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#1: The One and Only - short and complete Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:51 pm
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It wasn’t that I didn’t like the school – I loved it. Just sometimes it was hard to be me there. I was the one everyone knew, ‘the one and only’.

For some reason people let me get away with almost anything. There were times when I wished I could be scolded for cheek like anyone else, instead of the mistresses smiling and saying “oh, it’s just Mary-Lou”. I didn’t want to be different; I just wanted to be a schoolgirl like the rest. Sometimes, I wished someone else could have been asked to look after the troubled new girls, instead of them being left to me every time. Not that I minded helping, but it would have been nice for things to have taken their natural course, instead of being pushed upon me, or for someone else to have an opportunity to show that they cared and were capable of helping others. Sometimes, it would have been nice to have been expected be a follower instead of the leader; it would have been good to have the chance to be carefree, instead of being expected to watch out for others; it would have been nice to turn to one of my friends for help, instead of them being the ones to turn to me. Sometimes, I would have liked to have been in the background, instead of pushed to the front. Sometimes, it would have been preferable to see other people prove they could do as well or better than me, instead of me being labelled the most reliable or responsible or capable one. Sometimes, it would have been nice to have been one of the hoi polloi, instead of ‘the one and only’.

They said I thrived on responsibility. Maybe I did. Maybe I would have thrived just as well without it. It would have been nice to have had the chance to find out.

And sometimes … sometimes being ‘the one and only’ was such a lonely thing to be.

#2: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:53 pm
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Thank you Liz! You actually made me feel sorry for her!

#3: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:55 pm
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Quote:

some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them

I guess it's difficult when your greatness is not of your own choosing! Thanks, Liz, for a different view of OOAO.

#4: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:07 pm
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Thanks Liz, it was fascinating to see things from that point of view.

Kathryn

#5: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:15 pm
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Thanks Liz, that was lovely Smile

#6: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:17 pm
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Thanks Liz Very Happy

#7: Author: Róisín,

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:21 pm
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Good to see this up. A very poignant and thoughtful portrayal of a much maligned character. Beautiful, thank you Liz.

#8: Author: Kat, Location: Abertawe

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:21 pm
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Golly.

More, Liz? Please?

#9: Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:36 pm
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Oooh it was lovely to see things from that point of view. Makes me actually start to feel sorry for the poor girl. Thanks Liz, that was beautiful! Very Happy

#10: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:50 pm
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Thanks Liz, that made me realise how we sometimes judge Mary Lou too harshly.

#11: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:02 pm
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Thanks, Liz. I really felt sorry for Mary-Lou after reading that.

#12: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 7:55 pm
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Thank you. Liz, for that poignant touch.

#13: Author: Sandra, Location: Oxfordshire

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 7:58 pm
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That was lovely. It is nice to see a different portrayal of ML. In 3 go she wasn't nearly as irritating as she was in the later books, perhaps she was more of a victim than we give her credit for.

#14: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:06 am
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Thank you liz for a differnet point of view.

#15: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:38 am
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I never thought I would feel sorry for Mary-Lou.

Thanks for that.

#16: Author: RroseSelavy, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:09 pm
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Blimey. I feel guilty for bashing her now! Thanks Liz Very Happy

#17: Author: Rob, Location: Derbyshire, England

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:26 pm
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Oooh interesting - and thought provoking too! Thanks Liz!

It's a pity that EBD didn't bring that side of ML out to play more often! (I couldn't call her OOAO after that!)

#18: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:41 pm
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Thanks Liz. Nice to see another side of M-L.

#19: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:08 am
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Thank you, Liz! Very Happy

#20: Author: La Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:19 pm
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That could so easily be how it all was as well!
Thanks Liz Very Happy

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