The CBB :: View topic - Mary-Lou Alone

#1: Mary-Lou Alone Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:01 pm

OK, this was inspired by a re-reading of Reunion, when Doris Carey dies. Thanks to Carolyn for reading and not minding the fact that it kind of usurps her territory a little.

*************

Mary-Lou Trelawney stirred a little and groaned. Her uncomfortable sleeping position beside her mother’s hospital bed had stiffened her muscles, and she stretched quickly in an effort to ease the kinks and aches that had formed in the four hours or so since she had succumbed to her weariness. Knowing that her mother was dying, Mary-Lou had been loath to sleep even a little, for although very weak and frail from the tuberculosis that was killing her, Doris Carey had remained clear-headed, and had been able, a little, to talk to her only child.
There had not been much opportunity before then. Doctors, nurses, the Maynards, Verity Carey, Doris’s stepdaughter- they had all wanted to spend time with the dying woman, and it had only been the previous evening when Verity, exhausted, had returned to Das Haus Unter die Kiefern, that Mary-Lou and her mother were alone.
Now, Mary-Lou glanced across at Mrs Carey with a slight smile. The older woman had evidently been undisturbed by her own lapse, and appeared to be sleeping peacefully. That was all to the good. The more Mrs Carey rested, the longer she might live. Mary-Lou, at twenty, knew well that her mother would welcome death when it came, but she herself could not bear to relinquish her only living relative before she had to.
With another stretch, and moving softly so that she did not make any sound, Mary-Lou rose and crossed to the big French windows, for this was a private ward with its own balcony. The view, as always, was superb, and Mary-Lou felt her old love for this beautiful shelf in the Bernese Oberland sweep through her again. Intellectually and socially she loved Oxford, but there were times when she realised how much she missed the stunning scenery of this place, where she had, to all intents and purposes, grown up.
“It’s a gorgeous day, Mother,” she said quietly in an undertone. If her mother was awake, she would hear it; if not, it would not trouble her. Smiling, she turned, and her smile froze as her gaze fell on her mother’s face for the first time that morning.
“Oh!” Biting her lip, the girl crossed the room, and crouched down beside the high bed. Hesitantly, she put out her hand, and touched the dead woman’s face. The skin was still warm, and Mary-Lou thought for a moment she had been deceived; but then she heard the total silence in the room apart from her own breathing, and knew that she had not been mistaken.
Yet Mary-Lou could not feel herself respond. The woman on the bed, looking so strangely young, did not seem to be her mother. All the same, she was, and she was dead, and the protocols had to be observed-
Mary-Lou’s confused thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of Matron Graves.
“Well, how are we this morning?” she asked cheerily, almost before she had closed the door. Her cheeriness vanished the moment she saw the stunned look on Mary-Lou’s face, and a quick glance at the patient told Helen Graves all she needed to know.
“Oh, my dear,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks, Matron,” Mary-Lou said politely.
Matron Graves looked at her, and her gaze softened. She knew Mary-Lou Trelawney well; had seen her develop from stocky Middle to a sensitive, caring woman, and had even for a short time helped to nurse her following a tobogganing accident at school when Mary-Lou was fifteen. She came round the bed, and laid a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“I’m so sorry,” she said again.
Beneath her hand, she felt Mary-Lou almost crumble and then pull herself together again.
“Thanks,” Mary-Lou said again. Her voice was toneless.
“Would you like me to call Verity for you?” Matron asked gently.
“No. I-I’ll tell her myself- later. I have to be strong for her, you see.”
“I see. Joey Maynard then?”
“You can’t. She’s too busy at the moment- got a house party on. Wouldn’t be fair.”
Matron placed both hands on Mary-Lou’s slim shoulders and whirled the girl around so that she was facing her.
“Mary-Lou, you can’t deal with this yourself!” she said firmly. “What about the school- or St Mildred’s?”
For the first time, a spark of interest lit the very blue eyes. “I could do that,” Mary-Lou agreed. “I-I’ll go to school.”
Matron patted Mary-Lou again. “Very well. I’ll give you a cup of coffee and you can sit here for a little while longer, and then, if you still wish to, I’ll run you down to the school.”
Mary-Lou smiled. “Thanks awfully, Matron, but you really don’t have to. I can walk it. It’s only three miles.”
“You’re not walking,” Matron repeated inflexibly. “Now, I’m going for that coffee and you’re going to be a good girl and drink every drop! You need it!” With which the kindly head of nursing at the great Sanatorium of the Gornetz Platz bustled off.

One maybe two more posts to go, depending on how I slice it.

#2: Author: Helen P, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:21 pm

Oh Lisa, that's lovely. And so so sad. Crying or Very sad

I hope you slice it into 2 more posts to make this drabble last a little longer.

