarks. “You are naughty,” she insisted. “You take forever to get ready in the morning and you’re always in places you shouldn’t be! Like now! You should be going to your common room to rest but you’re still standing here! You’re breaking the rules and what’s more, you’re making me break them too!”

“We only wanted to know about Rosalynne,” Vi protested, sounding hard done-by.

“Well, Amy’s told you what you wanted to know,” Beth Chester intervened. “And next time you want to know something, wait until the proper time to ask! Now scram!”

“Beth’s much nicer in the holidays,” Vi murmured, more to herself than anyone else, as the little girls walked away.

“Behave yourself and you’ll find me perfectly pleasant!” Beth called after her, with a chuckle. “Imp!” she remarked to Amy, with a grin. “Has Rosalynne managed to tell the Heads what happened?”

“She had a letter this morning and it upset her,” Amy explained.

“Probably for the best in the long run if it means they get some help,” Beth commented. “But you and I had better go before we’re accused of setting a bad example!”


The staff meanwhile, seeing that Amy and Beth were quite capable of dealing with Juniors, congregated in the staffroom for coffee and the two Heads joined them, giving them a succinct account of what had happened. The room rang with their comments until eventually, Mary Burnett, mindful of her position as Rosalynne’s form mistress, asked after the girl.

“She’s badly upset over the treatment they received and scared over what will happen to them next,” Hilda replied. “She’s also quite embarrassed and anxious over not having all the uniform required. Matey is to go through all of that with her and will also see to Gwen’s uniform so that will resolve that. I will explain what has happened to the girls and ask them not to question either of them. Dollie has said she will talk to Gwen this afternoon but neither she nor I anticipate any problems.” She glanced at Miss Edwards, Head of the Junior School.

“Gwen’s happy-go-lucky – so long as she has Rosalynne in the background, I think she’ll take it all in her stride,” that lady confirmed. “She’s too young to understand the implications – I should think she’ll be more relieved that they’re rid of those Cosletts than anything else! Hopefully, Rosalynne will be able to see the positive side of it, in time – so long as it’s not a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire!” she added, as an afterthought.

“Mother’s little comforter!” Hilary Burn grimaced at her. “All the same – is there anything we can do to help ensure that whoever does take over guardianship is suitable?” She looked at the two Heads.

“That is something I shall insist upon when I speak to the authorities,” Hilda returned grimly. “I won’t have those two subjected to the same or similar treatment again!”

“I do rather wonder whether they’ll do anything at all,” Nell observed. “After all, the girls are at a boarding school for most of the year and the authorities may make it rather difficult for us to do anything other than provide for them in the holidays.”

“Yes, I’d got that far myself,” Hilda agreed. “It would certainly be a better option than going somewhere they’re clearly not wanted but it would mean somebody having to stay during the holidays. However, we’ll deal with that if and when it arises. In the meantime, I have no idea when Rosalynne will return to lessons but keep an eye on her when she does – it’s been quite a strain for her and I’d rather she didn’t have any further problems to face for the moment.”

“What are you going to do?” Hilary Burn asked curiously.

“Nell asked me the same question and I shall give you the same answer I gave her,” Hilda returned sweetly. “I shall consult a lady!”

“A lady?” Hilary Burn echoed. “But what are we then?”

“Well you’re certainly not ladies, whatever else you may be!” Nell snorted, as she followed her co-Head out the room, shutting the door with a chuckle for the outraged comments being shouted after her.

Author:  leahbelle [ 01 May 2008, 17:22 ]
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Thanks for the update, Catherine!

Author:  abbeybufo [ 01 May 2008, 17:58 ]
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Thanks Catherine - pleased to see an update - this is most enjoyable :D

Author:  MaryR [ 01 May 2008, 19:43 ]
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You're being very mysterious, Hilda. :lol:

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Lesley [ 01 May 2008, 20:13 ]
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Lovely to see more of this - thanks Catherine.

Author:  Lisa_T [ 01 May 2008, 20:41 ]
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Quote:
“Well you’re certainly not ladies, whatever else you may be!” Nell snorted, as she followed her co-Head out the room, shutting the door with a chuckle for the outraged comments being shouted after her.


Love this bit! LOLOL!

Lady Russell?

Author:  Celia [ 01 May 2008, 20:59 ]
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I loved the " Well you're certainly not ladies..." bit too, and how confident Amy was when surrounded by Vi and her gang.
Thank you Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 02 May 2008, 14:29 ]
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You'll have to wait and see, Lisa! :twisted:

Miss Edwards took Gwen off by herself for the first lesson that afternoon and setting the child on her knee, gently broke the news to her.

“Is it cos of me?” Gwen asked. “You see I had a ‘ccident on the train and they didn’t like me cos I was dirty an’ then Rosalynne had a ‘ccident too cos they were angry with her. An’ so it was my fault cos if I’d been clean they would have liked us and Ros would have been OK. I know it was naughty but there was lots of people on the train an’ then it was too late an’ I never told Ros till she found out!”

