Revenge?
The CBB -> Cookies & Drabbles
#1: Revenge? Author: CBB Secret Santa,  PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:22 pm

Although not dramatic, and certainly not requiring additional Staff or help from a nearby San, the Welsen finishing branch of the Chalet School experienced a little influenza outbreak, during its second year in the Oberland. During the month of November, when the first snows of Winter had already fallen, and the pine trees planted thickly around Das Haus Unter Die Kiefern had already scattered one medium size avalanche. Almost all the Staff and Students of the Finishing School fell victim to a nasty, but luckily short-lived epidemic, the infection being wholly indiscriminate, making no concession for class, rank or status. It attacked everyone from the youngest kitchen maid, to the Headmistress herself.
Not that Miss Wilson considered that she should have been spared, at least, not because of her elevated status. Though she had hoped that it would pass her by as she had a great deal of work to do. However the virus obviously had no sympathy for those wishing to work and, when Miss Wilson awoke one morning with a sore throat and the start of a headache, she groaned inwardly,
‘Not today!’ she thought, while rising and performing her normal swift toilet. Sat at her dressing table she pulled a brush through her hair, noting, as always, that underneath there were still traces of the original copper tones. ‘I’m not going to be able to hide it, either!’ Her face, normally with a healthy skin tone, today showed itself to be pale, her grey eyes sunken. ‘Perhaps I can just get through today,’ she thought furiously, ‘I have two interviews for new pupils this morning and a meeting with the local dignitaries about the Pantomime this afternoon. I must try to get through today, then I’ll take a day or two off and rest.’
The fact that she was intending to hide her condition, was in fact doing precisely what she had sternly warned the entire School and Staff Room, not to do, was not lost upon her. She smiled at her reflection, with a thought to the classic The Water Babies, ‘Instead of Mrsdoasyouweredoneby, I’m Missdoasisaynotasido!’
The day at Welsen started quite well, Matron Rider reported that three more students had succumbed but that four others were sufficiently recovered to return to some easy work. It was hoped that, by the weekend, most people would be well once more. Gertrude Rider did ask if Miss Wilson were feeling well, but backed away when the Head turned to her with a look of some surprise and disbelief. Miss Wilson promised that she would apologise to Gertrude that evening, she knew that had they still been with the main School she would never have been able to intimidate Matey!
The Head made her way to her Study, once there she noticed that Miss Culver, who had missed Fruhstuck, was looking very unwell, she sent the young Secretary to bed. The morning went reasonably well, though Miss Wilson struggled to retain her temper in the face of some truly ridiculous questions from some of the parents of girls hoping to attend the following year. By lunchtime though it was obvious that she was struggling. Attempting to pretend to the Matron this time did not work; Gertrude Rider had obviously been in contact with her colleague at the Chalet School.
“I don’t care what you say, Nell Wilson, you are going to bed right now,” Matron Rider was slightly flushed at addressing the headmistress thus, but stuck to her guns. “You are going to bed, with a hot water bottle, some warm milk and a dose. You leave your suite before tomorrow morning it had better be because the place is on fire! And if you ever try something like this again I’ll get Matey down here!”
“Now that’s just being nasty!” Miss Wilson said, and it was obvious that the virus had a good hold of her, her voice was high and croaky. She allowed herself to be taken back to her suite of rooms and settled in bed. After drinking the milk and one of Matron Rider’s patent ‘doses’, she then snuggled down under the covers with a comforting hot water bottle. She acknowledged she felt a little better and fell immediately into a deep sleep. Late that afternoon Matron Rider returned, “How are you feeling now, Bill?”
“A little better,” Miss Wilson replied, “and yes, I know I should have said first thing, I’m sorry Gertrude.”
“Never mind, now I’ll bring up another dose for you tonight and I want you to stay in bed until it’s light. I’ll see you after Fruhstuck, see if you are fit to work. You’ve got to look after yourself, you know the girls are hoping to perform the Pantomime for we Staff in a few days time, they will be terribly disappointed if you have to miss it.”
“You don’t think we’ll need to postpone it? Because of the flu?”
“No, the effects are only lasting two days at most, and normally by the second day people are well enough to return to work. That is if they rest properly!” She ended sternly but with a twinkle. The absolute despot of the Welsen Finishing Branch submitted meekly to the rebuke.
The following morning, at first light, saw Miss Wilson awake. She felt a lot better, although her voice had subsided to a hoarse whisper and she was still a little light-headed. However, in comparison to the day before she felt much improved. She got up and got washed and dressed, confident that Gertrude would clear her for light work today. Looking outside while brushing her hair she saw that it was snowing once more, not a great deal, but enough that the dancing flakes made even seeing the store room across the grounds difficult.
As she watched the snow she suddenly frowned, she was sure she had not imagined it, there was a figure outside, she looked closer, yes, definitely a figure. Through the snow it was difficult to make out but it appeared to be a tall man, dressed in heavy trousers, boots and overcoat. ‘It can’t be one of the Ground Staff,’ Miss Wilson thought, ‘none of them reach six feet in height and this fellow looks to be that height. It’s too early for visitors and, if it were an emergency there would have been a phone call. Where is he going?’
She watched as the figure approached the store room, there were a few minutes jingling keys then the man pushed the door open and stepped inside. Miss Wilson thought swiftly, ‘Inside that store room were all the props and costumes for the Pantomime, there was nothing that a thief could want!’ The Head finished dressing swiftly, having a suite to herself was a distinct disadvantage when it came to finding help, she knew she was in no fit state to tackle the man. Instead she moved downstairs and across to her Study, intending to use the telephone to summon help.
Her chagrin at discovering that the telephone line was dead turned to dismay on hearing the side door to the outside being opened….from outside! Miss Wilson had no idea how the man had gained access to Welsen, the side door should have been securely locked, but her one thought was to prevent him from getting close to the girls. Moving to the door and intending to make some sort of diversion to lure the man into the offices, she was pleasantly surprised when he seemed to be making his way there anyway – Of course, looking for money and the offices would be the obvious place.

