The CBB :: View topic - Mary-Lou in the Field (SCS)

#1: Mary-Lou in the Field (SCS) Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 3:05 pm

This is an idea I've been toying with for a while. Don't know when you'll get anymore as the computer is going to be mended, but at least then I'll be able to write in Word instead of Notepad.

Mary-Lou Trelawney was tired and hot. The tiny airport was stifling, the fans whirring overhead did little but stir up the dust. She glanced at her watch. Almost three hours she'd been waiting here now, and she had nothing to do but keep waiting as she had finished her book an hour ago. She took out her handkerchief and mopped her brow, then applied her eau de cologne ice to her wrists. It would probably have been less stuffy outside, but the mid afternoon sun was too strong and there was no shade to be found. Mary-Lou settled back down to waiting.

"Miss Trelawney?" Another half hour had passed, but at long last a young woman was crossing the room. Mary-Lou stood up.

"I'm so sorry," said the young woman. "The old bus broke down, and it took me ages to sort it out." She spread out her oily hands. "I won't shake hands. I'm Stella Wallace." Apart from the oily hands she was trim and almost chic in a well cut shirt and shorts. Her chestnut hair was knotted on the back of her head, although some tendrils had escaped to frame her face. She was smiling, and her eyes were dancing. Mary-Lou liked her instantly, but felt terribly scruffy. Her normally glossy curls were lank and felt plastered to her head and her clothes were grubby from travelling. But she felt at ease with Stella and smiled back. "Mary-Lou," she said.

"You must be ravenous," said Stella. "There's a taverna nearby where we can have a light meal and a wash, and then we must get on to the dig. It's a bit of a drive I'm afraid, so the sooner we get going, the better. Is this all your luggage?" Mary-Lou nodded. "Then let's get going!"

Mary-Lou was relieved to see that Stella's 'old bus' was actually a dilapidated car and not a bus. "Looks a bit of a mess," agreed Stella, although Mary-Lou had not made a comment, "but it goes like a charm. Put your stuff in the back - the boot is full. Right. Lunch here we come!"
The taverna was only a short journey away. Mary-Lou was able to wash her hands and face and Stella ordered them a delicious lunch of salad, bread and cheese in her fluent Greek. "Do you speak any Greek?" she asked Mary-Lou. "Enough to get by," replied Mary-Lou, "it was part of our course, but I expect I'll pick it up fairly quickly once I'm in the middle of it."

"You are lucky," sighed Stella enviously. "I begged Father to let me go to Oxford, but he wouldn't hear of it. Mother really wanted to marry me off so I had two seasons, but then finally they agreed that I could come out here with Bobby on his dig. I think they were embarrassed I hadn't been snapped up, so sending me out of the country seemed like a good idea. I had to wait until he married Anne though. This is the third year I've been out here."

"Bobby?" inquired Mary-Lou.

"My brother," explained Stella. "It's his dig. Lots of rich old idiots want to dig up treasure and usually they employ an archaeologist to do it for them, but Bobby's lucky to have his own money, so he can be self-employed, so to speak."

Mary-Lou still had a puzzled look on her face. "I thought the person in charge of the dig was Lord Robert Wallace?"

"Bobby," said Stella succinctly.

"Oh," said Mary-Lou, short of words for once.

Stella looked at her watch. "We should be making a start or we'll never get there." She paid the bill, waving aside Mary-Lou's offer of cash with a breezy, "Don't be ridiculous, it's my fault you were stuck at the airfield so long."

#2: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 3:13 pm

This looks very promising; I'm sure it's time for some more.

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

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 3:14 pm

lloks good Alex, thanks!

#4: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 3:14 pm

OOoh! This is intrigueing!
Looking forward to more Alex!

#5: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 3:42 pm

Hope to see more of this soon, Alex. Is it going to be a good old archaeolgogical thriller of the Sunday teatime type?!

#6: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 7:44 pm

I do like the start of this. Hope your computer is fixed soon, Alex!

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

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 9:16 pm

That was a great start, look forward to more

#8: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:22 pm

Thanks Alex, I like the start, hope your computer isn't too long being mended, coz I'd like to see more

#9: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 8:38 am

Like the look of this Alex. Hope we see more soon.

#10: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 11:58 am

Tapping fingers waiting for the more...

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

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 12:08 pm

*chanting unashamedly*

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

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 1:41 pm

*joins the chanting*

#13: Author: lizi, Location: montgomeryshire

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 2:49 pm

please add more soon

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

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 7:57 pm

*alos joining in the chanting* This looks very promising.

#15: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 9:11 pm

I'm not sure when this fixing is actually going to take place.... I thought it was yesterday. So here is a big chunk, although not actually a lot of story.

Mary-Lou woke up with a start as the car juddered to a halt. It was still light outside, and she judged it to be about 7 o'clock. "

We're here!" announced Stella brightly.

"Did I sleep all the way here?" asked Mary-Lou.

"More or less," smiled Stella, "but you did look pretty done in. The heat can take it out of you if you're not used to it, and you did have a long journey from England."

"Switzerland," said Mary-Lou. "I was staying with some friends," she explained.

"Still far enough," said Stella. "Let's get inside and get you settled, and then I can take you down to the dig." She clambered out of the car. Mary-Lou followed suit. She was standing in a square of whitewashed buildings of assorted.

"Will everyone still be working?" asked Mary-Lou, a little surprised given the hour.

"Generally," replied Stella, taking Mary-Lou's bags out of the car, "We start at 8 in the morning and work until 12. Then we break until about 4, it's simply too hot to do anything, then work until about 8pm. Dinner is about 9ish. Bobby likes to make the most of the daylight. Can you manage your things, only I've some junk for Bobby in the boot." Gathering up the junk, which proved to be a large box of books ("Posted from England, he's been waiting nearly a month.") Stella led the way to one of the larger buildings in the square.

"This is us and this," she added as a dark haired man came out to greet them, "Is Stavros. Good evening Stavros."

"Good Evening, Miss Stella, you been long time, your brother, he worry," he said in broken English as he ushered them inside.

"He always does," said Stella cheerfully. She switched to Greek. "This is our latest arrival, Mary-Lou Trelawney, is her room ready?"

"Of course, it was ready hours ago, you are very late Miss Stella. Miss Mary, I hope you had a good journey. My wife will show you to your room, and no doubt you will wish to wash. Maria! Maria!"

A dark haired woman appeared from one of many identical doors leading off the hallway. A small girl with a mass of curls clutched at her skirts. Once introductions had been made and the youngest member of the group banished out of sight, Maria led the way upstairs to a room at the back of the building. "This is your room, the bathroom is just along there."

"Thank you," said Mary-Lou, paying close attention to the unfamiliar language.

"I'm next door," said Stella. "I'll just go and put these books in Bobby's room, and then I'll come back. You've time to wash and change before we go and meet the others. Give me a shout when you're ready."

Left to herself, Mary-Lou made haste to unpack and then scurried along to the bathroom. She ran herself a refreshing, if cold, bath and even washed her hair. Twenty five minutes later she was knocking on Stella's door.

"My, you're quick!" exclaimed Stella, when she saw Mary-Lou's still damp locks. "Where did you learn that?"

"School," admitted Mary-Lou, with a grin as she remembered the wrath of Matey which had kept them all on their toes. "This is my sister-in-law," she said, as a fair haired, slightly older woman came and stood in the doorway behind Stella. "Anne, meet Mary-Lou."

"How do you do?" said Mary-Lou.

"Very well thanks," said Anne with a grin which instantly put Mary-Lou at her ease.

"Anne's going to walk down with us now," explained Stella. "She works with us in the morning, but Bobby sad she wasn't allowed to in the afternoon."

"Once the little one comes though," said Anne with a grin, passing her hand over her rounded belly, "I shall carry him in a sling and work all day."

