Promises Made (SCS)
The CBB -> Cookies & Drabbles

#1: Promises Made (SCS) Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:25 pm


Chapter 1 -- A Surprise

At the sound of squawking, Kathie Ferrars and Sharlie Andrews both looked up from their respective piles of correspondence and stared at the third person in the office, Nancy Wilmot. That lady, no lesser person than the Head Mistress of the Chalet School in fact, was rapidly turning more wide-eyed than a junior middle on learning that French and German was spoken in lessons and out two days a week.

"Nancy?" Sharlie began.

"My dear what is it?" Kathie asked.

"It's a letter," Nancy finally managed, waving a hand in the vague direction of a couple of sheets of paper on the desk in front of her.

Kathie and Sharlie exchanged looks.

Patiently, Kathie said, "Nancy, we can both see it's a letter. What we meant is what's caused you to squawk like a broody hen?"

But Nancy was paying no attention. Instead she'd reached for the telephone. A moment later and her two colleagues learned that the recipient of the phone call was Joey, but even to Joey, Nancy merely said, "I believe you'll need to see this to believe this, Jo." And, after arranging for Joey's presence at Kaffee und Kuchen -- a meal that was no more than twenty minutes away -- the Head Mistress rang off.

"All will be revealed," she said simply.

And with that, Kathie and Sharlie had to content themselves as Nancy vanished from the study, on some quest or other.

"What," Sharlie finally said, "do you make of that?"

For answer, Kathie shrugged. "I suppose we'll find out in due course."

At that moment, Nancy returned, with Joey and Migi in tow -- the latter bearing the Kaffee tray. There was a pause while Migi settled the tray on the table and while Joey and Nancy seated themselves comfortably. Then, even as Nancy began to pour the coffee, Joey asked,

"I don't imagine you know what's bitten our esteemed Head Mistress?"

Sharlie shook her head. "You know as much as we do, Jo."

"Nancy?" Kathie prompted. "Do you feel able to explain?"

Nancy gave a chuckle at that. "I certainly do -- but be warned, this letter is quite the stunner." Then before anyone could comment on the quality of her English, she proceeded to read aloud:

Dear Madame

I am writing to you with regard to whether or not my granddaughter might find a place at your establishment.

She is aged eleven at this time of writing, her birthday being the sixteenth day of December. Her academic record is good -- I enclose details of her achievements thus far.

My health is now failing me. My doctor has told me of treatment that might help me, offered by the specialist hospital on the Gornetz Platz, and as I am Marie's only close family, I wish for her to be with me. Your establishment is a reputable school and one I would be honoured for her to attend. In fact, I know your establishment of old, though I can hardly say that I graced its halls in the two terms I attended it -- though at the time I believed otherwise.

"Great Scott!" Joey exclaimed cutting in. "It can't be!"

"Can't be what?" asked Sharlie frowning.

"But I thought..." Joey stopped and shook her head. "Nancy?"

"Shall I finish this?" Nancy asked, gesturing to the letter.

"It might be best," agreed Kathie. "Something tells me the rest of this story is worth hearing."

"And how," Nancy agreed. She turned back to the page and continued:

I doubt that there are many at the establishment who knew me then, though I fear that my name is known by even those staff who have joined since. I suspect that even given the lengthy history of your establishment, none have managed to so thoroughly fail it as I did -- and I know that it was I who failed you. I was provided with ample chance to change; to grow; to learn. I shunned them. I was a silly child and only when my own folly caused the death of my own mother did I realise that.

My life since then has not been easy. I was married young and left widowed and with child almost as young. My daughter and I survived the horrors of the Russian advance and were fortunate enough to make it to the American sector of Berlin. We survived -- and I know that we were lucky in that -- and in time, my daughter married. I thought then that perhaps the bad times had finally ended, particularly when Marie was born, but when Marie was but three years old, Wanda -- my daughter -- and her husband were killed in a plane crash, leaving Marie to my care.

"There are," Nancy finished, "a few more notes, and Marie's complete school record from her school. But that's the story in essence."

"But who is she?" Kathie finally asked.

"Obviously an ex-pupil," Sharlie mused. "And presumably one from the school's earliest days."

"If I'm right," said Joey pensively, "one from my final year as a pupil."

Nancy nodded. "It is."

Joey sighed. "Thekla von Stift." Seeing the blank looks on both Sharlie and Kathie's faces, she added, "The first girl to be expelled from this school."

Kathie winced. "And considering some of the people we haven't expelled, that says quite a bit."

"Which," said Nancy, "neatly brings me to the matter at hand. I remember Thekla -- or more accurately, I remember hearing from Gill Linton about some of Thekla's exploits. I also remember hearing a wild rumour about Marie von Eschenau..."

"If it was about Marie losing her temper and shaking Thekla," said Joey with amusement, "it's no rumour."

Nancy spread her hands. "I don't want to hold the grandmother's mistakes against the child, but...I also don't wish to borrow trouble by bringing in a potentially disruptive element to the upper third. It's a difficult year; many of them are starting at a new school..."

"On the other hand," said Kathie, "it's fairly clear that Frau..." she paused, unsure of Thekla's married name.

"She signs herself Schmitt," said Nancy.

Kathie nodded thanks. "Frau Schmitt is ill -- and is Marie's only family. If we don't take her, what happens to the poor child?"

"Also true." Nancy nodded.

"The upper third look likely to be a fairly level headed bunch," Sharlie put in. "I wouldn't mind the betting that young Maddy will make herself a force to be reckoned with; there's also some of the newly promoted lower third who are perfectly capable of keeping things in line. In fact, the upper third seems to be remarkably devoid of feather heads by way of a change this year."

Nancy nodded slowly. "Joey, you knew Thekla..."

Joey shook her head. "The Thekla I knew wouldn't have demeaned herself to write that letter. She's practically begging you to take Marie. I strongly doubt that you'll find any trouble with the girl."

 


#2:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:27 pm


Chapter 2 -- Term Begins

Maddy made her way from the third form Splasheries to the room designated as the upper third main form room. Thanks to a couple of previous visits, she walked with a confidence that belied her status as a new girl, and so it was that she became aware that someone was rather shyly tugging at her sleeve. She stopped to see a girl of about her own age with a thin face and a pair of long, blonde plats.

"Hello," Maddy began.

"Hallo," responded the girl, revealing herself to be German. "Entschuldige bitte, kannst du mir helfen? Ich bin neu hier und hab mich wohl verlaufen."

Under the torrent of rapid German Maddy quailed. She managed to pick out a couple of phrases and combined to the shy, slightly anxious expression on the other girl's face, she guessed the girl wasn't sure where she was supposed to be. "I can try," Maddy replied cautiously. "Do you speak English?"

"Nein, aber ich kann dich verstehen."

That, Maddy understood completely. "All right. Do you know what form you're in?"

"Ich denk', ich bin im oberen Drittel."

One of the first things Cecil had taught her was the German numbers, so she was reasonably sure the girl had named one of the third forms. Given that the girl looked the same age as Maddy herself, that made sense. "All right -- I'm in the third form too. We'll go together."

The girl smiled widely. "Schon gut. Danke schon."

"Bitte schon," Maddy replied, smiling back. "I'm Maddy."

"Ich heiß Marie," the girl said.

"What are you two kids doing chattering in the corridor?" enquired an imposing sounding voice.

Maddy uttered a small 'eep' and turned to find a very tall, broad shouldered girl looking down on herself and Marie with an amused but stern expression on her face and a small enamel shield on her blazer that bore the legend 'Games Prefect'.

"Well?"

"Um..." Maddy began.

The bigger girl's expression melted. "Are you both new?" Maddy nodded -- at which Marie gaped. "Do you know where you're supposed to be going?"

"I do," said Maddy. "Marie..."

"Ich bin neu hier und hab mich wohl verlaufen," Marie put in.

The Games Prefect frowned. "Are you boarding here?" Maddy shook her head. Marie nodded. "Hm -- do you know who your sheepdog is?"

"Helen Sheppard," Marie answered.

"And she left the dormie without you?" Marie nodded. "We'll soon settle this. Are you both in the upper third?" Two nods. "All right. Off we go, then." She started to lead them in the direction of the upper third main form room. "My name's Leah Sampson, I'm the Games Prefect," she continued. "And though I'll let you off now, there's not supposed to be any talking in the corridors." Maddy felt her cheeks burn hotly. In trouble on her first day! "Cheer up, kid," Leah said, as if reading her thoughts. "You're not in trouble -- just remember for next time."

At that point, they reached the form room and the conversation was perforce to end. Leah opened the door and ushered in her two charges. As there was still time before the bell rang, no mistress was present, so the noise level was predictably high.

Over the top of the babble, Leah picked out a pained, "Oh crumbs -- I must have left her behind!"

"Helen Sheppard," Leah said, easily cutting across the noise.

The speaker, a short child with a mass of untrainable curls, blanched at the tone. "Y-yes, Leah?"

"Your charge, I presume?" and the Games Prefect waved a hand in the direction of Marie. Helen nodded dumbly. "Do try to remember that you might have grown up at this school, but to people who are new, it's nothing short of a rabbit warren."

