The CBB :: View topic - Tensions ~ Part 9

#1: Tensions ~ Part 9 Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 5:42 pm

Part 1 http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/TENSIO~1[1].DOC

Part two http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/tension2.htm

Part three http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/tensionagain.htm

Part 4 http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/Tensions4.htm

Part 5 http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/tensions5.html

Part 6 http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/tensions6.html

Part 7 http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/tensions7.html

Part 8 http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/tensions8.html

#2: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:17 pm

Come on, Ellie! More, please!

#3: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:22 pm

KB wrote:

Come on, Ellie! More, please!

Umm...Didn't Esmerelda write this thread? Or is Ellie a short for Esmerelda?

#4: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:55 pm

Ellie is Esmeralda's proper name.

#5: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:58 pm

KB wrote:

Ellie is Esmeralda's proper name.

Yup. Sorry about that. I realised it after I had posted.

#6: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:47 pm

Ellie, can we have some more please. There's a whole crowd of us waiting.

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

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:06 am

More please Ellie

(BTW really glad to find out that Ellie was Esmeralda - when I first saw the name I thought it was another incarnation of EBD! Has anyone noticed that Elinor is back?? Shocked

)

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

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:06 am

Oh help!!!!! HelpMe

#9: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:30 am

I promise I'll write some more soon - I've got a day off tomorrow and hopefully the new monitor will arrive and the computer will be fit and healthy again, in fact it had beter be or there is going to be TROUBLE.
But please be merciful - I've only looked at a handful of drabbles over the last eight days and I really want to catch up on them.
I'm going to bed now so I can be up bright and early to meet the courier (and I hope that courier isn't DHL).

*Will try to post more tomorrow evening.*

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

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:38 am

*also hopes Ellie's courier isn't DHL!!!* Wink

#11: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:38 am

Ellie wrote:

Good Luck with your computer tomorrow!!

PS - What is only coleslaw??

#12: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:28 am

*crosses fingers for Ellie that she will manage*

#13: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 8:56 pm

Just a little bit for now - hopefully there will be more later but I need to work out which day of the week it is, which means that I'm actually going to have to read some of this.

Hilda sat curled upon her sofa, with a small glass of whisky and a well read copy of Jane Eyre. She turned the pages occasionally, without reading much of the story, but she hardly needed to since the book was such an old friend.
Earlier that evening she had half expected Jem to pay a return visit to the school, and she was still undecided as to whether she was relieved or disappointed by his non appearance.
Since then, however, she had spent a relaxing evening in the staff room. The remaining mistresses had been given the bare facts of the story behind Matey’s departure earlier in the day, and Rosalie, to whom she had confided the whole sorry tale had skilfully ensured that that the conversation stayed on other topics
As a result Miss Annersley was feeling more at peace than she had for the last couple of days, and although she knew that she still had many arduous hours in front of her before the current situation was completely resolved, she felt more prepared to face what lay in the future.
Her mood of quiet optimism was abruptly broken by a sudden ring of the telephone, it’s shrill tones suggestive of panic. She felt her stomach clench and tighten in response, this was no social call. Not at this time of the evening.
Not knowing what it was she was fearing, she forced herself to pick up the receiver.

ps Vikki - personally I wouldn't describe any part of Lincolnshire as just outside London.
Oh, and the Coleslaw thing is as in "Calm down - it's only coleslaw" when things get a bit stressy. Coleslaw is also known as CS.

#14: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:25 pm

Thanks Ellie!
Wonder who the caller is.
And why the torn feelings about Jem?
Is that expression particular to you Ellie? Or is it well known?

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

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:28 pm

What on earth is going to happen next!

So, if Ellie is your real name where did Esmerelda come from?? Now confusicated. Confused

#16: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:31 pm

*does not like the sound of that phone call!

Hope you sort out the day of the week soon.

#17: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:16 pm

Ellie! (still confused) Don't tell me you're gonna give poor Hilda more grief?!

*waiting for more*

#18: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:33 pm

That phone call doesn't sound good. I'm looking forward to finding out who is on the other end.

#19: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 11:22 pm

I think it's fairly obvious who's on the other end of the phone, but then again, I do have the advantage of knowing what's going to happen next Very Happy

Nicci - Hilda's mixed feelings can be for whatever reason you want them to be - once this is posted it's as much the property of the reader as the writer Wink

Carolyn - I plucked Esmeralda out of the mess of random thoughts swirling through my head back in August - I can't believe I've been writing this for five months! It's a good job I don't try to earn a living from this.