Mary-Lou's surprise must have shown in her face. "Oh you didn't look so worried. He's not due until the end of October. I'll go home in a couple of months, at the end of August, and Bobby will come a month later when everything here is finished." Mary-Lou said nothing, it was not the idea of Anne working with a small baby that surprised her, she had just never met anyone who discussed pregnancy so frankly, and was not really sure what to say.

"You'd be tired if you lugged him round all day, anyway," said Stella.

"Well in that case, my dear, I will let his dutiful aunt take her turn. Now, shall we take Mary-Lou to the dig?"

#16: Author: Chickpea,

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 9:23 pm

Excellent!

I forget that to Mary-Lou pregnancy was conveyed by sly glances and knowing looks Rolling Eyes

#17: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 10:44 pm

This is great! More please!!!

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

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 11:15 pm

Very interesting start - looking forward to more!

#19: Author: Shander, Location: Canada

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 3:10 am

I'm really enjoying this. Great job Alex!

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

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 10:09 am

Well done Alex, this is looking really good! Very natural and love the characters.

#21: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:54 pm

This is good so far, Alex. What an eye-opener for OOAOML.

#22: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 7:40 pm

Ooooh... this looks very very good - more please!!! And soon Wink

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

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 7:52 pm

*chanting loudly*

this is GREAT!!!!!!!

#24: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:49 pm

*Joins the chant for more*

Nice to see Mary-Lou in her career. I think she has a lot of shocks coming!

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

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:12 am

MORE PLEASE megaphone

#26: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:23 am

Adds to chanting, Guitar

with accompaniment.

#27: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:14 pm

Still no more of this. Stamps foot and goes off sulking.

#28: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 11:18 pm

*bumps*

Waiting for more, Alex...

#29: Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 1:41 pm

go Alex, go Alex!

This is a fantastic story - plenty of scope to go many different ways!

*Hoping that, though computer is being fixed, Alex has access to at least pen and paper so tht lots more story is being written!!!*

*Adds to chants for MORE

#30: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 3:00 pm

The computer is back and the internet is finally working. I have vaguely planned the story, but I find it quite difficult to write with a pen and paper. That's not quite what I mean but anyway. Also all the plot bunnies have scarpered so I'm having to write it all by myself!

#31: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 3:59 pm

We'll look forward to that, alex. Hope the PC behaves itself from now on.

#32: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 4:05 pm

Glad the PC is fixed Alex, that means we can have more as soon as it is written. Razz

#33: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:05 pm

You lucky, lucky people I've actually written a paragraph or two.

It took about 20 minutes to walk to the site of the dig, and despite the relative lateness of the hour Mary-Lou was grateful for her shady hat. They walked in companionable silence, Mary-Lou talking in the scenery, which was a little monotonous.

“The path is easy enough to follow in the light,” said Anne at length. “You can’t really get lost. There is a fork later, we take the left path, but if you take the right, it only goes back to the village.”

“There are some nice places to walk around here though,” said Stella. “Do you like walking?”

“I used to do a lot when I was at school,” explained Mary-Lou. “But I haven’t really done much since I left, apart from in the vacations of course.”

“Where was your school?” asked Anne.

“Switzerland, the Bernese Oberland,” said Mary-Lou. “And my parents made their home there as well, they both suffered with poor health.”

“Not so much walking as mountain climbing then,” said Anne, picking up on the past tense and changing the subject slightly as they took the aforementioned left fork.

“Well they didn’t really let us loose on anything too enormous,” said Mary-Lou, with a chuckle.

The other two joined in. “Almost there now,” said Stella.

“And look,” said Anne a moment later. “Here’s Bobby, come to meet us.”

The man Mary-Lou saw was not as old as she had expected. For most of her married acquaintance the husband was quite a few years older than his wife, but Bobby and Anne appeared to be about the same age, or at least near enough that it was impossible to say who was the elder. Bobby’s hair was redder than Stella’s but their features were enough alike to proclaim them related.

Bobby kissed his wife and then extended his hand to Mary-Lou as Stella made the introductions simply: “Mary-Lou, Bobby, Bobby, Mary-Lou.”

“How do you do?” asked Mary-Lou very properly and tried not to wince as Bobby clasped her hand tightly.

“Don’t break the poor girl’s fingers,” chastised Anne. “It’s not a good first impression.”

“What would I do without you?” he asked her affectionately, before turning back to Mary-Lou. “I do hope I didn’t cause any permanent damage! Welcome to the dig. I’ll take you round and introduce you to a few people, you can meet the others later.”

He lead the way to the nearest part of the excavations where a couple more men were standing.

“Matthew, Edgar, this is Mary-Lou Trelawney. Mary-Lou, these are Dr Edgar Littler, one of our book men, and Matthew Carmichael who is in the same line as yourself. Our other book man is Matthew’s father, Professor Carmichael. You’ll meet him at dinner I expect.”

“I do wish you wouldn’t call me a book man,” said Edgar with a laugh. “It makes me sound as if I’m afraid to get my hands dirty. Welcome Mary-Lou. I would shake your hand, but as it happens I have got dirty hands, and I’m sure Bobby has already tried to break some bones.”

Mary-Lou smiled at them both. Matthew merely nodded.

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:11 pm

*happy dancing*

Thank you Alex for the more-drabble Mr. Green

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:12 pm

Ooh, nice to see this back Alex, thanks.

Why do I feel all dubious about this?

#36: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:21 pm

Oooh!!! thank you Alex!!!!!

#37: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:27 pm

Thanks, Alex, glad to see this progress. Looking forward to more.

#38: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:28 pm

Dubious how, Pim?

#39: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:31 pm

Matthew merely nodded? Is this significant?
Looking forward to more, Alex.

#40: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:38 pm

So glad you've posted more, Alex. And I sympathise with the whole not being able to write with pen and paper thing. I too am a girl of my times and can only manage on the computer!

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:09 pm

Alex wrote:

Dubious how, Pim?

I don't know. I just suddenly felt very worried for OOAO, and I'm hoping that my gut instinct is VERY VERY VERY wrong indeed.

#42: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:17 pm

Now, pim, you're not scared about the possibility of mummies, are you? Just as long as nobody reads aloud from any old books, they'll be fine...

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

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:26 pm

Ahh but Liss, as a self confessed spineless jellyfish I'm allowed to be scared of anything *g*

#44: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:15 am

New bit of drabble
*does a happy dance*
I think it's the word "merely" that makes me nervous, though I can't speak for pim *grin*

#45: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 1:08 pm

Thank you Alex, for another instalment. Waiting patiently to see what happens next.

#46: Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 4:07 pm

Ellie wrote:

Matthew merely nodded? Is this significant?
Looking forward to more, Alex.

This was my thought, too - I don't quite know why pim's feeling dubious (it can't get too bad, being SCS) - to me, I'm playing spot-the-future-husband (my bet is actually on Matthew)!

#47: Author: Janet, Location: Ferndown, Dorset

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:41 pm

Mary-Lou out in the real world and coping in it credibly!! Now, this is interesting!

I agree with Ciorstaidh - I think we're looking at marriage rather than mummy potential (although the babies might come later ... Wink

)
Perhaps her and Matthew just get off to a rocky start but he's really the one for her!

Is she not married in New Beginnings?
What was his name?

#48: Author: Chickpea,

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:54 pm

Quote:

Perhaps her and Matthew just get off to a rocky start but he's really the one for her

In a sort of shes's got to fall into a crevase before Matthew picks her up and takes her back to his house and falls madly in love rocky start?

#49: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 5:02 pm

No I wrote that story already, it was about Peggy and Giles! Working on more.

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

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 5:35 pm

Thanks Alex - looking forward to more!

BTW like the little dig at the age of the husband as opposed to the wife! Laughing

Mary Lou is learning a lot already!

#51: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 3:58 pm

Quote:

Mary-Lou out in the real world and coping in it credibly!!

Thanks "Janet". Haven't read NB so can't say whether it will follow on.

#52: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 1:51 pm

Alex!!! I thought you'd posted more! Why haven't you?

