The Chalet School & Jessica - 4 Dec- pg 26
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The CBB -> St Agnes' House
#1: The Chalet School & Jessica - 4 Dec- pg 26 Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 11:30 am
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Ok, I was going to wait til Monday to start posting this but as I have some ready to go, I thought I might as well start today. I really hope that you all enjoy it as much as Troubles. It's much more difficult to write because I have to try to make sure I don't make any EDBisms! There are going to be a few, mainly because EBD contradicts herself a couple of times in Mary Lou, but I'm equally sure I will create a few of my own! Feel free to point them out to me if I do. One I have already made (but need to make for the sake of the story) is Jessica's dining table. At one point she is at Jean Ackroyd's table, then she's moved to Mary Lou's table. I thought I could solve that easily, but I can't so I've taken my own slant on it and it's quite a small thing, so I hope it won't be an issue.

Also, I'm not a fan of adult Joey, and I fear this may be a bit obvious!

Here goes!


“Well, my dears, just wait til I show you what’s in this letter!” Thus Joey Maynard as she burst into Miss Annersley’s private study. The Head Mistress of the Chalet was closeted in her study with Miss Wilson, Head of the finishing branch at Mildreds, and Rosalie Dene, school secretary. The three were discussing form lists for the coming term and had been engrossed in the work. It took concentration and none were too impressed as Joey made her breezy entrance. “What sort of way is this to greet a person?” she demanded laughingly as she plonked herself down on a spare chair. “I have news!”

Miss Annersley sighed and sat up straight. “I suppose it is time we had a break,” she admitted. “We seem to have been at this for hours and have got exactly nowhere,”

“But it’s agreed that Barbara Chester is going to miss a form and go straight to Vb?” Miss Dene asked plaintively.

“Definitely,” Miss Annersley agreed.

Miss Dene scribbled on her pad and then she, too sat back and stretched out.

“Thank goodness the St Mildreds list are a walk in the park,” Miss Wilson commented. “This is entirely too much like hard work during the holidays.”

“I agree,” Joey said firmly. “You three are shocking hostesses. I’m parched.”

Miss Annersley took the rather obvious hint and rang the bell for the maid to bring coffee. It arrived promptly, steaming hot and smelling almost edible, and there were some delicious melt in the mouth butter biscuits as well. The three workers dug in hungrily and Joey, too made short work of the refreshments. Only when they were all satisfied did Joey vouchsafe the reason for her visit.

Last edited by leahbelle on Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:30 am; edited 75 times in total
#2:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 11:39 am
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I'm so glad you've started posting this, Sue!
#3:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:00 pm
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Thanks for starting the sequel so quickly!
#4:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:15 pm
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Excellent - looking forward to this.

Thanks Sue.
#5:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:19 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I'm wondering what Joey's news is. It's great to see this so soon!
#6:  Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:16 pm
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I'm so glad you've started this. Thank you!
#7:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:43 pm
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Hooray! More Jessica!
#8:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:20 pm
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Hurrah! The sequal! Thanks!
#9:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:09 am
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Excellent begining Sue - looking forward to more
#10:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:43 pm
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“You’ll never guess who this is from!” she teased, waving the letter in front of the others.

“Then suppose you tell us and put us out of our misery,” Rosalie suggested tiredly. It was all very well for Joey to come bursting in like this, but the lists had to be typed and copied once they were finalised and that was a time consuming task. Rosalie had planned to spend the evening with the Graves’ and she wanted to be able to enjoy herself without feeling that an urgent task was hanging over her head.

“Lucia Gordon!” Joey proclaimed, missing Rosalie’s weariness in her excitement.

“Kat Gordon’s aunt?” Miss Annersley sounded disbelieving. “However did she remember your address?” This last because the said Lucia Gordon was notoriously absentminded.

“The very same,” Joey agreed. “And as for the address, it seems to have been sent to a few random places about the Platz before landing on my desk.”

“What does she write?” Miss Wilson queried. “She’s not taking Katharine away, is she? Kat’s games prefect this term.”

“No, no, not all!” Joey reassured. “It’s about a new girl. Jessica…Jessica Wayne.”

Miss Annersley gave a little groan. “That girl! She’s given us no end of trouble already over her form placement. She’s fifteen and should be in Vb with Mary Lou and the rest of that lot, but her work is quite backward for a girl of her age. We’re going to try her in Vb, but she’ll have to go down to Upper IVa if she can’t keep up. And, of course, there’s the fact that she’s just been expelled from her last school.”

“Oh, so you know,” Joey looked disappointed.

“Of course we know! We don’t take girls on without finding out a little bit about their chequered pasts.”

“I’m certain there will be some things in this letter you’re not aware of,” Joey said sagely. “Lucia Gordon paints a fairly vivid picture of the girl, and I’d say look out for squalls!”

Miss Annersley snatched the letter from Joey as it wafted by her face again and Miss Dene and Miss Wilson closed round the Head Mistress and read over her shoulder. All three were frowning when they came to the end.
#11:  Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:45 pm
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I wonder what Lucia Gordon said in the letter.

Nosy, me? No.....
#12:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:52 pm
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I'm just glad Jessica is coming to such an understanding head as Miss Annersley.
#13:  Author: Laura V, Location: Merseyside, UK PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:09 pm
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this is really well written! looking forward to more Very Happy
#14:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:59 pm
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I so love the way Joey was disappointed that Hilda already knew Laughing !
#15:  Author: Cryst,  PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:36 pm
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Alison H wrote:
I so love the way Joey was disappointed that Hilda already knew Laughing !

Oh, me too! Laughing And I'm so excited to see how Jessica will be feel about the Chalet School.
#16:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:36 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I would also like to know what has been said in the letter.
#17:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:56 pm
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leahbelle wrote:
It was all very well for Joey to come bursting in like this, but the lists had to be typed and copied once they were finalised and that was a time consuming task.



If I were Rosalie I would often want to give Joey a damn good slapping!

Thanks for the update.


Twisted Evil Twisted Evil
#18:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:26 pm
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Yes, she does tend to be a pest, doesn't she! My sympathies are entirely with Rosalie.

Glad that Miss A pointed out that they don't just take girls in from the street, they do find out their background!

Enjoying this a lot, leahbelle.
#19:  Author: pim, Location: Londinium PostPosted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:02 am
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Hurrah, a sequel! So, waht did the letter say?

Thanks, Leahbelle.
#20:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:17 pm
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Hurrah for a sequel and double hurrah for a bout of Joey bashing!
#21:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:32 pm
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“Goodness!” Rosalie had been snapped from her tiredness. “I spoke to her mother personally and she didn’t tell me the half of this!”

“Do you blame her?” Nell Wilson asked dryly. “Hilda, what sort of girl have you agree to take on here?”

“A girl who deserves a chance to make good,” Miss Annersley, too, had been shocked by the revelations in the letter but she was determined to be fair to the new girl. Miss Wilson had the grace to look ashamed. “I must admit her mother gave me a rather potted version of Jessica’s history. I guessed that she was holding back information, but I assumed that it was because she wanted Jessica to start here without anything from her past hanging over her. This,” she waved the letter, “has rather put paid to that!”

Joey took the letter back and pointed to a few choice paragraphs in the letter. “Drunk! Fireworks in the common room fire! And she painted the Matron’s room! I’d like to see her try any of that nonsense on with our Matey and get away with it!”

Miss Wilson looked serious. “Even our one and only Emerence wouldn’t try it on the way this girl has. I’m surprised her last school kept her for as long as it did.”

“I think we’re forgetting that Jessica believes she has a genuine reason for behaving the way she does,” Miss Annersley said. “She thinks that her mother doesn’t love her anymore and these tricks and pranks and mean-nesses are her way of being noticed.”

“Genuine or not, she can’t be encouraged to think that this sort of behaviour will be acceptable at the Chalet School!” Joey was outraged.

“I don’t suppose it was exactly accepted at her last school, either. Do talk sense, Joey. As if Cor Lan would have kept her for more than five minutes if they didn’t think they could help her. Expulsion should always be a last resort and, from what I’ve read, I don’t believe Jessica left the Head Mistress with any choice.”

“Perhaps a new start in a school so far from home will help Jessica to grow up and see where she’s gone wrong,” Rosalie suggested.

”That’s certainly what Mrs Sefton hopes,” Miss Annersley agreed. “Of course, there’s always the possibility that it will make her worse and she will see her banishment to Switzerland as more proof that her mother doesn’t care about her any longer.”

“Our girls will help her,” Miss Wilson sounded confident. “They’re such a friendly, healthy bunch that no newcomer could help being happy here. Look at Prunella Davidson.”

“And Emerence,” Rosalie offered, though not with Nell Wilson’s confidence. The said Emerence was still something of a firebrand.

“What do you propose to do, Hilda?” Joey asked.

“Do?” Hilda Annersley looked surprised. “Why, nothing, unless I feel something has to be done. I hope that Jessica will look on this as a fresh start and that her nastiness will be a thing of the past. Of course if she starts that sort of nonsense,” she indicated Joey’s letter, “then something will have to be done. But I’m confident our atmosphere and ethos will soon show Jessica that she’s been in the wrong and that this is her chance to make good.”

Joey frowned.

“Well?” Miss Annersley prompted.

“I thought we should turn Mary Lou on to her.”
#22:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:29 pm
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leahbelle wrote:


“Genuine or not, she can’t be encouraged to think that this sort of behaviour will be acceptable at the Chalet School!” Joey was outraged.

“I don’t suppose it was exactly accepted at her last school, either. Do talk sense, Joey.



Slap her! Slap her! Slap her! Go on Hilda, you know you want to!




(Why have I suddenly become a Joey hating maniac?)
#23:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:04 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I'm glad that Miss Annersley is willing to give Jessica a chance, even though Joey wasn't prepare to give her a chance.
#24:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:29 pm
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Actually Joey didn't come across particularly well there - and I don't think Miss Annersley will agree with Joey's ideas - isn't she surprised when Mary Lou shows she knows something of Jessica's background?


Thanks Sue.
#25:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:45 pm
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Hilda was lovely there - although I do wish she'd tell Joey to butt out Laughing !
#26:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:15 pm
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Alison H wrote:
Hilda was lovely there - although I do wish she'd tell Joey to butt out Laughing !

But St. Agnes Hilda would never allow herself to be annoyed by Joey. Laughing

*looks forward to Jessica's arrival*
#27:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:13 am
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Alison H wrote:
Hilda was lovely there - although I do wish she'd tell Joey to butt out Laughing !


Agrees!
#28:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:28 pm
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I hope Jo doesn't tell anyone else about Jessica's pranks.
#29:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:43 pm
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Fatima wrote:
I hope Jo doesn't tell anyone else about Jessica's pranks.


Like er, Mary Lou for instance? Rolling Eyes
#30:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:22 pm
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“No, definitely not,” Miss Annersley shook her head. “If Jessica had just been a more-or-less ordinary, but slightly mixed up girl, I would agreed that Mary Lou would be able to make her snap out of it right away but I feel that Jessica is a more sensitive character and we must handle her carefully. If she became aware that we had actively sought out another girl to bring her to her senses, it could cause catastrophe. I think the best thing we can do for Jessica in the beginning is to treat her like any other new girl. She’ll notice straight away if she’s being singled out for special treatment. If, after a week or two, she shows signs of heading down old roads, then and only then would I think about involving Mary Lou. Mary Lou is going to find herself busy enough this term as form and dormitory prefect without having to worry about a wayward new girl. Jessica will be allocated a “sheepdog” as all the girls are and I’m sure we’ll find that she’ll settle in and do her best to become a real Chalet School girl.”

“Besides,” Miss Dene interjected, “Mary Lou’s having a rough time at home these holidays. Old Mrs Trelawney’s still ill and she’s keeping Mary Lou very close to her.”

Joey looked serious. “Between you and me, it doesn’t look as if Mrs Trelawney will make it. She’s seriously ill. If she dies Mary Lou will take it very hard. They were so close.”

All four women were silent for a moment and then, in typical Joey fashion, she broke it.

“Well, being mournful about it isn’t going to help. Only God can help the Trelawneys now and I just pray that He will give them strength to cope.”

“Of course He will,” Miss Wilson was certain. “I agree with Hilda, Joey, I think setting Mary Lou onto Jessica before the girl’s even wet behind the ears could cause more harm than good. If Jessica turns out to be the thorough little nuisance she seems to have been at her last school, then Mary Lou will be able to set her straight but I think that, at first, we should let Jessica show us what’s she made of. She deserves a chance.”

“Of course,” Joey agreed, “and perhaps you’re right. I hope you’re right, for it’s true that Mary Lou has a lot on her plate and, though she can cope with anything, she’s never had to deal with a bereavement before and that can affect even normally strong people badly.”

“And now,” Miss Annersley said pointedly, “those form lists will not organise themselves. Joey, I’m afraid we’re going to have to throw you out.”

Joey laughed merrily. “I know when I’m not wanted,” she jumped to her feet and made for the door. “English tea at Freudesheim at 1600 for anyone who’s interested!” she threw over her shoulder and vanished.

The three women heaved a sigh of relief and turned back to the task in hand.
#31:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:33 pm
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Hilda is so sensible!
Thanks Sue.
#32:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:08 pm
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Well that's fine - but Joey obviously decided, once Mary Lou returned, that she knew best.

Thanks Sue.
#33:  Author: kimothy, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:08 pm
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thanks sue
#34:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:14 pm
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She knows when she's not wanted Laughing Laughing ?
#35:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 7:53 pm
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Alison H wrote:
She knows when she's not wanted Laughing Laughing ?


Echoes Alison!


Thanks for the update.
#36:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:53 pm
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Greatly enjoyed Nell, Rosalie - and particularly Hilda there. Impressivly sane and perceptive.

Shame Joey thought she knew best. Confused
#37:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:35 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I am echoing everyone else.
#38:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:29 pm
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Back in England, in the changing room of the Chalet School uniform outfitters, Jessica Wayne glared at herself in the mirror.

Her mother, Emily, and step father, Adam, had brought her to London for the day. The main purpose of the trip was the visit to the outfitters. Jessica would begin the Chalet School in a fortnight and Emily wanted to have plenty of time to make any necessary alterations and to sew in name tags. Emily and Adam waited patiently at the front of the shop as Jessica tried on the uniform of the hated new school. It had not been a pleasant day so far. They had arrived in London in time for lunch and Jessica had refused to eat any. Emily and Adam had done what they had to do so often these days and ignored Jessica while they themselves made a good meal. They had come straight to the outfitters after lunch and Jessica had stomped round after them as Emily picked up the items she would need. Jessica had attracted a lot of unwanted attention from other mothers and daughters, all of whom looked as if they were having a much happier outing than the Sefton family.

Jessica continued to frown at her reflection as she examined herself from all sides. Her last school uniform had been saxe-blue. The Chalet School had gone in for something much deeper and which called itself gentian blue. This was much more becoming to Jessica’s complexion than the saxe had been. The uniform was seniors was a flared skirt and cream blouse with a school tie knotted neatly at the neck. There was a matching blazer which had the school badge embroidered on the breast-pocket in silver and crimson. Jessica grudgingly supposed that it wasn’t too bad as uniforms went – and she had seen some fairly hideous ones in other parts of the store.

Apart from the everyday uniform, there was a gym kit to try on, a velveteen evening dress and a Sunday suit. It was all very boring and frustrating and Jessica just stood there making faces at herself, when she should have been making sure everything was a close fit. She shrugged her shoulders and pulled off the skirt and blouse. Everything else, she ignored. What did she care if they fitted or not? Scrunching everything up into an easy to carry ball, Jessica left the changing room.

Emily looked in horror as her daughter dumped the stuff on the chair beside Adam. She quickly folded everything neatly and sent Jessica a stern glance. Emily had much less lenient on Jessica since her expulsion and the girl was never quite sure exactly what she could get away with anymore.

“Do they fit?” Adam asked, helping Emily fold a blouse.

“Perfectly,” Jessica lied.

“Then let’s get these paid for and get on with our day.”

The rest of the day should have been happier. Adam had booked tickets for a show – a musical comedy, but Jessica sat throughout with a face like stone, though she had to admit to herself that it was very hard not to laugh at times. Emily and Adam thoroughly enjoyed it and tried not to let their enthusiasm be dampened by Jessica’s grumps.

They arrived back at Moorlands in the early evening and all were tired. Emily, however, spent a good hour with Rosamund telling them about the day, the show and Jessica’s new uniform. Rosamund looked longingly at the pretty velveteen dress and the gym kit and wished, not for the first time, that she was free to enjoy the things that Jessica seemed to scorn so much. Rosamund would have loved to have seen Jessica in her uniform – school stories were her latest penchant – but she knew better than to ask.
#39:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 2:23 pm
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Poor Rosamund - and of course Jessica's not even happy about having the opportunities that Rosamund'd love to have Sad .
#40:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:28 pm
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It is horrible trying on school uniform, though, isn't it.
Thanks Sue.
#41:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:07 pm
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Feel very sorry for Rosamund - as yet Jessica cannot see that. Crying or Very sad

Thanks Sue.
#42:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:39 pm
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I remember once being literally dragged to church (fighting all the way!) as Dad was determined that I should go, though I'd refused. I was there, but that was all. I stood for the hymns and the rest of the time I just sat. I didn't sing, I didn't bow my head for the prayers, I did exactly nothing. So I certainly know where Jessica is coming from!
#43:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:43 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I hope that the rest of the stuff will fit.
#44:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:45 am
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Pat wrote:
I remember once being literally dragged to church (fighting all the way!) as Dad was determined that I should go, though I'd refused. I was there, but that was all. I stood for the hymns and the rest of the time I just sat. I didn't sing, I didn't bow my head for the prayers, I did exactly nothing. So I certainly know where Jessica is coming from!


That's better than me Pat! I used to read through the whole service. Embarassed
#45:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:35 am
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Jessica’s remaining time at Moorlands flew by. She had tried hard to examine her feelings about being sent to a school in Switzerland, but had to admit that she had failed miserably. On the one hand, she saw it as proof positive that Emily wanted her out of the house because she loved Rosamund most and didn’t want Jessica around taking up her time. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but feel the tiniest bit excited about the prospect of travelling and living abroad. All the same, she was still determined to make herself miserable at school. She had more sense than to aim for all out expulsion straight away, but was determined that her career at the Chalet School would not be of long duration.

One of the main tasks facing Jessica and Emily in the run-up to the former’s departure for school was that of labelling all Jessica’s belongings. All clothes, including underwear, had to be labelled with name tapes that were sewn into place.

A day or so following the less than successful trip to the outfitters, Emily placed all Jessica’s clothes onto the dining room table. She put them into neat piles – skirts, blouses, stockings etc – so that she could see exactly what was needed. This was no different to what had been required at Redferne and Cor Lan, but the Chalet School seemed to have a much larger and widespread uniform and there seemed to be a lot to do!

Emily soon had the problem solved. Rosamund was a neat little sewer and Emily handed over a pile of underwear for her to get on with. Emily herself would take on a pile and the remainder would be given over to Jessica, Emily having decided that it was only fair for Jessica to take some responsibility for the process.

There was no doubt that it was a long and tiresome task. Rosamund finished her pile quickly enough but Emily, with the house to run as well, found her spare time taken up with name tapes. Jessica was disgusted that she was expected to help with this and refused at first. Ignoring her, Emily merely handed her a needle and large bobbin of thread and told her to get on with. Nonplussed at being treated in this way, Jessica found herself sewing, albeit unwillingly.

Eventually, the horrible task was over and Jessica’s clothes lay in neat piles in her sitting room, ready for being packed into her trunk. The trunk had to be sent off a week before school began to ensure its safe arrival and Emily had deemed the next day to be packing day.
#46:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:46 am
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Great pity that only now had Emily worked out how to treat Jessica.

Thanks Sue.
#47:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:58 am
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Poor Rosamund, getting landed with labelling Jessica's stuff!
#48:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:29 pm
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I don't think Rosamund would mind too much; I'm sure she'd like to feel she was doing something useful for Emily.
Thanks Sue.
#49:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:00 pm
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Thanks, Sue. It's nice to see them all working on something together for once.
#50:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:50 pm
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I have a nasty, twitchy feeling about those nice neat piles being left around until tomorrow ... hope I'm maligning Jess!
#51:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:15 am
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Tara wrote:
I have a nasty, twitchy feeling about those nice neat piles being left around until tomorrow ... hope I'm maligning Jess!


Unfortunately not!


To Jessica, “packing day” seemed horribly final and she stomped about her room, around the clothes, the night before wishing she could take all the clothes and throw them into a heap in the garden and set fire to them. Fortunately for everyone, she stopped short of this, but did conceive an idea which was to cause her a lot of grief when she arrived at school.

Emily had left her sewing scissors on the little coffee table in Jessica’s room. Jessica picked them up and, working her way through the piles of uniform, she carefully cut out all the labels which Emily, Rosamund and herself had spent so many hours sewing in. She was very neat and there was nothing to show that any labels had ever been there when she had finished. Jessica collected the pile of ruined labels and shoved them into a paper bag. She would put them into a bin in the morning.

Normally, Emily would have discovered this trick and Jessica would have found herself doomed to sewing all the labels back in by herself. However, during the night, Rosamund was taken ill and was running a fever. She was hot and delirious and fretted whenever Emily was out of her sight. Jessica, therefore, was trusted with the job of packing the trunk by herself. Miss Winter, who had offered to help out at any time if she could, had gone to town for the day and so Jessica found herself alone in her bedroom on “packing day”. Emily had planned to mark everything off on the inventory as it went into the trunk so that nothing was left out and she spoke to Jessica seriously about the importance of packing the trunk properly.

Jessica listened with about half an hour and then stamped upstairs to begin the hated task. As she filled the trunk with her new belongings, another idea sprung into her head and she grinned. She took her school ties, her stockings, her gym shorts and the collars and cuffs which were worn with the evening velveteen and put them to one side. Everything else she piled into the trunk with more haste than care. With the pencil Emily had given her, she ticked off everything on the inventory and closed the lid of the trunk.

Then she turned to the items she had left out. A quick search of the room revealed a cardboard box which had once contained a Sunday hat. Jessica rammed the clothes into the box and shoved the lid down on it. The box was too full and the lid just perched on top. Then she took the box and pushed it under her bed to the very back, concealing it with the other boxes and bags which lived there normally.

Feeling very satisfied with her work, Jessica smirked. Later, after her first meeting with Matron Lloyd at the Chalet School, Jessica wished that she had thought twice before doing something so silly when it seemed much less amusing.
#52:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:29 am
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Thanks, Sue. Oh, dear. I don't think Matron is going to be too happy with Emily!
#53:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:31 am
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Yes, I should say Matey will eat Jessica alive!
#54:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:34 am
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She needs to grow up a bit! Doesn't bode well for her first meeting with Matey.
#55:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:10 pm
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Oh, the dreadful child! All that work - including her own. What a nuisance she's making of herself.

I'll bet it didn't seem so amusing when Matey got at her!

Unfirtunate that Rosamund was ill just then - once again, Jess is doing something important completely on her own, while Emily is busy elsewhere.
#56:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:30 am
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It was the evening before Jessica was due to leave for the Chalet School. At first, it had been agreed that Jessica would join her new school at Victoria Station from where the boat train left. Then Miss Winter, who had a soft spot for Jessica, offered to take the girl as far as Paris. Miss Winter had been invited to stay with a friend in a nearby town for a fortnight and the governess was happy to change her plans slightly so that Jessica could have a familiar figure with her during the first part of her journey. Though she was inwardly grateful, no-one would have thought to look at Jessica.

For Jessica’s last evening at home, Emily had planned an ordinary, quiet family evening. It had been a difficult decision. Emily had wanted to take Jessica out for dinner but Rosamund’s illness had continued and it would have meant leaving Rosamund at home in the care of a stranger – Miss Winter wanted to spend the evening with Jessica, naturally. Eventually, Emily had decided to make a nice home-cooked meal for her daughter and the four of them would share it with Miss Winter. Spud would even be allowed in the house as a special treat.

It was obvious from the start that the evening was not going to go well. Rosamund had not got over her fever and was very weak and, as a result, she was quite demanding on Emily, though she did not mean to be. Adam was left to deal with the dinner as best he could and, though he was willing enough, skill was somewhat lacking. The chicken was overcooked and the gravy was lumpy. Emily had to leave the table three times and Adam two to see to Rosamund through the course of the meal. Jessica’s face grew blacker and blacker and when a lop-sided, biscuit-like cream sponge was brought out for dessert, she burst into tears and fled from the room.
#57:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:55 am
    —
To provide a meal like that as a farewell really gives Jessica grounds to think she's not important to them. I feel so sorry for her at the moment.
#58:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 1:30 pm
    —
I feel sorry for her too, but I suppose they thought Rosamund had to come first as she wasn't well. Poor Jessica.
#59:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:47 pm
    —
Oh dear, they just can't get it right, can they. Poor Jessica.
#60:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:40 am
    —
“I’ll go after her,” Miss Winter offered. She could see how tired Emily and Adam were and knew that dealing with Jessica was one person’s work at the best of times. When there was also Rosamund to consider, things were even more difficult than normal. Miss Winter found Jessica upstairs in her bedroom, cuddled up on the bed with Spud a willing companion in her arms. The governess thought that Jessica had a greater affinity with animals than with humans.

Jessica looked up as she entered.

”Hello,” she muttered. Jessica had a great admiration for Miss Winter and was never knowingly rude to her. Having said that, she still considered Miss Winter an adult and, therefore, an enemy and never gave that worthy lady her complete trust which was a shame.

“You could have spread that gravy on a slice of toast!” Miss Winter said, lightheartedly, ignoring the fact that Spud should not be on the bed and sitting down beside him herself.

Jessica gave a little smile. “It was awful,” she agreed.

“Your parents are going to miss you, you know. I don’t want to preach to you, Jess, because I know you won’t listen, but they love you very much and that’s why they’re sending you to a good school, in a foreign country where you’ll learn languages and have a good start in life. They wanted to make tonight special for you, but it’s not their fault that Rosamund is ill.”

Jessica grunted. She had heard all this a thousand times from Emily and Adam. It carried a little more weight coming from Miss Winter, but only a very little.

“She always has to ruin everything,” Jessica said bitterly.

“Now, that’s rubbish,” Miss Winter said firmly. “Do you remember when you were so ill in hospital and your mother and Adam spent every possible moment by your side? Where was Rosamund then? She had to take a back seat and she was happy to do so because she wanted you to be well.”

“I suppose,” was the reluctant rejoinder.

“Do try to think of other people as well as yourself. It’s not easy. I know that. Sometimes, there’s something you desperately want but you can’t have it and even knowing there’s a good reason for you not being able to have it, you still want it.”

“Do you mean like me wanting to go to day school and wanting to have Mother to myself?”

“That’s exactly what I mean,” Miss Winter said. “I’m sure there are things Rosamund wants too – to be able to walk, perhaps, or to have friends like a normal girl. Rosamund will never walk and she has learned to accept that. We all have to accept that, sometimes, we can’t have what we want. That’s what makes it all the more worthwhile when we do get something we want.”