"Yes Leah." Helen was crimson to the tips of her ears now. "I'm sorry Marie."

Marie smiled. A placid little person, she realised Helen hadn't been malicious. "Schon Okay... macht nichts."

Having settled Marie, Leah turned her attention to her other charge, "Have you been assigned a sheepdog?"

"Um -- not yet. I don't think."

"All right -- kiddie, don't panic. What's your name? We'll soon sort this out."

"Maddy Entwhistle."

Leah blinked. The name Entwhistle tugged at her memory, though why for the life of her she couldn't think. "All right." Raising her voice to address the rest of the third formers, she said, "Has anyone been asked to sheepdog Maddy Entwhistle yet?"

There was a rustle, then a timid hand was raised. "Please, Leah -- I was supposed to meet her in the Splasheries...but I forgot." The owner of the hand looked sheepish.

Leah rolled her eyes, smiling all the same. "All right, Fiona. This is Maddy. Maddy, this is your sheepdog, Fiona Higman."

At that moment, the bell rang, signalling the start of the school day. Seeing that her two charges were safely delivered, and knowing that the form mistresses would be arriving any second, Leah judged it time to leave.

As she departed, the rest of the form turned on both Fiona and Helen for mislaying their respective charges.

"Really, you two!" exclaimed Ruth Johnson. Neither Helen nor Fiona said anything, but both looked thoroughly sheepish. "And you've both been here for absolute yonks, too!"

There was a loud bang on the Mistress' table, and suddenly you could have heard a pin drop in the upper third room as the entire form came to the realisation that their Form Mistress had arrived during the mêlée.

Miss Andrews had to bite down on the inside of her cheek in an effort not to laugh at the sudden air of mortification over the upper third. The scrum turned into a rather crowded, but seated form of thirty girls aged eleven and twelve.

"Good morning," she began. "After prayers, please would you all return to this room. Your languages assessments will be taking place this morning, while this afternoon, you will have games. After Kaffee und Kuchen, you will learn which of the three language streams you've been placed in." She paused to smile. "I wish you all the best of luck."

 


#3:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:38 pm


Great, Ray, it's good to see that you haven't lost your touch.
Cool Cool Cool

 


#4:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:56 pm


Thank you Ray - good to see this back! Smile

 


#5:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:58 pm


Yeah, this is back Very Happy

 


#6:  Author: RachelLocation: Plotting in my lair; sometimes in Hampshire, England, UK, Europe, Earth, Milky Way, Universe PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:24 pm


Looking forward to the rest of this very soon I hope Ray? Wink

 


#7:  Author: ChloëLocation: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:32 pm


Yay Ray's back so we get more story then Very Happy

 


#8:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:40 pm


What? You want more?! *grins*

I think I can manage that. I'm hoping to get chapter 3 out tomorrow or Wednesday. I'm also going to plot out the course for the story, so I should be able to give you a posting schedule this week, too.

Ray *already got chapter 3 blocked out*

 


#9:  Author: ChloëLocation: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:44 pm


That would be most appricated Smile thanks Ray

 


#10:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:47 pm


You're very welcome, Chloe (and everyone else, too Smile)

Ray *aiming to please*

 


#11:  Author: RachelLocation: Plotting in my lair; sometimes in Hampshire, England, UK, Europe, Earth, Milky Way, Universe PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:48 pm


Ray, I love the fact that you are brave enough to post your planned schedule! I never have a clue where my drabbles are going from one post to the next - in some ways it's a miracle I ever reach a conclusion!

If you require the services of a proof reader, feel free Very Happy

 


#12:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:50 pm


Laughing this story is great ..its nice to see it back! More please

 


#13:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:54 pm


It's either brave or very, very silly. But on the other hand, it does give me something to work to - which helps me to aportion my time between projects.

At least. That's the theory...

Ray *not entirely sure it works 100% of the time* *and thanking Rachel for the offer - I'll be in touch Wink*

 


#14:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:56 am


Ray, please tell me I've read some of this before, as it seems so familiar!

 


#15:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:23 am


Yay! Welcome back Ray!!
(And where have you been young lady?) Wink
KB, Ray had already posted this, but we lost it in the TEM attack!!!

 


#16:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:24 am


Ah, all becomes clear! Thanks, Vikki!

 


#17:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:38 am


You're welcome honey!! *kiss*

 


#18:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 9:18 am


Yes, this is a repost (I didn't know the TEM had got me, but it doesn't surprise me, either).

As for where I've been, Vikki, I've been having a nightmare two months with work. The project went live on Friday (THANKFULLY!!!), so my life can now safely return to where it was before - which includes CBB'ing Smile

Ray *on quickly just before she starts work on new stuff*

 


#19:  Author: Alison PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:05 am


Well, it's the first time I've read it and it's great! Looking forward to the next chapter!

 


#20:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:05 am


Ray wrote:
Yes, this is a repost (I didn't know the TEM had got me, but it doesn't surprise me, either).


Thanks, Ray! I'm glad I'm not going (too) mad!

 


#21:  Author: RebeccaLocation: Kendal/Oxford PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:34 am


This is great!

I'm looking forward to the next chapter, whenever that might appear.

 


#22:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 6:22 pm


*hopes it's soon!!* Parrot

 


#23:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:21 pm


*agrees with this hope*

 


#24:  Author: PatMacLocation: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:07 am


I didn't see the first posting so hooray for Ray!. More please.

PS Just noticed bad pun or whatever it was.

 


#25:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:17 am


Welcome back, Ray. Please may we have some more? Very Happy

 


#26:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 6:28 pm


Hoorah! Glad to see this back again; I loved the first two. reading

 


#27:  Author: ChloëLocation: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:03 pm


Please may we have some more soon Ray!

 


#28:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 2:45 am


Thank you for restarting this Ray. I really enjoy your Promise stories. Could we have some more please?

 


#29:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:35 am


Looking forward to more Ray! Smile

 


#30:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:42 am


More please, Ray!

 


#31:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 9:06 pm


*chants at Ray!*

 


#32:  Author: KateLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:03 pm


Ohhh, I liked this beginning, don't stop here!!

 


#33:  Author: ChloëLocation: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:56 pm


*joins the chant*

 


#34:  Author: MandyLocation: Derry, N.Ireland PostPosted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:57 pm


Ray this is great. I missed it the first time round.

*eagerly awaiting the next installment*

 


#35:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:21 pm


OK, so this was NOT what I had in mind when I said 'soon'. *sigh* *beats rl with a big stick again*

Here's chapter 3 - and my chapter 4 not take half so long!

~*~

Thekla

Reg looked over the case notes of his new patient -- the first to formally be his in this second stint at the Görnetz Platz San -- then peered through the little window and into the room to look at his patient. Frau Schmitt was sitting up in bed, her shoulders back and her head straight, the very model of Prussian haughtiness...except that the pose was only maintained by the raised bed and wedge-shaped pillow she was leaning against. The diagnosis her doctor had made was that of progressive muscular atrophy. It was, ultimately, an incurable disease -- Reg suspected she knew that -- and, what was worse, it appeared as if she had been resisting taking this treatment for quite some time.

He turned from the case notes to the personal history supplied. Born and brought up in Prussia between the wars, married to an officer in the German Army -- he was killed at Stalingrad, leaving her a widow with a one year old daughter. Managed to escape the Russian advance in the latter stages of the war and made it to the American sector of Berlin. Eventually settling in Munich with her daughter and husband. And, oh that was interesting, granddaughter was born in December 1963 -- that made the granddaughter almost exactly the same age as Maddy.

It was the granddaughter who had made Frau Schmitt resist treatment rather than any sense of Prussian pride. Marie Schmitt, it appeared, had no-one but her grandmother and she, in turn, had fiercely clung on to as much health as she could so as to provide for her granddaughter.

'And now that she's done her duty,' Reg finished, 'and seen Marie almost set until she reaches eighteen, Frau Schmitt is fading fast.'

Well, getting into a treatment regimen would help arrest that decline -- at least for a while. Reg nodded to himself. The sooner that was started, the better. Gathering his professional manner around himself, Reg entered the room and offered Frau Schmitt a smile.

"Guten Morgen, Frau Schmitt -- I'm Dr Entwistle," he began in German that had steadily been coming back to him since his return to Switzerland.

"Guten Morgen." Frau Schmitt gave a weak smile in reply and all at once ceased to be the haughty Prussian and became someone altogether nicer. "If it is easier for you, I do speak English, Herr Doktor."

Reg smiled in return. "German is fine." He tapped the notes. "I've been reviewing your case..."

"I am dying," she cut in matter-of-factly. "I know this."

Reg wished he could contradict that flat statement, but that was the situation. "True," he agreed quietly. "But there is much we can do for you here. Much that will let you live in good health for quite some time yet."

Frau Schmitt smiled again. "As long as Marie is safely cared for, the rest is but a bonus."

Reg set the case notes down and looked at his patient. "Does she know how sick you are?"

