The Quilted Blanket
The CBB -> St Agnes's House

#1: The Quilted Blanket Author: MaryRLocation: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:59 pm


Squirrel, I know it's not your birthday until Christmas Eve, but I can't guarantee to be near the board very much from now on. So today it has to be! Laughing It's not a Christmas story, but it comes with much love and many thanks.

The Quilted Blanket

Nell Wilson was walking in the grounds of Plas Howell just before the beginning of the Autumn term, deep in thought and worrying about her closest friend. Hilda Annersley, Headmistress of the Chalet School, had been involved in an accident in the Easter holidays, along with Nell herself and two other mistresses.

Hilda, however, had received the most severe injuries and even now, four months later, was still in hospital, and Nell sensed somehow that Hilda was keeping the full extent of her injuries from her, was hiding things. Hilda certainly would not be well again for a very long time and Nell, who had just visited her, was very upset. She wanted to be there for Hilda, to support her, but instead she had to be here, to run the school for her friend.

As she brooded, a bright red squirrel scampered down the trunk of a tree nearby and hopped towards her, breaking into her thoughts. The squirrel was searching for nuts. When it became aware of the woman nearby, it stopped, but instead of dashing away in fright, it sat up on its haunches and stared at her, its big eyes shiny bright. Startled, Nell also stopped and found herself staring back. The squirrel was so near she could have reached out and touched his soft red fur.

As she looked into its eyes something tangible seemed to be taking place between them, some sort of communication. Being a pragmatic woman and not given to idle fancies, Nell was half-tempted to move on, but the squirrel’s gaze seemed to mesmerise her and hold her in place. Then, all at once, Nell sneezed, and the squirrel darted off, shooting back up the tree, but Nell went on her way oddly comforted even while laughing at herself for her whimsical thoughts.

Later, she forgot all about the squirrel, and indeed her worries about Hilda, as she became engrossed in preparations for the start of the new term. But that night she dreamed – and in her dream she found herself in a church, a church she had never seen before. Music was playing, people were singing, and there on the altar, in front of her astonished eyes, danced a slim figure dressed all in black, with long brown hair and bright hazel eyes. The girl moved lithely and gracefully, her lovely face filled with peace.

Nell watched for a while, worries about Hilda beginning to creep back into her mind, and was taken unawares when suddenly the slim figure on the altar began to dance towards her, holding in her arms a small quilted blanket of a rich purple colour. She came to a halt before Nell and proceeded to wrap the blanket round her.

“This is to keep you safe and warm and at peace,” said the girl, speaking in a softly lilting voice. “I am to tell you that all will be well and you must not worry.”

“About Hilda?” asked Nell breathlessly. “But how could you know?”

“Hilda too will be comforted, she too will be safe, and in the end all will be well,” continued the girl, slowly beginning to dance backwards away from Nell.

“But who are you?” asked Nell, even as she felt peace begin to flow through her, calming her.

“They call me Squirrela,” came the girl’s quiet whisper as the scene slowly began to fade…..

The next day, Nell’s thoughts often returned to that strange dream, and she could still feel the soft silky texture of that blanket that had been wrapped so lovingly around her. As she returned to the Library after a Science lesson, the phone began to ring. Picking it up she was surprised to hear Hilda’s voice.

“Nell, I wonder could you give Jeanne a message for me? Tell her I received the package and the contents are beautiful.”

“What did she send you, dear girl? A silk nightdress?” asked Nell, guessing that Jeanne de Lachenais must have been using her sewing skills.

“Oh, Nell, she has excelled herself,” and Nell noticed that Hilda’s voice had regained something of its old richness. “It’s a quilted bed jacket, and it’s a gorgeous deep rich purple. Tell her I shall feel like a queen when I wear it.”

Nell nearly dropped the phone in shock. But there was more! Hilda spoke again, her voice brighter than it had been since before the accident. “And Nell, I have to tell you, my dear, I feel so much more like myself this morning. The headaches seem to have eased a little and I have a sense, somehow, that if I am patient enough I shall finally get better and return to you all.”

Nell was silent, knowing that if she tried to speak to her friend, her voice would tremble. Her eyes moved to the window as Hilda carried on talking, but the mellow voice faded in Nell’s ears, for there, sitting absolutely motionless on the grass nearby, was a little red squirrel, staring straight in at her with its bright hazel eyes…..

 


#2:  Author: SquirrelLocation: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:12 pm


Why thankyou Mary - simply beautiful. All for Me?

*speachless*

 


#3:  Author: Identity HuntLocation: UK PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:20 pm


Oh Mary, how delightful !
Lucky Squirrel Smile

 


#4:  Author: KatyaLocation: Mostly Bradford PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:32 pm


That was wonderful, Mary - I don't know how you manage to describe someone so well in only a couple of sentences, but I can practically see Squirrel dancing!

And Squirrel - happy birthday for Saturday! Wishing you a lovely, peaceful day. Very Happy

 


#5:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:17 pm


Lovely Mary - lucky Squirrel.

 


#6:  Author: Cath V-PLocation: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:55 am


Mary, that was gorgeous, you clever woman!
Happy Birthday Squirrel! Very Happy

 


#7:  Author: SugarplumLocation: second star to the right! PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:45 am


Mary - that was wonderful - you are sooooo talented.

 


#8:  Author: calicoLocation: Wellington, New Zealand PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:07 am


Oh Mary
This is lovely!

 


#9:  Author: EilidhLocation: Macclesfield PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:49 am


Mary, that was beautiful.

Have a happy birthday, Squirrel.

 


#10:  Author: Helen PLocation: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:42 pm


I've only just found this!

How sweet - thank you Mary! Very Happy

 


#11:  Author: RuthYLocation: Anyone's guess PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 8:13 am


Brilliant! Thank you Mary!

Ruth

 




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