“No, Gwen, it wasn’t your fault,” Miss Edwards said quickly. “You should have told Rosalynne you needed to be excused and she would have looked after you – it was very silly of you to wait until it was too late. Mr and Mrs Coslett were really cross because they didn’t want children to live with them but they knew that their house would be taken from them if they didn’t have them. You see, they have quite a large house and the people in charge of the war in Britain need big houses for their work. Mr and Mrs Coslett were wrong to be so cross with you and Rosalynne - it wasn’t your fault you had to go to live with them and they should have looked after you both much better. It wasn’t your fault or Rosalynne’s and you mustn’t be miserable about it.”

“Oh but I’m not!” Gwen interrupted. “I was only a bit worried cos I thought it might be my fault but actually I’m glad we’re not going to be there anymore. Only I don’t know where we will go cos Ros says that we can’t go home to Mummy till the war ends an’ that might be a long time and I know that Ros will look after me cos she’s good at that but she can’t make us a house. I wish she could though. It would be ‘citing to be in a house all by ourselves an’ we could do lots of cooking and play lots of games and go to bed whenever we wanted!”

Miss Edwards laughed. “I’m not sure Rosalynne would think it such a good idea! But she’s told Miss Annersley all about it and Miss Annersley has promised to help you both find somewhere else to live with people who will look after you and be kind to you.”

“I’ll help her!” Gwen announced excitedly.

“How?” Miss Edwards asked, with a deep sense of foreboding.

“I haven’t quite decided yet cos I need to think about it quite hard,” Gwen said seriously. “But you mustn’t tell Rosalynne cos it’s going to be a surprise for her and then she doesn’t have to worry anymore. Is that why she’s gone to bed?” she added, with a sudden frown. “Amy said that she was in bed cos she had a headache and that it’s cos she was worrying all the time in case I was naughty – except I think she was being silly and teasing us! I like Amy! She’s nice and kind and it’s good that she’s Rosalynne’s friend.”

“That’s good!” Miss Edwards answered promptly. “Amy was right – Rosalynne has gone to bed with a headache and she might be in the San for two or three days because she’s been very worried about everything and it hasn’t made her very well. There’s no need to worry about her though – Matron and Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson are looking after her and so are her friends.”

“That’s OK then. I think I should go back to my lessons now though cos I want to be with the others. Can I tell them?”

“May you tell them?” Miss Edwards corrected. “Yes, you may tell the others but you must only talk about it between yourselves. You mustn’t talk about it to any of the big girls – unless it is to Amy or Mollie or Roswitha. Come along and you shall all promise me that.” Gwen scrambled down off her knee and they returned to Gwen’s formroom, where Miss Edwards simply told the rest that Gwen had a secret she wanted to share and then extracted the required promise from them all.


“How did it go?” Hilda Annersley looked up with a smile, as Dollie Edwards appeared in the study.

“Very well, taken by and large, I think,” Dollie replied. “She was a little worried it might all have been her fault due to the accident she had but I’ve reassured her on that point and told her it was silly of her to wait until it was too late. Whilst I wouldn’t want her to think anyone’s cross over it, I don’t want her to think it was perfectly all right for it to happen, otherwise we’d have a lovely time of it!”

“It doesn’t bear thinking about!” Hilda returned, laughing.

“It certainly doesn’t!” Dollie agreed. “Anyway, I’ve reassured her on that point and explained that the Cosletts main reason for being cross was that they didn’t want any children at all but knew they had to or they’d have lost their house. She understands you’re going to help find them somewhere else, although she would prefer it if Rosalynne could just build a house for the two of them!” She paused to laugh and the Head joined in. “And,” Dollie went on, her eyes dancing with mischief, “she has announced her intention of helping you find somewhere for them!”
Hilda broke into a peal of laughter. “How does she propose to do that? Do you know?”

“She told me she hadn’t decided yet because she needs to think about it quite hard! Her words not mine!” Dollie laughed. “It’s to be a surprise for Rosalynne apparently, so she doesn’t have to worry anymore! I’ve let her tell the others though – made them promise to keep it between them unless they talk to Amy, Mollie or Roswitha – so I think you may find yourself bombarded with their ideas! I’ll try to stop them -,”

“Don’t worry about it,” Hilda returned laughing. “I’m quite willing to be entertained! If they can get some fun out of this sad affair then who are we to stop them?! Besides, it will be good for their imaginations, to say nothing of the interest it will give us! I should like to see their ideas of what makes a good home.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” her colleague admitted.

“Then think of it now. Sometimes mischief, idle chatter and imaginative ideas can reveal more about a child than any amount of serious talking. By the way, you didn’t happen to discover just what it was Amy said to that crowd earlier, did you?”

“They wanted to know where Rosalynne was. Amy told them she’d gone to bed with a headache because she was forever worrying that Gwen might get into mischief!”

“I don’t think I need to ask how they received that comment!” Hilda laughed. “Well, I’m very glad to know that Gwen is quite happy with the news, but please keep an eye on her. If there is to be a fall out from this news, I’d rather we were the ones to deal with it, not Rosalynne.”

“Of course!” Recognising she was being dismissed, Dollie Edwards rose to her feet. “I’ll see you later.”

Author:  abbeybufo [ 02 May 2008, 14:35 ]
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Thanks Catherine - this is lovely :D

Author:  Celia [ 02 May 2008, 14:51 ]
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I'm glad Gwen and co. have something entertaining to think about. I'm
sure Hilda will be happy to hear what they decide!

