A Life Less Ordinary
The CBB -> Cookies & Drabbles

#1: A Life Less Ordinary Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:40 pm


Felicity Maynard yawned lazily, and stretched her arms above her head, earning herself a censorious look from the Second Prefect, Phoebe Carr. Smiling to herself, she picked up her pen again, and idly nudged the French novel they had been reading in lessons. French came easily to her, as she had learnt it from a very young age, and she was completely fluent. However, despite this, she had paid very little attention in the last lesson that Mlle de Lachenais had given, and her essay was perforce sketchy in the extreme when she finished. This done, Felicity cast aside her French books and turned to the Maths prep that Miss Wilmot had set. After doodling, most lamentably, in the margin of the text-book, she deigned to answer nine of the ten questions at break-neck speed, making at least a dozen arithmetical errors on her way and on the last question coming up with an answer of 145/13665, which was so patently incorrect that even Felicity paused for a moment before shrugging and closing her exercise book. As long as the prep was done, she had always reasoned, it didn’t really matter if it was right or not.

A few minutes later, the bell signalled the end to Prep, and Felicity gathered together her books, dumped them inelegantly in her desk, and sauntered out of the form-room in search of one or other of her bosom pals. She had not gone far when she came across Lucy Peters, who hailed her with great delight, and together the girls went into the Speisesaal for Abendessen.

“So, how’s life in Five B?” asked Felicity jauntily as they walked down the corridor. Lucy shrugged.

“All right, I suppose. I’m still surprised they gave me my remove – I’m not sure I’m up to the work, really.” Felicity laughed.

“Don’t be silly! They’d hardly have put you up if they didn’t think you could manage, and you were well up on the form lists all last term.”

“I suppose so. It’s not the same without you, though, Fliss.” Felicity grinned companionably.

“Well, if it comes to that, Inter V isn’t the same without you. There’s been a whole batch come up from the Upper IV, and they’re all terribly serious.”

“I can’t believe Cecil’s in Upper IVA now,” said Lucy slyly. Felicity’s face went oddly blank, then she grinned gaily.

“Oh, Cecil always had the family brains – I’m afraid I’m rather a dunce!” Lucy frowned, then stopped in her tracks.

“Look here, Fliss! Aren’t you…well…rather ashamed to still be in Inter V?” Felicity tossed her head.

“No! Why should I be?” Lucy bit her lip. Despite her pointed remark earlier, she was very fond of Felicity, who was one of her oldest friends, and she didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

“It’s just that you’re so old!” she said in a rush. Felicity laughed, and only the most acute observer would have noticed the slightly hard edge to the usually infectious sound.

“Sixteen is hardly old,” she said coolly, reaching out a hand to pull Lucy along. “And you can’t keep stopping like that; we’ll be late.”

“It is old in that form,” carried on Lucy, refusing to be taken off track. “You know perfectly well that most folk are fourteen or so; fifteen at most. And weren’t your sisters about thirteen when they were in it?”

“Probably. I, sadly, am no infant prodigy. I’m just not the brainy type, Luce.” By this stage, the two girls had reached the Speisesaal, and no more was said as they went to their respective form tables. Lucy Peters continued thinking about her friend, though, as she ate her meal. It was all very well to not be the brainy type, but Felicity had been in Inter V for nearly two years now, and there was no sign of the authorities giving her a remove to the Fifth proper. Lucy herself was not particularly clever, and neither did she work hard, but her efforts after a year had been sufficient for Miss Ferrars, the form mistress, and she had gained the coveted remove. Why hadn’t Felicity?


Last edited by Liss on Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:50 pm; edited 4 times in total

 


#2:  Author: KatLocation: Swansea PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:53 pm


Ooooh, I like Liss!

Does this mean Felicity is going to get a talking to by Miss Annersley and be told to pull her socks up??!

Is it too soon to ask for more? Very Happy

 


#3:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:07 pm


Sounds like Miss Felicity just nneds to apply herself...also sounds like she's not going to!!!

So Liss may i echo Kat and ask for more?

 


#4:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:14 pm


Nice start Liss - looking forward to the next part.

 


#5:  Author: Rachael PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:21 pm


Ooh, Liss is writing again - great start!!

Er - is this a good time to enquire as to progress on New Girl?
*whistles innocently*

 


#6:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:29 pm


Hmm. That would be a 'no', Rachael!

---

The new autumn term had just started at the Chalet School, and things were still in a slight muddle. Half-way through her music practice the following morning, Felicity realised with no little annoyance that she had left the music for the new sonata she was playing in her desk. She was tempted to leave it, but the thought of what Herr Fischer, the piano teacher, would say made her sigh and head towards the form room. Herr Fischer had only been teaching at the school for a year, but his sarcastic tongue had become only too well-known, and Felicity preferred to avoid it when possible.

Taking advantage of the empty corridors, she sprinted along, and erupted into the form room only to come to an abrupt stop when she realised it wasn’t, as expected, empty. Sitting in a huddle at her desk was one of the new girls, Margaret something, looking as if she was about to burst into tears. Homesick, thought Felicity, groaning internally. Good Chalet School behaviour dictated that she asked what the matter was and tried to help, but Felicity had, for reasons of her own, always eschewed ‘Good Chalet School behaviour’. She murmured a disinterested ‘Hello’, then went to her desk and rummaged for the music, eventually finding it slipped inside her folder of relief maps, and was on her way out when she paused. She stood for a moment, one hand resting against the door frame, then turned round and walked back into the room.

“Look here, is something wrong?” she asked brusquely. Margaret something looked up in surprise, and Felicity noted that the other girl had indeed been crying, to judge by the red blotches surrounding her eyes.

“No,” Margaret said quietly. “I’m all right.”

“If you were all right, you wouldn’t be in down here crying,” Felicity pointed out frankly. “Look, you don’t need to tell me – I’d really rather you didn’t, in fact – but they’re awfully big on being understanding here, so if you have a problem, you can go and see someone – the Head, or Miss Ferrars or one of the prees. Anyone, really.”

“Just so long as it isn’t you,” returned Margaret, with what looked suspiciously like a look of mischief in her eyes. Felicity grinned, relieved at this sign of life.

“Exactly. I don’t tend to go out of my way to help folk, you see.”

“It’s just all a bit strange,” said Margaret, abandoning her chair and standing up. “Coming to school, and all that. I expect you know.”

“Actually, no. I’ve been here practically since I was in nappies. I’m sure you’ll get used to it, though. Don’t worry!” With these cheery words of advice, Felicity swung out of the room, and settled down to her practice without another thought.

 


#7:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:30 pm


The first lesson that day was English Literature, and Felicity went into it with the warm glow of one who knows that there was no prep needing to be done. The feeling faded quickly as Miss Derwent referred to The Mayor of Casterbridge, which book the girls had been expected to read over the holidays, and which Felicity, unsurprisingly, had not bothered to do more than look at. An informal discussion started, ably directed by Miss Derwent, and Felicity looked on in mild interest as Margaret – whose surname was apparently Harrington – added her opinions, winning praise from the English mistress.

An infant prodigy, was Felicity’s experienced opinion. Having now spent the better part of two years in Inter V, she was well able to label the girls who made up the form. The first lot were girls like Felicity herself, who were too old for the Fourth but not advanced enough for the Fifth. Then came the girls who had done the work of the Fourth but were, again, not advanced enough for the Fifth. The last lot were the infant prodigies: girls who were too clever for the Fourth but too young to be allowed into the Fifth.

Margaret Harrington might be fourteen, but it was only a ‘might’. She was small and slight, with vast quantities of yellow-blond hair pulled back into two waist-length plaits. To Felicity, who was surprisingly mature in many ways, she seemed very young indeed. Nonetheless, she had entered into the discussion on Hardy with no little vim, if somewhat tentatively at first. Felicity herself managed to field a direct question from Miss Derwent with a deliberately vague answer that in no way deceived that lady, and was getting her books ready for the next lesson, when the subject of her musings approached.

“Hello,” she said, with a shy smile.

“Hallo,” replied Felicity, diving back into her desk in search of an errant sheet of blotting paper. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. That is – I suppose you heard what Miss Ferrars said this morning.” Blotting paper in hand, Felicity slammed closed the lid of her desk, and surveyed her visitor.

“Well, there was the taking of the Register, then a plea to make sure we left our desks tidy, then she said something about lacrosse practice…” Margaret laughed nervously.

“No, I meant the part about new girls going to tea.”

“Oh, that. Yes, it’s rather a tradition here, I’m afraid. It’s OK, nothing to be scared about.”

“Oh, I’m not,” said Margaret hurriedly, twisting her fingers together. “Only, well, I was wondering whether you – that is, if you didn’t have anything else to do – well…” She trailed off, and Felicity took pity on her.

“Whether I’d come with you?” Margaret nodded eagerly.

“Yes. Will you?” Felicity sighed. Relations with her mother had become rather strained of late, and had hardly been helped by the deplorable school report she had received at the end of the previous term. Ideally, she was hoping to avoid Jo Maynard for at least half the term, if not all of it. But, she reasoned to herself, there’s bound to be such a flux of new kids that Mamma will hardly have time for me. That being the case, she nodded carelessly.

“OK. Count me in.”

 


#8:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:35 pm


Ooh! Me likes! Thank you, Liss.

 


#9:  Author: LulieLocation: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:42 pm


*wonders when Felicity is going to get the short, sharp shock she seems to need?*

Laughing More please, Liss Laughing

 


#10:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 4:33 pm


Ooh very interesting Liss, thank you Very Happy

 


#11:  Author: KatLocation: Swansea PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 4:36 pm


Thank you Liss!

More? Wink

 


#12:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:26 pm


Completely loving this already!

I know three posts in a day was a lot already... but is there any more please?! Very Happy

 


#13:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:47 pm


Liss this is excellent - wonder how long Felicity is going to be allowed to continue?

Thank you.

 


#14:  Author: claireLocation: South Wales PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:16 pm


Really enjoying this so far - more please

 


#15:  Author: AlexLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:21 pm


I like this Liss, please write more soon, and please write some more of your other drabbles as well Razz

 


#16:  Author: XantheLocation: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:26 pm


*chanting very loudly*

PLEASE may we have some more Liss?

 


#17:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 7:43 pm


Ohh - this is excellent - I've never seen Felicity like this before, and I'm liking what I'm seeing.
More soon please.

 


#18:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 7:49 pm


I like this Liss, what a wonderful find in amongst all the catching up. Hope it is going to be continued to completeion! Wink

 


#19:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:38 pm


Liss this is great - I'm really enjoying it.

And such a lot in one day!

Having said that, I'm still going to ask for some more!!

So... can we have some more please? Smile

 


#20:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:48 pm


Mrs Josephine Maynard had been entertaining new girls of the Chalet School since she first married, and had it down to a fine art now, nearly twenty-seven years later. This year's intake numbered fifteen girls and they, with their chosen companions, filled Freudesheim comfortably. It has to be said, however, that that estimable lady was considerably surprised at seeing Felicity, as her daughter had not shown much inclination in recent years for playing sheepdog. Nevertheless, despite her faults, Jo had always had a knack for dealing with her children, and notwithstanding previous tensions between mother and daughter, she welcomed Felicity with a warm hug and kiss.

“Hello, darling!” she exclaimed. “How lovely to see you so soon!” Felicity submitted dutifully to her mother's embrace.

“Hello, Mamma. I hadn't expected to come, but Margaret asked me. This is Margaret Harrington,” she said, pulling forward her charge. “This is my mother, Mrs Maynard,” she added, turning back to Margaret.

“How do you do?” said Margaret faintly, shaking her hostess's hand. Jo responded in kind, before moving onto the next couple of girls, Alice Carey and Chantel Espoir.

Once introductions had been made and the girls were settled, Jo launched into the usual programme that held sway at these events, and Felicity watched the familiar scene with amusement, sinking back into an armchair. How many times has Mamma done this? she wondered idly, fiddling with the tassled edging of the chair. And does she ever get bored of it? But as she watched her mother put a couple of squeaky-new Upper IIIs at their ease, she smiled to herself. No-one could manage school girls like Joey Maynard, whether that was a talent or otherwise! Twenty minutes later, Anna served tea, then Jo addressed her guests.

“I'm sorting through some old things at the moment,” she said nonchalantly. “Fleur, would you like to come and help?” Fleur Hever, the newest light of Va and the oldest of the new girls, stood agreeably, and the two of them disappeared up the stairs, a glance from her mother warning Felicity that she was in charge until Jo returned.

A while later it was Margaret's turn to mount the shallow stairs, and Felicity observed her look of fear with a smile. Overwhelming her mother might be, but Felicity had never known a girl stay scared of her. It was much to her surprise, therefore, when Margaret came back into the Salon five minutes later looking, if possible, even more scared. Furthermore, Jo Maynard herself descended the stairs, a look of dismay on her face, and Felicity noticed that she didn't make any effort to speak privately to any of the seven younger girls.

As the party prepared to leave, Jo pulled Felicity to one side on the pretext of having a message for Miss Annersley.

“How well do you know Margaret?” she asked, a frown marring her otherwise wrinkle-free face. Felicity glanced at her curiously.

“Hardly at all, as it happens. Why?”

“She seemed very uncomfortable. Is she homesick?”

“Probably. They usually are, aren't they?” Jo rested a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

“Will you keep an eye on her for me, Felicity?” Felicity laughed.

“Sheepdogging is hardly my style, Mamma. Anyway, Carrie Woodhouse is looking after her. It's only homesickness, she'll be all right.” With that, Felicity broke from her mother's grasp and joined the others, leaving Jo looking at her departing back, wondering why it was that this daughter should have turned out so differently from the others.

 


#21:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:08 pm


Miss Wilmot gazed sternly at the girl standing in front of her.

“I would like an explanation, please,” she demanded tersely. Felicity Maynard gazed straight back, her expression seraphic.

“I'm awfully sorry, Miss Wilmot. I just didn't understand it, I'm afraid.”

“I don't believe you. From what I can see from this-” and she waved an exercise book - “you understood it perfectly well. You got them wrong through sheer laziness and carelessness, Felicity.” The girl said nothing, and Miss Wilmot sat back in her chair, eyeing the Inter V girl assessingly.

She had known Felicity Maynard since the latter was little more than a baby and had seen her go from being a quiet, restrained youngster, obsessed with ballet and little else, into a distant, uncaring teenager, who seemed to have little interest in anything or anyone. Physically she had changed as well. As a child she had been very small and slight, with long flaxen hair. One of the mistresses had once joked that Felicity Maynard resembled nothing so much as a Dresden doll! When she had reached about fourteen, however, she had had a growth spurt, and had grown as tall as her mother and Miss Wilmot herself. She was still slender, but it was no longer the slenderness of a girl, and her long plaits had given way to a smart bob. At sixteen, Felicity Maynard was very much a young woman, which made it all the more inappropriate for her to be in Inter V, where the average age was not quite fourteen and a half, and where most of the girls were young for their age.

Whatever the vagaries of Felicity's character, however, Miss Wilmot was not about to let her get away with handing in such an appalling piece of prep, and she thrust the exercise book back at her pupil.

“Do them again, please, Felicity. And this time do them properly.” With that she had to be content, and watched as Felicity left the room. She was not alone for long, however, as her great friend and ally, Kathie Ferrars walked in.

“Hallo, Nancy,” said that lady chummily, sitting on the desk. Nancy smiled.

“Folk would have words to say if they saw you in that position, my dear,” she observed drily. “Not at all befitting a respectable school marm!” Kathie grinned.

“Oh, hang that!” she exclaimed. “We have enough of that when there's someone around to see. Anyway, you're looking painfully pensive. Brain hurt, does it?”

“Cheeky brat,” replied Nancy amiably. “As a matter of fact, I've just had young Felicity in here, attempting to explain exactly why her prep was so disastrous.” Kathie shrugged.

“Oh, she's not just not that clever,” she said. “They can't all be, you know!” Nancy looked unconvinced.

“I'm sure if she just applied herself..” she started, only for Kathie to jump off the desk, interrupting her.

“Nancy, honestly! I've been her form mistress for nearly two years now – surely that should tell you something! She's not that clever, and she doesn't try particularly hard. There's no great mystery. Anyway, come on! Rosalind was muttering something about Monopoly, and I can't bear missing it!” With that, the two mistresses left the room, all thought of Felicity Maynard vanished, for the time being.

 


#22:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:24 pm


Hmmmm! Looks like the Staff have given up on her. Very intriguing Liss - thanks.

 


#23:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:27 pm


I'm really enjoying this Liss. You are going to finish it aren't you, and not leave it hanging in mid-air? Twisted Evil Wink

 


#24:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:29 pm


I hope so. It might be quite long, though, which doesn't bode well...

 


#25:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:31 pm


Liss wrote:
I hope so. It might be quite long, though, which doesn't bode well...


But if you keep posting at the rate you have done today then it bodes very well indeed!

This is wonderful btw.

 


#26:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:32 pm


I think that bodes very well!

*looking forward to a nice long Squeeny drabble*

 


#27:  Author: ellendLocation: Bow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:51 pm


I'm afraid I'm going to be boring and join in the general, well-deserved praise and say I'm enjoying this different view on how Felicity may turn out as a teenager.

I'm looking forward to more and finding out why Margaret does not respond to Joey's charm.

Ellen

 


#28:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 10:01 pm


Can't quite decide whether Nancy is being unfair by believing that Felicity should be as clever as the rest, or Kathie for giving up on her... gr. The last sentence of the previous update really rings true - I can see Joey thinking it, and I want to hit her for it!

hammer Joey

Poor Felicity! Sad

 


#29:  Author: KellyLocation: Auckland, New Zealand PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 10:31 pm


This is great Liss!
looking forward to more.

 


#30:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 10:39 pm


After her session with Miss Wilmot, Felicity decamped to the common room, and flung herself into a chair. She was just contemplating opening the exercise book when a very faint, muffled sob reached her ears. Felicity was not a person, it must be admitted, who spent much of her time worrying about other people. In fact, it was a pastime she actively avoided. However, she was not a cruel girl, and, since there was no-one else within earshot of that tiny noise, she eased out of the chair and looked around. Not altogether surprised, she saw Margaret Harrington sitting against a wall, one hand over her mouth, the other clutching what looked suspiciously like a Maths exercise book. Rolling her eyes, Felicity sat back, then found herself unable to ignore the other girl's distress. She walked over, and squatted down beside Margaret.

“What's wrong now?” she asked briskly. Margaret looked at her with an anguished expression, but didn't seem able to answer. Felicity caught hold of the exercise book, and opened it. The prep they had been set was scored through with red lines and scribbles, and Felicity grinned. “Ah, Maths prep,” she said, smiling at the younger girl. “Don't worry!” she said calmly. “What did you get?” She consulted the book again. “Six-and-a-half. Not bad for a first attempt! Better than I...”

“What will my parents say?” Margaret burst out suddenly. Felicity looked at her in amazement, then clucked her tongue in annoyance as she noticed heads turning in their direction. She grabbed Margaret's hand, and pulled her to her feet.

“Come on,” she said briefly. “We can't talk here.” She kept hold of Margaret, steering her towards the practice rooms, where most were likely to be empty, as it was almost time for Abendessen. The first one they came to was indeed empty, and Felicity hustled Margaret in, then closed the door.

“Now, what do your parents have to do with anything?” she demanded.

“I-I promised them,” said Margaret, incoherently. “I said I'd do my best. They'll be so angry with me!” Felicity looked at her, bewildered.

“How on earth will they know anything about it?” Margaret paused, confused.

“But… won’t they let them know? The school, I mean?” Felicity stared at her, amazed.

“Let your parents know about each bit of prep? Are you mad? Can you imagine how much work that would be? Of course they don’t do anything of the sort! Your parents get a report at the end of term, and that’s it. Form places and exam marks, and nothing else, marks-wise, unless you've been slacking like anything, and I doubt that's your style.” Margaret looked at her dazedly, a look of relief dawning.

“Really? You mean it?” Felicity nodded.

“Of course. Your parents won't know anything unless...”

“Unless what?” came a fresh voice. The two girls turned to face the intruder, a tall, attractive young woman with bright chestnut hair sweeped into a simple chignon, who Margaret recognised, and Felicity knew well, as being Mrs Entwistle, junior Languages mistress. Her face was lovely, but at the moment it was set in harsh lines. “The bell for Abendessen rang ten minutes ago,” she said. “Go quickly, please. Not you,” she added, as Felicity made to get past her. She closed the door behind her as Margaret went down corridor, looking back nervously.

