The CBB :: View topic - Four Funerals and a Wedding (or two)

#1: Four Funerals and a Wedding (or two) Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 6:35 pm

Chapter One Prologue

Doris Trelawney sighed as she remembered Mary-Lou’s reaction. The child had lived in Polquenel all her life and was visibly upset at the thought of moving. Doris had put off telling her as long as possible, tempted to avoid a scene like the one this lunchtime and let the removal men show up before she told her ten year old daughter. It was not that she intended to let Mary-Lou rule her, but that she was so drained of energy after the bouts of influenza and the chest infections that she suffered from every winter that she could not find the extra needed to deal with a active and keen minded young girl. As she washed the plates from their mid-day meal she thanked God for her mother-in-law who had lived with them ever since her husband, Gran’s son had left on the Murray-Cameron expedition some seven years ago. The old lady had a forceful personality and was well equal to keeping the lively girl in check. The two Mrs Trelawneys complemented each other well when it came to bringing the girl up. Doris was able to look after her schooling, necessary if she was not to attend the village school, and the elder Mrs Trelawny was able to attend to the discipline and morals of her grand daughter.

Gran saw Mary-Lou playing happily on beach with Clem and Tony, two children who had been living next door for the last year. She smiled grimly knowing that it would be last she would see of her grand-daughter until at least tea time, by which time Mary-Lou would have calmed down and thought up hundreds of questions about the new house and village. Whilst not entirely approving of the friendship between Mary-Lou and the Barass children, mainly because of the explosive rages of Clem and Tony’s father, the two ladies had decided to let it run its course as Mary-Lou would be busy with moving house. This morning however Gran had heard the full force of Mr Barass’ language in the butcher’s shop. She had been blunt with Mary-Lou afterwards, there would be much less time for her to play with Clem and Tony. She was happy for them to play together on the beach this afternoon; the friendship with Clem and Tony had shaken Mary-Lou out of some of her prim ways. These had made the ladies laugh when she was smaller, but when continued into her school age days had begun to worry them. They felt that she needed some playmates of her own age and the village was lacking in suitable children. It was in fact a major reason in deciding where to move to when the doctor had shaken his head and advised a change of climate if Doris had wanted a chance of seeing her child grow to adulthood. Their new house in a small village on the welsh boarder had been chosen because there was a good school in the proximity, one Mary-Lou would be able to attend for the rest of her school days.

The elder Mrs Trelawney returned to the house and found Doris preparing a drink for both of them.
“She’s on the beach with Clem and Tony as usual. It is about time she thought before running off like that however,” she told the younger woman.
Doris laughed and shook her head, “She knew that one of us would check up on her, and anyway in this weather where else would she be but on the beach.”
“She is going to have start to think of you more than she has done. Oh, yes I know she is always ready to help when we ask,” she added as Doris made to leap to her daughters defence, “and she is a good and kind girl, but she doesn’t see how she can help without being asked, nor does she realise how ill you have been and how tired you get when you have to contend with one of her arguments. You need a rest now. We will have a drink and listen to the news on the radio and then you can lie down while I finish letting down the hems on Mary-Lou’s summer frocks.”
Doris agreed, knowing that the doctor had told her she must conserve her energy still for the next few weeks. “All the same,” she called over her shoulder as she headed for the door, “Mary-Lou is so like her father that I am sure she will grow up to be just as considerate of other people as he is, especially as she is getting the same training he had.”

Gran’s eyes misted up as she thought back to her two sons. One had been killed during the war, and she had found this hard, to outlive her son, but she had borne it with fortitude, knowing how important the cause he died for was. It had been helpful being in Cornwall where the war always seemed so far away, and caring for Mary-Lou as a young, inquisitive child had helped as well. Mary-Lou’s father had been on the Murray Cameron expedition for seven years now, leaving before the war had begun, and news was slow coming, often months would pass with no word and then only the briefest message. She could see no other option for him either, he may be a lepidopterist but was also born with spirit of exploration, always on the move, going to new places and had the credit of having his collections in the natural history museum as well as having a species of rare South American butterfly named after him. She had always been proud of her sons’ achievements, but it was the men they had become that had given her more pride.

**********************************************

Mary-Lou had settled quickly at the Chalet school, becoming to quote her mother ‘a proper school girl’ at last. To their surprise they discovered that another new girl in the same form also had a father on the expedition. Doris had vague memories of having met Roland Carey in London a few times before the expedition had set off and was pleased to meet his daughter, Verity-Anne. The Trelawney family had also made friends in the village, notably with their neighbours the Maynard family. Half term had seen Mary-Lou home for a long weekend and then she had returned to school, much to her disgust as a boarder. The two ladies had been hard put all weekend to keep the secret, but it was a surprised and delighted Mary-Lou who found that she was sharing a two-bedded dorm with none other than Clem Barras. Their friendship was quickly renewed despite the difference in their ages.

Last edited by Carolyn P on Fri Jun 25, 2004 4:04 pm; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 6:48 pm

Thanks for this Carolyn - nice to see a different point of view - always thought Mary Lou was a lovely girl in Three Go! Laughing

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

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 6:57 pm

Yay Carolyn!!!
This is great, and it's wonderful to finally see it!

#4: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 7:04 pm

*wibbles at the thought of all those funerals!*

This is a brilliant start Carolyn.

#5: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 7:52 pm

Yay, another new drabble! Thank you, Carolyn.

#6: Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:34 pm

Yay a new drabble from Carolyn !

#7: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:38 pm

yay; this looks good
more please!

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

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:54 pm

A new shimmery drabble - its great to finally see it - yay!!

I'm looking forward to understanding ML a little better

#9: Author: Steph, Location: Blackpool, Lancashire

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:28 pm

Ooh this is looking very good Very Happy

Can't wait for more!

#10: Author: Donna, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:33 pm

yay! I've been waiting for this! Thanks Carolyn! Smile

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

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:13 am

looks wonderful! Thanks Carolyn, I've been waiting eagerly!

#12: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:53 am

Thank you, Carolyn. Now whose funerals will they be?

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

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 11:46 am

You should be able to work them all out Jennie, funerals and weddings.

#14: Author: Beth, Location: Durham, apparently...

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 11:53 am

Or, you could post some more drabble..........?! Wink

Please? Pretty please?

#15: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 12:00 pm

Thanks Carolyn, this is great....

I do like OOAO, despite all the bashing Laughing

Hope to see some more soon

#16: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 12:11 pm

I think I'll sit back and wait for the drabble to unfold.

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

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:50 pm

Chapter one

The phone rang during breakfast making the two ladies raise their eyebrows at each other; it was unusual to hear it ring so early. Doris placed her knife down on the plate next to the half eaten piece of toast and rose to answer it.
“No mother, I’ll get it this time. It’s probably just the butcher about today’s order.” With this she rose and went into the little study at the front of the house to answer the ringing.
“Good morning, Carn Beg”
“Good Morning Mrs Trelawney, Hilda Annersley here,” Mrs Annersley’s crisp tones reached clearly down the telephone.
“There is no need for concern, but Mary-Lou is in the San after a slight disturbance last night.”
“What is wrong, may I come and visit her this afternoon?”
“Of course you may, she will be fine after a few days rest. She has apparently, been working illicitly on her sums at night with Clemency and as a result has worked herself into a fever. Matey assures me that she has settled down now and only needs some peace and quiet in order to be herself once more and I have dealt with Clemency, they will not be repeating the effort.”
Doris heard the firmness in Miss Annersley’s voice and knew that the matter would be dealt with thoroughly yet was slightly distracted by the sight of the post office boy cycling up the drive, she heard the doorbell and Gran’s footsteps as she listened to Miss Annersley discussing a suitable time for a visit that afternoon.
“I’m sorry Miss Annersley, I think,” she broke off at the sight of Gran framed in the doorway.

Miss Annersley seated in her study frowned with concern as she heard the receiver clatter to the floor at the other end followed by a short scream. She replaced the receiver she held into the cradle and looked at it thoughtfully before picking it up again and dialling once more.

#18: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:02 pm

wow
can picture the scene

#19: Author: Beth, Location: Durham, apparently...

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:04 pm

Yay, more drabble!

*stops doing happy drabble dance long enough to actually read it*

*wibbles*

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

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:06 pm

I sense bad news

*Curls up in a comfy corner with a full box of tissues and awaits more*

#21: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:25 pm

This is really good - I'm expecting something dramatic and tragic to happen now - MORE please

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

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:51 pm

*wibbles*
*sobs*
*pokes Carolyn for more......*

#23: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 3:27 pm

Carolyn, how could you leave it there?

#24: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:00 pm

*teeters on the edge of the cliff*

Carolyn, please come back and end the suspense!

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

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:58 pm

Oh dear, bad news about Mary Lou's father I presume.

Thanks Carolyn!

#26: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 6:11 pm

I liked Mary Lou in her early books so thank you for giving us a drabble based on them Carolyn!

*wibbles at what's coming*

#27: Author: Nicole, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 6:50 pm

*joins Ann teetering on the edge of the cliff*

Great start, Carolyn. Slightly worried by the number of funerals, but looking forward to more.

#28: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:33 pm

Carolyn this is every bit as good as I expected. Really been looking forward to it. Thank you so much for posting it. Looking forward to the next bit.

#29: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:37 pm

*plumps down in a comfy chair* Carolyn this looks great!

#30: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:56 pm

Joins Pim and others with tissues at the ready, this is really great seeing it from the adult perspective.

Thanks Carolyn

#31: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 2:07 am

Uh, oh -- telegram?

Looking forward to seeing how this develops!

#32: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 10:02 am

Brilliant, Carolyn,

Really interesting to see this from the Trelawney's perspective ...

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

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:26 pm

Doris had dropped the telephone receiver and gave a scream as she ran across the room to try and catch the old lady as she sank to the floor grasping at her chest. She was not able to stop the fall, but was able to lower Gran to the floor without harm and to cushion her head. She stood up shakily and looked around, seeing the still open door, and the telegram in its yellow envelope on the floor at Gran’s side. She took a deep breath before reaching down and taking the telegram; already aware of what its contents must be but knowing she must look. She forced herself to sit down before unfolding the fatal piece of paper. The bland, brutal words drove into her, ‘REGRET MURRAY CAMERON LOST STOP CAREY OBRIEN ONLY SURVIVORS STOP.’ Doris started to shake, aware that she needed to do something, to call a doctor for Gran, to tell Mary-Lou, to deal with the paperwork, to clear the breakfast pots away but she could not move, the shaking that wracked her body tying her to the seat.

#34: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:36 pm

*wibbles*

#35: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:47 pm

Oh how dreadful! Sad

Not unexpected, of course but poor Doris - and good to see her trying to be strong for Gran and Mary-Lou when her own grief must be over-whelming ...
I've always found her a bit ..... um, wet, I suppose ... so it's nice to see her rallying to the situation ...

#36: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 2:12 pm

Agree with you that Doris is feeble, but I do see why she wants to do everything.

#37: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 2:35 pm

A very moving description of Doris' reaction.

#38: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:28 pm

It's so sad for Doris but EBD never devotes much time to that. It's really great to see the story from her perspective.
*wibbles on Doris' behalf* Crying or Very sad

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

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:15 pm

Telegrams are such a brutal way of hearing such news, poor Doris and Gran. Crying or Very sad

#40: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 5:00 pm

Don't know why I thought that was such a cliff - having actually read the book I probably should have guessed what was coming.

Poor Doris! And poor Gran!