Miss Wilson moved to stand behind the door, although a strong woman she was still feeling the after effects of the viral infection, and did not think she could tackle him head on. However the man made it easy for her, when he walked in he went straight to the small stationery room, searching inside for something. Miss Wilson felt her head swim slightly as the virus had not totally cleared her system, looking across in the gloom due to bad weather, she was suddenly struck with an idea. The man was almost inside the stationery room, it was a room with a strong door and bolts! To think was to act, Miss Wilson moved quickly and, with all her considerable strength, pushed the man into the room. Before he had a chance to react she had slammed the door shut and drawn across two heavy bolts.
“That will keep you safe until I can fetch the Police,” she said, and her voice, although still high and croaky, rang with authority.
Inside, the man frantically beat on the door, his deep voice called out, cursing and swearing. “No need for that,” Miss Wilson said grimly, “Save it for the Gendarmerie.” Satisfied that the door would hold she moved swiftly along the passageway towards the Speissaal. On the way she met up with Matron Rider, “Gertrude, are all the phone lines down? Then get hold of the Ground Staff, tell one of them to go with all speed to the nearest Police Station, the rest to meet me back in my Study.”
“Is that you, Miss Wilson?” It was Gill Culver, she was with Bride Bettany and a few of the other, newer Welsen pupils. “I could hardly recognise your voice, it’s so high it sounds like someone else entirely.”
Bride smiled, “Not like Tom Gay’s then,” she said, “Her voice is so deep at the moment that she sounds like a man.” She turned to the Secretary, “Miss Culver, she’s taking a long time, should I go to find her?”
“No Bride, Tom had to go out to the store room and fetch a few things from the stationery room, she’ll be along in a moment. I say, are you all right, Miss Wilson? You’ve gone ever so pale!”


Merry Christmas, KB! Santa

 

#2:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:23 pm

ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL
ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL

 

#3:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:50 pm

LOLOL I love that, and the harking back to Tom locking the staff up which of course only Bill will be aware of...absolutly classic Santa, thank you.

 

#4:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:54 pm

Lovely retribution Santa! Brilliant in fact!

 

#5:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:57 pm

Wonderful! ROFL

 

#6:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:06 pm

*giggles*
Very clever Santa!!!

 

#7:  Author: JustJen, Location: waiting for a bus PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:11 pm

LOL! The tables are turned on Tom!
Merry Christmas!

 

#8:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:43 pm

Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing

 

#9:  Author: Helen P, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:39 pm

Fantastic, Santa!!

You're so clever Very Happy

 

#10:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:03 pm

*giggles hysterically* Thank you so much, Santa! I love my story, and I needed a good laugh! ROFL Laughing ROFL Laughing ROFL Laughing

 

#11:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:04 am

Lovely story Santa, thank you.

 

#12:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:23 am

Very clever, Santa! Laughing

Do we get a follow-up seeing the respective reactions of Nell and Tom once they realise their identities?!

 

#13:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:10 pm

Very clever! ROFL Thanks Santa!

 

#14:  Author: nikkie,  PostPosted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:20 pm

Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing
love it!

 

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