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#1: Con's ghosts Xmas Day finished Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 11:32 am
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Atrocious weather had kept the inhabitants (or inmates as Margot sometimes rudely said) of Freuedesheim well and truly housebound. Fortunately Jack had created a mini gym in one wing of the house and this attracted the boys and Margot to it like a fly to ointment. Until Mike sprained his shoulder and Margot applied so much ice and pressure he felt he would turn into a snowman. Since then, the whole family had come to watch Margot and Jack treating Mike as he lay in pain on the gym floor.

This left Con to look through Mamma's photograph albums. Mamma was preparing a new book on the British Empire in India. It was to be a tale of an unwanted British schoolgirl whose parents abandon her in the land of the Raj. Auntie Madge had sent a photograph album over of Grandma and Grandpa Bettany when they lived in India. This included Grandpa Bettany's barracks, holiday and family snaps, photos of servants of children and wildlife.

Con Maynard stared at the photographs of her grandparents. She had met her Maynard grandparents when she was a toddler and held dim memories of them. Poor Mamma didn't even know her parents let alone her grandparents! Con felt the urge to meet them! Oh how she would have loved to talk to them! Auntie Madge was right. Cousin Maurice was the image of Grandpa Bettany. The image of him. Con was off in her imaginings again. She only gave a cursory glance to the great family trail as Mike was hoisted up to bed, drowsy from a painkiller to ease the torment of his sprain. Con took the photograph album to bed with her.

She woke up. It was night time and nobody stirred in the house. She was fully dressed. She was sure she had put on her nightclothes! She wandered across to Mamma and Papa's room. Someone was in there!

She looked in to see her sleeping parents. Standing over them was a lady in Edwardian dress and a tall muscular man dressed in the uniform of the British Indian army, the rank of Colonel.

"Such a dear child! I wish we had seen her grow up David!"

"Madge looked after her Margaret! And she's got a fine husband now!"

"Grandpa Bettany? Grandma Bettany?" Con uttered in disbelief.

"And here's little Constance! What a lovely name!" The man smiled and the lady kissed Con. She seemed awfully like Auntie Madge.

"I don't understand! Am I dreaming? Am I sleepwalking? Am I alive?"

"Well, we're just visiting! Even after we've gone, we have always looked after the family!"

"Even when Mamma was only a baby?"

"Yes. Would you like to see? hold on to your Grandpa's arm Con!"

Before she knew it, Con was whisked away to another time and another place.

She saw a twelve year old girl with long, curly black hair, nursing a gurgling baby. A boy of a similar age stood by. He had fair hair.

"Josette? David?" asked Con.

"Oh no! It's your Mamma, Auntie Madge and Uncle Dick!" said Col Bettany.

Con moved closer. It was true. This wasn't Josette! It wasn't David!

"Auntie Madge!"

"They can't hear you, Con darling!" said her grandmother. "Go on and sit right where Auntie Madge is sitting! You will be cradling your mother then!"

Con did as she was told. It was strange. She just sat through Auntie Madge and mimed her arms. She seemed to all intents and purposes to cardling her own mother!

"Come on Madge! Uncle Ted says everything is packed now! We've got to go back to England."

"I've just got Joey settled, Dick!"

"Well, I'll carry the bags then."

Con watched as her Uncle and Aunt took Mamma with them to leave the room.

Last edited by Phil on Mon Dec 25, 2006 11:17 am; edited 6 times in total

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

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 11:45 am
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This reminds me somewhat of a Christmas Carol and is apt for this time of year. And I envy Con the glimpse of the past although it must also be pretty unsettling.

Thanks, Phil.

Emma

#3: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 11:59 am
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Con's just the sort to really appreciate such a glimpse of the past. Thanks Phil.

#4: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:29 pm
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Thanks, Phil. That was lovely that Con got to see her grandparents.

#5: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:39 pm
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How nice for Con.

#6: Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:38 pm
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"Grandpa Bettany? Grandma Bettany? Where are we now?"

"Taverton my love. We were hardly ever here; but we always kept the house as capital!" replied the Colonel.

