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The Stuff Memories Are Made Of - completed 7th Dec

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The CBB -> Ste Therese's House

#1: The Stuff Memories Are Made Of - completed 7th Dec Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:46 am
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Here's a little Christmas story from Gill Culver and her family.

The priest gave the final blessing and the congregation stood for the last hymn, that old Christmas favourite, ‘Adeste Fideles’. The splendid tune burst triumphantly from the organ and everyone in the church joined in, singing with all their might, until it seemed that the Platz must be reverberating with the joyous music. Gill felt uplifted, as she always did at the end of midnight mass, and it seemed as though she wanted for nothing. She had her family around her, and some very good friends, too; she lived in a lovely chalet on the Gornetz Platz, and it was Christmas. What more could she ask in life?
The final notes of the hymn died away and the congregation began to leave the chapel. Gill pulled on her hat and scarf, making sure that Genevieve was well wrapped against the cold night air, before following Armand from the church. They exchanged Christmas greetings with their friends and acquaintances from the Platz, and then headed down the small stretch of path that had been cleared of snow. Arminel linked arms with her father, and he drew Heloise into step with them, leaving Louis to take Gill’s arm and Genevieve to cling to her other hand.
They turned onto the main road across the Platz, and Gill breathed deeply, feeling totally alive at that moment. The sky was magnificently bejewelled with stars, the moon was almost full and the snow around them sparkled in the moonlight. The air was as clear as crystal and they could still hear the voices of those leaving the Protestant chapel as they wished each other a Merry Christmas. It was all so breathtakingly beautiful that Gill felt she was not walking home so much as floating on a feeling of euphoria and anticipation.
“Do you think we’ll see Santa flying by?” Genevieve demanded, her dark eyes scanning the heavens.
“We’ll look out for him,” said Armand, poking Arminel as she tried to pretend that her guffaw of laughter was merely a cough.
They turned into their own street, where the road was cleared but the path still snowy, and Genevieve threw her arm through Arminel’s so that the six of them were walking abreast down the middle of the street. Armand’s eyes met Gill’s across Genevieve’s head and Gill knew that he felt just as happy as she did. He grinned at her, making her heart beat faster as it always did when he looked at her that way.
They reached their chalet and once Armand had unlocked the door they hurried in, eager now to be out of the cold. It was beautifully warm inside, and they shed their coats and boots in the hall, before heading into the kitchen. Gill had made a big pan of mulled wine, following a traditional recipe sent by her sister, and she gave each of them a glassful. Looking round at their bright eyes and pink-cheeked, happy faces, Gill felt exceptionally blessed.
“Merry Christmas!” Armand said, raising his glass and looking around at his family with the same feeling of pride that Gill was experiencing.
They clinked their glasses with his, wishing one another a happy Christmas, and then drank their mulled wine slowly, enjoying the delicately spiced drink.
“It’s disgusting!” Genevieve exclaimed, after sipping hers. “I think I’d rather have milk, please Mum.”
Gill, who had known that Genevieve would have been begging for mulled wine if she had not been offered any, obligingly located the milk bottle and heated a pan full of milk. By the time it was ready, Genevieve looked ready to fall asleep on her feet, so Gill slid an arm around her and guided her off upstairs. Once Genevieve was ready for bed, the milk was cool enough to drink, and after that, she laid her head on the pillow and smiled sleepily up at her mother. “My stocking’s at the end of the bed,” she said, sounding contented. “’Night, Mum.”
“Goodnight, darling,” said Gill, smiling as she kissed Genevieve’s cheek. “Don’t wake up too early in the morning, will you?”
But Genevieve’s long lashes were already fluttering and she was asleep before Gill left the room. On her way downstairs, Gill passed Heloise, also heading for bed, and Louis and Arminel were not far behind her. Finally alone, Gill and Armand poured a second glass of mulled wine and took it into the sitting room.

Last edited by Fatima on Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:27 am; edited 4 times in total

#2: Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:53 am
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That's lovely! Thanks, Fatima.

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

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:18 am
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Lovely and Christmassy.

Thank you.

#4: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:53 am
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What a lovely Christmas eve Very Happy

Thanks, Becky

#5: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 3:15 pm
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Won't leave you alone, will she. Smile

Thank you, Becky.