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

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 5:48 pm

It was this scene that Jack Maynard walked in on a few moments later. Hilda had rung Plas Gwyn and told them what had happened and Jack had grabbed his bag and dashed round, requesting Joey to follow as soon as she could settle Mike, their youngest. He guessed what had happened as soon as he walked in. His first priority had to be Gran and whilst he kept up a steady flow of talk to Doris he examined the old lady, breathing a sigh of relief as he realised that her faint was from shock and not as he had feared heart failure. Her heartbeat was regular though weak and he raised her feet onto his bag, before taking his coat and covering her with it, turning his attention to Doris just as Joey arrived.

“They will be ok,” he said in reply to Joey’s questioning look. “Could you make a fresh pot of tea please Joey and take Doris with you into the kitchen. I’ll carry Mrs Trelawney upstairs and arrange for a nurse to come for the rest of the day.” With these words he carefully picked up his patient and headed for the stairs. Joey took Doris’ arm and led her gently to the kitchen where she seated her at the kitchen table before filling the kettle and looking around her for the teapot. Not finding the one she knew they normally used she turned to Doris,
“Where is the teapot?”
“Oh,” and Doris rose and made her way to the dining room where breakfast was still laid on the table, she stood looking at the plate she had left, the half eaten toast still sat neatly at one side, the knife on the other, the teapot in the centre of the table on it’s stand, flanked by the milk and sugar. Doris sank into her chair and finally the tears came, one by one at first, falling onto the plate and then as she pushed it away from her and laid her head on her arms, in streams down her drawn face.

Joey let this continue unchecked for a few minutes, not knowing what else to do, but seeing the tension drain form Doris as she cried decided it was probably the best thing to do. Then as she watched Doris gave a gulp and a sniff and laid still. It was then that Jack returned and Joey whispered in his ear, standing on tiptoe to do so. Jack nodded and went over to Doris’ side. “Your mother-in-law should be fine, but needs some rest. I’ve engaged a nurse to come for the rest of the day and Joey will be here as well if you need her. I think you should go to bed now if you can and rest as well. This has been a shock for you although I know you had tried to prepare yourself for it, but given your health I think you should rest.” Doris did as she was bid, and Joey following with a drink shortly after found her in bed. Joey stood over her as she drank the warm milk, knowing that Jack had slipped a dose in it to help Doris sleep and recover.

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

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 5:56 pm

I'm so glad Joey and Jack were able to be there to help (with tried and tested methods)

So, ML and Verity now need to be told......... Crying or Very sad

#43: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 5:57 pm

#44: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 6:15 pm

Thank you Carolyn. Crying or Very sad

#45: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 7:51 pm

Jack - cool, calm, efficient and on the spot - I love it Carolyn

#46: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 7:56 pm

awww thankyou

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

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:45 pm

*sniffle*
Thank you Carolyn!!!

#48: Author: Donna, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:59 pm

That was such a moving account of Doris' reaction - and we got to see a comforting Joey as well. Looking forward to the next part!

#49: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:32 am

Brilliantly written, Carolyn - you really capture the grief of Gran & Doris and Jack & Joey come to the rescue perfectly ...

#50: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 3:24 pm

Thanks Carolyn,

You mesh the things we know with the things we don't really well, hope there will be lots more soon

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

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 6:28 pm

It was four days later that Joey went up to the school to see Mary-Lou and talk to her about what had happened. Gran had been very poorly, her heart remaining weak still despite the stimulants Jack had administered and while they were confident that she would recover given time Doris had not felt able to leave her. She had been fretting however over Mary-Lou, feeling that her daughter would worry when no one visited her and wanting to tell her about their loss. It was Joey who realising this one day tentatively offered to talk to Mary-Lou.
“Would you, oh, but no, I can’t ask you to do that, it is too much to ask,” replied Doris, hope flaring up, then dying in her eyes.
This decided Joey, “Yes you can, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve broken news of a death to a girl and being Mary-Lou’s ‘Aunt’ it’s my responsibility since you can’t. I’ll ring Hilda and go this morning.”
Doris gave in under this firm decision, feeling relief at having the decision taken out of her hands. “Tell her we love her very much,”
Joey smiled and nodded, squeezing Doris on the shoulder as she left the room to go to the telephone and arrange her visit to Mary-Lou. These last few days had made her aware that underneath the fragile exterior Doris was a strong woman and had just as much quiet influence on Mary-Lou in her way as Garn had in hers. She had told Joey something of her husband and the short time they had together and of the struggle she and Gran had had to bring up a child alone during the war.

A few hours later Mary-Lou snuggled up in bed trying to sort out everything that Auntie Joey had told her. It felt odd to realise that she would never meet her father now until paradise, and whilst she was not upset she felt empty. She would never know her father, or no more than as a photo she had kissed morning and night, a person she had heard about from Mother and Gran, but never really known. Auntie Joey had said she wasn’t horrid for not crying and Mary-Lou found that comforting, especially as Clem had seemed to understand, but she dimly felt that Auntie Joey had been trying to tell her something else as well. She lay in her bed hearing the daily school noise in the background as she tried to remember what it was Auntie Joey had said.
“He was her husband, you see, and they loved each other dearly. You can't understand yet, but you will when you're older. And he was Gran's son, so she is very unhappy too, and that's why she's ill.” Mary-Lou thought she understood that, at least she knew that Mother and Gran would miss him more than she did as they knew him, but there was something else and she screwed up her face tight in an effort to remember. “You are partly your mother and partly your father. Each of us is that. To Mother and Gran, you are especially your father's own little girl. For that reason you are the one who can comfort them better than anyone else. 'I've seen your father's photo, and you are very like him. Your mouth and nose look like his, and you must be fair like him, for Mother is dark-haired, and hasn't much colour, and her eyes are grey. And your Gran once told me that you were like him in character - I mean, you think the same way as he used to when he was a little boy, and do things as he did. That is because you are his little girl, and so you "take after" him, as people say.” Mary-Lou puzzled this out. She understood about taking after your parents, but had always thought that meant what colour your eyes and hair were, now it seemed to be more, to be what you were like. Mary-Lou wriggled, wondering if she was really like her father, and if he would have been silly enough to end up in the san like she had. She giggled a little as she remembered some of the tales Gran had told her of his boyhood, like the time he decided to play Robin Hood. Mary-Lou had loved this tale and Gran had told it to her often. Her father had loved playing in the woods, and this particular afternoon had decided that the usual game of Robin Hood needed livening up and so he and his brother had spent an hour or so occupied with making their bows and arrows, using their prized possession, two shiny new penknives. They had been shooting at trees and quite happy with their pretending when one of them, and Gran had never been quite sure which had confused their legends slightly and remembered the story of William Tell and the apple. Having the arrows and plenty of apples handy it had been too much for the boys to resist and her father had duly taken aim at an apple precariously balanced on his brother’s head. It was fortunate for the pair that their penknives weren’t sharp and the arrows were no more than stripped willowy branches. His aim was not quite true and he caught his brother on the head, just over his ear. The pair of them were both in trouble, Gran saying it was just as foolish as to stand there and be aimed at, as it was to shoot at your brother and those penknives that had come in so handy in making the bows and arrows were confiscated for the rest of the holidays.

The giggle did not last, and Mary-Lou sobered again as took in how Auntie Joey had been saying that she could comfort Mother and Gran. This was new, they had always been the one’s who comforted and looked after her, but now it seemed that she had to do something as well, even if it was as Auntie Joey had said, in being herself. She was not sure what it would mean, but as she fell into a doze she made a decision, she would help Mother and Gran all she could, and she would ask Mother to tell her all about Father so she could see if she really was like him.

#52: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 6:34 pm

Thank you, Carolyn. It's great to see the way ML thinks through what she's been told by Joey.

And Laughing

at the Robin Hood story.

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

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:03 pm

I love these little signs that ML is beginning to grow up and think of others. And good for Joey, helping Doris out when she needed it.

I can't wait for more Carolyn!!

#54: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:43 pm

Thank you Carolyn - a lovely little insight into how Mary Lou thinks!

#55: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:58 pm

*sniffles* This is wonderful Carolyn, so nice to have it from an adult perspective and nice to see OOAO thinking it all through.

#56: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 8:09 am

Excellent, Carolyn

Like the way you've given a bit more background to why Doris left Joey to tell Mary-Lou - always felt it was a bit off before but you've made it more acceptable for me
Good to see M-L's thought process as the news sinks in and loved the Robin Hood scene - makes Father become more real ...

#57: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 9:11 am

Thank you, Carolyn. This is filling the gaps beautifully.

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

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 9:42 am

Thank you Carolyn. This is wonderful, love the way it fleshes out what we know from the books.

#59: Author: *Aletea*, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 12:34 pm

This is just exactly Mary-Lou. Brilliant insight, thanks!

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

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 3:54 pm

It was a fortnight before Gran was well enough for Mary-Lou to return home for a weekend visit, and it was a very sober girl who returned to the school on the Monday morning, her head whirling with everything she had learnt over the weekend and the charges that had been laid on her. It wasn’t just the way mother and Gran had looked at her, but it had been some of the things they had said regarding her father and friendship. Gran had told her what made a good friend and then Mother had told her about the way her father had died, as a hero. It made her feel funny inside just to think about it. She squirmed when she thought about the way Auntie Joey had said it should reflect on her character. She knew she was right, but had never really talked like that before. It was a lot to think about. She pushed it to the back of her mind as she went back into school, intending to think about it later and maybe ask Clem. The events of the day however were to give her even more to think about.

It started during the special rehearsal of the Christmas Carols. All of UIIA knew that Verity-Anne refused to speak German, but she had stayed out of trouble so far by at least doing the bare minimum in classes. On German days she remained obstinately silent out of lessons, refusing to speak the language. When the announcement had been made at the beginning of term that the school would be returning to the old pattern of days for French and German Verity-Anne had tried to refuse to speak the language, she had even taken her feelings to the head. The head had dealt gravely with her, listening to her disapproval with a serious concern, but dancing eyes that Verity-Anne did not see. Miss Annersley had told her gravely that the language and the people were not to be held accountable for the Nazi’s actions and that as a pupil in the school she would have to follow the curriculum and rules, adding that her guardian had been aware of the changes that were to be made and had therefore agreed to her learning French and German. Verity-Anne accepted this with a pursing of her lips, a determined look set in her eyes, but with a dignified grace she had made her curtsey to the head and left with no further argument. Today was different. Verity-Anne had a beautiful voice, lark-like in it’s quality and she adored singing, finding in it, although she could never have put it into words, an emotional release from the tension she felt at school. Mr Denny, the singing teacher was devoted to his art and had delighted the girl with some of the old English airs he had been teaching to the class this term. He spoke only English, indeed using rather quaint Elizabethan terms that also echoed in Verity-Anne. Thus she has taken her place that afternoon with an air of expectation. The Carols had been handed out and Verity had looked at the first one with interest. It was an Irish Carol, ‘Christmas Day is Come’ and she felt a tingle as she heard the ripples of the music, with the quiet Celtic air in the background. She sang with all her might, lost in the music, not noticing the smile Plato bestowed on her.

The second carol was another matter. Verity had turned to it expectantly, to come crashing down as she saw what it was, ‘O, Jesulein suss, O Jesulein mild’ by the great composer, Bach. Her mind registered the German name and words even as she felt the tension rising within her, and lips tight shut she stood, tears pricking at her eyes. It had to come to a head of course. Verity-Anne’s voice was not one the singing teacher would miss, and he soon demanded an explanation for her silence. The whole school watched as flushing red to the roots of her hair she primly stated her disapproval of German. This was a position from which she would not be moved and despite all that was said to her she would not sing. Eventually she was removed from the room by Miss Burnett and sent to bed. The outcome of all this was that Verity-Anne would not be in the concert unless she apologised to Mr Denny and sang all the carols.