#53: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 2:31 pm

Alex, we're waiting for the next installment.

#54: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 7:25 pm

The shortest installment ever I'm afraid. I will try and write some more tomorrow in between revising for MCQs on the Drug Tariff (before you ask it's so boring that I could wipe out the population of the planet faster than RTW by reading it out loud).

Advised by Stella, Mary-Lou exchanged her shorts for a long skirt before dinner. As she was running a comb through her short fair curls there was a knock at the door.

“Come in!” Stella had also changed her shorts and was wearing a pair of linen trousers.
“I’m almost ready,” Mary-Lou finished arranging her hair with alacrity.

“When I was young I really wanted to have curly hair,” said Stella, standing in the doorway.
“So did I,” agreed Mary-Lou.

Stella looked confused. “But you’ve got curly hair,” she pointed out.

“When I was younger it was completely straight, but then I was in this accident and they had to shave my head. That’s when I got the curls,” explained Mary-Lou. “Some days I wish it was straight again though.”

“I suppose it’s a case of the grass always being greener,” laughed Stella. “Was it a car accident?”

“I was run over by a toboggan,” said Mary-Lou dryly.

“Ah,” said Stella, for want of anything else to say.

“Stella?” said Matthew, coming up behind her, “Are you coming to dinner now?”

“Of course,” said Stella turning, “Mary-Lou was just getting ready.”

“I see,” said Matthew, in such a way that Mary-Lou at once felt extremely frivolous and dropped her comb hurriedly. “Shall we go then?”

#55: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 7:28 pm

Well have fun Alex...

Poor Mary-Lou although this does sound like maybe a guy who won't fall for the OOAO stuff. Could be good for her.

#56: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 7:33 pm

More please Alex!!!!!!!!!

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

Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 5:20 am

Oh, a bit more! Thank you Alex!

(A bit more again would be much appreciated Wink

)

#58: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 5:34 pm

A bit. How come you were up so early Lesley, or should that be late?

The dining room was small but opened onto a terrace where two tables were set each for 5 people. Although it was still light, a small lamp burned on each table.

“Sit wherever you like,” said Stella. In the end they both sat with Edgar Littler, Matthew Carmichael and another fairly young man who Stella introduced as Daniel Meadowes, Bobby’s secretary. The other table comprise Bobby, Anne, Professor Carmichael and two elderly ladies: Miss Clarke and Miss Terry, who explained to Mary-Lou cheerfully that they had decided that they wanted to see the world before they died.

“Did you ever read the Anne books?” asked Stella in an aside to Mary-Lou, who nodded, wondering where this could be leading. “You know Anne of the Island? Those two are exactly like I imagine Miss Patty and Miss Maria to be.” Mary-Lou tried and succeeded fairly well in smothering a laugh, but wondered how she was ever going to succeed in speaking to either of the two ladies again.

“What happens about dinner if it rains?” Mary-Lou asked Edgar Littler when they eventually sat down.

“It never does,” he replied with a grin.

“Fair enough,” she smiled back at him.

“If it does,” he relented, “then we all squash around one table inside. It can get quite stuffy. So tell me, is this your first time out here?”

“I went on one vacation dig with my supervisor, on Crete, when I was a student, which I enjoyed very much, but I didn’t have any other opportunities. The early part of my studies were interrupted by my mother’s illness, you see. I’m so excited to finally be here, to actually do something!” Mary-Lou was animated.

“Is your mother better now then?” he asked.

“She died a few years ago, and fortunately my sister got married, otherwise I’d have never been able to bring myself to leave her.”

“Is your sister younger then?” asked Stella, after the expressions of sympathy.

“We’re quite close in age, there are only a few months between us,” said Mary-Lou. “We’re only sisters by marriage,” she explained, at the confusion on everyone’s faces. “My father died when I was a child – I hardly remember him – and Mother married Verity’s father, but he had never been really well and he died not long before my mother.”

“What a lot of tragedy there seems to have been in your life,” said Matthew abruptly. “Yet in spite of it all you are still here to tell the tale!”

There was a collective drawing of breath at the table. Mary-Lou stared at him for a moment unsure as to what she could have done to deserve such treatment and then smiled at him winningly, “Yes, it’s a good job I’m so resilient!” she said brightly. “Tell me Edgar, have you been on many digs yoursel

#59: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 6:05 pm

Thanks, Alex!

Miss Patty & Miss Maria ROFL

(presumes Gog & Magog are still in safe hands)

#60: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 6:49 pm

I do not like Matthew one little bit so far! Seems very rude to me.

#61: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 7:45 pm

He is rude, but it's quite refreshing to see ML come up against someone she can't win over,, though she probably will eventually

#62: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 10:38 pm

yay. *happy dance*

new drabble. me like.

*begs for more*

#63: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:57 am

Go Mary-Lou!! (Loved the bit about being hit by a toboggan and Stella's reaction!)

#64: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:08 pm

Great to see that Mary-lou's OOAOness isn't working on Matthew.

#65: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:38 pm

I'm not writing any more today, my brain has turned to mush from reading about stoma appliances, thought I'd have a break before I moved onto incontinence.......

#66: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:39 pm

Sounds a wonderful way to spend Sunday, Alex. Surely writing soem more drabble would be better for you?

#67: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:51 pm

Alex, I have to say that that does NOT sound like appealing reading matter!!!!!!

#68: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:35 am

OOh yes good to see Mary-Lou a bit non plussed. Wonder if she'll treat him like a new girl at the CS and try and win him round?

#69: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:18 am

More please, its great, more please

Laughing

PLEASE

#70: Author: Kathryn, Location: Melbourne

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:20 am

Susan wrote:

OOh yes good to see Mary-Lou a bit non plussed. Wonder if she'll treat him like a new girl at the CS and try and win him round?

True, but it would be nice to see that she gets someone that she deserves.

*in a bit of a romantic mood tonight Embarassed

#71: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 12:19 pm

Wouldn't that be a case of matter over mind?

#72: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 3:32 pm

Dead pleased with myself for working so hard this weekend as I got 100% on my MCQs. Laughing

Only now some people think I am a freak. But I am so never mind.

Mary-Lou lay wakeful in bed that night. Apart from the exchange with Matthew the evening had been a pleasant one, at least for everyone else. Mary-Lou herself had been quite preoccupied with why Matthew seemed to dislike her so intensely, to the point where he couldn’t even keep up the pretence of civility, but she had tried to keep her feelings hidden from the rest of the group. Had she unintentionally offended him? she wondered. But the more she thought about it, the more she came to the conclusion that it was not only her he was against, but the whole world. Like Naomi in some ways. Perhaps it was working with his father, maybe they didn’t get on. She hadn’t really had an opportunity to observe them together but she hadn’t noted any closeness so far. Maybe, speculated Mary-Lou wildly, Professor Carmichael had contrived to be there to keep an eye on Matthew, who he felt should not be working on the dig for some reason. How could she help them to get along better?

She sat up suddenly, switched on the bedside light, threw off the covers and slid out of bed. Crossing the room to where there was a mirror on the wall she looked herself in the eye. “No more butting in!” she said fiercely to her reflection. She stared at herself a little longer. “No more,” she told herself again more quietly. “This is the real world now.”

Returning to her bed she snuggled down and shortly fell asleep.

#73: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 3:52 pm

Ooh, more drabble. Thank you, Alex.

*faints in shock at Mary-Lou vowing not to butt in*

#74: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 4:06 pm

Alex wrote:

She sat up suddenly, switched on the bedside light, threw off the covers and slid out of bed. Crossing the room to where there was a mirror on the wall she looked herself in the eye. “No more butting in!” she said fiercely to her reflection. She stared at herself a little longer. “No more,” she told herself again more quietly. “This is the real world now.”

Oh, Mary-Lou's so lovely in this, Alex! How do you manage to redeem such annoying characters? Hope we see her sticking to this resolution. More soon, please!!

#75: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 4:22 pm

Sounds like she's grown up a lot since the CS, is it going to stick though?