"I have visited Taverton, and I've seen the old house, but I have never been inside!" Con commented.

In the kitchen, sixteen year old Dick Bettany was changing his muddy shoes.

"Oh Dick! Such a mess! Will you ever learn?" Madge snapped.

"No" grinned Dick.

"Clear up the mess at once Richard!" muttered the ghost of Mrs Bettany.

Madge glared at her brother. Then a series of screams were heard.

"Now eat your dinner young lady! Or else I fetch your sister! There's nothing wrong with you, so stop acting!"

Madge hurried next door. A four year old Joey was coughing badly and crying. An angry looking maid glared at the child. Dick followed Madge.

Madge took Joey up in her arms.

"Clara! What is the meaning of this?"

"I admit I'm no good with babies Miss Bettany! I was only trying to give Miss Josephine her dinner and she starts coughing again!"

"Not Josephine! Is Joey!" shouted the angry four year old, who promptly burst into a fit of coughing.

"I'm only here for cooking and housework Miss Bettany! Nothing says about me being a nursemaid!"

Dick had fetched their guardian who had arrived home.

Great Uncle Melvyn blinked his piggy eyes at the maid. He had had a bad day at work and worsened it by losing a lot of money at cards in the pub.

"Cad!" growled the ghost of Col Bettany.

"He was guardian to Uncle Dick and Auntie Madge. He spirited away the family fortune so they had to sell this place!" Mrs Bettany explained to Con.

"Mamma said that Clara was a nasty crosspatch!"

"So she was dear and she is about to be dismissed!"

Con watched in amazement as Clara spat out her grievances with venom. She didn't like babies or children and she didn't like being a maid! She would love to be a lady of breeding!

Melvin laughed, "Well we can settle your dislike of the post. You are dismissed. Be out of this house by noon tomorrow. As for your breeding, I could make a vulgar comment on that, but I have more pressing matters such as a sick child here!"

Clara was gone, but Mamma looked all in.

"Grandma, Mamma was four years old then, she said she nearly died through pleuropneumonia at that age!" Con was worried.

"Yes angel, the poor babe was very sick. We were with her night and day, oh if only Madge and Dick had known!"

"Oh! It sounds so horrible! I really don't want to see it!"

"No darling! Still you know your Mamma is alive and well! Come on! Wouldn't you like to see the original CHalet School when it was first running in the Tiernsee?"

"Yes please!" shrieked Con.

All of a sudden she was transported to the wooden Chalet by the Tiernsee. Suddenly she was wearing an unfamiliar school uniform and she had no idea where she was. She heard her grandfather whisper, "Careful they can see you! We'll come and collect you!"

Con reached out to touch the bannisters! She had been transported back in time. Suddenly she heard a gasp behind her.

"A junior! Out of bed! At this hour! And absent from Le Petit Chalet! How on earth did you get here my child?"

Bearing down on Con was her mother, as she was when Head Girl as Joey Bettany!

Instinctively, Con said, "Mamma!"

"I beg your pardon?" said the astonished Joey.

#7: Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:54 pm
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How's Con going to explain this? but how wise of her Grandparents to show her a very alive Jo.

#8: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:00 am
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She could say she was sleepwalking?

Thanks Phil

#9: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:41 pm
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Thanks, Phil. A fascinating insight!

#10: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:57 pm
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Thanks, Phil. This is intriguing.

#11: Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:51 pm
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"I'm afraid your Mamma isn't here. Why don't you tell me your name?"

"C...Con. Constance Maynard."

"Con Maynard. Hm. Are you related to Dr Maynard at the Sonnalpe?"

"Yes, er no, well it's difficult to explain, he doesn't know I'm here!"

The look Joey Bettany gave her future daughter nearly broke Con's heart!

"I see. Well in that case, I think I had better report this to Mademoiselle! Now come along! You have nothing to fear!"

Joey marched the trembling Con to the Headmistress' office.

"So, how are you related to Dr Maynard?"

"He's my father."

"I beg your pardon? He's not married!"

"Oh, I meant my father's cousin!" Con was not a good liar.