#61: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:17 pm

Oh dear! Poor little Verity-Anne! Laughing

#62: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:18 pm

awww, thanks very much

#63: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 8:03 pm

I want to hug Verity-Ann now.

Thanks Carolyn.

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

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 8:46 pm

*sniffles*
Carolyn, I can feel the emotion in every one of your posts. More soon please!

#65: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 4:45 am

I love the way this drabble meshes with, but complements, the EBD version. Please keep writing, Carolyn.

#66: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:23 am

Loved the insight into M-L's thoughts after she learns more about her Dad - very poignant

As for Verity-Ann Rolling Eyes

Silly moo!

#67: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:51 am

I do feel sorry for Verity-Ann, she is so much a product of her upbringing. It's quite clear that she is also suffering from misguided loyalty, because she was so sheltered before she went to the CS.

ETA: I feel that she has too much to cope with all at once - being sent to a school when she has had only elderly relatives before, and a father she cannot remember, no wonder she has problems. However, let's not forget that her stubbornness shows that she is basically a strong character, it's only when she is eclipsed by OOAO that she becomes moony and dreamy.

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

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:59 pm

This row had stunned the school, and especially the upper second. The next few days were miserable for all the class, but for Verity-Anne especially. The form had realised that she was crying herself to sleep at night, but had found themselves powerless to help, nothing they said had any effect on her. Mary-Lou had tried talking to her, and came close to breaking through her reserve, but had no effect on her determination. It was with some relief that she ran into the Head’s study one morning having been told by Verity-Anne herself that Mrs Maynard was waiting there for her.
“'Auntie Jo, have you done anything about Verity-Ann? 'Cos the little moke is being horridly miserable, and we can't do anything, though we've all tried our very hardest.” She didn’t get much joy, Auntie Jo only replied
“I've tried, but she won't listen. I think perhaps all you people going for her has stiffened her and made her resolve not to give in whatever happened,' said Jo. 'Can you get the rest of your crowd to stop it, Mary-Lou? Ask them to say no more about it to her, will you? You can say I asked you, if you like.” She then changed the subject, but Mary-Lou was quick to see that her thought were running on a similar line to Mary-Lou’s own as her next question was to ask if Doris had heard any more from Commander Carey and if Verity had received any letters from him. Mary-Lou was able to reply in the positive to the former and the negative to the latter before Joey sent her away with a message to send the triplets to come up.

Joey had a quick visit with her own daughters and then issued a brief invitation to the heads to come to tea on the Sunday when the triplets were also at home. This invitation was issued with an air of secrecy and a slight smile, but the heads knowing Jo did not rise to her teasing but went to tea at the weekend, along with Doris Trelawney and to their surprise returned to the school none the wiser.
“I thought Jo had something up her sleeve when she invited us,” commented Nell Wilson on their return to the school.
Her friend smiled, “That was a little cynical of you Nell, Joey has been known to issue invitations with no ulterior motive.”
“Yes, but you saw her smile on Friday, and there was something this afternoon that she was holding back.”
Miss Annersley gave in, “Yes, I must admit that I was expecting her to drop something on us today. I am glad she held back since Doris was also there. Knowing what Joey can be like, I would prefer not to be landed on in front of a parent.”

Meanwhile Joey and Doris were having their own conversation as they cleared the table and washed up, Anna being at Carn Beg sitting with Gran.
“Have you heard any more from Commander Carey?” asked Joey as she turned to the sink.
“Yes, I had a letter last week to say that he arrived at the hospital in Glasgow safely and that it was going to be a long time before he was fit again. He was full of questions about Verity-Anne, Mary-Lou and the school in general.”
“Does he know anything about the trouble Verity-Anne is currently in?”
“No, I didn’t tell him, I replied in general to his letter, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him about that, he speaks so generously in his letters that I know he will be disappointed and Mary-Lou tells me that Verity is already afraid of meeting her father.”
“He must have the ‘pen of a ready writer’ if you can tell so much from his letters. Would you mind putting Jack and I in touch with him. Maybe he could receive treatment at the san here and see Verity-Anne that much sooner. I spoke to her myself last week and no one else is going to change her stubborn mind.”
“Oh, is it that bad?”
“She is making herself very miserable, and if he can travel then she needs to see him.”
“I didn’t realise it had gone that far, maybe I will write to him again tonight,” Doris paused and Joey jumped in,
“Well before you go I will give you one of Jack’s cards to pass onto him, his Doctors will probably want to talk to the san before releasing him. Tell him we will be happy to put him up as we have plenty of room.”
Joey looked at Doris speculatively as they finished drying the last few plates. The news of her husband’s death was still raw, and Joey knew that both ladies were still in deep mourning, but there was something there that stirred her writer’s spirit.

“I say, Clem” started Mary-Lou one night soon after, as she lay in bed watching Clem brush her hair.
“What is it, and be quick I still have to say my prayers before Lights out, and we are not talking after that.”
“I was just thinking about Verity-Anne, she is really miserable and I loathe seeing her like that. I ought to do something about it ‘cos I’m her friend and mother says that means being like father, being brave and loyal and true, only she won’t listen to any of us, and even Auntie Jo couldn’t make her listen.”
Clem smiled at the earnestness of the youngster, although only a few years older Clem had taken responsibility for her family and was used to looking at situations through adult eyes. She knew what had happened to the expedition as Mary-Lou had told her a few nights ago, eyes ablaze as she related how Commander Carey had called her father a hero, and how she had to be like that to help mother and Gran.
“Well, there is one possibility, but it would certainly mean you being brave,” she began, hesitantly, “If you can’t do anything with young Verity you could tackle the situation from the other side.”
“What do you mean?” questioned Mary-Lou, sitting up in bed.
“Lie down and I’ll tell you,” and seeing Mary-Lou comply she continued, “A few of you could go and talk to Plato, maybe Vi Lucy as form prefect and one or two more, those he likes best if you know who they are,”
“Verity-Anne,”
“Well maybe not then, but anyway, go and ask him if she can come at the beginning of the lesson and sing all the other carol’s first and then leave the German ones’ to the end when she can leave. He can only say no, and if you are polite you won’t get in trouble. He seems like he can be quite nice sometimes.”
Mary-Lou sat upright again at this suggestion. “He will eat us alive,”
“Lie down, I’m going to put the light off so we need to stop talking, but think about it and talk it over with some of your form, they seem like nice kids.”

Mary-Lou did as she was told, thinking the idea over till their next singing lesson when she brought it up tentatively with the rest of the class. There was chaos for a few minutes, but Mary-Lou and Clem’s idea won out finally with a small group agreeing to talk to Plato. It was not necessary. That same morning Commander Carey arrived at the school to see his daughter and was able to reach her where no one else had. The girls were relieved, both for themselves and for Verity-Anne, and could now look forward to the end of term and the Christmas holidays with some degree of happiness.

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

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 4:06 pm

Thank-you Carolyn! I love seeing these events from ML's point of view and her struggles to be the person she thinks her father wold wnt her to be.

#70: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 5:08 pm

This is brilliant Carolyn - it makes Verity a much more sympathetic character.

#71: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:43 pm

Thank you Carolyn, that was excellent. So nice to see background!

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

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:05 pm

Lovely!!
Thank you Carolyn!

#73: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 12:00 pm

Looking forward to hearing what happens next in this!

#74: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 12:03 pm

Thanks Carolyn, *eagerly awaiting more*

#75: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 12:34 pm

May we have the next episode, please, Carolyn?

#76: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 1:22 pm

looks good thanks

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

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:36 pm

Chapter One Epilogue

Mary-Lou and Clem raced down the drive at Carn Beg as they returned for the holidays, eager to share their momentous news with the two ladies, Tony having scornfully agreed to leave it to them when they caught him at the concert the night before.
“Women’s stuff, but I suppose it’s ok, at least you aren’t getting all mushy over it. No, I won’t say anything to Auntie Doris, why would I?”
Thus it as that Clem and Mary-Lou were able to share the news of Gillian Linton’s engagement to Clem and Tony’s godfather.
“And she wants us to be her bridesmaids when they get married mummy, I do hope it’s soon,” ended Mary-Lou happily.
Doris felt a catch in her throat as she saw the happiness of the girl, and then reminded herself that Mary-Lou was not mourning in the same way they were.

The holidays also saw Verity-Anne staying at Plas Gwyn along with her father who had been allowed to visit from the san in the Black mountains where he was now a patient. She was slowing thawing, and even joined in some of the sillier games that Joey thought of for the Christmas party she let the triplets throw on the day before Christmas Eve. Commander Carey watched the growing friendship between her and Mary-Lou with pleasure. He owed his life to her father who had returned to the camp to fight when he might have escaped and he held both Doris and Gran in high respect. After spending some time with them both he could see where Trelawney had learned his values, and he was anxious for his daughter to come under the influence of the two ladies.

*****************************
“I am the resurrection and life,” intoned the Bishop. “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”
The memorial service took place in London in the early New Year. It was for all the members of the expedition, and Commander Carey had escorted Gran and Doris to the service, with Jack and Joey accompanying them. The children were all at the round house for the day, but it was a long journey to make and return in the day and Jack had insisted on driving them.
“I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit: for they rest from their labours.” The bishop continued, “Lord have mercy upon us”
“Christ have mercy upon us,” replied the congregation.
“Lord have mercy upon us.”
The bishop sat and Carey made his way painfully up to the lectern. He and Dr O’Brien had both asked to speak a eulogy, wanting to give thanks for the men who had worked with them, and those who had paid the highest price for their bravery and courage. He was not ashamed of the tears trickling quietly down his cheek as he described the last day of the expedition and the sacrifice made by the two men who had been out of the camp at the time of the attack. “They had no second thoughts about running in to aid us, they could have escaped, but they were better men than that. This was an act that showed who they really were, their time of testing came and they were not found wanting. This selfless act showed the courage and the love, yes love for ‘greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’ that characterised their lives. They were great men.”

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

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:56 pm

Carolyn, that was beautiful, and very weepifying! Thank you sweetie!

#79: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 4:46 pm

oohhh
beautiful

#80: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 6:12 pm

Thank you Carolyn. Crying or Very sad

#81: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:16 am

So that was one funeral. Trying to work out the rest. Gran, Doris, and Roland Carey? This is really moving.

#82: Author: keren,

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:04 am

the last post was really very moving.
your writing fits in so well with the series.
Like a sort of jugsaw puzzle, taking parts of the books and slotting in the other parts which must have happened.

#83: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:51 am

*sniffling* Wonderful Carolyn.

#84: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 3:19 pm

Aaaaaaaaaah
So so gorgeous and (may I steal your word Vikki?) weepifying

#85: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 3:27 pm

Tears in my eyes.

#86: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 4:31 pm

Just read this from the start. It's lovely to see the bits that weren't in the books and as someone said earlier, it brings Doris out in a stronger light.

that last post of the memorial service was particularly moving. thank you.

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

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 8:59 pm

Prologue Chapter Two

Over the next few years the girls grew up as any other girls of their age. Verity-Anne blossomed under the tender care given her by Gran and Doris, much to the delight of her father. Carey found that he spent a lot of time in and out of the San finally having to resign his naval commission, and he and Verity spent a lot of time with the Trelawney’s and with Clem and Tony. Clem too blossomed under the influence of Gran and Doris, delighting Gran especially when she noticed the way Clem took responsibility for Mary-Lou and Verity-Anne. The girls stayed at the school even when it moved away from Howells village and to an Island off the welsh coast.

