The CBB :: View topic - Auntie Pat's Christmas Drabble

#1: Auntie Pat's Christmas Drabble Author: CBB Secret Santa,

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:35 am

Pat Willimott was sitting at her desk, a paper hat adorning her head, skewed at a jaunty angle following the staff Christmas lunch. She watched as her colleagues disappeared into the vast recesses of the library, heralding their departure with a toot of her party popper. They should be gone for some time, she smiled to herself, not without some glee. After all, she had sent them on a wild goose chase to find a non-existent book so that she could be alone to indulge in her dreadful addiction before the festive holidays began. Pressing her Windows Explorer key she tapped her foot impatiently and rearranged the tinsel adorning her screen as she waited for the connection to be made. Accessing the internet for personal use was strictly verboten by “the powers that be” but she just couldn’t help herself. Her fingers were invariably drawn to the keyboard and there was never any need to type that magic phrase chaletian.co.uk/forum because invariably that was the last site she had visited.

Now she sighed deeply with satisfaction as the familiar brown background morphed into view. The fingers that had been beating an impatient jig on the desk relaxed. She was in! Looking hastily over first one shoulder, then the other, she confirmed that there was still no one watching her surreptitious activities, and clicked. As usual she was drawn instinctively into Cookies & Drabbles.

This was, without a doubt, Pat’s favourite forum. Not only did she enjoy reading other people’s drabbles but she also loved to write her own. She was renowned for being one of the most prolific and talented writers on the board. One of its foundation stones, she had been instrumental not only in producing lengthy drabbles herself but also encouraging the fledgling efforts of others. All respected and many envied her gift for changing the style and content of her writing. On many an occasion she had written fill-ins that EBD herself could hardly have bettered. A Trip to Niagara, Anna Escapes and The Chalet School Goes to Guernsey had been greeted with wide acclaim, the former two even finding publication with NCC Journal and FOCS respectively. These had successfully filled gaps that many had bemoaned were missing in the series and those that had been privileged to read Librarian felt it a travesty that it had not yet been published. Other drabbles had not been quite as canon but nevertheless Anna's Second Escape, More Shocks for the CS and Accident!, the inspired telling of Nell Wilson’s foray into tilting had delighted the board. Pat’s creativity was also responsible for such flights of fantasy as The CS in the 21st Century and The CS on Pern, which both thrilled their respective readerships, everyone enjoying a futuristic, tongue in cheek look at the Chalet School and/or a good crossover.

Pat or Auntie Pat, as many of the younger members of the board affectionately referred to her, was also in possession of a wicked sense of humour. Her infectious laugh had reduced many a CBBer to helpless giggles and her grinning face beamed from all the Gathering photos – well, all except the ones in which she was asleep! This sense of the absurd had stood Pat in good stead. Her doomed attempt at the slidey mat races during the first gathering may have knocked the confidence of a lesser character (after all, travelling backwards was hardly seemly!) but Pat had been the first to chuckle at her endeavours and this had endeared her to one and all. Of course, her ability to poke fun was not reserved for herself. Oh no, a number of CBBers had cause to wriggle with embarrassment or snigger reprehensibly at others as Pat had recorded their escapades for posterity, not least among these, RTW, Lisa_T, Catherine and Patmac.

Indeed, so adaptable was Pat’s style that many privately wondered whether she was one of the handful of CBBers who had alternative identities. So skilled was she in denying accusations and deflecting suspicion on to others that it was impossible to say. Very few knew for sure but a number suspected that she might be one of the CBB Triumvirate or even Uto, the scourge of gloaters, the latest mystery personalities to grace the board with their presence. After all, the triumvirate had to be established members because their request for information had been some months ago and Uto was clearly a regular member because of “his” comprehensive knowledge of drabbles and gloaters It was unlikely that Pat was both (goodness knows, surely one hidden identity was enough to cope with let alone several, although it could explain her more sporadic postings in recent weeks) but yes, there were significant suspicions in that direction. She was a definite contender.