Thanks Catherine, I'm really enjoying this.

Author:  Lesley [ 02 May 2008, 17:26 ]
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Dollie was lovely there! Such a pity she was left behind when they went to Switzerland.


Thanks Catherine :lol:

Author:  Catherine [ 23 May 2008, 16:21 ]
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“May I come in?” Amy peered round the door of the room Rosalynne was in, later that afternoon.

“Amy!” Rosalynne exclaimed, in surprise, turning round from where she had been gazing out of the window. “What are you doing here?”

“Matron sent me. She told me to come and have tea with you,” Amy explained, with a grin for her friend’s startled expression. “I’m quite glad actually! It means I get to escape your young sister and her friends!”

“Why? What have they been doing now?” Rosalynne asked, a spark of interest in her eyes.

“Nothing much – just ganging up round me after lunch and not letting me go until I told them where you were and why!”

“Oh!” Rosalynne suddenly looked wary. “What did you say to them?”

“That you spent so much time worrying over whether Gwen is making mischief or not that you’ve ended up in bed with a headache!” Amy returned, with a giggle that was echoed by Rosalynne.

“What did they all say to that?” Rosalynne asked, giggling.

“Not very much – just did their usual thing of yelling indignantly at me. Beth was around though and chased them away before they could do anything else!”

Giggling, Amy repeated Vi’s remark about Beth and Rosalynne giggled again but was prevented from replying by the arrival of one of the maids with their meal. Amy jumped up to pull a table across and once the maid had gone, proceeded to officiate.

“I think I’ve been a bit selfish,” Rosalynne said suddenly, as she watched Amy. “I’ve been getting upset and worrying about where to spend the holidays until the war is over but you -,”

“I have to get used to a different life, that’s all,” Amy returned quickly. “It’s still a bit strange at times but I’ll get used to it eventually, I suppose. It doesn’t mean that nobody else has the right to be upset – if something’s upsetting you then it’s important to sort it out. What did the Head say to you?”

“I-I went to the bathroom and when I came back, I had my skirt tucked up in my knickers and they weren’t school knickers,” Rosalynne confessed. “She saw them.”

“Well if you’d been looked after properly by the Cosletts, you’d have had the correct amount of uniform,” Amy pointed out. “And it’s not like you’re the first person ever to wander round with their skirt tucked in their knickers! I remember in my first term, one of the Prefects wandered in to lunch with her skirt tucked up and she didn’t realise until one of her friends pulled it down for her! And last term, Joy Bird managed to upset a bowl of tomato soup all over herself and Matey made her take her dress off there and then so she could rush it to the laundry. At least it was just you and the Head! She won’t tell anyone!”

“I-I told her something else too.” Embarrassment showing on her face, Rosalynne told Amy what had happened on arrival the Cosletts. “I-I thought she would be cross.”

“I don’t see why,” Amy said thoughtfully. “If you’d done it deliberately then you’d have known that you deserved having the Cosletts telling you off – though they shouldn’t have smacked you – and you’d never have told her. And even if you had or she did think it was your own fault, it happened before she met you and she can hardly punish you for something like that, that happened weeks before she ever met you! You’d just come from a long journey on a crowded train and it’s not like you meant it to happen! Forget about it – there’s not much use in going over and over it, you can’t change it and if the Cosletts had been decent, it wouldn’t have happened, so it was really their fault! Miss Annersley won’t tell anyone or mention it again unless you do. By the way, did you tell her about your uniform?”

“Yes. She told Matron and she said she would help sort it out. I’ve got to give the Head the money that was left and she said she would sort it. I just wish I knew what was going to happen.”

“I can tell you one thing that’ll happen – we’ll have Matey on our backs wanting to know why we haven’t eaten anything!” Amy pointed out. “The Head’ll make sure whoever takes you on will look after you properly and she’ll keep a check on things so it’s no use worrying over it! There’s nothing you can do and you’ll just have to trust that she knows what she’s doing. Now, stop nattering and eat – I’ve got to go and get changed before too long – and face your sister and her pesky friends!”


Whilst Amy and Rosalynne were enjoying their meal, the two Heads were entertaining a visitor, who had arrived full of questions.

“Well, Hilda, here I am! What do you want with me so urgently?” she demanded as she divested herself of her outer garments. “I can see the place isn’t burning down so what is it? Is the entire staff about to desert us? Or is it an epidemic of the worst kind? There hasn’t been anymore bad news from abroad has there?” She looked suddenly anxious, thinking of Amy and of the Continental girls the School had had to leave behind when it moved out of Austria.

“For someone who’s supposed to be a ‘lady’ you’re not exactly polite, calm and dignified,” Nell remarked.

“I’m Lady Russell by default, nothing else, as well you know, Nell Wilson!” Madge retorted. “But if you think I’m wasting my nice manners on you two, you’re very much mistaken!”

“I really don’t think we should stand for such treatment, do you, Hilda?” Nell turned to her co-Head. “After all, they’re crying out for teachers all over the place so it’s not as though we’d be short of jobs!”

“I can quite understand her subjecting you to such treatment but I fail to see why I should be subjected to it as well – particularly since I had yet to speak,” Hilda remarked. “Madge, where has your common sense gone? Is it really likely we should invite you here if we were in the midst of a raging epidemic?!”