She sighed, smile fading. "No -- I...have hesitated in telling her. Already she has lost both her parents and we have no other close family...I do not wish her to be worried for me. I accepted the diagnosis when my doctor in Munich gave it to me -- and perhaps, but for the effect it will have on Marie, this is something that I have deserved."

"Frau Schmitt, this is nothing that anyone deserves," said Reg firmly. "And between us, while we can't beat it completely, we can certainly beat it into submission for a time."

She managed a smile. "I believe you, Herr Doktor. How do we begin?"

~*~

One, hectic, exam-filled morning later and Maddy sat down to lunch wondering whether or not this had been the best of ideas.

"Well that was this morning," said Helen as lunch was served.

"And ugh!" put in Fiona. "What a morning!"

"It's all right for you two," bemoaned Ruth. "You've been speaking the languages..."

"Only German," put in Helen.

"...since you could toddle," Ruth continued, ignoring Helen. "Some of us have only had a couple of term's worth."

"How did you get on, Marie?" Helen asked.

Marie, who like the rest of them, looked somewhat dazed by the concerted batch of exams, gave a shrug. "Ich weiss nicht, ich habe nie Französisch gelernt."

"And you don't speak English," commented Ruth.

Marie shook her head. In German, she explained, "My grandmother taught me to read English and has spoken it to me when I knew I was coming here, but I have not yet learned to speak it."

"How about you, Maddy?" asked Fiona.

Maddy shrugged. "No idea. I thought I was all right at French, but I'm not so sure now."

"And German?" asked Helen.

"I know a little bit to speak," Maddy answered. "But I don't know any grammar." She stabbed a slice of sausage on her plate with her fork and chewed it thoughtfully. "Can I ask a question?" For some reason, Helen and Fiona looked at each other and burst into giggles. "Did I say something funny?"

Ruth, who had presumably seen the reaction before, took pity on her. "The old Head Mistress here, Miss Annersley, was -- at least so say those two, and they should know -- dead set against the loose use of English."

Maddy and Marie exchanged looks. "And?" Maddy appealed.

"If you ask 'can' about something," Helen explained, still giggling, "you're asking if you personally can actually do it. If you ask 'may', you're asking for permission before doing something you already know you can."

"Oh." There didn't seem to be a lot more to be said. "All right. May I ask a question?"

Giggles more or less stifled now, Fiona nodded. "By all means," she agreed.

"Ruth keeps mentioning that you and Helen have been born here...I'm just wondering what you mean."

"Me also, I am curious," agreed Marie in her own language.

"My mother," Helen explained, "was one of the school's very first pupils -- can't remember if she was second or third -- and we live on the next shelf up, so I've been at the school almost as long as I can walk."

"Mine's another old girl," Fiona put in.

"One who was lucky not to be expelled," muttered another member of the upper third, interrupting in surly tones.

Fiona flushed a dull, embarrassed shade of red and said nothing more.

Maddy looked round to detect the speaker and found her gaze being drawn to someone with lank black hair cropped very short and lowering eyebrows.

"Oh, Megan put a sock in it," groused someone else.

"For pity's sake let it drop," put in Helen. To Maddy, she quietly explained, "That's Megan O'Rielly. Her mother's a famous journalist -- and another old girl of the school. Megan seems to think that gives her reason to have airs and graces; particularly over those of us whose mothers weren't quite so celebrated."

Maddy winced. She had been debating whether or not to say who her own mother was, but based on Megan's attitude, she decided to keep quiet a little longer. No sense in making an enemy just because of who your mother was. The trouble was, from the way Megan was now scowling in her direction, it looked as if she'd made one anyway.

 


#36:  Author: AngelLocation: London, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:30 pm


oh how wonderful.

Ray - this is great.

 


#37:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:35 pm


So glad to see some Ray as your writing is excellent.

 


#38:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:42 pm


*blushing* Thank you Angel and Carolyn - it's always a relief to know things work out, particularly after such gap.

Ray *also waving to Rachel and saying thank you to her, too for being my victi...err...test reader*

 


#39:  Author: PatMacLocation: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:28 am


Welcome back Ray and hope we get more of this soon (RL permitting of course Sad )

 


#40:  Author: ChelseaLocation: Your Imagination PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:35 am


Glad to see this ressurected.

*wondering who Fiona's mother is.

 


#41:  Author: pimLocation: the place where public transport doesn't work properly! PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:50 am


*Enjoying this and extremely curious*

 


#42:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:05 am


Who's Fiona's mum? All will be revealed...








...eventually Wink

(OK. More likely, next weekendish. Provided I don't go and end up spending another 13 hours asleep next Saturday!)

Ray *heading to bed now*

 


#43:  Author: pimLocation: the place where public transport doesn't work properly! PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:11 am


Sleep well!

*Sits down patiently to wait for next weekend*

 


#44:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:04 am


Ray wrote:
Who's Fiona's mum? All will be revealed...








...eventually Wink

(OK. More likely, next weekendish. Provided I don't go and end up spending another 13 hours asleep next Saturday!)

Ray *heading to bed now*



Oooh! sounds like your saturday was a bit like mine!!!
Thank you for coming back to this! I've been missing Maddy!

 


#45:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 7:50 am


Excellent! Glad there's more of this. Thanks Ray!

 


#46:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:31 am


I'm so glad to see more of this story! I love the mystery of who is whose daughter...

 


#47:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:41 am


Fiona's mum will *probably* be revealed in either the immediate next chapter or the one after that. (I'm not planning on prolonging that little mystery too much!) Megan's mum, however...heheheh...

Ray *Twisted Evil *

 


#48:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:42 am


Megan's Mum is Amy Stevens, isn't she?

 


#49:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:44 am


*giggles*

So far away from the answer. So very, very far.

Ray * Twisted Evil Twisted Evil *

ETA Having thought about it - and on the off chance that someone does guess the right answer; if you want to guess, you're better of pm'ing me - I will tell you if you're right, and if you're wrong, I will post up who it's not. Make sense?

 


#50:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:52 am


Surely if someone does guess it, you can just not reply.

 


#51:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:01 am


I *could* - but I'm honest

*listens as crickets chirp*

I am!

Ray *as pure as the driven slush*

 


#52:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:03 am


Ahem. Yes, dear...

 


#53:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:30 pm


This is good, Ray, but pleeeeaaaase post some more.

 


#54:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:41 pm


*echoes Jennie's words*

 


#55:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:50 pm


*agrees that more would be much appreciated*

 


#56:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:50 pm


More will be forthcoming - hopefully later on this week.

And provided all the characters condiscend to talk to me...

Ray *was all set to start writing this afternoon and inspiration calmly walked off out of the door...*

 


#57:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:52 pm


*suggests calling a locksmith*

 


#58:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:54 pm


Locking the door to keep inspiration out?!

Why on EARTH would I want to do...

...oh, you mean preventing it from escaping in the first place.

Ah.

Hm.

Good idea.

Anyone know any 24 hour locksmiths?

Ray *pondering*

 


#59:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:59 pm


*offers Ray the Yellow Pages*

 


#60:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:01 pm


*long-suffering sigh* Yes, Ray, I meant keeping it locked in.

 


#61:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:05 pm


OK, KB - did see the original post, but I'll let you off Wink

Ray *pondering more* *and thanking Catherine for the yellow pages*

 


#62:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:08 pm


Thank you. And how on earth are you being that quick?

 


#63:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:11 pm


You're very welcome Smile

I have my browser permanently stationed on Cookies and Drabbles so each time I get a notification that something's been updated, it's just a page click away. (That plus my emails download every five minutes...)

Ray *not obsessed, just tightly focussed and hoping for some more from Lesley tonight*

 


#64:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:14 pm


Oh, okay. Still, this part of the board is loading more slowly than the rest of the board!

 


#65:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:17 pm


That would be a perk of having a decent broadband connection Smile I'm finding it's loading faster than the website I was posting to earlier (which was driving me nuts because it kept timing out on upload *sigh*)

Ray *been busy* *no, not THAT kind of busy*

 


#66:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:19 pm


That would definitely help!

 


#67:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:37 pm


Really enjoying this Ray! Are the previous installments somewhere in the drabble archive? I think I've read one of them, how many are there?

 


#68:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:42 pm


There are two previous installments, I Promise (my shot at redeeming Reg as a character) and Promises Kept (which was set 12 years later). Promises Made then follows up Promises Kept.

Both I Promise and Promises Kept are up in the drabble archive, and I will be putting them up in a just-story-minus-the-yibble tonight over at fanfiction.net (if I can find a suitable category to put them up in).

I'll post the ff.net urls when they're done - can a friendly neighbourhood mod post the archive links please?

Ray *off to fight with ff.net again*

ETA Boy, I didn't realise how literally I meant 'fight' there... *sigh* Ah well. I shall cease moaning as I succeeded in the end:

I Promise - http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1735684
Promises Kept - http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1735699

Happy reading, I'm off to lie down in a darkened room after that mamouth bout of posting...

 


#69:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:22 am


Welcome back Ray, I'm so happy to see more of this story, I hope RL takes a back seat for a while. couldn't stand another three month wait.