Inspection of Mademoiselle's office showed that lady to be missing. Exasperated, Joey went to the telephone.

"I suppose I must phone Madge and get Matey to take you over to Le Petit Chalet. Hopefully Dr Maynard will be there."

"Oh Mamma! Please don't call Auntie Madge!"

Joey slammed the phone down.

"Now look! I've had enough of your fun and games! Who are you really? Is this some prank? Some ridiculous crush you have on me?"

In desperation, Con blurted out the truth.

"Oh Mamma! I'm your daughter! I've come from the future with Grandpa and Grandma Bettany. I was born on 5th November 1939 with Margot and Len, we're triplets and Papa is Doctor..."

She got no further. Joey had fainted in disbelief. Unfortunately she had banged her head on the way down. Con was about to go for help when she heard voices. Hiding in a wardrobe, she was astonished to see a younger version of Auntie Madge, Uncle Jem, Papa, Matey and a French woman in her mid fifties.

"Joey! What's happened? How did she get here? Is she allright?" Madge was quite flustered. Con felt awful!

"It's allright just a bump on the head Madge! Maynard, help me get her on to that couch."

Con couldn't help glowing with pride as she saw how young and athletic Papa looked! She had such a handsome Papa! She was glad to be his daughter! She quite wanted to run to him for a cuddle as she used to when she was very young.

Joey came round.

"What am I doing here? Oh Mademoiselle, I must have come to your office for you. I can't remember what! I must say I'm terribly sorry. Imust have slipped and banged my head!"

"Well as long as you weren't running around like a young goat!" Matey said severely.

"Sorry old thing! You look worried!" Joey said to Madge.

"Well, I think bed is the answer." Uncle Jem was decisive.

"Oh Jem!"

"Now don't argue Joey!"

Mamma was herded from the room. Mademoiselle sat at her desk with a smile.

"Pauvre petite! She works too hard!"

Con was not alone in the wardrobe. Her grandparents had reappeared.

Grandpa Bettany was smirking.

"It's allright Con! They can't see us any more! How did you like your visit to the Old Chalet School?"

"Really David! Such horseplay! You are like a little boy at times! I don't know if you noticed but poor Joey banged her head!"

Grandpa Bettany looked sheepish at his wife's scolding.

"Is this Mlle Lepattre?" Con approached the desk where the Head was working.

"Yes, my dear. She died just before war broke out. She was a great friend of the family."

"I wish I had met her." Con said mournfully.

Mlle Lepattre looked like a kind woman one could confide in. However, she did remember Mamma saying how strict Mlle could be!

"Oh Grandma, Grandpa! This is a lovely place! I would love to see Auntie Rob and Auntie Grizel and Tante Simone and Tante..." Con was brimming with excitement.

"All in good time darling! You are a real Chalet School girl aren't you?"

Con hugged her grandparents with delight! She was amazed at how pretty and frail the sleeping Auntie Rob was. She was troubled by the permanent frown on Auntie Grizel's face and she sympathised as poor Tante Simone battled with her emotions.

"Time to see the present my dear!" said Grandpa Bettany.

"Oh Grandpa! Must I leave? Anyway, I know what happens in the present!"

"Not everything, young Con! Do you see all your relatives all the year round?" This from Grandma Bettany.

Con shook her head.

"What would you like to see first?" asked her grandfather.

"The boys. What do the boys do at school?"

"A good question! I can assure you it isn't schoolwork!" Col Bettany roared with laughter.

All of a sudden, the Chalet School years in the Tirol were rushing past Con. She had snippets of voices and various scenes: She saw Mamma looking very severe in prefects' council, "You were stealing the confidence of the prefect in charge!" Con shivered! She had no idea how severe Mamma was as Head Girl, then another scene flashed up, "Oh Jack, what a solid lump of comfort you are!" Then she arrived with a bump, to see a terrified Mike being pursued by a vengeful Steve!

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

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:55 pm
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Reading this what struck me first was how exactly right it is that Con is the one this happens too. She has just the right personality for it in more ways than one. And I love the glimpses of the past.

#13: Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:46 pm
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"No Steve! I'm sorry! Don't hit me! No!"