Vikki - I couldn't reply earlier as I didn't have it all on one document but the answer is 103,335.

It was natural for Jack to call the school first, it normally being Joey’s first resort when she felt the need of friendly ear, or when she had news to spread, or indeed, on almost any occasion, besides which he could not bring himself to believe that his wife would have gone any further afield at this hour, not with their youngest daughter.
When Hilda, trying unsuccessfully to conceal the note of unease in her own voice, told him that she had seen nothing of Joey since the day that Matey’s unsavoury activities had been discovered the ball of fear had had been present within him since he opened the door onto an a well lit but empty study grew to immense proportions.
“Stay there, Jack, I’ll be right over.” Suiting her actions to her words, Hilda scrambled for her discarded shoes, and pulled on her overcoat before racing across the lawns to Fruedesheim.
She arrived to find Jack making the second in a frantic flurry of phone calls to everyone Joey knew on the Platz. The response was always the same, no-one had seen Joey for at least a day or two.
Finally there was only one more call to make, and even in the midst of his worry, he could not help but shrink from dialling that particular number.
Hilda, standing close by looked at the name on the open page of the address book, “Go and make me some coffee, Jack, it has started to rain again and I’m feeling a little damp. I’ll finish up here.”
It was no surprise that Biddy Courvosier was less than sympathetic to the news that Joey was missing, indeed she appeared to take great pleasure in knowing that Jack Maynard now knew what it was like to lose a spouse, and expressed the hope that Joey, if she were to be found at all, would also be at the bottom of a gully with her neck broken, the whole statement delivered with a rich and varied assortment of expletives which Hilda found totally shocking, though less so than the sentiments behind them.
She uttered a brief silent prayer that Biddy would find a way of letting go of the bitterness that would surely otherwise blight her life, then, not without feelings of guilt for the way in which she had abandoned her former history mistress, and pupil, twice in two days, she turned her attention to her present problem.
“What about Jem?” She asked.
“I haven’t told him yet, I suppose I ought to.”
“No - I meant could she be with him? Does she know where he is staying? Could she be at his hotel?”
“I presume she knows, she certainly hasn’t said anything about him staying here, although…….but surely if she had turned up there, he would have let me know.”
“Would he have though? If she asked him not to?”
Jack thought for a moment, realising that he couldn‘t answer with any certainty. “I think so, if it was only Jo, possibly not, but she’s got Gwyn with her, at least…..”
“Of course she has got Gwyn with her. I’m sure that they are both quite safe and well somewhere we haven’t thought of.”
“Winnie! She could have gone to see the Embury’s.” With a renewed sense of hope, Jack rifled through the address book once more, until he found the page he was seeking. He picked up the receiver and dialled.

#20: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 2:11 am

Oh, goodness! It would be lovely if there was some way, at the end of all this, for the characters to be happy!

#21: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 2:51 am

KB wrote:

Oh, goodness! It would be lovely if there was some way, at the end of all this, for the characters to be happy!

It would wouldn't it? I'm going to leave at least six people relatively happy, although I think Nicci has something in store for one of them Very Happy

But I do actually like happy endings as much as anyone else, it's just that unhappy people are more interesting to write about. I think though, bearing in mind just how long this has grown, that I ought to omit quite a few plot lines and try to bring it to a conclusion sometime soon.

When I scrolled back through the pages to work out the day I found that I'd actually written something something that I thought I'd read on another drabble, it hasn't actually affected the storyline as such, but it might not make much sense to anyone who reads it in one go = sorry.