“No, I suppose not,” Madge admitted. “I was just thinking of all the possible reasons you could have for such an urgent summons! Everything is all right, isn’t it?”

“Well, there has been news, although not of the sort you are thinking,” Hilda replied. “I’m not sure if you would call it good news or bad news, I suspect it very much depends on your perspective. However, sit down and get started on your tea, otherwise Megan will have something to say!”

“At least tell me who or what it concerns,” Madge pleaded.

“Two of our new girls – Rosalynne and Gwen Jones,” Hilda answered. “I’m not saying another word, mind, until we’ve eaten! At least let us get the messy business out of the way first!”

“And that’s how she refers to this sumptuous feast!” Nell sighed. “Somehow all the pleasure has gone out of it for me now.”

“Eat and stop talking nonsense!” was all Hilda vouchsafed.

Author:  Billie [ 23 May 2008, 18:04 ]
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I enjoyed the banter between Madge and the staff here. Thanks Catherine.

Author:  Lesley [ 23 May 2008, 18:13 ]
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Love Nell's point about everywhere crying out for teachers - note Madge took no notice of it! :lol:


Thanks Catherine

Author:  Celia [ 23 May 2008, 18:54 ]
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Thanks for the update Catherine .

Interesting that Madge was all set to deal with a major incident. Looking forward to hearing what she will suggest for the girls.

Megan provides 'sumptious feasts ' too ? :D

Author:  roversgirl [ 23 May 2008, 19:50 ]
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I also really loved the banter between madger and the Heads and Amy is lovely here. Thanks :)

Author:  MaryR [ 23 May 2008, 22:09 ]
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Thank you, Catherine. :D

Author:  abbeybufo [ 23 May 2008, 22:38 ]
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Thanks Catherine - really enjoying this :D

Author:  Lisa_T [ 23 May 2008, 23:49 ]
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Quote:
Joy Bird managed to upset a bowl of tomato soup all over herself and Matey made her take her dress off there and then so she could rush it to the laundry.


Golly. Would that be allowed?! :shock: :shock: :shock:

Lovely staff interlude in particular there, Catherine. Love the snarking between Nell and Madge. :lol: :lol:

Author:  Kathy_S [ 24 May 2008, 02:45 ]
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Lisa_T wrote:
Quote:
Joy Bird managed to upset a bowl of tomato soup all over herself and Matey made her take her dress off there and then so she could rush it to the laundry.


Golly. Would that be allowed?! :shock: :shock: :shock:
:

It doesn't seem likely just for the laundry, but given the clinginess of tomato soup, quick action could have prevented an awful scald.

Amy is doing an excellent job here, isn't she.

Amusing prelude with Madge & the heads. :)

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 26 May 2008, 13:28 ]
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Thanks Catherine. It's lovely to read so many updates in one hit. Hope Madge can help

Author:  di [ 12 Jul 2008, 12:30 ]
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Having read this in one sitting all I can say is -WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SOME MORE? Seriously though I'm really enjoying the glimpse in to war time Britain and the ups and downs of the school and the evacuees. I hadn't really thought about it before but I should imagine more than one of the girls had to live away from their parents during holiday times. No wonder the Russells and Maynards were always overflowing with pupils!!
Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Catherine [ 06 Aug 2008, 14:52 ]
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Sorry it's been so long ... I'm useless!


Once the meal was over and crockery etc. had been removed, the three settled themselves comfortably and Hilda unfolded Rosalynne’s tale to Madge and enlisted her help.

“I may possibly have an idea for the long term but it might prove problematic in the short term,” Madge said, somewhat mysteriously.

“What on earth do you mean by that?” Nell demanded.

“Well, Mrs Whiteley was telling me that her daughter is moving to this area some time in the near future. She is to start teaching at Armiford First School after Christmas and she and her husband have bought a house nearby. Her husband has just completed his dental training and will be posted to one or other of the forces from January. Some of the dentists round and about are either on the verge of retiring or should have retired long since but have remained due to the war situation so the intention is that he will practise here when – if – peace comes. Anyway, the Whiteleys are worried that the daughter will be rather lonely and worry about her husband, to say nothing of rattling around the house, which I gather is fairly large. She’ll be occupied during term time quite nicely but Mrs Whiteley was asking if I knew of any charities or such that required help in school holidays or of anyone that might want lodgings. Taking on two girls may be just the thing for her but obviously, I can’t make any promises until I’ve spoken to the Whiteleys and from what you say, they’d all need to meet before anything could go ahead. And the problem of the Christmas Holidays would still exist. I know half term isn’t such a problem.”

“It certainly sounds like a solution,” Hilda said thoughtfully. “I think perhaps the best plan would be to contact the authorities and ensure they are aware of the situation. With their agreement, we’ll go forward with your suggestion, Madge and see if something can be arranged that way.”

“Why don’t you contact the authorities now?” Nell suggested. “I don’t suppose they’re ever ‘off-duty’ as it were. There’s certain to be somebody there. I’m only surprised nobody has got in touch with us to make us aware of the situation!”