There's probably only going to be one more post tomorrow before I go on holiday. I want to leave it at a nice rounded off place, so you won't see Jessica at the CS til I get back at the end of the month - unless I can find an internet cafe in Luxor, of course!
#61:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:37 am
    —
Thankyou Sue for this. Unfortunately I have been rather rubbish at reading on the board so now I need to track down the previous drabble! Really enjoying it and looking forward to the next installment! Very Happy
#62:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 1:23 pm
    —
Have a great time in Egypt, Sue!
#63:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:52 pm
    —
Very excited about hearing Jessica's exploits at the CS but will contain my impatience until you get back from holiday.

Thanks Sue
#64:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 4:12 pm
    —
Miss Winter is a gem. It's such a shame that Jessica doesn't listen to her and take on board what she says. Thanks Sue, and have a wonderful time in Egypt.
#65:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 5:31 pm
    —
Miss Winter and Spud are my favorite characters in this. Very Happy

Have a wonderful vacation!
#66:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 5:53 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that the meal didn't work out. It's good that Miss Winter made time for Jessica.
#67:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:53 pm
    —
Pity that Jessica didn't listen to Miss Winter.

Thanks Sue.
#68:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:59 pm
    —
Last post for a fortnight! *waves wildly* See you all soon!


Jessica was silent. This was no more or less than other people before Miss Winter had tried to get through to her, but tonight she was feeling slightly more receptive than usual. Whether it was because she was so scared at being so far away from her family, she could not say.

“Won’t you try to be happy at the Chalet School, Jess?” Miss Winter asked. “It’s such a good school and you’re very lucky to be going there. I know you’re miserable at the moment, but maybe if you tried to take control of your life in a positive way and use your feelings for good rather than bad, you could be content. Will you try?”

Jessica shrugged her shoulders. Part of her, the part that was beginning (very slowly) to grow up could see Miss Winter’s reasoning. The other part, the part that still controlled Jessica Wayne, could only think of herself and her own grievances.

Miss Winter could see Jessica struggling with herself and left things at that.

“I’ll see you in the morning, Jess, ready to go over to France. Make sure you’re not late.”

“Yes,” Jessica said. Then, plaintively, she asked, “Could Spud stay with me tonight? Please.”

Miss Winter checked the automatic refusal that sprung to her lips. It was important for Jessica to feel wanted tonight and what better for that than the unconditional love of an animal? “I’ll clear it with Adam and your mother,” she said. “Try to get a good night’s sleep. You’ve a lot of travelling ahead of you.”

Thus, Jessica fell into a contented sleep on her last night at Moorlands and Spud slept peacefully beside her, the silence being broken only occasionally by the odd snore.
#69:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:31 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I hope you have a good holiday. I'm glad that Jessica listened to what Miss Winter said.
#70:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:35 pm
    —
Poor Jessica - struggling against growing up. Glad Miss Winter is there for her.


Thanks Sue.
#71:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:08 pm
    —
Miss Winter is lovely.
#72:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:56 pm
    —
And so is Spud! Awwwww.

Have a lovely holiday, leahbelle.
#73:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:22 am
    —
Miss Winter is wonderful.

Hope your holiday is as well.
#74:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:19 pm
    —
I'm glad Jessica has Miss Winter to accompany her to France. Thanks Sue; have a good holiday!
#75:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:08 pm
    —
Thanks Sue. Have a great time in Luxor!
#76:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:19 pm
    —
Hello, everyone. I'm back! We had a fabulous holiday and the weather was amazing. I am now shivering in a cold house, with the central heating turned up full and wearing fluffy socks and a wooly jumper!

It's going to take ages to catch up with the board! Such a lot to read! Here's a Jessica update while I get down to reading some drabbles.


The next day, a very scared, nervous Jessica was left in the capable hands of Miss Wilmot at the Gare de l’Est. There were what seemed like hundreds of girls, all wearing the same gentian blue, milling around. They were all in groups and everyone seemed to know each other. Jessica hung back behind Miss Winter as the governess sought out the Chalet School maths mistress who was in charge of escort duty,

Miss Wilmot turned out to be a tall, rather plump woman. She was good-looking and had shining waves of golden hair and a fresh complexion. She smiled welcomingly at Jessica and Miss Winter and tried to coax the girl from behind the governess with a friendly, “We don’t bite, you know!”

Miss Winter gave Jessica a little push and the girl reluctantly presented herself to the mistress.

“Jessica Wayne,” Miss Wilmot murmured. She found Jessica’s name on a list and crossed it off. “All correct! Good. Well, Jessica, perhaps you would like a minute to say goodbye to Miss Winter and then I’ll send someone to look after you for the trip.” Miss Wilmot nodded and went off. She realised that Jessica was very close to tears and wanted to spare the girl the embarrassment of having a stranger see her cry.

Miss Winter pulled Jessica towards her and gave her a hug. “Be happy,” she whispered. Jessica clung to her old friend for a few moments and then pulled away, sniffing slightly. She managed a brave smile and then Miss Winter had disappeared into the crowds. Just as she thought she must break down and weep, Miss Wilmot reappeared. She had been watching the farewell scene from afar and knew it was time to intervene. A girl of Jessica’s age was at her side.

”All ok, Jessica?” Miss Wilmot asked, and Jessica was too emotional to do anything other than nod. Miss Wilmot knew all about it and turned briskly to the girl at her side. “Prunella, this is Jessica Wayne. Jessica, this is Prunella Davidson. She’s in your form and will look after you until you’ve found your feet. If there’s anything you need to know, just ask Prunella.”

“Hello, Jessica,” Prunella said politely.

Jessica looked at the other girl through slightly wet lashes, but said nothing. Both Miss Wilmot and Prunella took this for nerves and homesickness and ignored it.

“Prunella, we’re starting to board now. Would you take Jessica with you to your carriage and keep her right through the journey? Thank you, dear. Now, what are those imps of middles up to over there?” and Miss Wilmot shot off to find out exactly why three shining lights of Upper IVb were dancing round their night cases like dervishes.
#77:  Author: kimothy, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:22 pm
    —
you're back!

thanks sue! great as ever, i have a feeling there is trouble ahead...
#78:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:01 pm
    —
How nice to see you (and Jessica) back again, Sue! I hope you'll pop into the procrastination party and tell us all about Egypt!
#79:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:01 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. It's great to have this back! I also wanted to say thank you for satisfying my curiosity over whom was Jessica's sheepdog!
#80:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:23 pm
    —
Chair wrote:
I also wanted to say thank you for satisfying my curiosity over whom was Jessica's sheepdog!


I may have made a bit of an error with this. It doesn't specifically state anywhere in Mary Lou who was appointed as sheepdog to Jessica. However, in passing Vi Lucy does mention something about being fed up looking after, sheep dogging and taking care of Jessica so I might have got it wrong. Or EBD could just have meant that, as deputy form prefect, Vi was just doing her duty in looking out for the new girl. That's what I've taken it to mean, anyway!!!

Thanks for the welcomes back!
#81:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:45 pm
    —
Perhaps Vi had already gone out to the Platz and so couldn't sheepdog until they got to the School?


Thanks for this Sue. Laughing
#82:  Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:50 pm
    —
Hurrah! Sue & Jessica are back!
#83:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:58 pm
    —
More Jessica! Hurrah!

Hope you had a fab time in Egypt, Sue.
#84:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 8:40 pm
    —
I didn't know who was sheepdog. I just was interested to see who was going to be put in charge of Jessica. Sorry, I need to get out more.
#85:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:39 pm
    —
Also, Vi was in a different dorm to Jessica and I thought it would make sense for the sheepdog to be in the same dormy. I chose Prunella because she had had problems herself when she started school.

Here's today's bit.

Prunella turned to her new charge. “Come on, “she said, “it’s always mayhem at the station so we all try to help out with the younger ones if we can. Sometimes,” with a grin, “there’s no help to be had.”

Prunella took Jessica’s free arm and led her towards the train. Jessica noticed that all the girls were getting into neat lines and filing into the carriages. Some big girls, who looked virtually grown up, were overseeing this and Jessica was stunned to notice that this was done with the minimum of fuss. No-one was messing about, even the three middles having fallen into line. There was nothing else for it but to follow Prunella, though Jessica did wrench her arm free from the other girl’s grip. Prunella looked surprise but said nothing as they mounted the step to the carriage.

They pushed their way along the narrow corridor to the third compartment. There were four other girls inside, all in various processes of trying to get themselves settled for the long journey. They greeted Prunella heartily and turned curious eyes on the new girl. Jessica glared back at each one in turn until they turned back to their lawful occasions, wondering what on earth sort of new girl this was!

Prunella got Jessica seated comfortably in the seat closest to the door, swinging her night case up on to the rack. Then she turned to the other girls who had settled down and had books and chocolate on their knees ready for the trip.

“Everyone, this is Jessica Wayne,” Prunella introduced. “She’ll be in Vb with us. Jessica, these are Vi Lucy, Barbara Chester, Ruth Barnes and Clare Kennedy.”

Vi Lucy, a pretty girl with bronzish curls and deep pansy blue eyes, turned to Jessica. “Welcome to our midst!”

The others interjected their own welcomes and sat back, confidently expecting Jessica to respond. It quickly became obvious that Jessica was not going to reply. They could all see that she had been crying and kindly assumed that she was homesick. When Jessica deliberately stood up and turned her back on them to fish for something in her night case over head, they wondered and looked enquiringly at Prunella. She could only shake her head. Jessica had retrieved a book from her case and she opened it, holding it firmly in front of her face, rendering any other contact from the girls impossible. The friendly atmosphere in the compartment cooled slightly.
#86:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:49 pm
    —
Poor child - to be expected though - she'll hardly look on the fact that she has been sent to the Chalet School as anything other than a punishment.


Thanks Sue.
#87:  Author: Aquabird, Location: North Lanarkshire, Scotland PostPosted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:55 pm
    —
I've been reading but not commenting, but this is great, thanks!
#88:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:03 pm
    —
If that's how she behaved there's no wonder that the others gave up on her. Thanks Sue.
#89:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:22 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that Jessica isn't making an effort with the other girls.
#90:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:22 pm
    —
“How does it feel to be Vb-ites?” Vi Lucy asked her friends casually deciding that, for the moment, it was best to leave Jessica to it. If she was teary, she probably just wanted to be left alone.

“I’m thrilled!” Barbara Chester, a fair, pretty girl with golden curls, enthused. “I worked so hard last term but I was awfully afraid they’d move me to Upper IVa while these three got their double remove.”

Barbara, along with Prunella, Ruth and Clare, had been in Upper IVb last term but had all skipped a form to Vb along with the rest of their friends this term. Barbara had been delicate since birth and had been convinced she would be left down in the Middle school. She was thrilled to bits to have been promoted. Ruth and Clare were less bothered.

“I suppose we’ll have to work now,” Clare, an Irish girl, moaned. “I’m all for an easy life, me!”

“You wouldn’t want to be left behind in the middles, though, would you?” Ruth asked. “That would be awful. I felt sure my Maths would let me down, but Miss Wilmot has worked miracles with me.”

And so the chatter went on. The train lurched and began to move out of the station and still Jessica remained hidden behind her book. She turned pages at random, not really paying attention to what she was reading. She was eagerly listening in to the others’ conversation, trying to learn all she could about her new class mates and her new school. Jessica felt a bit aggrieved that no-one, not even Prunella, was paying attention to her, not realising that the girls thought they were doing her a kindness. She listened to their talk and learned that Barbara and Vi were cousins. Prunella had only been at the school for two terms and Clare Kennedy’s best friend was one Christine Vincent. Jessica also heard a lot of references to a girl called Mary Lou who seemed to be, as she phrased it, “the cat’s bathmat”. Jessica took an instant dislike to the said Mary Lou who appeared to be very bossy and leader of the “Gang”, whatever that was. Jessica learned that Mary Lou would not be coming back to school for a week or so because her Gran had died.
#91:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:56 pm
    —
It's funny that hearing about OOAO has that affect on Jessica!
Thanks Sue.
#92:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 1:26 pm
    —
Contrary girl - she wanted them to leave her alone then gets annoyed because they do!


Thanks Sue.
#93:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:09 pm
    —
Yay! Fab to see more of this Sue.

I love the way she takes an instant dislike to OOAO
#94:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 7:31 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that Jessica is being so silly.
#95:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:16 am
    —
Throughout the journey, the girls tried to involve Jessica in their conversation. They plied her with chocolate, biscuits and magazines. Ruth Barnes even gave up her window seat halfway to Basle. None of this met with the least sign of friendship from Jessica and, by the time they arrived at Interlaken, they were thoroughly fed up with her. They all felt sorry for Prunella who was duty bound as sheepdog to look after Jessica. Prunella felt sorry for herself as she led Jessica to one of the waiting buses and sat down beside. Prunella looked longingly at her own friends who were sat at the back of the bus and then made the best of a bad job by trying to tell Jessica what to expect when the arrived at school.

“Wash and tidy up and then dinner, I expect,” she said. “It’ll be fearfully late when we get there and I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. Miss Annersley might say a few words to us, but I expect she’ll leave her welcome speech until tomorrow. We’ll unpack tomorrow, too, and then have short lessons in each of our subjects so the mistresses can set us prep. Lessons will start properly on Monday.”

Jessica listened stonily to this and pretended an indifference that she did not really feel. There was something about these girls that was different to the sort of girls she had known at Redferne and Cor Lan. Their friendliness was genuine and Jessica felt herself unwittingly drawn to Prunella. She had to remind herself firmly that she would not be happy at the Chalet School and she would not make friends with anyone.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur to tired Jessica. It seemed to her that Prunella was constantly telling her to “come on”. On arrival at the school, they had been met by a tall lady, with a pleasant, clear cut face and shiny dark hair. This, so Prunella informed Jessica, was Miss Annersley the Head Mistress. The Head had sent the girls off to their various Splasheries (cloakrooms to Jessica) to have a quick wash before dinner. After dinner, which Jessica ate hungrily without actually tasting anything on her plate, bed was the order of the day and Prunella dragged her off to their dormitory – they were both in Leafy.

“I’ll show you what goes where tomorrow,” Prunella told the bewildered Jessica as she pulled down the cubicle curtains which marked Jessica’ domain, “for tonight, have a good wash and brush up and get some sleep. I’ll take you to the bathroom in five minutes, so be ready.”

Prunella vanished to her own cubicle but was as good as her word and was back within five minutes to drag Jessica to the bathroom. When they came back to Leafy, Prunella waited until Jessica was beneath the covers and then left, saying a quiet “Good night”. For a wonder, Jessica responded with a brief “’night” and Prunella left thinking they were going to have fun with this particular new girl!
#96:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:54 pm
    —
Poor girl, it must be difficult enough without going to all sorts of lengths to rebuff all the friendly overtures. Thanks Sue.
#97:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 1:21 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm glad that Jessica can see that the other girls are genuinely friendly.
#98:  Author: kimothy, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:37 pm
    —
thanks sue
#99:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:25 pm
    —
Poor girl - a case of hurting herself more than anyone else.

Is the fact that she's noticed a difference in the girls an indication of a little maturity?


Thanks Sue.
#100:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:34 pm
    —
Just doing a major catch-up! Thanks Sue Very Happy .
#101:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:11 pm
    —
The next morning, Jessica was woken at an unearthly hour by an insistent, deep clanging noise. She sat bolt upright in bed, wondering where on earth she was. As she took in her cubicle, with its pretty leaf strewn curtains, wicker chair and long, narrow bureau, she remembered that she was at the Chalet School. Jessica gave a groan that was not solely to do with the early hours and disappeared beneath her covers. It was far too early for any self-respecting school girl to be abroad and she needed some more sleep!

“Show a leg!” a voice called and Jessica wondered what that meant as she crept further under the sheets, trying to block out the sounds coming from other cubicles. She closed her eyes and was fairly certain she would soon be able to doze off again.

Then Jessica heard her curtains being opened and a voice said loudly, “You in there, show a leg!”

Jessica remained beneath the covers. Nothing and no-one would induce her to get up. She heard steps and the next thing she knew, her covers were being hauled back.

“Jessica Wayne, isn’t it?” the big girl who stood over her asked. “Come on, Jessica, it’s time to get up. In future, when I call “show a leg”, you must get up and shove a leg out through the cubicle curtains. That way, I know you’re up. I’m Blossom Willoughby,” she added, “the dormitory prefect, and its my job to make sure everyone’s down to breakfast on time, so get a move on.”

“I’m not hungry, thanks,” Jessica said and, grabbing her bedclothes, she hauled them up over her head again.

The astounded Blossom was so taken aback that it was several seconds before she could react.

“It’s not a matter of personal choice,” she snapped, pulling the covers back again so enthusiastically that they landed on the floor. “Up!” she ordered. Blossom was usually a very sunny natured person but if there was one thing she hated it was people who messed about in the mornings and made everyone else late. Even for a new girl, she would not make exceptions.
#102:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:16 pm
    —
Oh dear...

Have to say though, I'd be very Jessica-ish in the mornings at the CS!
#103:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:20 pm
    —
Me too!
#104:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:43 pm
    —
And me (and I'd have been reading under the bedclothes with a torch at night)

Poor Jessica - I can't help but feel sorry for her
#105:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:45 pm
    —
Me too - I suppose you can't let 250ish pupils all do their own thing, but it would've driven me mad!
#106:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:04 pm
    —
Yes, I feel sorry for her, too. I don't remember Blossom being famed for her patience though, so I imagine she'll get short shrift soon!

Thanks Sue.
#107:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:23 pm
    —
Great start there! Rolling Eyes


Thanks Sue.
#108:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:24 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I would have found it hard to get out of bed as well.
#109:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:00 pm
    —
Why do I suspect this is not the worst thing that will happen to Jessica today?

Smile
#110:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:06 am
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Have just caught up with all this. Thanks.
#111:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:36 pm
    —
Jessica, realising that Blossom was angry, deliberately stuck her tongue out at the older girl. Blossom fixed her with a stare that was so unlike her usually sunny countenance that Jessica flinched and reluctantly began to get up. As she did so, Prunella appeared in the gap between the curtains looking apologetic.

“I’m sorry, Jessica, but I was first bather this morning so I had to shoot off before I could show you what to do,” she burst out and then noticed Blossom’s dark face. “Oh, Blossom…”

“Are you sheepdogging Jessica, Prunella?” the dormitory prefect asked. When Prunella nodded the affirmative, Blossom said, “Will you please see that Jessica knows where to go and what to do? If you have any trouble, let me know,” and Prunella wondered what on earth Jessica had done to upset happy-go-lucky Blossom.

Blossom stalked out of the cubicle and the two girls faced each other.

“Come on, Jessica, you’re third bather this morning and Jennifer’s just come back. Quick! There isn’t a moment to bless yourself with in the mornings in this place!”

Prunella grabbed Jessica’s towel and washing materials and headed out of the cubicle. Jessica could see that she had no choice but to follow and did so with a bad grace. Prunella left Jessica at the bathroom door and shouted “Cold or lukewarm bath in the morning, not hot! Don’t make a mess or you’ll have to clean it up. Leave the tap running for the next person!”

Jessica glowered after her and went into the bathroom. The cold tap was running and, as she ran her fingers under it, Jessica shivered. Surely she wasn’t expected to bathe in that! She turned off the tap and turned the hot one on instead. It gave off a stream of comfortably warm water and Jessica nodded – much better. She cleaned her teeth as the bath continued to fill and then jumped in, water sloshing over the sides as she did so. A quick splash, and Jessica was out again, towelling herself dry and someone was banging on the door as she did so. This must the fourth bather, she realised, and she hadn’t even emptied the bath and set it running again. Oh, well, whoever it was could do it herself. Still towelling herself dry, Jessica wrenched open the door and headed for Leafy. She could hear the disgusted expressions of the girl who came after her and felt satisfied. She would show this silly school that their rules counted for nothing with Jessica Wayne!
#112:  Author: kimothy, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:38 pm
    —
oh dear...
#113:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:39 pm
    —
So she's not met Matey yet then.....


Thanks Sue.
#114:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:43 pm
    —
I have to say that I'd hate to have to have a cold shower (wish I had time for a bath in the mornings!) first thing Laughing, but breaking the rules isn't a great start and making a mess in the bathroom's not going to make her very popular. Oh dear!

Thanks Sue.
#115:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:58 pm
    —
No, the idea of cold baths makes me cringe, too. I don't think Jessica will be so reluctant to leap into the freezing water once Matey's had a little word with her, though!
#116:  Author: pim, Location: Londinium PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:16 pm
    —
Uh-oh... Mind, the mere idea of a cold bath is making me shiver!!!
#117:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:43 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder when or if Matey will find out about Jessica using the hot water.
#118:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:47 am
    —
Eeshh. Not good Jessica!

Thanks for the update.
#119:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:27 pm
    —
Back in her cubicle, and Prunella appeared, fully dressed, and told her to get dressed. Then she must strip her bed.

“Normally,” Prunella said, ignoring the new girl’s black looks, “you’ll strip your bed first, unless you’re first bather. I’ll come back in a few minutes and show you how.”

“No need,” Jessica said casually, “I can strip a bed.”

Prunella looked at her strangely and then withdrew, leaving Jessica to get on with things. Jessica scrambled into her school uniform and patted her head a few times with her brush. Then she turned to her bed.

“What a load of nonsense!” she thought. “Why should I have to strip it everyday when I’m just going to sleep in it again tonight and get it all messy again?” At Cor Lan, beds had only been fully stripped when the sheets were changed.

Jessica was just about to quit her cubicle, with bed clothes still piled on the floor when she heard Blossom’s voice calling, “Prayers, everyone!” She heard various thumps from other parts of the dormitory indicating that the girls were on their knees to say their prayers. Jessica never bothered with prayers in the morning feeling they were a waste of time and so she took advantage of the fact that everyone else was busy and slipped out of the dormitory and into the corridor. There was a line of girls marching by, on their way to the Speisesaal for breakfast and naughty Jessica tagged onto the back of the line.

She followed the line downstairs and into the room where she had had dinner the night before. The Speisesaal was a very long room and lengthy tables ran down the room in three rows. There was another row across the top of the table. Jessica stood behind the pretty peasant chair which marked her place and waited as the room filled up with girls. A few moments later, Blossom entered the room, followed by the lambs from her dormitory. Jessica noticed with satisfaction that the dormitory prefect looked furious and guessed that she had sinned greatly in coming down to the Speisesaal as she had, by herself. Prunella took her place beside Jessica, but said nothing until Grace had been spoken and they had sat down to enjoy their meal.

“Jessica, you can’t just leave the dormitory like that,” she said, trying not to sound overbearing. “We all have to march down together when everyone has finished their duties. Blossom’s furious with you for leaving your bed unmade and Jennifer said you left the bathroom in an awful state. Matron will probably have words with you.”

“So what?” Jessica said rudely as she tucked into a roll. She had expected an English breakfast and was somewhat disgusted to see that she was expected to get through the morning on nothing more than rolls and coffee.

“Honestly, Jessica, it’s not worth it,” Prunella said earnestly. “Matey’s a pet, but you don’t want to cross her.”

“Why should Matron care whether I make my bed or not?” Jessica demanded. “It’s not as if she’s going to sleep in it.”

“It’s the rules,” Prunella said, desperately trying to remain friendly. It was not easy when friendly overtures were continually met with rudeness.

“I think they’re silly rules.”

Prunella gave it up for the time being and turned her attention to breakfast. Jessica saw that Prunella was discomfited and, though she tried to feel pleased about this, only succeeded in feeling slightly guilty. Prunella’s friendship had been genuine, even though Jessica had been thrust on her.
#120:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:38 pm
    —
Ah, is that a little maturity there, Jessica? Projecting sympathy toward the girl for her forth-coming meeting with Matey....



Thanks Sue.
#121:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:18 pm
    —
It can be very frustrating having to keep stupid rules - I can't say I'm in the habit of lifting my mattress up to let air pass under it, and I don't think it's ever done my bed too much harm Laughing - but I hope she settles down soon or it's going to be very hard for her.
#122:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:39 pm
    —
Must admit I'd have hated all those "petty" rules too Embarassed Wink
#123:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:15 am
    —
But she feels guilty for her treatment of Prunella! That's great to hear! By the time OOAO got her hands on her, Jessica must have been almost relieved to be sorted out!
#124:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 3:05 pm
    —
Bit of a marathon update today!

As the girls were clearing away the remains of their meal, Matron entered the room. She, along with the rest of the staff, had been told a potted history of Jessica’s life and she had already marked the girl out as a troublemaker. When she had inspected Leafy and found Jessica’s bed unmade and the cubicle in a mess she was not prepared to be lenient. She felt sorry for the girl, who was obviously mixed-up, but Matron would not allow anyone to interfere with the smooth running of the domestic side of the school. Blossom had also told Matron about the mess in the bathroom and this all boded very ill for Jessica.

Matron captured Jessica as she was herded from the Speisesaal by Prunella.

“Just a moment, Prunella,” Matron said, taking in Jessica’s appearance and noting the frown lines on her forehead and the discontent in her eyes. “I need to speak with Jessica. I’ll bring her to you when we’ve finished. I take your acting as sheep dog?”

“Yes, Matron,” Prunella said, very properly.

“Then off you go,” Matron turned to Jessica and said sternly. “Come with me, please.”

Matron was a small woman and Jessica towered over her by a good six inches which should have made Jessica feel the more superior but there was something in Matron’s expression that told the girl she would be well served to do as she was bid. Thus, she stamped along the corridor behind Matron, following her back to Leafy, displeasure evident in every movement.

“What’s this, Jessica?” Matron asked, not unkindly, pointing at the mess of bed clothes on the floor of the cubicle.

“My bed clothes,” Jessica said insolently.

Matron fixed her with a glare which Jessica found uncomfortable and she dropped her eyes.

“Did Prunella not tell you that your bed must be properly stripped and the mattress humped, ready for making later on?”

Jessica opened her mouth to say “No”, but she had a feeling that Matron wouldn’t believe her and she did not want to be accused of lying. “Yes. What of it?” she responded in as cheeky a tone as she could muster. Inwardly, she was realising that she might not be able to get with much with Matron who was clearly a force to be reckoned with.

“I’m going to show you how to strip the bed and you must do this every day without fail. If you don’t, you’ll get an order mark. If you get three order marks, you will have to forfeit your Saturday evenings and spend the evening with me, hemming sheets. Believe me, that will not be a pleasant experience for either of us. Here,”

And Matron swiftly showed Jessica the one and only way she approved of stripping, and then making, the bed while Jessica wondered what a “Saturday evening” was. She was not brave enough to ask Matron and expected that Prunella would explain it to her later.

”There,” Matron said when the bed had been remade in her own patent way, with neat hospital corners. “I want you to promise me, Jessica, that you will do this every day and that I will not have cause to speak to you about it again. You’re a new girl and this is your first day, so I’m not going to scold you but I won’t make allowances again.”

“Ok,” Jessica mumbled, somewhat in awe of this little, self-possessed lady who so clearly expected unquestioning obedience.

“One last thing,” Matron continued. “It is the responsibility of each girl to mop up any mess you make in the bathrooms. It’s not fair to leave it to the girl who comes after you, or to the maids. I understand you splashed a lot of water over the side of the bath this morning and left it. Please don’t do that again. There is a mop and bucket in each bathroom in case of mess. If you leave a mess again, you’ll clean it up under my supervision.”

Matron could see that Jessica was beginning to bristle under her scolding and decided that enough was enough.

“If you follow our rules here, Jessica, I think you will be very happy here. If you set yourself apart from the other girls by doing silly things like this, you will only succeed in making yourself very miserable. Come and I’ll take you back to Prunella. I’ll be seeing you later for unpacking.”