Thanks Alex, looking forward to more when you have time.

#76: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 4:32 pm

Ohh there's more, liking this more and more and more and more....

Can we have some more Wink

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

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:06 pm

Thank you Alex!

You know, what with you making Mary Lou a likeable character here, Angel doing the same for Joey in her drabble, we're fast approaching the stage of having no one we can love to hate! Laughing

#78: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:55 pm

Lesley wrote:

trust me, you may revise this opinion....

#79: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:35 pm

Thank you Alex. Hope ML can stick to her resolution but not really sure that she will.

#80: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 2:07 pm

We can always find room in our hearts for hate for OOAO, Jo and Reg. It's almost a condition of CBB membership.

#81: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 4:26 pm

*wonders if she should take her drabble off the board*

#82: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 5:16 pm

Why Angel? We're enjoying it too much for you to want to do that surely. Please don't.

#83: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 6:36 pm

See my most recent post on the drabble. ML isn't there yet...

#84: Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:47 am

Sounds like you've had fun reading material, Alex *have you had to use them yet? they're NOT fun to change* (former care assistant stops moaning)

shiny shiny Very Happy

love what you're doing with ML.

Are you going to tell us what happened to make her so resolute about "no more butting in"? (unleashes the requisite PB)

#85: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:23 pm

I don't have to be able to change them, only to know about prescription requirements for them. As for Mary-Lou's change of heart, I sort of have an idea about that, but I'm not sure when I'm going to put it in.

Her alarm clock went off at 6:30am, startling her awake. Years of training had left Mary-Lou inclined to leap out of bed with no thought of a lie-in and this she proceeded to do. Throwing on her dressing gown and grabbing her sponge bag she was about to run to the bathroom, when she realised where she was and instead, made her way there at a more sedate pace. Having washed, she returned to her room dress, selecting a shirt and shorts, for it was already warm. Before brushing her hair she re-made her bed, not that it needed it and then brushed her hair. Glancing at her watch as she put it on, she found that it was 7 o’clock, so she set off downstairs for breakfast.

In the dining room, a table was set out appetisingly with yoghurt, fruit and bread. Mary-Lou selected some yoghurt and a glass of fresh fruit juice, and took her bowl outside to sit on the terrace. The only people there were Miss Clarke and Miss Terry who cried out that she must join them and proceeded to chat to her excitedly about the coming day.

“There have been some promising finds so far,” said Miss Terry. “Honoria and I have been able to join in the work several times.”

“Josephine herself,” went on Miss Clarke, “is far to modest to tell you that she, in fact, made one of the most promising finds.”

“Never mind all that,” said Miss Terry, flushing a little at the praise. “Tell me, my dear, who was your father?”

Mary-Lou told them of her father’s work as a naturalist and of his death with the rest of the Murray-Cameron expedition.

“You must think me a terrible snob asking you,” said Miss Terry. “I’m not, I despise snobs! My nephew was also with the expedition, I thought your name was familiar.”

“I see,” replied Mary-Lou, carefully. “My step-father was one of the survivors – Roland Carey – he married my mother, you see.”

“How interesting, I believe there were only two survivors,” said Miss Terry, “I also remember reading of your father’s heroic actions. You must be very proud.”

“Yes,” said Mary-Lou. “And he is the reason I went into archaeology, so I could see the world, as he did.”

“Fascinating!” Miss Clarke felt it was her turn to get a word in. “But now, my dear, you must enjoy your breakfast, you will have a hard day’s work ahead.”

Mary-Lou followed her instructions to the letter. By the time she had finished her bowl of yoghurt, most of the rest of the group had arrived.

“You’re an early riser, good,” said Stella by way of a greeting. “One sleepy head is enough to worry about. We have to take it in turns to drag Edgar out of bed. But I will say, he is quick enough once he’s awake.”
“When it comes to your turn,” put in Anne who arrived with Bobby at this point, “I advise you to take a big jug of water with you and threaten to pour it all over him unless he gets up.”

“We have to take it in turns, because everyone feels so guilty about disturbing him,” Stella explained.

“He sits up all night reading his books,” said Bobby. “He’s very good at what he does, so we put up with his little eccentricities.”

Mary-Lou was not quite sure whether to believe them or not, but when breakfast was ended, Bobby reminded Matthew that it was his turn to get Edgar up that day. Matthew scowled and muttered something about how Edgar should be able to get himself up at this stage of his life, but couldn’t really argue with Bobby, who was, after all, his boss.

When Matthew had gone, Stella took Mary-Lou aside. “I’m sorry about what Matthew said to you yesterday, you must understand it’s not personal. He’s like that with everyone.”

“I’d worked that much out for myself. Besides, you don’t need to apologise – it’s not your fault he’s so unhappy.”

“Unhappy?” repeated Stella.

“It’s quite obvious really when you think about it. Once upon a time I’d have made it my mission to find out exactly what the matter was and put it right, but now I try not to interfere in peoples lives.”

“All I know, is that Bobby only gave him the job because the Professor asked him to, and he’s regretted it ever since. The Professor is an old friend, and Bobby could hardly say no, but he has said he won’t have Matthew back another time. Have you got everything you need for the morning?”

Mary-Lou went to collect her bag trying not to work out what Matthew’s problem was.

#86: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:39 pm

Are you really leaving it there, Alex? Isn't there any more

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

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:46 pm

Nice Alex.

Love the last line, ML trying NOT to work out the problem. Sums her up really.

#88: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 5:57 pm

But she just wouldn't be ML if she left it there, surely she's going to find it so difficult not to do anything.
Waiting with baated breath for the next part.

#89: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 7:38 pm

So, what is Matthew's problem?? More, please, Alex!

#90: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:17 pm

*echoes all requests*

#91: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:29 pm

She's going to find out and solve it for him or my names not Sarah! That's OOAOML for you Very Happy

Looking forward to more...

#92: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:30 am

*thinks the world could use a few problem-solvers*
(Admittedly ML's tact sometimes needs work, but at least she cares!)

*intrigued by relationship between ML's father and Josephine Terry*

#93: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:38 pm

Oooh!
Potential scandal......

#94: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 12:00 pm

(Admittedly ML's tact sometimes needs work, but at least she cares!)

OOAO's tact sometimes needs some work? Do you mean she needs not to be the verbal equivalent of a JCB?

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

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:19 pm

Taken a while to get back to this one - glad I have!

What is Matthew's problem?

Looking forward to more - please! Laughing

#96: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 3:46 pm

More please Wink

Start's chanting OOAOML stlye Trumpet

#97: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 6:26 pm

I am soo stuck. Mainly because my entire archaeological knowledge is garnered from Two Men in a Trench and Murder in Mesopotania.

#98: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:26 pm

Sounds like good background reading to me Alex Smile

It's more than a lot of writers have. I don't think we have any archaeologists on the board, do we? If we have, speak up now! If not, then our knowledge is unlikely to be more than yours so don't worry too much.

I'm fascinated by MLs grown up attitude and her acceptance that butting in is not really always right.

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

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 12:04 am

Alex - don't worry about the technical archeological details cos we won't either - we just want to know about OOAO & Matthew

BTW is Mespotamia the one where the victim drinks the beaker full of acid - if so no repeats perlease - I had nightmares over that for a while Confused

#100: Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 6:16 pm

Fabulous, Alex. YOu know what I'm gong to say now, don't you?

MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE

#101: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 6:28 pm

Alex, the technical details are mere trivialities, just write some more drabble - we won't know if you're wrong about details.

#102: Author: Chickpea,

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 7:24 pm

Sorry, just caught up with this drabble, but I am a soon to be ex-archaeologist (once I have gone up to the Hebrides to do a wee bit of digging).

If i can be of assistance with techy terms just let me know Wink

#103: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 3:36 pm

A very small amount.