“Rosalynne only found out this morning,” Madge pointed out. “I should imagine the Cosletts will have posted her letter first and will only notify the authorities once they are well away and in no danger of being forced to return. Even if the authorities do know, I expect they’re very busy and it’s a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘now’ and like us, they may want to have other arrangements in place – or the suggestion of them – before contact is made. I would suggest you wait until the morning to apprise them of matters and in the meantime, I’ll discuss matters with the Whiteleys. Don’t build your hopes up though – they may have found an alternative arrangement and I have no idea what the daughter herself thinks!”

“Very well,” Hilda agreed. “I shall let the authorities know in the morning and ask if they could wait two or three days before making a decision on the girls’ future. That ought to be enough time for the Whiteleys to make their decision.”

“It will have to be!” Nell interjected firmly. “Quite apart from Rosalynne’s state of mind, were she to be left wondering, the sooner the authorities know whether to allocate them somewhere else, the better. And the sooner we know, as well! There is still the possibility that they may insist we keep the girls. After all, the building isn’t used particularly in the holidays. And then, the girls’ mother must be told – I only hope the Cosletts didn’t take it into their heads to write to her as well!”

“May I use the phone?” Madge jumped up. “I’ll call the Whiteleys now and see if we can’t get something sorted out. From what you’ve said about the Cosletts, it’s quite likely they’ll have written to Mrs Jones, if only to express their imagined disappointment over her girls. Why they ever decided to take children in, I cannot imagine. They obviously aren’t particularly attached to their house if they are selling up so quickly!”

“We can only be glad that the girls came here,” Hilda replied quietly. “I think this will all turn out to be for the best, although I deplore the way in which it’s been done.”

“Hear hear,” Nell murmured.


The Whiteleys leapt at Madge’s suggestion and their daughter proved to be equally enthusiastic and at a meeting a few days later, Rosalynne and Gwen took to her at once. Lizzy, as she told them to call her, was distinctly amused when Gwen appeared in the study with a long line of girls behind her.

“What are you all doing here, girls?” Miss Annersley queried, surveying them in astonishment.

“We’ve come to meet Gwen’s maybe new guardian,” Vi informed her. “You see, we’ve heard all about what happened with those people and it’s important for us to check the new person cos then we can help Gwen decide what to do.”

“Gwen’s new, you see, so it’s ‘portant that we look after her,” Doris Hill chimed in. “We’ve brought all our pictures along an’ so the new person can tell us all ‘bout her house and maybe we’ll like her an’ let Gwen stay with her!”

“Where’s Amy?” Vi turned a stern look on Rosalynne. “Amy’s your friend and she should be here too!”

“Amy is busy doing prep, which is exactly where you people should be,” Miss Annersley cut in sternly. “I’m very glad to hear that you want to look after Gwen but that is no reason to miss prep.”

“If Gwen and I like each other, I should be very glad to see your pictures another time,” Lizzy put in, by way of smoothing things over. “Just now though, I’d really like to talk to Gwen and Rosalynne by themselves so we can get to know each other properly.”

“I said for you not to come!” Gwen muttered crossly to Vi.

“Off you go, please, girls!” Miss Annersley intervened before Vi could utter a retort and thus start an argument. “Gwen will see you later and I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it then.”

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 06 Aug 2008, 15:45 ]
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What charming children, to protect their friend! But I don't suppose Miss Annersley will be best pleased with them, all the same.

Thank you so much for this - I was hoping this would soon be back.

Author:  Chelsea [ 06 Aug 2008, 15:46 ]
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Ahhh - how sweet are Vi et. al.? And Lizzie seems lovely as well.

Thanks for the update - I'm greatly enjoying this story.

Author:  abbeybufo [ 06 Aug 2008, 19:28 ]
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Thanks Catherine - this gets better & better :D

Author:  Lesley [ 06 Aug 2008, 20:51 ]
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Nice to see Vi and the others trying to protect their friend. :lol:


Thanks Catherine

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 07 Aug 2008, 13:56 ]
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:lol: :lol: :lol: That was so lovely of Vi, Doris and co

Author:  Ruth B [ 07 Aug 2008, 14:33 ]
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Just caught up on this and am loving it! Small Vi et all are incredibly sweet.

Author:  MaryR [ 07 Aug 2008, 19:33 ]
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How lovely that Gwen and Rosalynne have somewhere to go that is going to be infinitely better than where they were.

Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  di [ 08 Aug 2008, 12:33 ]
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Just caught up with this latest. Love the way Gwen's friends come to 'vet' the prospective guardians.
Thanks, Catherine.

Author:  Cazo3788 [ 08 Aug 2008, 12:42 ]
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Lovely! Can't wait for more :)

Author:  leahbelle [ 08 Aug 2008, 16:52 ]
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Thanks, Catherine!

Author:  JellySheep [ 08 Aug 2008, 17:41 ]
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I've just found the Amy series in the last day or two and have been glued to it. It has a lovely combination of serious and humorous. Looking forward to its continuation...

Author:  Cazo3788 [ 09 Sep 2008, 14:28 ]
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It's been more than a month! *hinting that more would be welcome*

Author:  carrie [ 27 Sep 2008, 10:26 ]
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omg, this is amazing, i bloody love it!