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

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:47 pm

Thanks Lisa. Crying or Very sad

#4: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:54 pm

aww, that really is sooooo sad Crying or Very sad

#5: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 1:01 am

Here's the rest:

As soon as she left the room she made for her own office where she placed two calls. One was to the san kitchens, asking for a cup of hot sweet coffee and a light meal for Miss Trelawney. The other was to Hilda Annersley, Headmistress of the Chalet School further along the Platz.
“Hilda, that you?” Helen Graves asked unceremoniously as she heard the receiver lift.
“It is. Who’s this?”
“Helen Graves. Listen, Hilda, I’m really sorry, but could you come at once? Doris Carey-“
“She’s gone, then?” Hilda Annersley asked softly. “Well, it’s good for her, but- poor Mary-Lou! How is she, Helen?”
“Very calm, very quiet. I think she’s shocked, even though she knew it was coming. Can you come- she doesn’t want Verity or Joey Maynard, but she didn’t object to the school.”
“Of course I’ll come!” the Head assented heartily. “Give me half an hour. Thank you, Helen, for letting me know. Now I’d better go and get ready!” Miss Annersley hung up at that point, leaving her caller to do likewise.
Thoughtfully, Matron made her way back to the ward, where Mary-Lou, sitting like a young Greek statue, was in the same position she had been in ten minutes before. She had not even attempted to touch the steaming coffee or light rolls before her, and Matron charged into action.
“Come, Mary-Lou!” she said. “Eat and drink a little, there’s a good child. It’s hot and comforting, and you’re probably cold inside. Come along!”
Mechanically, Mary-Lou moved to follow the older woman as the latter picked up the little tray and led the way to her little sitting room, which was across the corridor from Mrs Carey’s room. Deliberately, she left the door open- it was barely seven in the morning, and there were few people in this particular corridor at this hour. Once there, Matron made the girl take the most comfy armchair, and watched her carefully as she tried to drink her coffee. Mary-Lou said nothing, and Helen Graves did not attempt to force conversation on her.
Light footsteps sounded along the polished floors of the corridors at that point, but Mary-Lou did not look up. She showed no interest at all until she heard a voice call her name.
“Mary-Lou.” It was all Hilda Annersley said, but the sound of those deep and beautiful tones, so blessedly familiar, succeeded in rousing Mary-Lou from her shocked stupor. Her hands began to shake uncontrollably, nearly spilling her coffee.
Quickly, as Miss Annersley entered the room, Matron removed the cup from the trembling girl, and quietly withdrew.
Miss Annersley dropped her hat and gloves on the little table, and went straight to put an arm around the girl, and Mary-Lou gasped.
“I’m here, child,” Hilda Annersley told her gently. “It’s alright. I’m here.”
Mary-Lou suddenly dropped her face into her hands and sobbed like a child.
The Head said nothing, knowing from bitter experience that words would not help, and only time would heal. She knew better than anyone that Mary-Lou was now quite alone in the world- so far as blood ties went- and whilst the girl was surrounded by loving friends, it was not the same thing. All the same, it was important that she felt wanted and safe- especially now. Later, as Miss Annersley knew perfectly well, Mary-Lou would have to be strong, for her step-sister Verity was a broken reed, and it would be on Mary-Lou’s shoulders that all the burdens would fall.
After a while, Mary-Lou looked up, and managed a rather watery smile at her ex-headmistress.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.
“Don’t be. You needed that. Now, would you like to come back to school with me and we’ll have a chat about things? You can even have a nap if you like.”
“That’d be good,” Mary-Lou agreed wearily, sounding, to the Head, almost heart-breakingly young. “But-but what about Mother?”
“There’s nothing more you can do for you mother now, my dear,” Miss Annersley told her gently. “Except look after yourself. She loved you very much, Mary-Lou, and you can best repay her by taking care of yourself now- even when it’s hard.”
“That’s true,” Mary-Lou said, still weary, and the Head decided to take matters into her own hands. Rising, she said with just enough authority, “So come along, now. You’ll be back later. I have the car, and we’ll be at school in a matter of moments! Come along!”
Mary-Lou reacted automatically to the sound of that authority, as Hilda Annersley had known she would, and she did not protest as she was led to the car. She remained silent during the short drive back to school, and even when they entered the Head’s own private salon, the only sound she made was a little sigh. Miss Annersley thought it was one of relief.
Quietly, she made another hot drink, and waited until the girl had finished it before speaking again.
“Mary-Lou, dear, I know you’ll have to go back to England to sort out business, and I imagine the sooner the better. Would you like me to come with you?”
Mary-Lou stared at her. “Would you? Could you?” Her voice trembled and she paused to steady it. “Really, Miss Annersley?”
“Of course,” the Head said softly. “How about tonight- or is that too soon?”
Mary-Lou blinked at her. “No. It’s not too soon, I mean. Like you say, there’s no point in putting it off. Only-“
“Only what?”
“Only- well, it’s awfully lazy, but, I really can’t face booking the tickets and so on right now.”
“Perfectly understandable,” the Head told her. “You’ve no need to worry about that- or Verity. I’ll make all the arrangements and come over with you- and that’ll help you support Verity too. Once we’re in England, I’ll contact Mollie Bettany and I know she’ll help out too. You won’t be left to handle this alone, my child!”
“Thanks so much.” Mary-Lou wiped at the lone tear trickling down her cheek and abruptly got to her feet and went to the French window. She stood for a moment looking out, and then sighed again.
“Miss Annersley,” she began, still looking outwards, “would it be too cheeky of me if I asked if I could run out for a walk? I-I need to think.”
The Head rose and went swiftly to the tall girl and kissed her on the cheek.
“Of course not. Run along now and I’ll sort everything out. Off you go!”
Mary-Lou’s shoulders straightened, and while her eyes were still shadowed, she looked more like herself as she smiled at the Head. Then, with a shy awkwardness usually foreign to her nature, she flung her arms around the Head before smiling again and slipping out into the garden.

