The CBB :: View topic - The Empty House

#1: The Empty House Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:29 am

Joey Maynard looked round her Salon with some dissatisfaction. It was neat as a new pin, thanks to Anna and Joey’s hard work. Two days previously, they had set too with a will and the room sparkled. In fact, thought Joey, every room in the house looked the same – like a guest house with no occupants.

She wandered from room to room, aimlessly and finally finished in the kitchen which was as empty as the rest of the house, only Jack’s cup and saucer from earlier waiting to be washed. It was early September and the sun was streaming in the open window. Joey made a cup of coffee and stood by the window gazing with unseeing eyes at the mountains which seemed to have no power to lift her heart as they usually did.

Anna had left the previous day for two weeks holiday and Biddy had taken Bruno for a few days “to give me a well earned rest,” thought Joey “Huh!”

Three days previously, the house had rung with laughter and the clatter of feet as her long family prepared to return to school and college after the long summer break. It had been a good holiday, mused Joey, but probably the last with the whole family at home and the first start of term that all her children had gone off to school to board for the whole term. Joey sat at the kitchen table and rested her chin on her hands as she took stock.

“I’m glad they are all finding their way in the world,” she murmured “but it is such a different world! Sometimes I feel quite old and out of touch.” Her mind went back to a conversation with Len while walking through the pine woods some four weeks earlier.

“Do you have any regrets about ending your engagement to Reg?” Joey asked as they strolled along.

“No, not at all,” replied Len. “I was too young to make a commitment like that before I had seen anything of the world. I thought it was right at the time, though and, when you warned me about playing fast and loose with him while I was at Oxford, I was quite indignant.”

Joey grinned. “I may have spent a sheltered life and never really been away from home but I do know a few things and one of them is that you all have to find out for yourselves what you really want and feel. It’s not that easy to see your children make mistakes and have to keep quiet.”

“You’re quite good at it,” laughed Len, linking her arm companionably through her mother’s, “I would never have guessed you had serious doubts. I think it started at the Auberge when we had that dreadful flood. He was so strong and I don’t think I’d have got out without his help. That sort of thing does bring you close to someone. It’s not something you can ever forget.”

Joey squeezed her daughter’s arm. “I wouldn’t want you to!” she exclaimed, “I’ll always be grateful to him for that day.”

The conversation paused while they tackled a steep part of the path and emerged onto a small alm. Joey sat on a fallen log to get her breath back and Len sprawled on the grass beside her. “I suppose it would have come to nothing if it hadn’t been for Reg going missing towards the end of term.” Len continued, thoughtfully. “It was such a shock and he’s been part of our lives since we were tinies. I just about remember him in Yorkshire when we first met him and he was the only boy I really knew who wasn’t family.”

Joey nodded. “That’s one of the problems of being part of a long family and going to boarding school. If we’d lived in a town, you’d have met lots of other people but we have to follow your father’s work.”

Len looked at her mother, and hesitated. Seeing the hesitation, Joey smiled. “Go on,” she said, “I won’t be shocked whatever you have to ask.”

“Well, since I left home, I’ve sometimes wondered whether this life is really what you would have wanted, you know, you met Dad when you were at school and then there was the war and we all came along. Then you got uprooted to Switzerland with only the school nearby and – well,” she took a deep breath and rushed on “Do you ever wish you could have seen more of the world and perhaps gone to college. You’re clever and you’ve been stuck with a succession of babies and the house. Dad’s wrapped up in his work most of the time and you don’t get a lot of adult company. I know you write but that’s a solitary occupation.” Her voice trailed off and she looked at her mother doubtfully.

Joey thought for a moment and then replied slowly. “I don’t regret any of it. Oh, I’m not saying things mightn’t have been different if it hadn’t been for the war! Lots of people got married in a bit of a hurry then. It was a time when you had to snatch your happiness while you could. I’ve been lucky that it worked out for your father and me. I knew his work would have to come first. It’s always seemed so much more important than anything I could do and I’ve always accepted that. He really is a good doctor and so many people owe their lives to him. I’ve enjoyed having children and bringing them up, too. I probably wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t had Anna and Rösli to help. I do know I’ve leaned on them a lot for the hard work and couldn’t have coped without them. But sometimes …… “ Joey paused and thought for a moment. Then, in her turn she rushed on. “Sometimes I have felt stifled and wondered is this all there is and I’ve worried that the life here and the Chalet School are too sheltered to prepare you for the real world and I’ve wondered what I could have done if things had been different.”

She gave herself a little shake and grinned at Len. “Everyone probably has those feelings sometimes but it doesn’t mean to say I’m not happy. Somewhere at this moment there is probably a woman my age who has reached the peak of her career and is asking herself what she has missed in not having a family.”