Author:  Josie [ 04 Nov 2008, 11:30 ]
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Have finally caught up with this.
Thanks Catherine, it's fabulous. I loved your first Amy drabble, I think she's a great character, and it's so nice to see her finding her feet in this one. Love seeing the gang as little kids too!

Hope too see more soon! *shameless hint* :wink:

Author:  Catherine [ 07 Nov 2008, 23:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 06/08 page 16

Thanks for all your comments. Sorry for the long wait - I prefer to wait until I've got a decent amount to post and usually write it at work, but it's been manic over the past few months, thanks to the return of all the students. I'm also looking for a flat to buy so RL is intruding an awful lot!

Vi had forgotten Gwen’s ingratitude by the time Gwen rejoined her friends and instead, like the rest, was full of eager curiosity as to what had happened.

“We went into Miss Annersley’s sitting room – just the three of us – and we talked lots,” Gwen told them. “Lizzy is going to be a mistress soon an’ she’s going to teach people just like us so she asked me lots of questions ‘bout what I like an’ things. I think she’s lovely an’ that we’re going to be very good friends! Oh! An’ she said that I was lucky to have friends like you all an’ that after the Christmas holidays, maybe I can bring some of you to her house to meet her. An’ she said that we can have friends to stay in the holidays too an’ sometimes she might be able to take us out at weekends and that Mummy can go and stay with her anytime she likes if she wants to see us. It’s really good!”

Rosalynne’s friends were just as keen to know how she had got on, but they had to wait a little longer than Gwen’s friends, since their prep went on longer than that of the Juniors and was immediately followed by their Evening Meal and Prayers. Even then, Amy had to wait since she was required to see to her dormitory, although she did gather from Gwen’s happy chatter that it had been a success.

“Well? How did you get on?” Amy asked eagerly, when she eventually rejoined her friends.

“That’s exactly what we’ve been asking her but she wouldn’t say until you came back,” Louisa said plaintively. “Hurry up and sit down and then we might find out!”

“Patience is a virtue!” Amy grinned at her friend, even as she sat down and wriggled herself comfortable. “In any case, I think I already know how it went! Gwen doesn’t seem able to talk about anything else – she seems to think Mrs Martin’s wonderful!”

“She seems quite nice,” Rosalynne agreed cautiously.

“But?” Roswitha prompted.

“Oh, I don’t know!” Rosalynne sighed. “It just all seems too good to be true. She was lovely and told us to call her Lizzy and I think I like her but then I can’t help thinking what if she was just being nice for show and she’s not when we’re on our own? I mean, adults are different with other adults and the Head was only in the next room but what about when she’s not?”

“I don’t see why she should be any different,” Amy said thoughtfully. “She doesn’t have to take you on – she could have said no and nobody would have minded. If she didn’t want you, she’d never have said yes and she’s probably looking forward to having you, anyway. She’s just got married and her husband’s going away, leaving her on her own in a new place. If she has you, she’ll have something else to think about and some company. The Cosletts didn’t want you and blamed you for being there when it wasn’t your fault but it’ll be different this time.”
“Mummy once said that small children are the best judge,” Charlotte commented. “They don’t bother about manners as much as we do so they just come right out and say what they think and they somehow seem to know when someone’s pretending. I know Gwen isn’t that small but if she’d not liked Mrs Martin or something, she’d have said so or shown you but from what Amy says, she’s happy.”

“I think it’ll be fine,” Roswitha said firmly. “After all, she’s the daughter of Madame’s friends and Madame would never have suggested her if she thought she might not make things pleasant for you. You’re bound to be worried after what happened with the Cosletts but that was just them – other people aren’t like that and you can’t think that they are. That’s not fair to them especially when they’re trying to do something nice for you.”

“Anyway, Miss Annersley will have talked to her and she wouldn’t agree to it if she thought Mrs Martin was no good. She’s a Headmistress and she’s used to working out what people are really like – she’d have seen through it quickly enough if it had all been for show,” Louisa pointed out. “You’d be mad to lose this chance – if you don’t take it, they’ll leave it up to the authorities and then you could end up anywhere!”

Rosalynne was not completely convinced but both Lizzy and Miss Annersley had seen Rosalynne’s reticence for themselves and once the Head had dismissed the girls, Lizzy had turned to the Head.

“I’m staying with my parents for another day or two – would it be possible to take Rosalynne out on her own at some point?” she asked eagerly. “I can see she’s not completely happy and I’d like to be able to reassure her but I think that would be best done without Gwen.”

“Yes, I think that might be best,” the Head agreed thoughtfully. “Rosalynne has coped very bravely with recent events but understandably, she is still very wary about the immediate future.”

“Of course she is!” Lizzy exclaimed. “She’ll be afraid that I will end up resenting them too and it’s hard for her to trust someone she’s only just met. Could you let me take her off by herself at some point?”

“Let me see.” Miss Annersley perused the timetable thoughtfully. “Suppose you take her out tomorrow afternoon? Her form have Gym and then Needlework, which she may miss for once. Could you be ready for her at about 2 o’clock and return her at 4? That way, Gwen needn’t know anything about it.” They finalised the arrangements and then the Head showed her visitor out, before sending for Rosalynne so she could explain matters to her.