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

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:55 pm
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Thanks, Becky. It was lovely to see them all together.

#7: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:19 pm
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What a lovely Christmas drabble. Gill and her family seem so happy and contented.

#8: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:05 pm
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Awww! What a lovely snapshot!
Thanks Becky!

#9: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:02 pm
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Thanks, Becky.

#10: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:30 am
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Thank you for all your comments. I'm not sure how much more of this there is to come, but here's the next part.

In the window there was a huge Christmas tree, which Armand and Louis had fetched the previous weekend, and which the girls had decorated with long pieces of tinsel and some beautiful baubles and right at the top sat a very chubby angel. Armand put his arm around Gill and she relaxed against him with a sigh. For a moment they stared contentedly into the flickering firelight, reflecting on the joys of Christmases past and the pleasures still to come.
“I can’t believe how lucky we are,” she said softly. “I’m just so happy.”
“I’m glad,” he told her, his lips brushing her hair. “You make me so happy that you should be happy yourself.”
Gill nudged him in the ribs. “You old romantic,” she chided him, but he knew from her voice that she appreciated his words even if she would not admit it. “Drink up, Armand, it’s almost time to don your Santa suit.”
They finished their wine and rinsed the glasses. Once she had made sure that the gas beneath the pan was turned out, Gill followed Armand upstairs, where they got ready for bed, just to be sure that the children had had enough time to fall asleep. Once they were warmly wrapped in dressing gown and slippers, they ferreted in the back of the wardrobe to find the little bags of gifts Gill had prepared for the children’s stockings.
“Do you remember the year Arminel caught you filling her stocking?” Gill asked him with a giggle.
Armand chuckled at the memory of that particular Christmas. Arminel had been seven, and Armand had crept quietly into her room and begun to fill her stocking with the trifles they had bought for her. As he replaced the stocking at the end of her bed, she had sat up and stared at him, her eyes wide with amazement. For a moment Armand had thought he had been caught out, but Arminel had smiled and said, “Hello Santa,” and then lain down again and been sound asleep before Armand had recovered from the surprise. The next morning they waited for Arminel to blurt out how she had found Papa putting things in her stocking, but she had said nothing. Some careful questioning revealed that she did not remember anything at all, and the carefully kept secret was safe for another year.
While Armand crept into Louis’ room and filled his stocking, Gill slipped into the room that Heloise and Genevieve shared. She stood for a moment, looking at their peaceful faces and hoping that they would find such happiness in their lives as she had found in her own. Then she recalled the reason for her presence in their room and she carefully lifted the stockings from the end of their beds and slid the little parcels into them, hoping as she did every year, that she had not muddled up the gifts. Louis would not be impressed to find pink handkerchiefs in his stocking any more than Arminel would wish to discover a small vial of aftershave in hers. Once the stockings were bulging in a most satisfactory manner, Gill replaced them at the end of the beds and crept out, closing the door silently behind her.
Armand was just slipping out of Arminel’s room, and he winked at her as he pulled her door to behind him. “Mission accomplished,” he told her, his voice low. “Can we go to bed now?”
Stifling a yawn, Gill nodded. “We certainly can, but surely you should be asking if we may?” she suggested sweetly.
Armand gave her a look that told her exactly what he thought of her Chalet School concern for grammar and caught hold of her before she had guessed his intentions. He swung her up in his arms, favouring her with a mock-serious glare as she gave a squeal she just could not contain. “You’ll wake them all up,” he reminded her, carrying her into the bedroom and dumping her unceremoniously on the bed.
As the heating had already gone off for the night it was chilly in the bedroom, so Gill crawled beneath the covers, pulling them right up around her ears and watching as Armand closed the door and shed his dressing gown. After more than nineteen years of marriage she still found Armand irresistibly attractive, and as he got into bed beside her she wriggled closer to him and he held her tightly.
“Merry Christmas, darling,” he said softly.
“Merry Christmas,” she repeated, reaching up to meet his kiss half way.

#11: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 10:57 am
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Lovely *sighs happily*

Thanks, Becky Very Happy

#12: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:41 pm
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This is such a cosy drabble. Thanks, Becky.

#13: Author: Karoline, Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:29 pm
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Lovely Becky, thanks

#14: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:21 pm
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Thanks Becky.
We always removed the pillowslips (in our case) to fill, just to avoid the danger of waking the little dears! I did catch my Dad, and i remembered!