At the mention of unpacking, Jessica gave a little shiver. She wondered just what Matron would have to say when she discovered that half of her belongings were missing and that the clothes that were there were not labelled. Jessica tossed her head. Who cared? Wasn’t this what she wanted – getting into trouble? Matron could say what she wanted. She, Jessica, didn’t care.

Matron returned Jessica to Prunella who eyed her charge curiously but did not question what had gone on. She knew that Matron would have had a lot to say about the state of Jessica’s cubicle and guessed that the girl would be feeling fragile. At least, any normal girl would be feeling fragile after being flayed by Matey. It was difficult to tell with this particular new girl.
#125:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 3:10 pm
    —
Good old Matey, realizing a little of how Jessica is feeling and treating her accordingly. I can't imagine what she'll think of the trunk, though! Thanks Sue.
#126:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 3:13 pm
    —
Matey handled that pretty well Very Happy .
#127:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:50 pm
    —
Jessica was extremely lucky there - wonder if she realises that?



Thanks Sue.
#128:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:31 pm
    —
Miss Annersley’s beginning of term speech came next and Jessica filed into place beside Prunella and the rest of form Vb. Jessica was expecting a dull lecture on the importance of hard work and doing one’s best and there was certainly an element of that in Miss Annersley’s talk, but the Head’s first announcement overshadowed everything that came next. After briefly welcoming the girls and staff, Miss Annersley became serious.

“I have some sad news for you, girls,” she said. “You will all know Mary Lou Trelawney who was Head of the Middle School last term and you will probably have noticed that Mary Lou is not among us,” At which, those girls who had not been attentive to enough turned to stare at the ranks of Vb. Miss Annersley coughed and they quickly turned their attention back to her. “Mary Lou’s gran, old Mrs Trelawney died last week. Mary Lou has stayed at home for an extra week for the funeral and to help her mother. Mary Lou was very close to her gran and will miss her immensely. I know you will join with me in praying for Mary Lou, that God will grant her the strength and courage to get through this difficult time. Miss Dene has a card of condolence in her study. If anyone wishes to sign it, they can go to her office between Kaffee und Kuchen and prep. I know the Trelawneys will be very grateful for your thoughts and prayers.”

Jessica was impressed at the hush that had fallen on the room as the girls contemplated their friend’s bereavement. Mary Lou must be a popular character, she thought, and Jessica thought that she was probably one of those awful, bossy, overbearing girls who everybody liked because they were too scared to do otherwise. Jessica decided that she would not like Mary Lou, she certainly wouldn’t pray for someone she had never met.

Miss Annersley’s speech continued, but there was little in it to occupy Jessica. Her mind wandered and she embarrassed herself by remaining sitting at the end of the talk when the Head bade everyone stand to make their way to their form rooms. Prunella hauled her to her feet and Jessica shook herself free angrily. Really, she wished Prunella would just leave her alone. She didn’t like the nagging feeling that told her that Prunella, and all the girls she had met, were genuinely friendly and willing to accept her into their midst, and so she thrust the feeling aside with contempt.
#129:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:36 pm
    —
Quote:
she was probably one of those awful, bossy, overbearing girls who everybody liked because they were too scared to do otherwise
Very Happy OOAO? Of course not!
It was nice to hear that they got a card to send to Mary-Lou and her mother. I'm really looking forward to seeing Jessica's opinion of M-L when she meets her for the first time!
#130:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 5:07 pm
    —
Also looking forward to seeing what Jessica makes of OOAO!
#131:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:39 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. It's good that Matron has made an impression on Jessica.
#132:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:45 pm
    —
Can quite understand Jessica's feelings toward Mary Lou - but she is being very unkind to Prunella.


Thanks Sue.
#133:  Author: kimothy, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:31 pm
    —
im feeling very sorry for prunella atm, i also really like the card idea
#134:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:50 pm
    —
Jessica followed Prunella and the rest of Vb through a maze of corridors to their form room. It was a pleasant, airy room with desks laid out in straight lines and a couple of prints of pictures by famous artists on the walls which were painted a warm yellow. Jessica did not feel that it looked like a form room at all.

The girls were taking their seats and Jessica remembered Vi Lucy, Barbara Chester and Ruth Barnes from the journey yesterday sitting in the back row. In a seemingly genuine gesture, Prunella grabbed Jessica’s hand and led her to a seat in the second back row, next to Clare Kennedy. Prunella sat on the other side and Clare’s great friend, Christine Vincent, sat in front of Clare.

“Anyone know who our form mistress is?” Vi Lucy asked. “I hope it’s not Willy. She always says nasty things about my Maths.”

“Maybe if you tried a bit harder, she’d be a bit more complimentary,” Barbara said and was treated to a withering look from her cousin. “I rather hope it’s Miss O’…”

Barbara was interrupted by the opening of the door and the class rose to its feet as one. All, that is, except Jessica who remained sitting. She felt rather foolish, however, and scraped her chair back and got to her feet with as much noise as possible. Miss O’Ryan, the history mistress, gave the girl a quick look as she went to her seat at the mistress’ desk.

“Sit down, girls,” she said in a creamy voice with just a hint of Irish brogue. “Welcome back.”

“Good morning, Miss O’Ryan,” the girls chorused as they regained their seats.

Miss O’Ryan glanced round the room and found that, as expected, Jessica was the only new girl. Wanting to make the girl feel welcome, Miss O’Ryan spoke directly to her.

“Welcome to the Chalet School, Jessica. I hope that you’ll be very happy here.”

Jessica went red and sank back into her seat, trying to make herself as small as possible. She had no desire to be singled out in this way. Miss O’Ryan was staring at her, clearly expecting some sort of response and Prunella gave her a gentle poke. It was not the done thing at the Chalet School to ignore a mistress when she spoke to you.

“Er… thank you,” was all Jessica could manage but it was enough and Miss O’Ryan moved on to other things.

“Who is in Cornflower dormitory?” she asked.

Quite eight girls, including Ruth Barnes, Vi Lucy, Barbara Chester and Clare Kennedy stood up.

“Matron would like to see you all straight away for packing. Please be as quick as you can as we have a lot to sort out before you start lessons after break.”

The eight left the room quickly and quietly and Jessica was again surprised at the lack of fuss with which everything was achieved.
#135:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:25 pm
    —
Everyone is trying so hard; I just wish Jessica could make up her mind to give it a fair go. She'd be so much happier. But then there'd be no story, I suppose!
Thanks Sue.
#136:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:34 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. It's good that the others are still trying.
#137:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:28 pm
    —
Thanks Sue - I think, if Jessica was just a little less angry, she'd have fallen in with the CS ways immediately.
#138:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:53 pm
    —
They're all really making an effort ... and Jessica does seem to be quite impressed.

I think I always felt a bit sorry for people who started at our school part-way through, when the rest of us had been there since we were 11 and all knew each other/the way the school worked etc, and it must be even harder at a boarding school. Even someone who started with a really "positive" attitude must have found it difficult.

Thanks Sue Very Happy .
#139:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:05 pm
    —
The next half hour for those left in the form room was spent going to and from the stationary cupboard to collect text books, pens, pencils and paper. Prunella, Jessica and Christine were also set to bringing the same for the absent eight. They had just finished when Vi and Co returned.

“Please, Miss O’Ryan,” Vi said, very properly, “Matron would like to see those in Leafy now, please.”

“Thank you, Vi. Leafy dormitory!” she called.

Only Jessica, Prunella and Christine stood up, the remainder of Leafy being made up from girls in Va.

“Off to Matron,” Miss O’Ryan ordered, “and then you had better go straight to the Speisesaal for your milk and biscuits.”

Prunella took firm hold of Jessica’s arm giving her no chance to argue with the mistress though, in truth, she was feeling very much in awe of the small mistress and would not have done so. Also, she was secretly keen to learn Matron’s reaction when that lady saw the contents of her trunk and she ignored the lurching of her stomach which told her that Matron would not be amused.

Up in the trunk room, the girls from Va were hard at work unpacking their trunks into the wicker baskets that were used to transport their clothes to their dormitories. Matron allowed one basket per pair and she set Prunella and Jessica to one and ordered Christine over to Blossom who was also there, though she was in VIb. Prunella went straight to work, lifting out items of clothing and double ticking them off her inventory. Matron walked up and down, supervising and ready to go to anyone in trouble. She stopped over Jessica when she saw that the girl was not making any effort to unpack the trunk.

”Is there a problem, Jessica?” she asked.

“Oh, no, Matron,” Jessica said nonchalantly and began to haul out the things that had been lying crushed for over a week. Matron saw none of this as Blossom called her over, but Prunella looked in horror at the crushed blouses and skirts that Jessica withdrew.

“You can’t put those away!” she protested. “They’ll need to go to the laundry. Didn’t your mother read the instructions on packing?”

Jessica flared up at this criticism of her mother. “I packed my own trunk,” she said haughtily. “And don’t say anything to Matron or I’ll think you’re a sneak.”

“It’s your business,” Prunella said flatly, “but you’ll get into fearful trouble.”
#140:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:14 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder if Matron will realise before Jessica takes her trunk to the dormitory.
#141:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:18 pm
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Matron is not going to be impressed.
#142:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:23 pm
    —
Silly girl - bet Matron has her pressing the items herself

Thanks Sue.
#143:  Author: kimothy, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:35 pm
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oh dear! jessicas for it!!
#144:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:10 pm
    —
It's not going well, is it Sad ?
#145:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:20 pm
    —
Prunella turned back to her own trunk and Jessica continued to fling things into the wicker basket willy nilly. She ought to have known, even from the little that she had seen of Matron, that she would not get away with this.

”Not like that, Jessica!” Matron scolded, bustling over to see what the new girl was doing. “You’ll crush everything.” Then she saw the state in which the clothes coming out of the trunk were in and gasped. “Good gracious, just look at the state of this!” she held up a skirt which looked as if it had been abandoned at the door by a cat who knew it was worthless. “And this!” she held up a velveteen. “Who packed your trunk, Jessica? Surely not your mother?”

“No, it was me,”

“Really?,” Matron said, dropping the offending items onto the wicker tray. “Then why, pray, did you not follow the packing instructions? There are clear instructions to be followed so that your uniform doesn’t need ironed when you unpack it. These,” she pointed to the contents of the trunk, “will need to be sent to the laundry before you can wear them. Well?”

Jessica tried to be nonchalant, but the hard glint in Matron’s eye made her feel a bit queasy. “I couldn’t be bothered,” she said.

Matron checked her response and turned to the rest of the girls. “Is everyone else finished? Then please go to Leafy and unpack. Prunella, tip Jessica’s things back into her trunk and then go to your dormitory.”

Matron waited until the girls had left the room before starting back on Jessica.
#146:  Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:24 pm
    —
Well, half of me hopes Matey gives her what for, and the other half of me hopes Matey tries to find out what made Jessica pack like this in the first place.

Matey hasn't found the missing name labels yet, has she?
#147:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:29 pm
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I'm in absolute agreement with Arky!
#148:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:18 pm
    —
Think Jessica is going to rue the day she thought about messing up he packing. Laughing


Thanks Sue
#149:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:23 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder how Jessica will explain what has happened about the name tapes.
#150:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:00 pm
    —
I could do with a copy of those packing instructions! I try really hard to keep everything flat, but somehow some things are always creased when I get to wherever I'm going Confused !
#151:  Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:29 am
    —
can I have the packing instructions too please? I packed katie' stuff for a school trip recently and she moaned at me afterwards that it was all creased wehn she came to wear it.....

I thought it was really telling how Jessica wouldn't take any criticism of Emily - it shows she still has strong feelings for her underneath even tho she may think she hates her - she doesn't, otherwise she would have blamed her.
#152:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:36 pm
    —
I could have done with those instructions for our recent holiday, when I spent a lot of time ironing things I thought I'd packed properly!


“Let’s see what else is going on in here,” she said, inwardly seething that her unpacking rota was being ruined because of this naughty new girl.

She began to take out each item of clothing and mark it off on the inventory. As she did so, her face grew blacker and blacker. A large number of items was missing and, almost as bad, there were no name tapes sewn into anything.

“Can you explain this, Jessica?” she asked, determined to be fair. There might be a reasonable explanation that was beyond the girl’s control but one look at Jessica’s face told her that the girl herself was responsible. She did not even wait for Jessica to answer. “I see,” she said in a very hard, cold voice that sent shivers down Jessica’s spine. “Why did you do this?”

Jessica could think of no answer that would satisfy Matron and so she remained silent. She was not sure why, but she was almost scared of this little, wiry woman.

“Where are the rest of your clothes?”

“Under my bed at home,” Jessica told her, trying to keep her voice from shaking. She told herself that she didn’t care but deep down she wished that she had not pulled this stunt.

Matron gaped. “Then your parents must be asked to send them on. You will write to them later and explain what you have done and ask them to post the clothes. You can’t do without them.”

“I won’t!” Jessica cried.

“Yes, you will,” Matron said with finality and the argument was closed. “What about name tapes – where are they?”

“They were in my clothes,” Jessica said, trying hard to remain composed and to remember that trouble was what she wanted, “but I unpicked them and threw them away.”

“Of all the ridiculous things to do!” Matron exclaimed. “I don’t suppose there’s any point in me asking why. Well, you must ask your parents to send new name tapes as well. When they arrive, you’ll need to spend your spare time in sewing them back in.”

“Adam isn’t my parent!” Jessica spat out. It infuriated her when people referred to her step-father as a parent.

“If you are talking about you step-father, kindly refer to him with the respect he deserves,” Matron snapped. She held up an assortment of the crushed clothes. “As for these, instead of going to the Saturday evening tomorrow, you will come to me and I will show you how to iron them. It’s unfair to expect the maids to do it for you and you may as well learn something at the same time.”

“But you said I had to get three order marks before I had to miss the Saturday evening,” Jessica pointed out and also remembered that she had not asked Prunella what a Saturday evening was.

“That will do,” Matron said. “Believe me, this stunt is worth more than three order marks. This is not a very auspicious start to your time with us, Jessica. Take this as a sign that you need to pull your socks up.”

Matron added a few more choice words and sent Jessica off to write a card to the Seftons explaining what she had done. Then she warned the girl that she must not forget to come to the laundry room after Kaffee und Kuchen on Saturday – Prunella would show her where to go.
#153:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:46 pm
    —
Well she deserved it - and Matey was actually quite lenient with her there. Telling that Jessica still has such a knee-jerk reaction against Adam.


Thanks Sue.
#154:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:21 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm glad that Matron didn't think that it was Emily whom had been careless.
#155:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:26 pm
    —
Not a good start Rolling Eyes .
#156:  Author: lizarfau, Location: Melbourne PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:08 am
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I do wish Jessica - or someone, anyone - would just tell Matey to get stuffed. I cannot stand that bossy, only-one-way-of-doing-things-and-that's-my-way woman and never have been able to.

Even if Jessica is in the wrong here, I'm still on her side against Matey!

And Jess is right anyway about Adam. He is not her parent.
#157:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:41 am
    —
Adam may not be her father, but he's presumably supporting her now, so deserves the respect that matron said he did. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Saturday evening with Matey goes! I don't imagine Jessica will tangle with her again after that!
#158:  Author: Cryst,  PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:34 am
    —
Thank you Leahbelle, just had a nice long catch up. A pity Matron didn't try to find out what was behind Jessica's sabotage of the packing, but I love the way she's only concerned about her almost military unpacking operation!
#159:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:50 pm
    —
Jessica made her way back to the form room feeling that Matron had won this round. She wondered why she had not stamped her feet and shouted like she had done at Cor Lan and Redferne and then remembered the look on Matron’s face. It was unfair to ask a girl to argue with someone like that! Jessica looked furious as she took her seat in Vb and Miss O’Ryan wondered what had happened. Jessica did not have the courtesy to explain her absence or even apologise to the mistress and she looked so fierce that Miss O’Ryan decided it was best left alone – this time.

The remainder of the school day passed in relative quiet for Jessica. She was keen to get the measure of the mistresses before she decided the best way to go about making a nuisance of herself. She was dismayed to find that, without exception, the mistresses were very much on the ball. The majority were young and were very much on the lookout for anyone who might play the fool. “Old-timers” like Mademoiselle de Lachennais could spot a trouble maker a mile off and set out to make sure that they had no opportunity to disrupt the class.

“Oh, well,” Jessica thought philosophically, “there’s plenty of other stuff I can do.” She remembered Matron’s face as she had unpacked her half empty trunk and smiled – conveniently forgetting that Matron had managed to scare her!
#160:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:55 pm
    —
Hmmmm, so is she going to try again with Matron then? Surely not!


Thanks Sue.
#161:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:09 pm
    —
Well there's ways and ways of sewing on name tapes for a start!
#162:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:46 pm
    —
She's just determined to ask for trouble, isn't she?
#163:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:53 am
    —
How late into the term did Mary-Lou return? I was wondering how much time Jessica had to disrupt things.

Thanks Sue.
#164:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 10:19 am
    —
Mary-Lou returned to school a week late.

Thanks, Sue. I wonder what mischief Jessica is going to get up to.
#165:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:09 pm
    —
Kaffee und Kuchen provided Jessica an opportunity to make herself heard. The girls at the Chalet School ate regularly and it was good, plain fare. Breakfast was continental style and at break, mid-morning, biscuits and milk were the order of the day. This was followed by lunch and Kaffee und Kuchen at 1600 at the end of the school day. Abendessen was taken in the evening. Jessica had a gripe with Kaffee und Kuchen for two reasons: first, she was not particularly fond of coffee, and certainly had no taste for the large bowls of milky coffee the Chalet girls drank; and, second, after eating an enormous lunch she was, quite simply, not hungry and could quite happily have gone through to Abendessen without further repast. Instead of telling someone what she was feeling, Jessica saw this as a heaven sent opportunity to cause a fuss.

She was sitting with Prunella, Vi Lucy, Barbara Chester, Clare Kennedy and a tiny, elfin girl called Verity Carey in the senior common room when the bell for Kaffee und Kuchen rang. Everyone immediately began to line up at the door and two older girls took charge. It never ceased to amaze Jessica the speed with which the girls organised themselves. At Cor Lan and Redferne, this would have been the signal for scuffling and joking if there was no mistress present.

One of the older girls, Sybil Russell – a shining light of VIb – saw that Jessica had made no effort to line up with the others and came over to where she was sitting on a deep sofa set between two windows. Jessica was reading, but she saw Sybil approach from the corner of her eye and chose to ignore her. Sybil, waiting for an acknowledgement that never came, decided that Miss Jessica was a very rude individual and was rather short with her as a result.

“It’s time for Kaffee und Kuchen,” she said. “ You must line up at the door with the others.”

“I’m not hungry, thank you,” Jessica told her with supercilious politeness that Sybil recognised as cheek.

“That doesn’t matter, I’m afraid,” the older girl said, “so put that book down and get into line, otherwise you’ll make us all late.”

“No,” Jessica said with finality.

Sybil stared. She could hardly reach down and yank the girl to her feet. Nor was she a prefect with any authority. Normally, however, younger girls treated sixth formers with the respect their position deserved and obeyed orders when they were given.

“Very well,” Sybil said eventually, “stay here. I expect the Head Girl will send Matron to fetch you. We aren’t allowed to skip meals.”

And with that, Sybil gestured to the lines at the door and the girls filed out. The mention of Matron had made Jessica start for a moment, but then she settled back. What was Matron, after all, but a glorified servant? She wasn’t even a mistress. Who was Matron to say that she had to go to Kaffee und Kuchen when she wasn’t hungry? Jessica turned the page of her book, curled up more comfortably on the sofa and continued reading.
#166:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:52 pm
    —
Yes, the idea of milky coffee turns my stomach! But the fancy bread always sounded so nice that I'd have liked to see and try it. I wonder who will come to fetch Jessica!
Thanks Sue.
#167:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:11 pm
    —
Having to drink coffee - even milky coffee which I like - instead of tea all the time would've driven me mad! Hope Jessica doesn't call Matey "a glorified servant" to her face Laughing .
#168:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:19 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder who will come to Jessica.
#169:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:14 pm
    —
Alison H wrote:
Having to drink coffee - even milky coffee which I like - instead of tea all the time would've driven me mad! Hope Jessica doesn't call Matey "a glorified servant" to her face Laughing .



Actually I'm rather hoping that she will - would like to see Matey's response and how much of jessica is left at the end of it! Laughing


Thanks Sue.
#170:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:47 am
    —
That would be interesting to see - Matey being called a servant! Shocked
#171:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:23 pm
    —
If she thought that she was going to be allowed to stay away from Kaffee und Kuchen, she was mistaken. Ten minutes later, the door to the common room opened and the Head Girl, Betsy Lucy, came in. Betsy was a puckish looking individual who didn’t look as if she had much authority over anything and Jessica thought she could easily deal with her. Betsy was very much on her dignity, but was willing to give the girl a chance to explain.

”Why won’t you come to Kaffee, Jessica?” she asked, in a friendly tone.

“Not hungry,” Jessica said shortly.

“Wait til you see the selection of cakes we have today – you’ll be hungry then.” Betsy coaxed.

“I won’t” Jessica returned. “I don’t want coffee either, filthy stuff.”

“You can have milk instead,” Betsy told her, trying to keep her cool. The whole school had heard about Jessica’s exploits with her clothes and trunk and Betsy knew she was likely to be a mischief maker, but wanted to give the new girl the benefit of the doubt.

“I don’t like milk, either,” Jessica said, though this was a lie.

Betsy sighed inwardly. Jessica was not making this easy.

“It’s a school rule that everyone must attend at meal times,” she told the new girl. “No exceptions, unless you’re ill or have gone out for the day. So, come on, do, Jessica. You’ll just make things awkward for yourself if you persist in refusing to come.”

“Why should I when I’m not hungry?” Jessica protested. “I don’t want anything to eat til dinner.”

“Abendessen,” Betsy corrected automatically. “Very well, if you won’t come, you won’t come. I’ll let you off for today but you must promise to come to Kaffee in future. Do I have your promise?”

If Betsy thought appealing to Jessica’s honour would do any good, she was mistaken. Jessica gave a dirty look and then lifted her shoulders in a shrug. Unsure as to take this as an affirmative but reluctant to harass this difficult new girl any more at present, Betsy paused. Then she said, firmly:

“I’ll come to the common room myself tomorrow to take you to Kaffee. Make sure you’re ready.”

Jessica grunted and picked up her book again. Betsy was rather shocked at the girl’s lack of manners, and realised that the Chalet School had a problem on its hands. She deemed it wisest to leave things where they were, and got up to go back to the Speisesaal.

Jessica glowered after her. What business was it of this girl’s whether or not she went to a meal? She jolly well wouldn’t go with Betsy tomorrow. Betsy would have to find her first!

Silly Jessica was determined to throw away her chances at the Chalet School. She was so wrapt up in her own agenda that she did not stop to think. Her mind was one track – she would not stay at this school. It might be in Switzerland and it might be exciting to be abroad, but stay she would not! Emily would not get away with treating her like this when Rosamund got to live at home and be pampered by Jessica’s own mother.

“So there!” she thought childishly to herself and then thought that, actually, one of Betsy’s cakes would not go amiss.

Betsy made her way back to the Speisesaal and decided to talk the matter of Jessica over with her fellow prefects. It was only the first day and already the girl had developed quite a reputation for rudeness and non-cooperation. That sort of thing could not be allowed to continue in the Chalet School!
#172:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:33 pm
    —
Oh dear - and, once someone gets a bad name at school, it tends to stick.
#173:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:09 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder what the rest of the prefects will say about the matter.
#174:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:56 pm
    —
Prunella, feeling slightly guilty that she had not pulled Jessica into the line when the bell for Kaffee went, accosted her sheep after the meal and told her that attendance at this particular meal, and all others was a must. Jessica told her quite calmly and with an icy politeness that she would not be going to Kaffee because she didn’t need to eat in the afternoon. Prunella, knowing that Betsy Lucy had taken a hand, gave it up as a bad job and was somewhat mollified when Jessica asked her what a Saturday evening was.

“Oh, they’re great fun!” she enthused, pleased that Jessica seemed to be taking an interest in life at the Chalet School. “Sometimes we dance – country and folk dances, you know – and Miss Lawrence or Mlle or one of the sixth play for us. Sometimes, we have games, paper games, or progressive games. They’re lots of fun. Then, the staff host evenings and so do the prefects. Sometimes, we have form evenings too where we give a play or act out scenes from books, that sort of thing.”

Prunella, along with most Chalet girls, was a fan of the Saturday evening regime and she clearly expected Jessica to be as excited about them as she was.

“Is that all?” Jessica sneered. “I thought you’d watch a film or something. Dancing doesn’t sound to me like much fun.”

“Oh, but it is,” Prunella assured her. “Wait til tomorrow, you’ll see.”

“I won’t. I have to go to Matron, remember? It doesn’t sound like I’ll be missing much, anyway.”

“Well, it’ll be a jolly sight better fun that ironing with Matron,” Prunella snapped and stalked off. There was only so much snubbing that one person could put up with.

Jessica couldn’t understand the tiny twinge of guilt she felt as Prunella walked away, so she pushed it to the back of her mind and ignored it. Why should she get excited about a stupid evening that she wasn’t even going to be at? Jessica picked up her book and hid behind it for the rest of the night.
#175:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 2:53 pm
    —
Poor Jessica! Perhaps it is as well that Mary-Lou wil turn up before too long to sort her out - she's really making herself very miserable at the moment.

Thanks, leahbelle.
#176:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:09 pm
    —
She's not making it easy for herself, is she?

Thanks Sue Very Happy .
#177:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:18 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that Jessica is still making herself miserable.
#178:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:28 pm
    —
Silly girl - and she won't get away with not going to Kaffee another time.


Thanks Sue.
#179:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:02 pm
    —
Have just caught up with the last few posts. She is a very siily little girl, who is only going to make herself more miserable.
#180:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:43 pm
    —
Mind, they did seem to eat rather a lot ... Very Happy

Matey is very soon going to shred Jess.
#181:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:58 pm
    —
For a wonder, most of Saturday passed without incident. Jessica was kept busy with various activities and Prunella stuck to her side to make sure that Jessica was where she was meant to be at the appointed time. Jessica chafed at this invasion of her personal space, but decided that it was early days and there was plenty of time to make herself felt at the Chalet School.

When the time for Kaffee und Kuchen came, however, Jessica was ripe for trouble. Betsy had said that she would fetch Jessica for the meal personally and so Prunella had lined up with the rest of the Seniors. The girls trooped off, leaving Jessica alone in the common room. She didn’t know if she’d have time to hide before Betsy arrived and she was in luck. Betsy had been having some extra coaching and the mistress had run over. By the time Betsy had shoved her books into her locker in the prefects’ room and ran to the common room, Jessica was nowhere.

“Where on earth has the little nuisance got to?” she grumbled. “That was a hard session and I’m hungry.”

Betsy was of half a mind to leave Jessica to it and go for her own meal, but she had a strong sense of her duty as Head Girl and went off in search of the miscreant. Jessica, who was still finding her way about the rabbit warren that was the school had managed to find her way to the Head’s private quarters where she had her bedroom and study and where Miss Dene and Mlle de Lachennais also slept. Jessica had no idea that this was sacred ground and would not have cared if she had. She opened the door to Miss Annersley’s study and crept inside. She sat herself down on one of the comfy chairs and waited. When – and if – Betsy found her, Kaffee would be long over and that would be one up to Jessica!