*******
Cherry Christie liked meeting Josephine Bettany, even though her father said she was to call the lady Mrs Maynard. She wasn’t as sure when Mrs Maynard called over a sturdy looking girl of about her own age with long yellow plaits swinging round her face. Cherry wasn’t happy about sturdy, finding leg irons put off those who she would otherwise have wanted to befriend. This girl gave Mrs Maynard a flying hug before turning and bestowing a grin on Cherry. Mrs Maynard introduced them and sent Cherry off with the girl whom she found was called Mary-Lou. Much to her surprise Cherry found that Mary-Lou and her gang of friends were very matter of fact about her irons and the restrictions they imposed, just commenting that it was hard lines for her and then including her in their group for the lecture she had been taken to the school to listen to. By the time the evening ended Cherry’s head was in a whirl, somehow she had been invited to come to the school to play with the group in their free time, and the whole form was, with her father’s smiling agreement coming for tea the following Saturday.

Joey was not surprised in the slightest. She had chosen to introduce Mary-Lou to Cherry on purpose. She had become close friends with Doris and had seen the seriousness with which Mary-Lou had tried in every way to imitate her father. She knew that no explanations would be needed if she asked Mary-Lou to befriend Cherry, the very word friend carrying connotations for the eleven year old that it didn’t for other girls. She would have been worried that maybe too much pressure had been put on the youngster, but Mary-Lou was evidently a happy schoolgirl, and Jo grinned as she recalled the trouble she had got in for teaching her to play impertinent questions.
“You might have realised that if it was played at school there would be ructions,” Hilda had said when telling her of the fight Mary-Lou and Phil Craven had been in.
“I could never have foreseen a fight, although I will admit to knowing that Tony had taught the girls some outrageous slang last hols.” Joey had grinned at this, wondering if Hilda knew the worst of the slang.

*************
In the Christmas term Mary-Lou was pulled up short. What it meant to follow in her father’s footsteps was driven home as never before, by the Head, and then again by Clem. Mary-Lou had brought some scissors to school with her intending to use them to prune the roses on the form’s flowerbed. The school secateurs were expressly forbidden to the middles, being dangerous, but Mary-Lou had somehow convinced herself that sharpened scissors would not only do the job, but would not be breaking any rules. The head disabused her of this idea when she discovered what had happened.
“'You knew perfectly well that if you weren't being utterly disobedient to the rule, you were being deceitful about it. I know that scissors aren't secateurs, but you knew as well as I do that you weren't supposed to use anything of the kind. I didn't think that you, of all girls, would ever turn shifty, Mary-Lou!” The head had said, which comment had Mary-Lou fighting back the tears. Clem had been as blunt about it, telling Mary-Lou that she had cheated. Mary-Lou had been very chastened; having hero-worshipped her father for three years and tried to be like him she feared that now she may be failing him. He was one of her heroes and, under all her sinful ways, there was the resolve she had taken when it had happened - three years ago, now - to try to grow up into the kind of girl Father would have wanted her to be. She felt that this scissors business wasn't at all the sort of thing he would have liked.

****************

#88: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:07 pm

I'm glad to see this Carolyn, I was worried that I had missed it altogether. A very thoughtful look at the process of Mary Lou growing up.
Thank you

#89: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:07 am

Poor Mary Lou - Carolyn you have me feeling sorry for her - feeling she must live up to a hero.

#90: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:34 am

What a great explanation for ML's butting in. The need to help must have been very deep. Thank you.

#91: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:24 am

This is really adding depth, Carolyn.

#92: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 11:23 am

Wow, Carolyn this is superb and just keeps getting better and better!

It's giving us so much extra depth to M-L and why she is who she is - completely believable and makes her sympathetic - amazing!!

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

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 11:52 am

Thank you Carolyn. This is really getting to the bottom of why ML is as she is. It makes all her later behaviour much more believeable

#94: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 2:08 pm

Very well drawn, Carolyn.

#95: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:56 pm

Wow. This is so good Carolyn.

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

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:07 pm

Chapter Two

Verity-Anne and Mary-Lou were enjoying the Easter holidays by themselves this time, Clem and Tony having been taken to Norway by their parents for most of the vacation. They had made the most of the good spring weather, spending a lot of time outdoors, both in the Carn Beg orchard and in the meadow that separated their house from Plas Gwyn where the Maynards lived. They missed the company of Clem, Tony and the Maynard children, but had found plenty to do. Gran was a firm believer in fresh air for growing children and the two girls were nothing loathe to having their playtime in this way.
“After all we get enough time indoors during lessons and stuff,” was Mary-Lou’s stated opinion. They were also treated a few times during the three weeks to picnics and outings arranged by Commander Carey, Verity-Anne’s father.

“Your father is a sport you know,” Mary-Lou said to her friend one afternoon when they were sitting in the garden after returning from a visit to Hereford and it’s famous cathedral. Thanks to the Commander’s friendship with the dean the thrilled girls had been able to see the chained Library as well as some of the cathedrals other treasure, including the Mappa Mundi, a medieval map of the world. They had even been fortunate enough to hear the boys’ choir at practice.
“I know he is,” replied Verity-Anne puzzled as to why Mary-Lou was commenting on this.
“He always includes Mother and me when he arranges things for you, and we’re not related so you see he doesn’t have to really.”
“He will though, after all Auntie Doris and Gran have looked after me loads.”
“Maybe,” Mary-Lou was thoughtful but did not pursue the matter, instead turning the conversation to the eventful happenings of the previous term.

The previous term another school had joined the Chalet School, another Chalet School in fact and the settling down period had been fraught with difficulties. The two girls left the topic of the Head Girl’s study that had been wrecked by another girl alone. Not only had the head forbidden them to talk about it, but also Mary-Lou herself had memories of the events surrounding it that she would rather forget. When Miss Annersley had held an inquisitorial assembly she had passed a message down her form’s line and had been caught by none other than the Head at her most judgemental. She had spent the rest of the assembly stood red faced by the Head, and to cap it all Clem had then told her just what an ass she had been. Clem had decided to play the role of elder sister to Mary-Lou, and perforce to Verity-Anne, the three girls spending most of their vacations together at carn Beg.

“It’s a good job Clem didn’t know how we settled Anne Gordon” laughed Mary-Lou.
“Yes, she would have really laid into you,” and Verity-Anne began to giggle.
“I don’t know why, she would have done the same,”
“Maybe as a senior she feels she should set an example,” suggested Verity-Anne.
“I wish it wasn’t always with us though,” then she giggled, “Wasn’t Anne’s face a picture?”
“I can’t believe she fell for it,”
“If she had paid attention in lessons or done a stroke of work she wouldn’t have, it was her own fault,” Mary-Lou was decisive on this.
The class had discovered early on that Anne was cheating on her prep, copying form those sat around her, and as they did prep in both their classroom and the hall quite a number of them had fallen foul of her methods. They had planned their lesson to her carefully, Mary-Lou co-ordinating it. Each of those people who sat near her had a false page carefully inserted into their books giving totally false answers to their prep questions, which they then left in clear view. They of course carefully removed these before handing in their completed work. Anne copied them. Her confusion when mistress after mistress returned her work with red lines through it all the while complimenting those she had copied from was plain for all to see on her face. The next part of the plan was carried out when the false pages were carefully placed silently on her desk at the end of afternoon school. Mary-Lou was the last member of the form to approach her, and as she laid hers down she looked at the red-faced girl with a stony look, “We do not cheat here. Even the babes know that cheating isn’t straight.” Anne remained in her desk as everyone left, too embarrassed to follow the form to the common room. She knew that the form would not stand for this again and mended her ways, at least as far as cheating was concerned.

#97: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:10 pm

This drabble may be the redemption of Mary-Lou Carolyn! I love the way she is portrayed here.

#98: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:44 pm

*grins*

Wonderful

#99: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:12 pm

Excellent, thanks Carolyn.

#100: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:13 pm

oooooooo,lots of big bits to read
thanks Very Happy

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

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:24 am

Wonderful again Carolyn!!!
Looking forward to the next bit.
You really make us see why Mary Lou became the person she did.

#102: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 8:25 am

Love the false homework ploy!! Very Happy

#103: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:40 pm

Thank you, Carolyn. That should go into the legends of the school.

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

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:08 pm

“Mary-Lou, Verity-Anne, please will you both come and get changed for the evening tonight please,” Doris Trelawney, looking slightly flushed came to call the girls in, they had taken afternoon tea in the garden by themselves in the afternoon dresses they had worn for the trip to Hereford.
“We would like to take you for a stroll to the spinney before supper and you need fresh clothes if we are to do that,” Doris continued, hoping that neither of the girls would ask for an explanation at this point. She was out of luck.
“That’s unusual, we don’t normally get changed in the evening at home,” commented Mary-Lou.
“Never mind that, just do as you are told for now please,” Doris was slightly sharper that usual in her tone and the girls jumped up to do as they were bid at once.

Doris went back inside and joined her mother-in-law in the kitchen. Gran’s eagle eyes spotted her red face.
“I suppose my grand-daughter had to ask questions did she?”
“Mmmmm” muttered Doris as she briskly washed the salad, hoping that her cheeks would return to their normal colour.
“Glad to see you sent her off with a flea in her ear, she can be a little too much of a madam when she wants to be. Takes after me in that, I know,” sighed Gran.
“That should be all for the good, as long as she learns to control her forthrightness in the same way,” commented Doris.
“It was a hard lesson for me, I hope Mary-Lou finds out earlier that there are times when you have to ‘pipe down’ as she would put it. Clem does a wonderful job of squashing her, I never had an older sister to rub my corners off nor school chums to help me learn a bit about getting along with people so it wasn’t till I was much older and became involved with the Red Cross during the Great War that I discovered the realities of give and take necessary for friendships, for working together and I had a difficult time until I did.”
Doris listened to this with understanding, she knew the store Gran laid on ‘getting along’ and on friendship and knew too that the old lady had had a sheltered upbringing that had been shaken by the experiences of the first war. As a young war bride she had tried to throw herself into war work to hide the worry she felt for her serving husband, only to come across people from many other walks of life. Gran did not speak much of this time, although Doris knew that there were friends she had faithfully exchanged birthday and Christmas greetings with ever since. The difficulties she had experienced had obviously been overcome, but Doris valued the lessons Gran was able to pass onto Mary-Lou.

#105: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 8:01 pm

A lovely insight into Gran. Reminds me of Vera Britten and her autobigoraphy. Really good!

#106: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 10:04 pm

Excellent Carolyn - you've really made a relatively minor charachter (Gran) come alive.

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

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 10:18 pm

Carolyn, that was beautifully written. A lovely insight into Gran's character. A real tonic after the traumas of tonight!!!

#108: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 3:53 pm

*echoes the others*

Brilliant - really bringing Gran to life and showing how similar they (M-L & Gran) are as well as M-L and her father ...

Do you think she takes after her mother much at all?!

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

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 5:39 pm

Rachael wrote:

Do you think she takes after her mother much at all?!