“What was all that about?” asked Len Entwistle, her voice strained with anger.

“It's all right, Len,” said Felicity, in a peculiarly gentle voice. “The kid was worried about a bad mark in her Maths prep. I was just talking her out of it. I'm sorry we missed the bell.” Len closed her eyes, and pressed a hand to her temple.

“I'm sorry, Flixy,” she said wearily, unconsciously reverting to the baby name she had used for her younger sister.

“It's all right,” said Felicity, reaching out a hand to touch Len's arm. “Look, we're both going to be late. Come on.” She opened the practice room door, and, tucking Len's arm through her own, strolled down the corridor.

 


#31:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:59 pm


This is great Liss!!!!!

Your Felicity is intrigueing, and I can't wait to read the next bit!!!!!

 


#32:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 5:11 am


Now why was Len so angry??? Has something happened in the past to make her automatically think the worst of Felicity?

This is very intriguing Liss! Laughing

 


#33:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:20 am


Mmmmm, nice new drabble! Me likes a lot!

Has a lot of sympathy for Felicity at the moment!

 


#34:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 9:09 am


Poor Felicity! It does seem as though she's done something to make Len assume the worst, but I don't know what it could be!

*thinking cap on*

 


#35:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 9:31 am


As Len and Felicity entered the Speisesaal, they separated, and Len wended her way through to the staff table, which was raised above the rest of the room.

“I’m sorry we were late,” she said apologetically. “It was my fault.”

“More likely to have been Felicity’s fault, I would have thought,” said Ruth Derwent, tucking into her meal with vigour. “That child is becoming more unmanageable by the day!”

“Who’s that?” asked Kathie Ferrars, leaning forward from her place further up the table.

“Felicity Maynard,” replied Miss Derwent. “Oh, don’t look like that, Len! It hardly has anything to do with you.”

“I think she just feels bad because she knows she can’t come up to the standard you three set,” said Miss Ferrars, musingly, waving her spoon at Len. “You folk should remember that not everyone can be as clever as the trips were – are!” she corrected herself with a laugh.

“Well, it would be nice if she could put a little effort into her work,” said Miss Derwent. “Have a word with her, Len, would you? It’s not good for her form to see her slacking as she does. She’s an attractive creature, and far too many of that little lot find that devil-may-care attitude too appealing for their own good!”

“I don’t think I can make her work any harder than she does,” said Len, rather desperately. “Kathie’s right; she’s not awfully clever, and she knows she’ll never get top marks.”

“All the same,” continued Miss Derwent, persistently, but before she could finish, they were interrupted by the Head Mistress herself.

“Len Entwistle, you will certainly not say anything of the sort to Felicity! She would only resent it, and it’s hardly up to you to deal with her behaviour. It’s mainly for those of you who teach her.” Miss Derwent inclined her head with a smile, accepting the rebuke gracefully, but Len looked worried and was inclined to argue.

“But really, Miss Annersley, she is my sister!” Miss Annersley remained adamant, however.

“No, Len! Out of school she is certainly your sister, but within these walls she is just another pupil, and you have no more responsibility for her than any other girl. Please remember that!” Then, wise to her staff, Miss Annersley turned the conversation down other avenues, though Len Entwistle’s frown remained, and Nancy Wilmot was oddly quiet as she considered what had been said.

Comfortably oblivious to the Staff’s conversation, Felicity awoke the following morning, happy in the knowledge that nothing more demanding would be asked of her today than a ramble and a spot of Guiding. She dressed quickly and, after Fruhstuck, made her way to the common room where the rest of the Fifth were assembled, chattering nineteen-to-the dozen. She was met at the door by several girls in her form clamouring for her to partner them. Miss Derwent had been right in that respect: though some of the more hard-working girls in Inter V looked askance at Felicity’s lackadaisical approach to school, it struck others as being just the thing, and some found themselves eager to be her friend, though Felicity herself had done nothing to encourage this.

She was considering her options when she caught sight of the woebegone face of Margaret Harrington, who was looking slightly lost in the midst of the rest of the Fifth. I’m not going to ask her, Felicity said to herself fiercely. I’m not going to get involved. I’m not…Oh, hang it! She wandered over to the other girl, and grinned.

“Partner me?” she offered casually, wondering what she was doing as Margaret’s face lit up.

“Oh, yes, please!” she said enthusiastically. Margaret wasn’t sure why she liked Felicity Maynard so much – the older girl was just the sort of person she had avoided in the past, but despite all her disclaimers, Felicity had been kinder to Margaret than anyone else so far.

“Well, we’ll be off in a minute. Have you got everything ready?” Felicity inspected Margaret’s knapsack, pronounced herself satisfied, and then the two girls joined the others in the mass exodus of the common room.

 


#36:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 9:36 am


Awww! Glad to see that Felicity is attempting to help other people, even if she's not particularly good at helping herself on the work front! Not liking Ruth a great deal though - even if Len has nothing to do with her on the work front, tis still terribly tactless to insult Felicity in front of her!

*wondering why Nancy's looking pensive...*

 


#37:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 9:43 am


I'm intrigued too! It must be quite hard for her to follw the triplets example in a place where everyone knows her and makes personal comments about her. I'm glad Hilda took a hand and stopped Len.

I just hope this gets finished! Wink

 


#38:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 9:48 am


Lovely, started not likign Felicity in this but she's growing on me! Seems she can't help butting in with Margaret!

Maybe Nancy's looking pensive cos of her conversation with Kathie earlier...

 


#39:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:46 am


I love the way Felicity can't seem to stop herself from helping out! Brilliant.

I can see that Len would find it hard having her sisters at school with her, she always said she wasn't going to teach there until everyone she knew had left, but we always have her doing so don't we...adds to the drama.

I wish Miss A had been a bit more forceful with her clamping down on Len saying anything, somehow it feels as if the staff could ignore her although I wonder if that is partly what is making Nancy think.

 


#40:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:26 am


The ramble was a well-known one, to those who had been at the school a while, at least. Felicity’s long legs ate up the distance comfortably, and she felt a burst of amusement at the sight of Margaret toiling away beside her before slacking her pace a little. Once they had left the Platz, the girls were allowed to ramble, and Felicity and Margaret broke away from the others a little. They walked in silence, until Felicity suddenly spoke.

“May I ask you a question?” she said politely. Margaret glanced at her.

“Of course. What is it?”

“Why were you scared of mother?” Margaret studied the ends of her boots intently.

“I wasn’t. No, really!” she continued as Felicity made to disagree. “I was just a bit nervous, that’s all.” They walked on again. Then, “Did I tell you my father was a doctor?” Felicity looked at her in surprise.

“No, really?” Margaret nodded.

“Yes. He met your father at a conference over the summer; it’s why he decided to send me here. He said your parents were very strict.” Felicity considered this.

“I suppose they are, in a way. That is, you can get round Mamma usually, but Papa can come over the stern father like nobody’s business. And I suppose they’ve taught us to keep to their-their moral path, if you like.”

“Daddy said they were disciplined. Father believes in discipline when raising children. He says it’s awfully important.” As these opinions were decidedly similar to those expressed by Felicity’s own parents, she shrugged and fell silent again. After a while, Margaret spoke.

“Miss Wilmot said my prep was returned. What does that mean?”

“It means you have to do it again.”

“But-but I didn’t understand it! How can I do it if I don’t understand?” Margaret’s voice was panicked, and Felicity frowned, before drawing her to a stop.

“Look, you don’t need to get in a flap about it! Willy’s rather a poppet – if you don’t understand she’ll explain it to you. Just ask her.” Margaret shook her head wildly.

“No, I can’t! She’ll think I wasn’t paying attention, that I’m stupid!”

“No she won’t, you goose!” said Felicity, giving Margaret a quick shake. Her words seemed to have no effect, however, and she watched with growing concern as the younger girl seemed to work herself into an outright panic. “All right, I’ll show you myself!” she exclaimed eventually. “When get back. OK?” Margaret looked at her as one might look at one’s saviour.

“Really, Felicity?”

“Really, Margaret!” she laughed. “Now, hurry up; we’re in danger of being ‘whipped in’!” She spoke casually, and was amazed to see Margaret’s face blanch.

“Wh-what?” she whispered. Felicity eyed her curiously.

“Look!” she said, pointing behind them to where Miss Ferrars was hustling along three girls sauntering at the back of the group. “We’re not supposed to fall too far behind. Are you OK? You went awfully pale.”

“I’m fine,” said Margaret. “I think I’m just not used to the exercise.” But her colour was returning, and so Felicity refrained from calling for the mistress.

 


#41:  Author: Rachael PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:28 am


This is brilliant!

And you'd better finish it Liss!
I don't think I could stand not finding out what Margaret's problem is as well as the continuing puzzle of why Meg (?) isn't allowed to read Joey's books ... !!

I like Felicity in this - not the fact that she's stuck in Inter V through not trying but the way she's thinking and acting - very real ...

 


#42:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:33 am


I'm really worried about Margaret, I don't think she has a happy home and at the moment I do not like her father at all!

I hope Felicity will help her.

 


#43:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:54 am


Yay, seems like Felicity helping Margaret is going to kill two birds with one stone.

I don't like the sound of her father and her home life AT ALL, though! If that is the case, I hope that Felicity is sensible enough to go to someone in authority - it's beyond her!

 


#44:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:03 pm


They returned from the ramble in the early afternoon, and since there was over an hour until the time allotted for Brownies, Guides and Rangers, Felicity and Margaret withdrew to the form room. There, Felicity arranged Margaret’s text book and exercise book in front of her, and proceeded to give her pupil a thorough drilling in the mysteries of quadratic equations. Once she was convinced that Margaret was happy, she left her to redo her prep, and bent her efforts to her own returned prep. After ten minutes’ labour, she viewed the results with pleasure. Just what was called for. She went to hang over Margaret’s shoulder, and laughed as she jumped.

“Sorry! Didn’t mean to startle you. They’re great – oh, except number four! You’ve factorised it wrong. Always work it back out the other way, just to check that it’s right. There, that’s OK now. Well done!” Margaret beamed at her, and closed her book.

“Thanks ever so, Felicity!” She looked at Felicity’s exercise book curiously. “What were you doing.” Felicity grinned.

“Alas, the same as you. Returned prep. Maths isn’t my…” She broke off, uncomfortably aware that she claiming Maths wasn’t her subject wasn’t really going to make much sense. “Cup of tea,” she finished rather weakly.

“Well, you’re very good at it,” replied Margaret admiringly.

“Oh, I’ve been in this form so long I’m not surprised some of what they’ve tried to teach me has rubbed off," she said airily. "Anyway, if you’re done, we’d better go and give these to Willy.”

 


#45:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:43 pm


Later on in the staff room, Nancy Wilmot was flicking through her marking, before concentrating on two Inter V exercise books. She opened them both to the same exercise, and eyed the pages consideringly. The new girl, Margaret Harrington, had corrected her exercise completely, and had scored 10 out of 10. Felicity Maynard had bettered her mark to 7½, just above the limit for returned prep. That would have been perfectly normal, were it not for the brief conversation she had had with Margaret at the door of the staff room, when Margaret had artlessly informed her Maths mistress that ‘Felicity showed me how to do it.’ Furthermore, when she had said it, Miss Wilmot had not missed the look of chagrin that passed over Felicity’s pretty face.

“So, how did Felicity manage to get three questions wrong and Margaret get them all right?” she mused to herself.

“What’s that?” asked Kathie Ferrars, on her way out of the staff room. “Oh, you’re not worrying about Felicity again, are you?” Nancy waved the exercise book under her colleague’s nose.

“I don’t understand how she managed to get this mark,” she said, obliquely. Kathie misunderstood her, and gaped.

“Nancy! You don’t suppose for a moment that she’s cheating, do you?”

“No. I think it may be worse, in a way,” replied Nancy, but her attention was back to the exercise books in front of her, and she didn’t notice as her friend left the room.

As Kathie walked down the corridor in search of Len Entwistle, however, she couldn’t shake Nancy’s words. Surely Felicity couldn’t be cheating? After all, the girl was a Maynard; she had been brought up by Joey and Jack, who were the last people to tolerate that sort of thing. Certainly the triplets had never shown any sign of such dishonourable behaviour. She was brought up sharply by the sight of her quarry talking to none other than Felicity. She approached them and, sparing an unintentionally contemptuous glance for Felicity, addressed Len.

“L- Mrs Entwistle! Just the person! Would you be a dear and help me with something?” Len murmured in the affirmative, and Kathie continued blithely, “I’m just horrifically busy this term, and I was wondering if you could possibly take over doing the Christmas play. We’ve talked it over, and you’d be just the person! Oh, you will, won’t you?” She looked expectantly at the young mistress, who smiled a trifle weakly.

“Yes, I suppose so. All right. Excuse me, will you?” Kathie watched Len walk off, then realised with a little jolt that Felicity was still there, glaring at her. She started to ask what the matter was, but was given no opportunity to speak.

“What did you do that for?”

“Wha--?”

“Can’t you see she’s got enough on already? You make me sick!”

“Felicity Josephine Maynard!” ejaculated Kathie, galvanised into speech. “How dare you address a mistress like that! Report yourself to Miss Annersley immediately!”

 


#46:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:43 pm


Yay for Felicity! But, doesn't Kathie teach Inter V maths? Or do she and Nancy share it?

ETA: Oops!!! Posted that before the second half was posted. NOT yay for Felicity! *growls* Glad to see that she's looking out for Len, but how dare she!!! hammer Felicity

Am very impressed with the extent of posting, Liss! *bows down in awe* Thank you!!

 


#47:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:03 pm


Please, please, please, please, please finish this one Liss - it's far too good to be left lingering on page 5. It's already one of my all time favourite drabbles.
Felicity might not care too much about her work, and I'm sure her reasons (whatever they are) make sense to herself, but she's still a pretty decent girl.
And I do hope that someone can do something for Margaret.

 


#48:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:01 pm


Felicity loitered outside Miss Annersley’s study, feeling somewhat reluctant to knock. Looking back, it had been really incredibly stupid to let rip at Miss Ferrars like that, and Felicity even felt a little guilty, as she had always rather liked the Geography mistress, who was popular with the girls. Nevertheless, she didn’t regret what she had said, and her mouth firmed as she remembered the scene. Buoyed with self-righteousness, she rapped firmly on the closed door. Hearing the call of ‘Herein!’, she opened it and walked into the hallowed sanctum of the Chalet School’s Head Mistress.

Miss Annersley looked up from the correspondence she had been reading and saw with a lowering sensation the mutinous expression on Felicity Maynard’s face. Though the girl had caused many a staff member to scratch her head, she had never been in any particular trouble, and it was unusual for her to present herself in this fashion.

“Yes, what is it, Felicity?” the Head asked calmly.

“Miss Ferrars told me to report myself,” replied Felicity coolly, though inwardly she was nervous. Miss Annersley put down the letter she had been holding, sat back, and surveyed her visitor.

“Why?” she asked briefly. Felicity flushed slightly.

“I-I was rude to her,” she said. “Very rude, I’m afraid. I… shouted.” A little more probing extracted the whole story, then Miss Annersley fell silent, unsure exactly what to do. However, one thing was clear, and from Felicity’s point of view it was the only thing that mattered.

“Whatever your feelings, Felicity, you cannot speak to a mistress like that,” she said sternly, no warmth evident in her face. “I am shocked and disappointed that you should have behaved towards Miss Ferrars in such a disrespectful and ill-mannered way, as your parents and sister would be.”

“Oh, you won’t tell Len, will you!” exclaimed Felicity suddenly. “Please don’t, Miss Annersley. It would only worry her horribly!” Miss Annersley permitted herself a tight smile.

“Your feelings do you credit, Felicity, however you should perhaps have considered the implications of your actions before you gave way to them.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” responded Felicity hurriedly. “And you can tell Mamma and Papa; I don’t mind, really. Only please don’t tell Len. She’ll feel responsible, you see.”

“Len is a responsible person, and she…”

“And she’s taken advantage of!” interrupted Felicity, her ire rising again. “I know she’s horribly busy at the moment, so much that she can’t keep up, hardly, and Miss Ferrars handed on the Christmas play as if Len had nothing better to do. It’s not fair!” Miss Annersley looked at Felicity in amazement, hardly able to believe that the child she had known almost from birth should have the temerity to criticise her mistresses in this way.

“My dear child, all the mistresses are perfectly capable of coming to see me if they have any problems and…” Again she was interrupted.

“Oh, but she won’t, you know she won’t! She wouldn’t dare say that she couldn’t manage. And I know nobody said anything, but Mamma and Papa didn’t raise any idiots, and we all know what happened to Len in Oxford…”

“That’s quite enough, Felicity!” The Head’s voice was authoritative, and Felicity fell silent, panting a little from the passion of her words. Tears threatened, but she controlled herself, and sat straight in her chair, awaiting Miss Annersley’s judgement. That lady, however, realised that she would be able to do nothing with Felicity as things stood, and tore a piece of paper from the pad on her desk.

“Give this note to Matron, please. I have asked her to keep you in bed for the rest of the day.” Felicity took the note, bobbed her customarily graceful curtsey, and left the room, pulling the door closed behind her. Left at her desk, Miss Annersley considered the girl’s words, before ringing her bell. A minute or two later there came a tap, and one of the maids, Mitzi, entered.

“Ah, Mitzi! Could you find Mrs Entwistle, please, and ask her to come and see me. Thank you.”

 


#49:  Author: Lulie as guest PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:15 pm


*intrigued* what did happen to Len at Oxford?

I do feel sorry for her, being so busy and not being the kind of person who could say so.

More Please, Liss Very Happy Very Happy

 


#50:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:19 pm


This is very good, Liss! Please make sure you finish that one!


And if you could enlighten us about the mystery of Meg at some point, that would be nice too! Very Happy

 


#51:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:26 pm


“Nancy, could I have a word?” Miss Wilmot looked up from the book she had been reading in the comfort of a chair set out in the garden used exclusively by the staff. Though the weather was rather cool now, in October, Nancy had felt the urge for a little privacy, and so had sought refuge in the outdoors. Miss Annersley, clad in a light coat, stood over her.

“Of course! What about?”

“Felicity Maynard.”

“Ah.”

“You taught her when she was much younger, didn’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How was she? At Maths, I mean.” Nancy shrugged.

“No worse than anyone else. Very careless in her arithmetic, but basically sound.”

“And now?”

“Still very careless, and generally worse than everyone else. Or so she would have us think.”

“You have doubts?”

“I’m not sure any more.” Miss Annersley pondered the Senior Maths mistress’s words a moment, then changed the subject.

“Did you hear about what happened to Len while she was at Oxford?” Nancy’s face became slightly guarded.

“Some,” she admitted. “Rumours, mainly. Apparently she had some kind of nervous breakdown.” Miss Annersley shook her head decisively.

“No, it was nothing that bad. She took on far more than she could cope with, though, and did more or less collapse. I’ve been quite shockingly blind, Nancy,” she admitted, her voice full of self-loathing that was so different to the Head’s usual tones that Nancy outright stared. “Len’s been having problems here with the amount of things she’s been roped into doing, and I hadn’t even noticed.”

“We’re so used to her being the dependable one,” said Nancy slowly, thinking aloud.

“Exactly. I could have slain Felicity Maynard when she complained about it, but I spoke to Len and she admitted it. She hates to say no to anyone, unfortunately.”

“You couldn’t have known,” began Nancy, but Miss Annersley shook her head.

“No, I should have known. It’s my job, Nancy. I was the first person who should have noticed. I hold myself very much to blame.” She fell silent for a moment. “I spoke to Kathie as well; it’s why I came to see you. She said you’d had some problems with Felicity’s work. She was afraid Felicity may have been cheating.” Nancy’s eyes widened.

“Cheating? Where on earth did she get that idea? Oh, I think she mentioned it earlier. To be honest, Hilda, I was going to come and see you about it myself.” She explained the mystery of the Maths prep to the Head Mistress, then continued, “So you see, I’m sure she’s deliberately doing bad work. And for the life of me, I can’t work out why. Kathie’s insistent that Felicity just isn’t particularly clever and can’t manage the work, but if that’s the case, how come she managed to show young Margaret how to do it?”

“Well, by all accounts Margaret Harrington is a very clever girl,” replied Miss Annersley. “She may have just have been kind by giving Felicity the credit. All the same, I think it may bear looking into. Leave it with me, Nancy.” She rose from the wall on which she had been perched, and smiled down at the woman she had known for so long. “Don’t stay out here too long, will you? Matey will have words to say if you make yourself ill!” Nancy rolled her eyes.