Unfortunately, fate had another plan. Miss Dene was working late and needed some papers which she remembered she had left in the Head’s study. Sighing, she left her own office and made her way to Miss Annersley’s. When she opened the door and found Jessica Wayne calmly sitting there as if she owned the room, she gasped.

“What on earth are you doing here?” she demanded when she had recovered herself.
#182:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:17 pm
    —
Laughing This should be good! I hope they accept that she didn't realise.
#183:  Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:30 pm
    —
What a bad place for Jessica to pick! (except for the comfy chairs I guess - if you're going to be bad, at least do it in style!!)

Looking forward to Miss Dene's response...
#184:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:00 pm
    —
Pity it wasn't the Head! Jessica deserves everything.


Thanks Sue.
#185:  Author: pim, Location: Londinium PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:08 pm
    —
I think *ulp* is the word I'm looking for here. Wonder if Rosalie will use the same tactics that she did with Emerence and the stairs here...

Thanks, Leahbelle.
#186:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:19 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder what Jessica's punishment will be.
#187:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:50 pm
    —
pim wrote:
I think *ulp* is the word I'm looking for here.


Yes, I think that sums it up quite nicely. Wink

I rather hope the Head will be brought into it. Even if she's not Mary-Lou (!) I'm sure she will make some impression - and look behind the bad behaviour.
#188:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:09 pm
    —
Miranda wrote:
- if you're going to be bad, at least do it in style!!)




I quite agree!

Thanks Leahbelle
#189:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:58 pm
    —
Poor, silly girl. She just makes her life such a misery for herself.
#190:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:35 pm
    —
Jessica gets off lightly here, I'm afraid. The fruits of being a new girl!


“What on earth are you doing here?” she demanded when she had recovered herself.

Jessica, dismayed at being discovered, reverted to cheek to cover her discomfiture.

“Sitting,” she said. Her tone implied ‘isn’t it obvious?’

“I can see that,” Miss Dene said crossly. “Don’t you know this area is out of bounds to you girls except with express permission?”

“What of it?”

Jessica’s casual attitude infuriated the secretary and she fought to keep her temper. Usually a relatively sunny person, Miss Dene was exceptionally busy today and did not need this sort of interruption from a jumped up school girl.

“You’re new, aren’t you?” she asked, quietly – otherwise she felt she must shout! “Jessica Wayne, isn’t it?” this was a pure guess since she had not had cause to meet any of the new girls yet, but there was only one who had arrived with a reputation for mischief.

“That’s me!”

“Stand up!” Miss Dene ordered. “Why aren’t you at Kaffee?”

“Not hungry.” Jessica said, getting slowly to her feet.

“Has Matron given you permission to be absent?”

“No, I just don’t want to go.”

“I’m afraid you must. It’s the rule here, Jessica. Come with me and I’ll take you to the Speisesaal myself.”

Miss Dene put her hand on Jessica’s shoulder and tried to guide the girl from the room, but Jessica twisted away rudely.

“I know where the dining room is. You don’t have to show me. I’m not a baby.”

“Then perhaps you should stop acting like one. I’m taking you to the Speisesaal because I don’t think you’ll go if I leave you to make your own way.”

Jessica could not understand Miss Dene’s lack of trust in her. She stormed out of the Head’s study ahead of the secretary and ran straight into Betsy Lucy who, as a last resort, had come to this part of the building in search of the new girl.

“Oh, Betsy,” Miss Dene said in relief. “Would you take Jessica to the Speisesaal for her Kaffee, please?”

“Of course, Miss Dene,” Betsy said politely. “I’ve been looking for her.”

Miss Dene raised her eyebrows questioningly, but Betsy shook her head surreptitiously. The secretary, realising that something serious was afoot, left it at that but resolved to raise the issue with Miss Annersley later. Perhaps there was need to call on the one and only Mary Lou after all.

“See that Jessica has something to eat, please, and some coffee or a glass of milk.”

Miss Dene stared after the pair as they made their way down the corridor and Jessica had no option but to obey the secretary. Betsy, who was thoroughly annoyed, had a few cutting words to say and, when they arrived in the Speisesaal sat over Jessica until that young lady had eaten two slices of bread and drank a cup of the hated coffee. Only then could Betsy partake of her own meal.
#191:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:56 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I hope that Betsy and Jessica will be able to sort things out later on in the term.
#192:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:04 pm
    —
Laughing at Rosalie's mind immediately jumping to calling in Mary-Lou.
#193:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:23 pm
    —
No, no, no, no no!

Surely the Staff don't feel so inadequate that they have to call upon a 15 year old child to bail them out? Shocked


Thanks Sue - you were very kind to Jessica there!
#194:  Author: lizarfau, Location: Melbourne PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:42 pm
    —
The CS really does force far too much unnecessary food down the girls' throats. Why should they be forced to eat when they're not hungry? All the CS was doing was setting up a lifetime of bad eating habits.

At least at Kingscote they had to eat only an apple between meals.
#195:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:47 pm
    —
Kaffee und Kuchen is thought of as a meal though isn't it? Rather than eating between meals. I would expect the protions at the main meals to be much less than we'd eat these days too. I have a feeling that there's a school of thought that it's better to eat little and often than 3 big(ish) meals a day.
#196:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:22 pm
    —
Rosalie was certainly very kind to Jessica there! Which must be rather frustrating for her, when her main aim is to get into trouble. Does it mean she'll have to up the ante, I wonder?
#197:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:00 am
    —
Yes, she did get off very lightly - I'm surprised she got away with skipping Kaffee the first day. I'd have expected Betsy to have gone to Matron and reported her for something like that. Thanks Sue.
#198:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:52 pm
    —
Kaffee over and Jessica had to ask Prunella to take her to the laundry room. Matron was there waiting for her with the irons hot and ready and Jessica spent the dullest Saturday evening imaginable. She had contemplated not turning up but she was a little bit afraid of Matron and decided that it would be far more sensible to get this over with. Matron delivered no lectures, but she instructed Jessica in the art of ironing and stood over her while she got the hang of it. Jessica had never wielded an iron before in her life and hoped that she would never have to again. It was impossible to get creases in the correct places and her first two items ended up looking worse than they had to begin with. Matron’s plan had been for Jessica to iron the whole lot but it was obvious that this would take several weeks at least, so slow was she at it. Matron could not say if this was deliberate or not – Jessica gave her no cheek, but only because she refused to open her mouth at all. Once Jessica had got the knack, Matron set to herself and managed five or six items to Jessica’s one. The bell for Abendessen had gone before the hated ironing was finished and all Jessica’s clothes were in neat piles, ready for putting away in her bureau and dormitory cupboard. Matron helped her to carry them upstairs, telling her to ask Prunella to show her where to put everything, and then sent her off for dinner. Jessica went, but she was fuming, the more so when she saw Prunella and her form mates, flushed and out of breath from dancing, and it was clear that they had had a lovely evening. She proceeded to pour cold water on their fun by being as scathing about dancing as she could be, and the others at her table soon turned away from her, not wanting to talk to someone who could be so nasty.
#199: The Chalet School and Jessica Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:02 pm
    —
She is really set to make herself miserable. I hope Rosalie doesn't dump this onto Mary Lou. Part of me always felt sorry for Mary Lou , bacause Joey dumped this on her when all she wanted to do was take it easy after her Gran died and after being form prefect last year
#200:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:38 pm
    —
She's certainly not going to make herself happy like this. I do feel sorry for her; if only she'd decide to make the best of things. Thanks Sue.
#201:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:10 pm
    —
Just caught up on lots of this - she's obviously starting to want to be a little part of all the fun deep down but won't admit it to herself

Pat wrote:
Kaffee und Kuchen is thought of as a meal though isn't it? Rather than eating between meals. I would expect the protions at the main meals to be much less than we'd eat these days too. I have a feeling that there's a school of thought that it's better to eat little and often than 3 big(ish) meals a day.


Dad's nursing home is a bit like that
8-9ish breakfast
mid morning coffee and biscuits
12 2 course lunch
mid afternoon tea and biscuit
4 3 course tea
6ish sandwich and drink
before bed drink

But the plates are very small
and it does give structure to the day Wink
#202:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:09 pm
    —
Jessica's probably realised that it's only her pride that's stopping her from enjoying herself. Mary Lou didn't really need to be co-opted in to help - she'd have probably done enough without Joey forcing it upon her.


Thanks Sue.
#203:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:28 pm
    —
Yes - she'd have seen for herself.
#204:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:18 am
    —
Not making life easy for herself, is she....
#205:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:10 pm
    —
The next day was Sunday and church was the order of the day. Jessica had always gone to church, whether at school or at Moorlands, and so, for a change, she got ready and went without demur. When the girls returned to school, they were met by Miss Annersley who announced that, since it was such a nice day, they were all to go off for a ramble and take lunch with them. They would return in time for Kaffee.

A cheer went up from the girls. Chalet rambles were notorious for being great fun.

On occasions, the seniors went for “go as you please” rambles, which meant that they went by themselves, with no escort mistress. As this was the first ramble of term, Miss Annersley had decreed that everyone up to Va would go with at least one escort mistress and prefect.

“Isn’t a ramble just a walk?” Jessica asked Prunella as they went up to Leafy to change into more casual clothes.

“Not at the Chalet School!” Prunella told her. “For a start, we don’t croc after we’ve left the Platz. We can go in groups and wander more or less as we like as long as we don’t go too far ahead or lag behind. We’ll have a picnic lunch and an explore. Honestly, Jessica, it’s not at all like an ordinary walk. We’ll have a lot of fun. I hope we’re going to the Auberge.”

“The Auberge?” Jessica could not help being interested.

“Yes. It’s got a great secret.”

“What?” Jessica demanded.

“It’s a secret, silly. You’ll find out soon enough if that’s where we’re going!”

And with that Jessica had to be satisfied.

Vb collected their lunches which they put in their rucksacks and then met Va, with whom they were going, outside.

“Who’s our escort?” Vi Lucy wanted to know.

“I am!” Miss Wilmot informed her, and Vi blushed.

Jean Ackroyd was the prefect accompanying them and the party got ready to leave.

“Please, Miss Wilmot,” a tiny silvery voice asked, “where are we going?”

“We’re going to Ste Cecilie, Verity,” Miss Wilmot told her. “Let’s go, girls.”
#206:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:38 am
    —
I hope Jessica behaves herself on the walk; it ought to be something she enjoys and it would be sad to see her having to miss out on future rambles. Thanks Sue.
#207:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:00 am
    —
Ste Cecilie was a tiny village some six miles or so along the coast road from the Gornetz Platz.

Prunella had taken Jessica as her partner out of a sense of duty, but firmly determined to meet up with her own crowd when they had left the Platz and might break ranks. As it was Sunday, the girls might speak any language they chose and Prunella tried to chat to Jessica about her family and last schools. Jessica was not forthcoming and was little short of downright rude. Prunella gave up eventually and gave a sigh of relief when, the Platz behind them, the girls broke up into coteries.

Jessica, unaware that it was forbidden to walk by oneself, took in the magnificent scenery and sniffed the clear mountain air. She had to admit that the views were spectacular and even her stone heart was moved. Neither Miss Wilmot nor Jean Ackroyd noticed that Jessica was on her own because she was walking very close to another group of girls and they assumed that Jessica was tagging along. Miss Wilson was walking with Vi, Barbara, Verity, and Ruth while Jean had attached herself to a group containing Josette Russell, Jo Scott, Clare Kennedy and Christine Vincent. The other girls were all walking with their own particular friends and Jessica felt very alone. She wondered why even Prunella had deserted her. Jessica had forgotten that, to have a friend, you have to be a friend and she had shown friendship to no-one since her arrival.

Jessica slowed down. The others were walking at a brisk pace and were soon some distance ahead. When they were almost out of sight, Jessica stopped. They rounded a bend in the road and Jessica could see them no longer. If they didn’t want her, she thought, why should she walk with them? She felt hungry and sat down, opening her rucksack and taking out the delicious sandwiches that Karen, the cook, had prepared. There was also a little meat pie, an apple, a slice of fruit cake and a thermos of homemade lemonade. Jessica devoured the lot in less than ten minutes. She guessed that she would be missed soon and quickly replaced the rubbish from her meal in the rucksack. The meal had made her sleepy and she decided that, rather than ramble on after the others as she had intended, she would make her way back to the school and have a nap. She well knew that this would be rule breaking of the most serious sort but cared not a whit. She had not slept well since her arrival at the school and that, coupled with the brisk mountain air made her long for bed and so she set off back towards the school. It was a straight path and Jessica could not have lost herself if she tried.

The school was deserted on her arrival. Those of the staff not on escort duty were enjoying an afternoon at Freudesheim and the kitchen staff had gone on their own expeditions. The school was empty except for Nurse in the San who was looking after two unlucky people – one suffering from a sprained ankle, the other from a bilious attack. So there was no-one to see naughty Jessica make her way up to Leafy, take off her uniform and curl up under the duvet. In five minutes, she was sound asleep and never roused when her party returned from their walk with the cry of “Jessica’s missing!”
#208:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:44 am
    —
Well, that looks like a good way for Jessica to get herself on a prim and proper walk next time, rather than another ramble. I'm surprised that Prunella didn't notice she'd got left behind, but I expect she was thankful not to have to carry on trying to talk to Jessica. I wonder who'll find Jessica, and what will happen when they do.

Thanks, leahbelle.
#209:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:08 pm
    —
She's a really silly girl. After her time with Spud, I thought a ramble might make her happier. Now she's in for the mother and father of all rows, I should say.

Thanks Sue.
#210:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:21 pm
    —
Silly girl - and I don't blame Prunella in the slightest - there's only so much rudeness she should have to accept.


Thanks Sue.
#211:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:43 pm
    —
She deserves to get into big trouble for this - the others'll be really worried when they realise she's not with them.
#212:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 3:16 pm
    —
Thanks Sue, just caught up on this and I'm really enjoying it. It's so good to see things from Jessica's point of view.
#213:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:47 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that she has gone back without telling anyone else.
#214:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:50 pm
    —
Miss Wilmot is going to be frantic - and extremely cross. Prunella's going to feel guilty (unnecessarily; she did her best) - and extremely cross. A great deal of crossness is about to descend on Jessica's head. And I can already hear Miss Annersley's comments on untrustworthiness.
#215:  Author: pim, Location: Londinium PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:08 am
    —
Uh oh... that was silly, Jessica.

Cheers, Sue.
#216:  Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:07 am
    —
I've just caught up with all of this and I'm really enjoying finding out so much more about Jessica's background. Thanks, leahbelle!
#217:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:46 pm
    —
It had taken twenty minutes for Miss Wilmot to realise that one of her pupils was missing. Jessica had managed to slip away at such a point that it was not immediately evident that she had gone. Miss Wilmot had been walking in front with the leading group and Jean, though she should have been acting as whipper-in, had been walking with a group in the middle. They had both seen Jessica attached, as they thought, to a small group and had thought nothing more about it. It was only when Jean remembered that she ought to be at the back of the groups that it was noticed Jessica was absent. Jean had immediately sent word to Miss Wilmot and the ramble was stopped.

Searches of the nearby environment had revealed no Jessica and she did not respond to shouts or yells. Miss Wilmot began to look worried. There were some steep drops hereabouts and one could easily go over the edge if one did not know where they were or was not paying attention.

”Girls!” she called. “We must go back to school immediately. Keep calling on Jessica as we go. If there’s no sign of her, we must get some men out to make a search party.”

The girls got back into line straight away and headed back for the school. There was some grumbling amongst them that their ramble had been cut short but they were all aware of the dangers of wandering round the mountain alone amidst unfamiliar territory. Jessica had not endeared herself to a single one of them, but each girl was concerned for her in her own way.

Jean Ackroyd, particularly, was kicking herself. She had seen Jessica with the last group of girls and had assumed she was one of them. Questioning of this group had elicited that Jessica had not joined them. Indeed, this group had not even noticed Jessica walking slowly on its periphery. Miss Wilmot, in ultimate charge of the group, was also worried. She knew what a firebrand Jessica could be and guessed that the girl had probably wandered off out of badness to ruin the ramble. However, she could not say that for sure and could not in all consciousness allow a fifteen year old to wander about the mountainside by herself. Miss Wilmot told Jean to pull herself together. There was no point in apportioning blame as it would not solve the problem of where Jessica was. Miss Wilmot asked Jean to gather those of the prefects and VIa who had not gone out on rambles for whatever reason to get themselves together to form two or three search parties as soon as they returned to school.

On arrival at the Chalet, Miss Wilmot sent Vb and Va off to get out of their rambling clothes and then ordered them to go to the common room and remain there. She herself went in search of Miss Annersley who was not to be found as she was enjoying a relaxing afternoon at Freudesheim. Unwilling to disturb the Head at this point, Miss Wilmot hunted down Gaudenz, the handyman, and explained the situation to him. He promptly agreed to get a search party together and Miss Wilmot went to the staff room to see if any mistresses remained in the school to make up another.
#218:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:09 pm
    —
I hope she's sorry when she realises how much trouble she's caused!
#219:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:49 pm
    —
Somehow I don't think she will be, though. Rolling Eyes
#220:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:01 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I am still really enjoying this!
#221:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:08 pm
    —
As am I. Thank you.


Shocked Shocked Shocked
#222:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:31 pm
    —
How long is it going to be before she's discovered? She will NOT be popular after this - and the Mistresses will be just as peeved as the girls.


Thanks Sue.
#223:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:32 pm
    —
The last place they'll look for her is in her bed!
#224:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:33 pm
    —
Silly silly girl.

I have no sympathy for her at all here.

Thanks Sue
#225:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:05 pm
    —
Prunella and Clare, going upstairs to Leafy to get changed, waxed lyrical on the subject of Jessica.

”What does she think she’s doing, wandering off like this and ruining the ramble for the rest of us?” Clare wanted to know. “Doesn’t she realise it could be dangerous? The weather can change so quickly. She could easily be caught in a storm or in mist and lose her way altogether or go over the side.”

Prunella shivered at the thought. “I don’t suppose she stopped to think about it. She’s fearfully unhappy and seems determined to get in to trouble at every opportunity. I must say I’m thoroughly sick of her and I wish Willy had picked someone else to look out for her. I don’t say I want any harm to come to her, of course, but I do wish she’d start acting like a decent human being.”

They turned into the dormitory and the first thing they noticed was that the curtains had been dropped around Jessica’s cubicle. Giving each other looks of curiosity, they approach the cubicles and drew back the curtains. There was Jessica, fast asleep under the covers and snoring gently. The girls dropped the curtains and stood staring at each other in incredulity.

“She came back from the ramble by herself to go to bed!” Prunella gasped. “Come on, we must find Miss Wilmot before she gets a party together.”

Clare and Prunella raced from the dormitory, and managed to catch Miss Wilmot as she left the empty staff room.

“Miss Wilmot!” Clare cried breathlessly. “We’ve found Jessica. She’s asleep in her cubicle. She’s not lost at all.”

“What?” Miss Wilmot cried. Then she heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness she’s safe. Girls, would you go and find Gaudenz and tell him there’s no need for a search party and then look for Jean. She was going to get a party together as well. I’ll see to Jessica.”

Prunella and Clare went off, glad that they were not in Jessica’s shoes. Miss Wilmot ran upstairs to Leafy, eager to see Jessica for herself. The mistress had had a scare and she wanted to make sure that the girl was definitely safe. Sure enough, when Miss Wilmot pulled back the curtains, there was Jessica still sound asleep. Anger immediately replaced concern as Miss Wilmot entered the cubicle and shook Jessica awake. Jessica muttered, turned over and looked as if she was going to settle down again. Miss Wilmot shook her more firmly and this time the girl sat bolt upright.

“What?” she demanded. “I was asleep. What did you have to wake me for?”

The look Miss Wilmot gave her silenced her immediately.

“Get up, Jessica,” she said in cold tones. “Get dressed and come to the staff room straight away.”

Jessica dropped her eyes and nodded. She knew she had done wrong but, as usual, was unwilling to take responsibility for her actions. She hadn’t wanted to go on the stupid ramble, so who could blame her if she came back to school?
#226:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:18 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder whom Jessica will blame instead of herself.
#227:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:55 pm
    —
Oh dear. Well, she did ask for it.

Thanks Sue.
#228:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:56 pm
    —
Very realistic! We recently got a middle of the night visit from frantic parents looking for their missing daughter.....and all the while, she'd come home from the party early and gone to bed.
#229:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:21 pm
    —
Can't see Nancy Wilmot being gentle here - she was scared and when that then turns to anger it's always far greater. Jessica does deserve it though - she still hasn't appreciated that other people deserve courtesy.


Thanks Sue.
#230:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:15 pm
    —
Wow. What a silly little idiot! I do not think Nancy or the other staff will be too sympathetic here. Am I the only one that is starting to think of Thekla here?
#231:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:05 pm
    —
She really has asked for it. They must have been frantic worrying about where she'd gone, not to mention all the time and effort that's been wasted in looking for her Sad .
#232:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:57 pm
    —
Miss Wilmot left Jessica to get dressed and made her way down to the empty staff room. She contemplated ringing up Miss Annersley at Freudesheim, but decided that she could deal with this by herself. It was not fair to ruin Miss Annersley’s afternoon as well. Miss Wilmot just hoped that Jessica would obey her and come to the staff room, otherwise she would have no option but to involve the Head.

Ten minutes later, Jessica let herself into the staff room. She hadn’t bothered to knock and Miss Wilmot began with a lecture on manners that took not only Jessica’s breath away, but any desire to give cheek.

“Sit down, Jessica,” Miss Wilmot said when she had finished her lecture and Jessica obeyed, sitting nervously on the very edge of a chair. Unfortunately, it was a leather chair and required its occupants to sit well back in it and Jessica slipped off it, landing on the floor with a bump. Miss Wilmot bit back a laugh and hauled Jessica to her feet. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Jessica had bumped the base of her spine a little but she was not hurt and was more concerned with the fact that she could see twinkles of laughter in Miss Wilmot’s eyes. How dare the mistress laugh at her?

Jessica sat back down, this time shifting herself to the very back of the chair. The little incident had lightened Miss Wilmot’s mood somewhat, and she was more lenient with Jessica than she had planned to be.
#233:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:00 pm
    —
Hope Nancy's leniency makes things better and not worse.
#234:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:06 pm
    —
Oh Nancy - that was the wrong thing to do! Rolling Eyes She won't respect that - and she won't appreciate just how much trouble she was in.


Thanks Sue.
#235:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:57 pm
    —
I think Nancy may live to regret her leniency. Thanks Sue.
#236:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:08 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder what the consequences of the leniency will be.
#237:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:28 pm
    —
“Why did you leave the ramble, Jessica?” she asked gently, taking a seat opposite the girl.

Jessica considered. Miss Wilmot had already made her feel like a worm for not knocking on the door. She also still felt immensely tired and her back ached a little. She decided that she did not have the energy to be rude and merely said, “I was tired.”

“Tired?” Miss Wilmot asked. “Tired of walking or sleepy tired?”

“Both.”

“So you decided to go back to school and lie down?”

“Yes.”

“I wonder if you realise what a dangerous thing that was to do, Jessica?” the mistress asked. “You’re new to these parts and you don’t know the roads at all. There are sheer drops on some parts of the path and its very easy to lose one’s way and even to fall over the edge. You might have hurt yourself badly. And then there’s the weather. It’s a beautiful day today, but weather in the Alps can change very quickly. Storms and fog can come on at the drop of a hat and then you might have lost your way altogether and been stuck out in thunder and rain.”

Jessica had not thought about this and, to her credit, she realised that Miss Wilmot was speaking the truth.

“It’s a school rule that you must not leave a walk or ramble without permission. That rule is there to protect you and your class mates. I want you to promise that you will never do such a silly, dangerous thing again. If you will not promise me, then you will be barred from rambles in the future and will go for a proper walk with whichever mistress is not on escort duty. Do I have you word, Jessica?”

Jessica felt that it would be an everlasting disgrace to go for a proper walk with a mistress like a little girl. She was also remembering another walk she had taken, a long time ago now, when she had gone after Spud and been caught in the terrible weather. That had not been a pleasant experience and she had had no idea that by leaving the ramble she could have been putting herself in danger. She had thought she’d known the way back to school but she could see that, if mist or fog descended, she might well have got lost.

“I promise,” she said and that was that in her voice that convinced Miss Wilmot of her sincerity.

“Then I am going to say nothing more about this. I’ll speak to the girls and they’ll say nothing to you about it, either,” Miss Wilmot said, eager to spare the girl any scoldings from her form. The mistress felt that she had got through to Jessica and did not want her good work undone. Not that the girls would have been cruel intentionally but Jessica had broken a stringent rule and no Chalet girl looked kindly on that sort of thing.
#238:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:56 pm
    —
Nancy seemed to get through to her there - but I hope she hasn't let her off too easily.
#239:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:25 pm
    —
Yes, Jessica seemed to take that very well. But she does have some odd notions and I hope that doesn't lead to her thinking she can take advantage of Nancy!
#240:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:29 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I hope that Jessica won't go off alone again.
#241:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:46 pm
    —
Hmmm, wonder if Nancy's leniency will come back and haunt her?


Thanks Sue.
#242:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:47 pm
    —
I hope that treating her like that, with a good reason for the rule, may get through to her. It's treating her as a reasoning adult rather than lashing into her. Hope it does the trick anyway.
#243:  Author: ali, Location: medway, kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:42 pm
    —
Will ML be laking an appearance soon? No wonder the others hadn't sorted Jessica out before she arrived, it took her long enough!
#244:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:40 pm
    —
Jessica has a few tricks left up her sleeve before ML finally takes her in hand!

“Now,” Miss Wilmot continued, “you’re feeling tired. Can you tell me why that is?”

“I’ve not been sleeping,” Jessica admitted.

“That’s a common problem with new girls,” Miss Wilmot told her. “It’s a combination of being so far from home and the wonderful, brisk mountain air we get up here, not to mention the different food you’ve been eating. It’ll soon pass. Unless you can think of any other reason why you’re unable to sleep?”

It was Jessica’s chance to tell Miss Wilmot about her unhappiness and her fear that her mother did not love her. It was her chance to tell Miss Wilmot that, although she had moments when she desperately wanted to be friends with Prunella and the others and to try at lessons, that she couldn’t because she was determined to be sent back home so that her mother couldn’t shove her away any longer. But she didn’t and just shook her head.

Miss Wilmot looked keenly at her, knowing there was more going on than met the eye. All the mistresses knew something of Jessica’s story, but not the full extent of it which was a shame in this instance.

“In that case,” the mistress said, “I think an early night or two in San would work wonders. Dormitories can be noisy places and it can be hard to adjust to them. A few quiet nights will set you right. And I think,” she went on, taking in the girl’s wan appearance, “that you should spend the rest of today there, as well, lying down. Why don’t you go and fetch your night things from Leafy and I’ll tell Nurse to expect you in San.”

Jessica, who was close to tears, nodded again and stood up. When she reached the door, she turned round and, for a wonder thanked Miss Wilmot for her help. Then she was gone.