#15: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:01 am
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When Gill awoke it was still dark and the house was quiet. She lay still for a moment and then heard the sound of a door being carefully closed. It was not loud, but after four children, Gill was used to sleeping with one ear open. She gently freed herself from Armand’s arms and pulled on her dressing gown before going to investigate. A light was on in the bathroom, and the door of the bedroom that Heloise and Genevieve shared stood open. Their door creaked a little and Gill knew that was what had awoken her. She peeped in and saw Heloise still slumbering peacefully, her dark hair curling across the pillow and her cheek resting on one hand, but Genevieve’s bed was empty. Gill passed Arminel’s room and gently tapped on the bathroom door.
“Are you all right?” she called to Genevieve.
There was a rustle from inside, and then the door opened and Genevieve stood before her, looking guilty. “Yes,” she said, keeping her hands behind her back.
“What are you up to?” asked Gill suspiciously.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” suggested Genevieve hopefully.
“Then let me get you back to bed before you catch your death of cold,” said Gill. “Come on.”
As Genevieve tried to slip out of the bathroom without letting Gill see what she was hiding, there was a series of soft thuds and bumps as the contents of her stocking slid out onto the floor. “I’ve only opened a couple,” she protested, picking them up and stuffing them back into her stocking.
“But it’s four o’clock, Jen,” said Gill. She could remember the days when she had been eager to see what Father Christmas had left in her stocking, though, and she understood her daughter’s excitement. “Let’s get you back to bed before you get cold, and you can get up again in a few hours.”
Thankful to have escaped a scolding, Genevieve allowed Gill to put her back to bed. “I’m sure I won’t be able to go back to sleep,” she said as Gill pulled the covers closely around her.
“Yes you will,” said Gill and she leaned over and kissed Genevieve’s cheek. “Not a moment before six, Jen, or you’ll be so tired that you won’t enjoy Christmas at all.”
Genevieve sighed. “And I can get up at six?” she asked with exaggerated patience.
“Yes, you can.” Gill kissed her again. “Now go back to sleep. See you in the morning.”
Genevieve closed her eyes and Gill crept out, eager to get back to her own bed again. She curled up in Armand’s arms once more, nestling close to him and beginning to feel warm and cosy. She drifted off to sleep again, and did not stir until Genevieve flung open the bedroom door with a shriek of excitement.
Armand groaned and sat up, only just in time, for Genevieve threw herself onto the bed exactly where he had been lying. “You’re getting too big to do this, young lady,” he said, but she knew he did not really mean it.
“Merry Christmas Papa,” she said, enveloping him in a huge bear hug. “Look what Santa’s brought me! And what’s this?” She seized a bulging stocking from the vicinity of Gill’s feet and thrust it at her parents.
“Mum must have been really good this year,” said Armand. He smiled at Gill and deposited the stocking on her lap.
Attracted by the noise, Louis, Arminel and Heloise arrived, rubbing the sleep from their eyes and clutching their stockings. Armand obligingly moved over so that Heloise could sit beside him, while the twins perched on the end of the bed. There was plenty of chatter and laughter as they opened their stockings, and Genevieve was virtually dancing with excitement at the thought of Gill having been visited by Father Christmas, too.
Once there was a heap of wrapping paper in the middle of the bed with piles of little gifts around it, Armand banished the children from the bedroom so that he and Gill could get up. “Breakfast in half an hour,” he told them firmly.
Louis forestalled any complaints from Genevieve by taking her arm and towing her out of the bedroom, and as the door closed behind them, Gill threw her arms around Armand. “Thank you,” she said, kissing him. “You are so sweet. When did you get that onto the bed without me noticing?”
“After you’d fallen asleep,” he told her complacently. “I’m so glad you liked it.” He kissed her lingeringly until they remembered his promise to the children of breakfast in half an hour.

#16: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:00 am
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Let them get their own breakfast Wink

Thanks, Becky - this is lovely Very Happy

#17: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:32 am
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Thanks, Becky!

#18: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:39 pm
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I'm glad that we're getting more of this universe; thanks, Backy.

