The CBB :: View topic

#1: Newlywed Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:04 pm

She'd tried to talk to Madge, but had found herself sternly rebuked by her elder sister. It was not done to talk about such things in public. Joey had nodded quietly, remembering those days of crossing the alps on foot, and resolving that a little morning sickness would not stop her putting on her proper face. She only had to look at the grey lines drawn across her sister's face to see how she had suffered until they'd been reunited on Guernsey.

Today was the first time she'd woken up without Jack beside her, and it was the first time she'd had morning sickness. Somehow the two had linked themselves, and she found herself longing for her husband of a few months. Surely he'd be able to help her, or something. She dragged herself out of bed, willing the desire to retch up nothing to stop, and gasped at a glass of cold water, spitting the slime from her mouth, and then feeling ashamed when it was followed by the meagre contents of her stomach. She cleaned up, unwilling for her maid to see any of this weakness. She was Mrs Maynard, the Doctor's wife, not some obscure person, and she'd had it drummed into her by her sister that she was not to show them up in public. It was one thing when she was unmarried, as she could be passed off as younger than she was, but now she had to lose these foolish ideas of hers.

Joey nodded, feeling little like playing, even all this time after leaving Tyrol. Robin was quieter now, and the two would spend evenings together. Robin hadn't noticed the bump that Joey was cradling, and Joey was reluctant to draw attention to it. Suddenly she'd been unceremoniously thrown into this world of grown ups, when she felt she had so much growing up to do. She'd been a child for twenty years, and that meant that she followed as she was told in this unfamiliar world.

Being in her sister's nursery hadn't prepared her. She wasn't used to having to spend all her time in the expected way, which, quite frankly, was Edwardian in the extreme. And the pregnancy meant that she didn't have the strength to rebel.

Last edited by Angel on Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:30 pm; edited 7 times in total

#2: Author: ali, Location: medway, kent

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:18 pm

Poor Joey, I hope she rebels against the old fashioned ideas of her sisters generation and tells the world about her pregnancy and feelings. Its supposed to be a happy time and without Jacks support she needs everyone elses.

May I be the first to demand, yes demand MORE.

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

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:35 pm

By mid-afternoon she'd felt up to doing some writing, and struggled to produce two pages, which had promptly found themselves in the bin and she struggled to replace them. Her hair wasn't wild, so much as dislodged, and she would have to replait it.

The girls came in an hour later, and they ate in the kitchen, Joey giving them each some tea, and they gave the latest news of village life. Joey didn't know any of them. Madge seemed well in with the right people on the island, and Joey played the slightly wayward sister to perfection, until she'd had her sister hiss to her that that would not do, and she had even less inclination to go to Bonne Maison when she was in this state.

She giggled infectiously with the two schoolgirls, trying to dissipate the nervous tension, and suggesting a mild game of cards. Daisy and Robin sat with her, as they enjoyed the spring day, Joey failing to get anywhere with the cards.

They vanished to complete their prep, and beg leave to go to see Josette and Peggy, which Joey gave. The evening would be light enough to allow them an hour or two. She sat there, fiddling with her pen and pad, willing the recurring nausea to disappear. She didn't think she was such bad company as all that. Or maybe it was because she was home all day now.

She went to their room, and sat by the dresser, and unpinned her hair. She felt a hand on her back, and turned to greet her Jack with her kiss.

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

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:43 pm

He was tired, but returned his wife's greeting with interest, sitting beside her, as they glanced in the mirror. He saw her paler face, and guessed what had caused it.

"feeling unwell, my love." She nodded, and unpinned the braids to hide her face. "Nothing to be ashamed of. Let me." He reached for the brush, and let her hair fall down her back, brushing it with a tenderness that would surprise those that were used to the face that the doctor and his lady wife would usually show in company. These moments made up for others, when he'd wake at night, unused to sharing his space with another. Last night he'd been kicked awake by her, having a nightmare, and had slept in his dressing room, knowing that he would be visiting patients early. Now he let his hands run along her thick dark hair, and feel it smooth among his fingers.

