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#1: A Parent's Selfishness - complete Author: Kirsty, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:40 am
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This was written for the July challenge at MiddlesCommonRoom, but as it was the only entry, I'm adding it here earlier than I'd planned to. Any comments and criticisms are more than welcome! Can't get better if I don't know what's wrong

Even after Mummie wrote to me, explaining exactly their reasons for taking Sybil and myself to Australia, and therefore not letting me have a year at Millies, I still can’t believe this is my last day at the Chalet School

It has been such a big part of my whole life – the daughter of Madame, who started the school; the niece of Joey Bettany, the first pupil and one of the best Head Girls we ever had – that there is no chance of ever forgetting about School, even during the holidays. And now it is over, and I don’t know how I feel about it.

It didn’t really matter to my future that I didn’t go to St Mildred’s – the university won’t accept me until I’m eighteen anyway. But I would have studied things and done things that I haven’t had a chance to before, and won’t have time for when I go to university in a year. And now it’s all spoiled because Mummie and Dad are going to Australia for Dad’s work, and want us to go with them. David and Ailie are staying in England – well, Ailie’s staying here in Switzerland with Auntie Joey – because their schooling is too important to break for six months.

Sybil must be heart-broken. She had been working towards going to the Royal School of Needlework for years, ever since Auntie Phoebe told her that her embroidery was exquisite for someone of her age, and told her about the School. Sybs isn’t clever with her schoolwork – not like David or I – but she worked so hard to keep up her marks. And she also had extra terms at Millies, learning the history of embroidery in addition to her regular classes.

Sybs told me once that she wanted to do embroidery for the Church, altar cloths and the like, as a thank-you to God for saving my life after the accident. Fifteen years, and she still feels guilty about it. I’ve told her time and again that it’s gone and forgotten, but she’s still dwelling on it, and I don’t think she’s ever going to forgive herself. So I encourage her when she’s feeling low over her marks, listen to her plans for the pieces of work she’s designing in her head, and hope so much for her to make a happy life with it.

And she would have, I’m sure, if we didn’t have to go to Australia.

#2: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:54 am
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I always liked Madge up until she made Sybil and Josette scrap their plans just to keep her company - especially seeing as poor Josette had to find out about it from Hilda! Poor both of them - thanks Kirsty.

#3: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:21 pm
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Poor Sybil and Josette. I'm another who disliked Madge after the Australia thing.

#4: A parent's selfishness Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:39 am
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I must admit I never saw the problem with Josette having to go to Australia. She'd only miss out on Millie's and get to travel to another country. I've only read the Armada paperback and the impression I got was she'd still get her course at LSE. Everyone though talks as though Sybil didn't do her Needlework Course nor does my copy of the book give her reaction. Does the hardback go into more detail? As she had finished school a year or two before I always had assumed she had gone

#5: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:17 pm
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Which book is it where they are told they have to go to Australia?

#6: Author: Katherine, Location: London, UK

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:34 pm
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Poor Josette! I never understood why they were told they had to go. Why couldn't Madge and Jem have offered them the trip but left it up to them? I suppose that doesn't really fit in with the 'You will do what I say' school of parenting.

It's in Ruey that Miss Annersley tells Josette that she won't be going to Millies but doesn't tell her why. I'm not sure where it is explained, you get so much from the board it fades out of the books sometimes!

#7: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 3:36 pm
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Very well written and a very true to life insight in Josette's character. Would love to see more of this. Thanks for writing it!

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