“I’m sure we would all be ‘cabin’d, cribb’d and confin’d’ if Matey had anything to do with it,” she said with a smile.

“Nonsense,” retorted Miss Annersley, on her way back up the path, “she believes far too whole-heartedly in good old-fashioned exercise for that!”

 


#52:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:42 pm


Poor Len! And yay for Felicity - I'm still trying to figure out why she's trying to do badly - maybe to stay as long as possible to keep an eye on Len? *g*

Hope that the play doesn't get handed straight back to Kathie though! Someone else should take a turn.

 


#53:  Author: XantheLocation: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 3:07 pm


*dancing and chanting, chanting and dancing*

*sobs* can't believe I am going to have to wait until Sunday night (or possibly even Monday!) to catch up on this!

 


#54:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:42 pm


Liss, this is brilliant! And I'm VERY impressed with the rate it's appearing at!!!! Wink

 


#55:  Author: AnnLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:59 pm


This is fascinating Liss - interesting to see Len not being able to cope with all her responsibilities. Well done to Felicity for making the staff aware of it!

 


#56:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 5:23 pm


Liss this is absolutely amazing. More please!!! Although I am v impressed with the amount you're posting already!

 


#57:  Author: AlexLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 5:32 pm


Wow Liss! I think I know what's going on, but hurry up and write more so I can see if I'm right!

 


#58:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:35 pm


Liss, this is wonderful, there are so many mysteries.Thank you for posting so much.

 


#59:  Author: BethCLocation: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:49 pm


This is great, Liss - it's really interesting to see Felicity as a "real" teenager! Also nice to have lots to read - so next bit, please Very Happy !

 


#60:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:07 pm


this is really good! looking forward tot he next bit liss!

 


#61:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:35 pm


Oh Liss, this is fabulous!

The Len in Oxford situation is extremely feasible; I am completely intrigued by this version of Felicity - and I like this version very much! - but why is she deliberately doing badly?

I feel very sorry for Margaret and want to hug her ((((Meg)))).

I was going to go to bed early but think I might stay up for a while and see if any more of this appears Smile

 


#62:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 2:34 am


kike everyone else I love this. I do think Felicity, in spite of all her efforts to the contrary, is actually a very good CS girl.. Laughing

 


#63:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 1:54 pm


Hilda Annersley had not had the least intention of telling Joey Maynard anything about what had happened. Though she knew that Joey would be concerned about Len’s problems, Len was no longer a girl, and Hilda felt that it would be wrong to tell Jo. However, she had reckoned without that good lady, and two days later, Mrs Maynard herself appeared at the school.

“Hilda!” she exclaimed, holding out her hands. “My dear Hilda!” Hilda took the proferred hands and kissed Jo on the cheek.

“Hello, Jo,” she said mildly. “To what do I owe the honour of this visit?” Instead of her usual light-heartde reply, however, Jo looked at her gravely as she sat down.

“I've had a talk with Len,” she said. “She told me about everything that happened. I just came to thank you, Hilda. I didn't notice anything, you see,” this with a tinge of self-reproach. “After everything in her second year at Somerville, she seemed to be OK again, and I didn't think that her being too busy to see me meant that she was too busy, full stop.” Hilda shook her head.

“Oh, don't thank me, Jo! I didn't notice either. You have another of your daughters to thank for that.” Joey looked puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“Felicity came to see me about it,” said Hilda, carefully omitting the exact details of that interview. “I knew Len was busy, of course, but I hadn't appreciated that it was more than she could cope.” Jo propped her chin on her hand, and looked thoughtful.

“Felicity has always adored Len, you know,” she said. “Len was always very good to her when she was tiny – well, you know what she was like.”

“I think we may have taken her sense of responsibility for granted,” observed Hilda, and Jo nodded.

“Yes, and I'm as guilty as anyone of that. She was just such a help, and was always so willing to take on responsibility, so...I just let her.”

“You mustn't blame yourself, Jo,” started Hilda, but her guest disagreed.

“I'm her mother, Hilda. If not me, then who?” But before Hilda could answer, Jo laughed. “Oh, listen to the pair of us! This sort of thing never helps! The important thing is that we're aware of it all, now, and can make sure that Len doesn't have too much on her plate. There's no point in getting mournful and assigning blame.” Hilda smiled.

“You're right, of course. I had a long chat with Len the other day, and she promised faithfully that she would tell someone if things were getting too much, and I know as well to keep an eye on her.”

“Meanwhile,” continued Jo, “it's rather encouraging that young Felicity came to see you about it. I'll be honest, Hilda, and say that her attitude has been causing Jack and me not a little worry. She's so...so uncaring!”

“Mm,” said Hilda, then made up her mind to tell Jo about their worries about Felicity. She explained what Nancy Wilmot had said, and was about to embark on her own thoughts, when she was interrupted by the sound of Jo's laughter.

“Oh, that silly idiot! How could she be such an imp?” She sobered suddenly. “Oh, it's not funny, really it's not.”

What's not funny?” demanded Hilda impatiently. “I do wish you wouldn't go off like that, Jo!”

“She's not still in Inter V because she's not clever enough for the Fifth,” said Jo definitely. “I can't imagine why we all fell for that – Felicity was certainly not a stupid child, though she was careless enough with her work, Heaven knows. She's there because she wants to be.”

“But why on earth...?” asked Hilda, bewildered.

“She doesn't want to be a Senior. Or at least, she doesn't want the responsibility. She knew what happened to Len, Hilda; I suspect all the kids did. Oh, we didn't tell them, of course, but in retrospect it was idiotic of us to think they wouldn't notice anything. I bet” - this with a calm disregard for proper language - “that she made up her mind to avoid responsibility like the plague.”

“She could have gone up the school doing that,” objected Hilda, but Jo shook her head.

“No, not really. If she'd gone up normally, she knew she'd probably have ended up a Prefect – and she would, Hilda, probably, if she'd carried on as she had when she was younger.” Remembering the serious charm of the young Felicity, Hilda acquiesced.

“You're probably right,” she admitted. “The question is, what are we to do about it? I can hardly let this sort of thing go on, Jo! She shouldn't be in Inter V anyway, she's far too old.”

“We'll think of something,” Jo declared with a grin. “Never fear!”

 


#64:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 1:59 pm


Nice to see a caring Joey.

Thanks Liss - a very feasible reason why Felicity decided not to work.

 


#65:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 2:12 pm


Very feasible! It's good to see Joey admitting that she doesn't know everything about her childrens life too.
I like her in this, so far.

 


#66:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 2:48 pm


Thanks Liss!

Really pleased to see more!

 


#67:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 3:54 pm


I hope that you're writing lots more of this, Liss. I still want to know why Jo's books were forbidden!

 


#68:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 4:38 pm


So do I....but I'm willing to settle for more of this in the meantime! Very Happy Razz

 


#69:  Author: claireLocation: South Wales PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 7:02 pm


Just caught up and it's excellent so far, and it's good to see Felicity trying, and avoiding, to avoid taking on helping other people - I guess her genes are too strong

 


#70:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:08 pm


*grin*

Excellent Liss!!
Glad they've worked out WHY Felicity isn't working....

 


#71:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:41 pm


Hmmm... the question is how are they going to address it? Methinks Len will be included somehow.

Thank you, Liss! Very Happy

 


#72:  Author: Miss DiLocation: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 4:20 am


Just started reading this drabble (thanks to Laura's referal on GO) and am really enjoying it.

Felicity just can't help taking after her mother can she!

Nice to see that Joey is not always the Evil Manipulating Cow she seems to be in most stories! Twisted Evil

 


#73:  Author: ellendLocation: Bow, London PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:06 am


Just caught up with the last two days postings. I'm really enjoying this and I do like Felicity here. Great to see a new view on Len with her sense of responsibility resulting in her being overwhelmed.

Kathie seemes to have changed and be less good at understanding her pupils. I hope we find out why.

Ellen

 


#74:  Author: dackelLocation: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:32 am


Gosh Liss, you have been busy! *very impressed* I really like Felicity in this - trying not to get sucked into the typical Bettany/Maynard way of being responsible, hard-working, caring, and in most respects, frustratingly perfect - and put upon by everyone to solve their problems! Very realistic that one of them would just not want that, especuially seeing what it did to her older sisiters and this case, of course, Len most of all. Keep up the good work and carry on typing busily, there's a lovely person who cares about our well-being and wouldn't us to expire of curiosity as to what happens next!

Really, really hope that Felicity and Jo manage to sort out Magaret, poor girl, she does not seem to have nice home at all. Going pale at the words "they'll start whipping us in" gives me horrible ideas about just what makes her father such a nasty person! Please stick to the ususal Chalet School world and make everything end happily and "for the best"! Very Happy

 


#75:  Author: BookwormsarahLocation: Cambridge, UK PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:58 am


Very intriguing...

I *was* leaning towards Felicity having some form of dyslexia (dysnumeria?), but am swiftly having these thoughts squished...

 


#76:  Author: JackieJLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 8:26 pm


Ooooh, just found this. It's very good Liss, and I like the fact that Felicity has inherited yet another of her mothers foibles. (*wonders if Cecil or Phil will have the voice like a boy-chorister*)

May we have some more please?

JackieJ

 


#77:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 10:52 pm


Oh Lissikins..........


















more soon please shiny squeen!!(anyone would think you'd had something better to do today or something..... Wink )

 


#78:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 1:04 am


Just read this from the beginning, and it's excellent!
All the characters seem very real -- and most likeable, except Margaret's parents, whom I suspect of being abusive Evil or Very Mad .

Please continue. Lots. And soon.

 


#79:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:23 am


As it happened, Felicity had come to the same conclusion herself, with a little help from her twin. She had received a letter from Felix, a lordly sixth-former at Winchester, the day after her scene with Miss Annersley, and it had run thus:

Dear Felicity,

How are you? I’m fine; so is school. Have been made capt. of 2nd XI rugger but not told Ma as she will only get over-excited. New bloke for Latin is quite good – better than old Hewitt, anyway! You know what an ass he was.

Have you seen Ma yet? Has she got over the Bad Report? You should probably work at least one day a week, or you’ll end up in a ginormous row. Seriously, Flixy, I can’t see them letting you stay in that form forever. I’m surprised Aunt H. hasn’t done anything about you yet. I bet you’re a real thorn in her side! Write and let me know how it’s going.

Love Felix


Felix, Felicity had thought, could be a prize idiot on occasion, but he did have moments of sense. And he was right, of course. At the end of the term, she would have been in Inter V for two full years, and would be heading towards seventeen. The chances of that state of affairs continuing were pretty slim. Sitting in the form room as Miss Charlesworth patiently lectured about the beginnings of the Agrarian Revolution – who decided that they should learn this stuff? – Felicity thought about her sister. Joey Maynard had been completely correct when she said that Felicity adored Len. Not that Felicity would have put it quite like that, of course, but she had always loved and admired her eldest sister; had always felt special when Len paid her attention. Len, to the young Felicity, had embodied everything she wanted to be as a person: calm, likeable, intelligent, caring. Insofar as she could manage, Felicity tried to live up to Len, a task made slightly more difficult by her obsession with ballet. But then, when Felicity was nearly thirteen, Len had been brought home from Oxford by their father, and spent a week in bed before rejoining the family, looking thin and strained and not at all like herself.

Neither Jack and Joey had told the rest of the family what had happened, but they had soon managed to work most of it out, and Margot, when she came home for the long vac, had been rather more indiscreet. Len had taken on too much. She had all her studies, had been President of her JCR, captain of the College Debating Society, a member of the University orchestra, as well as being involved in a number of other societies. Though she had been involved in many things at school, there was always the eagle eye of Matey to contend with, and no girl had been permitted to take on more than she could handle. At university, though, there was no one. All Len’s commitments had become too much for her; people had expected too much of her, and she had collapsed, fortunately while Jack Maynard was in England attending a conference.

As the memory of Len’s pathetic behaviour that holiday came back, Felicity’s resolve strengthened. It wasn’t even as if she’d been OK after that. She managed more or less all right through university, concentrating on her degree and pretty much dropping everything else, but the problems had started again once she came back to Switzerland to get married and to teach Languages at the Chalet School. Reg was a dear, of course, but he was busy at the San, taking on more and more responsibility as time went on, and moreover, being older, he expected Len to behave much as her mother did, ensuring that their home was run smoothly and there was a meal waiting for him when he woke up and when he got back from work. At the school, as well, most people didn’t know what had happened at Oxford, and they continued treating Len as they had done when she was Head Girl, expecting her to be happy to help with anything they suggested.

It’s not going to happen to me, decided Felicity. I won’t let it! What good did it ever do anyone, being so responsible? I don’t want to be Head Girl; I don’t want to be a pree. And you can’t just say no, not here. Look at Mamma! She didn’t want to be Head Girl at all, but they still made her, and it’s all very well her saying that she’s glad they did, but I bet she’d have been happier if they’d just let her be a normal Senior, and not worry about anything her last year. Len was different; she was pleased when they asked her. It’s OK, I suppose, if you really want it; after all, somebody’s got to take charge and get things done. But people shouldn’t be allowed to-to thrust responsibility on other people without a by-your-leave. It’s just not fair!

By this time, Felicity had worked herself into quite a state, and she said the last thought out loud. Fortune, however, quite undeservingly smiled upon her, and the class was just standing as Miss Charlesworth left the room. Felicity scrambled to her feet, before returning to her seat with a bump. Her cogitations had achieved their end, however, and Felicity was decided. She would work, all right. She’d get her remove to VB at the end of term, that should be easy enough. And then she’d work normally – sort of. But she would stick to her guns and not let them do anything responsible with her. She would have to show them that she was the last person who should be trusted with anything like that.


Last edited by Liss on Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:18 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#80:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:38 pm


Oh dear that last sentance sounded ominous! But I agree with her that it was unfair of the school to expect certain things of their pupils if they didn't want it. I also loved Felix's letter, especially him calling Jo, Ma!

 


#81:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:39 pm


Awwwwwww!!!!! PooR Felicity!!! and poor Len too!

 


#82:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:40 pm


*wondering how Felicity will manage that!*
I completely agree with her views on the Agrarian Revolution! Very Happy

 


#83:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 2:26 pm


It was unfortunate for Margaret that she should choose this lull between lessons to ask Felicity whether it would be a good idea for her to join the Rangers, or whether she should go to the Guides first. Felicity, mindful of her resolution, shrugged carelessly.

“Heavens, I don’t know!” she said, fiddling with her fountain pen. “Why don’t you go and ask Carrie – she’s supposed to be sheep-dogging you!” Margaret took this in the spirit it was intended, and retreated back to her desk with a mumbled apology, looking flushed and unhappy. Felicity steeled herself against Margaret’s upset expression, and distracted herself by paying such good attention in the Maths lesson that followed that Miss Wilmot, who had been given leave by Miss Annersley to sit on Felicity firmly should she show any signs of “not understanding” what was being taught, was amazed. Felicity finished her sums before anyone else and, when she came up to the mistress’s desk to have them marked, they proved to be neatly laid out and entirely correct.

“Well done, Felicity,” exclaimed Miss Wilmot, feeling, as she explained to the Staff Room at large that evening, somewhat dazed.

“Thank you, Miss Wilmot,” replied Felicity demurely, as she sat back down.

This pattern continued, though not perhaps quite so dramatically. Certainly the Staff noticed that Felicity Maynard had “pulled her socks up” with a vengeance, and is was generally put down to loneliness after Lucy Peters’ remove. Felicity, though, had not missed her friend as much as she had thought she would. She and Lucy had known each other since before either could remember, more or less, and had gone up the school side by side. Recently, though, Felicity had found herself getting a little bored by Lucy. That young lady was slightly younger than Felicity, and decidedly less mature. She had a genuinely lackadaisical approach to life, and though she was sweet-tempered enough, her character had been rather spoilt by her parents. Adopted at a young age, she was the only chance that Phoebe and Frank Peters had been given of having children, and Phoebe, at least, had been inclined to pamper the child. As a result, Lucy could, on occasion, think herself the most important person in her little universe, though Phoebe Peters asserted strongly that she was as caring a child at home as you could wish for.

Be that as it may, Felicity found herself for the first time without any real companionship. Lucy was friends with various other members of VB, and Felicity felt little desire to keep up the kind of friendship they had enjoyed before. Furthermore, the disadvantages of being in a form where most of the girls were a year, if not two years, younger became evident. Most of them had come up the school together and already had well-established coteries, and though several girls had evinced a desire to be friends with Felicity, none of them were people she would have chosen for herself. The only person she felt any friendship for was Margaret Harrington, and Felicity instinctively knew that somehow friendship with the new girl would come under the banner of “helping.” Therefore, Miss Harrington must be left to her own devices.

 


#84:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:05 pm


Poor Felicity!!! She has got herself into a bit of a pickle hasn't she! Hope she sees sense and decides to be friendly with Margaret anyway!

 


#85:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:15 pm


Hoist with her own petard!

 


#86:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:41 pm


Oooops, Felicity is certainly making things hard for herself in her quest or an easy life isn't she?
I do hope she doesn't completely abandon Margaret though, and that something, or someone, teaches her that you can't go all the way thrugh life without being a responsible person.
(I don't think I've worded that very well, but I hope the meaning is there, somewhere.)

 


#87:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:46 pm


She's a Maynard, she'll have to! Can you imagine the lecture she'd get in the study?

 


#88:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:34 pm


I don't have to - I've already written it!!

*super annoying Mr. Green *

 


#89:  Author: claireLocation: South Wales PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:41 pm


I thought you'd posted the next bit then - more please Liss!

 


#90:  Author: RachLocation: Cheltenham, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:58 pm


This is fantastic Liss - I come back from a weekend away to find a whole new drabble to read! Very exciting, and I'm hoping there might be a little bit more soon, please.

 


#91:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:42 pm


*Thinks Liss should prove she's already written the part with the gloating smiley. By posting. Now.*

*never heard of the Agrarian Revolution Embarassed .*
Are we talking domestication of cereals and the origins of agriculture? Cyrus McCormick, Eli Whitney et al.? Peasant revolts (doubtless caused by insufficient drabble)?

 


#92:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:49 pm


Alas, I haven't written the bit in the middle yet.

Agrarian Revolution: think crop rotation and seed drills...

 


#93:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:52 pm


*wails*

Liiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssss!


Stop posting posts that aren't more drabble! Meanie! Sad


Please write the 'middle' bit soon and please let us know about Meg too!!

 


#94:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 12:45 am


LAURA ELIZABETH!!!!!!!!
Get yourself back here and post more story please!!!!!! Wink

 


#95:  Author: keren PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:38 am


good story.
like the comlex par twhere you talk about her relationships wiht other girls

 


#96:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:18 pm


hammer Vikki...

-----

As half-term approached it became accepted by the staff of the Chalet School that Felicity Maynard was really making an effort with her work, and that Margaret Harrington was decidedly unhappy about something. Matron Lloyd was keeping her customary keen eye on the new girl, but though she was showing signs of a poor appetite and occasional bouts of tears, Margaret herself drew no attention to them, and Matey found that there was little she could do, bar dosing the child with cod liver oil and a patent nostrum of her own. A kind word with Miss Ferrars had elicited nothing more than the information that Margaret was finding school quite a change from being at home with her parents.

“I don’t know what else to do with the child!” that lady said one evening, a cup of Mlle Lachenais’s wonderful coffee in her hand. “At least when it’s someone absolutely wracked with homesickness – like that Odette kid, remember? – you can be sure they’ll snap out of it. Margaret seems to be going round in a-a fugue.”
Does she have any friends in that crowd?” asked Anne Maloney, the pretty Irish Art mistress who had taken the place of Rosalind Yolland when she left to be married. Kathie Ferrars shook her head.

“Not a soul, as far as I can tell. They’re an insular lot, this term – most of them came up from Upper IVa and have been here a while. Margaret’s the only new girl. Carrie Woodhouse was sheep-dogging her, but she’s bosom friends with Elizabeth Ames and Dempsey twins, and they aren’t really about to welcome anyone else with open arms.”

“Who on earth picked Carrie to sheep-dog anyone?” demanded Peggy Burnett. “I never knew such a conservative child! Do you remember when she practically had a temper tantrum because Matey made her switch dormies – when was it? She must have been in Lower III, I should think.”

“Upper II,” supplied Kathie. “She was just a kid then, Peggy! And it was me who chose her,” she added. “I thought it might do her good, to have to look out for someone who wasn’t in her particular group of friends.”