She let him gladly, grateful for this. She picked up his rosary, which was on the dresser, and he sat beside her, resting her head on his shoulder. They held it together, familiar prayers rising to their Lord, and feeling together the kick of their first child.

----------

That's it, folks. Hope you like it.

#5: Author: Kathryn, Location: Melbourne/Hamilton until 11 September

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:04 pm

Awww, that's so sweet!

#6: Author: Sarah G-G,

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:07 pm

That's really sweet. It's nice seeing them getting used to marreid life- that part of it is skipped over in the books, seemingly going straight from school-girl-Joey to Mamma-Joey.

#7: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:08 pm

That was lovely! I'm a but weepy. I know it's finished, but I would love more. Smile

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

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:12 pm

Awww that was lovely Angel - you got me feeling sorry for Joey!

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

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:14 pm

That's so lovely, thank you Very Happy

#10: Author: catherine, Location: York

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:26 pm

That was lovely, Angel, thank you.

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

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:32 pm

That was really sweet angel! It's good to see Joey feeling scared and uncertain.

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

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:32 pm

I'm not convinced of the value of 'more',(However, I may be open to persuasion Smile

) I merely wanted to shed some light on some of her later behaviour, this dual personality she seems to exhibit - she comments on it when she's got to be the Lady Opener. And I was feeling sorry for her, and I always think how sweet they must have been in the earliest days.

So this appeared. Thanks for the kind comments, and i'm really pleased that people like it.

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

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:15 am

Awww! Thank you Angel! that was lovely!!!

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

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:17 am

Awwwww that was so lovely Smile

#15: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:50 am

That was lovely, Angel. I always felt a little sorry that Jo never had a life as a young woman and Madge seemed to expect her to turn from child to mother in the wink of an eye.

Even though girls were not independent in the way they are today, most girls had some social life and local friends of their own age. The Sonnalpe was so isolated and she must have missed out a stage in her development. That could explain a lot later.

#16: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:54 am

Wonderful, Angel - very realistic and nice to have the snippet demonstrating Jack & Joey's closeness ...

#17: Author: pip_penguin, Location: Melbourne

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:19 am

That was lovely, Angel -- thank you!!

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

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:27 pm

Angel that was lovely. Nice to see Jack and Jo so very close.Thank yuou!

#19: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 3:44 pm

That was lovely. But I am not liking Madge in this.

#20: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 5:18 pm

It is nice to see Jack and Joey alone together. I like it a lot (told you that before though Very Happy

)

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

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 5:31 pm

Thanks Angel that was lovely!

#22: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 11:48 am

Angel that was a lovely sweet story. So nice to see Jo and Jack together before the hoards of kids. Madge is not nice in this but then did she have anone to help her in her early married life?

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:42 pm

I'm not sure if this is quite appropriate in content for the board. If not, please advise. It's also on LJ.

Setting: Just before Newlyweds. Jack's PoV. Complete.

Jack lay awake next to his wife, watching as she wriggled, and then twitched her nose like an overgrown rabbit. They hadn't said anything about *this* at the presbytery, when they'd started their classes. Mostly they'd been concerned about how they would bring up the children.

Joey had been very quiet at this, and had departed for her sister's house with a solitary kiss. Madge had said later that she'd thought Joey was with Jack, and that was how it went unnoticed that Joey hadn't been seen for several hours. She'd cycled to the lookout point, and sat on the rocks there, watching the boats as they worked around the islands. Further out she'd seen the shadows flitting in the channel, and overhead there were occasional planes. That was all she'd told him, and Madge had remained tight-lipped, blaming him for her little sister's moodiness. Madge herself was busy with the school and the San, and wanted to leave her nurseryfolk with her sister, rather than having to rely on others outside the family. Joey simply desired to write, to be independent, in a way that Jack grew to admire.

