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#1: The Gift Author: Identity Hunt, Location: UK

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:37 am

I apologise for any chronological errors in this drabble, but the bunny was insistent it had to be this way.........I hope you enjoy it !

The Gift.

Hilda Annersley was woken early that morning by the unmistakeable sounds of her colleague, Nell Wilson, moving around in her bedroom further down the corridor.
She could distinguish few of the uttered imprecations, but those she could hear made her uncertain whether to giggle or be shocked. Nell certainly had an interesting, if unorthodox, command of the English language !
Nell`s cupboards and drawers were evidently being banged open and shut, and at the point when Hilda`s own windows rattled, she got up, wrapped her warm dressing gown and slippers and padded down the icily cold corridor.
As she passed the uncurtained window, Hilda could see, despite the darkness of the early morning, that the snow was still lying thick outside.

She knocked gently at Nell`s door, and hearing no obvious response, she opened it with no further ado, to be met with a scene of utter chaos.
Although meticulous, precise and tidy within the confines of her beloved Science Lab, Nell was apt to be untidy in her own room, as Hilda had witnessed more than once. This morning, however, she had excelled herself, considered Hilda with a secret grin.

“Nell ! What on earth is the matter? I could hear you at the other end of the corridor! Thankfully none of the girls sleep near you, or you would have woken them all! “ she exclaimed in tones of mock horror, directing her comments to Nell`s legs and feet, which were the only parts of her visible at that moment.

Nell cautiously shimmied out from underneath her bed with a shamefaced expression.
“Did I wake you? I am so sorry, Hilda ! It`s just that I was hoping to get to early Mass this morning, and I simply cannot find my other house shoe, and all my other shoes are in the cloakroom. It`s too cold to walk to the front door in my stockinged feet, and if Matey found me wearing my nailed boots indoors……..”
Nell visibly shuddered at the very thought.

A twinkle was evident in Hilda`s eyes at this comment, but she said simply ” Nell, what day is it ? “
“Sunday, of course” Nell replied, with some surprise.
“Yes, I am aware of that, but what date is it ?”she asked gently.
“December 6th, of course” Nell answered, looking faintly puzzled at Hilda`s seemingly inconsequential question.

“Ah. Have you looked everywhere?” asked Hilda innocently.
“Looked ? I`ve searched under the bed, in every cupboard and door and the damn ....…wretched thing simply isn`t anywhere in this room !” Nell retorted indignantly.

“ Have you looked outside your room? “ Hilda asked mildly

“No, of course not. Why on earth would I have left one of my own shoes outside my bedroom door?” she asked, regarding Hilda with a suspicious but puzzled expression.

“Nell ! And you a good Catholic ! I am ashamed of you !” Hilda shot back in tones of mock horror. “Did you not read up about any of the customs of the Tirol before you left England ? I know this is your first December here, but it is St Nicholas` Day, after all !”

“Not all of us are omnivorous readers, Hilda! Nell replied peaceably, but nevertheless marching over to the door and opening it cautiously.

Outside was her missing house shoe, with a small package nestled inside it. Nell picked it up with interest, handling it carefully and regarding Hilda with an inquiring air. “And just how did my shoe end up outside the door?” she asked calmly.

“I ..er…..purloined it from your room last night whilst you were in the bathroom. I know you always kicked your shoes under the bed, so I knew you weren`t likely to miss it until sometime this morning!” Hilda grinned like a mischievous schoolgirl at this point, before continuing to say “It is a common European custom to leave one`s shoe or slipper outside one`s bedroom door on St Nicholas` Eve. And one never knows what might happen!” Hilda teased gently.

Much to her surprise, Nell made no reply, but silently unwrapped the small present and gazed at it for what looked like an eternity before she raised her head to look at Hilda, her eyes awash with tears.

“Thank you Hilda. There is nothing in the world that I could appreciate more than this. It is absolutely beautiful. Who did it?” she asked, her voice choked with emotion.

“Do you remember the day you went to Innsbruck to arrange more supplies for the Science lessons ? I borrowed the photograph and asked Miss Durrant to paint it. She was able to finish it that same day, and I returned the photograph beforeyou arrived back. I am so sorry to have invaded the privacy of your room, but I wanted it to be a surprise for you. I do apologise, I have obviously upset or angered you.” Hilda explained, rather shame-faced and obviously concerned about Nell`s tears, now trickling freely down her face.