As it happened, after an afternoon spent in bed (and thereby managing to miss the hated Kaffee und Kuchen), Jessica felt much better and decided to ask to return to Leafy rather than staying in San. It has to be said that her main reason for this was that she did not fancy living under Matron’s eagle eye for the next day or so. Matron had not yet returned and so Nurse, who was not looking for extra work, agreed to let her return to her dormitory.

No-one said anything to Jessica about her exploit, having been warned not to by Miss Wilmot, but searching glances were sent her way and some people who had been friendly before barely acknowledged her. Prunella, sticking to her sheepdog duty, keep Jessica with her for the evening but the girl was no more forthcoming or friendly than she had ever been and it was with a sigh of relief that Prunella left Jessica at the curtains of her cubicle at bed time.
#245:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:10 pm
    —
She's got off so lightly again. I don't blame the others for thinking she's a pain in the neck. Thanks Sue.
#246:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:10 pm
    —
What a pity that she didn't confide - Nancy would have helped her.


Thanks Sue.
#247:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:01 pm
    —
The trouble is that she hasn't yet found out how different the CS is from other schools. And how supporting people would be if she could only say what she feels.
#248:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:05 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that Jessica didn't tell Miss Wilmot how she is feeling.
#249:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:45 pm
    —
It's a shame she didn't feel able to confide in Nancy, but it's no wonder that the other girls are annoyed about what she did.
#250:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:30 pm
    —
Thanks Sue - I agree with the others. Such a shame that she didn't take the opportunity to confide in Nancy.
#251:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 5:07 pm
    —
How sad to be reminded that all this bother and unhappiness is because Jess believes her mother doesn't love her any longer, and she doesn't dare be away from her in case she loses her entirely. Poor wee lass.

As others have said, such a shame she couldn't tell Nancy - and where's the Head in all this?? Can't be disturbed 'cos she's having tea at Freudesheim! Shocked
#252:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:48 pm
    —
The rising bell went off at its usual time on Monday morning and Jessica felt her usual reluctance to get up. She yawned and stretched and ignored Blossom’s call of “Show a leg” (in German, since Monday was German day). Blossom was quickly pulling back Jessica’s curtains and telling in her in no uncertain terms to get up. Jessica was a thorn in Blossom’s side and not once had she got up and voluntarily put her leg threw the curtain.

Blossom spoke in German, of course, and Jessica was about to reply when she stopped. She spoke German (and French) having learned more than enough to be going on with at her previous schools. But no-one at the Chalet School (or so she thought) knew this and the spirit of troublemaking in Jessica rose to the fore.

“I don’t understand,” she said, looking at Blossom blankly.

“Ich verstehe nicht,” Blossom said, automatically. Then she went on, “Don’t you speak any German, Jessica?”

“No,” Jessica told her.

“Well, never mind. You’ll soon learn. Now, repeat after me ‘Ich verstehe nicht’. That means ‘I don’t understand’.”

“Ick versteher nik,” Jessica repeated in as British an accent as she could manage.

Blossom grinned suddenly. “I wasn’t much cop at German when I started, either. Never mind, Jessica, everyone will help you to learn.”

With a few more words of encouragement, Blossom left the cubicle and Jessica got herself ready for the day. Prunella had heard this conversation and it was part of her duty as sheepdog to explain about languages in the school to the new girl. She would have done this at breakfast, but she had been moved from Jean Ackroyd’s table to Hilary Wilson’s while the new girl had remained at Jean’s. There was no chance to speak to Jessica until just before morning lessons began. Girls who did not have early morning practising were either walking in the grounds or reading quietly in the common room. Jessica and Prunella were both in the common room and Prunella took the opportunity to approach Jessica and explain things to her.
#253:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:50 pm
    —
Thanks Sue, I expect Jessica thinks she's being really clever!
#254:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:50 pm
    —
Hmmm, don't think she'll be able to fool them for long - the first time she reacts to something without waiting for the translation she'll give herself away. And surely the Staff must know what subjects she has learnt in the past?


Thanks Sue.
#255:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:11 pm
    —
Yes, wouldn't she have done some kind of entrance exams, just to decide which form to place her in. Or did they do them once they arrived at the school?

Thanks Sue.
#256:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:11 pm
    —
Looks like nothing Nancy said did any good Sad .
#257:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:22 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm surprised that the school wouldn't have known what languages Jessica has already learnt.
#258:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:33 pm
    —
Don't worry - the staff will soon be onto her!
#259:  Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:23 pm
    —
*wails*

I thought that was yet another update... I am too greedy I think Crying or Very sad
#260:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:17 am
    —
Here's one now!!!


“Do you speak any German at all?” Prunella asked. “Or French?”

“Nope,” Jessica told her, and of course Prunella believed her. Why wouldn’t she?

“Lots of new girls come to us knowing no French or German, “ Prunella reassured her, “but by half term, you’ll be gabbing along with the rest of us. We speak German on a Monday and Thursday and French on a Tuesday and Friday. English we speak on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings. Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday we can speak any language we like.”

Jessica had only glanced through the prospectus before starting the Chalet School. She knew that a lot of emphasis was placed on languages and that the school prided itself on turning out its girls trilingual but she hadn’t realised the wholesale manner with which this was done. She was fluent enough in both languages but was lazy and was horrified to find that would be expected to work in languages other than her own for four days a week.

“You mean lessons and everything?” she gasped.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Prunella said. “Everyone will help you. If you think of something you want to say, tell someone and they’ll cast it in to good German for you. Then you say it back to them til you’ve learnt it. Normally, if we forget to speak in the proper language, it means a fine, but you won’t have to pay any fines for the first fortnight, as long as you’re making an effort to learn. After that, you’ll be fined like the rest of us. A really good way to learn is to ask Miss Denny, or Mlle, for a list of words each day and learn them through. That way, you’ll soon pick up a vocabulary and grammar will follow.”

Prunella had spoken this in English to make sure that Jessica understood every word. Then, she recast her sentences in German – alternating them with the English translation – so that Jessica could start learning. Jessica was hard pressed not to giggle. Prunella’s German was adequate and it was funny to hear her pronouncing each word properly and slowly so that her pupil would understand when, in fact, Jessica understood each word perfectly.

“If you like,” Prunella went on,” I’ll take you to Miss Denny later and see about getting you started on vocabulary.”

“English, Prunella?” a voice from behind the two said sarcastically. “Have you forgotten what day it is already?” It was Jean Ackroyd, one of the prefects.

“I’m sorry, Jean,” Prunella said contritely, “but it’s the new girl, Jessica Wayne. She doesn’t understand a word of French or German and I’ve just been explaining the rules to her.”

“I see,” Jean turned from Prunella to stare at Jessica. She had not taken kindly to that young lady following the ramble incident and thought that Miss Jessica was a pain in the neck. She said to Jessica in slow German, “You will soon learn. Come to me at break and I will give you a list of ten words to learn in German.”

Jessica, who understood this perfectly, wanted to laugh. Jean sounded as if she was talking to a baby. Prunella quickly translated for Jessica, unnecessarily and Jean went off, satisfied.
#261:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:22 am
    —
Thanks, Sue. I see trouble ahead!
#262:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:23 am
    —
She's certainly imaginative!
#263:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:24 am
    —
Jessica is going to make enemies of both girls when they discover she was lying to them - and if she makes the mistake of laughing at them for the way they have cast their German (done obviously so she has a chance of understanding) then she will have their contempt too.


Silly girl.

Thanks Sue - you paint a very realistic picture of hoe Jessica may have acted in her first few days.
#264:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:41 pm
    —
I'm enjoying this so much that I wish Mary-Lou had been away all term! Thanks Sue.
#265:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 5:40 pm
    —
Thanks Sue
#266:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:25 pm
    —
I am also wondering whether the school will be aware that Jessica has already studied French and German? I imagine that type of information would be available from school reports etc.
#267:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:37 pm
    —
The staff will certainly know, so she won't be able to keep this up for very long. Poor silly kid!
#268:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:50 pm
    —
Fatima wrote:
I'm enjoying this so much that I wish Mary-Lou had been away all term! Thanks Sue.



I agree. This is a fab drabble, thanks!
#269:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:33 pm
    —
Oh, Jessica! Rolling Eyes Laughing
Somehow I don't think her peers are going to be too impressed.
#270:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:40 am
    —
Thanks, everyone!


The bell rang for the start of lessons and, with customary speed, the girls lined up at the door. This was the first day of proper lessons and Vb had history with their form mistress, Miss O’Ryan. Miss O’Ryan was an inspired tutor and managed to keep her pupils attention regardless of subject or language. The girls took their seats expectantly.

Miss O’Ryan came in and, once the girls had wished her good morning, began on the register. When this was finished, she began straight in on her talk. Jessica Wayne was the only new girl in the class and, as far as Miss O’Ryan was aware, could speak ample German to understand what was being said in lessons. She did speak clearly and avoid using any uncommon words. Jessica, of course, followed the class perfectly well but Prunella, sitting beside was increasingly worried. Jessica could not speak German and, therefore, this whole lesson would be going over her head. Perhaps no-one had told Miss O’Ryan of Jessica’s ignorance of the language.

Ten minutes later, Prunella could bear it no longer. She was sure Jessica must be in a terrible muddle – she had certainly written no notes on her scribbler – and it was her duty as sheepdog to let Miss O’Ryan know that there was a problem. Prunella raised her hand.

“Yes, Prunella?” Miss O’Ryan said.

Prunella stood up, not liking to draw attention to herself thus but feeling she had no option.

“Miss O’Ryan, Jessica Wayne has never learned any German.”

The history mistress looked baffled and Prunella continued, “She hasn’t understood a word of the lesson so far. I…er thought you ought to know.”

“Thank you, Prunella,” Miss O’Ryan said heartily. “Sit down, please.”

The history mistress turned her attention to Jessica and fixed her with a firm stare which made the girl squirm.

“Stand up, please, Jessica,” she said in English so there could be no misunderstanding. “You don’t speak any German?”

Jessica got to her feet muttering, “No,”

“How strange,” the mistress mused. “I remember seeing your German entrance paper and thinking that you would manage very well in Vb.”

Jessica went beetroot red at being caught out in such a wholesale fashion. She could see Prunella beside her, looking confused and hurt.

“Have you been speaking in English today?” Miss O’Ryan asked.

“Yes,” Jessica said and added to her sins by continuing to speak in English.

“Then please pay a fine. As you can speak German, the two week rule does not apply to you. You can also apologise to Prunella for misleading her. Now.”

All eyes were on Jessica. Her face burned a fiery red and she was furious that she had been found out so early on. It wouldn’t have happened if Prunella hadn’t opened her big mouth.

“No,” she said.

“Either apologise to Prunella immediately, or leave the room,” Miss O’Ryan ordered.

For reply, Jessica shoved her chair back and marched from the room, banging into the backs of people’s chairs as she did so. She slammed the door behind her. Miss O’Ryan looked after her and then turned back to her class. She went straight on with the lesson, giving the girls no chance to wonder at this latest episode of Jessica’s. Like all the mistresses, Miss O’Ryan knew enough about Jessica’s history to be determined to give her no chance to play up in her class.
#271:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:41 am
    —
Well handled Biddy!
#272: The Chalet School and Jessica Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:54 am
    —
I agree
#273:  Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:49 am
    —
she will, of course, have to apologise in German?

I have to say it must have seemed a great trick to play - tho its a shame she couldn't just have got them to think her german was very bad and had lots of fun saying stupid things on purpose - although perhaps it is good enough for her to confuse them by being extra-fluent? or to poke fun at their sweizerduestch (sorry can't spell that) accents??
#274:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:10 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that Jessica has stormed out.
#275:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:27 pm
    —
Good for Biddy!

How silly of Jessica to forget the entrance papers she did.

Thanks.
#276:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:22 pm
    —
Glad to see that Biddy was 'very much on the spot'. I can see how after a few days of this that Jessica ended up in Coventry. Poor Prunella, how disappointed she must have felt after trying to do her best as sheep-dog.
#277:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:47 pm
    —
Oh Jessica....

I don't think I've ever looked forward to the appearance of Mary Lou before. Very Happy
#278:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:55 pm
    —
I feel so sorry for Prunella too - it was such a responsibility for her although it's obviously not her fault at all that Jessica decided to be an idiot.

Thanks Sue
#279:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:18 am
    —
I should think Prunella's just about fit to kill Jessica now. And Biddy was brilliant!

Thanks Sue.
#280:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:25 pm
    —
Shortly before the end of the lesson, the door to the form room opened and Miss Annersley came in, pushing Jessica in front of her.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Miss O’Ryan, but Jessica has something to say to you and to Prunella.”

Miss O’Ryan put down the chalk she was using to write a prep question on the blackboard and turned to Jessica. The girls put down their pens as well and stared at her as she mumbled in German, “Sorry,”

Miss O’Ryan was wise enough to accept this and sent Jessica back to her seat, throwing a quizzical glance at Miss Annersley as the Head left the room. Really, Miss O’Ryan thought, what was about the Chalet School that attracted problem pupils every term? She put the thought to the back of her mind and went on with the rest of the lesson.

The matter was at an end so far as Miss O’Ryan and Miss Annersley were concerned. The latter had spoken very seriously to Jessica in the corridor about lying and misleading people and felt she had said enough. It had also cost Jessica dearly to apologise in public.

For the girls, it was another matter. They all liked Prunella and did not like to see her embarrassed. Prunella had felt humiliated by Jessica’s lies and wished that she not tried to help the girl. Vi Lucy, Clare Kennedy and Barbara Chester all accosted Jessica in the common room later that day. Needless to say, Jessica was not prepared to listen to them or to accept that she had been in the wrong. Deep down, she was feeling ashamed of allowing Prunella to stand up and speak for her like that and that made her feel even worse about herself and what she had done. That little confrontation ended in a shouting match between the four, with Vi declaring that no-one in the form would have anything more to do with Jessica unless she stopped acting in such a mean, petty way. Jessica retaliated by screaming that she didn’t care if no-one spoke to her, she hated everyone and everything about this mean, nasty school. It was unfortunate that Jean Ackroyd happened to be passing the common room just as things got nasty.
#281: The Chalet school and Jessica Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:44 pm
    —
This is fabulous and am glad to see a new update. Poor Prunella, she's been doing a wonderful job with Jessica.
#282:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:59 pm
    —
More trouble Rolling Eyes !
#283:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:52 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that the others are getting even more angry with Jessica.
#284:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:01 pm
    —
At least the others have tried to tackle Jessica and show her that they don't appreciate her behaviour. But it's going to make her more miserable if they have nothing to do with her, and that's going to make her so much worse.

Thanks Sue.
#285:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:00 pm
    —
I think that Jean will deal with her quite well.
#286:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:00 pm
    —
Silly girl - and she's just making it worse for herself. Feel very sorry for Prunella who has done everything possible to help Jessica feel welcome.


Thanks Sue.
#287:  Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:16 pm
    —
Looking forward to seeing what Jean has to say to her!
#288:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:23 pm
    —
“What is going on in here?” she demanded and the four fell silent immediately. The other occupants of the room, who had been listening in and thinking that Jessica deserved everything she got, became occupied in their lawful occasions. “Well?” Jean waited for a response. No-one wanted to tell tales, even on Jessica, and so the four remained silent. Jessica wondered what business it was of Jean’s what they were up to and opened her mouth to say so, but shut it again as she saw the look on the prefect’s face. “I’m waiting,” Jean reminded them.

“We were…em, having an argument,” was the best Vi Lucy could manage.

Barbara Chester went one better.

“I’m sorry, Jean. We didn’t mean to be so loud. It’s all sorted now.”

Jean, only slightly mollified, decided it would be better if she did not know the ins and outs of this particular argument. If Jessica Wayne was involved, she wanted to keep her distance. The girl was trouble.

“Thank you, Barbara,” Jean said. “And now, you can all take an order mark for being so loud and unruly and acting like a set of KG babies. You were all speaking in English and so you can pay a fine as well.”

The four hung their heads, stung by the tone of Jean’s voice. They blamed the punishment on Jessica, of course, and were furious. Jean knew this and decided it would be better to separate them for the time being.

“Barbara and Vi, Sybil and Blossom were looking for people to make up a foursome for tennis. Off you go and join them – they’re at the courts. Tell them I sent you. Clare, Miss Dene was looking for someone from Vb to help her with labelling new text books. Suppose you go and volunteer.” The three left the room, glad to escape peppery Jean and her temper. The prefect turned to Jessica, wondering what on earth she should do with her. Jean had been about to take a walk round the grounds to clear the start of a headache and she supposed there was nothing for it but to take Jessica with her. Jessica was none too thrilled at this idea, either, but she trailed off to put her coat on and joined the prefect on her walk. Jean didn’t speak to her at all and this affected Jessica more than if the prefect had lectured her. By the time they were back in school, Jessica was feeling thoroughly ashamed of herself. She would have liked to apologise properly to Prunella but she didn’t know how to. Besides, she railed at the feeling of guilt that was rising inside her and it made her feel even more determined to get her own way and get out of this school.
#289:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:02 pm
    —
At least she realises she's in the wrong - but is she now going to do something even worse Rolling Eyes ?
#290:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:01 pm
    —
Alison, I think that is the question!! Everytime she starts to realise how bad her behaviour is, it seems to trigger another of these episodes with her.
#291:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 5:08 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I wonder what the next episode will be.
#292: The Chalet School and Jessica Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:03 pm
    —
This is great, am looking forward to another update as I'm dying to know what happens next.
#293:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 4:47 am
    —
She really is impossible, isn't she.

Thanks Sue.
#294:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:29 pm
    —
There was only one bright thing about the Chalet School that Jessica could see and that was that netball was played. It was the school’s second game, to be sure, but there was a proper team and matches were often held against St Mildred’s, visiting teams and a school in Montreaux. Kat Gordon (niece of Lucia Gordon) was Games’ prefect, with Blossom Willoughby as her assistant, though Blossom was not a school prefect. Kat had arranged for netball trials to be held on the Thursday after school and Jessica had put her name down. She was looking forward to this and even managed to keep out of the worst of trouble in the run up, though she still refused to attend Kaffee und Kuchen and Matron had had to virtually drag her there on more than one occasion. Hockey, lacrosse and tennis trials had been held at other times, but Jessica was not interested in these.

Thursday arrived and Jessica was so excited about the netball that she barely noticed that most of the girls were still being icily polite to her. They were still angry at her for embarrassing and lying to Prunella and had decided to leave Jessica to stew very much in her own juice.

Unfortunately, Jessica had forgotten that she had not played netball in a very long time. The last time had been before her illness and she had had no practice since then because hockey had been the game of choice at Cor Lan. Jessica assumed that she would be as good as she had ever been and was quite certain that she would be given a place in the team. Kat Gordon called the girls out onto the pitch for the model match that was to determine who would make up the eleven tam members and the substitutes. Given Jessica’s history of the game, she was being tried in goal attack for the first half of the match and centre for the second.

As soon as the whistle blew for the start of the game, things started to go wrong for Jessica. She missed simple passes, dropped the ball and failed to score a single goal, though she was given ample opportunity. It seemed that the harder she tried to play well, the worse her performance was and Kat watched her, unable to tell if she way playing badly deliberately or if she was just out of practice. Kat, along with the rest of the prefects, knew how much of a nuisance Jessica had been since her arrival. Kat, however, was also privy to certain information about Jessica’s past which the rest of the prefects did not know and Kat decided that it was simply because Jessica had not played in over a year.

At half time, positions were changed and Jessica found herself playing in centre. She missed the catch and the other side scored straight away. Kat frowned as she wrote notes in her book and conferred with Blossom and Miss Burnett. She knew Jessica loved netball and yet, playing like this, there was no way she could be put in the team. Jessica knew this and tried to play better but she only succeeding in making things worse and, by the time the match ended, she was in a black mood and stumped off the court to the changing rooms.

The team lists were put up just before Kaffee und Kuchen and Jessica was honestly not surprised when her name did not even appear on the subs list. She was very disappointed and in the blind rage which over took her, she almost missed the note at the bottom of the list which asked to see Kat Gordon in the Prefect’s room after prep. Wondering what this could mean, Jessica took herself to the common room while the others streamed away to Kaffee.
#295:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:07 pm
    —
Poor girl, that was a shock, finding that she can't even play netball well any more. I hope Kat's going to tell her that she ought to practice and then she'll regain her skills, and that she's able to deal with that idea.
#296:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:14 pm
    —
I like Kat - hope she handles this well.
#297:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:16 pm
    —
Alison H wrote:
I like Kat - hope she handles this well.


I hope she will too. Although it does appear that the nicer you are to Jessica, the more likely it is that she will turn round and stab you in the back.

Thank you for the updates.
#298:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:33 pm
    —
Thanks Sue, it's a shame that the trial went badly as it could have been a good opening for Jessica but I just hope that Kat will encourage her as I think it could have a big impact on Jessica
#299:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:41 pm
    —
Have a feeling that Kat is going to handle this well - she does, after all, know a little more of Jessica's history - hope so.


Thanks Sue.

Last edited by Lesley on Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:03 pm; edited 1 time in total
#300:  Author: lizarfau, Location: Melbourne PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:00 pm
    —
I'm really impressed with her for continuing to refuse the Kaffee und Kuchen!
#301:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:24 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that she was out of practice and she didn't make the team.
#302:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:11 am
    —
Oh dear, not one thing can go right and make her start to want to stay and be normal!
Putting great store by Kat's prior knowledge and general niceness in dealing with this most awkward of new girls.
#303:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:20 pm
    —
You can count on Kat!


Jessica was still no more resigned to Kaffee than she had been previously and, if she could get out of it, she did. Usually this just meant sitting in the common room and refusing to budge. Even Matron could not make her move and the prefects had all tried, too. Eventually Matron had decided to let her stew for a few days and see if that brought her round. If not, they would have to think of something else. Today, Jessica’s black mood was there for all to see and no-one so much as asked if she would be coming along and she made her way to the common room alone.

She was devastated at being left out of the netball team. It was the one thing which might have reconciled her to being at the Chalet School. The rejection only made her all the more firm in her determination to be sent home. It was another black mark against the School.

Prep over and Jessica swithered over whether or not to present herself to Kat Gordon. Chances were the prefect was only going to tell her off for trying out for the netball team when she was clearly no good. The prospect of a row persuaded Jessica that it would be a good idea to go. She was in the sort of mood where she was ready to fight with a feather.

“Come in!” Kat called as Jessica, remembering Miss Wilmot’s lecture, knocked on the door of the prefects’ room.

Jessica went in and saw that Kat was there alone, sitting at the table with papers spread before her. These turned out to be the term’s fixtures lists and Kat pushed them to one side as Jessica entered. Kat gestured to a seat and Jessica took it, all the time looking like thunder.

“I expect you’re rather sore about being left out of the netball team” the prefect said, cheerfully ignoring the dirty looks the girl was sending in her direction. “That’s what I wanted to speak to you about.”

“You think I shouldn’t have tried out,” Jessica accused.

Kat looked startled. Nothing had been further from her mind. “Not at all. My Aunt Luce told me that you were in the netball team at that other school of yours – Redferne, wasn’t it? – but that you hadn’t played since your illness. That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you did play terribly today, but if that’s the first time you’ve played in over a year that was only to be expected,” Kat told her. “Have you played any sport at all lately?”

“We had to play hockey at my last school, but I hate hockey.”

“We play hockey here too, and you’ll have to play during lessons, I’m afraid, whether you like it or not. Everyone has to. But we do play netball as well, and you’ll get lessons in that as well. My advice to you, Jessica, is to practice hard during lessons and I think you’ll soon get back into the swing of things. Come and watch the matches that we play, and see how the girls manoeuvre and handle the ball. If you work hard, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be considering you at least as a substitute next term.”

Jessica brightened visibly. “Really? Are you sure?”

“Wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” Kat said. “You’re out of practice, that’s all, but both Miss Burnett and I marked out that you looked promising. What do say, Jessica, will you give it a go?”

Jessica hesitated. She had no plans to be at the Chalet School next term, but if it meant the chance to play netball again… She was in a quandary. She had liked Kat Gordon on sight. She was frank and to the point, just like her aunt, though without the absentmindedness. On the other hand, she hated the Chalet School and had already made her mind up that she would not stay. But she did enjoy netball, so there was no harm in working at it while she was here.

“I will,” she said.

“Good,” Kat said. “That’s all I needed you for. Work hard during lessons, Jessica, and we’ll see how you shape up next term.”

Jessica left the room feeling much happier than she had when she had gone in. Kat’s words meant a lot to her. As games’ prefect, she knew what she was talking about and would not have given Jessica false hope. Jessica decided that, while she was at the Chalet School, she would give netball her best shot.
#304:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:20 pm
    —
You can count on Kat!


Jessica was still no more resigned to Kaffee than she had been previously and, if she could get out of it, she did. Usually this just meant sitting in the common room and refusing to budge. Even Matron could not make her move and the prefects had all tried, too. Eventually Matron had decided to let her stew for a few days and see if that brought her round. If not, they would have to think of something else. Today, Jessica’s black mood was there for all to see and no-one so much as asked if she would be coming along and she made her way to the common room alone.

She was devastated at being left out of the netball team. It was the one thing which might have reconciled her to being at the Chalet School. The rejection only made her all the more firm in her determination to be sent home. It was another black mark against the School.

Prep over and Jessica swithered over whether or not to present herself to Kat Gordon. Chances were the prefect was only going to tell her off for trying out for the netball team when she was clearly no good. The prospect of a row persuaded Jessica that it would be a good idea to go. She was in the sort of mood where she was ready to fight with a feather.

“Come in!” Kat called as Jessica, remembering Miss Wilmot’s lecture, knocked on the door of the prefects’ room.

Jessica went in and saw that Kat was there alone, sitting at the table with papers spread before her. These turned out to be the term’s fixtures lists and Kat pushed them to one side as Jessica entered. Kat gestured to a seat and Jessica took it, all the time looking like thunder.

“I expect you’re rather sore about being left out of the netball team” the prefect said, cheerfully ignoring the dirty looks the girl was sending in her direction. “That’s what I wanted to speak to you about.”

“You think I shouldn’t have tried out,” Jessica accused.

Kat looked startled. Nothing had been further from her mind. “Not at all. My Aunt Luce told me that you were in the netball team at that other school of yours – Redferne, wasn’t it? – but that you hadn’t played since your illness. That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you did play terribly today, but if that’s the first time you’ve played in over a year that was only to be expected,” Kat told her. “Have you played any sport at all lately?”

“We had to play hockey at my last school, but I hate hockey.”

“We play hockey here too, and you’ll have to play during lessons, I’m afraid, whether you like it or not. Everyone has to. But we do play netball as well, and you’ll get lessons in that as well. My advice to you, Jessica, is to practice hard during lessons and I think you’ll soon get back into the swing of things. Come and watch the matches that we play, and see how the girls manoeuvre and handle the ball. If you work hard, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be considering you at least as a substitute next term.”

Jessica brightened visibly. “Really? Are you sure?”

“Wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” Kat said. “You’re out of practice, that’s all, but both Miss Burnett and I marked out that you looked promising. What do say, Jessica, will you give it a go?”

Jessica hesitated. She had no plans to be at the Chalet School next term, but if it meant the chance to play netball again… She was in a quandary. She had liked Kat Gordon on sight. She was frank and to the point, just like her aunt, though without the absentmindedness. On the other hand, she hated the Chalet School and had already made her mind up that she would not stay. But she did enjoy netball, so there was no harm in working at it while she was here.

“I will,” she said.