Steve had Mike wriggling in his grasp.

"I do NOT, repeat NOT look silly in the choristers' robes! Do I Mike?"

Steve twisted Mike's ear.

"No!" Mike shrieked.

Charles had caught up, fully dressed in choristers outfit.

"Are you two coming to get changed? Mr Davis is in a right old bate!"

"Coming Chas! Just teaching you know who some manners!"

"So I should hope!" growled Con. "I would never put up with that insolence! I had no idea Steve and Chas had such trouble!"

Once more, Col Bettany laughed.

"Come and listen to them singing! They are going to do a solo each!"

Con was intrigued. The great family sing songs at home were always dominated by the beautiful voices of Margot and Mamma. Con had never heard her brothers sing. She and her grandparents sat back as they listened.

"Hm! Not as good as Margot or Mamma, but very nice!" This was a compliment from Con.

"I wouldn't tell your brothers that! They really enjoy singing in the choir!" advised Grandma Bettany.

"Besides, it focusses young Mike's mind, the music and singing!" put in Colonel Bettany.

Con smiled. "I really am glad they have something to enjoy. I always thought boys schools were cold prisons, with brutal beatings. I don't want the boys treated like that."

"They aren't! Don't worry!" from Grandma Bettany.

"Time to see Madge and Dick's families Margaret?" and Con was whisked away. She was now in the Quadrant.

"Dear old place!" the Colonel muttered affectionately.

"I prefer Taverton!" Grandma Bettany was definite!

There was a commotion downstairs. The entire Russell clan were warmly greeted by the Bettanys. Rix and David instantly paired together. Sybil stayed with Josette, Peggy and Bride. Ailie tried to bag Maeve and Maurice, whilst losing Kevin and Kester at the same time and little Daphne was overwhelmed and eager to join in the merry throng.

"And then Jack, Joey and Co are coming tomorrow!" Uncle Dick said excitedly.

Con noticed Sybil look appalled. Rix and David noticed it too. Sybil tried to slink into the shadows. She held the little Daphne to her protectively. Sybil found a games room where the boys usually played. She heard David behind her.

"What's the matter?" asked David.

"The Maynards! All of them? Here?"

Con's eyes widened. What was Sybil going to say?

#14: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:35 am
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This is lovely, Phil. I'm so glad Con's getting to see all this and to get to know her grandparents. I'm eager to see what Sybil has to say, though!

#15: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:36 am
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I'd also like to know what Sybil's going to say. Thanks, Phil.

#16: Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:34 pm
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Sybil drew a depp breath. Profound were her emotions, but she knew overt display of feelings was frowned upon in the family.

"David, I know you don't believe me, but I feel so nervous every time I meet Auntie Jo and Uncle Jack. Something bad always happens when the Maynards turn up! If its the boys fighting Mike, then Auntie Jo usually says, "And Sybil was supposed to be supervising them!" Or if Margot gets nasty, Auntie Jo always says, "Well she's not as bad as Sybil was!" She finds an excuse for her precious Margot and always blames me! As for Uncle Jack! Constantly sticking up for Auntie Joey and making Dad feel awkward, then Dad takes it out on me!"

"Go on!" said her taciturn brother.

"I'm no angel and I was horrid to the Bettanys, but I missed them when they left, and they've got such a lovely home now and Uncle Dick and Auntie Mollie are so nice! I thought they might be cross with me for being nasty to Rix, Peggy, Bride and Jackie, but they understood! They knew I wanted my own space! Apart from Prim and Daisy, the Bettanys are most definitely my favourite cousins! Do you know Davie, I wish Auntie Jo hadn't bagged Daisy as her own!"

"Didn't you enjoy being with Auntie Jo in Yorkshire?"

"Yes. I believe I did. Once she knew how much I hurt myself over Josette's accident, she turned into a human being. I did find the triplets a bit of a trial though. I remember telling Con not to steal sugar and Len called me a pig for telling on Con! And what did Len do to Kester when she caught him stealing jam last year? The goody goody told on him! At least Kevin had the manners not to call her a pig!