 


#70:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:51 am


No, neither can I! *sends Ray bottles of anti-RL spray*

 


#71:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:23 am


*sprays liberally around the office*

That should do it Smile

Ray *really, really not planning another three month gap*

 


#72:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:32 am


*very, very glad to hear it!*

 


#73:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:50 pm


Welcome back Ray. It's so nic eto see more of Maddy and the others.

 


#74:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:57 pm


Thanks for the links Ray, have caught up and am now eagerly waiting for more!

 


#75:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:30 pm


*looks expectantly at Ray!*

 


#76:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:36 pm


Yes?

You want more drabble?

Let me finish writing the complete and utter humiliation of one of my characters (what can I say, I have some masochistic readers...wait, why am I telling you guys this? You're some of them!) and then I will see what I can do; but no promises...

Ray *trying not to wince at her own pun*

 


#77:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:44 pm


Haw, haw, haw!

And it's fine for you to enjoy the story by yourself, but when do we get to see it?!

 


#78:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:48 pm


*puts hands on hips*

KB, keep that up, I won't even look into writing more tonight Wink

Ray *The Fink*

 


#79:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:50 pm


Well, that's your choice of course, dear.

 


#80:  Author: ChloëLocation: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:52 pm


Thanks Ray i just caught up, this is as wonderful as ever! Very Happy

 


#81:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:20 pm


You're very welcome, Chloë Smile

Ray *amused* *notes that you know when you've really arrived in a fandom when people start referring to your work and assuming it's canon for the fandom...* *will explain for anyone interested, via pm*

 


#82:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:31 pm


Ray, stop being mysterious and write (and post) more of this! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?

 


#83:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:39 pm


Sorry - I am working on it. The stuff I'm being 'mysterious' about is non-CS related (hence not giving the full story). If you do want the whole story, I'll give it - but it's got no bearing on Promises Made Wink

Ray *describing hockey*

 


#84:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 5:25 pm


We'd rather have some more of 'Promises Made', Ray. Hope the work situation has stayed calm.

 


#85:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 5:34 pm


More Promises Made for definite. Hopefully tonight (having run a hockey training session yesterday, I have plenty of fodder for it!).

Ray *plotting*

 


#86:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 5:36 pm


Don't know whether that bodes well or not, will have to wait and see.

 


#87:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:03 pm


Anything that means more story is a good thing.

 


#88:  Author: MarianneLocation: Bournemouth PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:36 pm


Excellent!
More please!!

 


#89:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:32 pm


Is it time to chant yet?

 


#90:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:43 pm


Yes I think it is! Shall I begin?
*Chants for more*

 


#91:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:57 pm


I thought Ray said tonight. Was I mistaken?

 


#92:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 8:37 am


*checks*

I did mention last night - but did also say hopefully. I got side tracked into moving a bed (long story). I'm about half done on it, but it won't now be up until Sunday (sorry folks, but I need to get 2500 words [minimum] written by Saturday evening and that's going to take all my concentration [based on the way the opening paragraph has taken me three days {!} to write]).

Ray *grovelling*

 


#93:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 8:37 am


Well, tonight is over and done, so it's definitely time to chant, if it wasn't before!

 


#94:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 8:39 am


See above, KB Wink

Ray *hunting up her ear plugs*

 


#95:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:03 am


*thinks Ray should indeed be grovelling*

Hah! Disappointing your audience like that!

 


#96:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:08 am


I know, I know. But believe me, the people who'll be mad at me if I don't get this 2500 word stuff done are bigger and scarier than the collective might of the CBB and they all know martial arts...

Ray *forever in fear of her readers*

 


#97:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:12 am


You mean there are people scarier than myself and Rachel? Wow!

 


#98:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:17 am


Yup. They're called Power Rangers fans...

Ray *writhing hard* *to borrow a favoured typo...*

 


#99:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 11:11 am


Well if you love Crying or Very sad your power rangers people more than Crying or Very sad you love us Crying or Very sad Crying or Very sad so be it. Crying or Very sad

Will hope for a morsel of your time soon. Sad

Wink

 


#100:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 11:36 am


*wonders where the guilty smily is*

It's not that I necessarily like them more, just that firstly, they're dangling off a fairly horrendous cliff (one of the central characters is in ICU, another is missing, a third's blind, a fourth's just been told that his father's died and there was a large explosion at the end of the last story...oh, and there's an incurable virus that's about to start being lethal), secondly, this has been a scheduled/planned story since September 2002 (yes, I plan well in advance), and thirdly, some of them (as I've mentioned) are FAR more scary than even Rachel the Quidditch !

On the upside, I *think* I've finally got underway properly on the 2500 words required for tomorrow. If I can get it done today (between now and 5pmish) then I'll be able to get back to Promises Made.

Ray *will do her best and saints can't do more*

ETA So that you know what I'm actually supposed to be doing and when, I've revamped my status page and will put the URL into my sig line. http://www26.brinkster.com/warkstf/status.htm


Last edited by Ray on Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#101:  Author: KathyeLocation: Laleham PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:37 pm


Ray this is wonderful I went back and read the first 2 parts on the fan fiction site and the scene were Reg is remebering Len dying and he promises to her, had me in tears, thats the first drabble to do so, so Congratulations, and I love what you've done with the characters its so more what I had imagined them to be like as adults, and even Joey is just as I'd imagined. Thank you, Thank you, thank you

This has definitely just gone straight to my no 1 favourite drabble spot Wink

 


#102:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:43 pm


*blushing*

Thank you Kathye - very glad you like it Smile

Ray *chuffed*

 


#103:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:36 pm


Hope the other work goes well so we can have some more of this drabble, Ray.

 


#104:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:51 pm


*huggles Ray, and hopes the writing goes well, spo we get more story.....*

 


#105:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 10:32 pm


Didn't mean to make you feel guilty. I just love this story.
Sorry.

 


#106:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 10:35 pm


It's OK, Carolyn - wasn't having a particularly good day on Friday.

I do have more written, but writer's block's been messing me around this weekend so I'm not completely finished (and I need a second opinion on what I do have before I show it publically).

Ray *still writhing hard*

 


#107:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 10:37 pm


*huggles Ray!!*

 


#108:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 10:40 pm


*Huggles Ray* Heart

 


#109:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 10:42 pm


Ray *huggles both Carolyn and Vikki* * Kiss Kiss Kiss *

 


#110:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:48 am


Oh - I thought there was more. Sad

 


#111:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 11:46 am


*huggles Ellie* Sorry for the false alarm. However, here IS the next installment (and many thanks to Rachel for the help Wink)

~*~

Some Surprises

After the pressure of the morning's exams, the games lesson, by contrast, was much more fun. Hockey was new to all of them, so they were all starting off from an even footing. After taking a head count, Peggy Burnett, ably supported by Leah Sampson and sundry others of the prefects, split the class into groups of five. Each prefect took a group to a different section of the hockey pitch and began to instruct their charges in the mysteries of pushing and dribbling.

Maddy, Helen, Ruth, Fiona and Marie managed, by hook or crook, to be in the same group, which happened to be the group Leah was taking charge of. The kindly Games Prefect gave the quintet a smile as she joined them.

"Not managed to mislay you again?" she said to Maddy and Marie while winking at the rapidly blushing Helen and Fiona. "It's all right you two," she added, "no need to rival Karen's tomato soup."

"We didn't mean to," Helen mumbled.

Leah smiled in friendly fashion. "I know, kiddie -- I'm only teasing. All right. Maddy, if you trot over to Miss Burnett and collect us five balls, I'll show you how to dribble."

Maddy did as she was bidden and shortly the quintet were making their first stab at the most basic of hockey skills. When Leah judged that they'd about got the hang of that, she paired the group off, making up the numbers herself by pairing with Marie, and began to instruct them in the mysteries of pushing. That proved to be much harder. All five found it difficult, at first, to get the ball travel the yard between partners -- it didn't seem to matter how much effort they put into the activity, the ball seemed to only bobble and wobble its way over a handful of inches before being brought to a halt by as little as a blade of grass.

"And you make it look so easy!" wailed Fiona.

Leah chuckled. "That was what I said when I first started out. It just takes practice..."

"Heads!"

The cry went up from another group. Leah looked round and realised, to her horror, that someone had managed to so undercut a hit that they had sent the ball flying wildly in her own group's direction. Shouting her own warning, she pulled Marie into an inelegant duck, and the ball sailed through the space that the young German's head had occupied only moments before.

The ball landed a couple of yards away and looked harmless once more. Leah picked herself up from the grass and then saw to Marie, who looked thoroughly shaken.

"Kiddie, are you all right?" she asked in English. At Marie's non-comprehending look, Leah repeated the question in German.

"I...am not sure," Marie answered shakily. "Ich glaube..." Then her legs gave way and she sat back down on the turf. "Nicht sehr gut."

Leah glanced round and saw that Miss Burnett was occupied with the culprits. Looking back at her group, all five of them looked shaken, though Marie was obviously the worst off. She nodded to herself and took a decision. "All right. Maddy and Fiona -- can you help Marie in and take her to the San. She's had a nasty fright. Helen, Ruth, if you collect the balls -- including that stray one -- and take them back to the pile, you can go in and get changed, then go to the Junior Common Room; Maddy and Fiona can join you after the visit to the San -- I'll come in to you in a minute."