“Good,” Kat said. “That’s all I needed you for. Work hard during lessons, Jessica, and we’ll see how you shape up next term.”

Jessica left the room feeling much happier than she had when she had gone in. Kat’s words meant a lot to her. As games’ prefect, she knew what she was talking about and would not have given Jessica false hope. Jessica decided that, while she was at the Chalet School, she would give netball her best shot.
#305:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:39 pm
    —
Phew! She was half human there! I'm glad Kat was so good with her.

Thanks Sue.
#306:  Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:55 pm
    —
Thank goodness for that! Kat handled it really well and it makes such a change to see Jessica feeling mildly happier. I have a feeling that it won't last though...
#307:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:07 pm
    —
Well done Kat. Unfortunately, I also get the feeling that Jessica'll soon be causing trouble again ... Wink .
#308:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:23 pm
    —
Nicely done Kat and hopefully it will give something Jessica to think about!

Thanks Sue
#309:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:53 pm
    —
Well at least that's something - pleased Kat Gordon was so nice.


Thanks Sue.


(Don't think Matey will allow the situation re K & K to continue)
#310:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:47 pm
    —
Good for Kat. Smile
#311:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:02 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm glad that Kat was so encouraging.
#312:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:05 pm
    —
I'm glad Jessica is seeing some positive points. Well done Kat.
#313:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:02 pm
    —
Hurrah for Kat Gordon!


Maybe Matron could use the promise of a place on the team as a lever to get Jessica to Kaffee?


Thanks for the update.
#314:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 1:30 pm
    —
Jessica came to the top of the main staircase. She had been at the school long enough now to know that the only people allowed to use the main staircase were the prefects and mistresses. The girls had their own staircase at the back of the house. There was no-one around, however, and Jessica saw no harm in starting to descend the grand staircase rather than walking all the way round to the back of the building. It was tempting fate, of course, and fate was not kind to Jessica.

She was half way down when a voice boomed out,” Jessica Wayne! What are you doing?”

Jessica stopped and turned round. At the head of the stairs stood Carola Johnstone, another of the school prefects. She had had little to with Carola since her arrival and said impudently, “Going to my common room.”

“Not down those stairs you’re not,” Carola told her. She knew all about Jessica from Jean and Betsy. “Come back up straight away and use the proper staircase.”

For reply, Jessica stuck out her tongue and pulled a face. Then, turning quickly, she skipped neatly down the rest of the steps. Carola was left, breathless with indignation, at the top. She watched Jessica, strictly against the rules, running away down the corridor towards the common room. Carola would not lower herself to run after Jessica. Instead, she continued with her own errand and then captured Jessica when she left the dining room that evening. She informed Jessica that those stairs were not ever to be used by the girls and that if she was caught using them again, she would get an order mark. Then Carola marched her to the back stairs and made Jessica go up them and come back down again. By this time, the juniors were going up to bed and they watched Jessica in astonishment.

Jessica was fuming by the time Carola left her. How humiliating to have been made to do that in front of the infants! Instead of acknowledging to herself that her punishment had been justly deserved for rule breaking, Jessica blamed Carola. It was a stupid rule anyway. Why shouldn’t she use the main staircase if she wanted to? Why were the prefects and mistresses so special?
#315:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:11 pm
    —
We were banned from using the staircase by the staffroom at school, but we always used it anyway Laughing . Being rude to Carola wasn't a very good idea though.
#316:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:10 pm
    —
I'm glad Carola caught her later and didn't just ignore the disobedience. Thanks Sue.
#317:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:48 pm
    —
Silly girl - she really has got some growing up to do - and I think Carola was very lenient toward her.


Thanks Sue
#318:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:18 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that Jessica didn't see what she had done wrong.
#319:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:23 pm
    —
I think that was a good punishment from Carola.

Thanks Sue
#320:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:17 pm
    —
Without stopping to think, Jessica ran after Carola. The prefect had met up with Lalla Winterton, who was a sub-prefect, and the pair were wandering off in the direction of the tennis courts. Carola turned round as she heard footsteps running up to her and was surprised to see Jessica there. The matter was over as far as she was concered.

“Jessica…” she began, but the new girl interrupted.

“Who do you think you are?” she demanded stormily. “Who are you to stay whether or not I can use the staircase? What makes you so special? How dare you speak to me like that! If I want to use the main staircase, I will. You can’t stop me!”

Carola interrupted Jessica’s flow calmly, and this infuriated Jessica even more. “I can stop you, Jessica, because I am a prefect and it’s my job to make sure that everyone obeys the rules. It doesn’t matter if you think it’s a silly rule or not. A rule is a rule and must be obeyed. That rule is in place for a reason. For a start, the staircase is carpeted. How long do you think the carpet would last with you lot traipsing up and down it all day? Second, the hall is where visitors are received and the Head doesn’t want girls milling about when she has guests. Now do you understand why that rule is there?”

“It’s still a stupid rule! And you’re stupid, too!”

“What’s going here?” asked a sharp voice from behind tall Carola. The two prefects had to turn round before they saw Matron standing there.

“Oh, Matron,” Carola said, “I’ve just been trying to explain to Jessica why the girls aren’t allowed to use the main staircase. She doesn’t seem to understand.”

“I do understand!” Jessica burst in. “I just think it’s a silly rule.”

“I’ll take over here, Carola,” Matron said, and the two prefects sighed thankfully and went off for a set of tennis. Matron turned to Jessica who was quite inflamed. “If I hear you talking to prefects like that again, I will wash your mouth out with soap and water. Is that clear?”

Jessica started. Matron quite clearly meant what she said. “You can’t do that,” she said.

“I can and will,” Matron said calmly. “Carola has explained to you why the main staircase is out of bounds? Yes? Then let’s hear no more about it. Your turn to use that staircase will come when you’re a senior. Til then, you’ll make do with the back stairs like the rest of the girls. Where should you be right now?”

“In the common room,” Jessica muttered, thinking that Matron was a very mean woman indeed.

“Come along then,” and Matron marched Jessica off to join her class mates, accompanying her to make sure she did not get into anymore trouble on her way.
#321:  Author: little_sarah, Location: Liverpool/Manchester PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:21 pm
    —
How daft of Jessica! She's only going to wind everyone up even more if she carries on like this.
Thanks for the update!
#322:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:26 pm
    —
Most effectively dealt with by Matron - as ever!

Thanks Sue
#323:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:01 pm
    —
Jessica certainly has some nerve, going after Carola like that! Thanks Sue.
#324:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:49 pm
    —
It's only the Prefects that can use the front stairs isn't it?


Glad to see Matey faced her down.


Thanks Sue.
#325:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:04 pm
    —
She's not helping herself by annoying everyone else, is she?
#326:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:38 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm glad that Matron put Jessica in her place.

I'm probably being very silly, but Matron said that Jessica had to wait till she is a Senior - is this as a prefect? It's just that I thought that Jessica already was a Senior.
#327:  Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:44 pm
    —
I would absolutely love to see Matey wash Jessica's mouth out with soap and water! Laughing Thanks for the update.
#328:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:09 pm
    —
Chair wrote:
I'm probably being very silly, but Matron said that Jessica had to wait till she is a Senior - is this as a prefect? It's just that I thought that Jessica already was a Senior.


Oops - schoolgirl error! I meant prefect but it came out as senior for some unknown reason. Probably because, at the moment, the likelihood of Jessica becoming a prefect is nill!
#329:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:39 pm
    —
Mary Lou will be putting in appearance very shortly!


Jessica’s first week at the Chalet School had not been a success. At least, Jessica rested on her laurels in the knowledge that she had upset her class mates and annoyed the prefects and staff – this was exactly what she had planned to do. She wondered momentarily about the guilty feeling she was experiencing from time to time, but cast it off as a weakness and refused to succumb to it which was a shame because she could not be truly happy while she was causing mischief. Jessica had sworn she would not stay at the Chalet School and would not stop until she achieved this, no matter how miserable she became or how guilty she felt at hurting people like Prunella who had genuinely tried to befriend her.

The staff were at their wits’ end as to what to do with her. Miss Annersley arrived in the staff room at the end of the week to find out how Jessica had got on in classes. She had her own ideas, but wanted them confirmed before she acted.

The staff were as one with their opinion of the new girl. She was a complete little nuisance who disrupted lessons constantly, did not do any work and did her utmost to ensure that no-one else did any work either. She was rude to them and answered back at every opportunity. More, she scoffed at their teaching methods.

Miss Annersley had been afraid of this.

”You all know something about Jessica’s past,” she said, “and thank you for being patient with her and for giving her a chance. It seems as if Joey might have been right all along. The girl is not going to take her chance to make good by herself. I’m going to ask Joey to speak to Mary Lou. I did not want to burden Mary Lou with this. She’s been through a lot with her gran’s death, but I can’t think of anything else to do with Jessica. If she goes on like this, she’ll end up being expelled and that’s something I want to avoid at all costs. The prefects represent you, the staff, and myself and I don’t think she’ll listen to them. Besides, she has already got the backs up of every single one of them. Mary Lou comes back on Monday and will be a fresh figure for her. They’re the same age and I think we can trust Mary Lou to approach this in a sensitive way. Does anyone disagree?”

No-one did, not did anyone have any better ideas and so Miss Annersley phoned Joey Maynard and asked to speak to Mary Lou at the first possible opportunity. Joey only just did not say “I told you so!”
#330:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:47 pm
    —
I don't like Mary-Lou, but in this case I'm glad she'll be appearing soon!
#331:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:12 pm
    —
Thanks Sue
#332:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:29 pm
    —
I have to admit to being a little disappointed because she's going to turn up soon; I'd have liked to see Jessica get into more mischief. I can't wait to see her first meeting with Mary-Lou, though!
#333:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:42 pm
    —
Thank you Sue, I'll be interested to see the coming events from Jessica's point of view.
#334:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:30 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm glad they haven't expelled her yet.
#335:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:11 am
    —
Enter Mary Lou! Anything written in italics is taken directly from Mary Lou.

Mary Lou Trelawney returned to the Chalet School the following week, unaware of the unhappy task she was to be asked to take on. She had remained at home for the funeral of her grandmother and to help with the arrangements. She had then come out to Switzerland, joining the school a week or so into the term.

After a brief interview with Miss Annersley – who mentioned nothing about Jessica, having decided to leave that task to Joey once Mary Lou had had a chance to settle in – the girl took herself off to Cornflower dormitory for a wash and brush up. She had been travelling what seemed like forever and she had felt tired, dirty and a little bit sad. A change of clothes and a wash made her feel more comfortable and, looking at her watch, Mary Lou saw that there was no point in going to class for the ten minutes or so that remained. Instead, she headed for the common room, checking herself on the way and reminding herself that she was a senior now.

Mary Lou had confidently expected to have the common room to herself. The girls should all be at the last lesson of the day. But, in the room, on the big sofa that stood between two of the windows, was a girl of her own age or thereabouts. This, of course, was Jessica, who looked furious and her scowl deepened as she watched Mary Lou enter the room. Mary Lou was not the type to leave this sort of thing alone; besides the girl’s deep scowl, Mary Lou could distinguish something that looked like unhappiness. She sat down beside Jessica, demanding,

“Hello! What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you in form?”

Jessica had gathered from the others’ gossip that Mary Lou was due back today. From their description of her, Jessica knew that the girl she had decided to hate had arrived back at school. Jessica was instantly annoyed by Mary Lou’s breezy questions and her calm assurance that the other girl would instantly befriend her. Jessica should have been in a Geography lesson with Vb but had declined to attend – and not for the first time. Miss Moore had sent Clare Kennedy to fetch her but Jessica had been so rude that Clare had returned to class empty handed and looking almost cowed. Jessica knew that she would be in trouble for this later and this made her even nastier to Mary Lou, who was genuinely trying to be friendly. As yet, she knew nothing about Jessica or her background.

“What business is it of yours? And who are you anyway?” This last needlessly since she knew perfectly well who Mary Lou was but thought it would be interesting to see this self-possessed lady explain herself. Mary Lou looked rather put out and explained quite formally that she had been Head of the Middles the previous term when part of her job had been to help out if anyone was worried or in trouble.

“Can I do anything to help?” Mary Lou wound up, unexpectedly as far as Jessica was concerned. Jessica felt that this bumptious newcomer was the last person she would ever want to approach if there was anything she wanted to talk about.

“No,” she said shortly. “Except go away and leave me alone. You can do that.”

‘Glare’ is the only word for the look the query brought her. Then the new girl condescended to reply. “My name is Jessica Wayne. I’ve heard about you. The rest seem to think you’re the cat’s bathmat; but if you expect me to join in, you’ve another guess coming. Now go away and let me alone!”
#336:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:20 am
    —
Thanks Leahbelle.


Shocked Evil or Very Mad Shocked Evil or Very Mad
#337:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:25 am
    —
I love Jessica's initial comments about Mary-Lou - always laugh when I read them!
#338:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:41 am
    —
Brilliant, thanks Sue. I do love that scene Very Happy
#339:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:03 pm
    —
Laughing Not the reaction OOAO was expecting, then!
#340:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:24 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I do have an inclination to agree with Jessica about the last part!
#341:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:00 pm
    —
Jessica has Miss Moore's sharp tongue to face - probably why she's so worried!


Thanks Sue.
#342:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:15 am
    —
*Cheers on Mary-Lou*
(though "cat's bathmat" is a lovely phrase Mr. Green)
#343:  Author: Cryst,  PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:52 am
    —
Thank you Leahbelle - it's really clever the way you are interweaving this into the book.
#344:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:13 pm
    —
Mary Lou realised that Jessica meant what she said and decided, for the moment, to leave things alone. She got herself a book and sat down, outwardly engrossed in The Island of Sheep but inwardly wondering what on earth had happened to make Jessica Wayne so hostile and angry.

Jessica, relieved that Mary Lou had taken the hint, gave herself up to glaring at the other girl and hoping that the pair would have very little to do with each other. Mary Lou, confident and self-assured, did not seem to Jessica like the sort of girl whose friendship she would want to cultivate.

Jessica’s antagonism to Mary Lou deepened when, lessons over, girls began to stream into the common room and throng around Mary Lou. Mary Lou forgot about the troubled new girl for the time being in the excitement of meeting up with old friends. Even girls from VIb came over to greet her and Jessica wondered what it was about this rather loud girl that made people want to congregate around her in such a way.

The bell for Kaffee rang and silence descended on the room as the girls hurried into line. Jessica remained where she was and the others, warned by past scenes, made no effort to entice her to join the line. Mary Lou noticed this and ran across the room to her.

“Come along,” she said cheerfully. “That’s the bell for Kaffee und Kuchen.”

“I’m not coming,” Jessica muttered.

“Of course you are! You’ll only be fetched if you don’t, and have a fine old row with Matey into the bargain – and I don’t advise that!” said Mary Lou the experienced. “Come on, Jessica. It isn’t worth it.”

“Let me alone! Can’t you take a telling? I’m not coming!”

Mary Lou dropped down beside her. “What’s wrong?” she asked bluntly.

“Nothing! It’s none of your business, anyway! Let me alone, I tell you!”

Clearly there was nothing to be done, short of hauling her along by main force, and Mary Lou knew that no-one in authority would look with any favour on that.

“I’ll just have to leave it to the prees” she said, voicing her thoughts aloud. “It’s their job, after all.”

“Oh, going to sneak are you? Just what I might have expected from everybody’s pet!” Jessica said scathingly.

Mary Lou flushed and rose with some dignity, stung by the nastiness in the new girl’s tone. “I shan’t say anything, I can assure you. The prefect at your table will miss you and she’ll ask questions and she’ll jolly soon know all about it. Don’t flatter yourself otherwise. However, as you’ve already told me about a dozen times, it’s your affair.” Suddenly, her chilly tone changed. “Don’t be so silly, Jessica. You’ll only get into a ghastly row and it really isn’t worth it. Change your mind and come along with me – do!”

It was Mary Lou at her most persuasive, but Jessica was having none of it. Why wouldn’t this bumptious newcomer do as she asked? She only wanted to be left alone. Was that so difficult for Mary Lou to grasp?

”Clear out and let me alone! I don’t want any tea or whatever idiot name you call it over here! Now let me alone!”

It was hopeless. Mary Lou had to give it up. Casting a final glance over her shoulder at the glowering Jessica, Mary Lou finally departed for the Speisesaal and her own meal.
#345:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:27 pm
    —
I love seeing Jessica's thought process there, thanks Sue Very Happy
#346:  Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:57 pm
    —
I was convinced this would finish with the arrival of Mary-Lou, so am thrilled to see it's going to continue!

Thank you!!!!
#347:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:02 pm
    —
Good to see Jessica's side of it Very Happy .
#348:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:46 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that even Mary-Lou can't talk Jessica around at the moment.
#349:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:00 am
    —
Thanks Sue. Very Happy
#350:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:33 am
    —
Nice to see the scenes from Jessica's point of view.

Thanks Sue
#351:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:44 pm
    —
About ten minutes later, Jean Ackroyd arrived in the common room. She had the misfortune to have Jessica at her table and it was far from the first time that Jean had had to abandon her duties to come in search of the absent new girl. As soon as Jean saw Jessica, she realised that the girl was in an even darker mood than usual and groaned inwardly. Yet another argument with Jessica was not high on her list of priorities. Jean decided on a more conciliatory approach than usual.

“Hello, Jessica. Didn’t you hear the bell go for Kaffee?” It was an effort for Jean to keep her voice friendly, but she wanted to be fair to Jessica.

“Of course I did,” was the rude response.

“Come on, then!” Jean made a final effort, ignoring Jessica’s reply.

“No, thanks. I’m not hungry. I’m quite all right here.”

Jean lost her temper. “That’s enough, Jessica! This has got to stop. You can’t go on flouting authority like this. Haven’t you been in enough trouble this term already? Give it a rest, do, and come for Kaffee. If you don’t, I’ll have no option but to go for Matron.”

Although Jessica was still in awe of Matron, she would rather cheek Jean and involve Matron than go to Kaffee.

“Sneak!” she accused. “Just because you can’t get me to go to Kaffee, you have to go crying to Matron! Not much of a prefect, are you?”

Jean was stunned into silence. Never in her life had she been spoken to by a member of the school in such a way, and certainly never by a senior.

“Very well, Jessica,” she said, only just managing not to shout, “you’ve left me with no option.”

And Jean, with her dignity wounded, got up and bristled out of the common room. Jessica knew that she would go straight for Matron. She had had further run-ins with the school’s domestic tyrant over Kaffee and other issues and knew that she could not win against her. That didn’t stop her intending to be as cheeky as possible, though. For some reason, Jessica felt more wound up than usual and put that down, most unfairly, to Mary Lou.
#352:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:53 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that she is blaming Mary-Lou.
#353:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:26 pm
    —
She's a real brat here. I hope matron makes mincemeat of her!
#354:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:46 pm
    —
She's brought it upon herself - Jean was far nicer that Jessica deserved anyway.



Thanks Sue.
#355:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:27 pm
    —
She's really being a pain!
#356:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:57 pm
    —
I think Matey will definitely be able to handle her though Smile

Thanks Sue
#357:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:46 am
    —
I think even Matey might be stymied here - she can't very well force-feed Jess, after all! Surely they're going to have to involve the Head, though I'm not very sure where even she can go from here. Glad I haven't got to resolve the dilemma!

Thanks, leahbelle.
#358:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:17 pm
    —
Sure enough, it was not long until Matron bustled into the room and read the riot act. Her words were sharp, almost unkind, but not undeserved and suddenly Jessica knew that she would not retaliate. She followed Matron to the Speisesaal at a distance and took her seat, unwillingly and looking subdued.

“Here is Jessica Wayne, Jean. Please see that she eats a proper meal. If she does not, kindly send for me.” Then Matron swung round and left the room with a resounding swish of well-starched print.

Jessica was fuming at being so publicly brought to notice and she sank down into her seat, casting furious glances at the girls at her table who dared to turn to stare at her. The Speisesaal had been full of happy chatter before Jessica’s entrance, but the girls felt somewhat subdued now and fell silent. Jessica herself managed to choke down two bread twists and a cup of the hated milky coffee but every mouthful made her nauseous and she mentally berated Matron, Jean, Mary Lou and the school for their stupid rules.

One unexpected thing did come out of this latest episode. Jessica admitted to herself that she was thoroughly fed up getting in trouble for not attending Kaffee and various lessons (she had to endure a further lecture from Miss Moore later that evening) and decided that it would be far easier to attend without demur in future. She stood in healthy awe of Matron and wanted to see as little of that lady in future as possible.
#359:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:58 pm
    —
Oh well, at least she might be a bit less stroppy now!

I do feel sorry for her having to drink stuff she doesn't like, though - I appreciate that they couldn't provide umpteen choices but I don't know why they never offered water as an alternative to coffee!
#360:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:06 pm
    —
Or even tea! I know "foreigners" supposedly couldn't make tea, but even so but that sounds like a lame excuse to me!
#361:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:51 pm
    —
Yes, I always hated the idea of being given milky coffee or milk all the time. I wonder if the girls were forced to drink it (as we were at infant school). I am glad that Jessica has decided she's fed up with being in trouble with Matey though.
#362:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:59 pm
    —
I think, had Jessica only objected because she didn't like the milky coffee, accomodation could have been found - her real reason was just to cause trouble.


Thanks Sue.
#363:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:35 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. It's good that she has realised that she won't get anywhere by carrying on in this way.
#364:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:39 pm
    —
There was no way that Jessica could keep on resisting Matey in the end was there? Very Happy

Thanks Sue
#365:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:36 pm
    —
One forgets that she's only a kid, and it's actually no fun being in trouble the whole time, especially when the adults are as experienced at being fierce as Matey.

Re. coffe etc, I think this was still the era in which children weren't expected or allowed to be 'fussy'. I still remember the many and varied strategems I resorted to at school to avoid being made to eat things I really couldn't stomach!
#366:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:41 pm
    —
Me too! Like taking sugar to school to try to stir into the milk we HAD to drink. I hated milk - and still do, though I have it on cereal and in coffee. Milk on its own as a drink - yuk!!!! Hot milk - even yuker! I have3 no idea how I would have drunk that if Matey had presented it to me. EBD did mention people who couldn't stand hot milk, but they all dutifully drank it down, so she can't have really understood how very hard it is to eat or drink something you hate.
#367:  Author: lizarfau, Location: Melbourne PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:01 am
    —
It would be nice to see Matey time-travel into contemporary society where she wouldn't scare even a kindergarten child into doing anything she didn't like ...
#368:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:13 pm
    —
*giggles at the thought of Matey in her angels wings cap descending on some poor unfortunate KG kids in this day and age!*

Thus, Jessica went along to prep that night without fuss, though she had no intention to work any harder than usual. She was further put off by the advent of Miss O’Ryan halfway through prep who announced that Mary Lou had been unanimously elected form prefect and that Vi Lucy was her second. Jessica had no great love for Vi and even less for Mary Lou and took it as a personal insult that they had been chosen. She could not understand why the Chalet School seemed to favour girls who were busybodies and wanted to take charge of everything.

Jessica turned back to her prep. It was the turn of geography and, as she had missed the lesson, she was at sea. The girls had been studying climate, relief and population and had been working with synthetic maps. Jessica had no idea how to use and what she was supposed to do once she had worked that out. Everyone else in the form was hard at work with their maps and Jessica felt rather lost and at sea, not realising that this was her own fault for skipping class. Prunella saw that she was struggling but was not too good at geography herself and, besides, had given up all hope of training her lamb and had left Jessica to herself. Mary Lou was the only other person to notice that Jessica was in trouble and, in typical Mary Lou, got up and went quietly across to the new girl.

“Haven’t you used them before?”

Jessica looked at her blankly. She had got herself into such a muddle over the maps that Mary Lou’s fluent, idiomatic German was beyond her. Mary Lou recast her sentence in English, though it is doubtful that she would have done this if she had known about Jessica’s previous history with German. In this case, however, Jessica really was at sea and even had difficulty in telling Mary Lou, in German, that she did not understand. Mary Lou went on to explain to Jessica, in clear, easy German, how to use the maps. She completely ignored Jessica’s blank and somewhat disinterested expression and left Jessica in doubt as to what to do with them. Ten minutes later, the form prefect was back at her own work and Jessica was actually busy with the maps and minus the scowl she had worn all the time since she had met the rest of the school on the platform of the Paris station. Jessica could not understand why she felt happier and even interested in the geography. Even less could she understand why she had not told Mary Lou to leave her alone.
#369:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:15 pm
    —
That sounds more hopeful ... although I really can't stand OOAO usually Laughing !
#370:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:34 pm
    —
Alison H wrote:
That sounds more hopeful ... although I really can't stand OOAO usually Laughing !


Me, neither, Alison! It's been really hard writing her character as though she's one I like and admire Shocked .
#371:  Author: Joan the Dwarf, Location: Er, where am I? PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:43 pm
    —
Pat wrote:
Me too! Like taking sugar to school to try to stir into the milk we HAD to drink. I hated milk - and still do, though I have it on cereal and in coffee. Milk on its own as a drink - yuk!!!! Hot milk - even yuker! I have3 no idea how I would have drunk that if Matey had presented it to me. EBD did mention people who couldn't stand hot milk, but they all dutifully drank it down, so she can't have really understood how very hard it is to eat or drink something you hate.


Humph. I love the taste of milk, and loved the dinky little bottles that it came in at school, and thought how wonderful it would be to put a straw through the foil top like everyone else. However, when I was younger my lactose intolerance was, well, intolerable, so I was forbidden from drinking it. I would sit there at break watching everyone else and envying them. I very occasionally got my chance when there was a supply teacher who didn't know about me - and then of course was promptly ill and ended up with skin resembling a dragon!

I love this drabble, and have done from the beginning. Please keep it going, at least up to Rosamund's death...
#372:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:36 pm
    —
Joan the Dwarf wrote:

I love this drabble, and have done from the beginning. Please keep it going, at least up to Rosamund's death...


Funny, I was just thinking that would be the most apt place to end it!
#373:  Author: jacey, Location: Ireland PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:22 pm
    —
No No No, you can't talk about ending it. What would I do without my daily fix??! I love this, its brilliant.
Could somebody relieve my ignorance and explain what synthetic maps actually are? I did Geography to Leaving Certificate (A level equivalent here in Ireland) in '70's and never came across them, by that name anyway.
#374:  Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:39 pm
    —
jacey wrote:
No No No, you can't talk about ending it. What would I do without my daily fix??! I love this, its brilliant.
Could somebody relieve my ignorance and explain what synthetic maps actually are? I did Geography to Leaving Certificate (A level equivalent here in Ireland) in '70's and never came across them, by that name anyway.


*echoes Jacey*

I can't do without my fix either! And neither do I know what to do with synthetic maps. Or geography come to that Laughing
#375:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:29 pm
    —
Thanks Sue - I think Mary Lou managed because Jessica had got to the point where she was fed up of being a rebel - but the rest of the class by then couldn't be bothered. Mary Lou, not having been exposed to Jessica's earlier behaviour, could help.
#376:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:16 pm
    —
Thanks Sue, it was really interesting to see Jessica's thoughts abot OOAO there.
#377:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:27 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm glad that Jessica was able to understand Mary-Lou.
#378:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 9:02 pm
    —
jacey wrote:

Could somebody relieve my ignorance and explain what synthetic maps actually are? I did Geography to Leaving Certificate (A level equivalent here in Ireland) in '70's and never came across them, by that name anyway.