The connection was soon made, the dialling tone coming through clearly, and continuously. After a couple of minutes it became clear that there was no-one in the Embury household to answer the call. Jack replaced the receiver bleakly. “That’s it then, there’s no where else she could be. I suppose I’ll have to make that call to Jem, and the police. I only hope that Klinsmann fellow isn’t on duty, I think he would find this too much of a coincidence.”
Hilda nodded, she had not met the detective but she felt that the series of deaths and disappearances connected to San, and to Jack Maynard personally would be enough to render anyone suspicious. As yet, neither of them had any reason to suspect that the fatal motor accident of the previous day, of which they had only heard snippets of information, had involved Herr Klinsmann.
Jack reached out for the telephone, as he did so it suddenly started to ring, startling both of them into immobility for a brief moment before he snatched at the instrument, “Joey? Is that you? Where are you? Is Gwyn safe?”
There was a long silence, interrupted by a muffled sob, then the line went dead as someone slammed down the receiver at the other end.
Jack stood and stared at the silent earpiece until Hilda gently took it from his hand and replaced it with an enquiring look.
“I don’t know,” he replied to her unasked question, “Whoever it was, they wouldn’t speak to me. It might have been Joey.”
“If it was, at least you know that she’s safe. Are you sure you can’t think of anywhere else she could be?”
He shook his head, “I don’t know, I suppose, I don’t know, she might have met some people. Although I’ve only just realised it, we haven’t been talking to each other as much, over the last few months. She could have been doing anything.”
The telephone rang out again, but this time it was Hilda who picked it up, stilling Jack with a stern glance.
“Is that you, Hilda, I’m sorry, will you ever forgive me?”

#22: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:04 am

Is that Jo? Biddy? Someone else entirely? Nell resurrected from the dead? WHO?!?!?!?!?!?!

#23: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:00 am

Who needs Hilda to forgive them? Jo? Biddy? Matey? Madge? Whoever it was meant to call for Joey or Jack since they called Freudshiem, unless it was someone from the school who knew that Hilda was over there.

#24: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:49 am

Unanswered questions are the pits! Mad

#25: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:10 am

Maybe it's Nell. She's not really dead...

#26: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:11 am

That was my guess, too, but I don't think this story is going that way! (Unless Hilda's having a nervous breakdown...)

#27: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:17 am

I'd be surprised at this stage if she wasn't on at least the verge of the nervous breakdown!

C'mon Ellie, or we'll start the nasty chants...

#28: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:27 am

Come on, she's been very nice to us over the last two days. Let's cut her some slack!

#29: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:59 am

I agree with KB! It could be Ellie sobbing down the phone, what with the computer problems and writing such a complicated and tense drabble!

Hugs and hurrahs for Ellie!

#30: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:13 am

*giggles at the image of Ellie calling Hilda*

#31: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:14 am

What a lovely cliff-hanger, Ellei! has someone transferred the facilities at the bottom of threads, 'cos I'm hanging by my fingertips!!! HelpMe

#32: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:20 am

Yes, I'm sure there are trampolines! Jennie would have made that her first task!

#33: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:50 am

Thank goodness for that!!
*Lets go and lands on the trampoline*
Phew!!!

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

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:33 pm

Argghh! Thank you for the trampoline.
Ellie this is wonderful.

#35: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:43 pm

Another cliff hanger. This is great Ellie. Very Happy

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

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 2:54 pm

It could also be Margot, afterall she has her own problems and its about time she put in an appearance.

Thank you Ellie (must get used to the new name)

#37: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:01 pm

Yes, my first job was to put the trampolines in place at the foot of each drabble cliff, then I equippped and stocked the drabble sitting rooms. I hope that they are all up to standard.

What on earth is Jo playing at now? She ought to learn that other people count as well.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:20 pm

Ellie wrote:

ps Vikki - personally I wouldn't describe any part of Lincolnshire as just outside London.
Oh, and the Coleslaw thing is as in "Calm down - it's only coleslaw" when things get a bit stressy. Coleslaw is also known as CS.

Ooops! Did I type London? It was meant to be Lincoln!!!!! Embarassed

And thank you for lots of lovely story!!!!!!

#39: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:28 pm

ahhhh Ellie
I can on sure there would be some more by now and None

I have to go and work now, "there are still people out there who don't have any Pampered Chef in there kitchens" in best superwoman impression. Not sure how hygenic it is to be cooking with virus, but taken lots of sudafed and we need the money ?
Still recovering from Xmas, Who knew Fresh Turkey cost so much !!!! Embarassed

#40: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 8:41 pm

*giggling at comments* I wasn't being nasty, Ellie- I'd just really like to know what's coming next!

Jennie, what you need is a trampoline smilie!!!

#41: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:49 pm

I never thought for one minute you were being nasty Lisa, I know how frustrating it is when you are waiting for more story and it doesn't appear Twisted Evil

Ermm Kathye, I have to go to work too - I'm sure there are still people who don't have Coleslaw in their kitchens - but what is 'Pampered Chef'? I've never heard of it, is it something peculiar to the South of England?