Relieved but still visibly shaken, the quintet of juniors departed, Maddy and Fiona carefully helping Marie, whose legs were still inclined to be shaky.

'Now I wonder who it was that miscued that,' Leah pondered as she headed towards Miss Burnett.

"Everyone all right?" the teacher asked.

"Shaken," Leah answered. "It was rather close. Poor Marie Schmitt was nearly brained -- and she knows it."

Miss Burnett's mouth settled into a grim expression. "Megan O'Rielly swears it was accidental."

Leah grimaced at the name. For only having attended the school a year, Megan had already managed to manufacture quite a name for herself as a bad-tempered and occasionally spiteful girl. Given she was a beginner hockey player it was possible it was accidental, but all the same...

"What have you done with your group?" Miss Burnett continued.

"Marie's been taken to the San -- I didn't like the way she'd turned so pale," Leah answered. Miss Burnett nodded. "The others I've sent to the Junior Common Room -- I'm going to go in and give them a rules session to finish games off."

Miss Burnett smiled. "Good idea. It will take their minds off it."

With the approval of the mistress, Leah headed indoors her mind furiously wondering what Marie had done to be on Megan's bad side so early in the term, if that was the case. 'This bears watching,' Leah noted to herself and resolved to keep more of an eye on the doings of the Upper Third this term than she would normally do.

~*~

After taking Marie to the San and to the gentle care of Matron Henschell, Maddy followed Fiona back down to the changing rooms.

"Who do you suppose hit it?" Maddy wondered.

Fiona shrugged expressively. "It could have been an accident." Then a thoughtful expression overtook her face. "But it did come from Megan's group."

Maddy pulled a face. "Would she really do that?"

Fiona offered a bitter sigh. "She would." Maddy hesitated a moment, sensing that there had clearly been some bad blood between Fiona and Megan at some point. "You might as well know," Fiona continued with a sigh, "my mother was Emerence Hope..."

"My Auntie's best friend!" Maddy exclaimed before Fiona could finish.

Fiona goggled. "Who's your Auntie?"

"Margot Maynard," Maddy replied, a little abashed at having interrupted.

Fiona smiled widely. "That must mean you're another of the school's granddaughters...like me and Helen." Maddy nodded. "Wizard!" Then Fiona frowned. "How come you haven't been here before this?"

Maddy sighed. "It's a little bit complicated. You see my mummy died when I was born...and my daddy and my grandma...had a bit of an argument," she explained.

Fiona looked sympathetic. "Oh, poor you." She gave a quick hug. "Mine was determined that she wouldn't make the same mistakes with me that my grandparents made with her -- so I started here when I was eight. It's not so bad," she added with a smile as Maddy gasped. "Mum and Dad live in Geneva so when I was a little girl," and Fiona said this with all the emphasis implying that she was very much older than that now, "I used to see them every other weekend."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Maddy agreed.

"Tisn't," Fiona agreed. "And I met Helen and Ruth in my first term -- so it's been lots of fun..." Fiona's smile faded. "Well, mostly."

"Apart from Megan," said Maddy shrewdly.

Fiona nodded. "She found out who mum was within a week of starting -- mum was one of the naughtiest girls in the school; she told me that herself -- and just..." She shrugged expressively again. "The teachers came down on her for it but..."

"It still goes on," Maddy finished. "She doesn't sound like a very nice person...and they tend to come to very sticky ends."

Fiona giggled. "Where did you get that idea from?"

"My Auntie," Maddy replied. "She said that was what she used to hear quite often herself."

Still giggling, the pair finally left the changing rooms to head for the Junior Common Room.

Unnoticed, in the corner of the changing room, Megan O'Rielly's habitual frown deepened. How dare they talk about her like that! Well they'd pay. They would all pay -- starting with that stuck up little prig of a cousin...

 


#112:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 12:57 pm


This is great, Ray, a real school story.

 


#113:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:09 pm


Is Megan related to Maddy then, Sybil or Josette's daughter maybe? Or is it Fiona? I thought she was related to Joyce Linton and had hit the ball at Marie because Thelka was her gran... Can we have some of the issues resolved please?

 


#114:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:25 pm


*chuckles*

Patience, Caz, patience; the term is but very young Wink

Who, precisely, Megan's cousin is will become clear.

Eventually Wink

Ray * Twisted Evil Twisted Evil *

 


#115:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:30 pm


Thanks Ray, that was really enjoyable and very CS, worth waiting a few weeks for Wink
Looking forward to seeing the story develop.

 


#116:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:05 pm


Thank you for posting Ray! It's a lovely chunk, but please come back and post more soon!!!

 


#117:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:11 pm


It's great to have more of this story! I do love it!

 


#118:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:34 pm


*blushing*

Thank you, KB and Vikki

More is in the works - with a little luck and a little hard work, it should be up by next Sunday.

Ray *writhing hard once more*

 


#119:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:41 pm


Are you writhing or writing Ray? I do hope the strain of writing this drabble and all our chants for more haven't affected you that much.

 


#120:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:45 pm


*grins* Writhing hard is one of those typos that I see on an all too frequent basis, AND its alter ego, writing hard. One you get in 'normal' stories; the other you get in smut fiction (which is possibly more unfortunate!)

Ray *collects typos*

 


#121:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:54 pm


Perhaps if you write too much, you will writhe...

 


#122:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:06 pm


Well - I do tend to writhe when I get writing-related dreams...does that count? Wink

Ray *they should possibly more correctly be called nightmares than dreams*

 


#123:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 11:03 pm


Thanks Ray, waiting patiently for the next bit.

 


#124:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 3:00 am


*waiting impatiently.....*

 


#125:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 3:56 am


Also waiting patiently.
(After all, I have "the patients of a saint," according to one of those student evaluations. Rolling Eyes )

 


#126:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:57 am


Well, you won't QUITE need that for this drabble - I promise.

Chapter 5 is nicely taking shape and should be all ready to post on Sunday.

Ray *off to work*

 


#127:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:15 am


Yay! Can't wait til Sunday now, hope Ray doesn't disappoint us but I'm sure she won't Laughing

 


#128:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:04 am


Kathy_S wrote:
Also waiting patiently.
(After all, I have "the patients of a saint," according to one of those student evaluations. Rolling Eyes )

So what miraculous healing ability do you have, Kathy?

 


#129:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 9:13 pm


Roll on Sunday. Cool

 


#130:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 3:23 am


*pins up big chart to count down the hours until Sunday........*

 


#131:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:53 am


Ray *starting to worry more than somewhat and deciding that PR fans are less scary than the CBB...*

 


#132:  Author: KathyeLocation: Laleham PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:55 am


Does that mean we might get it before Sunday Wink

 


#133:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 11:02 am


No-o - probably not; but I have even more incentive to not be late!

Ray *MUST stop yibbling and do some work...* *otoh yibbling is more fun...*

 


#134:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 11:23 am


*wonders what could be used to ensure we get it*

 


#135:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 3:04 pm


I'm sure you can think of something suitably threatening, KB.

 


#136:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 3:28 pm


Just to give you some ideas of what's been tried by the PR mob:
1) The kidnap of my cats (please, be my guest; you can feed them and give them their tablets/flea spray...)
2) Spanish inquisition torture instruments (pain, shmain - besides; if you kill me you'll never get any more!)
3) Chewing my monitor (fine, destroy the monitor; won't get you any more written Wink)

Ray *not suceptible to threats* *try bribery...*

 


#137:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:14 pm


Well, we could make you have 'english tea' with Jo......

 


#138:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:28 pm


Ray *ponders whether this is threatening enough* *decides nope*

 


#139:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 5:06 pm


Ray, Vikki didn't identify which version of Jo she meant!

 


#140:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 5:14 pm


I was presupposing she meant the drabble version.

I can assure you, I'm equal to that challenge!

Ray *bring it on Smile*

 


#141:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 5:32 pm


Even the worst incarnation we have comeup with Ray. I meant the drabble versions - EBD's is too tame to use as a threat. Some of ours aren't though!! Twisted Evil

 


#142:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 5:42 pm


I still maintain I am equal to that task.

Why does no one try to bribe me instead?

Ray *not incorruptible*

 


#143:  Author: KathyeLocation: Laleham PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 6:31 pm


How about not force feeding you eclairs at the Gathering !!!

 


#144:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 6:37 pm


Does that mean you WILL force feed me eclairs at TG? (Not going to complain on that front!) Or you WON'T let me have eclairs at all? (My waistline thanks you in advance!)

Ray *unperterbed*

 


#145:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 7:07 pm


Surely someone can come up something that will scare Ray.

 


#146:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 7:08 pm


Nope - I am unscarable.

Ray *try bribing me...*

 


#147:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 8:03 pm


*has a vague feeling that perhaps Ray wishes to be bribed*

 


#148:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 8:20 pm


*chuckles*

I'm just saying that bribes may work better than threats.