“Might have done, if she’d managed it,” retorted Peggy. “As far as I can tell, she’s left Margaret alone.”

“I’m hoping she’s going to cheer up a bit, though,” said Kathie, selecting a cake from the platter on the low table amongst the chairs. “Miss Annersley told me that her parents are going to be in Switzerland at half-term, and Mrs Harrington has written to ask if they can have Margaret for the weekend.”

“As long as she does cheer up. Ten-to-one she’ll come back from half-term even more of a weeping willow! I do wish parents would let their kids alone the first term,” opined Peggy darkly, and there was a wave of agreement.

“I’ll say!” laughed Ruth. “Like those awful mothers who insist on wailing all over their darlings at the station at the start of term! I do feel sorry for the girls! I saw Lily Rowen’s mother doing just that last summer, and I thought the poor thing was going to sink through the floor!” There was general laughter at this for, despite her name, Lily, who was a shining light of Va, was generally accounted to be a hardened specimen who had clamoured loudly to be allowed to take over the care of the staff’s collection of cars after Jack Lambert had left. Though only a Junior Middle at the time, she had still shown herself to have a remarkable attitude for mechanics, and proclaimed to anyone who would listen that she wanted to open a garage when she left school. What Mrs Rowen would say about this ambition, no-one had dared to think! The conversation moved onto other subjects, and Margaret, for the time being, was forgotten.

 


#97:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:00 pm


Ooops again! Why do I think that the weekend with her parents will make Margaret worse rather than better?
On the other hand, it may give the staff a clue to her problems, I hope.

 


#98:  Author: KatethLocation: Essex PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:13 pm


*bounces*

I'm enjoying this!

 


#99:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:15 pm


She's lonely poor girl, where's the famous CS trick of making sure that all new girls are looked after?

 


#100:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:26 pm


Poor Margaret, I don't think half term will be good at all but I am glad to see Felicity improving.

I read your post on GO about this story so I understand about Felicity's postion but, I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen. Thanks Liss Very Happy

 


#101:  Author: MarianneLocation: Lancaster PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:43 pm


Gosh, just read this in its entirety. It's FAB!!!


MORE PLEASE

 


#102:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:27 pm


Thanks Liss.

I really like this drabble - hoping for lots more! Very Happy

 


#103:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:06 pm


Not so for Felicity, whose decision to leave Margaret alone had proved harder than she had imagined. The problem, of course, as far as she was concerned, was that Felicity was not the kind of person who could wantonly turn her back on someone who was in trouble. Certainly in recent years she had gone out of her way to ensure she didn't get involved, but it had been all right, because there was always someone else around – people like Marjory Graves, Jean Morrison and Annabelle Rotherham. It had all changed now, though: Marjory and Jean had won their removes to VIb the previous term, Annabelle was gracing Va, and even the last of their coterie, Lucy, was in Vb. As Miss Ferrars had observed to her colleagues, the current Inter V had, for the main part, gone up the school together, and were too concerned with their own small problems to worry about anyone else. So, for the first time, Felicity found herself being the only person who was likely to do anything about Margaret's obvious unhappiness.

It is quite likely that, had she been left to her own devices, Felicity's better self would have overcome her stubborn refusal to be responsible for anyone other than herself, but sadly this was not to be. Acting on a passing comment made by Joey Maynard, to the effect that she had hoped her daughter would be friends with the younger girl, Miss Ferrars had taken Felicity to one side as the rest of Inter V hurried off for Mittagessen, and asked her to see if she could take Margaret under her wing.

Felicity, who was still feeling a little sore about the Geography mistress’s careless handing over of the school play to Len (though in fact the responsibility had been passed to Miss Mitchell, the junior English mistress, with Miss Ferrars 'producing'), had reacted badly to this request, had, as politely as she could manage, informed Miss Ferrars that Carrie Woodhouse was sheep-dogging her, and had escaped, indignation burning in her breast. It all went to show, thought Felicity rebelliously, that they were determined to shove these sort of things onto you, whether you liked it or not. The only thing to do was be absolutely firm about it and not move an inch.

'Grannie Maynard', as she had been affectionately referred to, would have recognised this attitude instantly. As a boy, Jack Maynard had been something special when it came to obstinacy, and this difficult characteristic had been passed down to Felicity for, though it happened rarely, when she dug her heels in over something, she didn't budge. However, this didn't stop her intervening when some of the rowdier element of the form went beyond the pale.

Mariel von Eschenau, one of the Prefects, had appeared towards the end of Inter V's English lesson had had asked that Margaret go to see Miss Annersley after morning lessons. On her return, Margaret had spoken to no-one, but sat in a corner of the common room. Eventually, it became apparent to her form-mates that she was crying. Unfortunately, she had already developed a reputation for being a 'cry-baby', though she rarely cried when there was anyone around to see it, and some of the girls started to tease her about it. Felicity, sitting reading a book about parliamentary reform that Miss Charlesworth had recommended, had done nothing for a few minutes, but when no-one did anything, her natural feelings of fair play asserted themselves, and suddenly everyone was aware of someone speaking.

“I had always thought that at this school folk didn't bully other people. Rotten bad form.” These dispassionate words had the desired effect, and the offenders melted away. Georgina Ford, the Form Prefect, also looked chagrined, all too uncomfortably aware that she was the one who should have spoken.

After a while, Margaret, emboldened by Felicity's defence of her, approached the elder girl, fingers twisting in her damp handkerchief.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. Felicity shrugged, a gesture which had become only too irritating to Mrs Maynard in recent months.

“'Sokay.” She went back to her book, but Margaret remained standing by her chair. Felicity steadfastly ignored her for a moment or two, but couldn't manage it any longer.

“What is it?” she asked rudely.

“I-I...” stuttered Margaret, then, with a brave effort, especially considering Felicity's recent behaviour, she asked, “My parents have asked Miss Annersley if I could stay with them over half-term. She said I could, but I can ask someone to go with me, if I like. Would...would you go with me?” This was asked with such a hopeful expression, that Felicity almost succombed there and then, but Miss Ferrars words flashed into her head, and Len's strained face, and she steeled herself. She laughed.

“Oh, you're not serious! They're taking us to the Valais this half-term! I couldn't possibly miss it. Why don't you ask one of the others?” Margaret's face was such a picture of disappointment that Felicity could hardly bring herself to look.

“No,” she said, almost inaudibly. “It's all right, thanks. Sorry for bothering you.”

 


#104:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:11 pm


poke Felicity

Irritating child!

 


#105:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:16 pm


Not very nice of Felicity.

I hope someone does something to help Margaret soon though.

 


#106:  Author: RoseaLocation: Edinburgh PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:24 pm


awwww -poor Margaret! Make Felicity be nice to her pleeease, that was so mean.

But great installment, thanks, even if I do feel all upset for poor Margaret now.

 


#107:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:30 pm


I know Felicity was mean, but I can so easily see where she is coming from and feel really sorry for her as well. She did want to do the right thing before her obstancy took over. Feel sorry for Margaret as well, crying cos she has to be with her parents, that says a lot about her home life.

 


#108:  Author: KatethLocation: Essex PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 9:38 pm


Oh, rarrrrgh to Felicity! I know she's got her reasons, but that was just plain mean! Poor Margaret!

V much enjoying this, still Smile

 


#109:  Author: ellendLocation: Bow, London PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 9:46 pm


Gosh, Kathie has certainly lost any tact or insight, although she wasn't very good with older teenagers in New Mistress. Perhaps Felicity is getting too old for her to manage as a mistress.

I can understand Felicity being stubbon, when someone's trying to force her in one direction. Pity she's exercising it on Margaret, who seems to need a bit of support.

Looking forward to further installments.

Ellen


Last edited by ellend on Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:26 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#110:  Author: JackieJLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:07 pm


Nasty Felicity, although you can understand why, she obviously doesn't want to get stuck in the mould that Len has.

Please Liss, may we have some more?

(randomly OT, anyone else catch the Hilda-like ranting of using 'can' for 'may' in That'll teach 'em tonight?)

JackieJ

 


#111:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:28 pm


Liss wrote:
hammer Vikki...




NOW I know why my head has been thumping all day!!!!!!


Excellent posts thank you Lissikins!!! May we have some more soon please?

 


#112:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:38 pm


Quote:
randomly OT, anyone else catch the Hilda-like ranting of using 'can' for 'may' in That'll teach 'em tonight?)

JackieJ


Yes I did - and immediately thought of Hilda too!

Liss this is just fab Very Happy

I think Felicity will end up going with Margaret, witness some 'heavy discipline' and feel duty bound to butt in...

 


#113:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:42 pm


Poor Margaret!

Even if it weren't for her responsibility avoidance, though, I can see Felicity's point of view in this instance. Who'd want to be guilted into spending an entire half term with someone they hardly know (and parents I don't think I'd WANT to know), when they have the alternative of a CS excursion? Still, she could have been nicer about it!

*has a horrible feeling that something awful will happen during half term*

 


#114:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:02 am


I can sympathise with the staff's views about letting kids go home in their first term. I remember that when I first went to boarding school, i was perfectly happy until it was time to come back after october half term- and then home-sickness got me with a vengeance! I remember crying on the phone to my mum and begging her to get me on the weekend flight home when the others went. This was at quite short notice and I believe my parents had to spin the woman at British Midland a sob story. I was 15 at the time. Embarassed

More, Liss! (makes note of 'Laura Elizabeth'.. Wink )

 


#115:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:01 am


Lisa_T wrote:
More, Liss! (makes note of 'Laura Elizabeth'.. Wink )


Feel free! I have no Victoria-esque objection to my own name!!! smurf

 


#116:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 10:14 am


Half-term approached, and Inter V was in high spirits at the thought of the planned trip to the Valais. Usually a expedition left to girls in the Fifth or even Sixth forms, for some reason the authorities had made it Inter V’s destination, and the girls were considerably excited as a result, and some of them went so far as to commiserate with Margaret, whose parents would be coming to collect her before the rest of the form left.

“Awfully bad luck,” sympathised June Dempsey. “Can’t you get your folk to change their mind?”

“Oh no!” replied Margaret, shaking her head violently. “I couldn’t possibly! They-they want to see how I’m getting on.” June shrugged and left it at that.

The morning of half-term dawned, and the entire school was delighted to see that the weather was fine. There was considerably more hullabaloo in the dormitories than would normally be permitted as the girls sorted themselves out for their weekends away. Felicity, determined to enjoy herself, came down to the form room after Fruhstuck, and immediately noticed that someone was missing.

“Where’s Margaret run off to?” she asked casually, peering into her desk in case anything interesting had materialised overnight.

“Off with her parents,” replied Carrie. “They came right after Brekker. They looked awfully nice – I don’t know why Margaret was in such a tizz about having to go with them.”

“Probably annoyed about missing the trip,” suggested June’s twin, Angela. “I know I would be, if Mummy and Daddy suddenly decided to whisk us off!”

“Still, she’s bound to have a nice time,” continued Carrie. “Mrs Harrington said they had loads of stuff planned.”

 


#117:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 10:34 am


I hope she does have a nice time!


Thank you Liss!


Looking forward to the next update .............

 


#118:  Author: MarianneLocation: Lancaster PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 11:06 am


ah interesting.

I hope she has a good time as well.

 


#119:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:25 pm


I have an awful foreboding about Margaret's half term...hope Liss tells us about it soon.

 


#120:  Author: JackieJLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:26 pm


Me too Carolyn, and will Felicity end up helping, I can't imagine her not *shrugs*

JackieJ

 


#121:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:31 pm


The trip to the Valais was hailed by all as a complete success. In the coach on the way home, the girls chattered about what they had done while the mistresses listened with an indulgent ear. The returned back to the school in good time, though Felicity was accosted by one of the Juniors before she even reached the front door, and was asked to go and see Miss Annersley. Returning to the main entrance hall fifteen minutes later, she found that her form had dispersed, with the exception of Carrie, June, Angela and Cleo Armstrong, a girl whose mother had a passion for, unsurprisingly, Egyptian history. They were laughing at something a rather stocky man had said, and Felicity deduced that this must be Dr Harrington. Standing beside him was a delicate-looking woman and Margaret.

“That’s terribly funny, Dr Harrison!” Clea was saying, in her affected way. “I shall tell Father!” Dr Harrington responded in kind, then the group noticed Felicity, her blazer slung over one shoulder.

“Hallo, Felicity!” greeted Carrie. “What did the Abbess want?” Felicity was tempted to tell the other girl to mind her own business, but that would hardly do in front of parents.

“My sister had invited me for dinner this evening. Miss Annersley just wanted to let me know that I was to go with her rather than go to Abendessen with everyone else.” She looked expectantly at the Harringtons, and Carrie took the hint.

“Oh, Dr and Mrs Harrington, this is Felicity Maynard, one of the girls in our form. These are Margaret’s parents.” Greetings were exchanged, then Dr Harrington continued.

“Ah, yes, Maynard! I met your father at a conference in London. I must say I’m surprised – I didn’t realise our Margaret would be in a form with such big girls.” His eyes raked over Felicity, and she stepped back slightly, oddly uncomfortable.

“Margaret’s very clever,” she said briefly, casting a quick glance at the silent schoolgirl. “And now, please excuse me. I’ll have to go and change before I go and visit my sister.” She sped along to the stairs as Carrie explained that her sister was really Mrs Entwistle, their German mistress. As she sat on her bed in Pansy, deciding which dress to wear, the dormitory door opened and Angela Dempsey walked in. It should be noted that she and June were in different dormitories, as Matey was far too wise a bird to put them together!

“I bet Margaret had a smashing time,” she said by way of conversation as she began to change. “I really liked her dad, didn’t you? A nice change from mine, anyway – he’s no fun at all!” Felicity murmured something non-committal before deciding on a deep blue velvet which had been a little-worn hand-me-down from Margot. Making a decision, she suddenly spoke.

“Didn’t you think he was a bit…I don’t know – strange?” Angela looked at her in surprise, her woolly jumper hanging from one finger.

“What on earth do you mean? Strange how?”

“I don’t know! Just a bit…off. You know!” But it was plain to see that Angela did not know, and with a sigh Felicity dropped the subject. It was probably all in her imagination, anyway.

 


#122:  Author: KatethLocation: Essex PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:36 pm


Ew! Icky man!

 


#123:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:50 pm


Really liking this Liss!

Not liking Dr Harrington at all though - highly suspicious of fathers who work so hard at making a good impression with ones friends

Can understand where Felicity is coming from - reminds me very much of me at that age! (Peverse and stubborn!) Hope she gives in though before suffering the inevitable near death experience!!

 


#124:  Author: BethLocation: Durham, apparently... PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:08 pm


*stands gaping in awe and wonder at skill of the squeen*

This is fantastic, but I'm feeling deeply uneasy about Margaret's home life... Poor wee thing.

Also looking forward to more...........?

 


#125:  Author: dackelLocation: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:35 pm


that was great. I checked yesterday, and there was nothing new, I checked today and there were three (!!!) new posts! Thanks Liss!

I do hope Felicity manages to help Magaret after all. Her father sounds kind of ... slimey. Let's hope the Maynard clan can fix something for her and make her a happy and proud Chalet girl!

 


#126:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:07 pm


Thank you Liss!!!
Not liking Margaret's dad here!!!

 


#127:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:07 pm


Wonderful! Thank you Liss!!

Am not at all sure about Mr Harrington, hope Margaret half term was ok and can understand why Felicity is behaving as she is, poor MArgaret though.

 


#128:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:09 pm


*Hugs Margaret* Poor thing, what a horrid father and I'm glad Felicity has noticed something.

Thank you Liss, excellent as always Very Happy

 


#129:  Author: XantheLocation: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:25 pm


Thanks Liss - I would be dancing for more drabble, but I think the poison pen letter my body received may have upset it Wink

 


#130:  Author: It's me! PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:50 pm


Golly! Who could have done such a thing?! Shocked

 


#131:  Author: ellendLocation: Bow, London PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 4:30 pm


Agrees with general dislike of Dr Harrington. Unlike the new episode, which was to your usual high standard, Liss.

Ellen

 


#132:  Author: patmacLocation: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 5:41 pm


Great story, Liss. I can understand Felicity not wanting to go the way of Len but I'm sorry that Joey doesn't understand.

Margaret's situation sounds scary to say the least.

 


#133:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 5:42 pm


Completely. Equally her father is so slimey!

More please.. Very Happy *hopeful smile*

 


#134:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:36 pm


Just caught up on the last three days posts - excellent Liss really enjoying this - feel sorry for Felicity and want to shake her at the same time! Feeling very uneasy about poor Margaret's home life.

 


#135:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:52 pm


Wonderful updates, can only agree with all the other comments re Margaret's father and Felicity.
I'm also wondering about Margaret's mother....

 


#136:  Author: JackieJLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:41 pm


Hmmmm.... I'm also picking up something not quite right about Margaret's Father, maybe Felicity's seeing it as she's older?

Please may we have some more, Liss?

JackieJ

 


#137:  Author: AlexLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:53 pm


We had an eeeevil history teacher at school called Mrs Harrington.

Hissssssss BBooooooooo

 


#138:  Author: Catherine_BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 10:52 pm


All hail to the Squeen.

Liss, have I said before that this is Brilliant?

Margaret's father seems like a Nasty Bit of Work. I hope he gets his come-uppance. And that Margaret is all right. And that Felicity comes through in the end but doesn't get forced to be more responsible than comes naturally.

 


#139:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 12:57 pm


I think I'm quite glad that Felicity didn't go away with the Harringtons for half-term.

Liz

 


#140:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:24 pm


An hour later saw Felicity once again loitering in the school’s entrance hall, this time washed and brushed and clad in the deep blue velvet dress, her school blazer draped over one arm in case it got chillier. After a few minutes she was joined by Len, looking smart in a lilac-coloured suit.

“Wasn’t that Margot’s?” asked Len as the two sisters walked out to the little car that Reg Entwistle had bought his wife. Felicity laughed.

“Honestly, Len! What don’t I wear that was once someone else’s?”

“Your blazer’s your own,” pointed out Len.

“Only because you three hung onto yours like grim death!” retorted Felicity. “And the one I had when I was a Junior wasn’t, anyway. It was yours, from when you first came out here.” Len shook her head.

“Not mine – I had an ink extravaganza after a about a year and Mamma had to get me a new one early. You had Con’s I think. You don’t mind, do you?” asked Len suddenly, one hand resting on the handle of the car door. Felicity gaped at her.

“Mind what?” she asked. Len shrugged, and got into the car, Felicity following suite.

“Oh, constant hand-me-downs, that sort of thing.”

“Not really. Anyway, I’ve had more new stuff than you think. Apart from anything else, with the best will in the world, Mamma didn’t pack some of your stuff particularly well, and it didn’t outlive the moths. Then I think she dumped a lot of stuff when we moved out here.”

“That was Auntie Madge’s doing,” laughed Len. “I think Mamma was insistent on bringing everything out, and Papa had just left it to her and Anna, but Auntie Madge took her in hand and just whisked away half the packing cases of clothes lingering in the attic.”

“Mmm, and then there’s the simple fact that I don’t look anything like you three, colouring-wise, I mean, and so there’s loads of yours and Con’s clothes that I just can’t wear. That’s why I’m mostly stuck with Margot’s things. Only now, of course, you’ve all left home, and none of us is going to grow any more, so I’ll have to have my own.” Len giggled.

“True enough! I’d love to see Reg’s face if I suddenly had a growth spurt at my age! But as long as you don’t mind…” Felicity eyed her sister suspiciously.

“You aren’t trying to mother me, are you?” she asked. Len looked at her in surprise.

“Heaven forbid, you brat!” Felicity smiled, then said hesitantly,

“Only I wouldn’t want you to feel like you should be, or anything. You know, feeling responsible for me. You don’t have to!” Len eyed her with interest for a moment before returning gaze to the road ahead.

“You are my sister, Felicity. I’ll probably always feel a little responsible for you; I can’t help it.”

“I’m just saying,” Felicity struggled on, “that you don’t have to-to take me on, as well.” With a quick glance in her mirror, Len suddenly braked and pulled to the side of the road.

“Look here, what’s this all about?” she asked, a glint in her eye. Felicity shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Have you been talking to Auntie Hilda?” Len suddenly demanded perspicaciously. Felicity blushed. “You have, haven’t you? What on earth for?”