“No, you have not upset nor offended me, Hilda.” Nell smiled shakily, and clutched the delicate little frame as if she never wanted to let it go. “It is the perfect gift on the perfect day, and I can never thank you enough for it.” And she hugged Hilda tightly.

For this simple gift alone, she knew that she would always love Hilda Annersley more than anyone else. Only Hilda, out of her many friends at the Chalet School, had truly perceived the importance of the small and faded photograph Nell cherished and kept safely in her room.

As she placed the frame on her bedside table, she smiled through the still flowing tears as the now-rising sun lit up the miniature portrait of her beloved little sister Cherry, who had died so many years before, but whose birthday Nell always remembered, on the sixth of December ............

Last edited by Identity Hunt on Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:20 am; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: Identity Hunt, Location: UK

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:42 am

If you would like to find out more about the worldwide customs relating to St Nicholas` day, try this link

www.stnicholascenter.org

for customs, activities, recipes etc .

We always celebrate this in our family, and I am puzzled why EBD never mentions it in the Tyrol books Smile

#3: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:55 am

That was so beautiful, thank you, Identity Hunt. It brought tears to my eyes.

#4: Author: keren, Location: Israel

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:57 am

Identity Hunt wrote:

We always celebrate this in our family, and I am puzzled why EBD never mentions it in the Tyrol books Smile

Most likey pure ignorance Smile

A very sweet story.

#5: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:17 am

That was beautiful - thank you.

#6: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:26 am

Oh lovely, lovely lovely...thank you!

#7: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:47 am

That was lovely, thanks so much for writing it.

I've also wondered why there's so little mention of St Nicholas' Day - I think it gets mentioned twice in the Swiss books (Mary-Lou getting stuck on top of the wardrobe!) but not at all in the Tyrol books.

How thoughtful of Hilda.

#8: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:16 am

That was breathtakingly beautiful and moving, and yet at the same time it made me laugh out loud.

What a tender little interlude on their way to becoming the closest of friends.

Thank you very much, Identity Hunt . I loved it.

#9: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:39 am

What a lovely gift, thank you Identity Hunt Very Happy

#10: Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 9:55 am

That was really lovely - thank you.

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

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:08 am

A wonderful insight into Hilda and Nell's early relationship.

Thanks identityhunt

#12: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:12 am

That was really lovely, but it made me cry! Crying or Very sad

Thanks Identity Hunt Smile

#13: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:44 am

Thank you, that was lovely.

#14: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:23 pm

This really is sad, funny and lovely, all at the same time.

The picture of Nell rooting around her disaster-zone of a room trying to find that shoe made me laugh out loud.

But the discovery of Hilda's gift to her says so much about the relationship developing between these two even as early as Nell's first term. Only Hilda would have remembered that Cherry's birthday fell on St. Nicolas' Day, and gone to such trouble to ensure that Nell had a more permanent memento of this beloved sister than the already battered little photo, which was all she had had to this point.

Beautifully done, Identity Hunt. Thank you.

#15: Author: gaityr, Location: Singapore

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 5:31 pm

That was really sweet - a lovely exploration of Nell's grief, and Hilda's deep love for her.
Thanks!

#16: Author: Identity Hunt, Location: UK

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:33 pm

Thank you all so very much for your kind comments !

I was rather nervous about posting it, and you have all boosted my confidence.
Unfortunately, my plot bunny has gone walkabout now, so I have no idea when I will post anything else................

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

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:50 pm

That was really beautiful Identity Hunt. Thank you, and I hope the bunny comes home soon!

#18: Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:45 pm

That was simply beautiful! It had most of the elements of a perfect drabble!! It made me sad at the same time as happy! I really did enjoy that and I hope the bunny comes home soon! Thank you very much!

#19: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 9:54 pm

Oh, that was beautiful, thank you so much.

#20: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:01 pm

Thanks, Identity Hunt. That was so beautiful. Hilda chose just the right present for Nell. You wrote it in just the right way.

#21: advent gift Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:18 am

That was really lovely - thank you so much An advent gift for us all.

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