Ray *of course, you'll have to hit the RIGHT bribe...*

 


#149:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 8:47 pm


*rolls eyes and gives up*

 


#150:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:58 pm


KB, haven't you got the perfect bribe? Save her having to wait for GGB?
*Looking for that innocent smiley again!*

 


#151:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 11:01 pm


Well, that would be KB's early version guarenteed, but what about the rest of you? Wink

Ray *ducking and running*

 


#152:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 1:35 am


Ray thank you for the lovely chunk of story.

Waiting patiently for Sunday.

 


#153:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:40 am


Pat wrote:
KB, haven't you got the perfect bribe? Save her having to wait for GGB?
*Looking for that innocent smiley again!*


That's true, Pat, but what happens if she has something I want more and I've already used it?

 


#154:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:43 am


Thank you, Susan Smile

And very good point, KB...

Ray *wondering*

 


#155:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:56 am


Thank you, I thought so.

 


#156:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 2:16 pm


Thank you for what you have already written, Ray, and I shall look forward to seeing more on Sunday.

 


#157:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 7:12 pm


Ray it's Sunday and there's still no more drabble, when do we get more?

 


#158:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 7:14 pm


Give or take a little luck; in about two hours' time.

Just pulling it together at the moment Smile

Ray *will have posted by 9pm gmt*

 


#159:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 8:32 pm


An hour and a half to go........
*sets timer*

 


#160:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 9:53 pm


And with about five minutes to spare...

Settling In

The rest of the day was trouble free as far as Maddy was concerned. The rules session Leah conducted in the Common Room was entertaining and it convinced her that she was going to do her level best to get the hang of hockey – it sounded like a lot of fun. After that, it was time to hear how well she had faired in the various language assessments. Here, she wasn't to be surprised. As she'd expected, she had been placed in the 'c' strand, as had Marie. Fiona and Helen had both made the 'a' strand while Ruth had achieved the 'b' strand – to her surprise.

"I didn't think I'd done that well on French," she confided, "and it can't have been for my German!"

It was a bit of a blow, Maddy decided, to be split up from the other three, but they would be together in games lessons, prep and in their free time – which was at least something. The other fly to the ointment was that Megan had also been relegated to the 'c' strand.

All in all, Maddy reflected as she made her way back to Freudesheim for Abendessen, the day had gone pretty well.

~*~

After that first, tumultuous day, life settled rapidly into a pattern as far as Maddy was concerned. Her days were filled with classes, sports and other school pursuits, while her evenings – once prep was completed – were spent alternately learning more French or German and learning more about her mother.

Then there was the bright scheme she and Marie had hatched between them. Given that Marie's real weak point was spoken English, and Maddy knew next to no German, they quickly evolved the method by which, on walks and rambles – and any other occasion they could – Marie would endeavour to speak nothing but English, while Maddy would attempt nothing but German. It was difficult to start off with, but by half term, the results were obvious by the great strides forward both had made in the two languages.

Between all that and the rapidly blossoming friendship between Maddy, Marie, Ruth, Fiona and Helen there was little time for worrying about Megan who, after that first day, was almost surprisingly quiet. On the few occasions when Maddy did have the chance to contemplate it, she did worry about what the other girl was going to do next. For a wonder, though, she didn't even consider mentioning it to her father. If she had done, the mystery would have all been unravelled and the whole of the Upper Third would have been spared a great deal of excitement, but at this point, with the term so young, Maddy was not to know that.

Megan, for her part, plotted and brooded silently. She knew that whatever she did, it would have to be careful, not least because the Games Prefect seemed to have developed an alarming tendency to following her around, and before she could do anything, she did need to work out exactly which cousin Maddy was. She hadn't over heard enough of the conversation to be entirely sure – Maddy and Fiona hadn't been talking loudly and neither possessed voices that were exactly clarion – so it would take some effort. At that, she grimaced. She loathed the idea of putting effort into anything – most especially anything that resembled work – but on the other hand, getting back at her cousin, whichever cousin she proved to actually be, held enough of an appeal for her to decide that putting the effort in was worth it.

She could, she supposed, write to her mother and ask, but the chances were, she wouldn't know. Her mother had most effectively cut herself off from the rest of the family at around about the time Megan had been born. So that left her scrabbling for other sources of information. And here, ironically, her prefect watchdog, Leah, provided the answer. On one of the rare occasions when Leah wasn't watching her like a hawk, Megan found herself ideally positioned to eavesdrop Leah and the Second Prefect, Irina Kubiak. She knew eavesdropping was wrong, and had been all but prepared to own to her presence when the prefects came into the reading room, then she heard the name Maddy Entwhistle, and wild horses couldn't have dragged her from her seat.

"I tell you," Leah was saying, "I'm sure I ought to know Maddy Entwhistle from somewhere."

Irina chuckled. "How long have you been at the school?"

"Ree, talk sense," Leah admonished.

"I am," Irina answered. "How long have you been at the school?"

There was a pause. Megan guessed that Leah was working it out, for presently she said, "I'm not entirely sure – ten or eleven years, I think; I know I was a wee babe when I started – mums was in the San for treatment so it was easier for me to come here for kinder than anything else. Why?"

"There was a languages teacher here," Irina replied. "I think you'd have just about been here before she died, though she wasn't teaching by then. Trescha remembers her though."

"Ree?" Leah queried. "You're still not making sense, dear."

Another pause, in which Megan could imagine the Second Prefect was rolling her eyes. "The languages teacher is – was – Maddy's mother. Len Entwhistle – Mrs Maynard's eldest daughter."

The two prefects said more, but the important information had seared itself into Megan's brain. So that was who Maddy was. A slow smile that would surely have had Leah on her track like a long dog stole across Megan's face. If that was who Maddy was, then revenge was going to be very, very easy.

 


#161:  Author: ChelseaLocation: Your Imagination PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:09 pm


Not liking the sound of this. But enjoying the story Laughing

 


#162:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:11 pm


Oh interesting! Nasty Megan! Evil or Very Mad

 


#163:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:13 pm


Thank you Smile

Yup, Megan is not a nice little person - but kinda fun to write Smile

Ray *Smile*

 


#164:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:35 pm


Do we know which cousin Megan is, and which the other cousins are?

Thanks for this Ray.

*worried about Maddie*

 


#165:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:39 pm


*chuckles*

Well *I* know all the familial relationships - you guys...will have to wait until probably chapter 7 or 8 before that finally becomes untangled.

Ray *laying out her plot*

 


#166:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:40 pm


Thank you, Ray!

Please don't say we'll have to wait another week for the next bit!!

 


#167:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:41 pm


Any chance of a little preview, just for me, Ray?

 


#168:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:44 pm


I don't like the sound of Megan. But I am intrigued as to who her mother is and why she is cut off from the family.

 


#169:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:52 pm


As, at the moment, I haven't even got a chapter title (!) for chapter 6, sorry Wink

Far as posting the next chapter goes, it's liable to be Friday; so not quite a week.

Unless I get a really sudden burst of inspiration...which does happen, occasionally!

Ray *slightly distracted by a strange noise*

 


#170:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 11:19 pm


Confuzzled!

What strange noise?!!

 


#171:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 11:19 pm


Ray, thank you honey!!! Looking forward to the next bit!!!!!

 


#172:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 11:24 pm


catherine wrote:
Confuzzled!

What strange noise?!!


Someone I was chatting with suddenly went EEEEEP! right in the middle of me writing the last post, hence I was distracted by a strange noise (it proved to just be that she'd forgotten to feed the cat and the cat had made a judicious use of her claws to remind her owner!) - but very disconcerting.

Ray *no-longer distracted*

 


#173:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 12:05 am


Thanks Ray! Who is Megan's Mum, I was thinking Margot but realised she's a Nun-Doh! What about Con though, or Felicity or Cecil or Phil? Where are they? Can we have some clues please? Laughing

 


#174:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 10:12 am


There are clues, lying around - between this and Promises Kept.

NB As far as Cecil and Phil go, given that Maddy, Megan and Marie (yes, that's deliberate!) are all in the 11-12 range, they'd both have been going some to have daughters that old! (Cecil is in her mid 20s; Phil is 19/20)

Ray *not dropping hints but very firmly ruling out the two youngest*

 


#175:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 1:08 pm


Ray, stop teasing us! We just want the rest of the drabble, that's all.

 


#176:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 1:18 pm


Sorry - I'm not intending to tease (though if people keep asking me questions about plot points I am bound to respond in an agravating fashion Wink)

More a little later this week. Promise.

Ray *hard at work*

 


#177:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 1:39 pm


RL or drabble writing?

 


#178:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 2:22 pm


Actually a little bit of everything. I'm supposed to be writing a holiday website, I'm *actually* writting some smut (which will finish off another of my long standing projects) and I plan to be writing more Promises Made a bit later (probably this evening, seeing as I have all my lists and files at home rather than at work).

Ray *multitasking*

 


#179:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 2:34 pm


Ray are we allowed to guess? Cause I want to guess! Laughing

 


#180:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 2:36 pm


You are allowed to guess. I'm under no compunction to tell you the truth on the thread, though - so if you REALLY want the answer, you'll have to PM me (I don't want to end up spoiling it for people who don't want to guess).