In one of their quiet moments, Joey had confided that she never wanted their children to have the troubles that she and Dick and Madge had had. She'd written a couple of books, that she'd set aside as a sort of insurance, to be sold if needed. He'd bitten his lips to stop himself laughing, her child-like insistence was endearing. Gradually he realised how important it was to her that their children, if they were blessed, should be brought up by all of the family, not simply them. Someone had said to him that it took a village to bring up a child, and slowly it dawned on him what had been meant.

Assuming they could have children. They'd been nervous - as a doctor Jack knew a little better than most men, although he disliked the idea of Freud's inventions, he thought that what they intended was important. But he was unsure how to bring it about, how to make her relax and trust him. Whether he would let her down. They didn't seem to mention this - intimacy. They talked about Love, Honour and Obey, and how the children must be Catholics, but they didn't seem to understand what this really meant.

His Joey. He smiled to himself, and then went to the house they had found. They were meant to be meeting here, doing some work on it together. Joey's taste in colours could be as wild as her choice of names, but they seemed able to agree sufficiently. She'd stumped in, eyes calmer than usual, and they'd sat in their window seat. That had been the first thing they'd fixed on, Joey having wanted somewhere pleasant to while away hours with him. While Jem was still up in the air and the clouds with the San, Jack had the time to make them a home. Sometimes they sat in silence, others they talked of war. This time it was different. She was asking whether an oath of allegiance to someone other than queen and country would be acceptable in these times. He hadn't understood, and had merely made some comment that ultimately oaths were made to God. They'd read some of Ephesians, which the priest had suggested, and then Galatians and Peter.

Then they'd turned to other things, and Jack had become acutely aware of the effect she was having on him. She seemed innocent of it, until she wriggled. Deliberately. With a smile on her face that suggested she had some idea of what she was doing.

In their bed, Jack reflected on their early ventures. Madge had told Joey very little, something that Jem didn't seem too happy about. Neither doctor approved of the way Madge had tried to keep so much control over her sister, although Jem hadn't said very much. Blushing, Jack had explained to his new wife what they had to do, and Joey's imagination had immediately been all over it. Jem had commented that Jack had seemed dazed the first time he'd come into the san after the wedding, and Jack had merely nodded, with a smile to himself, and a resolve to catch up on some kip if time allowed it.

Looking at his sleeping wife, Jack slid down beside her, running his hands over her stomach. It seemed that their efforts had born fruit. She rolled over, and gave a funny snort, before coming to, and kissing his nose. Forgetting everything else, they snuggled up, and drifted off.

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:53 pm

Awww thats beautiful Angel more soon i hope!

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 3:02 pm

Thanks.

It's not really a linear story, which is quite nice. Although if I carry on like this there will be a plot and it will involve peggy

Last edited by Angel on Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:16 pm; edited 2 times in total

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 3:04 pm

Oh please do carry on with this!

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 3:24 pm

OK, so this has done something I really didn't expect. Anyway. It's completed.

Madge's PoV - Joey's wedding day

Madge watched Joey receive the chalice, and wept. Joey was no longer Joey Bettany, but Mrs Jack Maynard, and a Catholic. She felt as if there was something more there. Yesterday Joey had made her protestations that they were still sisters, but somehow this seemed so final, as if she was casting her lot in for all time with Jack, never mind the looming monsters of war.

Madge had arrived in Guernsey to find that the wedding of her youngest sibling had been arranged, and that Joey had decided that she would be Received into the Roman Catholic church at the same time. Madge herself had been caught up in the arrangements that Mr Flower had made, transferring the purchase money from the USA to the UK banks, and using the funds to buy furniture.

Madge had wanted to do all the things that hadn't been done for her. To explain a wife's duties properly, to do all the organising so Joey could relax and enjoy her day, to help make the dresses. All the things that their mother should have done.

And suddenly she found herself in tears. Jem had found her a couple of hours later, Madge having Out-joeyed joey, and being fit for nothing for a few days. None of them had understood, and none of them seemed to understand how much she missed the Sonnalpe. For Joey, the school was home, but for Madge it was the nursery, and having Joey and the children, and attending the small chapel there.