Mary-Lou was allocated an area of ground to excavate between Stella and Matthew, a little away from everyone else. Anything found, regardless of how insignificant it appeared, was to be logged and its location recorded. “Any problems, just ask,” Bobby was very much in charge during working hours, however casual he might be off duty. Mary-Lou grinned and nodded her thanks and settled down to work with a will.

There was some conversation for the first hour or so, Stella told Mary-Lou about the work of previous years on the site, and how long it had taken her to persuade her parents to let her go, how she had hated her school, where they had learned more about deportment and ballroom dancing than anything else. How she had wanted to learn science but none was taught, how much she had loved the holidays. Mary-Lou recounted some tales of her own school and university days, and even Matthew contributed to the conversation, Mary-Lou doing her best to draw him out in spite of her determination not to butt in. After a while they fell into silence, concentrating on logging the broken bits of pottery which seemed to be everywhere.

By 10 o’clock, Bobby called a break. Daniel had brought flasks of water and cups with him, and everyone was pleased to quench their thirst, as it was already quite hot.

#104: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:07 pm

ooh nice.

This is very veyr good.

#105: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:51 pm

So Matthew can be polite enough to take part in a conersation at least a little bit! I love the repeated assertion that ML isn't going to butt in, methinks the lady doth protest too much...

Thanks for that bit Alex Smile

#106: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:23 pm

Yay!!!
Thanks Alex!!! More please!

#107: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:44 pm

Glad to see that Matthew can talk normally to ML and Stella, I still don't see ML refusing to try to help him.

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

Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2004 3:51 am

Thank you Alex!

*Hmmmm! How long is this resolution of ML going to last?*

#109: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:07 am

Please let us know, Alex.

#110: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2004 2:58 pm

Feel like a donkey, with a carrot dangled in front of me, attached to a very long stick...

PLEASE CAN WE HAVE SOME MORE

#111: Author: ElKel,

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:40 pm

More please!

I'm actually beginning to like OOAOML - but of course, she's not being OOAO at the moment, is she? In fact, she seems to be behaving - gasp! - normally

Can't wait to find out what's eating Matthew. . .

#112: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:58 pm

Yes, I'd like to know what the problem is, and whether OOAO will be able to stop herself butting in.

#113: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 8:59 am

After the break there was far less chatter, Mary-Lou was grateful for her shady hat. She ventured comments a couple of times but Matthew was back to his scowling, and Stella had gone to consult Professor Carmichael and Edgar about an interesting item she had found.

As she sifted through the earth, Mary-Lou found herself again trying to work out what the matter was with Matthew. He’d been almost cheerful earlier. If only she could……. No, there was to be no more butting in. There had been enough of that, and the consequences could be terrible.

While Mary-Lou was at University there had been an incident involving another student. Carol was younger than Mary-Lou, a first year, but they lived on the same staircase. At first Carol had been a bright, cheerful young woman, but after the Christmas vacation she had come back withdrawn and not her usual self. Mary-Lou tried every way she knew to get through to the girl but Carol became more and more depressed and began to miss lectures and classes. Mary-Lou’s friends urged her to go to the authorities, but she was sure she could help Carol, because she had never failed in the past.

In the end, concerned at not having seen her for two days, Mary-Lou did go the authorities, but it was too late. Carol had taken her own life. Mary-Lou never did find out what had happened to her in the Christmas vacation, but she understood that she had been way out of her depth and that it was her fault Carol was dead. Her intuition could not be trusted, in future she would steer clear. If Joey and Jack had heard the facts they would have tried to put Mary-Lou straight, but for the first time in her life she did not want to see them. Joey especially would not understand, she would only see that to commit suicide was a terrible thing to do, Jack maybe would understand more the pressures created by studying. She contrived to stay away for the Easter vacation, spending it with Verity, who wisely asked no questions. And she had made her decision. Matthew would have to stand on his own two feet.

At noon they broke for lunch, meandering back to the hostel for their meal. Mary-Lou went to her room to read up on the period they were working on. She was interrupted only twice, firstly by Stella. “Edgar and I are going for a walk, do you want to come?”

“It’s a bit hot!” said Mary-Lou. “I think I’ll finish this and then have a lie down.”

“Sure? See you later then.” Mary-Lou had a sneaking suspicion that Stella was relieved she didn’t want to come.

About half an hour later Matthew knocked on the door. “Stella’s not here is she? I can’t find her anywhere.”

“She said she was going for a walk,” replied Mary-Lou amiably.

“Stupid girl!” exploded Matthew. “She can’t just go wandering round the countryside by herself.”

“I’d hardly call her stupid,” said Mary-Lou, “and she didn’t go by herself. Now was there anything else. Only I’m rather busy.”

Matthew departed, scowling as usual.

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

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 9:42 am

Hmmmm, is Matthew's problem Stella.....and Edgar???

Thanks Alex!

#115: Author: *Aletea*, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 10:08 am

Methinks OOALML may end this drabble with a husband!!!

#116: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 11:53 am

Definitely a case of matter over mind then.

#117: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 4:21 pm

It's a bit sad that ML is taking all responsibilty for Carol's death on herself, sure she could have asked for help, but any of the people who urged ML to go to the authorities could have done so them self, although there's no guarantee the the outcome would have been any different if they had.
I hope that she comes to think about it more rationally, although if it has made her a bit more careful and tactful that can't be a bad thing.

#118: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 4:52 pm

Well that explains her determination not to butt in. It's a pity she won't talk to Joey and Jack, they'd probably be sympathetic. (and why didn't her friends go to the authorities! It's hardly JUST Mary Lou's fault).

As for Matthew, I think there must be something to do with Stella and/or Edgar that's upsetting him. Probably.

Thanks pim.

#119: Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 6:37 pm

Thank you, Alex, for more story.
Finding it hard to deal with some parts of this, so thread is going temporarily on "ignore" - but I'll come back to it!

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

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 8:20 pm

Even though it wasn't ML fault - it would be so awful to feel you were even partly to blame

this is just so well written

#121: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 7:10 pm

Looking forward to lots more of this.

#122: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 4:25 pm

This next bit is a little random...I'm not sure I've got it right. And Stella is, quite frankly, doing her own thing.

Despite the fact that Stella had returned so Matthew could have asked her whatever it was he seemed to need to, at work that afternoon he remained stonily silent. When Mary-Lou asked his opinion on something he looked at her as if she was the lowest scum of the earth before telling her she was clearly wrong. He did not volunteer any further information as to what was right. In the end Mary-Lou decided to ignore his childish behaviour and went out of her way to chat with Stella, who was relieved that Mary-Lou was not taking Matthew’s attitude personally. The hours dragged though, it was hard to talk about nothing in particular for such a length of time.

Around 7 pm, Mary-Lou went to ask about something she had found. It was unlike anything she had seen before, and it was Stella who recommended she get a more expert opinion. As the Professor was busy with Bobby she asked Edgar.

“Most interesting,” he said, turning the object over in his hands. “I think this could throw a lot of light on some areas. Do you mind if I keep this and show it to the Professor?”

“Of course,” said Mary-Lou. Making her way back, she paused to tell Stella what Edgar had said.

“You silly little girls,” interrupted Matthew snidely. “You think you’re so clever. It’s pathetic the way you have to ask for help with everything. Run along to Edgar, run along to Bobby, run along to the Professor….” he chanted getting louder and louder as he warmed to his theme. “You’re so useless. This is a man’s world. You should be at home, looking after a husband. You think you can work as equals with us but this is no place for women, and you have to ask men for help all the time. If I were married I wouldn’t stand for it! I wouldn’t let my wife work! I’d expect her to know her place!”

His tirade at an end, he paused for breath.

“I think you’ll find it very difficult to get anyone to marry you with an attitude like that,” commented Mary-Lou, instantly regretting it.

“You! Think! You don’t think, you just ask other people to think for you! Asking for help every five minutes!”

“I think that’s the first time Mary-Lou’s asked anyone for an opinion,” said Stella quietly.

“Of course you take her side! You would do. I’m not surprised with your family. I can’t believe your brother lets his wife work. In her state! It’s an offence to nature.”