Ray *Smile*

 


#181:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 3:20 pm


Thanks Ray, another story I missed last night - still, at least I won't have quite so long to wait until the next chapter.
I think I can guess who Megan's mother is, but I'm probably wrong, I usually am, and I don't really want to know yet anyway.

 


#182:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 3:26 pm


Thanks Ellie Smile Glad you enjoyed it.

Ray *working hard to make sure she gets everything done*

 


#183:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:51 pm


Felicity?

 


#184:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 6:42 pm


I want to know but don't want to know at the same time! Do you know what I mean? It's the waiting that's the hard part but then when you find it out it spoils the story so I'll just have to try and be patient I guess!

 


#185:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 7:23 pm


Caz: I know exactly what you mean. Look on the brightside; by the end of March (or somewhat sooner than that if I can), all will be revealed. Promise.

Jennie: *grins* *contemplates fingernails for a few moments* *grins more* I'll PM you my reply.

Ray *aware she may now be viewing her life in seconds*

 


#186:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 9:45 pm


Seconds is rather overstating your life expectancy, Ray.

 


#187:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 9:49 pm


I PM'd the answer Wink

And I did say I was under no compunction to answer on thread Wink

And I would just point out that if you kill me now you won't ever get to know the final answer!

Ray *hurridly retreating from the CBB to write the next installment*

 


#188:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 11:35 am


Ray can we have some more of this please? Very Happy

 


#189:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 11:52 am


I would very much like to oblige you, Cazx (and everyone else!), but there's a fairly good reason why, at the moment, I can't (and it's not because I've got the gathering cold - although I have and right at this moment, my head feels like it's stuffed with cotton wool):

I've had a small sparkling purple leaf for a while now for a workable, publishable novel, but until recently, it's been fairly nebulous - just a few ideas, nothing coherent. On Wednesday night, in casually chatting with a friend of mine, the idea dropped into focus, to the point where I started writing it there and then. The following morning, I realised that if I was going to really do it justice, I was going to need to give it my full attention and that was going to mean putting most of my fanfiction work on hold until I've got Bandit Country (the novel) done.

The only exceptions to this fiat are Fire and Ice (which is virtually finished) Five by Five (which isn't, but which I'm in the middle of posting) and Promises Made (which is also not nearly finished, but is also in the middle of posting).

So I am still working on Promises Made, but it will probably take me some time to get the next installment out. I hope that you can understand my switch of focus and I hope you'll bear with me on this. It does also mean I'm not going to be hanging around the CBB all that much for the next few weeks or so.

For anyone interested in seeing how Bandit Country is progressing, I'm putting updates up in my Live Journal, which I've just put in as a link in my sig line.

Many thanks

Ray *nervously going for it*

 


#190:  Author: ChloëLocation: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 11:56 am


Thanks for the update Ray Smile

 


#191:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 12:00 pm


Good luck Ray in writing your novel! Take as long a time out from Promises Made as you need to, I understand how hard it is to write more than one story at once. Since I started Fleur I've neglected my baby (not a real baby but a literary baby called "The Red and the White") shamefully! That will be getting my full attention over easter!
Hope your novel gets published Very Happy

 


#192:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:54 pm


Good luck Ray. Hope the words keep flowing.

 


#193:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:33 pm


Best wishes for the novel Ray.

 


#194:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 9:17 pm


Take all the time you need for something like that Ray. Hope you do well with it.

 


#195:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 11:48 pm


Good luck with the novel Ray!
I'll try and wait patiently!!!! Wink

 


#196:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 12:27 am


Don't let the strain of being patient wear you down ickle niece. We know how hard it is for you, dear!

 


#197:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:03 am


Well, you know how it is! I've been set such a bad example by my dear Auntie Pat.........

 


#198:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 8:19 am


At least Pat finishes her stories, Vikki!

 


#199:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:17 am


Thank you, KB!

 


#200:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:49 am


*lol* You're very welcome!

 


#201:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:52 pm


Good luck with the novel Ray!

 


#202:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:57 pm


Thank you - everyone Smile

Vikki: *huggles* Hopefully you won't have to be *tooooooo* patient Wink

Ray *Smile*

 


#203:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:43 am


KB wrote:
At least Pat finishes her stories, Vikki!


So you don't want me to post the new bit of New Family I've written then?





















(once I've typed it up that is.....)

 


#204:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:54 am


Good luck with the novel Ray, hope you do get it written and published. I'll buy it.

And Vikki, no one will believe yu have written more unless you post it!

 


#205:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 4:44 am


Well I've written some, but I have to type it up!

 


#206:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:40 am


Vikki wrote:
Well I've written some, but I have to type it up!


Like Ellie says we will believe it when we see it typed and posted.

 


#207:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 11:14 am


Yes, Vikki, you have to prove yourself!

 


#208:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:09 pm


You've written more Vikki Surprised *keels over with shock*

 


#209:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:22 pm


Best of luck with the novel, Ray. I hope your characters behave better than mine do.

 


#210:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:23 pm


*huff*
*scowls at everyone*

 


#211:  Author: pimLocation: the place where public transport doesn't work properly! PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:33 pm


Oooh, good luck with the novel Ray!

 


#212:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 9:20 pm


Vikki wrote:
*huff*
*scowls at everyone*



Vikki, could you post it please? I'd really like to read some more. Thank you. Smile

 


#213:  Author: ChloëLocation: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:18 pm


Good luck Ray!

Vikki go type it up then!

 


#214:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 11:32 pm


Sarah_L wrote:
You've written more Vikki Surprised *keels over with shock*


She didn't actually say that, Sarah...

 


#215:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:25 pm


Again; thank you Smile

It's early days with it, but so far, the characters are definitely behaving themselves and the only problems I've got is having the energy and/or time to write it all down.

These things work so much better if you're not expected to spent your entire afternoon programming mail forms (don't ask) or sneezing...!

Ray *Smile*

 


#216:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:51 pm


Aw! *huggles Ray*

 


#217:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 1:16 am


Poor Ray. Hopes it all works out. DId a bit of the sneezing myself this afternoon

 


#218:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 10:05 am


Well, I'm now hale and hearty once more, I've even fixed toothache issues that wrecked last weekend, and, whats more, I have a new installment of Promises Made for you. Don't know when the next one will be ready - probably a couple of weeks. For anyone wondering about the novel, I've more or less got four chapters written (though one of those is actually for later on in the story!) and I'm hoping to get number five done this weekend.

Happy reading for now Smile

Ray

~*~

Settling In

The rest of the day was trouble free as far as Maddy was concerned. The rules session Leah conducted in the Common Room was entertaining and it convinced her that she was going to do her level best to get the hang of hockey -- it sounded like a lot of fun. After that, it was time to hear how well she had faired in the various language assessments. Here, she wasn't to be surprised. As she'd expected, she had been placed in the 'c' strand, as had Marie. Fiona and Helen had both made the 'a' strand while Ruth had achieved the 'b' strand -- to her surprise.

"I didn't think I'd done that well on French," she confided, "and it can't have been for my German!"

It was a bit of a blow, Maddy decided, to be split up from the other three, but they would be together in games lessons, prep and in their free time -- which was at least something. The other fly to the ointment was that Megan had also been relegated to the 'c' strand.

All in all, Maddy reflected as she made her way back to Freudesheim for Abendessen, the day had gone pretty well.

~*~

After that first, tumultuous day, life settled rapidly into a pattern as far as Maddy was concerned. Her days were filled with classes, sports and other school pursuits, while her evenings -- once prep was completed -- were spent alternately learning more French or German and learning more about her mother.

Then there was the bright scheme she and Marie had hatched between them. Given that Marie's real weak point was spoken English, and Maddy knew next to no German, they quickly evolved the method by which, on walks and rambles -- and any other occasion they could -- Marie would endeavour to speak nothing but English, while Maddy would attempt nothing but German. It was difficult to start off with, but by half term, the results were obvious by the great strides forward both had made in the two languages.

Between all that and the rapidly blossoming friendship between Maddy, Marie, Ruth, Fiona and Helen there was little time for worrying about Megan who, after that first day, was almost surprisingly quiet. On the few occasions when Maddy did have the chance to contemplate it, she did worry about what the other girl was going to do next. For a wonder, though, she didn't even consider mentioning it to her father. If she had done, the mystery would have all been unravelled and the whole of the Upper Third would have been spared a great deal of excitement, but at this point, with the term so young, Maddy was not to know that.

Megan, for her part, plotted and brooded silently. She knew that whatever she did, it would have to be careful, not least because the Games Prefect seemed to have developed an alarming tendency to following her around, and before she could do anything, she did need to work out exactly which cousin Maddy was. She hadn't over heard enough of the conversation to be entirely sure -- Maddy and Fiona hadn't been talking loudly and neither possessed voices that were exactly clarion -- so it would take some effort. At that, she grimaced. She loathed the idea of putting effort into anything -- most especially anything that resembled work -- but on the other hand, getting back at her cousin, whichever cousin she proved to actually be, held enough of an appeal for her to decide that putting the effort in was worth it.