#19: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:38 pm
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What a lovely christmassy drabble, thanks Becky Very Happy

#20: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:34 am
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Breakfast was, as always, a simple meal, but it was accompanied by lots of merry chatter and the usual grumbles from Genevieve when Gill reminded her that they would need to clear away the breakfast things before opening their presents. Once Armand had finished his second cup of coffee, something that even Genevieve’s beseeching dark eyes could not persuade him to forego, the children leaped to their feet and began to clear the table. While Heloise washed up, Arminel helped Gill prepare the vegetables for dinner and Armand basted the turkey, which he had put on to cook much earlier that morning. Genevieve danced around, alternatively begging and ordering everyone to hurry up with their jobs, but finally they were ready to go into the living room and begin to open their presents.
As usual the presents were around the bottom of the tree and Armand handed them out, rationing Genevieve so that she would not have opened everything before anyone else had looked at more than one or two presents. There were exclamations of delight and cries of thanks as everyone found just the book or the record wanted, and an hour later the carpet was obscured by wrapping paper. Louis was already fathoms deep in a new book and Arminel was putting on the record of Christmas favourites that Gill had been given. Heloise offered round a box of chocolates while Genevieve bedecked herself in the pretty jewellery she had been given. Gill gathered up the remains of the paper and took it into the kitchen to throw away when it had stopped snowing sufficiently for her to go out to the dustbin. She made sure that the potatoes were ready for Armand to roast, singing along to the cheerful Christmas music as she did so. The kitchen was filling with a delicious and very festive aroma, which took Gill back to the Christmases of her childhood, when they would have a huge turkey roasted on a low heat for hours on Christmas morning, until the air was redolent with the delicious smell of the food.
Armand appeared, a glass of sherry in his hand, and Gill took it from him with a smile. “Just what I was needing,” she told him. “The potatoes are all ready for you.”
Once he had seen to the food, Armand caught Gill in his arms and danced her around the kitchen. “Did I mention that I absolutely love the jumper you gave me?” he asked.
“I’m glad you do,” she told him, finding his happiness infectious. “And thank you for everything you gave me.” As she said that the music slowed and Armand pulled her closer.
“But as long as you love me so, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” he sang, grinning irrepressibly at her.
Genevieve, who had removed most of the jewellery by now, dashed into the kitchen, rolling her eyes as she discovered her parents dancing. “Are we going outside, Papa?” she demanded. “You said we could build a snowman for Christmas.”
“So I did,” Armand recalled, reluctantly releasing Gill. “Go and wrap up warmly,” he said to Genevieve, “And ask the others if they want to come and help us.”
Gill heard their footsteps on the stairs and very soon Heloise and Louis entered the kitchen, warmly wrapped and ready to go outside. Arminel arrived next, tucking her long hair up into her woolly hat. “Where’s Papa?” she asked.
“He’s gone to get his coat,” Genevieve told her. “We can go and start, though.”
They banged the door behind them and soon she could hear their excited cries as they amassed the snow ready for their snowman. Armand soon joined them, and Gill stood by the window to watch as they made the huge body and then tried to get a head to stay on top. By the time they had managed to fix on the eyes and nose and crown him with Genevieve’s old woolly hat, the snow was beginning to fall again. The beautiful clear sky of the night had gone, to be replaced with clouds and the promise of plenty of snow, but Gill felt that nothing could dampen her spirits. She always enjoyed Christmas, but this year it seemed to be better than ever.
Once they had finished their snowman, Gill made the hot drinks and tapped on the window to call everyone inside. She was just in time to see Genevieve throw a snowball at Arminel, catching her full in the face. Knowing that her sister would be sure to seek revenge, Genevieve took refuge behind Louis, letting him bear the brunt of Arminel’s attack. Gill laughed as they battled it out, then Genevieve was flinging the back door open and dashing inside, Heloise hot on her heels.
“Not in here!” cried Gill, mindful of her clean floor.
“She put snow down my neck!” Heloise sounded irritated. “She’s a beast!”
“Come in and change,” Gill suggested. “I’ve made hot chocolate for you all.”
Heloise was generally good-natured, though, so she abandoned her attempts to catch Genevieve and concentrated on taking off her boots. The others came in, too, faces glowing, and eagerly accepted the steaming mugs Gill offered them. They went happily into the sitting room and she could hear them arguing amiably about who had actually won the snowball fight.