In India they had been part of the English Community, and in Cornwall they had been a well respected family. Austria had meant rebuilding that standing in a community, and doing it for herself, and not on someone else's name or place. She couldn't understand that for her sister to cling onto her childhood days was no different from Madge clinging onto her own childhood, and a particular way of doing and of being.

And Joey was rejecting it.

Last edited by Angel on Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:17 pm; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:15 pm

Last chunk. Jem's PoV

He strode around the San, unconsciously echoing the jackbooted troops that had come to take his men away. Damnit, he was an Englishman, these were his things, this was his life that he'd built up. Safe conduct had been assured for the most sick, for all but the Germans and the Austrians. Hitler seemed to think it pointless to care for the dying, that it was better to hasten their departure than to let good work continue, simply because it was good. One of Jem's doctors had escaped, and had told how he was being made to work on the hastening of death, instead of the preservation of life.

Madge was letting him order their belongings, and send as much as he could out of Austria. She had sense, but sometimes he wondered if the naivete of Joey was such a good thing, and Robin was far behind her years. There is a time to speak, and a time to refrain from speaking. He checked the inventory, and ran his hand through his hair, finding grey on the dark sleeve of his jacket.

He didn't know if Joey was safe, and Madge was ill with the fretting. She wanted to cling onto so much, and didn't seem to realise that their slim passports were all that came between them and grim death. And even then a passport might be burnt, their children taken away. Jack Maynard was a good man, and Joey would do well by him. Madge was keeping herself distracted by planning the wedding, and considering what cloth would be used. Jem wondered if they would wait. He thought not, and wondered what Joey really understood about married life. Madge was one of these people that had easy pregnancies and births, and then was promptly ill afterwards. Madge had her friends on the Sonnalpe, Joey lacked all of that, that support he supposed.

The wards were emptied now, and steadily he tried to walk past the soldiers, courteous as always, but the eyes didn't match the mouths. There was fear there, anger, resentment. Power.

Jem shuddered, and left.

#29: Author: Sophie, Location: Cambridegeshire

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:57 pm

Wow, Angel, that's brilliant! Thanks for writing it, I really enjoyed it. Those last few sentences really made me sit up. Good stuff!

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:49 pm

Wow, thank you Angel that was beautiful stuff

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:49 pm

*applauds*

Thanks Angel this is great!

#32: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:00 pm

Wow. This is powerful stuff. Being able to see it from all of their p.o.v.'s was good. I feel sympathetic towards them all. They're all in a difficult place and there ways of coping are different but all real.

Thank you Kiss

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:02 pm

thank you.

Could I submit it to the main site, as it's complete? Or isn't it suitable.

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

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:29 pm

Oooh! thank you Angel!!
That was incredibly thought provoking!!

#35: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:01 pm

Those were great Angel - I really liked the multiple POVs.

I think that you should send them to Liss - they seem okay to me, if Liss doesn't think so, she doesn't have to put them up.

#36: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:19 pm

that was really gripping writing, Angel. I did enjoy the different points of view and got another perspective on the characters. Great stories, thanks.

#37: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:27 pm

Clever idea, Angel and well-observed from every character's viewpoint

Are you going to do any more like this?
*hints gently*

#38: Author: catherine, Location: York

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:59 pm

Brilliant, Angel! Agree with Chelsea - send them to Liss and see what she thinks!

#39: I know I said it was the last one. Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:25 am

Thanks for all your kind comments.

Epilogue - 25 years later, Fliss.

Joey and Jack were sitting on their swing at Plas Gwyn. Len carried out a tray of tea and cakes, placing it on the teak table, followed by her husband. Felicity smiled to herself - it had been her idea to get their parents the swing they had already fallen in love with. Sybil had made the cushions as part of her Cert in Art Needlework that she had taken the previous year, having returned to the UK without her husband. The plan had been that he was taking up a secondment in London, but that hadn't happened, and Sybs had come over anyway.