Hilda suppressed a sigh as she listened to the well known voice continue to speak in a muffled tone broken by sobs, “I didn’t mean it, you know I didn’t, really, it’s not that I’m wanting Joey to be found dead, I’m not wanting that at all, and now it’s all going to be my fault if she is.”
“Bridget Courvosier, will you stop this nonsense and start talking some sense.” Hilda’s sharp tone succeeded in halting the flow of Biddy’s words, for the moment at least and she seized the chance to take part in the conversation.
“Now explain yourself, what do you mean it will be your fault? Have you seen Joey?” She felt Jack stir beside her and made sure that he had no opportunity of snatching the telephone from her hands.
“Of course it’s my fault? Wasn’t I just wishing her to be dead, It’s a wicked woman that I am, for saying those things, and it’ll all be my fault.” Biddy broke off into a wail, clearly audible to Jack standing a foot away from the phone.
Hilda stood, holding the receiver away from her ear drum, looking indecisively between the keening sound emitting from the speaker and Jack.
He made the decision for her, “Go and see her, there’s nothing for you to do here. But, if Gaudenz could organise a search party…”
“Of course, I’ll have to go back to school for the car, I’ll ask him then.” Hilda turned back to the telephone, now silent “Biddy, Biddy?” Getting no reply, she replaced the receiver.
“I’m sorry, Jack.”
“Biddy needs someone with her, if she won’t calm down you had better ring the San. Hilda,”
He stopped her as she put her hand on the door handle, “I am grateful to you for coming here tonight. Thank you.”
She turned and gave him a watery smile, “Try not to worry too much Jack, and remember, help is always available if you ask for it.”
After her departure Jack was left to make the last two phone calls, to the Swiss police and Jem. Before he started he thought that, Klinsmann not withstanding, he would sooner make the first call twenty times over than tell Jem that his sister-in-law had vanished. By the time he had finished, he was certain of it. But by then Gaudentz had arrived with some of the other men and they threw themselves into arranging the search parties.

Joey had left the house with no clear idea as to where she was going, knowing only that she felt too restless to stay indoors. She walked along at a brisk pace, concentrating on nothing other than negotiating the path safely with the large perambulator. It was not until she reached the tiny mountain railway that she made the impulsive decision to visit her friend Winefred Embury, the one friend who was unlikely to have heard of any of the events of the past week.
She took time out to consider ringing Anna to tell her of her whereabouts, then decided against it. “After all, the chances are that I’ll be back before Jack is, and if I’m not it serves him right. It’ll do him good to stew in his own juices for a while, besides, Anna is going to visit her cousin later so she wouldn’t be able to tell him anyway.”
It was a pity that she didn’t also think to ring Winefred to warn her of her imminent arrival, for f she had done so, she would have saved a lot of trouble for everyone, not least herself.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:56 pm

At least we know she was doing somehting reasonably sensible, even if winifred isn't there presumably then she will go to a hotel.

#43: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:08 pm

Carolyn P wrote:

At least we know she was doing somehting reasonably sensible, even if winifred isn't there presumably then she will go to a hotel.

Will she

#44: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:23 pm

I hope so

Or else what has happened to her?

#45: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:35 pm

I loved that last line, it was VERY Chalet school. And usually, following that line, the person it refers to falls down a crator or climbs the Tiernjoch-whatsit, or races after mad Belsornian princes.
In other words, Trouble.

Thanks Ellie! Can't wait for the next installment.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:36 pm

Only just managed to catch up on this - Ellie - magnificent as always - looking forward to more!

(BTW terrible as it sounds I'm glad it wasn't Nell on the phone! Wink

)

#47: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:56 pm

I know it sounds daft, but I really wish the ghost of Nell would come back. I really miss her (I'm actually almost crying as I write this, for some reason. I don't know what's come over me) Crying or Very sad

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

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 12:17 am

*waits to discover Jo's fate!*

#49: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 12:22 am

Joey is SO annoying but we wouldn't want to lose her, would we! And poor little Gwinnie. Crying or Very sad

#50: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 2:26 am

I think we all know why you don't want Nell resurrected, Lesley! Wink

Having said this, personally I wouldn't object to her ghost appearing (this is fiction after all Laughing

) and giving poor Hilda some comfort. Even now, she's got to go and run after Biddy!