#21: Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:56 am
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What a lovely family Christmas!

Thanks, Fatima.

#22: Author: bethany,

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:45 am
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This is such a lovely Christmas story, thanks Fatima!

I am pretty much convinced that you have based Genevieve on my younger sister. Or maybe all little sisters are the same? Smile

#23: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:18 am
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All this Christmassy stuff is lovely!

#24: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:52 pm
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This is a fab Christmas story, Becky!

#25: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:33 pm
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This really is a fantastic Christmas Very Happy

Thanks, Becky

#26: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:26 am
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Thank you for all your comments. This is the last part.

They had the traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and brightly coloured crackers complete with paper crowns and dreadful jokes. Afterwards they had Christmas Pudding, which Armand set ablaze much to Genevieve’s delight. When they all felt full Arminel ordered Gill off to the sitting room and told her siblings that they were to help her clear up. Armand brought her coffee and they sat together on the settee, contemplating the joyous day in companionable silence. They could hear the children chattering in the kitchen and the fire crackling in the grate. Outside the snow was falling heavily, glittering snowflakes dancing in the increasingly strong wind. Gill thought how wonderful it was to be so comfortable – the meal had been delicious and she felt agreeably satisfied, the room was warm and cosy and making her feel pleasantly sleepy, and she was surrounded by those she loved best. She sipped her coffee, knowing that the children would be disappointed if she fell asleep before Louis and Arminel began their birthday celebrations.
They were not left in peace for long. Many hands did indeed make light work, as Arminel was fond of telling those she required to help her with whatever she happened to need doing, and then the four of them returned to the sitting room. Genevieve pulled some more presents out from behind the Christmas tree, presenting them to Louis and Arminel with a flourish. As it was their eighteenth birthday Gill had brought special gifts to remind them of their coming of age. Louis received an elegant pen set with his initials engraved upon both pens, while Arminel was given a lovely silver chain with a pretty blue gem hanging from it. They also received trifles from their sisters and from sundry friends living nearby, leaving Genevieve to declare her eagerness to turn eighteen.
When everything was opened, the children disappeared to their rooms and Gill and Armand were left alone again. Gill went to make more coffee, so that she would have enough energy to provide the birthday tea later that evening, and when she returned to the sitting room it seemed as though Armand was dozing in his chair. She put his coffee down where he would be able to reach it and went to stand by the window, glad of a moment or two to herself. She gazed out over the snow clad garden, towards the majestic snow covered peaks, thinking how perfect it was to spend Christmas in a land where you could look out of the window and see such stunning beauty. The snow was no longer whirling down, although some flakes did drift gently past the window, but the sky was heavy and promised more for later. Gill was not bothered by how much snow they had because the freezer was full and her family was safely at home. If they got snowed in it would not matter in the slightest.
As Armand slid his arms around her, Gill jumped a mile. She had been so busy pondering the splendors of nature that she had not heard him come to stand behind her.
“Sorry,” he told her, “I didn’t mean to make you jump.”
“I thought you were asleep,” she told him, leaning back into his embrace. “It’s been such a perfect day,” she went on. “I love Christmas, but somehow this year has been better than ever before.”
“Why?” he asked her.
“I’m not sure,” she replied. “It’s as if I’ve seen everything more clearly than before, and had time to appreciate every moment. When we’re old, and the children have all left home and got families of their own, I shall look back on today and remember every detail.”
“Here’s another detail to remember,” he told her, leaning over and kissing her very gently. “Merry Christmas, darling.”

#27: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:45 am
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I got a bit sad when Armand talked about "when we're old" Crying or Very sad

, but that was a lovely Christmas story - thank you!

#28: The stuff memories are made of Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:58 am
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I've just finished reading this from start to finish and loved it. Thanks.

#29: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 8:34 am
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Awwwwww - that was beautiful

Thanks, Becky Very Happy

#30: Author: Lizzie, Location: A little village on the Essex/Suffolk border

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:09 pm
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Oh I just read this straight through and it's LOVELY. Thank you very much!

#31: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:28 pm
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Thank you, Becky. That was such a lovely, warming Christmas story!

#32: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:21 pm
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That was gorgeous, Becky. Thanks. Very Happy

*makes early New Year's resolution to finally catch up with all your Gill drabbles*

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