Good question, maybe in looks more than temprement?
Maybe there will be more on this to come! Twisted Evil

#110: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 5:59 pm

That was a lovely bit. It's nice to hear more about Gran, you see where Mary Lou got a lot of her characteristics from. I think this is going to be one of the drabbles I can never seperate from the books Smile

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

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 7:53 pm

The two girls accompanied by Doris and Commander Carey walked up to the spinney with a small amount of chatter about the day they had passed. When they reached their destination they stopped to watch the beginning of the sunset, the adults leant against the commander’s jacket, which he spread over a nearby rock. The girls wondered around the clearing, looking down towards the village until Commander Carey cleared his throat and said,
“Could you both come here a moment, we would like to speak to you.”
Mary-Lou’s eye’s opened wide at this and she came running across to skid to a seated position at the feet of the two adults, Verity-Anne not far behind.
“What is it Uncle Roland?” asked Mary-Lou as she picked a strand of grass idly.
Commander Carey and Doris looked at each other shyly and took hold of each other hands before replying.
“Mary-Lou,” Doris began, “I, that is We, have become very good friends you know,”
“Yes,” relied Mary-Lou, “which is just as well because Verity-Anne and I are such chums as well.”
“It’s more than that Mary-Lou, I have come to feel very deeply for your mother these last few years. I have discovered much to my joy that these feelings are returned.” Commander Carey turned to look at Doris as he said this and she met his steady gaze before he turned back to the girls, strengthened by the eye contact with Doris.
“Verity, Mary-Lou, Doris has done me the great privilege of agreeing to become my wife. We hope to be married in the summer, July if possible.”
There was a silence as the girls digested this.
“I do hope you will both be happy for us,” added Doris, feeling the tension of the moment unbearable.
Mary-Lou jumped up and hugged her mother, “Of course we are, aren’t we Verity-Anne. Just a little surprised, we didn’t know to expect this after all. Are you in love?” her voice lowered as she said this last, as if it was something to be slightly ashamed of.
The two adults laughed, “Of course we are, who wouldn’t fall in love with your mother,” laughed the Commander.
“Love is the only basis for a marriage dear, and no matter how good friends we were, I would not even consider this if I did not love Roland.”
The two adults put their arms round the children and the family began to walk home along the lanes that were redolent with the blossoming spring flowers.

They were almost home before Mary-Lou managed to pull her mother to one side.
“Mother,” she said in a low voice, “I’m really happy for you,”
“I sense a but, darling” said Doris treading carefully.
“But what about father and Gran?” Mary-Lou went to the heart of her concerns.
Doris kept her arm tight around the girl while she considered her reply. This was not unexpected.
“Firstly, Gran will continue to live with us as always. She is as much a part of our family as you are.”
“I am glad about that, I would hate to see her living somewhere else.”
“Don’t forget Carn Beg belongs to Gran, not to me, it would be us living somewhere else, but that is not going to happen.”
“What about father. Does this mean you have forgotten about him, or that you don’t love him any more?”
The two had reached home by this time and Doris signalled Roland to take Verity-Anne indoors for supper while she finished the conversation with Mary-Lou, feeling that it was a discussion that should not wait.
She drew the girl to the garden seat below the drawing room window. The scent of the apple blossom wafted over them.
“Mary-Lou, I loved you father and always will, he was the boy I fell in love with and the man I came to appreciate as no other. He was kind, gentle, caring, brave, and oh, so many things. I could never stop loving him and would never want to. You know how much both Gran and I have told you about him, and we mean it and will continue to tell you as much as we remember. But Mary-Lou these last years since I knew he was never coming back have been so lonely. Uncle Roland will never replace your father, and he will never attempt to do so, he owes his life to your father and respects his memory too much for that. When your father died it was like part of me died too, now Roland has brought that spark of life back. We meet a need for love and companionship in each other and he will never replace your father, just as I will never replace Verity-Anne’s mother.
“She doesn’t remember her mother at all.”
“No, that’s sad, and her mother never saw her grow into childhood. Your father had at least that memory; he saw your first smile, your first steps, and your first words, even taught your first lessons although I know you can’t remember.
“I never know if I’m remembering him or remembering his photograph and the things you have told me. I can picture him bending down to me and taking me on his knee to tell me stories, but I never know if it is real.” Mary-Lou rested her head against her mother’s shoulder as they spoke and Doris stroked her hair gently.
“I’m sure it is Mary-Lou, I’m sure it is.” She replied a catch in her voice.
They sat a moment in the garden then as Mary-Lou gave a shiver Doris suggested they went inside.
“Are you sure that you are happy with this dear, my first responsibility is to you after all,”
“Mother, of course I am. I wouldn’t be so selfish as to stop something that was making you happy, and I can see you are, you are looking so well at last. I am happy, really and truly, and Uncle Roland is a sport, if you have to marry he will do nicely.”
Doris gave a laugh at this last and sent the girl indoors, aiming a smack at her rear that made Mary-Lou jump and giggle as she went to wash up ready for supper.

#112: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:09 pm

Ahhhh! That's lovely, thanks Carolyn.

#113: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:11 pm

Very nice, Carolyn. The rounding out of Gran is especially interesting, and

Quote:

Uncle Roland is a sport, if you have to marry he will do nicely

----------- How Mary-Lou!

#114: Author: Donna, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:14 pm

I love this Carolyn - thank you!

#115: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:31 pm

This is fantastic, Carolyn.

*echoes all the positive comments above*

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

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:58 pm

Wonderful Carolyn!!!
More please!!!

#117: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:36 pm

wonderful remedy after the tears of RCS

thanks

#118: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:30 am

Thank you, Carolyn.

#119: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:47 am

Carolyn, that was awesome! Crying or Very sad

So poignant and beautifully written - and very pleasant to have tears of happiness instead of sadness! (Yes, Lesley - that was aimed at you!)

I think you captured that scene perfectly - M-L desperately wanting to be happy for her mother but with legitimate concerns about where this leaves her father and Doris handles it so well - she's really gone up in my estimation there ...
The last exchange is just perfect - typical response from M-L and I can just picture the playful smack

Brilliant - thank you

#120: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:57 pm

Phew, have finally managed to catch up with this. It is a fantastic drabble, you have all the characters to a T, and each one is fleshed out so well. Even though it is part of the story I am really familiar with it brings hidden depths to it.

I too will have problems disassociating this drabble from the books.

#121: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 5:14 pm

That's just gorgeous. And so nice to see what actually happened with Doris and Commander Carey, seeing as it's rather glossed over in the books.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 7:52 pm

Once supper was finished Carey suggested a game of ludo and the girls fell in with this suggestion eagerly, loving the cut throat way he played and lengthened the game by insisting that a counter that fell on a occupied spot went back to the beginning. There were many squeals of joy and disappointment as this rule was enforced and by the time the two girls were sent up to bed it was well past their normal bedtime. Mary-Lou was brushing her hair when Verity-Anne knocked on the door and plumped herself down on Mary-Lou’s bed.
“Good job we’re not at school, you know what Matey thinks of sitting on beds,” said Mary-Lou, to which Verity-Anne replied by flinging a pillow at her. Mary-Lou retaliated by grabbing a cushion from her chair and throwing it at Verity before grabbing her pillow and climbing up next to her.
“I’m too tired for that, it’s been a long day,” she added, flopping back.
“It has rather, I say Mary-Lou?”
“Yes,” Mary-Lou guessed what was coming next.
“What do you think of Dad and your mother, I mean, are you pleased about it?” Verity-Anne stopped uncertainly and looked at Mary-Lou, who was laid back in amongst pillows and cushions.
“I think so, mother finally looks well again, and your dad is a sport.”
“I think it’s great and nothing will change much will it, we will still live here and Auntie Doris will still look after us.” Verity-Anne hugged her knees as she sat on the bed saying this and Mary-Lou looked up at her from her reclined position.
“I think it will mean more than that though,” said Mary-Lou slowly, “I mean we will be related and that is different somehow.”
“Do you think so, why?” Verity-Anne could not see this at all.
“I don’t know yet, I just think it will be somehow,” Mary-Lou frowned in thought as she said this, then her face brightened a little, “Hey, we will be sisters, I always wanted a sister.”
Verity-Anne smiled, “So have I. What will it be, step-sisters?”
“Urgh,” Mary-Lou pulled a face, I hope not, always makes me think of Cinderella, anyway aren’t steps where one of the parents is shared?”
“I don’t know?” Verity-Anne was still giggling at the Cinderella idea.
“I suppose really we will be sisters-by-marriage or something like that.” Mary-Lou added.
“What a mouthful, has a ring to it though.”
“Better than ugly step sister’s, I say Verity-Anne, do you think I will have to call Uncle Roland, father?”
“No, he told me about that. He said that as we both had a mother and a father we could carry on using uncle and auntie unless we really wanted to, I think I’ll stick with Auntie Doris as I’m used to saying that”
“Hmm,” Mary-Lou agreed, “I think so too. I say, is that someone coming, you had better scoot before you get in trouble”

“Too late,” said Gran opening the door and hearing this last comment. “Verity-Anne get off that bed and into your own this instant, Mary-Lou why are you wearing your dressing gown in bed and what on earth do you think you are doing with all those cushions, you will damage your back lying like that.”
The two girls meekly did as they were bid, Gran following Verity-Anne to her own room, tucking her in and shutting off the light before returning to Mary-Lou who by this time had divested her bed of the cushions and herself of her dressing gown and was climbing in.
“Sorry Gran, we just wanted to talk it over and this was the first chance we had,”
“I know, you are not in trouble this time, but do remember that growing girls need regular hours and you were already late to bed,” Gran drew the curtains and walked over towards the bed.
“It is big news isn’t it,” Mary-Lou continued.
“Big enough, but nothing to worry you two, you should be pleased for your parents, both of you.”
“Are you?” Mary-Lou was blunt with this question, but something made her ask it, feeling that it was crucial.
Gran eyed Mary-Lou a moment, realising that she had to be honest here. “I wish that the circumstances had been different,” she said slowly, “ that your father was still alive and therefore married to your mother, but we can’t live in may-have-beens, we live in the real world where death is something that we have to face and survive. Verity-Anne’s father is a good man; he loves your mother and respects your father’s memory, I am happy for them, and for you, Verity-Anne is a good girl. Now settle down and go to sleep.”
“Thanks Gran,” said Mary-Lou with a yawn that large that Gran watched in amazement before bending over and giving her grand daughter a rare kiss. Then creeping from the room she turned off the light on the already sleeping girl.

#123: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:05 pm

Awww! Lovely! I'm really enjoying the insights into Gran especially.

#124: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:21 pm

Thank you Carolyn, that was wonderful! Smile

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

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:23 pm

*wipes eyes!*
Carolyn, that was beautiful! It must have been so hard for gran to accept someone else in her son's place.

#126: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:31 pm

Truly brilliant, Carolyn. This was such an inspired idea for a drabble and it's fantastically well written.

#127: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 12:05 am

Carolyn - that was just fabulous - I love the way that you show Gran and how ML is thinking things out for herself

#128: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:13 am

Beautiful again, Carolyn

I like the exchange between Verity & M-L - nice to see Verity as an equal and Gran is just lovely! So honest but thoughtful ...

#129: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:14 am

Carolyn, this is so sensitively handled, it's making me feel tearful.

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

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:13 pm

*reaches for a hanky to wipe away the tears*

This is so wonderful Carolyn. I love the way you haved weaved in what we know about ML and added depth to other characters. I can't wait for more!!

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

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 7:00 pm

The next term began shortly after this momentous day and Mary-Lou and Verity-Anne had been eager to share their news with their special friends, gathering them together as soon as they were all back on the Island. This news was soon out shadowed by the other momentous news. That first evening back at school the head announced that the school would moving after the summer holidays, not back to Plas Howell but back to the continent, to the Gornetz Platz in Switzerland to be precise, located on the same mountain as the finishing branch that had been opened the previous year and on the same shelf as the new San was to be built. This news caused both excitement and consternation amongst the girls as the began to realise that many of their parents would not allow them to move with the school, but would insist that they stayed at the English branch. Mary-Lou had been certain that her mother and Gran would allow her to go, although she realised suddenly that Uncle Roland would have to be consulted as well and Verity-Anne was not as sure.
“Father did say that he didn’t plan for us to be that far apart again,” she said doubtfully.
“But this is such an opportunity. I’m sure Gran and mother will agree, I do hope he says yes as well.”