“You’ve just been so snowed-under!” Felicity burst out, turning to face her sister. “I’ve noticed, and-and I got so mad when Ferry talked to you like that about the play that I…well, I was a bit rude, to be honest, so she sent me to the Head, and she said you were an adult and-and…” She wound down at this point, feeling a bit silly.

“You goose!” exclaimed Len affectionately. “Well, I suppose I should say thank you, because you’re right, it was getting a bit much. But Auntie Hilda had me in, and told me off in no uncertain terms for biting off more than I could chew, and made me promise to say ‘no’ to folk in the future if I thought I couldn’t manage. So it’s all right now. But talk about interfering! You’re as bad as Mamma!”

“I’m nothing like her!” cried Felicity heatedly, and Len looked at her oddly.

“OK, kid, keep your hair on! I was only saying! Anyway, we’re going to be hideously late, and Reg will row because he said he’d cook, and I don’t want to get back to a burnt-out ruin of a house.” And so saying, she drove on.

 


#141:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:44 pm


It was with some degree of relief that, when the little car pulled round the last bend to see the house where the Entwistles made their home, the structure was still sound and standing, without a flame in sight.

“Well, nothing too bad can have happened,” said Len, dubiously. “Still, Reg’s experiments with cooking so far have been dismal failures, bar none, and I don’t see why this one’s going to be any different.”

“What was he making?” asked Felicity, climbing out of the car. Len looked sceptical.

“I don’t know. He said it would be a surprise.”

She and Felicity walk up the narrow path that lead to the front door. The door opened, and Reg, who had evidently heard the car, stood in the doorway, shirt-sleeves rolled up, and sporting a generally dishevelled air.

“Hello, darling!” he said hopefully, dropping a dutiful kiss on his wife’s cheek. “Hello, Felicity!”

“’Lo, Reg,” said Felicity, giving her brother-in-law a quick hug. “How’s dinner coming along?” Reg looked hunted.

“Yes, well…” Len rolled her eyes. Reg noticed. “Oh, don’t look like that, Len, there’s a darling!” he said reproachfully. “I haven’t done anything!” He stepped back to allow the two girls into the house.

“So dinner’s ready?” asked Len, a note of surprise all too evident in her voice as she divested herself of her jacket, revealing a pretty silk blouse. Reg grimaced.

“What I meant was, I haven’t done anything. At all. One of our patients suddenly took a turn for the worse; I’ve only just got back. I was just trying to sort the stove out.” For a moment, Len looked sternly at her husband, then she smiled.

“It’s OK – you go into the Salon with Felicity. I’ll see what I can rustle up – don’t expect much, though,” she warned them. Reg caught her hands, and brought them to his lips.

“Best of wives! I know I’m a terrible disappointment!” Len laughed.

“Oh, Reg! I knew perfectly well when I married you that cooking was not something that would be shared! But you try, and it’s important,” she added hurriedly, seeing the expression of something like hurt on his face. “But go and entertain Felicity – I won’t be long.” She disappeared into the kitchen and Reg, twitching the blazer from Felicity’s grasp, ushered her into the Salon.

Reg grinned at his young sister-in-law. He was remarkably fond of Felicity, and had never been particularly concerned by the fact that she was stuck in Inter V, as, he had said, she would sort herself out eventually. Felicity was equally fond of him; he made Len very happy. Added to that, he was generally accounted to be a good chap, and his standing was good with the younger end of the Maynard clan. As Len readied their dinner, the pair of them chattered idly, then Felicity suddenly sat bold upright.

“Reg!”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever had that feeling?” Reg grimaced at her.

“Not knowing the feeling to which you refer, I couldn’t say.” Felicity flung a cushion at him.

“Idiot! You know, the feeling when you meet someone for the first time and you just don’t like them. No, more than that. Like there’s something wrong with them. D’you know what I mean?”

“Ye-es,” replied Reg cautiously. “You haven’t taken a violent dislike against one of your teachers, have you?”

“And the thing is, everyone else seems to think he’s perfectly all right,” continued Felicity, impervious to Reg’s interruption, “which is strange because I thought he was absolutely horrid.”

“Er, Felicity, who are you talking about?” asked Reg, somewhat confused.

“This man I met,” replied Felicity vaguely, happily oblivious to the look of wild perturbation that swept across his face. “And he was…”

“Strange,” supplied Reg.

“Exactly!” smiled Felicity. “You do know what I mean!”

“What do you mean about what?” enquired a fresh voice, and Felicity leapt up from her chair.

“Papa! How luscious! Len didn’t say anything about you being here!”

 


#142:  Author: RosieLocation: Huntingdonshire/Bangor PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:49 pm


*giggles*
Poor Reg! I can just picture the look of total bewilderment on his face!

 


#143:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:52 pm


Thank you, Liss! Wonderful set of episodes.

Hmm, does Jack know anything about the slimy Harrington?

 


#144:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:14 pm


Jack Maynard gave his daughter a warm hug, then shook Reg’s hand. “She didn’t know – I just came to drop some papers off before going home. What were you two gabbing about?”

“Felicity has met a strange man,” said Reg, straight-faced. Jack’s eyebrows rose.

“Really?” he said mildly. “Do tell, my dear!”

“Oh, you’ve met him too!” said Felicity, obliviously. “At least, he says you did, at a conference in London. Do you remember? His name is Dr Harrington.” She waited expectantly as her father wracked his brains.

“Yes, I think I remember,” he said slowly. “Portly sort of chap. He’s a Bart’s man, if I recall – a cardiologist. Yes, that’s right – he’s a registrar under McLeod.”

“A registrar!” said Felicity in surprise. “I thought only people like Reg were” – and she giggled a bit here, quite understandably – “registrars! Young men, I mean,” she added. “Dr Harrington must be quite old.” Jack Maynard eyed Felicity wryly.

“Late thirties or thereabouts is hardly old, you wretched creature,” he said dryly. “I was a little surprised, I will admit, but not everyone’s cut out to be a consultant.”

“Well, anyway,” continued Felicity, mentally dismissing the intricacies of the medical hierarchy. “What did you think of him?”

“Dr Harrington? Oh, he seemed a pleasant enough chap. We didn’t talk that much – a bit about our kids, that sort of thing.”

“Apparently he though you and Mamma were terribly strict,” said Felicity, a little curious about what her father might have said to give such a strong impression. Jack looked confused for a moment, then realisation dawned.

“That’s right! I’d quite forgotten! Young Geoff had given your mother the shock of her lifetime a week or so earlier, and I’d given him a thrashing. I mentioned it for some reason – can’t remember why, now – and he said that he’d had to take a cane to his offspring from time to time himself. Well, I can’t say I’m particularly enamoured with the idea of caning anyone, but each to his own, and boys do need discipline, whatever some people care to say.” Felicity, whose previous form had included a rather languid young person, whose parents’ views on such matters as the evil of corporal punishment had become all too familiar to the rest of her form, rolled her eyes in agreement.

“That would explain it,” she said. “Honestly, the way Margaret behaved, you’d think you’d told Dr Harrington that you were a-a positive Bluebeard! Only children locked away, not wives,” she added , just to clarify. Jack, not knowing who Margaret was supposed to be, agreed vaguely, then produced the papers for Reg, and bid his farewell, stopping off in the kitchen to beg a sandwich from his eldest child. After his departure, Len announced that dinner, such as it was, was ready, and could they come into the dining room, and talk turned to different channels.

 


#145:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:42 pm


Thank you Liss - three wonderful posts! Love Felicity's relationship with both Len and Reg, and she seems closer to Jack than Joey.

*Nasty, nasty Dr Harrington.* Mad


Last edited by Lesley on Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:13 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#146:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:49 pm


Ooh a nice Reg, yay for him (for once!)

I'm glad Felicity is sticking to her suspicions, Dr Harrington sounds very nasty!!!

 


#147:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:21 pm


Ummm, hope Felicity decides to help Margaret after all.

Good to see a nice Len/Reg scenario for a change!

 


#148:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 4:01 pm


Three lovely posts, Liss. Are we to expect the same number every day, please?

 


#149:  Author: ellendLocation: Bow, London PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 4:37 pm


Those three were great, Liss I loved all of them.

Looking forward to more. Is Dr Harrington a strict disciplinarian or is there more?


Ellen

 


#150:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 5:22 pm


I don't like this man at all! Glad the Felicity seems to be looking out for Margaret no matter how much she tries not to - it's just too funny! Hope that Kathie will develop some tact later on in the drabble though Sad Len and Reg are lovely - especially regarding the cooking!

 


#151:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 5:53 pm


Thanks Liss! And I have a feeling the Maynards are about to get involved?!

 


#152:  Author: LadyGuinevereLocation: Leicester PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:11 pm


Oooh, excellent! Lot's of lovely long posts!

Dr. Harrington does not sound nice at all! Wonder what Jack thought of him.

~LadyG

 


#153:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:57 pm


It's a pity really, that Jack didn't take the trouble to listen to Felicity properly, but it's also very true to life.
I love the way this story is developing, and I'm very impressed with the speed in which it's growing too.

 


#154:  Author: MarianneLocation: Lancaster PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 7:41 pm


Gosh, poor child, i hope Felicity solves all and sorts herself out as well!

 


#155:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:32 pm


I like this Reg! And I'm liking this Felicity more and more too Smile

Looking forward to finding out lots and lots more Smile

 


#156:  Author: JackieJLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:34 pm


Why do I get the feeling that Margaret's an only child.

I hope Felicity can help her.... and although I've not come across Reg much, it was nice to see him as someone who is trying to help but just isn't able.

JackieJ

 


#157:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:01 pm


Oh dear. I think Felicity is dismissing things as she has come across people who go to far the opposite way and Jack as he thinks Dr H was talking about a boy, not his daughter. Not that it should make a difference when it comes to excessive discipline, but to Jack's mind caning a boy and caning a girl would be two very different things.

Having wibbles now about what will happen before the happy ending that Liss is sure to write for us if she wants to live.


Last edited by Carolyn P on Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:28 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#158:  Author: AlexLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:19 pm


Gem wrote:
Hope that Kathie will develop some tact later on in the drabble though


Thought at first one of the Kathies had posted a comment and spent ages trying to work out what this meant? Embarassed

Felicity seems to have inherited her mother's gift of insight into character at any rate.


Last edited by Alex on Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:27 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#159:  Author: XantheLocation: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:21 pm


*chanting VERY loudly*

more PLEASE Very Happy

 


#160:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 12:32 am


Lovely jubbly!

Xanthe, what have you been up to?! ROFL ROFL Shocked Shocked

 


#161:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:39 am


Liss, sweetie, when you've finished this drabble, may we have Dr Harrington to torture? Please? I have a few interesting ideas I'd like to try out.....

 


#162:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:57 am


Lisa_T wrote:
Xanthe, what have you been up to?! ROFL ROFL Shocked Shocked


What can one say? All those claims to being a good girl have proved to be lamentably untrue... Wink

 


#163:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:20 pm


Well, come on then, Liss, spill the beans on Xanthe's misdeeds!

 


#164:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:36 pm


Well, nothing's been proven yet...

-----

The autumn term pottered on as the weather became increasingly unpleasant. Three hockey matches were cancelled because of torrential rain and Lower IVb, in attempt to exorcise their fidgets, managed to land themselves, en masse, in detention, while in Inter V, Felicity Maynard was slowly edging up the form lists, to the extent that there were murmurings in the staff room about giving her a remove to Vb at the end of term. Margaret Harrington, too, seemed a little happier, and was doing well, though, as Miss Ferrars had pointed out, there could be no remove for her until the summer as she wouldn’t be fourteen until February. The new girl had finally made a friend in Charlotte Holmes, also an ‘infant prodigy’ as Felicity termed it, and the two girls were at their happiest competing in lessons. Felicity viewed this development with gladness, as it left her to be utterly selfish and quite unbefitting any kind of future responsibility.

So it was that, a few weeks after half-term, she was able to chat quite amicably with Margaret without feeling that it was a ‘nice’ thing to do.

“But they’re so funny!” Margaret said. “They make me laugh so much!”

“They’re just silly!” argued Felicity. “It’s just one pun after another – that’s not proper humour, I think. My brother Felix thinks they’re great, though – he always listens when they’re on the radio, but they don’t do it on the World Service at the moment, so he always misses it during the hols.”

“Well, he’s quite right!” said Margaret. “They are funny, and you’re just strange, Felicity Maynard!” As this last was delivered with an ill-disguised giggle, Felicity took no offence, and merely stuck out her tongue.

“Strange, yourself!” They both laughed, then Felicity sighed.

“I quite miss him, you know. Felix, I mean. We’re twins, and we were always together when we were kids. Now we only see each other during the hols, and not always, then, because Felix sometimes stays with friends, or with our cousins.”

“Where’s he at school?” asked Margaret curiously

“Winchester,” replied Felicity. “All the boys in our family go there. Just like all the girls come here!” she added, rolling her eyes.

“I suppose you have an awful lot to live up to,” said Margaret, thoughtfully. “I’ve heard your sisters were really good at school, and Mrs Entwistle was Head Girl.” Felicity shrugged.

“It’s not too bad, really. They’re quite a lot older than I am. Still, folk do seem to think I’ll be terribly good all the time, which is such a drag!” She drawled her final words, having appropriated the expression from an American girl who had stayed up on the Platz the previous summer, and Margaret laughed again.

“Don’t let anyone hear you like that!” she advised. “Can you imagine what Derry would say?”

“All too much, I would imagine,” replied Felicity dryly, who had received the sharp end of that lady’s tongue all too often for her own liking. “Anyway, it’s not so bad for Felix. Stephen – that’s our eldest brother, though he’s younger than the trips – was jolly hard-working, but he left school a few years ago, and in between him and Felix were Chas and Mike. Chas was OK, but he was terrible at Science and Maths and things, and not at all good at sports, which Felix is. Mike didn’t even go to Winchester. He wants to be in the Navy, so Papa sent him to Dartmouth instead. Geoff’s still at prep school, of course. He and Phil – she’s a Junior here – are the youngest.”

“I sometimes wish I had a brother,” said Margaret wistfully. “I haven’t – and my sister, Alice, is heaps older than me. She’s left home, and we almost never see her.”

“Brothers are more trouble than they’re worth,” warned Felicity. “Take Mike – he’s the worst wretch in the world! Still, I suppose I’d rather have them than not. They- Oh, rats! There’s the bell! Come on, we’ll be late!”

 


#165:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:42 pm


So Mr Harrington was caning girls - just as we suspected... Confused

Liss that was lovely again, thankyou! A very realistic sounding normal conversation, but with little hints about each character, leaving us all wanting....


....MORE!!!

(I presume I speak for the rest of us too?)

 


#166:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:47 pm


*sighs* I just knew there was no brother!

I hope Felicity picked up on the comment and has made four like us!

 


#167:  Author: patmacLocation: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:20 pm


As we suspected!

Helen speaks for me Wink

 


#168:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:24 pm


Evil Mr Harrington!

 


#169:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:40 pm


Didn't realise I had so much of this to catch up on. Liss it is wonderful

Can see Felicity as a teenager - her behaviour reminds me of me, at the same age.

Hope she picks up on Margaret's problems soon. Mr Harringtion is evil.

 


#170:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 3:31 pm


Late they were indeed, and were given several steely looks by prefects and mistresses alike, which both girls took in good part, Margaret being so lost to all proper contrite feelings that she was forced to stifle a giggle, but bit it back manfully, and earned no more than a frown from Guita Helston, the Prefect who sat at the head of her table. Mittagessen over, it was time for the Art lesson, and the girls of Inter V pulled on hats, coats and scarves preparatory to the short walk across to the Art rooms. The covered corridor which was usually used for that purpose was under repair, and for the time being, girls and staff alike were forced to go round outside. Unfortunately, it was not until they were in the Art room, having divested themselves of outer wear that Margaret realised she had left her paints in the Splashery!

“Oh, bother!” she cried, and explained her predicament.

“Better go and get them,” advised Carrie. “Miss Maloney’s a lamb, but she won’t love you if you don’t have your paints. If you hurry, you might get back before she arrives!” Sadly for Margaret, the more sensible elements of Inter V happened to be at the other end of the room admiring a painting that one of the Sixth had done, and left to dry, and she took Carrie at her word, turning on her heel, and rushing back outside, entirely omitting such precautions as her coat and hat.

It had been raining heavily on and off all day, and now there was a suspicion of hail in the air. Margaret reached the Splasheries cold and wet, grabbed her paintbox, and went to dash back. However, she tripped over a paving stone and fell down, hard, on the path. She lay there for a minute or two, almost stunned, then dragged herself back to her feet. An inspection of her knees showed them to be red and raw, with rivulets of blood already oozing down her stockings. Margaret shuddered, for she couldn’t stand the sight of blood, but managed to control herself, and crouched down to collect her paints, scattered all over the ground. Her knees were so stiff that this took longer than it should, and it was a good fifteen minutes before she stumbled back into the warmth of the Art room.

Miss Maloney, who had accepted Carrie’s explanation of Margaret’s absence with rather bad grace, as would be expected, looked up with a gasp as the young girl came into the room, and went up to her hurriedly.

“Margaret, child, what have you been doing with yourself? Here, Georgina, fetch one of the blankets from that table over there!” Georgina rushed to do as she was bid, and Miss Maloney crouched down before her pupil, chafing her hands anxiously.

“Ah, they’re like ice!” she murmured as Georgina appeared with the blanket. Her eyes scanned the girls gathered around her. “Felicity! Go and fetch Matron, if you will. Tell her what’s happened. Make sure you put your coat on, and – oh, June! Fetch that sou’wester on the stand next door. Are you ready, then? Wait a moment – here’s June! Off you go, Felicity, and be quick, please!” Felicity sprinted off, seriously concerned about her young friend. Of course, it was only a wetting, and it couldn’t hurt much, only Margaret had been shivering so much, and had looked so dazed. And there had been so much blood on her stockings… With these thoughts to give her speed, Felicity raced into the main building of the school, past an irate looking Miss Wilmot, and upstairs to Matron’s domain, to spill the whole story in a series of panted sentences.

 


#171:  Author: patmacLocation: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:16 pm


Poor Margaret! Cold AND skinned knees. ((((hugs Margaret))))

 


#172:  Author: ellendLocation: Bow, London PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 5:15 pm


Oh dear! I can see a dose and several days in the San with at least a bad cold. Poor Margaret.

Mind you shouldn't they have timed repairs on the corridor, so that it was done during the hols or summer term.

looking forward to more.


Ellen

 


#173:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 5:47 pm


Ok...using my school-story-related insight, I see a terrible illness, potentially a song (the red sarafan, anyone?!), an improbable survival, an emotional reunion with her parents who decide they do really love her... in the meantime Joey - or perhaps Len? - has been at the father and he is a reformed character.

At any rate... more please, Liss!

 


#174:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 6:25 pm


*chants loudly at Lissikins!*

Lots more, soon please sweetie!

 


#175:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 6:43 pm


Just had to stop and catch up with this before signing off - maybe Margaret will develop a fever and start talking about her home life to all and sundry, or maybe...., well I'm just going to have to wait and see I suppose.
Looking forward to catching up.

 


#176:  Author: XantheLocation: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:54 pm


Liss wrote:
Lisa_T wrote:
Xanthe, what have you been up to?! ROFL ROFL Shocked Shocked


What can one say? All those claims to being a good girl have proved to be lamentably untrue... Wink


Lies lies lies! All lies! And cos they are written down they are LIBEL!!!!!!! However, I would like some more story...

 


#177:  Author: MarianneLocation: Lancaster PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:02 pm


Interesting predicitons!

 


#178:  Author: JackieJLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:22 pm


Grrrrr...... I should like to cane Mr Harrington (or is it Dr, if it is he doesn't deserve to be)

Here's hoping that Margaret's knees don't turn into anything more serious.

Please could we have some more Liss?

JackieJ

 


#179:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:47 pm


Poor Margaret (*huggles Margaret*)

Liss, that scene was so well written - the stiff, bleeding knees and shivering was so real that I was almost shivering with her. Sad

I'm also wondering where this will all end up - in the San with some 'true confessions'? Is the fact she looked so dazed something to do with a flashback to whatever happens at home?

 


#180:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 10:01 pm


Poor Margaret. Crying or Very sad (Hugs)

Thanks Liss.

 


#181:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 10:12 pm


Poor Margaret! *huggles*

 


#182:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:15 pm


Am very impressed with Liss's new drabble - please can you keep up the output level Very Happy

 


#183:  Author: gwenr PostPosted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 6:34 am


Having just found the site (and more importantly) this story, I'm now waiting as eagerly as everyone else for the next installment. I'm also putting two and two together but may be getting to five or six (maths never was my best subject)!