Rosalynne returned the following day looking much happier – the age difference between herself and Lizzy was a matter of a few years only and once she had got over her initial shyness and awkwardness, Rosalynne had opened up and Lizzy had been able to allay most of her fears. There were the beginnings of a friendship between the two by the end of the day, which was strengthened by the letters Lizzy insisted upon exchanging with the girl during the weeks that came and since she made sure to include Gwen, there was no trouble there. Mrs Jones was able to get away to pay her daughters a visit a few weeks later and both she and they were very much reassured by it and life began to return to normal for Rosalynne and Gwen, rather to the relief of the staff.

“I don’t quite know how it happens but it seems that whenever ‘something’ happens to someone, the rest of the School find out about it in short order and then there’s no peace for anybody!” Miss Edwards sighed.

Author:  Lesley [ 07 Nov 2008, 23:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

How lovely to see more of this - and Rosalynne's concern is quite to be expected considering what she went through with the Cosletts.


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  di [ 08 Nov 2008, 10:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

Thanks for the update, Catherine. It's understandable that Rosalynne is cautious but Gwen seems happy about the new arrangement and that should say a lot. How insightful of Lizzie, though, to recognise Rosalynne's fears and go out of her way to allay them.
Looking forward to more. :)

Author:  MaryR [ 08 Nov 2008, 12:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

Thank you, Catherine.

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 08 Nov 2008, 14:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

Lovely to see this back! Thank you, Catherine!

Author:  abbeybufo [ 08 Nov 2008, 15:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

Thanks for the update Catherine - things seem to be working out much better for Rosalynne and Gwen now, thank goodness :D

Author:  Celia [ 09 Nov 2008, 17:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

I'm glad Lizzie was able to re-assure Rosalynne, and that life should be happier for both the girls. Specially good that their mother was able to visit .

Thank you Catherine

Author:  Josie [ 09 Nov 2008, 19:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

Thanks for the update Catherine (so timely! :wink: )
Fingers crossed Rosalynne will find it easier to settle now - although can't help a nagging feeling we've not heard the last of this yet...

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 21 Nov 2008, 15:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

Thanks for the update. Glad things are going so well with Rosalynne and Gwen

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ 21 Nov 2008, 22:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

This is great Catherine, thanks for the update!

Author:  Catherine [ 02 Feb 2009, 17:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 07/11

Sorry - seem to have lost my way a bit with this. Inspiration is lacking at the moment!


Her sentiment was echoed by the Prefects but Beth Chester had already foreseen what would happen and had been thinking hard.

“We need to give them something else to think about entirely,” she announced.

“Yes but what?” Gwensi demanded, practically.

“And I’m not so sure that giving them something else to think about is the right thing,” Isabel remarked gloomily. “We want them to settle down peacefully again – not work themselves up into excitement again!”

“This School doesn’t do ‘Peaceful!’” Daisy retorted. “Go on, Bethy! What’s your idea?”

“A week on Saturday, we shall celebrate Harvest Festival,” Beth informed the assembled Prefects. “I know we’re on the lateish side for it but it doesn’t really matter. Also, I want the social committee to start thinking of ideas for Halloween and Guy Fawkes.”

“Meg, Joanna and I were just saying yesterday that perhaps it was time we had another meeting,” Alixe agreed – their original idea of having a meeting once a week had fallen by the wayside since it was often too difficult to get everybody together. “But Beth, we’re not sure it’s right to keep the committee as it is.”

“It did all right last time,” Terry Prosser commented. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing’s wrong with the committee itself,” Joanna commented. “It’s the membership that needs thinking about.”

“We were thinking that there might be problems amongst the new girls if they all feel that only the ‘old’ girls are getting a say in what happens,” Meg explained.

“That bunch in Upper Four A for starters,” Daisy put in. “Yes, Meg, you’re right. We do need to think about including them.”

“But how?” Terry demanded. “We agreed we wouldn’t have more than one rep from each form as then it would make things too large and it wouldn’t be fair to ask those chosen already to step down.”

“Perhaps, rather than altering the membership of the Social Committee, we alter the way in which it functions,” Beth suggested. “By that, I mean, instead of leaving the committee to come up with ideas etc., we give the committee a theme and ask them to go away and consult their forms for ideas and then return to the committee with suggestions. Everybody is able to contribute but the committee has the final say in which suggestions are adopted and sort out the programme accordingly. The programme itself can remain a secret and so long as ideas are discussed properly, nobody should have any reason to complain.”

“If each form decides which two or three ideas it wants their representative to take to the committee, the meeting needn’t go on for hours on end and everybody will know which suggestions are being put forward so there can be no complaints about unfariness,” Daisy added. “I should call a meeting of the Social Committee, you three, and put forward Beth’s ideas and then send them away to talk to their forms.”

Author:  Lesley [ 02 Feb 2009, 18:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/02

Good to see more of this - good idea to involve the juniors more - and the rest of the forms.


Thanks Catherine.

Author:  di [ 02 Feb 2009, 18:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/02

Thanks, Catherine, do keep going. I'm sure inspiration will come eventually :banghead: and meanwhile we can enjoy what you do post. I, for one, think that Beth's idea is a good one to help everyone feel included and the committee should get some interesting ideas!