It was not many more weeks before Mary-Lou and Verity-Anne received a joint letter. They looked at the envelope and knew that this news would seal their fate.
“Well at least we will be together, they wouldn’t send just one of us,” said Mary-Lou suddenly assailed by doubts. Maybe, she thought, this was when the drawback of mother re-marrying would become evident. She knew Gran and mother would probably let her go, but if Uncle Roland wasn’t keen then maybe they would have to forfeit the wonderful adventure.
“Lets go and open it in the splashery, no one will be there” she suggested.
Verity-Anne agreed, shoving the envelope unceremoniously at Mary-Lou, “You will have to open it, I can’t.”
Mary-Lou was shaking as she opened the envelope and pulled out the short letter. The girls held it as they both peered at the contents together.
“Terrific,” shouted Mary-Lou as she scanned ahead quickly to the last paragraph.
“We can go, wonderful,” Verity-Anne took a little longer to read it.
“What are you girls doing here, you should be in your form room by now, and shouting like that is not acceptable at any time,” Bride Bettany, the head girl came strolling into the room.
“Oh, Bride, we can go, mother and Uncle Roland wrote us today. We are going to Switzerland.” Mary-Lou was too excited to think to whom she was talking and Bride grinned to herself.
“I’m glad to hear it,” she replied dryly, “Now cut along to your form room and you may just get there before your form mistress, and do try to remember that it is French day today.”
The two girls were only slightly chastened by this, being half way down the corridor almost before the Head Girl had finished speaking.
“I say she didn’t give us an order mark or fine us,” whispered Verity-Anne.
“No, she didn’t, how decent of her. We’d better scoot though.”

Bride watched them go, laughing at their excitement and shaking her head at Mary-Lou’s insouciance, “If it was anyone else,” she thought, then giggled remembering how Mary-Lou had reply to the Head in the first assembly of the term. The Head had asked Mary-Lou if she had any idea how much it would cost to fly the whole school to Switzerland and without thinking Mary-Lou had replied “Not a sausage.” Her face had been a picture as she flung her hand over her mouth and the whole school had rocked with laughter, even the Head smothering a smile. Bride stifled anther laugh now at the memory and left the middle school splashery and made her way to the prefects room where she informed those grandees of the latest additions to the Switzerland list.

Just to add that there is unlikely to be any addition to this tomorrow due to the northern gathering and the fact that I'm catching up with what I've written. The epilogue to chapter two will be posted on Sunday!

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

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 7:09 pm

Lovely, especially the development of ML and Verity 'sistership' in receiving the news jointly, and the dawning in ML that things might be different now she is gaining a stepfather.

Have fun at the gather!!! Very Happy

#133: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 7:19 pm

Thanks for the latest Carolyn. Enjoy yourself tomorrow!

#134: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 12:01 pm

Thank you for that, Carolyn.

#135: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 5:28 pm

Whew, just had a catch up on this. Wonderfful Carolyn, thank you. Smile

#136: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 9:32 pm

Carolyn this is really brilliant. You are giving great depth to a part of the story that is glossed over as it does not concern the school directly, yet it does concern someone (ML) who becomes a very central character of the series. I think you are giving us an insight into her character and how she changes from being a normal jolly schoolgirl in 'Three go' to a bossy, interfering controlling type of person, in the later years.

It was good to see her realising that having a step father might mean more changes than just having him being married to her mother.

This may not be a drabble full of cliffs and surprises but as a background filler it is absolutley fantastic.

#137: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 10:30 pm

I love these 'fill ins'. they add so much to the originals. Great, Carolyn!

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

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 5:53 pm

Chapter Two: Epilogue
The term ended on a triumph for Mary-Lou as she won the under 16’s swimming event. Having won the under 14’s before most people knew she was a good a swimmer, but this time was competing in the more senior event. She was showing promise of being the finest swimmer that the school had ever had and by judging both her style and pace correctly as well as the timing of her spurts she not only won the under 16’s event, but came second only to Bride Bettany in the open, leaving the rest of the field well behind.

That excitement out of the way Mary-Lou and Verity-Anne returned home, again without Clem who was distinctly unhappy at missing the wedding, but had to bow to parental wishes and her parents felt that with the wedding and honeymoon as well as kitting then girls out with a totally new uniform for the new branch that it would be unfair of them to allow Clem and Tony to spend this holiday at Carn Beg.
“I wish I could be there, but there’s no use grousing about it. Make sure you give my love to Auntie Doris and tell her I am really happy for her,” she said as she made her farewells to Mary-Lou on the final morning of term.
“Will do, where is that card you made for her?”
“I’ve put it into Verity-Anne’s trunk, seemed the safest place for it.”
Mary-Lou grinned, “Well I suppose she is more likely to get it to mother in one piece than I am, as long as she actually remembers she has it.”
“That is why she is looking after it, but I’m telling you because you will remember to ask for it,” Clem had thought about this solution, her skills in managing the two girls born out of many years experience with them both. Artistic, Clem took after her parents with her gifting at painting and she had painted a small but beautiful arrangement of wild flowers on the card.

The wedding took place two weeks later in the small village church in Howells Village. Mary-Lou and Verity-Anne were both bridesmaids, dressed in their white summer frocks with new sashes and ribbons to match, in a muted shade of pale green. They both carried posies of rosebuds tied up with much foliage, and each had a single rosebud where their hair was caught up at the side. Doris herself was wearing a pale suit, a long jacket over a straight cut skirt that reached to the bottom of her calves. Jack quietly gave her away and Ernest Howell joined them together in a simple yet moving service. The church was full of friends Doris and Roland had made, staff from the school, the Maynards and Russells, locals from the village, and of course Gran, the only family member either had apart from the two girls stood behind them at the alter.

The wedding breakfast at Carn Beg had been organised by the staff from Plas Gwyn and the Round House, where the Russell family lived. Jack and Joey arranging for this, saying that it was the least they could do, indeed if it had not been for planning another wedding in their own family and packing up to move the whole family to Switzerland Joey declared she would have taken the girls off on holiday to Yorkshire to save Gran the worry of looking after them both. As she said this in their hearing both girls stoutly denied they would be any trouble to Gran at all, making all kinds of protestations of good behaviour while Mr and Mrs Carey were honeymooning in Cornwall. Joey listened gravely to them and then winking at Gran said,
“Well I do hope you can keep this up, I came across two halo’s in the attic while I was emptying out some trunks and they will suit you both nicely. I can’t see any of my tribe ever needing them after all.”
“Auntie Joey!” Mary-Lou suddenly realised she was being teased and to Gran’s shock tried to tickle Joey, who calmly evaded her, holding out one of her baby twins, Felix as a shield.
“That’s my young man, learn to defend your mother now, she will need it with all these Scaramouch’s around.”
Mary-Lou gave in with a good grace and ran to take leave of her mother and Uncle Roland who had emerged from their rooms ready to leave. Joey’s teasing however had the desired effect and when the newly weds returned a fortnight later Gran was able to report that she hardly knew the girls had been there they had behaved that well.

#139: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 5:59 pm

Awww, that's such a nice picture of the wedding - I'd never really wondered what it had been like before, but that's definately now my definitive version!

#140: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 6:38 pm

Thanks Carolyn,that was lovely!

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

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 7:17 pm

Aawww a lovely wedding, and the teasing made me giggle Very Happy

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

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 8:45 pm

That was just beautiful Carolyn! Thank you!

#143: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 9:02 am

Awww - very moving wedding scene, Carolyn - simple but emotional - thank you!!

#144: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 10:57 am

A lovely wedding scene, why do I always cry at weddings?

#145: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 11:07 am

Lots more to catch up on!
Thanks, that was beautiful

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

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 4:46 pm

Just to satisfy your curiosity, Miss Dene did speak the words attributed to her in this part, it is in Barbara in the circumstances described.

Prologue to Chapter three

The next year was one of growth for Mary-Lou. Physically she was growing from the sturdy child who had met Cherry a few years previously into a leggy young girl. The alpine air agreed with her and she was the picture of health and energy. She had remained at or near the top of her form in every subject, and had made hard work and hard play a fashion amongst her own, of whom she was now undoubtedly the leader. Her blue eyes had taken on a brightness that showed something of her character and the laughing smile that was never far from her lips was a source of happiness to both Doris and Gran.

Gran had watched Mary-Lou this last year with a certain amount of sadness. She knew that she would not live to see Mary-Lou grow to adulthood, the weariness she felt and the palpitations in her heart told her their own story. She wanted to give as much as she could to her only surviving descendant and so during the holidays Mary-Lou often found herself keeping the old lady company. This was no chore to her as the old lady was full of stories of her youth and of her sons’ childhood. She told Mary-Lou about the grandfather she had never met, about life during each war, about her father as he grew and all sorts of stories that occurred to her, often as Mary-Lou was telling her about school a comment would spark off a memory of her own and she would try and show Mary-Lou how she had learned similar lessons.

It was because of this shared confidence that during the Christmas holidays Mary-Lou found herself sharing with her Gran an incident from the last term, their first in Switzerland. It was an incident that made her cheeks flare when she remembered it, yet one she could not manage to forget. It had happened during their first major expedition, Mary-Lou’s group had been placed in charge of Miss Dene and had been given permission to split into small groups rather than walk in crocodile. They had begun to mill around sorting themselves out and Mary-Lou had dispersed her gang into two’s and three’s, arranging the groups with rapid ease. As she related this to Gran she paused, and then said,
“I can’t see what I did wrong, I was only helping everyone to get sorted quickly and easily including myself, but Francie took offence and then Miss Dene said something.”
“What did Miss Dene say,” asked Gran.
Mary-Lou paused, then replied, “She said ‘Mary-Lou, be careful or you’ll be turning into one of those domineering women that no one likes.’ Do you think it’s true Gran?”
Gran paused and put down the cloth she was applying the brass polish with, before turning to look at Mary-Lou. She saw a downcast face, reddened around the ears and cheeks.
“Have you been worrying about that all term?” Mary-Lou nodded in reply.
“Well in that case Miss Dene has probably done you a great service and helped you to tame what can be a domineering spirit. I know. I’ve had similar things said to me when I was older than you. If you remember those words and take care to think of how your actions and words can affect other people, and other people could view them then you will grow up into a strong and positive woman, if not, then Miss Dene could be right. Remember that it is a gift sometimes to see ourselves as others see us. What could you have done differently that time?”
Mary-Lou looked interested now, “I suppose I could have waited to see what groups formed before saying anything, and I could have asked Francie who she would have liked to go with, rather than just telling someone else where she could go.”
“That is well thought out, remember that no one likes to hear themselves discussed.” Gran changed the subject after this, knowing that Mary-Lou would think about what she had said.

The next term proved that Gran had been right when she said that Miss Dene’s words had already had a positive effect on Mary-Lou. It was with no small amount of shock when at prayers on the first night back the head had made an announcement that stunned her.
“Now girls I have another announcement to make,” began Mrs Annersley, leaning forward on the podium. “When the school was in Tyrol we had a special prefects position, not from school prefects, nor dormitory prefects, not even from a senior. This position, which we intend to revive, now is that of Head of Middle School. The person appointed to this will be a senior middle who will be responsible for welcoming new girls and ensuring they are looked after by their forms, and will also be a person who can look out for other middles, giving help where it is needed.” Miss Annersley stopped and smiled at the rows of grave faces before her before continuing, “This is a responsible position and can be seen as a trail, or even training for the more responsible positions of dormitory and school prefect in the seniors. I am sure that the girl we are appointing to be the first holder of this position in Switzerland will do her utmost to live up to these responsibilities, Mary-Lou Trelawney.”

Miss Annersley smiled at the stunned girl, beckoning to her to step forward to receive her small crimson and silver badge. Mary-Lou as crimson as the badge was pushed out of her place by Verity-Anne and Vi Lucy and stumbled up to the platform where she let Miss Annersley pin the badge firmly in place before turning and smiling shyly at the school before making her escape back the anonymity of her line.