Poor Margaret and is Felicity finally going to take on the Joey/Len/ Mary-Lou mantle?

 


#184:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 4:15 pm


I do hope not, she's far more fun this way.

 


#185:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 4:32 pm


Oh dear poor Margaret. Hope Matey can help her.

 


#186:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:04 pm


Oh...

Isn't there any more yet? Sad

 


#187:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:21 pm


*sighs* Why is it that I always seem to get writer's block when I've nearly finished a story? 'Tis very sad.

 


#188:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:25 pm


Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Naughty Liss!!!

 


#189:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:39 pm


Aaargh!

Liss, I'm going to pretend you never said that.... Crying or Very sad

Now, please, please, when can we have the next bit? Smile

 


#190:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 11:22 pm


Liss, remember that I now know where you live, and how to get there........ Wink



MORE SOON please dearie!!!

 


#191:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:05 am


Sorry! False alarm!

---

“Chilled to the bone,” was that lady's grim diagnosis, after patching up Margaret's knees and seeing that she was warm and dry. “I'll put her to bed now, and hope that she's all right in the morning.” However, when Marjory Graves, the Dormitory Prefect in Daffodil, came to wake Margaret the next morning, she found that girl shivering and insensible, and sent one of the Upper Fourth girls to fetch Matron.

“I’m not altogether surprised,” said Miss Ferrars, when she had been summoned to attend upon Matron and Margaret in the San. “She does seem the type who would react badly, and Ann said that she had had a bit of shock, not to mention wet through. How soon before she’ll be up and about again, do you think?” Matron looked at her patient.

“Difficult to say. Most girls would be fine in a day or so, but she seems a little high-strung, so it may well be longer. Don’t worry too much about her, Kathie; she’ll be fine.” Comforted by this prognosis, Kathie Ferrars passed the news on to the rest of Inter V, reassuring them that Margaret would be back in lessons soon. However, a day passed, then two, then three, and still Margaret had not returned.

“I’m going to call Jack,” Matron announced to Miss Annersley on the fourth day. “She’s not desperately ill, but she’s still running a fever, and I don’t like it.”

“Is she lucid?” the Head asked Matron, then, when that lady shook her head, she frowned. “I don’t like it either, Gwyneth. Do you think we should contact her parents?” Matey considered this for a moment.

“They don’t need to come out here, certainly, but perhaps you should let them know.”

“Very well.” The two ‘foundation stones’ of the Chalet School went separately to their telephones; Matey to call Jack Maynard, and Miss Annersley to inform Mrs Harrington of her daughter’s illness. Jack arrived late that afternoon, and, after a warm welcome in the Staff Room, he navigated his way to the San to confer with Matron.

“Margaret Harrington,” he said, inspecting the patient. “Where have I heard that name before?”

“She’s in Inter V with your Felicity,” offered Matron, and Jack looked up.

“That’s it! I met her father over the summer; Felicity was talking about her a couple of weeks ago.” He continued his examination, then went with Matron into her private domain.

“I wouldn’t worry too much, Gwyneth,” he advised her. “I admit it’s tricky the way this fever is hanging on, but her heart and lungs are sound enough and I don’t see any lasting effects. I’ll get Hamilton to run down with a tonic for her, which should sort her out.” He left it at that and, true to his word, Dr Hamilton appeared the following morning with the promised tonic which did, as Jack had foreseen, sort Margaret out, though it wasn’t for another two days before she was allowed to return to her form, where she was welcomed with open arms.

“You’re all right now, though?” demanded Felicity, as the form clustered around their prodigal member.

“Fine!” laughed Margaret. “I felt a bit, well, oozy yesterday, but I’m OK now.”

“I bet you wish you could have stayed a bit longer in bed!” sighed Carrie enviously. “I’m odiously healthy!”

“You wouldn’t want to be like one of those poor kids up at the San, would you?” asked Felicity, rather callously, feeling that Carrie talked an awful amount of rubbish sometimes.

“Well, no,” that young lady admitted. “It’s hardly the same, Felicity. Anyway, welcome back, Margaret!”

“You’re going to have to work pretty hard,” added Charlotte. “You’ve gone right down the form list whilst you’ve been in the San, and there’s only a week or two to catch up in.” Margaret paled.

“What? You mean…?” Before she could get any further, the door opened to admit Miss Ferrars, bearing the register, and no more could be said, but Felicity could see the look of panicked horror on Margaret’s face, and an odd comment that her friend had made suddenly reappeared in her mind, along with the most awful implications.

 


#192:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:35 am


“He said that he’d had to take a cane to his offspring from time to time.”

“I sometimes wish I had a brother.”

As Miss Ferrars took the register, these two statements whirled around Felicity’s head. Surely it couldn’t… But their logic was inescapable. If Dr Harrington had raised a cane, it had been to his daughters, because there wasn’t anyone else. Margaret’s comment that she hardly ever saw her elder sister took on a sinister aspect. But that couldn’t be right! Felicity thought desperately. You didn’t cane girls; you just didn’t. When you were a girl you got lectured at horribly, and made to feel guilty, and given detention and sheets to turn and extra prep and pocket money docked, but nobody caned you – it was wrong. Suddenly her imagination conjured up a picture of the portly Dr Harrington striking Margaret, and Felicity thought she might be sick.

“Felicity! Felicity Maynard! Pay attention please!” Her form mistress’s voice distracted Felicity, and she looked up blankly. Miss Ferrars eyed her impatiently, and was about to apostrophise the girl for rudeness, when she looked more closely. “Are you all right, Felicity? You look very pale.”

“Y-yes, I’m all right,” Felicity struggled to say, being careful not to look at Margaret; she couldn’t bear it. Miss Ferrars looked doubtful, but merely nodded.

“Very well.” She continued down the register, and Felicity was once again sunk in her imagination. Margaret was just a kid, barely a child! – the younger girl’s thirteen years suddenly seemed very paltry to Felicity’s sixteen. Surely she was mistaken. She must have misunderstood. Nobody did things like that! But then Felicity remembered a conversation between her parents, carried out in low tones just inside her father’s study.

“Poor kid! She was black and blue.”

“I can’t believe anyone could treat a child like that! It’s too horrible for words, Jack!”

“I know, darling. We’ve had the brute arrested, but with this sort of thing it’s hard to make the charges stick. He’ll just say that he was raising her the best way he knew – you know the courts don’t like to interfere between parent and child.”

“That’s archaic! It’s wrong!”


It did happen. But not to people one knew. And not to people at school. Why hadn’t she said anything? Why hadn’t she told Miss Annersley, or Miss Ferrars, or… Felicity felt a sudden wrenching inside. Margaret had asked her to spend half-term with her and her parents. She had said no. She didn’t want to get involved, to help. What if Margaret had been trying to tell her?

“Oh, please, no,” she murmured, horrified that she could have been so cruel.

“Felicity!” Startled, Felicity automatically leapt from her seat to go to Prayers only to realise, with a certain degree of embarrassment that she was the only one standing, and Miss Ferrars was watching her with concern. “Are you sure you’re all right?” asked her form mistress kindly. Felicity nodded mutely, and Kathie Ferrars sighed. Miss Annersley had told her what Felicity had said about Len, and the young mistress was afraid she might have completely alienated this member of the Maynard family.

“If you say so,” she said reluctantly. “Time for Prayers, girls. Line up, please!” Moving slowly, thinking quickly, Felicity finished the line for Catholic prayers. Miss Ferrars led the way, and Felicity grabbed Margaret’s arm, pulling her out of the end of the C of E line, and giving Georgina Ford, the form prefect, a dirty look when she made to intervene. Margaret stared at her.

“What on earth’s the matter, Felicity? Are you OK? Shall I get Miss Ferrars?” Looking at Margaret standing there, her expression both curious and worried, her hands on her hips, neatly dressed in the school’s gentian and crimson uniform, Felicity almost convinced herself that she had imagined the whole thing. What had she been thinking? That sort of thing didn’t – couldn’t – happen to someone at school. Almost, she laughed and hustled them both back to Prayers, hoping neither would be late enough to attract censure. But then another moment drifted into her mind – on the ramble near the beginning of term – Margaret’s shocked, white face when Felicity had said, quite casually, “we’re in danger of being ‘whipped in’!”

“Margaret, does…” She couldn’t say it, not like that. Felicity turned away for a moment, then ran to the door, closed it, and wedged a chair under the handle as she had seen on a rare trip to the cinema. She stood still for a moment, steeling herself for what she wanted to ask. Then she turned quickly on her heel, and faced the younger girl, who was growing more bewildered by the second.

“Margaret, I’m sorry, I… Does your father hit you?” asked Felicity in a rush.

 


#193:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:49 am


I've been quietly enjoying this drabble, Liss, but I just had to comment here and say that this is possibly the best piece of an excellent drabble. The way you've got Felicity's thought process captured is brilliant.

Very much looking forward to seeing more.

Ray *eager and wondering whether to chant*

 


#194:  Author: Caroline OSullivanLocation: Reading, Berkshire, UK PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:52 am


*wibbles*
Poor Margaret. Glad Felicity is waking up a bit but hope someone in authority will come and help them.

Hope we don't have too long to wait....

 


#195:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:24 am


Well done Felicity! (And yay, Kathie has tact again! Very Happy)

Hope they can sort everything out.

 


#196:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:34 am


Hope Margaret opens up to Felicity.

Thank you Liss, that installment was your best yet.

 


#197:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:11 am


Poor Felicity, she must have been bewildered and horrified by her thoughts. I hope she gets Margaret to open up and then takes it to authority.

 


#198:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:10 pm


Thankyou Liss.

*breathes a sigh of relief that Liss's writer's block was imaginary*

That was superb - I got totally lost in it (not easy with a noisy 4 year old chatting to the baby on the floor behind me!).

I do hope Margaret can be truthful with Felicity, and things can begin to get sorted out - but I have a feeling it will not be easy or quick...

 


#199:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:46 pm


Margaret stared at Felicity, one hand going unconsciously to her throat. “What?”

“It was something you said,” Felicity hurried on, “or rather, something Papa said your father said. He…does he cane you?”

“I-I… only when I’ve been bad,” said Margaret quietly. “I can be quite wicked, you know. Alice was too. We don’t deserve to have parents who care about us so much.” Felicity was silent. What could she say? Practicalities came to the fore.

“Well, how are you wicked?” she asked. Maybe she had misunderstood. Felicity herself had been smacked by her mother when she little; surely that was normal? Margaret looked shamefaced, and wouldn’t meet Felicity’s gaze.

“S-sometimes I didn’t try very hard at school and I got things wrong. Daddy says it’s very important to get a good education, and that I was wasting my time and his money by not working hard enough. I should always try my hardest. He’ll be angry if I don’t do well in the form lists, and he’s quite right.”

“But you were ill,” Felicity pointed out, confused. “It’s not your fault.”

“Yes it is,” said Margaret obstinately. “I can be clumsy, too. Once I slipped and knocked over Mother’s favourite vase. And sometimes I get my clothes dirty outside, and cause a lot of trouble for people who have better things to do.” Margaret still wasn’t looking at Felicity, and the elder girl found herself in a quandary. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe it was normal, and Margaret had just been punished and that was fine. It was all fine. She didn’t need to do anything about it. Relieved, Felicity moved the chair from the door, and set her hand on the doorknob. Then the mental image of Dr Harrington raising his arm, cane in hand, flicked into her mind, and Felicity knew that it wasn’t all right.

“Look here,” she said tenaciously. “It can’t be OK, you know – your father caning you. It-it’s not normal, Margaret! He shouldn’t be doing it.” Margaret raised her head suddenly.

“What do you mean?” she demanded, and there was, amazingly, a note of anger in her voice, startling Felicity so much that she stumbled over her words.

“Just that you-he- it’s wrong, don’t you understand? He’s [b]bad[/I] and…”

“How dare you! He’s not bad! What kind of a father would he be if he didn’t punish me when I was naughty? Discipline is very important in raising children! You don’t understand!” With this vituperative attack, Margaret ran from the room, leaving Felicity to stare after her.

 


#200:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:02 pm


Wow, the plot thickens!

 


#201:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:22 pm


Wow, this all feels so real!

Poor Margaret. Poor Felicity. Nasty Dr Harrington...

I do hope Felicity can help Margaret.

 


#202:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:24 pm


*begins to organise CBB lynch squab for evil Dr Harrington*

Glad that Felicity's realised what's going on - hopefully she'll take it to someone older and wiser now, tis getting a bit beyond her!

 


#203:  Author: AlexLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:28 pm


Signs up for Gem's lynch squad.

 


#204:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:44 pm


Could she be so wrong? Margaret herself seemed to think that everything was normal, and surely she should know. And yet there was still a niggling doubt, something that told Felicity that something wasn’t right. Suddenly she caught the sound of voices – Prayers must be over. Oddly reluctant to be with anyone, Felicity fled the form-room, running down the (forbidden) main stairs that were blessedly empty at this time of the morning, and making for the small space under the stairs where a cupboard used to be. It was quite hidden from the entrance hall, and had been a favourite – if somewhat dangerous! – hiding place for Felicity when she was younger. And much smaller, Felicity discovered, as she tried to wedge herself in. Eventually she managed it, and relaxed, insofar as was possible with her knees up against her chest and her arms tight around them. Taking a deep breath, she reviewed what had happened.

Margaret had said that her father caned her, but that she had deserved it. Well, each to their own, Mamma always said. Maybe the Harringtons were just a lot stricter. That didn’t make them bad. And surely if Dr Harrington was doing something wrong, Margaret wouldn’t have come to his defence like that. And discipline was important in raising children – Mamma had always said that too, and Auntie Hilda. Dr Harrington wasn’t the only person who thought that.

“Daddy believes in discipline when raising children. He says it’s awfully important.”

Felicity’s imagination suddenly added another layer to the previous images. Dr Harrington caning Margaret, saying ‘Discipline is very important.’ She remembered something Felix had said once, after their father had punished him for some prank or other: “He said it was for my own good – jolly well doesn’t feel like it, but I suppose he’s right!” Maybe if Papa had caned her, too, when she was naughty, she’d think it was normal, that it was just for her own good. But did that mean it was wrong, or that it wasn’t? Totally confused, Felicity decided that the best thing to do was to just tell someone – a grown up. They’d know what to do.

As if in answer to a prayer, she heard from her vantage point the sound of the main school door opening, and steps as someone entered then, oh the relief!, her father’s voice.

“Guten Morgen, Mitzi! Is Miss Annersley available?” The maid’s reply was inaudible, and Felicity was just scrambling out of her hidey-hole when her father spoke again.

“What a bother! Look here, Mitzi, can you give her a message from- Oh, Rosalie! I can’t stop, really, but could you let Hilda know that the Harringtons have arrived – they’re putting up at the Mariahilfe. I’m taking Harrington round the San this morning, but they’ll probably be along in the afternoon to see Margaret. Thanks! Must be off – cheerio!”

As the door swung closed and Miss Dene’s steps receded into the upper corridor, Felicity finally got her legs to unfreeze. Papa wouldn’t listen to her – he liked Dr Harrington. He wouldn’t bother taking him around the San if he didn’t. Here, Felicity completely forgot the times her father had come home in the evening complaining about having been landed with fool doctors to mollycoddle. But if not Papa, who?

Miss Annersley! The realisation burst on Felicity, and she had to clap a hand over her mouth to stop from laughing. Gosh, it was so obvious! Why hadn’t she thought of her before? Almost giddy with relief she started up the stairs, only to see Miss Annersley standing at their head, a sheaf of papers in her hand. Oblivious to the fact that she was forbidden the use of the stairs, and, furthermore, that the first lesson of the morning had already begun, she eagerly approached the Head Mistress.

“Miss Annersley!” The Head looked up, frowning. She had been deluged with correspondence by Rosalie Dene, and was in no mind to be sympathetic to the girl who had been causing the Staff so many problems.

“Felicity Maynard! What are you doing on these stairs, and why aren’t you in lessons?” Felicity began to explain, but Miss Annersley cut her off with a sharp gesture.

“I’ve no time to hear your excuses, Felicity! Take an order mark, please, and come and see me at four o’clock. Well, what are you waiting for?” as Felicity continued to stand in front of her. “Off you go!”

“But, Miss Annersley,” Felicity started desperately, only to trail off as Miss Annersley’s expression darkened.

“Now, Felicity!” Faced with the Head’s anger, Felicity bit her lip to stave off the tears, and ran down the corridor towards the Inter V form room. Just outside, she stopped, and leant against the wall. She couldn’t bring herself to open the door and go in, but then, round the corner, she heard footsteps that undoubtedly belonged to a mistress who would demand to know what Felicity was doing outside the classroom. With a despairing cry, Felicity once again set off down the corridor, this time going down the usual stairs and into the Splasheries. Closing the door behind her, she collapsed into a huddle on the nearest bench, and tried to restrain the tears. What was she supposed to do? She couldn’t ignore this, she just couldn’t, but who could she tell? Then, looking out of the Splashery window to the grey bleakness of the outside world, she was struck by an idea.

She moved slowly, tentatively, to the outside door, and opened it. A waft of cold air came buffeting in, and Felicity wrapped her arms around herself. From the door, she could see down past the cricket pitch, currently covered in tarpaulin, to the fence that ran along the road. The road that lead to the other end of the Platz and to the Mariahilfe Hotel.

 


#205:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:15 pm


Poor Felicity!

Deep sense of foreboding about her going outside though!

 


#206:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:23 pm


Just for once fume at Miss Annersley ~ though I can see why she would be annoyed with Felicity.

I hope Felicity does the sensible thing. If she leaves the house it is in search of her mother and not Dr Harrington!

 


#207:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:38 pm


Wow Liss, I love the way yopu are dealing with this. It's a difficult subject and yet you are covering it very sensitivly and showing so many of the different thoughts and ideas the girls may have.

Still want to do nasty things to the doc though!! Evil or Very Mad

 


#208:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:56 pm


Liss this is really wonderful. Poor Felicity - she really needs a sympathetic grown-up right now. Poor Margaret, of course she would spring to her father's defence she knows nothing else and would accept this treatment as normal.

 


#209:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:57 pm


*wibble*

Please post more soon Liss!!!

 


#210:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:01 pm


Frenziedly pulling on coat, scarf, hat, and winter shoes, Felicity was out of the school and half-way across the cricket pitch before she had time to think. The cricket pitch, however, was not a good spot to stop, as it was clearly visible from any number of windows, including Miss Dene’s, so Felicity continued headlong until she had vaulted over the fence that separated school from road and then, finally, she felt free to stop: a dip in the land meant that this part of the road was shielded from view.

Panting slightly, she hung on to one of the fence’s upright posts. The Mariahilfe was not quite six miles away, more or less – if she ran it, Felicity knew she could get there in a three-quarters of an hour or so; an hour at the most. That would give her time to talk to Mrs Harrington while her husband was still at the San. For surely if anyone knew what was really happening with Margaret, it would be her mother. Felicity had been brought up in a household where the mother had a deep and genuine interest in the welfare of her children and, moreover, had a good idea of what they were up to. Admittedly, Joey Maynard might get a little out of touch now and then, but none of her children had really felt that she had no idea what was going on in their lives, and for something like this, Felicity was sure she would have known. Mrs Harrington would be no different.

Her breath back, Felicity set off again, jogging quickly along the side of the road, worrying slightly about her hat. Had she thought about it, she would have tried to find one that wasn’t a school hat, but she had not considered the giveaway that the gentian-blue hat would be to any passers-by familiar with the school. To Felicity’s mind there were far too many people around on the Platz who would recognise her and insist on carting her back to school as if she were a recalcitrant child. At this stage, it would be intolerable – she would simply have to persuade them to let her go.

“I have to find out,” she whispered to herself, running as fast as was sensible. “I have to!”

Despite having to stop to relieve a stitch, Felicity made it to the edge of the Mariahilfe grounds in just under an hour, and she stopped, bending over, her hands on her knees. Fortunately, the threatened rain had not come, although the sky remained grey and gloomy, so she had not had to contend with wet weather. Giving herself time to recover, Felicity smoothed down the flaxen waves of hair, rearranged her hat so that she looked something approaching respectable, and walked up to the hotel’s entrance.

“Guten Tag,” she said pleasantly to the girl behind the front desk. “I have come to visit Frau Dokter Harrington – she is expecting me.” The girl picked up the telephone on the desk.