*tempted to give our Bridget a good slap, as one Irisher to another*

#51: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 3:53 am

I can't help feeling that Biddy may be about to do something very bad to herself - will Hilda get there in time?

And Ellie, if this story ends with Jo getting sick and everyone forgiving everyone else, I will suggest EBD's estate sue you for plagiarism!

#52: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 3:55 am

*lol* I suppose you'd prefer someone to conveniently shove Jo over a cliff..

#53: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 4:04 am

No, because the person who did it might feel guilty or be arrested or something. Wink

#54: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:40 am

We already know that Winnie Embury's out, don't we Question

#55: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 12:39 pm

Well, she didn't answer the phone, did she?

#56: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 12:57 pm

Ellie wrote:

I know you have to work too Embarassed

, If I ever become a millionaiire I think I'd pay everyone just to write more CS stories, so I could just sit all day and read them. The cliff hangers in this keep me wanting more and since I have no patience....

Pampered Chef is a kitchen company that has come over from the states selling Kitchen equipment like garlic presses, cookie makers, stonewear etc... that I sell, people have a party and i cook a meal for them using the equipment, then they eat be merry and hopefully buy lots of stuff, it means they can try the equipment prior to buying it !

Sorry if I offended you I was just disappointed that I was going to have to wait to read the next installment Crying or Very sad

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

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:59 pm

Oh crikey I do hope JOey does find someone to talk to, and that she contacts the Platz. I think Hilda may be able to sort Biddy out ~ if she is in time.

#58: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:20 am

Ooer, I'm getting seriuosly worried by the amount of people who think theyy might have offended me/been nasty to me - or that I perceived them as being so - do I sound like I'm being a touch um, touchy? If so, I certainly don't mean it to come out that way - honest.
I haven't written any more yet - sorry, there may be some later, but then again, there may not, I'm just not feeling in a writerly sort of mood at the moment, but I do have the whole weekend off so there will definitely be more tomorrow.
I wasn't planning on following Hilda to Biddy's, sorry but I have to leave somethings out otherwise this will end up at 200,000 words plus and I'll still be writing it this time next year!
I will set your minds at rest though, about Biddy at least, and tell you that Hilda stayed with her all night and she felt a little bit better in the morning - I'm now off to wring the neck of the small sparkling purple leaf who has just started filling in the details and begging me to write them down.

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:26 am

Suggest you then bury in a deep pit so they can't come back and haunt you! Looking forward to more whenever it's ready!

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:43 am

Remember that no matter what the PB's may tell you, it's YOU who are in charge not them.

They won't agree, but hey, who controls the food and the internet acess? Twisted Evil

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:04 am

*sits down to wait patiently(ish!!)*

#62: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:15 am

Ellie, why are you worrying about length? So long as we're enjoying it- and we are!- you may as well carry on, so if the PBs want to tell about Hilda and Biddy, let 'em. We won't argue!

Vikki, shove up and let me squat beside you. Here's a coffee

for good measure, though actually it's Bailey's.
Have you heard of 'Heavenly Kiss'? I had it last night. Baileys, cream, milk and something else I've forgotten. Nice. There's another variety with chocolate. Guess what I'm having next time.. Laughing

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:24 am

Ooooh!! Sounds yummy Lisa!!!!

#64: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:27 am

It does, doesn't it? S'pose we could always experiment while we're waiting. Let's try and make it- with real chocolate!

*alternatively tries to chant and play with cocktails, gives up and hands the equipment to Vikki*
*returns to chanting!*

#65: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:40 am

I didn't think that I'd offended you ('course now I'm probably the only one who did).

*indulges in a virgin hazelnut hot coccoa, while we wait.