I posted this question a couple of weeks ago in the 'anything else' section (can't do the link sorry!) I think it is still there. Very Happy


Thanks for the updates Leahbelle
#379:  Author: lizarfau, Location: Melbourne PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:18 pm
    —
leahbelle wrote:
Joan the Dwarf wrote:

I love this drabble, and have done from the beginning. Please keep it going, at least up to Rosamund's death...


Funny, I was just thinking that would be the most apt place to end it!


Of course, much as EBD might have liked it to, the resentment that Jessica felt towards her family wouldn't have ended with a pep talk from Mary-Lou. It's something that would probably have stayed with her a long time - perhaps unspoken, but definitely there. I don't think her relationship with her mother would ever have been as close again.
#380:  Author: Dot, Location: Ireland PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:51 pm
    —
Elle wrote:
jacey wrote:
Could somebody relieve my ignorance and explain what synthetic maps actually are? I did Geography to Leaving Certificate (A level equivalent here in Ireland) in '70's and never came across them, by that name anyway.

I posted this question a couple of weeks ago in the 'anything else' section (can't do the link sorry!) I think it is still there. Very Happy


Here is the link for the discussion in 'Anything Else'.

I really love this drabble, leahbelle!

Last edited by Dot on Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:38 pm; edited 1 time in total
#381:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:16 pm
    —
Lesley wrote:
I think Mary Lou managed because Jessica had got to the point where she was fed up of being a rebel - but the rest of the class by then couldn't be bothered.

Yes, me too. And she really couldn't do the work, and that's always scary.

Please let this last for ever, leahbelle, it's lovely.
#382:  Author: Imogen,  PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:44 pm
    —
Thank you leahbelle, I really like this, it's so good. I always liked Jessica
#383:  Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:44 am
    —
can I join the chants for more?

at least until poor Rosamund dies.

I've always liked Jessica too, she is one of the few characters who we really feel we learn something about as a person.
#384:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:34 am
    —
Thanks for all your chants for more - I'm thrilled people are still enjoying this after nearly a year Very Happy ! The bad news, of course, is that I've nearly finished it, although I have a few ideas which may make it last a bit longer, but I don't want people to get fed up with it. I've still got lots more to post, though, but the drabble itself will be probably be finished at the weekend. So, if you have any Jessica-bunnies, send them my way Very Happy !


Next morning, however, Jessica was back to normal. The scowl was back in position and she had polite words for nobody. Mary Lou had a chance to experience first hand the sort of behaviour that the rest of the form had been seeing since the beginning of term. In lessons, Jessica was abominably rude to the mistresses. She was sent out of Miss Derwent’s lesson for answering back and out of placid Frau Mieder’s class for disobeying orders. She disrupted Miss Wilmot’s maths lesson by asking pointless question after question until Miss Wilmot grew fed up and told Jessica to stand at the front of the form for the rest of the lesson. Out of lessons, she was rude to the girls and Mary Lou could quite understand (though she did not approve) why Prunella and the others had given her up. All attempts at friendly advances met with rebuffall and sometimes downright nasty comments. Mary Lou simply could not understand it. It was obviously not a one off, either, as this behaviour continued for the rest of the week. No amount of scolding or punishment on behalf of the staff made the slightest bit of difference. Jessica took the scolding and then calmly continued what she had been forbidden to.

Mary Lou was worried. This sort of disregard for rules and regulations was bad for the school. If the juniors saw a senior girl getting away with this sort of behaviour, things could soon descend into chaos. There were enough idiots among the lower classes in the school who would admire Jessica for her silly behaviour and even seek to emulate her. That must be stopped at all costs! She guessed that Jessica must be feeling very unhappy – no-one could behave as she did and be truly happy. She must be very lonely as well. Normally, Mary Lou would have butted in and sorted things out straight away but this struck her as something which needed a bit of thought.

Mary Lou contemplated asking Joey Maynard (‘Aunt Joey’) for help with this matter, when things were taken out of (and then put back into!) Mary Lou’s hands. On Saturday, Mary Lou met Joey Maynard when she was strolling in the garden. Joey, with an eye to her agreement with Miss Annersley, invited Mary Lou to tea with the intention of filling the form prefect in about Jessica Wayne and asking her to help the girl. Mary Lou, not knowing about this, was delighted and accepted with alacrity, determining to talk the matter over with Aunt Joey.

On the same day, just after she had left Mary Lou, Joey ran into Jessica for herself. She had not met the girl before but breezily introduced herself and then demanded to know Jessica’s name. Jessica, taken aback, gasped, “I – I’m Jessica Wayne.”

Jessica was quite taken with Mrs Maynard’s sweet, mellow laugh and golden voice. She was not quite so taken with the way that the lady extolled the virtues of the school, but it was hard to be rude to her and Jessica found herself being polite – for her. Joey, of course, was delighted to have met the subject of Lucia Gordon’s letter and she noted how pale the girl looked, with the black circles under her eyes and her general demeanour of unhappiness and discontent. “That’s something that Mary Lou and I must work to get rid of. I’m not having a Chalet School girl looking like that. We must get to the bottom of this straightaway.”
#385:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:37 am
    —
Thanks Sue Very Happy .
#386:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:13 pm
    —
Good for Joey.


Thanks Sue
#387:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:16 pm
    —
At tea that afternoon, Joey Maynard filled Mary Lou in on Jessica’s history. Mary Lou had guessed that something was badly wrong in the new girl’s life and was glad to hear the story. She could understand the girl a bit more now, but could not at all understand Jessica’s jealousy of her mother and her treatment of Rosamund. Having heard the whole sorry tale, Mary Lou was reluctant to take on the challenge of Jessica but Joey really left her with no option. There was no-one else capable of such a task. Mary Lou fought a battle with herself but eventually her genuine need to help people won through and she agreed to take Jessica on.

“I don’t think you’ll ever regret it,” Joey said quietly and proudly. Jessica would be all right now that Mary Lou was on the case.

Jessica knew nothing about Mary Lou’s trip to Joey Maynard’s, nor about the charge Joey had given the girl. However, Jessica did notice that Mary Lou seemed to be observing her a lot and she wondered why. She put it down to the fact that Mary Lou was a bit of a busy body and was probably keeping an eagle eye on her to check any trouble as soon as it looked liked rearing its head. Mary Lou need not bother, Jessica thought, for she would not give the other girl the satisfaction.

But, a day or so later, Jessica learned something about Mary Lou that made her look at the form prefect in a slightly different light.
#388:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:05 pm
    —
Thanks Sue. About Verity, presumably Very Happy ?
#389:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:19 pm
    —
I really like the way you've woven this into the book, Sue! And I hope that someone has some stray bunnies to send you, so that this goes on and on and on...
#390:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:31 pm
    —
This is fab Sue, it works so well with the book.

Long may it continue Very Happy
#391:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:37 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I hope that you will get more bunnies as this is a really amazing story.
#392:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:50 pm
    —
Thanks Sue.
#393:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:31 pm
    —
Thanks Sue. Please keep it all coming! This is brilliant.
#394:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:57 am
    —
Thanks for all your comments Very Happy Cool

The form set off for its usual early morning walk. Clare Kennedy had bagged Jessica as a partner, though Jessica was not to know that Mary Lou had asked Clare to take the new girl. Mary Lou herself and Verity Carey walked behind Clare and Jessica, and Vi Lucy and Barbara Chester were behind Mary Lou and Verity. It was German day and the girls’ conversation was based around Verity and how she was coping in a different dormitory to Mary Lou. Apparently, so Jessica heard, Verity was slow and Mary Lou had always helped her but Matron had insisted that the pair were split up this term and thus were in different dormitories. Jessica was interested in spite of herself. Verity and Mary Lou were not sisters as far as she knew. They had different surnames, so how could they be? Why was it, then, that Verity seemed to depend so much on the bigger, more capable girl? Then Vi made a comment about Mary Lou running after Verity at home and Jessica looked astonished.

Mary Lou noticed this and said nonchalantly, but including Jessica in her words:

“Oh, well, I’m used to it. After all, I had to help her out almost from the first. Just as well, too, seeing that Mother and Gran decided that so long as her father was in hospital, she had better call our place home. When Mother and her dad decided to marry each other and make us sisters-by-marriage, I knew what I was in for all right!”

Jessica was stunned. She had had no idea that Mary Lou and Verity shared the same sort of relationship that she herself shared with Rosamund. Jessica did not fully understand Mary Lou’s reference to “sisters-by-marriage”, but guessed that it was a different way of describing step-sisters. Jessica was rather taken aback. Mary Lou and Verity seemed to get on very well and, more than that, were friends. How could that be?

Clare saw Jessica’s surprised look and said in her slow, careful German, “Are you surprised, Jessica? Has no-one told you yet that they’ve each got a step-parent? Sure, what have we all been thinking of?”

“No,” Jessica said, shortly, but the colour flamed in her face.

“Well, you know it now,” Mary Lou told her.

It was nearly time for the girls to return to school and, as Jessica walked back with the others though she was outwardly silent, internally she went over the news that she had just heard about Mary Lou and Verity. She simply could not understand the relationship between the pair. Jessica thought that, if Verity had been like Rosamund, Mary Lou’s eager acceptance of her step-sister might have been less so.
#395:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:01 am
    —
Good, she's thinking about it.


Thanks Sue
#396:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:02 pm
    —
Thanks Sue.
#397:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:20 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. It's good that it has made Jessica think.
#398:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:53 pm
    —
Thanks Sue
#399:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:16 am
    —
Yes, she's got something to think about all right. Though if I'd been Verity, I should have strangled Mary-Lou!
Lovely tie-ins with the book, leahbelle.
#400:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:34 pm
    —
Very Happy Thanks, everyone! Very Happy


After Prayers, Miss Annersley announced that there would be an expedition on the following Saturday, the first expedition of the term. Jessica noted how excited the girls were at this news, evidenced by the outbreak of clapping. As she listened, Miss Annersley went on to explain that they would be making a tour of the Rhineland, leaving the Juniors in Zurich, while the others would go on to Schaffhausen and the Falls of Rhine, followed by Lake Constance. More clapping erupted and the Head gave the girls time to express their excitement. She wound up with the usual warning,

“Now I know that you are all delighted at the idea, but I have to warn you that the usual rule obtains. Any girl who behaves badly during this week and next will not go!” She said the last three words very impressively and sundry people among the Middles and Juniors looked very conscious.

Despite her initial disparaging thoughts, Jessica found herself interested in the prospect of an expedition. She had never been abroad before and this was the first time that she would have been off the Platz. She had no idea what there was to see in the Rhineland, but a little thrill of excitement bubbled in her stomach and she felt that it would be a very deep disgrace indeed for any girl to be left behind. As such, she was relatively well behaved for her during morning lessons, though her attention still wandered during classes but at least she did not distract the others.


The next incident for Jessica is the Mr Denny one - look out for squalls!
#401:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:42 pm
    —
Thanks Sue - I feel that actually Mr Denny was quite right when he apologised to Jessica - it was at least half his fault.
#402:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:36 pm
    —
As someone with possibly the worst singing voice in the world Laughing , I always felt sorry for Jessica over the Mr Denny incident!

Why were all the male teachers at the CS weird Rolling Eyes ?
#403:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:46 pm
    —
Alison H wrote:
Why were all the male teachers at the CS weird Rolling Eyes ?


Because EBD didn't want any of her girls falling in love with them! Laughing
#404:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:49 pm
    —
I'm with Alison on that one...

Thanks Sue, I look forward to seeing Jessica's take on things
#405:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:13 am
    —
Jessica was hardly done by over the singing, though partly because she'd gone out of her way to get a reputation for bloody-mindedness, and of course it was quite right for Mr Denny to apologise to her - that's one of the nice things about the CS, I always think, the staff are never made out to be infallible.
#406:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:20 pm
    —
After break, Vb had singing with Mr Denny, otherwise known as Plato – so named in the Dark Ages because he had talked at great length about the Greek philosopher. He idealised the early Elizabethan times when every gentleman could play some instrument and join in a song. He sported an Elizabethan beard and used Elizabethan idioms when he talked. Furthermore, nothing would induce him to teach in any language but his own, though he could speak both French and German fluently when he liked.

However, despite his oddities, Plato was a pleasant creature on the whole, sweet-tempered and easy going. But every now and then the signing master blew up and it took a good deal to calm him down. One thing that really upset Plato was the presence of a “droner” in his class. Miss Annersley was well aware of this and, when any tone deaf girl was discovered, she was kept back and handed over to one of the Junior mistresses for training. As quite a number of people can be helped if the work is done properly, it was rare for trouble to arise from this cause.

Jessica had not met Mr Denny before. He had been away the previous week and this was Vb’s first singing lesson for the term. In general, the class were a musical crowd, with a star pupil in Verity Carey, and they were all well able hold a tune.

As we have seen before, Jessica had no ear for music and was completely tone deaf. She had not learned from incidents in previous schools, most recently that with Miss Paulson, and did not speak up when the opportunity was there for her to tell Plato that she could not sing. Instead, Jessica stood quietly and moved her lips soundlessly.

This worked well during the first part of the lesson. Plato noticed nothing amiss, though Jessica’s neighbours did wonder why no sound came from her moving lips. They assumed it was just Jessica being difficult again and thought little of it, determined to enjoy the lesson themselves for Plato was an inspired tutor.
#407:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:34 pm
    —
Poor Jessica - my music teacher once told me to mouth the words in a carol concert because my awful voice was putting the rest of the class off Embarassed . But Jessica's now finding out that once you get a reputation for being a troublemaker it sticks with you.

Thanks Sue Very Happy .
#408:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:38 pm
    —
My brother was told exactly the same thing, Alison!

This has now been uploaded onto the SDL if anyone's interested. Here's the link:

http://www.sallydennylibrary.co.uk/viewstory.php?sid=98
#409:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:37 pm
    —
Poor Jessica! Funny her school reports didn't mention her musical "talent." On the other hand, they may have used up all the space on deportment issues....
#410:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:45 pm
    —
Don't worry Alison, I was told the same thing too Very Happy

Thanks Sue
#411:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:19 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I'm sorry that Jessica didn't speak up.

When my Dad's voice was breaking, he was told to stop singing when he was singing in a group. My Dad didn't mind at all as he wasn't a great fan of singing!
#412:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:41 pm
    —
At least she was trying to make it look as if she was joining in, which is more than she'd have done before.

I feel for Jess here. I had my very large and toxic tonsils removed when I was six, and because they were so big, the surgeon damaged a nerve in my ear. No-one said a thing to me, but I had severe earache and was completely deaf in that ear for several years. As a result, I could hear my own voice all the time, so spent years miming in Assembly - not that anyone seemed to notice!
#413:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:57 am
    —
Unfortunately, Plato then decided to try the girls with a new song which they were required to read at sight. It was not a difficult song on the whole, but there were one or two pitfalls and over one, the entire form fell down. Plato took them over the phrase again and again, but the class seemed unable to get it right, with someone always making the same error each time. Plato’s face grew grimmer and grimmer and the girls began to get nervous. The next time they went through it, quite half of them fell into the trap and the resultant discord would have roused anyone at all musical. It shook Plato to his depths and released a flaming temper that was usually kept well in hand. Laying down his baton, he glowered at them all with an expression that made the more nervous feel like shrieking. Realising that, as a form, the girls could not get past the trap, Plato demanded that they should come up one by one and sing it for themselves.

Verity went first and her beautiful, lilting voice calmed the irate master to some extent. As she went back to her seat, the girls heaved little sighs of relief. Mary Lou came next. She was not musical in the strictest sense, but could follow a tune well enough when she gave it her full attention. For once, Mary Lou was intensely nervous for she hated singing a new song in front of the entire class and, with Plato making her even more nervous, she knew she was bound to make mistakes. In fact, Mary Lou sang the first three bars flat and ended up a full tone lower than she had started. Plato made her sing the song through twice more but Mary Lou was worse with each turn. Eventually, the furious Plato marched to the piano and made Mary Lou sing the song through no less than five times to his accompaniment. Mary Lou crawled back to her place in the form, thoroughly humiliated, and watched as, one by one, the remainder of the girls were called up. They had learned from Mary Lou’s mistakes and managed well enough, each returning to their place glad to have escaped Plato’s wrath.

Jessica had watched this scene speechlessly. She had never before seen a master or mistress behave in such a way. Plato was clearly in the throws of a full blown temper tantrum and he stomped about the dais and thumped the poor piano as girl after girl sang, but none with the clarity and beauty of Verity. He was so angry that he was unable to control himself and Jessica felt herself shaking in trepidation as her turn approached. She knew that there would be a huge row when she attempted to sing. Her heart told her that what she ought to do, given the foul mood Plato was in, was to tell him that she could not sing; however, she was genuinely scared of the angry man who stalked across the dais and spoke scathingly to each girl after her attempt to sing and so, when it was her turn, Jessica said nothing.
#414:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:13 am
    —
Feel sorry for her here.
#415:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:58 pm
    —
I feel really sorry for her here as well.

Thanks Sue
#416:  Author: clair,  PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:55 pm
    —
As someone who really can't sing she has my full sympathy!

Just a thought, once you finish with Jessica how about Verity's point of view? Never understood why OOAO didn't try using her perspective of finally having a mother.
#417:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:06 pm
    —
Ouch!


Poor Jessica
#418:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:37 pm
    —
Thanks, Sue. I am also feeling sorry for Jessica.
#419:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:49 pm
    —
Oh, poor Jess - and poor OOAOML as well, Plato really put her through the mill. I'd have died!
#420:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:37 am
    —
Plato was definitely out of order here, but I don't think Jessica helped the situation!


Jessica attempted to get through the song and droned along on two notes the whole way. He stopped and started Jessica again several times, barking instructions at her but he could not get anything more from her – naturally.Jessica’s face became darker and darker as she continued to drone along, and Plato’s fury was evident in every bone of his body. Finally, he let go and stormed at her, vowing that they should all stay there until she had sung it and sung it properly. Jessica lost her temper and stormed back at him and this was one time when Mary Lou felt that she had better not interfere or goodness knew what might happen. Indeed, she wondered if this was another attempt of Jessica’s to play up.

Miss Annersley, who had been waiting for Vb for Testament, arrived onto a scene that was to add to the legends of the school. Plato was stamping mad and Jessica, all self-control at and end, was shrieking, “I tell you, you stupid old idiot, I can’t sing and I won’t sing. So now!”

Miss Annersley swept up to the rostrum, taking in the scene before her and the scared looking girls.

“What is wrong here?” she asked, and never had she sounded or looked grimmer.

Plato suddenly work up to the fact that he was making a fool of himself. He regarded the Head with dismay. Not so Jessica. She was in a full-blown passion and the short pause had given her second wind. With complete disregard for the Head, she shrieked, “And I’ll never come to another singing lesson! I won’t – I wo—“

At that point, she caught Miss Annersley’s eye and suddenly dried up. The Head looked at her for a full minute during which Jessica felt her rage cooling at railroad speed until finally she only wished that the rostrum would open and swallow her.

“First,” said Miss Annersley, “you will apologise to Mr Denny for your outrageous rudeness to him, Jessica.”

Jessica glared at the Head, but was quite unable to speak. She felt that, if she opened her mouth, she must burst into tears which would never stop. She had embarrassed herself, she knew that from Miss Annersley’s looks and the attitude of the girls. If she had thought that anyone would think her behaviour had been clever, she was badly mistaken. Everyone felt sorry for her, but most people felt she had brought this on herself.

Miss Annersley repeated her command but Jessica remained silent, gulping down the sobs that threatened to embarrass her further. The Head, looking closely at her, realised that the girl was close to tears if not hysteria, and said gravely, “Very well. Go to the study and wait there for me.”

Jessica heard Miss Annersley go on to apologise to Mr Denny for her atrocious behaviour as she stumbled out of the room and her cheeks flamed a violent crimson. She vaguely heard Mary Lou talking to Miss Annersley in a voice that was very quiet and small for the form prefect and then Mary Lou took Jessica’s arm and steered her towards the study. For a wonder, Jessica did not throw Mary Lou off, but was vaguely grateful for the other girl’s assistance. It is certainly doubtful that Jessica was in any state to find her own way to the study.
#421:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:05 pm
    —
She did go a bit OTT, didn't she Laughing ?
#422:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:13 pm
    —
Mary Lou did just the right thing there, didn't she?


Thanks Sue.
#423:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:29 pm
    —
Quote:
vowing that they should all stay there until she had sung it and sung it properly.
And how is she supposed to do that? Silly man! In fairness, he does recognise it.
Nice to see that Hilda's eye hasn't lost its effect, and good to see Mary Lou being so sensitive and sensible - and realising when she really should not interfere!
#424:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:34 am
    —
Writing this has actually made me see a different side of Mary Lou. I think she always meant well, but didn't always go about things in the most subtle way. I always thought she was much less tactful than Con, but no-one ever told her so!


Jessica was shaking by the time Mary Lou got her to the study. That young woman told her charge to sit down and departed to seek a drink of water for her. Jessica was trembling violently and she sank down onto the floor as the nearest place to offer her some refuge. As she did so, the sobs came and Jessica threw herself full length on the floor and gave herself up to the storm. She could not have explained even to herself why she was reacting so emotionally to the outburst with Plato. He had deserved everything she said to him. The silly old man should never have made her sing that song. But then, a voice inside her head told, Plato didn’t know that she couldn’t sing. She hadn’t told him. Jessica sobbed even more, unable to understand the emotions that were coursing through her.

When Mary Lou retuned with the glass of water, she found Jessica, all her rage and impudence vanished, lying full length on the floor and sobbing wildly. The Head had not come yet and the form prefect guessed that she was smoothing things over. Jessica was her job, therefore.

Mary Lou sat down beside the new girl, touching her gently on the shoulder. Jessica flinched and pulled away, nearly upsetting the glass of water in Mary Lou’s hand, her body heaving with sobs.

“Don’t cry like that, Jessica. Sit up and take a drink. You’ll feel better then. Come on!” For a wonder, Jessica allowed her to do this without resistance.

“That’s better! Now, take a sip of this. Go on! It’ll help you!” Mary Lou picked the glass up and held it to Jessica’s mouth.

Jessica gasped and shook and her teeth chattered on the rim of the glass till Mary Lou grew afraid that she would bite a piece out of it. She removed it hurriedly and set it down again and applied herself to calming the girl.

“Jessica, do try not to sob so,” she said anxiously. “You’ll only make yourself ill and then Matey will yank you off to San and that’s not much fun, let me tell you. Try the water again.”

Jessica made a very great effort and managed to pull herself together enough to take a tiny sip or two from the glass. This seemed to help her and she took the glass from Mary Lou and drank the remainder of the liquid thirstily. This also helped to check the sobs that had wracked her and she began to feel calmer, although she still gave occasional heaves. Mary Lou passed her a handkerchief and told Jessica firmly, but kindly, to mop up.

Jessica obeyed and she wiped her streaming eyes before attending to her nose. Eventually, the storm almost over, she held out the hanky uncertainly to Mary Lou who grinned.

“Tell you what, “ she said chummily, “why don’t you keep it for the rest of the day and put it in the laundry for me later. I’ll fetch another in a bit.”

Jessica gave another sniff and tucked the hanky neatly away.

“Now, “ Mary Lou said, “suppose we get you off the floor and onto a chair and then you can tell me what all this is about?”

Again, Jessica allowed Mary Lou to pull her up, this time to her feet. Mary Lou settled her on one of Miss Annersley’s comfortable chairs and pulled one up for herself. Mary Lou looked questioningly at Jessica who seemed in no hurry to explain herself.
#425:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:23 am
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Mary-Lou did handle this quite well, I have to admit!
#426:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:01 pm
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Yes, she was exactly what Jessica needed. Thanks Sue.
#427:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:31 pm
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Thanks, Sue. Mary-Lou was really supportive in this scene.
#428:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:15 pm
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She did well there - and it's not surprising that Jessica isn't quite sure why she's crying now. Laughing


Thanks Sue.
#429:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:41 pm
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She has so much emotion bottled up inside her that it's no wonder that it all came out so violently.
#430:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:20 pm
    —
She really needed that, didn't she, to get some of the poison out. Quite scary for Mary Lou, though, and she handled it so well.

Loved Jess not knowing what to do with the hanky!

Edited because I'm stupid!
#431:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:56 pm
    —
I've just caught up with this, and it's very impressive Sue. I thought Mary-Lou handled this very well, and Jessica would have been helped by being able to release some of her tension.
#432:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:18 am
    —
“Come on, Jessica,” she cajoled. “You’ll feel much better when you’ve shared things. I could see you were unhappy the very day I met you. Won’t you let me help?”

“You can’t,” Jessica whispered. Not for worlds would she have told Mary Lou about her troubles at home. She had an idea that the prefect would not look very kindly on her.

“Try me,” Mary Lou encouraged. “Why did you sing that song like that?”

Jessica realised that Mary Lou was referring to her behaviour in the singing lesson, and not to anything else. Clever Mary Lou thought that, if she started with today’s episode, Jessica might be encouraged to confide in her about her home issues.

“I can’t sing,” Jessica told her, buntly. “I’m tone deaf.”

Mary Lou was surprised. She had honestly thought that the scene had been deliberate on Jessica’s part and that she had sung the song badly on purpose to further annoy the already irate master.

”Tone deaf?” she repeated.

“Yes.”

“Then why on earth didn’t you tell someone?” Mary Lou demanded. “Miss Annersley would have arranged for you to be coached by one of the junior music mistresses before you ever met Plato. Honestly, if there’s one thing he hates it’s a droner, but he does understand that some people just can’t sing. Why didn’t you tell him when he yanked you out to the front instead of making a complete mess of the song?”

Jessica resented Mary Lou’s manner. It all seemed so easy and straightforward to her, but it was Jessica who could not sing and who had the problem.

“Why should I have?” she burst out, with some of the old fire back in her voice. “He had no right to make any of us sing like that in front of everyone else. If he’d just let me alone, none of this would have happened. It was his fault, not mine!”
#433:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:28 am
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She and Plato were both out of order - which, to be fair, I think Plato did admit.
#434:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 7:39 pm
    —
She's still very defensive, isn't she? And it would have been far simpler if she had said something. Glad that Mary Lou knows Jessica wasn't doing it deliberately though.


Thanks Sue.
#435:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:11 pm
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Thanks Sue
#436:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:22 am
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Yes, I'd have hated to be called upon to sing alone in front of everyone with Plato in a mood like that, too. Thanks Sue.
#437:  Author: Imogen,  PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:53 pm
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Thank you Sue. Poor Jessica. I had to sing in front of my school once and everyone laughed. I'm glad Mary-Lou is so understanding.
#438:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:22 pm
    —
“You’re wrong, Jessica,” Mary Lou said quietly but with an air of knowledge and authority that made Jessica listen. “Your duty was to tell Plato, or Miss Annersley, before the start of the lesson that you could not sing. In fact, why did your previous school not let the Head know? They must have known.”

Jessica shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you should have told Plato straight away, if not when he dragged you out to sing. I don’t say he would have taken it well, the mood he was in, but he certainly wouldn’t have taken you through the song like that. Besides, even if you had got away with mouthing for this lesson, you couldn’t have got away with it forever. We often sing solos in class, or in small groups. He’d soon have sussed you out and then he would have been furious with you for lying to him.”