#147: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 4:55 pm

I like that explanation of the Head of Middles.

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

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:44 pm

What a lovely description of Gran and Ml's relationship, and especailly thier similarities, something which is hinted at in the book, but never developed much. Thank you Carolyn Very Happy

#149: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:51 pm

Thank you Carolyn - that was so thoughtful.

#150: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 11:23 pm

I'm really enjoying the extra depth you are bringing to these characters, Carolyn, especially ML and Gran.

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

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:49 am

Carolyn, that was really lovely. A wonderful insight to the relationship between Mary Lou and Gran. the only thing is, I'm dreading what I know is coming!

#152: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:22 am

That was wonderful, Carolyn

I'd forgotten about Miss Dene's comment and it's spot on - also makes me think more highly of M-L to think that she has been brooding about it and not just dismissed it ...

Gran is just the bee's knees - I love her!

#153: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:23 am

I've somehow managed to miss this Embarassed

but I'm all caught up now Very Happy

. Carolyn, I'm aboslutely loving this, it's marvellous!

*whispers* I'm dreading the next bit though - so sad....

#154: Author: keren,

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:30 am

this is a great drabble and i am sure that you ahve changed everyones view of ML now

#155: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:39 am

Youve redeemed Mary-Lou entirely!
Very Happy

#156: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:02 pm

Thank you, Carolyn.

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

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 6:06 pm

Chapter Three

Mary-Lou waved goodbye to Verity and turned to walk back into the house alone. Mother was with Gran of course and Verity’s dad was taking her to the station to meet the rest of the school. Mary-Lou gave a huge yawn and decided to head back to bed. It was only mid morning, but she had been up since 5:00am and wanted to be fresh later when Gran may want her again. She kicked off her sandals as she walked into the bedroom and pulled the thin coverlet over her as she curled up on the bed. The past few weeks since she and Verity had been called back from Yorkshire had been tiring and an emotional strain for the young girl. Verity had been packed off to the round house to stay with the Russells and had come across every day to see how things stood, but Mary-Lou had been able to tell her little on the few occasions they had spoken for any length of time.

Gran was too weak now to leave her bed and a nurse had been employed to care for her, although Doris was doing as much as she was physically able to do. When her heart had begun to fail this last time she had known this was the end and had asked for Mary-Lou, taking comfort in the presence of her grand daughter. Doris, whilst concerned for Mary-Lou could not refuse her request and so Mary-Lou had returned from her holiday and was now delaying her return to school. Doris creeping into her bedroom a little while later saw her asleep and left her, and when Mary-Lou awoke it was to find a tray on the table in her room containing a glass of milk, some chicken and a small salad as well as a biscuit and an apple. Feeling slightly refreshed she fell to eating these with a vim and then brushed her hair, redoing her two plaits before seeking out the family.

“Ah, Mary-Lou, the Uncle Jem is with Gran at the moment, I think maybe you should take a turn round the garden while he finishes as Gran will want you after. Go and have a run before you come up please.”
“Yes mother, and thanks for the lunch,”
Mary-Lou ran off, a worried frown coming across her face. Jem Russell had not been in attendance every day, the local doctor was overseeing Gran, but knowing of their connection with the Russells he had called Jem in once or twice. Mary-Lou knew this, and was aware that his presence today signified that there was very little the doctor could do. Seeing Jem at the door she ran over,
“Uncle Jem,”
“Ah, just the person I was looking for, would you like to run up to your Gran now, I think she would like to see you,”
“How is she?”
Doris interrupted them at this point. “Have you had your run Mary-Lou, yes, well go on up now please, I will be up in a minute,”
Mary-Lou did as she was told, overhearing as she did the end of the conversation.
“She guesses you know Doris,”
“I know, and we have been honest with her, she knows this is the end, she could hardly think otherwise when we allowed her to stay at home.”
“I will come back this evening, shall I drop in on Ernest Howell for you?”
“Yes please, Roland and I do appreciate the trouble you are going to Jem.”
“You are welcome,”
Jem left with this and Doris turned to go back to her mother-in-law, glad that Roland had returned whilst Mary-Lou had been asleep. She needed his support today.

Mary-Lou meanwhile had tentatively opened her Gran’s bedroom door. The nurse beckoned her in and she went and sat in her usual chair at the side of the bed, where Gran could see her.
“Mary-Lou, are you feeling better after a nap?” the whispered words came quietly.
“Yes Gran, have you slept as well?”
“A little, now tell me more about this garden at school, you were telling me all about it before Verity came to say goodbye.”
Mary-Lou took up the tale and related some of the events of the previous term, telling Gran about the new girl Jo Scott who had become one of their gang, and about Emmerence falling off the cliff when collecting moss, she narrated the story with some care to lessen the effect of the terror they all felt at that time, having been warned on many occasions the past weeks not to excite the old lady.

Mary-Lou had been there around an hour, talking mainly of school when Roland put his head around the door to announce Ernest Howell arrival. Doris called Mary-Lou out, leaving Gran to speak with the vicar alone and to take communion, which the vicar had been bringing up to the house, as Gran had been too ill to attend church for some time now. While this was happening Doris and Roland took Mary-Lou outside and gently told her what Jem had told them earlier that day, that this was likely to be the last day Gran would see. Mary-Lou was still as they spoke, and then reached out silently to her mother and the two sat on the garden seat holding each other.

Doris and Roland insisted that Mary-Lou went back to bed after Rev Howell had left, although she did not sleep this time, being alert to every movement in the room down the corridor. Finally after insisting that she eat some supper they allowed her back into see Gran. The old lady appeared to have rallied after seeing the vicar and having another light sleep, but the nurse shook her head slightly, warning them that this was a last revival. The evening passed slowly. Gran would awake and want to see Mary-Lou, would whisper some reminiscence of her childhood, of her marriage, of her children to the listening girl, or ask a question about school, then would doze once more. Jem arrived in the middle of the evening and seeing the situation rang the Round House to say that he was staying there for the duration.

It was around midnight that Gran roused for the last time.
“Mary-Lou,” she whispered,
“Yes Gran,” Mary-Lou was instantly alert.
“Come here, I want to see you,”
Mary-Lou came and knelt at the edge of the bed, her grave face on a level with Gran’s.
“I am so tired dear, so tired,”
“Why don’t you have another sleep Gran,” Mary-Lou knew this was not the answer, but could think of nothing else to say.
“Not this time, not now. Mary-Lou, this is important. I want you to promise me something.”
“Yes Gran,”
“You must not fret, you know how much I have missed your grandfather, and my boys. I will see them again soon, very soon. You must not fret, promise me that.”
Mary-Lou gulped, but remained dried eyed. “I promise Gran, I will try.”
“I know. You are a good girl. I am so proud of you my dear. You are growing up so strong, so like your father.”
Mary-Lou blushed and tried as best as she could to blink back the tears that kept pricking at her eyes. Not now, she couldn’t cry now, not when Gran wanted her for the last time.
“It’s all right my dear, I know. You will cry tonight, tears come, but then remember me with happiness, I am ready to go now, I want to see your grandfather again so much, to tell him and your father how proud they can be of you.”
This time Mary-Lou could not stem the tears, they flowed silently down her cheeks as she knelt next to the bed, and Gran’s last act was to move her hand across Mary-Lou’s cheek, wiping the tears away.

#158: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 6:52 pm

Oh Carolyn, that was beautiful - I'm crying.

#159: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:34 pm

Sniff - reaches for the tissue box

Carolyn - I knew that that was how it had to be, but you expressed it so beautifully

#160: Author: keren1,

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:25 pm

me too, even though someone is trying to have a conversation with me at the same time

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

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:51 pm

So very beautiful, thank you

#162: Author: catherine, Location: York

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:59 pm

Thank you, Carolyn. That was simply lovely.

#163: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:06 pm

Thank you Carolyn, that was beautiful Crying or Very sad

#164: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:14 pm

That was so lovely. Can't say any more now.

#165: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:21 pm

beautiful thank you

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

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 11:04 pm

*sobs*
*mumbles about people who take away the tissue box and then post a beautiful but very sad piece of drabble and make you cry........*

#167: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 3:23 am

That was really beautifully done. Thank you

#168: Author: keren,

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 8:15 am

I enjoyed this

#169: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:30 am

ty Carolyn, its makes me cry in the books and you have added new depths and made me cry even more...... I love Gran

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

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 10:04 am

Thank you Carolyn, beautiful.

#171: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 10:08 am

That was very, very moving, Carolyn, thank you.

#172: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 4:30 pm

*agrees with everyone else*
*sniffles*

#173: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 7:48 pm

*sniffling* Beautiful.

#174: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:27 am

*also fighting tears*

Very touching, Carolyn and beautifully written

#175: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:14 am

*wades through a large pile of used tissues*

When do we get the next bit, Carolyn?

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

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 6:50 pm

Mary-Lou returned to school a few days later, the day after the funeral. She felt very strange as she walked about school. Part of her was still thinking about Gran, about what she could tell her, waking at the hours when Gran would normally call for her and finding that the cornflower curtains were confusing her. She acted, outwardly at least, as her normal self, but felt occasionally as if she was living two lives. There was the Mary-Lou involved in games and lessons and there was the Mary-Lou who still woke in the night wanting to speak to Gran.

She was awakened from this state by a request from Joey Maynard. Joey had met Mary-Lou earlier in the day and with an idea already half formed in her mind invited Mary-Lou to tea that same day. She realised how much Mary-Lou was missing her Gran, but also knew that Mary-Lou was the best hope of helping a girl she was concerned about. Joey had been told about Jessica Wayne’s situation by an acquaintance that knew the girls family. Joey’s thought had immediately gone to Mary-Lou as the person to help, a person who was in Jessica’s form, who had similar experiences and who had a way of looking at things that was more compassionate and more adult than some of her peers. This was due largely to the effort Mary-Lou had made to emulate her father and the influence of Gran.

Gran, this was the one point that had made Joey pause. She had seen how close the two had grown over the past years, and whilst she did not know Gran’s reasoning for wanting Mary-Lou’s company she could see the effect it had made on her and realised that Mary-Lou would feel her loss keenly. Was she right to place an extra pressure on Mary-Lou so soon after? The sight of Mary-Lou that morning wearing a single plait and looking grave and grown up decided her. She had spoken briefly of the events of the holidays and Joey, seeing her face cloud at the memory had changed the subject and decided there and then that she would give Jessica into Mary-Lou’s charge in order to jolt her out of her grief.

Mary-Lou lay in bed that night and recalled the conversation with her Auntie Joey. She had expected that lady to ask about Gran, about mother, and had certainly never expected the charge that had been given her. Her initial instinct had been to say no; to say that she didn’t want to look after someone else; she wanted looking after herself. She wanted to say no to the responsibility feeling that form and dormy prefect was more than enough this term when she really wanted none at all. She had stood at the wonderful picture window in the Freudesheim salon, looking at the Jungfrau, wrestling with these feelings. The image of Gran telling her about friendship all those years ago, and again telling her how proud she was of Mary-Lou, how she was like her father, and again making her promise not to fret came unbidden to her mind. She knew that Joey had purposely steered away from talking about Gran and guessed that this charge may be partly to keep her busy and stop her from grieving. ‘I suppose Auntie Joey knows best and wouldn’t ask me to do this if I couldn’t, if it wouldn’t be good for Jessica and for me. I can’t let her down; if I do “she’ll always feel disappointed in me. And I’ll feel a complete and utter pig for letting her down like that. Oh, hang!”’