Fliss didn't let on she knew why. Sybs had been talking to Margot, and Fliss hadn't been able to help overhearing. Sybs was supposed to be having an operation, and wanted to have it near to home. She watched as the beautiful Sybil had burst into tears at the sight of Peggy's son, and had run out of the kitchen before he had even entered the house. She watched as she took her equally beautiful handkerchief, and tried to hide her face. She watched as the tears translated into blues and purples on an altar frontal for a church in Canberra, or a shawl for Mollie Bettany. Fliss absorbed the tears into her own dancing, taking them and expressing them in the arch of her foot, or the curve of her leg and spine. Sometimes she would take her parents laughter, but they always were laughing. Sometimes she took their kisses, stolen in the garden that the boys had slipped up here to plant during their half terms and vacations to plant in white and silver plants, and framed with silvered railings. She couldn't dance their love, though, because it ran too deep. Sometimes, in the night, she had come down, and found her parents on their window seat, looking out at the moon and the mountains.

And then she had hidden away, unwilling to break their old-fashioned magic. Auntie Madge appeared from an old world, but her mother was different again, inside her skin, but pinned by conventions she thought too stuffy. Fliss had laughed when her mother had been given her first pearls and twinset. She'd never actually worn them, but it didn't matter, because they'd never suit her. A gentian frock, with a silver brooch looked like the height of elegance.

Pappa had made her barre, and he, Reg and Stephen had laid out her mirrors. Fliss had had to be different, going to the Ballet School at 13, and her parents had let her, just as Mike had gone to Dartmouth. She stretched now, watching as the party gathered by the swing, admiring the rug, and cushions, and garden that the children had created. Yesterday, it had been just the two of them, taken here by Con, welcomed by Len, fed by Margot. They had celebrated Mass at the local church, in celebration. Today it had been the closest family, tomorrow it would be as many as could be here, to bear witness to their parents love.

Others were to tell stories - escapes and escapades, fears and friends, a faith lived and shared, and Con had made them into a simple book, which everyone had given a little to.

And she was to dance for them, to something written by Jacynth and Nina, that they would play, and she had made her own. But first she listened, listened to the eloquent, loving silence that encompassed her world.

#40: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:18 am

Wow! You are really good at this Angel! I am really looking forward to more, if the PBs are still going!!

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:23 am

*stamps on plot bunnies*

*DIE BUNNIES DIE!*

Please?

Thanks, Polly. The bunnies breed just before they die.

#42: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 3:18 am

Wow, I loved the epiloque. So nice after our other drabbles - which are great, but tend to be rather strife filled.

#43: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 3:18 am

Angel this is really superb. Love all the different POV's. The scene of Jo and Jack's silver anniversary is really lovely.

#44: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 3:33 am

Angel, I loved all of these stories, a really good idea executed brilliantly, I especially liked the post script, you can feel the love flowing out of it, if that doesn't seem a too mawkish thing to say.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:02 am

Thank you for all of those posts Angel, so thought provoking seeing the different POV. Also loved the Silver Wedding scene - feel sorry for Sybil.

#46: Author: keren,

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:47 am

these are bautifully written.
Yet another talented person writing on this board

#47: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:15 am

That last post was superlative, Angel - exactly as we would imagine Jack & Joey after 25 years ...

Thank you

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 4:16 pm

Thanks Angel, it's lovely to see a simple, and happy story.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 4:24 pm

Oh please don't kill your bunny, that was wonderfully moving

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 6:55 pm

Part VI - Jewels

Two diamonds hung on her ears, as she walked down the aisle, and knelt before the altar. Her white dress was conspicuously tidy, much to the amusement of her family, the delicate embroidery reflected in the corn-rows on her head. Her mother stood tall and proud, beside her father, and multi-tude of cousins. Her sister smiled to herself as she followed behind, it had taken long enough to make her look that tidy. She was quite neat herself, hair sprayed in place. To the right and left she was surrounded by family in the small Catholic church in the valley, there being no room for anyone else.
Their grandmother was crying in the corner, and being comforted by her brother-in-law. Jasmine focused her attention on the young priest ahead of her sister, and almost missed the supportive smile she was given by her mother and her cousins.