Anyway, since we went to Yorkshire, Auntie Jo couldn't resist telling my life story and that accident in particular! She comes out with the same tired old stories about us all the time!"

"Tired old stories?"

"Yes! Me and that horrible day I hurt Josette, you and that potion of herbs you mixed up and had to get your tummy pumped clean, Peggy and that horse that bolted when Tom Gay blew into a conch, Daisy, Beth and Gwensi cathcing those smugglers and Bride..."

"Yes, yes yes! I get the picture! She is like a broken record and does seem to take pleasure in it!"

"Exactly Davie! Oh wouldn't it be so different if Auntie Margot had lived?"

David looked up. He like Sybil had dim but very fond memories of AUntie Margot.

"She would still be matron at the CHalet School, she would have taken me in after that dreadful accident, she would have protected me from Miss Bubb and from Daddy's anger and from Auntie Jo! I know it!"

Con's spiritual being had been listening with growing fury.

"How dare you Sybil, you beastly wretch! I hate you! You would be murderess! Mamma is quite right to treat you exactly as she does and as for being so mean about the sugar, it was only one spoonful, Kester ate half a jar of jam!"

Grandma Bettany took over. "Con my dear, you had five tablespoons of sugar and Kester, for his sin had only two teaspoons! Please remember, Sybil is also our granddaughter. We love her just as much as we do you"

"But she's a nasty, spiteful, bad tempered..."

"And what of Margot? We love her too by the way!"

Con thought about this.

"Oh whatever is it like to be Sybil?"

Colonel Bettany said, "Walk through her! Walk through everyone in the house and feel their emotions. Don't worry, you won't hurt them!"

Con did just that. By now her own family had arrived. It was curious to see herself, eagerly jumping out of Minnie with Len and Margot. It was strange. If there was one thing that was common in all Bettanys, Russells and Maynards, it was laughter, merriment and joy. It was when she walked around as Sybil she felt terrible sadness, loneliness, low self esteem and despair.

Shocked to the core, Con stepped "out " of Sybil and stumbled into Mamma, just as Sybil was talking to her. As Mamma was talking, Con felt an overriding sense of concern and puzzlement sweeping the normal family affection. But there was no malice there! Con knew now!

#17: Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:18 pm
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Con knew that Sybil had no reason to be afraid of Mamma! She knew Sybil was still hurting over Josette's accident and she knew Mamma did love Sybil was upset at not being able to understand her niece. Oh the pain and loneliness Sybil had felt. Con was moved to tears. She felt her Grandma console her.

"Now, now my dear! Tell Sybil tonight, when she is asleep! I promise you in the morning she will be a new girl and all the pain and misunderstanding will clear up! Tomorrow is Christmas for this lot!"

That night as Sybil slept in her little room at the Quadrant which she shared with Josette and Ailie, Con whispered in her ear. Her voice choked with emotion.

"Sybil. I've come to say I'm sorry I stole that sugar all those years ago when I knew I shouldn't. And I'm sorry Len was so nasty to you and called you a pig. I now think she's a pig for saying that! Sybs! Mamma does love you, but she feels a lot of pain because she doesn't understand you! You fear her and she doesn't understand! As for her telling the same old stories, think about us! we Maynards have to listen to them all the time! We get endless Christmas re runs of Auntie Grizel, the vaseline and the blackboards!"

The sleeping Sybil appeared to smile at this!

"Anyway! I shall be hearing about my little 'Daniel bit the lions' forever! Sybs! Please don't be in pain any longer! Grandpa and Grandma Bettany do not want it! Auntie Margot would not want it! Nor would Mamma or anyone else! So, you hurt Josette, but in an accident only! Please Sybs, get better soon!"

The next day Joey and the entire family were astonished when after the grand present opening, Sybil got up and presented her Aunt with a set of lace embroidered handkerchiefs, which she had originally intended for her mother.

"Auntie Jo, I want to give you this extra, because I...I...well. I love you really, I just don't think...I"

Joey knew. She embraced her niece and all the misunderstanding of the years fell away in seconds. Tears of joy streaked down Madge's face.