#6: Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:10 am

Lisa! What are you doing?
How can you make me feel sorry for OOAOML?
Well Done.

#7: Author: Ray, Location: Bristol, England

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:40 am

That was beautifully written, Lisa. Very, very well done.

Ray *off to find a clean tissue*

#8: Author: Rebecca, Location: Kendal/Oxford

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:33 am

That was really good, Lisa. Thanks for sharing it.

#9: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:42 am

Wow, Lisa - I'm fighting back tears

Thank you so much - you're portrayed that scene perfectly - so sensitive and very poignant

(Good old Hilda!)

#10: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:15 am

Lisa, that was wonderful. Very sad, but wonderful.

Thanks so much for sharing.

#11: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:31 am

Lovely Lisa, as always!
Sniffling

#12: Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:24 am

O Lisa, thank you so much. How like Hilda to be so wonderful and supportive in Mary-Lou's grief!

I can now understand Mary-Lou meeting Grizel and almost managing to be cheerful about it. That always seemed a little cold to me before.

#13: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:12 pm

Interesting to see ML not want Joey. I much prefer this, and think I'd want Miss A myself.

Lisa, this is wonderful.

#14: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:30 pm

Lisa, that was lovely. A very thoughtful insight and a true 'fill in'.

#15: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:32 pm

I love this, Lisa - beautifully written and just the prefect length. Crying or Very sad

Poor Mary-Lou - so brave and so tragic. I wonder why EBD inflicted so much loss on her, of all characters?

Caroline.

#16: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 1:24 pm

Thank you Lisa. Perfect and so right.

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

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 1:41 pm

Thank you for posting this Lisa. It is such a lovely piece, and so real. As I said before I love the kindness shown by Helen Greaves and think Miss Annersley is wonderful (don't we all!) I can also see Mary-Lou reacting in that way, holding everything in because she has to 'see to' Verity and to business.

#18: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 1:59 pm

Lisa that was lovely.

Thank you

Liz

#19: Author: James,

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:00 pm

This was fantastic, Lisa - thank you.

James

#20: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:51 pm

*highly impressed*

#21: Author: catherine, Location: York

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:12 pm

Thanks Lisa. That was lovely.

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

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:14 pm

Beautiful, thanks Lisa. Kiss

#23: Author: pim, Location: St Andrews (right next to the beach)

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:44 pm

That was amazing Lisa.

#24: Author: Miriam, Location: Jerusalem, Israel

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:18 pm

Caroline wrote:

Poor Mary-Lou - so brave and so tragic. I wonder why EBD inflicted so much loss on her, of all characters?

To make sure that she would become so much a part of the Maynerd family that she would regard them as home, and thus turn up on convinient occasions throughout the rest of the series.

Thank you for filling in this scene though.

#25: Author: Kelly, Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:40 pm

That was lovely Lisa, sad but really lovely.
Thank you so much for posting it.

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

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:37 pm

WOW!!

very goosebumpy Lisa

#27: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:25 pm

Thanks, people. It just came to me! I'd always wondered what happened this morning and had been irritated that EBD didn't see fit to write it- so I thought I'd do it myself!

#28: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:42 am

Well done, Lisa!

*reminds self to print this out for insertion into Reunion, when it arrives*

#29: Author: Kim, Location: Tipperary, Ireland

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:24 pm

Miriam - how cynical can you be?? Laughing

Wish I'd had a Miss Annersley to support me as she supported OOAO

#30: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 1:45 am

Thank you Lisa - a really believable story. Mush more natural than EBD's version.

#31: Author: Charlotte, Location: Casterton, Kirkby Lonsdale

Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:59 pm

that was lovely, thank you.

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