Len sat up and regarded her mother thoughtfully. “Do you know, I think that’s the first time we’ve talked like equals, Mum. Thanks for trusting me.” She stood up and pulled her mother to her feet and hugged her fiercely. “And thanks for giving up so much to make us feel safe and happy. I’ve met so many people at college who didn’t have such a secure upbringing.”

Joey wiped her eyes. “I can say things to you I wouldn’t say to anyone else, Len. Thanks for the compliment. It means more to me than I can say.” She laughed a little shakily. “Let’s get back before we add to the legends by being declared missing!”

They both smiled and turned down the path towards home, two adults in harmony.

#2: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:35 am

How lovely, Patmac, isn't Joey nice in this? And very human and realistic too.
Is this the first time that Joey didn't want Len to marry Reg?
Hope to see lots more soon.

#3: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:35 am

Yay

Thanks PatMac, no Joey bashing or Reg bashing ROFL

Yay

Looking forward to some more, not that that's a hint or anything.......

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:52 am

Yay a new drabble and people are nice!!!!

Looking forward to reading more of a Joey who seems aware of many things!!!!

Thank you Pat Very Happy

#5: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:25 pm

*Curtseys*

I don't know where this is going yet as that bit came to me while cleaning behind the washing machine and I don't do that very often Wink

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:34 pm

Well I suggest you do more cleaning behind things, PatMac, if that's the type of story you're going to come out with! Laughing

Loved it - looking forward to more!

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:39 pm

PatMac - if you run out of inaccessible places to clean in your house, we don't live far away & we have lots of gungy bits that need cleaning (all in the name of inspiration) Laughing

Seriuosly this is great - love the different POV from Joey

#8: Author: catherine, Location: York

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 1:06 pm

This is lovely, Patmac! I'm so glad to see Joey in a good light for once!

Keep up with it, please!

#9: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 2:33 pm

Offers PatMac all of her appliances to clean behind as well Rolling Eyes

#10: Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly!

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 3:56 pm

PatMac this is brilliant - please continue to clean obscure places if this is the sort of inspiration you get! *offers entire house for cleaning*

#11: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:11 pm

Lovely PatMac. No bashing of anybody in sight Very Happy

Hope you get more inspiration soon.

#12: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:48 pm

Sorry to refuse your kind offer of cleaning. I'm strictly a Flybaby and it was the washing machine's scheduled turn!

For anyone who has not seen it, RTW had it linked to her site and it's quite hilarious but useful. http://www.flylady.net/

Anyway, the ironing produced this little bit:

Joey sighed and stood up to wash the cups, not that it was urgent. She’d got all day to do that. She washed and wiped the cups, rinsed the sink and hung the dishcloth, just as Anna would like. She left the kitchen and, as she crossed the hall, the phone rang.

Picking it up, she heard Jack’s voice.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” she exclaimed, alarmed for she could not remember a call from him this early in the day unless something very untoward had happened.

“Nothing, dear. I just thought you are alone and I would ring to let you know I’m thinking of you.”

Joey’s heart warmed. “Oh, thank you darling. I’m fine, though it is a little quiet here. It’s so nice to hear you.”

“I love you Joey. I know I don’t say it often enough. I’ll try and get home early tonight and we can have an hour in the garden. It will be nice to have you to myself.”

“It will be nice to have no interruptions. We’ll have a nice cosy evening. Love you too, dear.”

“I have to go, Joey, I’m about to start Ward rounds. But I just wanted you to know I’m only a thought away. Bye till tonight dear.”

“Bye dear!” and Joey put the phone down with a little lift to her heart.

#13: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:54 pm

Lovely Pat. Keep going please!! And what a change from your last effort!!!

#14: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:56 pm

*getting the warm-and-fuzzies*

this is great PatMac Mr. Green

#15: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:19 pm

Are you sure about not wanting to clean out grungy places, PatMac? I've been meaning to get down behind my cooker for ages. Probably several new life forms lurking behind it by now, Who needs Mars exploration when you can boldly go behind my cooker!

#16: Author: Nina, Location: Peterborough, UK

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:09 pm

FlyLady is the best! (I can see my spare room floor Very Happy

and I have a feather duster and a timer Very Happy

)

#17: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:23 pm

LOL, Nina/Lynn.

#18: Author: catherine, Location: York

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:25 pm

Lovely, Pat! More please!

#19: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:28 pm

Thanks for the extra part Patmac, aren't they both lovely?

#20: Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly!

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:51 pm

Awww that was lovely PatMac. *feeling warm and fuzzy*

#21: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:54 pm

Aww! That was lovely PatMac!!! More soon please!