Stella eyed Matthew very deliberately as if considering something. It took her ten steps to reach him. Mary-Lou made after her as soon as she realised what was about to happen, but by the time she reached them it was too late. Stella had punched Matthew as hard as she could. This turned out to be quite hard, and Matthew was clutching a bloody nose.

Stella looked down at her hands a little shamefaced, and then back at Mary-Lou. “I fear that wasn’t very ladylike.”

Mary-Lou grinned in spite of herself.

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

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 4:28 pm

Go Stella Go!

#124: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 4:29 pm

I loved Stella's line. And Mathew had that punch coming!

#125: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 4:35 pm

In an American chat show style....

"Go Stella"
"Go Stella"
"Go Stella"
"Go Stella"
wwwooooooo

"Go Stella"
"Go Stella"
"Go Stella"

#126: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 4:36 pm

oh nice...

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

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 7:52 pm

Good one Stella!

#128: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 9:07 pm

*cheers*
He deserved that!
That's one heck of a chip on his shoulder though...

#129: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 10:38 pm

Wahoo! I was expecting slap, not a punch though!

#130: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 3:08 am

*lol Stella's "fear"*

*wondering if a good punch is what it takes to win Matt's respect*

#131: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 7:11 am

ooh, its getting better and better.
its a shame it took something so tragic to make ML change her behaviour, but I hope she comes to realise that it wasn't all her fault.
LOVED Stella's punch. I was also waiting for a slap. Good girl!

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

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 9:20 am

Good for Stella - Matthew deserved it!

Alsoloved Mary Lou's line about him finding it difficult to marry!

#133: Author: Trish, Location: Australia

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 12:01 pm

I was about to give Matthew a good smack around the head by the end of his speech myself. Evil or Very Mad

I'm so glad Stella saved me the trouble and did it herself! Very Happy

#134: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 4:23 pm

Yay - Good for Stella! Glad to see she's got her head screwed on right - wonder what happened to Matthew to make him feel like that though....

#135: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 4:51 pm

Naturally, the fracas had caught the attention of everyone else and Bobby wisely decided to call a halt for the day and despatched everyone back to the hostel apart from Mary-Lou and Stella. He would have kept Matthew as well, but he had stormed off alone. Bobby decided he would speak to him later, and get his version of events.

Stella gave a brief account of what had passed, Mary-Lou did not have much to add.

“Well, Stella,” said Bobby at last, “I can’t say I blame you. If he’d have said that about Anne to me I’d certainly have done the same. But you can’t go around hitting people whenever they annoy you!”

“I’m not a child Bobby,” said Stella, a trifle haughtily. “You needn’t talk to me as if I were. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but maybe Matthew will think twice before he talks such rubbish again.”

“It’s very embarrassing, with the Professor and everything,” said Bobby. “I shall have to speak to Matthew, he can’t go on upsetting people like this.”

Mary-Lou thought about voicing her opinion that Matthew was unhappy but was saved the trouble by Stella.

“Mary-Lou thinks Matthew is unhappy.”

Bobby regarded the two women. “Matthew is certainly making everyone else unhappy. He’s destroying the group dynamic. Professor or no Professor, I shall tell him that if there’s another incident like today then he’ll have to go. Now I think we should go and see about dinner. All this violence has made me hungry.”

Matthew did not appear again that evening, but no-one except Mary-Lou was troubled by the fact. And then the Professor distracted everyone with an announcement that he had made an important discovery. When he began to outline his theory, Mary-Lou was outraged to realise that it wasn’t his discovery at all but hers and Edgar’s. When she managed to catch Edgar’s eye, he merely shrugged and shook his head. Of course she had heard that sometimes research assistants did all the work and then the man in charge took credit but surely it didn’t happen in this day and age. This was only a very minor point, but someone who couldn’t even give credit for little things certainly wouldn’t give credit for more serious ones.

Mary-Lou went to bed with the opinion that she didn’t care much for any member of the Carmichael family.

#136: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 4:57 pm

Poor ML, I can sympathise very much, having been caught out like that myself, though nothing so important obviously.
I fear that she's going to find this dig very different from the CS, in more ways than one.

#137: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 6:53 pm

*chanting loudly*
More punches please....... Wink

#138: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 7:01 pm

Matthew thoroughly deserved what he got! Boo to the professor for pinching someone lese's find! Hope HE gets his comeuppance too!

#139: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 8:32 pm

Poor ML, not having a good day is she!

Thanks Alex.

#140: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 5:06 am

Boo, Hiss! at the evil data-snatching professor.

*wonders if this sort of behavior helps to explain Matthew*

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

Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 11:58 am

Thinking it might do! Poor ML!

#142: Author: Beth, Location: Durham, apparently...

Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 9:36 am

I'm really really enjoying this, Alex, but I'm slightly worried that it's slipping down the board, so I'm going to take inspiration from another thread and bump it back up a bit.

BUMP!

There, that's better. Very Happy

*hopes bump will be construed as delicate hint for more...*

#143: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 12:28 pm

You bumps your drabble and awaitds your luck!

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

Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 5:54 pm

Liked the last bit, Alex - rotten professor -may his ears grow gangrenous!

More please!

#145: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 3:33 pm

Mary-Lou and Stella talk about the facts of life. I'm not really sure why.

Careful to avoid Matthew at breakfast the next morning, Mary-Lou sat next to Anne, who was looking rather pail and only picked at her food. It turned out to be Daniel’s turn to get Edgar out of bed. “Your turn tomorrow, Mary-Lou,” said Stella cheerfully after he had departed.
Mary-Lou smiled nervously, she had never seen a man wearing only his pyjamas. And still in bed! It was almost improper.

“It is pathetic that a grown man can’t get himself out of bed in the morning,” said Matthew, who did not seem to be bothering with staying out of Mary-Lou’s way. “He needs a nanny!”

His father was standing near by and overheard this. He took Matthews arm and turned him to one side. “At least he has better manners than the uncouth ones you have been displaying for the last week or so. You would do well to follow his example and stay in bed if you can’t hold your tongue.” He did not reprimand Matthew as quietly as he might have done and a good few people overheard. Stella caught Mary-Lou’s eye and they made a swift exit.

“I hate all this unpleasantness. I believe I made it worse yesterday. And Bobby, well you heard what he said yesterday. However, we heard yesterday evening that Peter is coming tomorrow and then he will help him sort it out.”

“Peter?” asked Mary-Lou, stopping at the top of the stairs.

“A great school friend of Bobby’s, he’s with the British Consul in Athens, and he comes up here whenever he has time off during the season. He’s very lovely and charming and so sensible.”

“I see,” said Mary-Lou, smiling a little.

Stella laughed. “Oh nothing like that! He’s quite the confirmed bachelor, if you know what I mean. Just let me get my bag.”

Mary-Lou nodded her agreement, although she had no idea what Stella meant. She seemed to mean something more than she was saying, but Mary-Lou could not fathom what it was. She changed the subject.

“Is Anne alright?”

Stella turned pale. “What do you mean?”

“She looked pale and didn’t really eat her breakfast.”

Stella’s face cleared. “Probably just a touch of morning sickness. She had it quite badly at first but she’s much better now.”

“Because of the…the baby?” asked Mary-Lou surprised. “Is that normal?”

“Perfectly,” said Stella staring at her. “Have none of your friends had children yet?”

Mary-Lou reddened. “Well of course, but they haven’t really said much about it. One of my friends has many children and all she says is ‘Mary-Lou, I’m going to be very busy in a few months time’ and maybe they just follow her example.”

“How many do you call many children, then?” asked Stella with a grin.

“Eleven that are her own, and there a quite a lot of adoptees as well.”

“Adoptees? How many of them?”

“I’ve never counted, there’s the three Richardsons, and Erica and Claire. And I suppose some people would count myself and Adrienne as well. Seven in all.”