They took their seats at the front, alongside the rest of the party, gaily dressed, with their hair arranged beautifully. The priest acknowledged the congregation, and began the prayers of the mass.

Afterwards, the girls had their pictures taken, Ruby with her diamonds, and Jasmine with her winter flowers. Their mother stood with them, her hair faded with age, but still vibrant with the reds in among the silvers. She was poised in her manner, something her two adopted daughters tried to imitate, although Jasmine at ten was more colt-like than Ruby, who, at seven was starting to be aware of her immense beauty.

Their grandmother and great-aunt watched with pride, the younger woman resting her arms on the embroidered shawl that circled the wheelchair on the winter's morning. Jasmine was pleased to see that her grandmother was happier now. She thought it was something to do with having the family there, and walked over.

"Here's a book token each for you, loves."
"Really? Can I buy anything I want?"
"May you, Jasmine. And yes. There's one for Ruby as well."
"Thank you Grandmama." Jasmine ran over to her sister, conveniently skidding to a stop, without getting a mark on her.
"Ruby, look at the cards Grandmama gave us." She read out for everyone's benefit. "'To my darling Jewels, congratulations on your First Communion.' And there's Book Tokens!"

"Why couldn't I ever manage that?"
"Because, Joey, you always insisted on going in for things wholesale. She at least has the decorum to keep luck on her side."
"Jem's Jewels seem to have turned out well." Madge smiled.
"Yes. The name he gave them, just before he passed on, when everyone was questioning Sybs wisdom."
"She'd been fostering for years. Was it so strange? She turned out well, that one."
"The most beautiful Jewel of all."

#51: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:05 pm

That was beautiful.

Was Gradmama Madge?

What did Joey mean by "Why couldn't I ever manage that?"?

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:17 pm

Angel - that was gorgeuos just caught up with it all except the first two. Beautiful.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:22 pm

Grandmama is Madge. The girls are Catholics, and Joey is wishing she could have managed skidding on grass and never getting a white dress green.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:28 pm

Wow, that was so beautiful. *floats off feeling all warm and happy inside*

#55: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:30 pm

Angel, that was lovely. How do you write like that, you have a great talent. It was beautiful from start to finish.

#56: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:00 pm

Those last two parts were lovely. I liked the description of how Felicity put her emotions into her dancing as Sybil put them into her needlework. It was nice seeing that Sybil found a way to have children in the end too.

Don't kill all the plot bunnies, you're too good at this to stop Very Happy

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:29 pm

VII - Requiem

“Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine et lux perpetua luceat eis”

Steadily, the priest walked forward, leading the altar party, as the choir lifted their voices to the roof. The Cathedral at Innsbruck was packed, as the procession filed around the bier. In the old way, there were no flowers in the church, no gloria, no credo. Just the words and music of Mozart’s Requiem lifting into the heights of the Jakobsdom.

Behind were the choirs of the Chalet Schools, who had been touring Austria and Italy that summer, and had providentially been available when the news had come from the Tiernsee. Dressed in their unique uniforms, they were unsure what they should feel. So many seemed so sorrowful, and somehow they weren’t. Each branch mourned a different woman – Josephine, so well-known to the Platz, and Margaret, known to the English branch. There were to be two services, this, and then at St David’s. The present bishop finished the procession, nephew to one of the first pupils at the school, and happy to do this for the family he had known for so long.

The church was filled. Some were matronly and elegant, garbed in their gowns from Oxford and Cambridge. Two pensioners wore colourful gowns, denoting medical degrees, while others wore bonnets, and other laurels, as a mark of respect to the two women that had enabled them to achieve those dreams. More than one were sisters of different orders, Anglican and Catholic. A young Anglican priest wept openly, as she held the hand of an old nun. Some had no gown, and yet were as grateful as those that were – wives and mothers for whom the education they’d received enabled them to grow as wiser citizens.

The Peace League was to be buried with Josephine, safe in the earth beside her John. With Margaret were the original keys to the chalets, which someone had returned to the school.