She could, she supposed, write to her mother and ask, but the chances were, she wouldn't know. Her mother had most effectively cut herself off from the rest of the family at around about the time Megan had been born. So that left her scrabbling for other sources of information. And here, ironically, her prefect watchdog, Leah, provided the answer. On one of the rare occasions when Leah wasn't watching her like a hawk, Megan found herself ideally positioned to eavesdrop Leah and the Second Prefect, Irina Kubiak. She knew eavesdropping was wrong, and had been all but prepared to own to her presence when the prefects came into the reading room, then she heard the name Maddy Entwhistle, and wild horses couldn't have dragged her from her seat.

"I tell you," Leah was saying, "I'm sure I ought to know Maddy Entwhistle from somewhere."

Irina chuckled. "How long have you been at the school?"

"Ree, talk sense," Leah admonished.

"I am," Irina answered. "How long have you been at the school?"

There was a pause. Megan guessed that Leah was working it out, for presently she said, "I'm not entirely sure -- ten or eleven years, I think; I know I was a wee babe when I started -- mums was in the San for treatment so it was easier for me to come here for kinder than anything else. Why?"

"There was a languages teacher here," Irina replied. "I think you'd have just about been here before she died, though she wasn't teaching by then. Trescha remembers her though."

"Ree?" Leah queried. "You're still not making sense, dear."

Another pause, in which Megan could imagine the Second Prefect was rolling her eyes. "The languages teacher is -- was -- Maddy's mother. Len Entwhistle -- Mrs Maynard's eldest daughter."

The two prefects said more, but the important information had seared itself into Megan's brain. So that was who Maddy was. A slow smile that would surely have had Leah on her track like a long dog stole across Megan's face. If that was who Maddy was, then revenge was going to be very, very easy. The temptation was to start on her course straight away, but just now people were still watching her. Give them a week or so more to relax. Then look out!

 


#219:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 11:23 am


Nasty! Poor Megan will face the consequences at some point though!

 


#220:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 11:32 am


On Sun Feb 29th Ray wrote:
Ray wrote:
And with about five minutes to spare...

Settling In

The rest of the day was trouble free as far as Maddy was concerned. The rules session Leah conducted in the Common Room was entertaining and it convinced her that she was going to do her level best to get the hang of hockey – it sounded like a lot of fun. After that, it was time to hear how well she had faired in the various language assessments. Here, she wasn't to be surprised. As she'd expected, she had been placed in the 'c' strand, as had Marie. Fiona and Helen had both made the 'a' strand while Ruth had achieved the 'b' strand – to her surprise.

"I didn't think I'd done that well on French," she confided, "and it can't have been for my German!"

It was a bit of a blow, Maddy decided, to be split up from the other three, but they would be together in games lessons, prep and in their free time – which was at least something. The other fly to the ointment was that Megan had also been relegated to the 'c' strand.

All in all, Maddy reflected as she made her way back to Freudesheim for Abendessen, the day had gone pretty well.

~*~

After that first, tumultuous day, life settled rapidly into a pattern as far as Maddy was concerned. Her days were filled with classes, sports and other school pursuits, while her evenings – once prep was completed – were spent alternately learning more French or German and learning more about her mother.

Then there was the bright scheme she and Marie had hatched between them. Given that Marie's real weak point was spoken English, and Maddy knew next to no German, they quickly evolved the method by which, on walks and rambles – and any other occasion they could – Marie would endeavour to speak nothing but English, while Maddy would attempt nothing but German. It was difficult to start off with, but by half term, the results were obvious by the great strides forward both had made in the two languages.

Between all that and the rapidly blossoming friendship between Maddy, Marie, Ruth, Fiona and Helen there was little time for worrying about Megan who, after that first day, was almost surprisingly quiet. On the few occasions when Maddy did have the chance to contemplate it, she did worry about what the other girl was going to do next. For a wonder, though, she didn't even consider mentioning it to her father. If she had done, the mystery would have all been unravelled and the whole of the Upper Third would have been spared a great deal of excitement, but at this point, with the term so young, Maddy was not to know that.

Megan, for her part, plotted and brooded silently. She knew that whatever she did, it would have to be careful, not least because the Games Prefect seemed to have developed an alarming tendency to following her around, and before she could do anything, she did need to work out exactly which cousin Maddy was. She hadn't over heard enough of the conversation to be entirely sure – Maddy and Fiona hadn't been talking loudly and neither possessed voices that were exactly clarion – so it would take some effort. At that, she grimaced. She loathed the idea of putting effort into anything – most especially anything that resembled work – but on the other hand, getting back at her cousin, whichever cousin she proved to actually be, held enough of an appeal for her to decide that putting the effort in was worth it.

She could, she supposed, write to her mother and ask, but the chances were, she wouldn't know. Her mother had most effectively cut herself off from the rest of the family at around about the time Megan had been born. So that left her scrabbling for other sources of information. And here, ironically, her prefect watchdog, Leah, provided the answer. On one of the rare occasions when Leah wasn't watching her like a hawk, Megan found herself ideally positioned to eavesdrop Leah and the Second Prefect, Irina Kubiak. She knew eavesdropping was wrong, and had been all but prepared to own to her presence when the prefects came into the reading room, then she heard the name Maddy Entwhistle, and wild horses couldn't have dragged her from her seat.

"I tell you," Leah was saying, "I'm sure I ought to know Maddy Entwhistle from somewhere."

Irina chuckled. "How long have you been at the school?"

"Ree, talk sense," Leah admonished.

"I am," Irina answered. "How long have you been at the school?"

There was a pause. Megan guessed that Leah was working it out, for presently she said, "I'm not entirely sure – ten or eleven years, I think; I know I was a wee babe when I started – mums was in the San for treatment so it was easier for me to come here for kinder than anything else. Why?"

"There was a languages teacher here," Irina replied. "I think you'd have just about been here before she died, though she wasn't teaching by then. Trescha remembers her though."

"Ree?" Leah queried. "You're still not making sense, dear."

Another pause, in which Megan could imagine the Second Prefect was rolling her eyes. "The languages teacher is – was – Maddy's mother. Len Entwhistle – Mrs Maynard's eldest daughter."

The two prefects said more, but the important information had seared itself into Megan's brain. So that was who Maddy was. A slow smile that would surely have had Leah on her track like a long dog stole across Megan's face. If that was who Maddy was, then revenge was going to be very, very easy.



Question Am I missing something?

 


#221:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 2:41 pm


I'm not sure what you're talking about Catherine - that's the whole installment. It posted all right as far as I can see. Unless you're talking about Megan's little evil bit at the end, in which case, all will be revealled in due course.

Ray *puzzled*

 


#222:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 4:19 pm


Ray, I thought there was lots more drabble!
Oh well, glad your novel is going ok Very Happy

 


#223:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 4:51 pm


You got a full chapter! I only ever post a chapter at a time Wink

Thanks, Caz Smile

Ray *wandering off to do some work*

 


#224:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 5:04 pm


Ray, when do we get the next bit?

 


#225:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:47 pm


Ray, hon, I thin k what Catherine was getting at was that you've already posted this chapter on the 29th of feb!!!!

 


#226:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:57 pm


What???!??

When the **** did I do that?!

I have absolutely no memory of doing that and nor did my file look as if it had been posted.

Ray *starting to wonder if she's losing it*

 


#227:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 9:06 pm


Vikki wrote:
Ray, hon, I thin k what Catherine was getting at was that you've already posted this chapter on the 29th of feb!!!!


Thanks Vikki! That's exactly what I was getting at! Sorry, Ray, I shouild have explained myself better! Embarassed

 


#228:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 9:21 pm


ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL

 


#229:  Author: VikkiLocation: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 9:53 pm


*giggles, and offers Ray some valium!*

 


#230:  Author: PatMacLocation: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 10:29 pm


*g* Poor Ray! Stuck in a time warp?

 


#231:  Author: XantheLocation: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 10:47 pm


*thinks the solution is for Ray to post lots and LOTS more* Wink

 


#232:  Author: Tassie_EllenLocation: Tasmania, Australia PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 9:31 am


Xanthe wrote:
*thinks the solution is for Ray to post lots and LOTS more* Wink


*agrees with Xanthe*

*smiles hopefully at Ray*

*snuggles down on the couch with a quilt and prepares to wait patiently*

 


#233:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Redcar PostPosted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 12:09 pm


I was sure I'd read that before.

 


#234:  Author: KatLocation: Swansea PostPosted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 7:27 pm


Just read this right through - really enjoying it so far Ray, just very confused as to who is related to who and who is who's daughter/grand daughter (yup, I've confused myself as well as you!)

And it really confused me with the double posting! But thanks anyway! Very Happy

PS *looks inquisitive* more?

 


#235:  Author: DotLocation: Ireland PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:16 pm


This is part three, Kat. Read them and you can sort things out.

Links

Part 1

I Promise

Part 2

Promises Kept

 


#236:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:15 pm


Yes, but where's Ray to give us some more drabble?

 




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