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:50 pm

This is lovely Patmac, good characters with a real life, and a thoughtful Joey. Would love to see more.

Looked at flylady and ran in horror, although I like some of the ideas.

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:23 pm

Lovely PatMac! More please!

#24: Author: Chloë, Location: London: when away from home planet!

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:39 pm

This is great Patmac i hope you come up with more soon!

#25: Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:50 pm

Enjoying seeing "nice Joey" for a change, PatMac - more please!

#26: Author: Guest,

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 1:09 am

*feels all warm inside*
It's so lovely to have a nice drabble for once. I think I'll have t save this to read after I've gone over all the cliffs in the other ones.

#27: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 1:11 am

I was just saying earlier how I loved this smiley.
That was me

#28: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 6:19 am

*sighs happy sigh*

*thanks PatMac fervently*

#29: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 3:41 pm

Thanks Pat for a lovely happy story. Susch a change to most of the others. It is going to stay like this isn't it?

#30: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 3:45 pm

This is a lovely start, Patmac. I move that all housework related words should be removed from the slang index since housework can produce such good stuff....

..oh, and you can always clean my spare room if you need more! Laughing

#31: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 4:04 pm

PatMac - this is beautiful, thank you

I love serious CS drabbles and this is a wonderful depiction of what Joey would have been like once Geoff and Phil were at school
I love the "adult" relationship that is evolving between Jo & Len and Jack's phonecall was sooo sweet!

Hope there's more to come ...

PS - had a quick look at FlyLady and sniggered at No 4 of the Eleven Comandments!!
Very appropriate for the CBB I thought!! Rolling Eyes

#32: Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:10 pm

oh, Pat, lovely story!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

I love this - nice JOey and nice Jack and not all their childern have activel.y diverted them!

#33: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 6:07 pm

Still manfully resisting the offers of cleaning!

Feeling a little more settled in her mind, Joey went through to her pretty little study and sitting at her desk with it’s photos of her children and a small vase of flowers, she prepared to give her mind to her latest school story.

As she drew her pad of paper towards her, preparatory to making the interminable lists which enabled her to avoid mistakes with her characters, her eye was caught by a letter, half out of an envelope.

Normally, she would have resisted the distraction but, in her current mood, she picked up the letter and re-read it.

Dear Mother and Father

I hardly know how to write this, but I must pluck up my courage and tell you before the summer holidays. We’ve always talked of me becoming a writer, like mother, and I know you were expecting me to come home after my degree and settle at home till I eventually married and followed in Mother’s footsteps with a family and a part time writing career.

I do hope you won’t be too upset that it is not going to happen that way. When I changed to Cambridge to do my post graduate work, I got involved with a group writing satire. The latest work has been commissioned as a TV series. It will be written more or less on the day it is broadcast and will cover the latest news. I’m so excited and really do not want to turn down the chance of working with these brilliant people. I have really decided that I want to continue with this for a while. I know you don’t watch television and couldn’t get the English programmes anyway and I hope you won’t be too disappointed that I am not following your plan for me. The programme is called ‘That was the Week that Was’.

I’m not saying I don’t want a marriage and family eventually but I’ve discovered something that really excites me and I want to carry on for the time being.

Please write. I don’t want to disappoint you but this is really important to me. Please let me know what you think before the holidays. I really don’t want to spoil the holidays for everyone by discussing it then. This will probably be my last long holiday as I leave at the end of term and need to start this early September. It won’t pay well but I know you’ve always said writing is not well paid till you are successful and it’s the chance of a lifetime.

Love from Con

Joey sighed. Poor Con! She’d been really worked up about this change of plan. “Poor kid!” Joey said to herself. “From what Madge told me, it sounds like when she told Dick she was going to start a school in Austria! She was sure he wouldn’t approve.”

She leant back in her chair and thought of the discussion she and Jack had the evening the letter came. Thank goodness he hadn’t been all stuffy about it. “I wish we more up to date with this sort of thing,” he’d said, running his fingers through his hair in the way he always did when he was thinking deeply. “But goodness knows when there’ll be a transmitter that covers this area, and even then we’d only see local programmes. It’s one of the disadvantages of living abroad. We just don’t keep up with what’s new in England. Anyway, it’s up to her. If it’s successful, it could open all sorts of doors for her, and if it’s not – well she’s young and at the right age to make her mistakes. It begins to look as if we’ll have to plan some trips to England. I don’t think any of the older children will come back here. Will you mind too much?”

Joey had answered on impulse “So long as they are happy, I shan’t mind.”

Joey had written the very next morning, reassuring Con that her parents were right behind her and looking forward to seeing the programmes some day. She had mentioned a trip to England to see all the children and suggested they might be able to work it in with the programmes being shown.