“Lying? But I didn’t lie,” Jessica protested.

“Not directly, perhaps, but you were deliberately misleading Plato into thinking that you were singing when all the time you were hiding the fact that you are tone deaf.”

Jessica was silent. She hadn’t thought that she was being dishonest.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of in not being able to sing,” Mary Lou went on. “It’s not something to be embarrassed about. We can’t all sing like Verity. I’m no great shakes myself, though I can hold a tune. Most of us are just average. It’s just like Maths or English – you either get it or you don’t. But, just like Maths and English, if you get the right training and put some work in, you can get better. I don’t say you’ll ever be a prima donna, but you may be able to at least hold a tune.”

“Oh, do you think so?” Jessica brightened. It would mean a lot to her if what Mary Lou said was true.

“I don’t see why not. I’m sure Miss Annersley will send you to Miss Lawrence for some lessons when she hears about this.”

“I’d love to be able to sing,” Jessica admitted forlornly. “My ste… at home, there’s someone who can sing, and I just wish I could too.”

Mary Lou wondered if this someone was Rosamund. She also thought how ironic it was for Jessica to want something that Rosamund had. Mary Lou thought about bringing up the topic of her step-sister but decided against it. Jessica was looking very tired and no doubt had the beginnings of a headache after her outburst and the odd sob still wracked through her. This was not the right time, though Mary Lou was inwardly elated at the way in which Jessica had opened up to her and talked to her and the prefect was hopeful about the future.
#439:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:31 pm
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Mary-Lou did handle that well - although it pains me to say it Laughing !

Thanks Sue.
#440:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:36 pm
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Yes, I'm impressed with M-L, too. I like the way you are making me like her again, Sue!
#441:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:45 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I think that Mary-Lou did a great job there.
#442:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:01 pm
    —
Miss Annersley had entered the study before either girl realised she was there. She took in the situation at once and turned to Mary Lou.

“Will you ask Matron to come here, please? Jessica, I think you will be more comfortable if you lie down. I’m certain your head is aching badly.”

Miss Annersley cleared an ottoman couch of the books and papers it bore and helped Jessica on to it. The girl was trembling and sobs still shook her at intervals, though these were becoming fewer. Miss Annersley threw a light rug over her and waited until Matron arrived. She took Matron over to the window and spoke rapidly for a few minutes. Mary Lou had returned to the form room after finishing her errand and Jessica was rapidly turning drowsy, though she was disconcerted to see Matron. She knew Matron had no love for her and guessed she would be in for a hard time. Jessica was honest enough to admit that perhaps she deserved it.

When Miss Annersley had finished speaking to Matron, the domestic doyenne turned to Jessica. At first, there was a rather hard look in her eyes and her tone was sharp as she spoke, but there was a hint of kindness about her that Jessica was aware she did not deserve.

“Well, I think bed is what you need at present,” Matron said briskly. “Come along, child. A tiny dose and a cup of hot milk and then you’ll have a good nap and feel more like yourself when you wake up. All right, Miss Annersley. I’ll see to her now.”

Miss Annersley nodded and told Jessica to go with Matron. The girl had no option but to obey, even if she had had the energy to rebel. Besides, as Matron swung an arm around Jessica, she realised that, though Matron was small, she was wiry and there was no chance of escape from that grip, gentle though it appeared to be.
#443:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:30 pm
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Thanks - it's really interesting to see this from Jessica's point of view.
#444:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:12 pm
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Thanks, Sue. It's good that Jessica could see that there was kindness in Matron's eyes.
#445:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:07 pm
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Thanks - I'm really enjoying the way you're weaving Jessica in and out of the original text.
#446:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:17 pm
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Brilliant updates Leahbelle. Thank you.
#447:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:59 pm
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Thanks for that Sue.
#448:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:11 am
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Thank you Sue; interesting to see that hint of kindness about Matron.
#449:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:10 pm
    —
Jessica obediently let Matron guide her up to Leafy. Her head was aching badly and her body still shook with the occasional sob and hiccup that was the storm still trying to blow itself out. Jessica thought longingly of her own bed and wanted nothing other than to curl up and let her sore, tired eyes close for a few hours. The tiny dose which Matron brought (aspirin powdered and mixed with water) plus the glass of hot milk had the effect of soothing Jessica almost completely and, once Matron had drawn the cubicle curtains and darkened the windows of the dormitory, Jessica soon found herself dosing off, curled up safely under the sheets. The occasional sob still coursed through her body but she was more or less relaxed and, when she awoke, would be almost totally recovered, physically at least.

Matron returned to check on Jessica before Kaffee und Kuchen and she immediately decided that Jessica should be taken to San for a rest. Although the rest had helped Jessica over her physical tiredness, Matron was astute enough to realise that emotionally Jessica was still very close to the edge. Leafy was composed of a fairly riotous crowd this term and Matron knew that they would give Jessica no peace. Although Vb had been asked not to talk about the incident with Mr Denny, the school grapevine had been active and there was not a girl in the school who did not know about what had happened and who did not want to know more from the horse’s mouth. Matron knew that Jessica was not up to this and it could end in another scene and so it was best to remove the girl from the dormitory and let the girls talk amongst themselves about it. They would soon become bored of it as other things happened to take their minds off it.

Jessica was dumbly grateful for this, though she could not say so to Matron. She merely picked up her toiletries and trailed along behind Matron to the San where she was put in a little side room so she could be totally private. Jessica dozed again after Kaffee (which Matron ensured that she ate!) and then spent a peaceful night. She felt much better the next day and wanted to get up. She even ventured to argue with Matron when told she was to stay put. Matron put the rebellion down firmly, but kindly, and Jessica found that, after all, she was happy to spend a quiet day by herself gathering her thoughts together.

“I did make an awful ass of myself,” she though glumly, as she stared out of the dormitory window. “I thought Plato was behaving like an idiot – and he’s an adult – but I was as bad. I suppose I thought I was being clever. If a master could behave like that, why couldn’t I?”

Jessica had never taken the trouble to think about her actions and their consequences before. What Mary Lou had said to her, and the prefect’s calm helpfulness, had really caused Jessica to stop and examine her own motives and behaviour. Jessica didn’t much like it, but for some reason, she found herself thinking more and more about her behaviour since she started school and actually found her cheeks burning as she remembered the perfect nuisance she had made of herself.

“And I’ve been so awful to Prunella, too,” she thought. Jessica had long learned that it was the Chalet School custom for old girls to sheep dog new girls and look after them, but it only just dawned on her that this must something of a pain for the old girls. After all, they had their own friends and wanted to be with them. Having a new girl traipsing along after you every step of the way couldn’t be much fun, and yet Prunella had never been anything other than friendly and helpful.
#450:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 4:16 pm
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Good for Jessica. It's not easy looking at yourself like that.
#451:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 4:27 pm
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It really sounds like Jessica is starting to grow up.

Thanks Sue
#452:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 5:03 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I'm glad that she's starting to think about these things.
#453:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 5:55 pm
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Well done to Jessica for starting to think about her behaviour
#454:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:02 pm
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It's great to see Jessica finally begin to see what she's been like. Thanks Sue.
#455:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:53 pm
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Glad she's realising that she's been behaving badly.
#456:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:12 am
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That space for thinking and being quiet was just what she needed.
#457:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:29 am
    —
It was almost a relief to Jessica when Miss Annersley arrived to speak to her about the singing incident. She had been wondering what her punishment would be, and guessed that she would be forbidden to go on the expedition the following weekend. Part of her told herself that she didn’t want to go on the silly expedition anyway, but the other, more honest part, knew that she would be devastated to be left behind while the others departed on this happy outing.

Miss Annersley spoke very gravely to Jessica and, for once, the girl actually seemed to listen to her head mistress and to take to heart what was said. Jessica was not to know that Mary Lou had had a serious talk with Miss Annersley so that the Head knew all about the problem without Jessica having to speak.

“I cannot excuse your behaviour, Jessica,” Miss Annersley said, “but I can understand why you felt the way you did. I have arranged for Miss Lawrence to take you for some tests. We’ll see if there’s any way in which you can be helped. Lots of people who can’t sing simply need the right training. Perhaps we can provide that for you.”

“Oh, that’s just what Mary Lou said!” Jessica breathed. “I would love to be able to sing.”

“So I gather,” Miss Annersley gave a little smile. “But you will need to put in a lot of work. This won’t happen overnight. You will need to practice and at times it might seem like its not worth it. It will be worth it, Jessica. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. You will really feel like you have achieved something if you stick with this and work hard at it. Do you think you can do that?”

“Yes,” Jessica was definite. “I’ve wanted this for ages. And… and I’m sorry I was so rude to Pla… Mr Denny.”

Miss Annersley almost forgot herself and gawped visibly. Could this really be naughty Jessica voluntarily venturing an apology? “Good,” was all Miss Annersley could manage at first and then she pulled herself together. “Well done, Jessica. I know that was difficult for you.”

Jessica thought that Miss Annersley had no idea how difficult it had been, but it was a relief to have said it. She turned her attention back to the head.

“Of course, you must tell Mr Denny you are sorry as well. And as you embarrassed him in front of the whole class, you must also apologise to him in front of the whole class.”

Miss Annersley watched the look of horror creep across Jessica’s face.

“The alternative,” the head went on, “would be for you to be forbidden to go on the expedition.”

Jessica wasn’t sure which punishment was worse, but then she decided.

“I’ll apologise to Mr Denny,” she said quietly.

Miss Annersley patted Jessica on the shoulder. “Good, my dear.”
#458:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:44 am
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That's better!
#459:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:36 pm
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She's turning into a different girl before our eyes! Thanks Sue, this is brilliant. Very Happy
#460:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:08 pm
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Thanks Sue, it's nice to see her change before our very eyes!
#461:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:06 pm
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Well done Jessica.


Thanks Sue.
#462:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:26 pm
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Thanks, Sue. It was great to see Miss Annersley stunned!
#463:  Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:40 pm
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Well done Jessica!



(about time though!)


Thanks Leahbelle.
#464:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:23 pm
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That really was a momentous step for her wasn't it?

Thank you Sue
#465:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:05 am
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The change in Jessica is amazing, isn't it? I hope I've handled it realistically. I don't want her to turn into a plaster saint overnight!


On Wednesday, Miss Annersley brought an uncomfortable looking Mr Denny to Vb. Plato had not wanted anything like this. He felt that it would also remind the class of his own behaviour which had not been that of an old, respected master. The head had insisted, however, and he stood at the front of the class as Jessica was called out. The remainder of Vb, having discussed this previously, all become studiously interested in their copies of Twelfth Night and all pretended not to notice what was going on at the front of the class room.

Jessica was nervous and couldn’t quite manage to look Plato in the eye as she mumbled, “I’m sorry for my behaviour, Mr Denny.”

Then something happened which grabbed not only her attention but that of the class and Miss Annersley as well. Plato actually apologised to her!

“I must also beg forgiveness, little maid,” he said to a stunned Jessica. “I did you a grave wrong in flying into the passion I did. Forgive me, prithee, and let all be well between us.”

Jessica was so taken aback that she could make no coherent sound, but she met Mr Denny’s eyes at last and both knew that their apologies had been accepted.

The Head, who was nearly as stunned as her pupils, quickly took command.

“Thank you, Mr Denny. I feel sure Jessica will never be so rude again and that she feels your generosity in trying to shoulder part of the blame. And now, Upper IVb are waiting for you and these people want me, so we must part.”

She got him out of the room and before the girls had time to get their breath, let alone discuss the queer turn events had taken, she was directing them the scene where Maria comes to rebuke Sir Toby and his companions for making a noise at midnight.

The singing incident had one immediate effect that was obvious to the rest of the school. Jessica Wayne “piped down” to quote any number of people, and was no more of a nuisance that any other girl.

Miss Lawrence took her for some music tests and found that, with some long, hard work, the girl might be able to do more than just hold a tune. Jessica was thrilled at this news and determined to do her very best at lessons. Miss Lawrence was to take her twice a week for short lessons for the remainder of term and after that it was hoped that she could join in the main singing lessons of Vb once again. It was this news as much as anything that was responsible for the change in Jessica.

That was not to say that she became a model Chalet School overnight. Such was not in Jessica’s nature! There were a lot of things that Jessica had still to work through in her own mind, not least of which was the problem at home of Rosamund. However, the incident had brought Jessica more or less to her senses where her behaviour was concerned. She realised that the Chalet School had ways and means of dealing with even the most errant pupils. The fact they were willing to help her with her singing after her appalling outburst was testimony to that and she respected it. Jessica felt that it would somehow be mean and small of her to carry on with her vendetta against the school after this. Also, she found that, far from hating Mary Lou, she liked and admired her and she had a fondness for Prunella and Clare Kennedy as well. The entire form, at Mary Lou’s behest, had set themselves to do their best for Jessica and to try to turn her into a happy, normal Chalet School girl.
#466:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:01 am
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Thanks Sue.
#467:  Author: jacey, Location: Ireland PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:47 am
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But this isn't the end. Is it? I hope not, I hope you will go on to cover the change with Rosamund, Sue. And maybe the rest of Jessica's story which EBD didn't share with us?
#468:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:17 pm
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jacey wrote:
But this isn't the end. Is it? I hope not, I hope you will go on to cover the change with Rosamund, Sue. And maybe the rest of Jessica's story which EBD didn't share with us?


Since people have been asking so prettily, I've put together a few ideas to continue Jessica's story. I would miss her, too!

Last edited by leahbelle on Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
#469:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:18 pm
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Oh good! I'd love to see Jessica go back home and make amends with her family, I have to admit!
Thanks Sue.
#470:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:44 pm
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I'm very glad to hear that this won't be ending anytime soon!

Thanks Sue Very Happy
#471:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:50 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I'm glad that Jessica made up with the other girls.
#472:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:28 pm
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Pleased Jessica's seen the light!

Thanks Sue.
#473:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:15 pm
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I'm so glad there's going to be more.
#474:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:19 pm
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Thank you Sue; she has come such a long way - and it will be interesting to see how she progresses.
#475:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:03 am
    —
It was hard going. Jessica was not prepared straight away to simply immerse herself in school life. She had too much to sort out in her head for that. But she behaved herself, her work picked up and, though she had a tendency to slip away quietly by herself whenever possible, she did find herself becoming more friendly with the other girls and was never at a loss for a walk or games partner. This, in part, was due to the watchfulness of Mary Lou who was determined not to give the new girl the slightest chance of feeling left out.

Jessica had secretly been delighted that her punishment for her abuse of Mr Denny had not extended to being forbidden to go on the forthcoming expedition. This was something she had been looking forward to. She had heard the others holding forth on the marvels of Chalet School expeditions and, though she would have scorned to have said so, thought that they sounded very special and not at all like the little outings she had gone on with previous schools.

Jessica had stood quietly to one side when the coaches that were to take them to Zurich and on to the Falls of Rhine arrived. All the other girls were in little groups waiting to board or, in the case of Mary Lou’s gang, in one big group. Mary Lou and Clare Kennedy had both seen Jessica standing by uncertainly and had gone over to her, Clare taking her by the arm in a friendly fashion.

”Why don’t you join our crew?” Mary Lou asked breezily. “We’ll make sure you have a good time.”

“Er,,, thank you,” was all Jessica could manage, but she was pleased deep down that she had been asked to join the Gang, knowing what a select body they usually were. It was certainly better than ending up in a coach with the younger girls or those from a higher form.

The gang had also welcomed Sue Meadows to their midst, a girl who was almost as much of an enigma to them as Jessica. Prunella took Sue under her wing, while Clare kept an eye on Jessica.

The journey to Zurich was a long one, but the girls were rewarded with magnificent views of the lake as they arrived. It lay, long and crescent-shaped, placid and blue under the October sun which shone down on the quiet waters, gemming them with millions of diamonds. Josette Russell was moved to remark to Jessica that Zurich was one of the loveliest lakes she had seen and Jessica, though she had seen but few, had to agree.

The girls enjoyed a sightseeing tour in the presence of Miss Burnett and Miss O’Ryan. Jessica was astonished at the questions asked by the girls. She could see that they were genuinely interested in the history of the city and the history mistress’ answers seemed to spur them on to ask even more questions. Jessica had expected this part of the trip to be dull but, on the contrary, she found herself listening to the conversation and taking in what was said and – what was more – actually being interested in what was being talked about. Of course, if Jessica had stopped playing the fool long enough in lessons, she would soon have realised that Miss O’Ryan was an inspired teacher.

Miss O’Ryan and Miss Burnett, who were keeping an eye on the new girl in case of squalls, noted with delight the look of concentration on her face and had high hopes that there might yet be hope for Jessica.

The visit to Zurich was followed, for the Seniors, by a trip to Schaffhausen and the Falls of Rhine. It was on that part of the trip that Jessica uttered what was almost her only public comment during the day. During their visit to the museum, Miss O’Ryan took them to the diorama where they could gaze on the scenes in the caves and see the far, far distant ancestors of the present inhabitants of Schaffhausen, busy about their daily work. In the near distance, lay a huge glacier, grey and chilling, to remind people that at the time these men and women lived, much of Europe shivered in the bitter winter of the Ice Age.

“Oh, how thankful I am that I didn’t live then,” Jessica breathed. “It must have been simply awful!”

Miss O’Ryan was so taken aback that she hesitated before responding to Jessica’s remark. Mary Lou, too, noted with joy the comment.

All in all, the trip was a success. Jessica, though far from a true Chalet School girl, had begun to put down tiny roots which, with the help of Mary Lou and the gang, could only grow until she was the sort of girl the school prided itself on.
#476: The Chalet school and Jessica Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:14 am
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This is great Leahbelle, Thanks
#477:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:43 pm
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It's great seeing this from the other side!
#478:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:22 pm
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I'm glad they are still being nice to her even after all she's done. It's going to make all the difference to her, isn't it. Thanks Sue.
#479:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:35 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I'm glad they are still giving her a chance.
#480:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:50 pm
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Good for her - especially as she must find it very difficult to now settle down to work.


Thanks Sue.
#481:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:32 pm
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Thank you Sue, it's fascinating to see her progressing like this.
#482:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:03 am
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It was not to be as easy as that, of course. After so long feeling slighted by Adam and Emily and ousted by Rosamund, Jessica could not simply turn herself around overnight and become the happy, balanced school girl she had once been. Although she admitted that she was not as unhappy at the Chalet School as she had planned to make herself, Jessica still smarted at having been sent so far from home and she still found herself searching for ways in which to get back at Emily.

The following Saturday night was marked as special by the prefects’ sheets and pillowcase party. Jessica had no idea what a sheets and pillowcase party was, and Clare Kennedy was only too happy to explain.

“Matey will give us each a pair of sheets and a pillowcase and we have to make a fancy dress out of them. We’re not allowed to use safety pins, we must sew everything. Then the prefects will award prizes for the best costumes.”

Jessica stared at Clare, almost in disbelief. “Sewing?” she echoed. “I don’t call that much like fun. And how can you make a costume from sheets and pillowcases?”

“Why,” Clare said, astonished, “you just think of a costume and er… make it. You could be a ghost, or something more adventurous like… like a nun, for instance.”

Jessica wrinkled up her nose. This did not sound in the least like fun to her.

“I don’t think I’ll bother,” she said. “I can’t sew, anyway, and I certainly don’t want to sew for fun. That’s just mad.”

“But, I say,” Clare said, “you can’t just not bother. Everyone’s invited. It would be horribly rude to the prefects to just not turn up.”

“Oh, they won’t even notice I’m not there.”

Clare thought that Jessica was one person whose presence or otherwise would definitely be noted but did not say so.

“Look,” she encouraged, “we’ll help you make a costume if you just decide on something. We’ll have games and dances and a scrumptious tea. You don’t want to miss out on that, surely?”

Jessica was not convinced. She disliked the communal events that the Chalet School was so big on, preferring to keep herself to herself and stay in the common room reading. She was rarely to be found in hall when there was dancing on. Jessica was also still embarrassed at her behaviour to Mr Denny. It didn’t help that everyone in the school knew what had gone on and she felt that the younger girls especially still looked at her askance and talked about the incident behind her back. She would far rather stay away from the girls when they were all gathered together and, besides, she genuinely felt that the sheets and pillowcase party was silly. Wasn’t it just another name for charades?

“I don’t think I’ll come,” she said again, more aggressively this time. “It doesn’t sound like my sort of thing at all.”

Clare was nonplussed. Prefects’ evening were noted for being fun and everyone looked forward to them. Not so Jessica it appeared!

“I don’t suppose for one moment you’ll be allowed to stay away,” she said bluntly. “The evening’s for everyone. If one person stays away, then other folk might stay away too and that would ruin it for the rest of us. Besides, the prefects work hard to make it fun for us. It’s not fair for you just to decide not to come. You could at least give it a try.”

Jessica looked mutinous and Clare, noticing the signs, gave it up. She’d leave that one to Mary Lou!
#483:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:33 am
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Oh dear - mind you, sometimes the thought of all the communal events is a bit scary...

Thanks Sue
#484:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:19 am
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I hadn't thought of it in the light of all the sewing - definitely not much fun! I can't wait to see what will happen!
Thanks Sue.
#485:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:13 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I hope they can persuade Jessica to go to the evening.
#486:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 5:14 pm
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I think I'm probably with Jessica on that one!

Thanks Sue Very Happy
#487:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:30 pm
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Perhaps someone should mention to Jessica that the alternative to attending the Prefects' Evening is spending the evening with Matey - that should persuade her to attend! Laughing


Thanks Sue.
#488:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:30 am
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All is context: sewing sheets sides to middle = punishment; sewing sheets into a costume = fun.

Personally, I'd rather sit out and read a book, along with Jessica. Smile
#489:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:02 pm
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I'd have hated a sheets and pillowcases party, or any party where fancy dress had to be made by hand. I can't see where the fun comes in at all. And I'm useless at thinking up original costumes. I'm not surprised Jessica doesn't want to go!


Jessica was quite determined that she would not attend the party. This was not so much to do with causing trouble as to do with the fact that she genuinely thought that she wouldn’t have any fun and knew she’d struggle to make a costume. She was fairly unimaginative and had no idea what she could go as. It was far better not to bother.

Mary Lou was quick to take the new girl in hand when Clare mentioned the conversation to her. She rooted Jessica out and told her stories about past prefects’ evenings but nothing would move Jessica. Attend the evening she would not and she became rude when Mary Lou persisted. Eventually, Mary Lou realised that she was getting nowhere and was unlikely to do so.

“I’ll have to tell Matron,” Mary Lou wound up. “She’ll need to know so she make arrangements for you. She won’t be happy.”

”Why should she have to make arrangements for me?” Jessica demanded. “I’m not a child. I can spend the evening in the common room.”

“You’ll need something to eat for one thing,” Mary Lou told her. “And if you think you’re not a child, then perhaps you shouldn’t act like one.”

Jessica glared as Mary Lou got up to leave her. She had not realised that Matron might be brought into the equation. Jessica had had more than enough of the school’s domestic tyrant and was not voluntarily going to bring herself to Matron’s notice.

“All right,” she said gruffly, “I’ll come.”

Mary Lou smiled. “I’m glad, Jessica. Honestly, you’ll enjoy it. We always do. And if you need help with your costume, just ask. Mine’s very simple and will only take an hour or so to put together. I’ll have heaps of time to help out where needed.”

“I don’t think I’ll need any help, thanks,” Jessica said and Mary Lou looked confused. Hadn’t Clare said that Jessica’s sewing was poor and that she would struggle to put a costume together? Jessica saw Mary Lou’s look and went on hastily, “Really, it’s fine. Mine’s simple too. I don’t think it will even take half an hour.”

Mary Lou grinned matily, glad that Jessica seemed willing to join in and went off on her own lawful occasions. Jessica grinned in return and wondered what Mary Lou would say when she saw that Jessica’s costume was none other than her regulation blue velveteen.
#490:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:22 pm
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Quote:
Mine’s very simple and will only take an hour or so to put together.

And that's simple?!
#491:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:39 pm
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Fatima wrote:
Quote:
Mine’s very simple and will only take an hour or so to put together.

And that's simple?!


I would guess so - if you have to sew it together! I know how long it took when we used bin liners and tape at one of the Gathers!!!!
#492:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:04 pm
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Pat wrote:
Fatima wrote:
Quote:
Mine’s very simple and will only take an hour or so to put together.

And that's simple?!


I would guess so - if you have to sew it together! I know how long it took when we used bin liners and tape at one of the Gathers!!!!


But there was an awful lot of time spent on laughter too Wink
#493:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:30 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I wonder what will happen when Jessica turns up in the velveteen frock.
#494:  Author: Imogen,  PostPosted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:27 am
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Thank you Sue, I'd much rather wear a velveteen frock to a party than sheets and pillowcase, my sewing isn't good either, what if they fell off! I really don't blame Jessica at all.
#495:  Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:08 pm
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For the next few days, the girls talked, dreamed, thought and – according to the mistresses – dreamed sheets and pillowcase party. Many were the occasions on which the younger girls had to be pulled up in class for inattention having been busy deciding on their costumes and how on earth they were to put them together. Finally, Miss Annersley issued an edict. Any girls who were told off for not paying attention, or whose marks were not up to scratch, would have to spend the evening with Matron whilst the others were having a glorious time in Hall. That made sure that everyone gave their utmost in lessons. No-one wanted to miss out.

On Saturday, normal tasks were put to one side to allow the girls the chance to make their costumes. Some of the Seniors, Mary Lou included, gave up most of their time to helping the younger girls with their sewing and many and varied were the costumes that could be seen in progress.

“No-one could ever accuse our girls of being unimaginative,” Miss Annerlsey laughed.

After helping some of the younger Middles with their costumes and, in some cases, persuading them that simple was best – some of them had ideas that went way above their abilities – Mary Lou set out to look for Jessica. She knew that the new girl was not a strong sewer and wanted to offer assistance. Mary Lou didn’t want Jessica to feel that she had any occasion for not attending the party and she might that, if her costume was not up to scratch, she would rather stay away.

Jessica was eventually run to earth in the library, reading. It had been the only place where she could get any peace and quiet. Everywhere else was taken up with girls busy sewing.

“Goodness, Jessica, are you finished your costume already?” Mary Lou breezed.

Jessica looked up from her book, and grinned. “I finished ages ago,” she said.

“What are you going as? Do tell!”

Jessica shook her head. “It’s a surprise,”

“Well, I’ll find out soon enough. Enjoy your book. I’m off to get my costume ready, though I’ve not left myself much time! See you later.”

And Mary Lou left Jessica to it. Jessica grinned quietly to herself. She would be making quite an entrance to the party and she guessed that she would asked to leave pretty quickly, getting her own way after all.
#496:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:32 pm
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I haven't read 'Mary-Lou' for ages and don't have it here, so I can't remember much about it and I'm longing to find out what happens to Jessica! Thanks Sue.
#497:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner PostPosted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:41 pm
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Somehow, I don't think Jessica will get out of it quite as easily as she supposes.

Thanks, leahbelle.
#498:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:12 pm
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Thanks Sue
#499:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:29 pm
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I don't think that it will happen as Jessica hopes - think she might feel a little stupid.


Thanks Sue
#500:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:26 pm
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Thanks, Sue. I wonder how Mary-Lou will react at the party.
#501:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:31 am
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She's coming along, but ... silly Jessica. Rolling Eyes

Thank you, leahbelle.
The CBB -> St Agnes' House


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