"What a wonderful Christmas present! Now Sybil is no longer in pain and Mamma is really getting to know her!" Con was ecstatic.

"That's just how Christmas should be! Love and reconciliation!" Grandma Bettany commented.

"Oh Grandpa and Grandma, thank you so much for showing me this! It has been so funny to see the cousins when they were younger, to see what everyone else was thinking, to see Mamma and Uncle Dick and Auntie Madge when they were little and yet there is so much more to see! I would love to see Papa as a little boy and see more of the brothers! And you have been watching over us for so long!"

"Yes! We have seen wonderful moments! Marriages, the births of each one of you! When you lost your first teeth, your earliest achievements in walking, talking and school. Con, we have also seen the bad. When Mamma nearly drowned rescuing that girl in the icy Tiernsee, when Margot nearly drowned in Lake Lucerne, when Peggy nearly died of measles and of course, Josette's accident and the pain it inflicted not just on Josette and the family, but on poor Sybil too! She prayed to God for mercy and Josette. She prayed and although we were there we could do nothing for our granddaughter."

Con listened carefully to Col Bettany's words.

"Time to see the future Con! Then we must get you back home!" said Grandma Bettany.

"Home? Oh, but I want to see so much more!" Con protested. Suddenly, she swept forward in time to the Gornetz Platz Chalet School. Nearly everything had changed! There had been extensions, doors knocked through walls and others blocked. Con had turned to go to the Prefects Common Room to find the door no longer there, but several feet away where the separate sixth's locker room was. Con went through here, expecting to find the small locker room, but was amazed to see it had been knocked through to the Prefects Common Room. Only it wasn't the PCR any more. Nor was it a locker room. Rows of tables with curious machines lined upon them were the occupants! These curious machines looked like mini cinema screens and were mounted on boxes with lots of wires!

Con looked up in astonishment as two tall, sophisticated ladies entered. They were both about eighteen and looked strangely familiar.

"Great! She did it! During Granny Len's lesson!"

"Isn't she the most cool great Grandmamma in the world! Sending a text to your great granddaughter in your daughter's lesson! Granny Len went puce!"

"GRANNY LEN?" Con screeched at last. The girls did not hear.

"She grabbed my phone, dialled the number and gave great grandmamma a piece of her mind! She said, 'Mrs Maynard, kindly refrain from contacting your relatives during lesson time! Thank you!' and then she hung up!"

"She didn't confiscate the phone?"

"Not for long, Great Aunt Cecil gave it back, with a moral lecture, but I could see she was laughing underneath."

Con was intrigued. The girls held tiny electronic boxes and were talking to them as if they were telephones! They were telephones. Presently one of the girls took a metal box with wires and stuck it in her ears! She passed one wire to her sister.

"Hey, listen to this! Cool, huh?"

Con could just make out a tinny sound which she certainly did not recognise as singing.

"Come on! Let's check the email! I want to see if Great Aunt Margot has got to Singapore yet! You can search the net for Colonel Bettany's war record! Our great great grandad!"

"Email? What is email? and what is the net?" Con was bewildered.

She was even more bewildered when a tall elderly lady with recognisable chestnut hair strode into the room.

"Len????"

#18: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 5:33 am
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That was lovely, first of all seeing Sybil made so happy and knowing that Jo wasn't really malicious in her treatment of Sybil, and then seeing the future! Naughty Jo obviously never changed at all, texting her great grand daughter in class!

Thanks Phil.

#19: Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 7:08 pm
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"Margaret and Josephine Shepherd! Here you are! I might have known you would be playing with these computers! Whatever happened to good old fashioned pen and ink!"

"Oh Gran, I mean Mrs Entwhistle, we do have permission! We just wanted to see if Great Aunt Margot had reached Singapore yet, she promised she would upload a video onto the net so Joey here could download it on her ipod!"

Len looked bewildered. Con even more so. Len sighed.

"I wish I understood this wretcheed technology! Really I do! Even my own Mamma is miles better at me! Fancy! She has even recorded her own books onto CD so people can hear the original Josephine M Bettany speak! And she doesn't have to worry about postage when sending her latest novel!"