#66: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 4:53 am

Lesley - I'm just a bit worried that digging a deep pit might look a trifle suspicious.
Carolyn - I might like to think I'm in control, but that's just an illusion really.
Vicki - Thanks for being patient.
Lisa - I don't want to bore anyone, neither do I want to make things any more complicated, and this is taking up an awful lot of time which I could be using more sensibly, though it wouldn't be as much fun.
Chelsea - you haven't offended me - no-one has.
And KB - I don't think much of your earlier legal advice. Exclamation

Joey got off the train and looked around the station, it was full of the usual bustle, passengers scurrying around, porters running to do their bidding. Joey herself was approached, but se had no need of a porter, the small bag was stowed at the end of the perambulator, and she was going to let no-one push that but herself.
Outside, she saw the massed ranks of taxis, she headed towards the front vehicle purposefully, but before she reached it, she changed her mind. It would be far too much trouble to get the pram into the cab, and by the time she was settled in, she could have walked a fair proportion of the distance to Winefred’s house, besides which, she was stil feeling restless, the train journey had done nothing to curb that, and for once, the beauty of her surroundings had done nothing to soothe her soul.
By the time she arrived at the Embury home she was more than ready for the coffee with which she expected her friend to welcome her. It had taken her longer to walk than anticipated, and the big heavy pram had been more of a burden than a blessing. For once she began to wish she had not cung so obstinately to the vehicle which had first been bought to transport the triplets.
It was with a sense of relief that she walked up the footpath and rang the doorbell, standing back a little to await the rapturous reception she expected to receive.
It soon began to dawn on her that her arrival had gone unnoticed. She rang the bell again, more forcefully than before, she heard the faint clang resonate from within the depths of the house, but still no-one answered her summons.
“Surely there must be someone here?” she thought, “But there can’t be. They would have come by now. Oh well, I don’t suppose they’ll be long, we’ll just have to wait.”
Although the house was set back from the main thoroughfare, she felt a little silly standing on the front doorstep, so, without further ado, she wheeled her child round to the rear of the property, taking the opportunity to peer into all the windows in the hope of seeing someone inside.
There was a a small summer house in the garden, and she approached it in the hope of finding it unlocked, but fortune did not favour her that day, short of smashing a pane of glass there was no way to get inside. Instead she settled for sinking down onto a small bench close to the house. “Shush, my little pet, Auntie Winefred will be home soon,” she attempted to soothe her daughter who was beginning to show signs of displeasure, but the child was not so easily placated. She had been taken from her nice, warm comfortable nursery, wheeled down a bumpy path, put onto a strange vehicle, taken through noisy and confusing city streets, and then left sitting in the pram for over half an hour, and all before her midday feed. She began to wail noisily.
“Oh goodness, what am I going to do now?” Jo thought, “Be quiet Hilda.” She picked the baby up and held her close to her. Gwyneth, who had not learnt to recognise her new name, was quieted for the moment, but it proved to be only a short interlude.”
Joey resorted to giving the girl a sharp slap on her bottom, which did nothing to improve matters. Beginning to think the child must be sickening for something, Joey put her back in the perambulator, wrapping her tightly in the blankets since she was now beginning to notice a chill in the air. Once again she peered through the windows, once again she saw no signs of life inside the house. She started rattling the handle of the French windows, then all the other doors and windows in turn, hoping to find some way into the house.
“Hey you.”
She turned with relief at the sound of a voice, hopeful that her long wait was at an end. It was, but not in the manner in which she had anticipated.
“What do you think you’re doing? I’ve been watching you. You clear off out of here or I’ll call the police.” The owner of te voice stood the other side of the fence, the crotchety tone in his voice matched by the expression on his well lined and aged face.
“Hello, I’m…” Joey began to walk towards him.
“You stay there.” The old man brandished a walking stick at her, “I’m telling you, clear off. We don’t want your sort around here.
“Well, really!” she exploded indignantly, wondering what ‘sort’ he thought she was. “I can assure you…”
“If I see you still here by the time I get back to house, I’m calling the police.” The man was determined not to listen to anything she might have to say, indeed. He turned his back on her and began to walk back to his own abode.
“Well, if that doesn’t take the biscuit.” Joey stood watching him. “If it wasn’t so cold, I’d jolly well wait here for him to carry out his threat, he’d feel rather stupid then I fancy.”
But it was cold, Joey was also beginning to feel rather tired, and Hilda would not stop grizzling. She decided there was nothing for it but to return to the centre of the town, at the very least she would find somewhere to have a warm drink.

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:04 am

Thank you Ellie! Very Happy

(You could always say you were digging a well!)