“Eighteen children! She must be insane! I mean I’d like to have one or two later on if I get the chance but eleven! If she’s never suffered morning sickness in eleven pregnancies she’s a very lucky woman.”

Mary-Lou explained that in fact there were not so many, due to a tendency in the family for multiple births.

“Your friend must be one of a kind.”

Mary-Lou certainly agreed with that sentiment.

#146: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 3:37 pm

So OOAO is getting her eyes opened in more ways than one!

#147: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 3:38 pm

I know at least one woman with 5 kids who never had morning sickness.

But I like this...

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

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 4:40 pm

Quite worrying really that Mary Lou knows so little - did they expect people to discover these things by osmosis? Laughing

More please!

#149: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 7:22 pm

It was the sort of thing that women weren't told until they were actually about to be busy.

The standard of maternity care in those days was dreadful - practically non-existent.

#150: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 8:56 pm

This experience is, I think, going to be very good for Mary Lou, since she has the chance to talk to people frankly and without hiding ehind coy euphanisms

#151: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 8:59 pm

Won't they think she's stupid because she has to ask them what they mean?

#152: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 9:20 pm

Maybe, but I think they're too nice to show ML that, except for Matthew.

#153: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 9:21 pm

You're probably right!

#154: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 10:18 pm

fantastic. looking forward to more.

#155: Author: Mandy, Location: Derry, N.Ireland

Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 10:47 pm

Alex, I've just discovered this and I'm really enjoying it. I can't wait for more.

#156: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 12:31 pm

You're right they are far too nice to think she's stupid. Besides it's only Stella.

Despite her ongoing determination not to interfere with other people and her actual dislike for Matthew, Mary-Lou spent all morning trying to work out what his problem was. By the time they broke at midday her thoughts were in turmoil and she was beginning to develop a headache. It was another boiling hot day and she decided that she had better not try and do any work but get some sleep instead, otherwise she would be fit for nothing in the afternoon.

Once they had eaten, she announced to Stella that she needed a siesta and went to bed. Sleep did not come, she tossed and turned for an hour, before drifting into an uneasy sleep. About half an hour later she suddenly sat bolt upright in bed, wide awake. Giving the idea of a rest up as a bad job, she decided to go and see if anyone else was around. She found Stella and Anne on the shady part of the terrace.

“Mary-Lou! You look all in!” said Anne.

Mary-Lou smiled wanly, “You look a lot better though, Anne.”

Anne nodded. “Couldn’t sleep?” asked Stella sympathetically.

“I think it’s the heat,” said Mary-Lou, “I did sleep a bit, but then I woke up really suddenly and I’ve got this really bad feeling that something terrible is going to happen.”

“Sounds like a touch of heat stoke,” said Anne laughingly. “I’ll go and find Maria and a cold drink for you.” Suiting the action to the word she headed back into the building.

“Anne’s probably right, she usually is about these things,” said Stella sagely, when her sister in law had gone.

“I’m sure she is,” replied Mary-Lou. But the sense of foreboding would not leave her, and Stella catching a glimpse of it in her eyes felt herself shiver despite the heat.

#157: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 12:33 pm

oooooooh

Can't ML be wrong for once???

Nah - wouldn't be so much fun Smile

Looking forward to more.

#158: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 4:07 pm

Mary-Lou's never wrong. Nuff said.

#159: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 9:28 pm

Be honest, she's never wrong except in her butting-in where she's not wanted.

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

Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 9:39 pm

What's going to happen??????

More soon please!

#161: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 10:46 pm

Jennie wrote:

Be honest, she's never wrong except in her butting-in where she's not wanted.

Which is a fair amount of the time so...

#162: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 12:23 am

I love the way Joey gets described as one of a kind by Mary Lou (or she agrees with the description anyway) Very Happy

I've got to say ML's feeling of foreboding sounds not so good to me, knowing how stories on C&D usually go...

#163: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 12:29 pm

Time to get seriously afraid?

#164: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 6:11 pm

Have you people no faith in Mary-Lou's intuition?! Read on...

Mary-Lou struggled to work that afternoon. She had a terrible headache. Stella thought she looked dreadful and suggested she stop and go back to the hostel, but the second time she mentioned it Mary-Lou muttered something about not giving Matthew the satisfaction and Stella had the sense to let the matter rest. However, when Bobby called time, she admitted to Stella that she was going to go straight to bed without any dinner in the hope that a good night’s sleep would solve the problem.

“Alright,” agreed Stella, “but if you feel rough tomorrow, you’d better take the day off.”

“Mary-Lou,” Edgar had arrived on the scene and interrupted, “have you got a minute?” He looked around conspiritally. “I need a word.”

Mary-Lou nodded her agreement and they contrived to hang around until most of the group had left, whilst Stella caught up with the rest of the party.

“I know the Professor is going to try and take credit for your discovery,” began Edgar.

“Take credit? Steal it more like,” said Mary-Lou crossly.

“It won’t be the first time he’s done it, or the last,” he went on, ignoring her outburst. “But I’ve had enough. If I can get out a paper on it before he does, then our idea will be safe. Neither of us can do it alone. I promise I will put your name alongside mine on the paper, but I need you to help me if we’re going to beat him.”

“Count me in,” said Mary-Lou, after the barest hesitation. “I think I’d do it, even if you didn’t put my name on the paper! He deserves it!”

“Never say that,” laughed Edgar. “Academics are a selfish, bloodthirsty bunch. You’ve got to look out for yourself.” They were almost back at the hostel by this time. “Are you alright? You look a bit pale.”

“I’ve got a terrible headache, I’m going to go straight to bed when we get in.”

“Trouble sleeping? I have some stuff I take, if you need something. To be honest, that’s why I can never get up in the morning.”

Mary-Lou shook her head. “Thanks, but I expect it’s just the heat.” They reached the hostel. “Good night, see you tomorrow.”

“Good night,” replied Edgar.

***

After her long sleep, Mary-Lou felt much better and was down to breakfast with everyone else, if a little late.

“Feeling better?” asked Stella. “You missed a nice evening.”

Mary-Lou raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, ok, Matthew went to bed early,” admitted Stella. “Edgar’s not up yet, by the way, don’t forget it’s your turn to wake him. I was just about to go myself actually.” Some people had started to set off.

“I’ll go,” said Mary-Lou. “It is my turn after all. I’ll catch you up.”

Stella agreed and Mary-Lou went upstairs to the floor where Edgar’s room was. She knocked on the door, a little timidly, then louder. She shrugged at the lack of reply. “Oh well, Stella did say I’d probably have to go in,” she said to herself.

Adjusting herself to ‘Dormitory Prefect mode’ she opened the door and went in saying cheerfully, “Come on lazy bones, time to get up!”
Edgar lay on his side facing her: cold, grey and to all appearances…..

Mary-Lou looked closer. There were no two ways about it. He was dead.

#165: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 6:23 pm

ooooooooooooooooooh

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

Alex!!!

How could you do that to us? That's a mean cliffie to pull.

*looking forward to more, and wondering if someone has been poisoning Edgar and had intended to get ML the night before*

#166: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 6:53 pm

Alex, fancy leaving it there!

#167: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 6:58 pm

Have to do some research. And you're a fine one to talk, Angel!

#168: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 7:12 pm

Alex wrote:

Have to do some research. And you're a fine one to talk, Angel!

I didn't leave anyone dead, for starters...

...Although that's given me an idea.

#169: Author: MissPrint, Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 10:19 pm

The first drabble I ever read, and you leave it there?!!!!! Oh Alex, you have to go on soon, please!

#170: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 12:41 am

ALEX!!!!!!!!!!!

What a cliff!!!
*passes out the drabble harnesses again!*

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

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 12:36 pm

How, when, who? etc.etc.

Alex please come and let us down off this cliff!!

#172: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 1:23 pm

What next? Mary-Lou Supersleuth?

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

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 1:43 pm

Hmmmm, so is Edgar dead? And if so was it because he intended to publish a paper that would show up the professor or his son Matthew up??