Sensing their grandmother had moved out of strict Headmistress mode to loving grandmother, Margaret and Josephine cuddled her.

"Granny, why won't you let us give you a quick lesson! We shall show you what can be done!"

In the space of an hour, Margaret and Josephine had explained that thanks to revolutions in electronics; pictures, sounds and words could be exchanged globally over what was essentially a network of computers talking to each other.

Len watched in amazement as she saw her own sister appear on a computer screen, talking about the weather in Singapore, what she was going to do at some orphanage or other and how she sent her love to the family. This was quite thrilling! Margot had only left Freuedesheim yesterday morning! Back in the fifties, even flights took longer, stopping for fuel and as for ships!

Len felt she was a little girl again! She looked at Sybil's website and at Maurice's and Josette's. She saw the decorations her grandfather Colonel Bettany had been awarded and read obituaries in the Times Online about his death from cholera. In the Dictionary of National Biography, she felt a pang of sorrow as she read the entries for Uncle Jem and Auntie Madge.

She was astonished to find she could find a link to her grandson's ship HMS Chichester, sailing in the Pacific. Commander Neil Shepherd was due to meet up with his cousin in the smaller HMS Arundel commanded by Captain Matthew Maynard. She sent them both a badly typed email.

"Oh poor Len! Not coming to terms with technology! But how the world has advanced!" Con said to her grandparents.

She ran to her beloved library. First editions of Mamma's books were there, so were hers and so was the big black book of "Legends of the Chalet School". Con shuddered. She knew that book off by heart! But where was the card catalogue? Where? She looked at a girl playing with a computer: she was issuing books to herself, renewing and even issuing pieces of electronic equipment!

"Oh Grandpa and Grandma what a wonderful, wonderful life! Thank you so much for showing me!"

It was a shocked Con who heard that she must return home to her own time and space!

#20: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 7:29 pm
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I like Len's struggle with modern technology!

Thanks Phil.

#21: Author: Phil, Location: London UK

Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 11:17 am
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"But Grandpa and Grandma Bettany! We have only caught such little glimpses of the past, present and future! I have enjoyed every minute of it and loved meeting you! Must we be parted so soon?"

"Con my sweet, we shall never be parted. Grandpa and I will always be watching over you and the whole family. Never forget we love you all very much. We shall meet again some day. All of us. Now you won't remember much of what you have seen, you will only think it a dream!"

Con looked mutinous.

"Now, Con, it would be very unsettling to your Mamma and family if you told them you had met us! Come on darling! Time for home!"

Con said her goodbyes to her ethereal grandparents and sent them her love.

The next thing she knew, she was stumbling around Freuedesheim in her nightclothes. She wondered into Margot's room and woke that young lady up by kneading her pillow. Margot yawned in a casual manner and herded her triplet back to bed.

"Sleepwalking again, Con? You're just excited over Christmas!"

Once Con was in bed, Margot ambled to her parents to say she had recaptured a wandering Con.

Con woke up on Christmas Day to find her triplet sisters gently shaking her.

"That's some sleep Con!"

"You must have been dreaming something fantastic!"

"I was! I dreamt I met Grandpa and Grandma Bettany and that we went back to the original Chalet School!"

Margot and Len eagerly tried to tease the dream out of Con, but Con remembered so little! She told Mamma of course, who was amused. Con looked at the photograph of her Bettany grandparents which Mamma kept on her desk. She smiled. She looked again. had the picture of Col and Mrs Bettany just winked at her? No. Surely it was her imagination. Con then joined her family for the grand roast turkey and distribution of presents.

Merry Christmas all!

#22: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 3:04 pm
—
That was a fabulous story, thank you Phil. I really enjoyed it.

#23: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:23 pm
—
Thanks, Phil, that was great.

#24: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:53 pm
—
That was great, Phil. Thank you.

#25: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:18 am
—
Just read all of this - lovely Phil - so pleased Con was able to help Sybil.

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

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:04 pm
—
What a wonderful story! Thanks, Phil!

The CBB -> Ste Therese's House

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