To either side the musicians let their grief play through their music – some of the notable musicians of the school had come to take their places in the orchestra beside the present generation. The weight of sadness could be felt by the youngest treble or soprano, and there were many that faltered when they thought it couldn’t be heard.

The Bishop looked out from the Altar, seeing the light stream in from the West Windows, the reminder that in the Light of the world there is still hope.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:40 pm

Angel, thats gorgous. I didn't want to break the spell when I'd finished reading. Thank you.

#59: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:30 pm

That was lovely. Thank you.

#60: Author: Dot, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:41 pm

Oh, Angel, that was lovely!!

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:48 pm

And finally the bunnies are sleeping.

Thanks for the plaudits, and I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

#62: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:55 pm

I read this earlier, but was too lost for words to respond.
Incredibly beautiful, thank you.

#63: Author: catherine, Location: York

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:14 pm

Beautiful and ever so peaceful.

Thank you, Angel.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:35 pm

Wow. Fantastic. I'm at a loss for words it was so good.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:51 pm

I have goosebumps. Crying or Very sad

Thank you Angel.

#66: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 12:01 am

Well after that they deserve to sleep. It was beautiful. I sort of what was coming from the quote (which is one of the most beautiful lines of latin I know) but you did it so sensitvely. The idea of all the people whose lives they had touched gathered there, and the choirs who must not have known them well but still felt the grieving. Brilliant.

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

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 12:04 am

Thank you so much for that Angel. A beautiful window into Joey's life and death.

Please write something else - we need your talent on the board.

#68: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 12:13 am

Thank you Angel, this was beautiful. I really don't know what to say, apart from I wish I could write like that.

It's funny, even though it's imaginary, the Chalet School does touch a lot of lives, enriching them and changing them for the better.

Are you going to send it to Liss for the Chaletian? I think you ought to.

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

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 12:31 am

But...but...but...

You're the writers that I think are brilliant.

Embarassed

It needs tidying up before I submit it to the chaletian. I've been told off for my mistakes with the timeline in the first section. Then again, I've only got a PB of Exile.

#70: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 1:09 am

Oh wow!!! That was amazing! PLease write some more stuff, even if it is a different drabble. They were lovely! Very Happy

#71: Author: keren,

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:56 am

that last one gave me goose pimples too

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

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:08 am

Those were absolutely beautiful, Angel, and I definitely want them for the site, please! I particularly liked the one with Joey and Jack's silver wedding and the last one. Just lovely.

One little word about pronouns, though - it sometimes gets a little bit confusing about who is being described or speaking or whatever.

#73: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:54 am

Superlative again, Angel

*echoing everyone else's comments and applause*

Love that they were buried with the Peace league and keys respectively - very apt and poignant ...

#74: Author: Katarzyna, Location: Preston, Lancashire

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:54 am

Angel thank you so much for posting such moving episodes

I am sat here with tears pouring down my face following the last one. Very grateful you shared your talent with us

#75: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 1:02 pm

I've just read them all in one sitting - very powerful! Please write more drabbles for us Angel!

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

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:32 pm

Angel, that was beautiful! I'm all shivery and goosebumpy now!

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

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:43 pm

Angel i just caught up and as i have sadi to you before they really are wonderful!

#78: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:24 pm

Angel, there is nothing new that I can add to what all the others have said. They are such moving pieces of writing. Th only reason I do not have tears streamimg down my face is that it would upset my Mum.
Thank you and please do not stop writing.

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

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:32 pm

I may or may not being doing an alternate ending to Stephen Maynard, cooperating with Sarah, but I will try and finish it before I post.

#80: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 1:00 am

Looking forward to it.

#81: Author: Senji, Location: Cambridge, UK

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:35 pm

Um. Wow.

#82: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:49 pm

Angel, that was totally utterly amazing. The last one sent a shiver down my spine.

Thanks so much. Very Happy

#83: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:53 am

I'm not even going to try to find a superlative because there aren't any. Angel- please write more along these lines. Not necessarily here, but elsewhere. I'd love to see a full length drabble set around the time of Joey and Jack's 25th anniversary.

The CBB -> Cookies & Drabbles

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