Mary-Lou accepted the charge, with a good grace in the end as she realised that Joey was pregnant again and with her usual whole-hearted commitment threw herself into the job. She took charge of Jessica, arranging to be her partner on some of their walks, sitting with her in church, helping with her prep and including her as best she could. When Jessica was in trouble with Plato, Mary-Lou stood by her and ensure that the head knew the full story, taking all her courage in her hands to face the Head in her study and explain Jessica’s tone deafness to that lady, adding that she bore some of the responsibility for putting the singing teacher into a bad mood as she had made several errors herself. As term went on Jessica began to slowly thaw out and talk willingly to Mary-Lou about the problems she was having with her step family, allowing Mary-Lou to help her and at the same time settling down into the school, beginning to be part of the form and to enjoy the full life on offer to the girls at the Chalet.

#177: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:08 pm

oooo, a nice insight into ML

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

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:16 pm

Beautiful Carolyn!!
you may well be redeeming Mary Lou here!

#179: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:35 pm

Thank you Carolyn - still feel it was very unfair of everyone to expect her not to grieve - it's a natural process! Crying or Very sad

#180: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:38 pm

there's a difference between being allowed to grieve and being allowed to wallow.

But I love this ML, it's wonderful

#181: Author: Donna, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:55 pm

Thank you Carolyn - I had tears streaming down my face when I read about gran's death, and found it very difficult to stop. It was a beautiful piece of writing. You are giving us so much insight into ML and her family, and making it very easy to see how and why she developed.

#182: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:32 pm

angel wrote:

there's a difference between being allowed to grieve and being allowed to wallow.

Yes there is, but ML wasn't allowed to do either. And for a child of 14 that's hardly fair.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:51 pm

I agree that Joey doesn't really give ML a chance to grieve. But it happened so often in the books, where people never seemed to be allowed to come to terms with things.

Thanks for another wonderful post Very Happy

#184: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:13 pm

Thank you, Carolyn, this is beautifully written. I may even end up liking Mary Lou more Wink

I agree with previous comments that in CS Land people aren't allowed to grieve for their loved ones. While wallowing in grief is unhealthy, so is bottling it all up and being afraid to let it out. If I'd been at the School and lost a relative or friend I'd be frightened to show any kind of emotion, in case I was sent to Joey's for tea to sort me out.

Is it The Stiff Upper Lip taken too far by EBD, or just a reflection of the times that she was brought up in?

#185: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:21 pm

I think that was a reflection of life in those days though - an Age Concern booklet which was given to my mother mentions that before you can come to terms with a recent death you may find that you need to come to terms with an earlier one since feelings were not taken into account so much fifty years ago.

Wonderfully written Carolyn - I'm just finding it a bit difficult to respond at the moment.

#186: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:47 pm

Then again, the girls were encouraged to spend time in quiet contemplation both morning and evening, with the ten minutes for private prayer. There were definite times for quiet and reflection through the day, something that is very different from the hectic life that I led as a teenager.

#187: Author: Rebecca, Location: Kendal/Oxford

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:44 pm

Thanks for the last few posts Carolyn. Thanks to this, I'm actually starting to like ML again and that's no mean achievement!

#188: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:28 am

Excellent again - a much more sympathetic view showing the reasonings behind encouraging M-L to butt in

#189: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 5:44 pm

Thanks Carolyn.

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

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:30 pm

Joey sat at the side of the bed holding onto Mary-Lou’s hand and praying with all her might that the girl would wake soon and with her full senses intact. It had been three days since the accident that had seen Mary-Lou knocked unconscious by the sled containing Emmerence Hope and she still had not come round. Joey had gone to the San to be by her side as soon as Jack had told her of the incident. The fact that her own girl had been somehow involved had saddened Joey, and she had yet to hear the full story. It was guilt as much as love that kept her chained to the bedside. Her daughter had somehow been involved in the accident and the thought of what she may have to eventually tell Doris was going through her head as she sat there through the long hours. Jack and the other doctors were insistent that she sleep for some time each night, but she used the pull out bed in Jack’s office, refusing to leave the San until there was more news about Mary-Lou. The doctors had dressed the injuries but there was very little more they could do now but wait. Wait and see if the head injuries would lead to delirium and damage to her brain, and whether the injuries to her back had led to any lasting spinal damage. Joey sat at the bedside and waited, ignoring all other claims on her time, the poetry compilation she was writing, the new Bettany baby, her own expectations, the two sinners at school, all went out of her mind as she sat at the bedside and waited, hoping each night that morning would bring improvement.

The fourth day saw no more change, no improvement. Joey tried to continue to hope, after all there was no worsening of her condition either, but as time slowly passed it was harder and harder and she slowly began to play out conversations with Doris in her mind, wondering how she could break the news if Mary-Lou never recovered. Part of her knew that this would never be the case as Jack was in daily telephone contact with Roland Carey, but Joey was unable to control some of her fearful imaginings during those long hours as she waited with Mary-Lou.
“Joey, it was not Margot’s fault,” Hilda Annersley’s gentle voice broke into Joey’s reverie that afternoon.
“I know, Jack told me what they had said, but even so I need to be here. It may not have been Margot’s fault, but I am the closest thing to an Auntie she has. Doris is too ill to be even told about Mary-Lou, Roland can’t leave Doris or she would wonder what was wrong and Mary-Lou must have someone with her.”
Hilda paused, she suspected that this was a need of Joey’s as much as a need of Mary-Lou’s, but a determined Joey could rarely be talked round, even by Jack.

On the fifth day since the accident Mary-Lou recovered consciousness. She looked around in a daze, smiling when she saw Joey them grimacing in pain as she tried to move. The pain shot a wave of nausea through her and she promptly through up. Joey explained quickly that she was in hospital because of the accident and Mary-Lou was able to indicate that she remembered. Once Jack had escorted Joey out of the room he returned to find that Mary-Lou had complained of pain in her back and head and had moved both her arms and legs. He and the other doctors had a brief conversation at the end of the bed as the nurse administered some pain relieving injection to Mary-Lou. They agreed that the spine was not as badly injured as they had thought, that no major injury was visible, but they were concerned that inflammation may set up around the spine. They also knew that Mary-Lou would have a lot of pain to contend with and were unsure yet how she would deal with that.

Mary-Lou never told anyone that she had overheard that conversation. She knew that they had expected her to be asleep once more, but as she drifted off with the injections the nurse had given her she was aware that the doctors were concerned about her spine. Over the next two days she came around slowly, always in great pain, and always to dark thoughts. The room was well lit, and caught the morning sun, but to Mary-Lou in her current state of mind it appeared like a prison, and in her dozing she feared that she would be confined to bed for the rest of her life. In her pain and half asleep state she wondered if she would have the strength to face that life. She could not ignore the possibility and the pain woke her when she would rather be asleep and ignorant. For two days she faced with a silent desperate courage the chance that she had a long lasting injury to her spine. She knew that there was also a chance that she would recover with no lasting damage, but the pain and drug induced sleep made that chance seem remote.

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

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:41 pm

Very interesting to have more depth concerning this accident, and the personal views of both Joey and Mary-Lou. I admire the girl's bravery.

Thank you Carolyn

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

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:55 pm

Awwww!!! poor Mary Lou! She must have been so scared!!!

#193: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 9:07 pm

Thank you Carolyn, interesting seeing both M-L and Joey's thoughts.

#194: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 9:19 pm

I think we are getting a much better picture of how much children are aware of what is going on around them from this and also the current one about Robin as a Novice.

Children at that time were not 'consulted' or told very much about what was going on and it must have been scary for Mary Lou to have overheard and not be able to talk to anyone about it.

This is really good Carolyn and yet another insight into what made ML into OOAL!

#195: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 12:47 pm

This is very moving, Carolyn.

#196: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 1:58 pm

This is sooooo good! Excellent portrayal of ML's feelings, not to mention Hilda's insight about Joey.

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

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 4:09 pm

“Uncle Roland,” she whispered as she woke at noon on the third day since coming around, “I’m glad you’re here, is mother with you?”
Roland reached across and placed a hand on her shoulder, “You look better than expected Old lady, giving these nurses the run-around are you?”
Mary-Lou grinned, then groaned slightly as she turned to look at him properly, “I can hardly move, much less cause any trouble.”
“That will soon change, the doctors tell me they are very happy with your progress. You will be back on that sled before we know where you are, hey what’s the matter now?”
Tears had begun to roll down Mary-Lou’s cheeks unbidden as the tension and fear of the past few days overwhelmed her.
“Uncle Roland, will I really get better, better enough to walk I mean?” The question she had longed to ask yet feared the answer came at last.
Roland Carey looked down at the young girl, her head shaved, and swathed in bandages, dark circles under her eyes showing the pain she was in. It was with a gruff voice he replied, “Yes, there is no doubt about that now Mary-Lou, the doctors are sure you can make a full recovery, and I mean a full recovery. It will take time and they are not sure yet whether you will be fit for the start of next term never mind allowed out for Christmas, but you will recover.”
Startled by the tears that continued to flow he reached into his pocket and pulled out his huge pocket-handkerchief and passed it over to Mary-Lou who blew her nose and wiped her eyes before passing back a limp rag.
“Thanks dad,”
Roland knew the comment was not just a thank-you for the loan of his handkerchief and he resolved to have words with the doctors before he left to find out why Mary-Lou had been allowed to worry about her recovery. He did not let this slip however and simply pushed the handkerchief back into his pocket and said,
“Verity is waiting outside with Matron, I’ll go and bring her in as I have some news for you both.”

“Mary-Lou,” Verity tiptoed into the room, unsure of what she would see, but was reassured to be greeted with a smile. She did not notice the signs of suffering that her father had and was able to go back to school later that day and say that apart from the shaved head and the bandages Mary-Lou looked no different.
“Hi there, are you missing mending and prep for once?”
“Miss Annersley said that as father was here to visit you and wanted to bring me as well I could be excused for once. I only have a button to tighten and small hole in the toe of one stocking anyway.”
“You never seem to get the massive holes that I do.”
“Girls, I am afraid we don’t have much time and I have a lot to tell you. Verity pull up that chair please and come and sit down.” Roland broke into their conversation.
The two girls looked at him and waited, Mary-Lou remembering that he had said he had news for them.
“Mary-Lou, I know you are wondering why your mother has not come with me to see you, and why it has taken so long for me to arrive. She has had another serious bout of influenza. No, don’t worry, she is recovering now, but Dr Russell thinks she needs a change of air, a complete change and so we are making preparations to come our here for some months. Unfortunately we can’t be here in time for Christmas, as we would like, there is business that has to be settled before we can come for that length of time. Verity, you are spending Christmas at Freudesheim as we hope to be here a few days later and it is not worth you making the long journey for such a short time. Mary-Lou, if you continue to make a good recovery then the doctors may be able to let you visit Freudesheim for the day. That can be something for you to work towards. Mother and I will be staying at Das Haus unter die Kiefern till Easter probably.”

“It will be lovely to have you so close,” Mary-Lou said slowly, “But just how ill is mother, I mean, to be sent out here?”
“It is purely precautionary, she will be fine if we look after her, and being here means we can keep a closer eye on you when you pull stunts like this one as well,” he finished with a laugh.
“Dad!” the enraged shout came from both girls at once and he mocked a cower before bidding Mary-Lou goodbye and taking Verity back to school where he met Jack Maynard who drove him back to Interlaken where he would catch the train to Basle and his flight back to England. The entire visit took less time than a single leg of the journey.

#198: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 4:45 pm

the last line says so much.

Mr Carey must be worn out - he's still got the remnants of his own injuries.

Wonderful

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

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 5:28 pm

Great to see Roland and Mary-Lou, it was very lovely when she called him Dad.

Feeling a bit sad though about the foreshadowing of what is to come.

#200: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 7:24 pm