“I will let her know you are here,” she said, but Felicity shook her head.

“No, no, it’s quite all right. I’ll go straight up if you let me know which room she is in.” The girl seemed prepared to argue, but Felicity’s authoritative bearing – not to mention the recognisable uniform – deterred her, and she gave in.

“Of course, Fraulein. Room 23, on the second floor.”

“Danke schon,” said Felicity sweetly, and made for the lift. It didn’t take her long to find Room 23, but she stood outside, gazing blindly at the polished brass numbers. Was she being a complete idiot? Would Mrs Harrington laugh at her and ask what silly gothic stories she had been reading? “Daddy believes in discipline when raising children.” No; she couldn’t stop now. She had to know for sure.

Raising one gloved hand, she knocked sharply on the door.

 


#211:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:02 pm


*mad wibbling*

I can forsee Felicity getting into a lot of trouble!!!!

 


#212:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:04 pm


Thank you Liss, but I think that's a cliff!!!!

 


#213:  Author: Caroline OSullivanLocation: Reading, Berkshire, UK PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:07 pm


One very nasty thought - if he's caning the girls what's he doing to Mrs Harrington

Insert a worried smiley

 


#214:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:14 pm


Oh dear oh dear oh dear!

Any chance of more before 5pm Liss?

 


#215:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:20 pm


OH dear! Felicity is very like her mother isn't she? Not stopping to think!

 


#216:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:22 pm


Oh my, why didn't she go to her own mother. I'm not sure what the outcome of this will be.

Liss please post the rest of this as soon as you can cos the suspense is *(&()*)(&*&^&*

 


#217:  Author: janetbrown23Location: Colchester PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 4:46 pm


Marianne wrote:
Gosh, just read this in its entirety. It's FAB!!!


MORE PLEASE



This is the first drabble I've read, i had some idea that they were short things of a couple of hundred words. Many , many , many thanks to whoever it was on Go that mentioned this. I have a feeling that drabble following may take over my life now. So much to read and so little time.

This is marvellous and what a talented writer.

Thanks so much but when will I have time to sleep now reading

Jan

 


#218:  Author: dackelLocation: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 5:44 pm


I've just read the last few posts; this is brilliant. I can just see how awful Felicity (and Magaret) felt. How like Jo Felicity is after all! And how she'd hate to hear that from anyone...

 


#219:  Author: BethLocation: Durham, apparently... PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:04 pm


*madly wibbling*

*still overcome with awe and wonder at Liss*

*wibbling a bit more*

Oh... did you say more? That sounds like a splendid idea! (And I know I'm being greedy, but frankly, I don't care...)

 


#220:  Author: XantheLocation: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:07 pm


Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiss! More, PLEASE! Shocked

 


#221:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:38 pm


Wonderful Liss - feel so sorry for Felicity - have a feeling things will get worse before they get better!

 


#222:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:58 pm


Doesn't Liss know that we need more of this?

 


#223:  Author: MarianneLocation: Lancaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:12 pm


I didn't realise i had so much to catch up on!!

but i need MORE please!!

 


#224:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:39 pm


I can't believe how quickly I'm writing this!!

---

The door of the hotel room opened slowly to reveal Mrs Harrington, looking anxiously into the corridor. Her gaze settled on Felicity, and she peered at the girl.

“Yes? Can I help you?”

“Mrs Harrington, I'm Felicity Maynard. We met at school after half-term; I'm in Margaret's class.”

“Oh, yes?”

“Actually, I was wondering if I could talk to you. About Margaret,” persevered Felicity. Mrs Harrington frowned then, reluctantly, opened the door wider.

“I suppose you better come in. Shouldn't you be in lessons?”

“It's all right,” said Felicity vaguely. She stepped into the room noting, with approval, that it was spick and span. Mrs Harrington closed the door behind her, then looked at her visitor.

“Well? What is it you want to say?” Felicity opened her mouth to reply, then found herself speechless. What on earth could she say? Is your husband cruel to your daughter? She couldn't say that! But what else was there? In hindsight, it occurred to Felicity that she would have been better served by demanding that Miss Annersley listen to her, or by going to see her own mother, but she could hardly leave now.

“It-it's about Margaret,” she began weakly.

“Yes?” When Felicity remained silent, trying to find the best way to express what she wanted to ask, Mrs Harrington looked increasingly impatient.

“Really, Felicity, if you want to tell me something, please do so! But my husband will be back soon and...”

“Yes, your husband!” Felicity leapt on this opening with relief. “It's about Dr Harrington, as well.” Mrs Harrington's expression grew more guarded.

“What on earth could you tell me about my husband?” she demanded. “Really, young lady, I can't imagine what you think gives you the right to come here like this! I've half a mind to telephone that school and give them a piece of my mind!”

“Is he hurting Margaret?” asked Felicity suddenly, flustered into honesty. “Please, Mrs Harrington, I'm worried that he-he... Margaret said that he caned her when she was bad. And that's not...I mean...”

“How dare you?” Mrs Harrington was white, and literally quivering with rage, and something else that Felicity couldn't identify. “I can assure you that my husband is an upstanding member of the community! I don't know what you think you'll gain by making these accusations.”

“But Margaret...”

“Margaret can be a very naughty girl, as I'm sure your teachers have already discovered. My husband works very hard to support his family, and the least he can expect when he comes home is that his children have been doing their best at school, and not causing trouble, and that there's a meal on the table and...” She broke off here, and turned away, but an awful thought had occurred to Felicity.

“Mrs Harrington,” she said, cautiously approaching the older woman, ignoring the noise of the door behind her. “Does he...does he hurt you, too?”

“What's going on here?”

 


#225:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:46 pm


Oh no!!!!!

*tumbles over cliff*

Thank you Liss - I can't believe how quickly you're writing this either!

 


#226:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:49 pm


janetbrown23 wrote:
This is the first drabble I've read, i had some idea that they were short things of a couple of hundred words. Many , many , many thanks to whoever it was on Go that mentioned this.


Ha! 'Twas me! See my total lack of modesty!

 


#227:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:57 pm


How about being completely immodest and posting another long episode, Liss?

 


#228:  Author: RoseaLocation: Edinburgh PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:01 pm


Jennie wrote:
How about being completely immodest and posting another long episode, Liss?


That sounds like a good idea Wink

 


#229:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:03 pm


Oh, I'm full of good ideas for other people writing drabbles, Rosea!

 


#230:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:03 pm


*Agrees*

If you don't I'm going to tumble of this cliff! I'm precariously balanced as it is!

 


#231:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:17 pm


Good cliff Liss! Wink

 


#232:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:30 pm


Both Mrs Harrington and Felicity turned sharply to the man's voice, and Felicity gasped at the sight of Dr Harrington in the doorway.

“I--” she began, but Mrs Harrington pushed past her.

“Oh, Paul, the things she's been saying! Make her leave!” Dr Harrington walked past his wife, and planted himself squarely in front of Felicity.

“Well? What have you been saying?” Felicity tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, suddenly aware that coming to the Mariahilfe like this had been not only stupid but possibly dangerous. She tried to speak, but was interrupted by Dr Harrington himself. “Maynard! I think you'd better deal with this.” Uncomprehending for a moment, Felicity stared at the man in front of her, then her eyes flew past to where her father, her own dear father was standing.

“Papa!” she cried, making a dash past Dr Harrington to her father's side. “Oh, Papa, I'm so glad you're here! I was talking to Margaret and she said...”

“Come with me, Felicity.” She frowned up at Jack Maynard, registering for the first time the look of total fury on his face.

“But...?”

“NOW!” He took her by her shoulder and propelled her out of the room. “I'm very sorry about this, Harrington. I don't know what's got into her recently.” He closed the door behind them, but before he could take her further, Felicity, pulled away from his grasp, looking up at her father, bewildered and anxious.

“You don't understand, Papa! You don't understand what he...”

“I understand very well, Felicity,” replied Jack through thinned lips. “This is no place to talk. Come with me.” Once outside the Mariahilfe, Felicity saw her father's car.

“Get in,” he commanded brusquely. She did as she was told, and sat nervously as Jack climbed in behind the wheel.

“Papa, I...”

“Please be quiet, Felicity.” A sob broke free, but Felicity fought manfully to control it. Her hands clenched in her lap, she sat silently as Jack started the car, and pulled out of the hotel car park and drove back towards the school. At his destination, Jack killed the engine, sat for a moment or two, then jerked his head to indicate that Felicity should get out. Now thoroughly frightened by her father's behaviour, Felicity scrambled to do so, then followed as he strode into the main entrance. He walked straight past Mitzi as she came to disover who had arrived, and into Miss Annersley's study, where that lady was sitting, accompanied by Joey Maynard.

“Sit down, Felicity,” said Miss Annersley gravely.

 


#233:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:43 pm


*squawks*

The only thing I can think of is that they're afraid evil Harrington will take his anger for Felicity out on his wife and Margaret.

Liiiiiiiiisssssss??????

 


#234:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:46 pm


Wibble wibble

please Liss can you help Felicity, she must be feeling so scared and vulnerable at the moment

 


#235:  Author: Sarah_KLocation: St Albans/Leicester PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:50 pm


Please please please let them listen to her!

*worries*

 


#236:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:54 pm


Feel I should possibly mention that I discussed this story with a colleague of mine who does something editor-y with the Child Abuse Review and we talked about the likely reaction to Margaret's situation, looking at how staff etc would behave, and what, if any, procedures were in place for dealing with it. I wanted to get it to be as 'true' as possible. I kinda had to change how I was going to end it, but I hope it's actually better now.

 


#237:  Author: AnnLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:56 pm


Ooh 'eck *wibbles violently*

This is incredible, Liss - Felicity's reactions are so plausible. I really hope there's a happy ending!

 


#238:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:03 pm


“Your father telephoned us. Apparently you went to see Mrs Harrington. For the moment, we'll leave aside the part where you flagrantly disobeyed school rules by leaving the grounds. Please explain why you saw fit to impose yourself on the parent of a pupil in this fashion.”

“I-I needed her to... tell me something,”said Felicity, her tones low, her gaze fixed on the hands in her lap.

“What? What could you possibly have needed to speak to her about?” broke in Joey, but she fell silent as Jack looked at her. The doctor crouched down beside his daughter.

“Felicity, I heard what you said to Mrs Harrington. Why did you ask her that?”

“She was scared. At least, I think she was. I went to ask her about Margaret. About...her father. Margaret's, I mean. Dr Harrington.”

“What did you ask, Felicity?” But Felicity bit her lip, and shook her head. She raised blurred eyes to meet her father's gaze.

“I-I can't! Papa!” Jack Maynard reached up a hand and stroked the short blonde hair of the girl in front of him.

“Tell me, darling,” he coaxed. Felicity gulped, and it all came out, the words running over each other.

“It was what you said. About Dr Harrington, about what he said about caning his children. But, you see, he only has Margaret and his sister, so I knew it must be her, and how could anyone cane her? She's just a kid! So I asked her, and she-she...it was all perfectly normal, she said! But how could it be? She was just saying what he had, like Felix when you beat him – that it was for his own good. She didn't see that it was wrong, and I thought maybe I I was wrong, so I had to ask someone. Only you were taking him round the San, and Miss Annersley sent me back to lessons and I... I had to know! Don't you understand?”

“Felicity,” began Miss Annersley calmly, hiding the guilt she felt for once more ignoring the troubles of a pupil, “parents are allowed to punish their children. It doesn't make them...”

“She was scared!” interrupted Felicity stormily. “You didn't see her! Her father beat her because she didn't try hard enough – when someone said she would lose her form places for being ill, she was terrified!”

“Felicity, I know it's very hard to see when something like this is less serious than you think, but...” Felicity stared at her father, disbelieving.

“You don't believe me. You think I'm making it up?”

“No, I think you may have got the wrong end of the stick.”

“I haven't. Papa, you have to trust me! You said yourself you wouldn't cane a child!”

“No, that's true, but...”

“And would you cane a girl? Cane me?”

“No, of course not! That would be...”

“Obscene?” asked Felicity, bitterly. “Yes, it is. But you heard him say that he caned his children. And he only has two daughters, I promise. Two girls. That's all. That's who he's been caning.” Beaten by logic, Jack Maynard sat back on his heels, and surveyed his daughter, who stared right back at him, silently urging him to see that she was right. He looked away, suddenly tired.

“She's right. Dammit!” He rose, agitated, and crossed to his wife. “She's right. That's what he said. He grinned. Goddammit!” He struck the desk, and Miss Annersley jumped, though Joey simply caught his other hand.

“What can we do?” she asked quietly.

“Nothing. Not a bloody thing.”

 


#239:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:25 pm


“But, you had him arrested! That other man – I heard you and Mamma talking about it, last year.” Jack looked at Felicity blankly for a moment, then realisation dawned.

“Gerta Hamel and her father,” he said briefly for the clarification of the others. “Herr Hamel had beaten that poor kid black and blue,” he explained. “We had him arrested for assault. He went to court and explained that she had been insolent and he had punished her accordingly. He was fined, told not to be so violent in future, and they went home. There's nothing we can do here, Felicity. There's no court in the world that will stop a parent chastising their child. I've thrashed our boys in the past. Would I go to prison?”

“But that's different – they're boys! And, well – they've deserved it. You've never been cruel to them.”

“Be that as it may, there's nothing we can do.”

“But...”

“Nothing, Felicity.” She stood, her legs feeling oddly shaky.

“So that's it? We just say, oh we can't do anything, and leave it that, while he's allowed to go round doing whatever he likes? How can that be the law?”

“Felicity, calm down!” said Miss Annersley, suddenly. “Jack, Jo, I think you'd better go home. Jack, can't you get on to your lawyer in London – or ours, for that matter – and find out for definite that there's nothing we can do?”

“All right,” agreed Jack. “Goodbye, Felicity.” He bent to kiss her, but she pulled back, only to relent after a warning glance from Joey. That lady came next, and kissed Felicity warmly.

“We'll try our best,” she said, and laid her hand briefly on Felicity's head. Then they were gone. Miss Annersley, stood, and opened a window just a crack, enough to let some air in.

“It's a little stuffy in here,” she said mildly. “I think we could both do with a cup of tea.” She didn't wait for a response, but busied herself with the tea tray as Felicity watched, slightly bemused. After a few minutes, the tea was ready. “There you are.”

“Thank you,” murmured Felicity, before tentatively sipping her tea. The fresh air, coupled with the calming of the atmosphere wrought their work, as Hilda Annersley had intended, and Felicity suddenly let out a deep breath. She drank the rest of her tea, and looked expectantly at the Head.

“Your father will do his best to find something to help Margaret,” Miss Annersley said gently. “Try not to worry about it any more.” Feeling tired, Felicity nodded.

“All right. I suppose you're angry with me – flagrantly breaking school bounds.” Miss Annersley tilted her head in a so-so manner.

“I'm sorry I was so angry with you on the stairs,” she said, unexpectedly. “It would have been much better if you could have come to me first, but it was my fault. But,” she continued, taking Felicity's cup and saucer from her, “I'm a little alarmed at what you did do.”

“Going to see Mrs Harrington, you mean?”

“Not so much that. But you thought Dr Harrington was being cruel to his daughter, yet you blithely ran into the lion's den, without even telling anyone where you were going? What if he had been really dangerous? What if your father hadn't been there?” Felicity blushed, and her eyes fell.

“I-I didn't think.”

You’re so like your mother,” said Miss Annersley suddenly, sitting back in her chair. Felicity gaped at her.

“What?” Miss Annersley stifled a smile.

“I know we’ve always joked about the triplets having split up her characteristics, but I don’t think we realised how like her you are, excepting a sudden facility for Mathematics. Reckless, loyal,” – making Felicity blush – “and a general disinclination for responsibility.” This last was added with a pointed look, and Felicity looked away.

“Feelings of responsibility cannot be just forced on someone,” said Miss Annersley, more gently, aware that the words she spoke now could have a lasting effect on Felicity’s character. “You can give someone a responsibility, but you cannot make them feel responsible for it. You can avoid being given responsibility, avoid being made a Prefect, avoid trying to help anyone. But it didn’t stop you feeling responsible, did it?” Felicity shook her head mutely, and Miss Annersley smiled warmly at her.

“Len has always had those feelings of responsibility,” the Head Mistress continued. “If we hadn’t made her Head Girl, she would still have felt responsible, just as she has always felt responsible for her brothers and sisters. We didn’t force her to take the post.”

“You forced Mamma, though,” retorted Felicity. “That is, not you, exactly, but Auntie Madge and Mdlle Le Pattre. She didn’t want to be Head Girl, but they made her!” Miss Annersley laughed.

“No, she certainly did not want to be Head Girl, and she argued against it bitterly. But Felicity, dear, someone has to take charge. Someone has to take responsibility, and Jo – your mother was more than capable. After all, Felicity, this is a school. It’s our responsibility to ensure that we help you to become the best women that you can be. That's something we take very seriously. Do you understand what I mean?” Felicity sat still for a moment, then nodded slowly.

“Yes. That is, I think so. I-I was determined not to help, Auntie Hilda. I wasn’t going to end up like Len! But, Margaret was so unhappy, and I was so afraid…” She trailed off, biting her lip, and Miss Annersley rose from her seat to embrace the girl in front of her.

“It’s all right now,” she murmured, with her arm around Felicity’s shoulders. “She’ll be…”

“How can she be all right?” demanded Felicity, looking up at her brevet aunt. “How can she? I don’t think I could, if my father… Well, I just couldn’t. It has to change everything.”

“She’ll be all right,” reaffirmed Miss Annersley, hoping against hope that she was speaking the truth. “But – look at me, Felicity! – she’ll need her friends to be there for her. You understand that, don’t you?” Felicity nodded again.

“Yes. I-I will help her, Auntie Hilda, honestly!”

“I know you will, darling!” Felicity buried her head in Miss Annersley's shoulder, and gave way to the tears that had been building all day. They remained thus for a minute or two, but a knock on the study door interrupted them. Miss Annersley hesitated for a moment, then called out her customary, “Enter!” One of the maids sidled in.

“Please, Herr Dokter and Frau Harrington are here to see you.”

 


#240:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:31 pm


I want to say how very much I'm enjoying this - but 'enjoying' really isn't the right word somehow.

I'm absolutely compelled by it.

Please keep going Liss -though I shall feel sad when the story reaches a conclusion and there is no more to read.

 


#241:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:32 pm


If you stop writing this, Liss, I think it will be very very unsafe for you to come to another Gather!!!! You would be seriously slaughtered!

 


#242:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:39 pm


*gasps and collapses* Liss, this is truly marvellously wonderfully good. May I have a copy on word when you're done?


-and having flattered you shamelessly, I don't think i even need to add what I want next....

 


#243:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:48 pm


Miss Annersley was gone for over half an hour. When she came back, her face was drawn and almost grey, and Felicity jumped up in alarm.

“Auntie Hilda! Are you all right?”

“Yes, yes,” replied Miss Annersley, waving away the girl's concern. “Would you make me a cup of tea, please,” she asked. Felicity hurried to do so, casting surreptitious glances at her Head Mistress, until Miss Annersley was forced to laugh.

“I'm not about to collapse in a heap on the floor, Felicity, so you can take that expression off your face! Thank you,” as Felicity handed her the cup of tea. She drank deeply, wincing slightly as the hot water burnt her tongue, but otherwise ignored it. When she finished the cup, Hilda Annersley placed it carefully on her desk, aligning it so that it was precisely at the corner of her blotter. Then she lined up her pens so that they were parallel to her correspondence tray.

“I've spoken to the Harringtons,” she said eventually. “They've decided to withdraw Margaret from this school. They said they weer...horrified by your behaviour, and worried about what Margaret would be exposed to. I couldn't dissuade them.” Felicity dropped the cup she had been wiping, and stared in horror at the Head.

“What?” she asked faintly.

“I'm sorry, there's nothing more I could have said to them.”

“It's my fault.” Felicity sank to the floor, the tea towel she had been holding clutched to her breast. “It's my fault! If I hadn't said anything, they would have let her stay. Why did I interfere?” Miss Annersley rose to go to the girl, but her office door burst open, and Margaret Harrington herself rushed in.

“Where is she?” she demanded. “Where is...” She caught sight of Felicity on the floor, her sightless gaze trained on the foot of the desk.

“You! How dare you!” Slowly, Felicity's gaze focussed on the girl standing in front of her.

“Margaret...”