Nice one Alex! Wink

#174: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 7:27 pm

Nell wrote:

How, when, who? etc.etc.

You think I've decided already?!

Mary-Lou stood motionless for a few seconds. This was not the first time she had seen death: Gran, Dad, Mother, not Carol, she would not think of Carol, she hadn’t seen her anyway. But this was different, Edgar had been alive yesterday, he had been full of plans and at this moment in time she was the only person who knew he was dead. It was a sobering thought. She said a quiet prayer for him, asking God to keep him safe.

Then the brisk, practical Mary-Lou with years of training came to the fore. What must she do now? She could not, after all, stand in this room with Edgar’s body all day. People must be told, a death certificate obtained. Yes that was the first thing, get a doctor. She looked at Edgar’s still form. He looked so peaceful, asleep. But the part of Mary-Lou which was sensitive to other people could feel that he had gone. She stepped forward, intending to pull the sheet up to cover his face and then recoiled in horror. Apparently someone else did know that Edgar Littler was dead, for that person had stuck a knife in his back!

#175: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 7:33 pm

Nice...

Carol? And I do like the fact that ML is likely to be caught red-handed...

#176: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 7:47 pm

Carol is on page 6.

This put a whole new slant on the situation. Mary-Lou suddenly needed to get out of the room and made for the door, stifling a sob, just one which tried to escape. She looked around wildly, she must find someone and tell them. She must find Bobby or Stella or Anne, well maybe not Anne, the shock would not be good for her. Mary-Lou shook herself, two days had changed her outlook, Anne would cope just fine. But they were all at the dig. She had better find Stavros and send him for the doctor.

Having made a decision she felt a lot better. Heading for the stairs she was brought up short by a man coming up them, carrying a bag.

“I say,” he said, extending his hand, as he reached her. “You must be new, they told me you were coming last time I was here. Peter Arrowroot. I’m terribly sorry I can’t remember your name.”

“Mary-Lou Trelawney,” replied that woman, a little dazed. Then she gathered her wits. “Bobby’s friend? Who works for the British Consul?”

He nodded, “That’s me.”

Mary-Lou hesitated, but only for a second. “Good. You’re just the man I need!”

“What on earth are you talking about?” asked Peter, meek in the face of Mary-Lou’s decisiveness.

“Murder,” she said, grimly.

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

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 7:52 pm

Ohhh! Getting all Agatha Christie-ish Love it, thanks Alex!

#178: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 7:52 pm

Nice one liner....

"Murder"

More, please...

#179: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 9:39 pm

Thank you, Alex. I'm really, really enjoying this.

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

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 10:31 pm

Thank you, love the developments, and the style.

#181: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 10:36 pm

Alex wrote:

Edgar lay on his side facing her: cold, grey and to all appearances…..

Mary-Lou looked closer. There were no two ways about it. He was dead.

Cracking line. Absolutely cracking... *pauses laughing to breathe*

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

Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 10:52 am

Alex wrote:

Nell wrote:

How, when, who? etc.etc.

You think I've decided already?!

Well that was the How, and the When must have between when he went to bed and when ML went to wake him...so we're only left with the who??? Not sure who my money is on...even after years of reading detective fiction i'm still useless at working out who dunnit, but might it be something to do with ML discovery?

#183: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 1:22 pm

See I was half expecting poison but not a great big knife in his back!

More... please...

#184: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 1:55 pm

Alex!!!!!!!! There I was, I'd read eight pages of this and thinking ah, isn't ML nice in this, and suddenly WHAM! A murder!

*joins in the demands for more*

#185: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 4:51 pm

*starts giggling again...*

#186: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 6:14 pm

I'm a bit stuck about how to go about this now, so there's only a little but I'm afraid. Rosie, how could I resist?

Once Peter had grasped what she was talking about, he demanded to be taken to view the body.

“We need to get a doctor to determine the cause of death and sign the certificate. Probably the local police had better get involved, but they might be quite happy to leave it in my hands.”

“I’d imagine that the cause of death would be quite obvious,” said Mary-Lou, gesturing towards the knife in Edgar’s back.

Peter frowned. “There’s something missing though. What would you expect to see?”

Mary-Lou stared at him and then at the bed.

“There’s no blood,” she said slowly.

“Meaning…..”

“He was already dead when he was stabbed? But why would anyone poison him and then stab him?”

“That is what we need to find out,” said Peter. “Now, how’s your greek? Can you tell Stavros that Dr Littler needs a doctor without giving away why?”

Mary-Lou decided that she could. “They’ll be wondering where I’ve got to. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them came back to see what was wrong.”

“We’d better go and find this doctor then.”

#187: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 6:18 pm

Shiny

This is good - nice to see ML interacting as an adult in an adults world.

#188: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 6:37 pm

This is great Alex!
More please!!!

#189: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 9:36 pm

Thank you, Alex. Yet again, I can only say this is great.

*wondering if Mary-Lou is going to become a famous detective as well as archaelogist like Amelia Peabody Emerson*

Alex wrote:

how’s your greek?

For some reason, I now have the idea of ML attempting to impart the news in Ancient Greek!

#190: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 8:03 am

LOL, I can just see that, and the poor man not understanding a word that she was saying.

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

Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 8:17 pm

This is intregueing, I love detective fiction and ML fits in here so well.

#192: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 12:29 pm

Will she start to think of herself as the new Miss Marple?

#193: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 5:09 pm

Argh! More!!!!!

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

Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 8:14 pm

Kat wrote:

Argh! More!!!!!

*Echoes this!*

#195: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 10:09 pm

I'm sorry, I'm really stuck. Tomorrow I am out all day at the Gathering and then a Hen night in the evening, but I will try to write some on Sunday depending how tired I am.

#196: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Sun May 16, 2004 11:26 am

Tired? Or hungover?? Very Happy

But more when you can would be uttlerly spendacious!!

#197: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun May 16, 2004 12:36 pm

Tired. I didn't get home until 1am. Driving. Maybe more later.

The doctor arrived in a hurry, Stavros apparently having conveyed some of Mary-Lou’s sense of urgency.

After viewing Edgar’s form he confirmed that they were correct in thinking that he was already dead when he had been stabbed.

“I would say he has been dead between six and nine hours, putting the time of death between midnight and three. As to the cause of death,” he continued. “I will have to perform some tests, but I would say that it looks like poisoning of some kind, whether accidental or deliberate I cannot tell.”

“What sort of poison?” demanded Mary-Lou.

“I cannot be sure until I perform the tests, but my instinct tells me it is probably barbiturates of some kind.”

“Barbiturates? As in sleeping powders?” asked Peter.

The doctor nodded his agreement and took his leave of them. “I will arrange for someone to remove the body,” he promised.

“He took things to help him sleep. He told me so yesterday. Maybe be he accidentally took an overdose,” said Mary-Lou when the doctor had left.

“Or maybe it wasn’t an accident,” said Peter. “You cannot rule out the possibility that it was deliberately administered, whether by himself or someone else.”

“But the fact that someone stabbed him may be some sort of clue,” said Mary-Lou sarcastically. “I refuse to believe he took it himself deliberately. Yesterday he was full of plans, and in my experience people don’t suddenly become so depressed in the space of a few hours that they decide to take their own life. Besides, there’s no note.”

“You have a lot of experience of suicides then do you,” said Peter, a little crossly, then as Mary-Lou looked away, he added more gently, “At this stage we can’t rule any possibilities out. I’m inclined to agree with you, actually, but we need to ask a lot more questions before we come to any conclusions.”

“We?” asked Mary-Lou.

“Oh you’re definitely involved now,” he said. “You’ll have to help me.”

He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost half past nine, and the first thing we have to do now is to go down to the dig and break the news.”

#198: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Sun May 16, 2004 12:47 pm

Ni-ice

*happy dance*

#199: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Sun May 16, 2004 1:04 pm

Thanks Alex Smile

#200: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sun May 16, 2004 2:05 pm