Author:  PaulineS [ 02 Feb 2009, 21:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/02

Good to see this again. Hope inspiration comes back.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 05 Feb 2009, 04:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/02

Great to see more of this and its a great suggestion by Beth and Daisy

Author:  JellySheep [ 05 Feb 2009, 16:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/02

An update! Smashing! Any more will be avidly received...

Author:  Catherine [ 02 Apr 2009, 11:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

Alixe, Meg and Joanna duly called a meeting of the Social Committee and put forward Daisy and Beth’s suggestions and comments. One or two girls who had rather relished the importance of being on a committee were inclined to object to the idea of consulting the rest of their forms but they were firmly squashed by their elders and over the next few days, the rest of the School found itself called upon to produce ideas for celebrating Harvest Festival.

“Well? Anyone got any ideas?” Mollie demanded of her form, at the meeting she had called.

“Come up with an idea yourself!” Roswitha retorted.

“Can’t! I’m completely stymied!” Mollie admitted. “It’s impossible! I mean Harvest is just a church service isn’t it?”

“It’s a festival,” Rosalynne pointed out. “We’re celebrating the harvest and thanking God for all the fruits and vegetables the land has produced that year and isn’t that especially important at the moment?”

“Well, yes, of course it is!” A chorus agreed. “I don’t see how that helps us think of something though,” Mollie added.

“Well, harvest is about fruit and vegetables mainly. Couldn’t we do something with them?” Rosalynne suggested hopefully.

“That’s a ridiciulous idea!” Eilunedd snubbed this idea immediately.

“I think it’s a jolly good idea actually,” Amy observed quietly, sticking up for her friend. “There must be quite a lot we could do with fruits and vegetables. For instance, we could offer to bake a fruit crumble or something in Dommy Sci for supper. Or jam tarts or something,” she added vaguely.

“That’s an idea!” Roswitha exclaimed. “We could make the pastry for the tarts and then the Juniors could fill them with jam. That would help them feel included and we could bake a crumble as well. After all, there’s no reason why we couldn’t include other meals – not just supper!”

Ideas started to come thick and fast after that and after a great deal of discussion, the form presented Mollie with two or three ideas to take forward to the committee.

“Thank goodness for that!” Mollie sighed in relief, when the meeting was over and she, and her own particular friends had retired into a corner. “For a while there, I thought I’d have to go back and own up to having no ideas and goodness only knows what people would’ve thought of our form then! And I do believe that if it wasn’t for you, Rosalynne, we’d still be searching around for ideas!”

Rosalynne laughed. “You’d have come up with something sooner or later! I just hurried things up a bit! Eilunedd didn’t think much of my idea though,” she added thoughtfully.

“Only because she didn’t think of it first,” Mollie returned. “Don’t pay any attention to her – she thinks she’s more important than she actually is!”

“All the same, we’d better keep out of her way for a while,” Roswitha commented. “She can be awkward when she wants to be and we don’t want any trouble with her.”

Fortunately, Eilunedd found no sympathisers amongst the rest of her form when she grumbled to them. In spite of the early objections, the form were enjoying Roswitha and Amy’s leadership and Mollie had always been popular with them all and they recognised that it would have been very embarrassing for all of them if Mollie had turned up with no ideas.

“There’s no point in grumbling, Eilunedd,” Mary Everitt advised. “You only came out with that comment because it was Rosalynne that made the suggestion! If Amy hadn’t stuck up for her then Mollie would have had nothing to take to that meeting and a feeble lot the rest of the School would think us!”

“I don’t like Rosalynne or Amy or Roswitha or –,“

“Oh be quiet, Eilunedd, do!” Barbara Henschell interrupted. “You don’t like anyone who can stand up for themselves and won’t let themselves be led by you! Isn’t it time you grew up and stopped acting like a little kid who falls out with everyone just because they don’t agree with her?!”

“Hear, hear,” Half a dozen or so of the others murmured and Eilunedd had no choice but to subside – and when Mollie returned from the meeting to announce that Upper Fifth B had been the only form with any ideas worth mentioning and that if it hadn’t been for them, the chances are there wouldn’t have been an evening, she couldn’t help but be grateful that Amy had spoken up.

Author:  PaulineS [ 02 Apr 2009, 12:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

Thanks for the update. Good for Amy and her friends.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ 02 Apr 2009, 12:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

Thanks Catherine, it's lovely to see more of this. Really enjoying seeing more of charcters that were only mentioned in passing in the book

Author:  shazwales [ 02 Apr 2009, 15:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

Thanks Catherine just gone back to read this from the start again,nice to have an update.

Author:  di [ 02 Apr 2009, 17:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

Well, Eilunedd is a little sour puss, isn't she!! Well done to the rest for coming up with a really sensible idea.
Thanks, PaulineS for a welcome update.

Author:  PaulineS [ 02 Apr 2009, 21:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

Di it is Catherine not myself who provided the update.

Author:  Lesley [ 02 Apr 2009, 22:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

Thanks Catherine - a very welcome update - you can really see why Eilunedd reacted as she did in Peggy, can't you?

Author:  di [ 03 Apr 2009, 06:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: A new start for Amy - updated 02/04

Ooops! Sorry, Catherine. Another senior moment - they're getting more and more regular. No offense meant. :oops:
Thanks, Pauline, for pointing out my gaffe.

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