“My mother told me what you said! The things you accused my father of. What gives you the right to say things like that? My father loves me! You don't know anything about us! I hate you! Do you hear me? I HATE you! I'm leaving here, and I'm glad!” Margaret was crying now, anger and rage and a dreadful realisation. Mrs Harrington appeared in the doorway, and grasped her daughted by the wrist.

“We're going,” she said briefly. “Come on, Margaret. We'll have words later.” She pulled her daughter from the room, but Miss Annersley and Felicity could hear the stricken girl's words, then and later.

“I hate you! I hate you!”

Felicity took in a shuddering breath, and looked to her Head Mistress.

“What have I done?” All Miss Annersley could do was gather the shattered girl in her arms, and wish that it could all just go away.

---

And people doubted that I'd finish...

 


#244:  Author: AnnLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:51 pm


You mean that's the end?! Nooooooooooo! But what about Margaret?

*starts chanting for a sequel*

 


#245:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:53 pm


No sequel. That's it. That's what I think would have happened.

 


#246:  Author: RosieLocation: Huntingdonshire/Bangor PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:56 pm


*speechless*
Gosh.
(ok, not quite speechless)

 


#247:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:58 pm


OK, so I'm harsh. I wrote an epilogue:

---

Epilogue – Two and a Half Years Later

Felicity Maynard walked out of Hall building weighed under by a pile of dense text-books. Alongside her scurried her best friend, Jill Cadwallader.

“Come on, Fliss! You'd be great! Did you see the look in Jenny Morgan's eye when you said all that stuff about going co-ed? She knows you'll beat her hands down if you stand.”

“No, Jill!” said Felicity calmly, hefting her books into a more manageable position. “I have no desire to be JCR Prez.”

“Oh, pleeease,” wheedled Jill. “That job is just begging out to be done by you! The only other person who's planning to run is that weird Classics girl – you know, the one with all the hair.” Felicity looked down at Jill, amused.

“We've all got hair, Jill.”

“Yeah, well, she's got more than most,” retorted Jill, unabashed. “But you're a natural, Fliss! You've got that whole authority thing going, and yet, at the same time, being all cool. Which is completely working for you, and everyone else. Nick Alleyn – you know, Physics, Magdalen, was showing definite interest during Iversen's lecture yesterday,” she added slyly. Felicity refused to show the merest hint of a blush, even if Nick Alleyn was the most gorgeous man she'd ever laid eyes on. “And it's all because of that cucumber air you've got working. But Prez, Fliss! Come on!”

Felicity stopped in her tracks, and sighed. She had grown another inch or so since leaving school the previous summer, and now, as a first year at St Hilda's College, Oxford who was already proving to be of mild interest to the more senior members of the School of Mathematics, she was tall and slim, with flaxen fair hair streaming past her shoulders and cornflower blue eyes that attracted not a little attention from the opposite sex. As Jill had already noticed, the 19 year old girl had a natural air of authority – but it was not an authority she was interested exercising.

The events of her seventeenth year had left a deep impression on Felicity. She had worked hard from that eventful term onwards, and had achieved a double remove at the end of term, Miss Annersley feeling that she was ready for Va, in more ways that one. But though she had moved up to the Sixth Form in a timely fashion, and begun to specialise more in Maths and Science, she had continued to refuse any responsibility offered her. She had been a dormitory prefect during her two months in VIb, it is true, but chiefly because Mary Anstruther, who had previously held the post, had been called home to her parents, and there was no-one else already in the dormitory who was suitable. Miss Annersley had offered her the post of Prefect when she had got her remove to VIa, but Felicity had declined, and the Head Mistress had not pressed the matter.

“She wouldn't have been happy doing it,” she had explained to her more senior colleagues. “Not after what happened with Margaret Harrington. And I can't force her; it would be grossly unfair.”

“It seems such a waste,” Nancy Wilmot had said. “She's got such good stuff in her, Hilda!”

“I know. But I don't believe it will be wasted. Somehow, someday, it'll be time for her to face up to what she has inside. I just don't think we should force it now.”

And they hadn't done – Felicity was permitted to finish out her years at the Chalet School with relative obscurity, though it is perhaps surprising – or not – to note that in later years it was often she, and not some of her more 'high-profile' contemporaries, who was remembered by old school fellows. But for the time being, Felicity was able to go to Oxford with no more expectations on her than anyone else, and had managed to enjoy herself considerably; until, of course, Jill had taken up the idea that it would be good for Felicity – and the College – if she were to become the president of the Junior Common Room.

“Look, Jill,” began Felicity, only to be interrupted.

“Excuse me, are you Felicity Maynard?” Felicity turned, surprised. Standing just past the porter's lodge were two girls. One, who looked familiar, was about sixteen, dressed in a uniform that proclaimed her to be a pupil at Oxford High School; the other several years older. Felicity looked at them curiously.

“Yes, I am,” she replied, shifting her books again. “I'm sorry, I don't think I know...”

“Oh, you probably won't remember me,” broke in the younger girl. “We knew each other, years ago. I'm Margaret – Margaret Harrington. We were both at the Chalet School.”

“Margaret...” murmured Felicity, paling a little. Jill, who was not by any means an insensitive person, muttered something to the effect that she was famished, headed for the dining room, leaving Felicity with her two visitors. There was an awkward silence.

“This is my sister, Mrs Carr,” said Margaret hurriedly.

“Alice,” corrected Mrs Carr, holding out her hand. Felicity shook it.

“It's nice to meet you. What are you doing here – in Oxford, I mean?”

“Philip – Alice's husband – is a Fellow at St John's,” said Margaret. “I'm at the High School here. Mother said... that is, Alice and Philip invited me to stay with them. We saw you on the High last weekend – we were having lunch at the Mitre. Philip found out which college you were studying at.”

“Oh, I see. How is...?”

“I was...” Both girls broke off, uncomfortable. Margaret gestured for Felicity to continue.

“How is your mother?” Margaret nodded.

“All right. She's in London. With my father.” She shrugged, and looked away. “She loves him.” There was more silence, then Felicity couldn't restrain herself any longer.

“Margaret, I'm so sorry! You were right, I shouldn't have interfered in something I didn't know anything about. I...”

“Are you mad?” Felicity stopped with a jolt. It was Alice Carr who had spoken. “Do you have any idea what our father was – is – like? This... it's why we came today. I-we wanted to thank you. For saying something, when nobody else had noticed – or cared.”

“We've talked about it, Alice and I,” went on Margaret, determinedly. “Quite a lot. Just between ourselves. It-it's not really something you can talk about, in the normal scheme of things, you know. And I didn't understand, not really, not at first. That's why I said those things to you. But I think I do now. You were very brave, Felicity. To go and see Mother like that, and to try and do what you thought was right. No, wait!” as Felicity tried to interrupt.

“You told me, all the time that term, that you didn't care about other people. You told me that you didn't want to help. But you did. Much, much more than anyone else has. And-and we had fun, just for a while. Do you remember?”

“Arguing about radio programmes,” said Felicity, with a faint smile as her mind conjured an image of the two of them in the common room, laughing over their opinions. “Yes, I remember.”

“Well, I was wondering, can you remember that about me? Not what I said...afterwards. But when it was just all normal. Can you?” Felicity grinned.

“Yes, I can. Look, do you two want to come up to my room? I can manage tea if you like?” But both Alice and Margaret were shaking their heads.

“I'd rather not,” said Margaret. “I-I don't think we'll come again, if that's all right. I just wanted to let you know. That it turned out all right, after all. That what I said wasn't true.” She stuck out her hand. “Thank you, Felicity.” Felicity shook it, gravely.

“You're welcome, Margaret.” She stood and watched as the two sisters, arm in arm, walked past the porter's lodge into the street, and disappeared round the corner. Then, shaking her head and thinking deeply she made her way to the dining room where Jill was sunk deep into one of her text-books, unconsciously devouring a slice of apple pie. Felicity walked over and slammed her books down on the table, smiling as Jill looked up with a start.

“So,” she began, sitting down next to her friend, “how does one go about running for JCR Prez?”

THE END

 


#248:  Author: AnnLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:03 pm


Very Happy Oh, thank you Liss! I'm so glad Margaret managed to get away from her father!

 


#249:  Author: RosieLocation: Huntingdonshire/Bangor PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:05 pm


Yes, I think that is much better! Wink
Thank you Liss.

 


#250:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:09 pm


Brilliant, Liss! Pretty please either post it in SD asap or email it!!!!! Very Happy

 


#251:  Author: GemLocation: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September) PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:18 pm


Thank you, Liss!!!!!

 


#252:  Author: MiriamLocation: Jerusalem, Israel PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:28 pm


I suppose this is the difference between real life and chalet land. There's no doubt which is easier to live in, but we can't stay there all the time. We can be glad that we have Chalet world to escape to when we need a break from the troubles of this life, but we can never ignore our real responsiblities, among which is the responsiblity to take the best path we can, even without knowing the results.

Had EBD ever tried to tackle a theme like this, Margaret would have been incredibly relieved, and it would probably have ended up with the Harringtons being arrested, and Margaret being adopted by the Maynards. This is a lot harder to cope with, but has a far stronger message.

 


#253:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:13 am


Thank you Liss!!!
That was totaly gripping! I'm so glad you added the epilogue!!!! And that Margaret did get away from her father, at least in part. So glad her sister was there for her.

 


#254:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 4:03 am


Thank you Liss.

Totally gripping, completely realistic. So pleased Margaret eventually escaped. Pleased for Felicity.

 


#255:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 5:08 am


Well done, Liss!! Yes, very realistic, particularly Margaret's "I deserved it" reaction and Dr. Harrington pulling her out of the school. But thank you, thank you for the epilogue, for Felicity as well as Margaret & her sister. (and Kathy the Lifelong Escapist Reader, of course Smile )

*hopes Liss now turns her Astonishing Speed-Writing Skills to Meg Cool *

 


#256:  Author: Miss DiLocation: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 5:38 am


Wow. I am in awe of Liss.
I think I've been holding my breath for the last three pages. So glad you added the epilogue and I could finally breath again!

 


#257:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:14 am


As everyone else has said, this is very, very well done, Liss.

Excellent ending - and yes, I think that was much more likely than anything else - and a very nice, wonderful epilogue.

Ray *applauding*

 


#258:  Author: patmacLocation: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:19 am


That was totally gripping, Liss. Such a difficult subject to deal with and quite true to the period. Schools didn't have 'procedures' for that sort of thing in those days and the law would have been on the abusive father's side anyway.

I agree with Miriam that EBD would have had the father arrested (or perhaps killed in a convenient avalanche more likely Wink ) and Margaret become a Maynard ward. This was much more like RL.

I am glad you added the epilogue to keep us happy.

 


#259:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:53 am


Thankyou Liss for a very true piece of writing - the research you put into this clearly showed

Like everyone else I was relieved to see the epilogue, although I was aware that the main ending was probably more likely to be true.

 


#260:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:20 am


Fantastic Liss! This came across as very real - especially Felicity's reluctance to take on any further responsibilty later in her school career.

Well done, totally gripping stuff

 


#261:  Author: Caroline OSullivanLocation: Reading, Berkshire, UK PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:26 am


Wow this has been fantastic Liss. Thank you. Its made me cry, laugh and get really angry.

Really appreciate the speed of which you have completed it. Hope it soon makes its way to the SDL.

 


#262:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:39 am


Wonderful Liss, it was so compelling and sensitively handled. I'm really glad of the epilogue and that Margaret finally was able to get away from her father and also that the school hadn't put pressure on Felicity.

So, now, could you sort out the problem of Meg please Very Happy Wink

 


#263:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:54 am


Thank you Liss, this was handled very well, made me shudder and cry, but was well worth reading. So glad you finished it.

 


#264:  Author: Rachael PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:24 pm


Liss - that was superlative!!

I've just taken an hour to catch up on it (casts nervous eye at office door) but was totally hooked ... and very glad that I didn't have to cope with all the various cliffs!
(Thank you for writing COMPLETE on the thread, otherwise it would have taken me a few more days to get here!!)

Beautifully written and very real - I loved your characterisation of Felicity throughout and was completely chilled by Dr Harrington ... *shudders*

OK - effusions and flowers over - WHAT ABOUT MEG?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 


#265:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:51 pm


Thank you Liss this was superb. As others have said very gripping. Feel very sad that the ending of the story was most likely what would have happened in the time of the story. Glad that you wrote the epilogue though to bring it more into 'Chalet land.'

 


#266:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:59 pm


Rachael wrote:
OK - effusions and flowers over - WHAT ABOUT MEG?!!!!!!!!!!!!!


tongue

 


#267:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 1:26 pm


Wonderful. Thank you Liss and thank you for the epilogue and for finishing it! Totally gripping!

 


#268:  Author: gwenr PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 1:30 pm


Liss, this is the very first drabble that I've read. It's moved me to tears and laughter. I'm envious of your ability to write such a moving work. Thank you and I look forward eagerly to reading your next masterpiece.

 


#269:  Author: BethLocation: Durham, apparently... PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 1:59 pm


And....breathe.

Just thought I'd add my two pennorth to the general adulation. Thank-you Liss, I thoroughly enjoyed that. What is more, it's got me over the disappointment of realising I don't have enough margarine to make flapjacks... Very Happy

 


#270:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:15 pm


Okay girls, I think we need a chant!


'WE WANT MEG, WE WANT MEG........'

 


#271:  Author: dackelLocation: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:30 pm


Than you, Liss, that was brilliant! Unfortunately, I think the main end is how it would have turned out. How lucky we are to able to escape to EBD-land now and again, where everything usually ends happily, and "all for the best". (And where deadly accidents happen to occur to evil-doers...)

 


#272:  Author: Rachael PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:36 pm


Vikki wrote:
Okay girls, I think we need a chant!


'WE WANT MEG, WE WANT MEG........'


*pointing out that this was VIKKI'S idea*

(Me, I'm just a lemming who regularly follows others over clifftops!! Wink )

megaphone WE WANT MEG!
megaphone WE WANT MEG!
megaphone WE WANT MEG!
megaphone WE WANT MEG!
megaphone WE WANT MEG!

 


#273:  Author: JackieJLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 3:14 pm


Just finished reading this Liss, can I say Wow! I can imagine that it's a hard topic to write about but you've managed it wonderfully.

I'll also join the chant for Meg, although I'm not entirely sure who Meg is *shrugs*

JackieJ

 


#274:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 3:57 pm


Thank you, Liss. This is an appallingly difficult topic to write about, especially as those who suffered the abuse either went into denial, or worse, were told that they were lying when they tried to get away from their abusive homes.

 


#275:  Author: XantheLocation: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 4:13 pm


Thank you Liss *sniffling quietly*

 


#276:  Author: Sarah_KLocation: St Albans/Leicester PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:25 pm


I read the last part and you saying it was the end and just sat staring at the screen. You're right, it absolutely was the most likely thing to happen and reading it in a "CS" story just made it so staringly harsh.

When I eventually scrolled down to the epilogue I was very glad to have some sort of closure, though I'd lvoe to know Meg was alright (it didn't sound that way)

 


#277:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:35 pm


Just to remind people that if this has raised painful issues/memories for them, Rachel has compiled a list of various helplines in COT

 


#278:  Author: KellyLocation: Auckland, New Zealand PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:38 pm


Thank you Liss.
This was wonderfully written. I am glad you wrote the epilogue though, it was nice to have it finish off just a little bit more.
I would like to know if Meg was alright as well though . . .
*hopefull smile*

 


#279:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:52 pm


Sarah_K wrote:
When I eventually scrolled down to the epilogue I was very glad to have some sort of closure, though I'd lvoe to know Meg was alright (it didn't sound that way)


I thought about that quite a bit. The thing is, I think it would have affected her for a long time. I have a friend who's a lot older than me who was abused by her father, and she never told anyone about it (at the time); I'm not sure if she even told her mother, though they are still on normal speaking terms now. Margaret wouldn't have been given counselling or anything like that - it just wouldn't have been talked about at all. She was very lucky to have a sister who had been through the same and had managed to get away and start a normal life (incidentally, does it ring true with people that Alice would have married an older man?), and who could talk about things with her.

I think her mother would have spurned her after, as she thought, Margaret had gone complaining to the school.

JackieJ wrote:
I'll also join the chant for Meg, although I'm not entirely sure who Meg is *shrugs*


Meg is Meg Cameron, the heroine of my loooongstanding drabble, A New Girl at the Chalet School, which I have been writing for, ooh, about 5 years. I have been nagged about it at infrequent intervals, despite the fact that I *happily* uncovered Meg's 'secret' (not so much hers as her mother's, in fact) at the SG.

 


#280:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:57 pm


*nodding* That's one of the things I very much liked was the way it did ring extremely true. I've seen a lot of fanfic (in various places) that uses this sort of thing as a plot crutch to give characters something to angst about, so in one sense, it's a 'delight' to read it being treated so well and so properly.

Ray *applauds again*

 


#281:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:20 pm


Sorry - should have tacked this on to my last post. That's why I don't see the epilogue as really being an 'oh it's all right now everything ends OK in the Chalet School' type addition. Margaret *isn't* all right, but she's better off than she was and that's in part due to Felicity, while Felicity, who felt that her one big 'butting-in' incident ended in complete disaster that cemented her feelings that getting involved was a bad move, is shown that it *is* better to try and help than to ignore people's problems and realises that she can start taking responsibility for things. I hope the ending (tra la la JCR president) wasn't too flip and easy - I just wanted to show that she had been completely shattered by what happened with Margaret, and that it had had an impact on her, but that she had managed to get past it and use her powers for good *g*, as Miss A predicted she would some day. (Obvs, she wasn't using them for *evil*....)

Sorry - I don't usually conduct such a rabid post-mortem of my own stories!!

 


#282:  Author: MarianneLocation: Lancaster PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:39 pm


Liss, that was absolutely wonderful. Thanks

 


#283:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:24 pm


Thankyou so much, Liss. I just caught up with the end of this and am very glad I didn't stay up last night long enough to get to the end before the epilogue!

As everyone else has already said, this did seem the most likely thing to happen, although it was horrible. It seemed to ring very true.

I feel a mixture now of satisfaction (that the story has been completed) and regret ( for Margaret - and for me as there's no more to read!)

*sighs deeply* Smile

 


#284:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:54 pm


Thanks Liss, that was such a powerful piece of work. Very gripping and compelling, and sadly a very realistic ending.
I'd like to say more, but everyone else has already said it all, really.


And about Meg - I hope that this doesn't mean that those of us not at the SG will never find out the secret. Sad

 


#285:  Author: ellendLocation: Bow, London PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:47 pm


Liss that was great. I'm belatedly joining in the general well deserved praise, as I've been away for a week.

I really enjoyed it and Margaret's reactions were so true, as she'd be trained to think her father's behaviour was that of a normal loving father. I suspect her mother had grown up in a similar environment to accept it. Also in the 1950s and to some extent today, physically abuse is seen as a problem with the working class not the middle or educated classess. This was a difficult subject to handle, but done very well within Chaletland.

I also love the epilogue and Felicity realising she can make a difference.

Thanks


Ellen

 


#286:  Author: KatLocation: Swansea PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 7:11 pm


Brilliant Liss, thank you so much for writing it.

I've just read the whole thing from page one, having lost track of it after your 2nd post! So to read it complete was lovely in the sense of knowing what happened and not having to wait, but chilling realising just what poor Margaret was having to go through.

Thank you.

 


#287:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 5:52 pm


Liss, that was totally, utterly, unrivalledly, compellingly amazing.

Thanks so much.

 


#288:  Author: MatthewLocation: Birmingham, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 12:29 am


Obviously a bit late in the day, but I had to echo the above praise of this superb drabble. To have moved me nearly to tears, this must have been good! Crying or Very sad Just beautiful!

 


#289:  Author: CazxLocation: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 2:41 pm


Just read all of this!
Loved the portryal of Felicity! The subject was handled in a very sensitive manner, thank-you!

 


#290:  Author: ChelseaLocation: Your Imagination PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 3:29 pm


Quote:
Meg is Meg Cameron, the heroine of my loooongstanding drabble, A New Girl at the Chalet School, which I have been writing for, ooh, about 5 years. I have been nagged about it at infrequent intervals, despite the fact that I *happily* uncovered Meg's 'secret' (not so much hers as her mother's, in fact) at the SG.


I just read this. THAT IS NOT FAIR!!! It's not my fault my parents raised my on the wrong side of the ocean. When do the rest of us get to know the secret.

*Chelsea - very, very pouty!!

 


#291:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 3:39 pm


But Chelsea most us who were there don't remember this happening...

 




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