Now, though the reality had hit. An large empty house. A loss of purpose.
“What do I do with the rest of my life?” she thought, “I’m too young to slow down yet.”

#34: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 6:13 pm

Pat this is brilliant... it is a nice change to see Joey in such a sympathetic light Mr. Green

#35: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 7:32 pm

Yes, it makes a really refreshing change!

#36: Author: Chloë, Location: London: when away from home planet!

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 7:47 pm

Wow i never thought i say this but i like Joey in a drabble! More please Smile

#37: Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly!

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 8:13 pm

Yay, thanks for that PatMac. I like Joey too in this!!! *keels over in shock*

#38: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 8:34 pm

thanks Guys. Just redressing the balance a little and flexing my drabbling wings. Glad you like it Razz

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

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 8:52 pm

Thank you PatMac - more please!

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

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:09 pm

This is very good Patmac, and good for you to try something different as well, especially as you are doing so well at it.

#41: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:53 pm

Thanks Patmac, this is so good, and has been mentioned, different. It is nice to see a pleasant thoughtful Joey supporting her children.

#42: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:58 am

Pat,

I love what you've done with Con - how wonderful to start your career on TWTWTW!! I knew she was a dark horse! Very Happy

Poor Joey - this is exactly how she would have been as the kids all flew the nest - I hope that she can find something for herself that is fulfilling ...
Also love her and Jack's discussion about being out of touch with the UK whilst they're on the Platz!

#43: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 10:05 am

I like Joey in this. And i have a feeling I'm going to like her throughout the drabble. Please write more Pat.

#44: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 2:46 pm

Thank you for portaying a different Joey. It is nice (as other have said) to see her in such a sympathetic light. Looking forward to the next installment.

#45: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 4:05 pm

Great, PatMac, I'd almost forgotten TW3.

#46: Author: ElKel,

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 6:50 pm

This is fabulous! So nice to read about a normal Jo, untying the apron strings (which are probably Anna's anyway Smile

) and letting her children grow up.
I have just one question though: we can enjoy both the Jo-bashing drabbles and the "nice Jo" ones, so why oh why do we not like Reg hammer

even the tiniest little bit? Doesn't anyone want to see him married to Len and living happily ever after in a chalet on the Gornetz Platz?

Kel
*who hopes fellow CBBers will give her a good head start before coming after her with obscure implements of torture!*

#47: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 6:54 pm

Don't give me ideas, Kel! I'm in a contrary mood at the moment!

#48: Author: ElKel,

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:29 pm

Er, ideas about what - Reg and Len or the instruments of torture? Cos if it's the latter then I'm off!

#49: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:47 pm

I meant a romance featuring Len and Reg! Wink

But it would probably lead to me being banned from the board.

#50: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:49 pm

Be careful, be very careful. Have you read the SSOR in the archives, PatMac?

#51: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:51 pm

I had a feeling I'd hear from Jennie on the subject. No, I haven't Jennie. But I will now Shocked

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

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:00 pm

I had Len and Reg happily married in Con and Margot.....the fact that I had also killed them off being neither here nor there!

#53: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 1:07 am

And there was Ray's 'Promises', even though Len was dead.

#54: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 10:21 am

I suppose he can't be hated all the time, just most of it.

#55: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 12:28 pm

Why not??

#56: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 12:38 pm

I can hate Reg the whole time... s'easy...

*offers trainings for anyone who has problems with this*

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

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 2:36 pm

Thank you Pat, I hope theres more soon!!!

Interesting how the stories that feature Len and Reg happily married, also feature one of the partners dead!!!

#58: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 3:24 pm

Remember the Dr Venables thread? How Len threw a party when she heard the news of his death?

#59: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 7:35 pm

*still chuckling over Dr Venables* yeess, not quite the dedicated wife Matt thought she was!

Patmac, I'm really loving this. Its nice to have something so well, nice to read.

#60: Author: Mora, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 11:23 pm

Wonderful

Just that.

#61: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 6:42 am

Sorry there's been no more. We're rather busy at work and, in common with a lot of people, what spare time I've had has been spent biting my nails on Surfeit Laughing

We're away now till Monday evening. Tuesday evening, I'll be out entertaining clients (nice ones though so will be pleasant). So I guess it will be Wednesday evening before I get to writing any more.

I haven't got the next section straight in my head yet so perhaps it is as well.

Jennie - I read SSOR and laughed like a drain Twisted Evil

#62: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 11:20 am

Our aim is to please. I'll look forward to Wednesday.

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

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 11:27 am

Wwwwwwwwednesday ............ bbbbbbbbbbbbut ..............

oh well I suppose (deep sigh) I'll just have to continue reading the real CS to keep me going till then Confused

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