Now, of course, Christmas was drawing ever nearer and she was intrigued as to the content of her own Secret Santa drabble. Most of the other CBBers who had joined the Secret Santa group had already had drabbles posted in their names and by the end of week 2, she had realised that she must certainly be in the third batch. She had enjoyed writing her own drabble but now that it was the final week, she was keen to find out what would be in hers. Would it be a straightforward fill-in from one of the books? A comical look at one of the key characters? Would she herself play a role? How Christmassy would it be? She had no idea and consequently was rather intrigued. She wondered about the author, too. Would Ellie have written her into Tensions and if so, what would be her fate? Would it be Lesley, in which case she might be left suspended, dangling from some fearsome cliff edge? Goodness knows what would befall her if Carolyn was the author, after their partnership on Hilda and Nell, anything might happen! And If RTW was involved there would doubtless be any amount of death and destruction, unless of course she decided to try a double bluff. Pat shook her head, oblivious to her paper hat dislodging and floating to the ground. No, RTW hadn’t been on the board much lately. Or Vikki or Kathye or Gem or Rachael or Claire or KB or ??? She rolled her eyes. Quite frankly, it could be anyone. She would have to wait and see and judge from the style and content itself, not that the ones that had already been posted gave much away.

Scrolling quickly up and down the page, she suddenly saw it: Auntie Pat’s Christmas Drabble. There it was, just waiting for her attention! Opening it quickly, she settled back in her chair, took a sip of her mulled wine and a munch of her mince pie, and began to read.

Merry Christmas, Pat! Santa

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

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:39 am

Oh lovely - waiting for Pat to see this.....

Laughing

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

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:03 am

Inspired, that should keep her guessing! Laughing

#4: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September)

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:29 am

Brilliant! ROFL

#5: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:50 am

Wonderful! Looking forward to Pat seeing this.

#6: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:52 am

*g*

Santa seems to know a lot about Pat!!

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

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 2:05 pm

Oh! HOW I wish I could be there to see Auntie Pat's face when she finds this!!!!!! Twisted Evil

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

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 3:15 pm

Excellent! Very Happy

#9: Author: Catriona, Location: South Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 3:53 pm

Really lovely!

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

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 4:36 pm

How funny ... I wish I could be a fly on Auntie Pat's wall when she reads this! Laughing

Well Done Santa Smile

#11: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:54 pm

Well one thing was wrong - I have the site saved on my Favourites at work!!!

I loved it! Thank you Santa. I had already guessed that you know me quite well! Laughing

#12: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:05 pm

Sorry for spreeing, but I do have a reason!! Twisted Evil

Once upon a time there were two little mice. They were very great friends, even though they didn’t live very close to each other. That didn’t matter as one of them was used to travelling miles during the course of a day. One was a normal mouse colour, with lovely dark brown fur, and the other was rather more unusual. Her fur was green! Not any green either - a bright, eye bending lime green. In fact she was sometimes called Lime-green Mouse.

They were both members of a very exclusive club. Only the very best mice were members and these two were well regarded by the rest of the members. In fact, Lime-green Mouse especially was considered to be expert at the club’s favourite occupation, though her friend wasn’t far behind her. Now some of you may think that this was writing! But think again! Have you ever met a mouse who could write? No! Their expertise lay in winding people up. Lime-green Mouse also enjoyed making her friends take running jumps from high surfaces and she stood and laughed as they bounced around at the bottom of the gigantic drops. Sometimes they tried to confuse their friends by pretending to be each other and talking in each others voice, and this had proved very successful in the past.

It was December, and the club had decided that it would run a Secret Santa leading up to Christmas, and give each other gifts, and this is where their love of winding people up came to the fore again. One of them had one of the older members of the club to be Secret Santa to, and the two wicked mice decided that this poor unsuspecting member of the club was a prime candidate for the said winding-up. So the gifts were sent, and they gave this member deep suspicions as to who her Secret Santa was. This was exactly what they wanted! So wicked were they, and so in love with winding people up! She thanked her Santa for the gifts, as did all the others who had received from other members of the club. One of the gifts was to be given for all to see, and they knew that she would be able to guess from this who her Santa was, for she had fell powers so to do. So they laid their plans very carefully so as to confuse this poor mouse as far as in them lay and they made it seem that one of them had gifted two different mice. But the other had (so far) gifted no one. Now this mouse knew, having fell powers, what they had done. She loved the gift, for it was cleverly wrought, and she laughed at the attempt to wind her up. And she decided that she would show her appreciation in the only way open to her. And this is why this tale is told.

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

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:45 pm

Wonder who you mean, Pat....

#14: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:48 pm

Why Lesley! That was a simple tale of two rather naughty mice. Nothing more! Rolling Eyes