#68: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:40 am

*rather hopes Joey will find everything closed*

And Ellie, maybe that's why I never did law! Wink

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:45 am

Oh dear I hope this doesn't make Hilda/Gwynnie ill. As for Joey she deserves it for being so thoughtless

#70: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:53 am

I'm feeling most sorry for the multiple named baby! Getting a slap on the bottom becasue she is hungry and probably uncomfortable (no mention of nappies/diapers!) Poor kid. I'm trying to work out how old she is. She sounds very young or she'd be less willing to stay in the pram. I wonder if the neighbout thinks she is homeless - the pram must be very shabby by now.

Jo doesn't seem to have thought of her at all. Sad

#71: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:52 am

How could Jo possibly know how to deal with a baby? She's never had to before!

#72: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 4:53 pm

KB wrote:

How could Jo possibly know how to deal with a baby? She's never had to before!

*lol* ...hence the rapid resort to smacking!

#73: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 4:59 pm

And I bet she forgot to bring a bottle for the baby. No supping at nature's fount for Jo's babies. The poor child must be terrified as well as starving by now.

#74: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 5:04 pm

I have a feeling that Jo might have fed them herself when they were young. It's implied in the way she disappears upstairs on her own at feed time. Aslo it would have been normal then to do so.

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 5:20 pm

I also thought she fed them herself - at least in Jo to the Rescue that's the impression with Stephen.

#76: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 6:19 pm

Slapping worked for Joey in the past. She slapps Flix in "Joey goes to Oberland" and the baby stops crying right away - rather than making her cry more, which would have been more likely.

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 6:46 pm

But of course she would stop crying, this is Joey we are talking about. I hope Ellie develops this, I would love to see Joey struggle to look after Hil-wyn

#78: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:58 pm

Hil-wyn

What a great name!

#79: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:12 pm

slapping a crying child on the bottom to make them stop only works if like in Oberland they are crying through temper and have lost control of themselves, I know this as Megan once had a temper tantrum and got herslef in such a state that I could do nothing to stop her (crying for over 25 min), in the end I gave a smack on the bottom and the shock of it, stopped her crying (very similar to Oberland episode) but I don't think it was warrented for in this case, in fact I'm really starting to not like Joey at all in this drabble, she's shown no care towards this child at all, in fact its almost as if she only took the child cause ahe knew it would worry Jack ?

#80: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:41 pm

Or because she forgot that she'd actually have to take care of it! There are no children/friends/servents to hand her off to.

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 9:51 pm

More story please Ellie!!!!!!

#82: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:09 pm

*joins in Vikki's chant*

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:13 pm

*Joins in but am sadly out of tune*

#84: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:20 pm

That's okay, Ally. So are most of us!

#85: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:23 pm

Actually it was the scene in Oberland that I was thinking of - slapping Felicity worked then so she expected it to work again.
I think she took 'Hil-Wyn' (Brilliant Laughing

) because she knew Anna was going out and even Joey wouldn't go out and leave her in the house alone, normally she would have ordered Anna to stay at home. of course, but she wanted to leave the house without her knowing, and yes, she did realise that it would worry Jack.

It was a long way back into town, Gwynnie Hilda grizzled all the way, and that young lady’s personal transport became an increasingly heavy burden to Joey. So great was her relief to find an establishment serving coffee that she almost fell into it with relief, even though it was not the sort of establishment she would normally frequent.
The few other customers turned to stare at her as she attempted to manoeuvre the perambulator through the doors. There may have been one or two sniggers, but she was too exhausted to pay them any heed.
“Sie ne peuvent pas prendre cela à l'intérieur ici” The counter assistant, a young man who had up until that moment leant against the counter enjoying the brief show which had slightly enlivened his boring day, spoke up just as Joey triumphantly completed the task.
"Vous ne signifiez pas à l'intérieur prendre ici ."
"Sie pouvez cela ?"
He repeated, "Es ne donne pas suffisant le secteur."
Joey looked around at the empty tables,
"Es ne donne pas suffisant le secteur."
she said with as much icy dignity as she could muster, “Je souhaite un café et lait pour la petite fille.”
“Non. Je ne peux pas servir vous. Celui est un danger. Si lui un feu vous êtes…” the youth shrugged his shoulders, “Ils doivent le laisser dehors.”
Joey glared at him, but to no avail. Unless she left the pram outside, she would get no Kaffee. “Si je vais l'extérieur, je ne retourne pas à l'intérieur.” she told him.
The assistant shrugged, it made no difference to him if she came back in or not. If she didn’t return, then he wouldn’t have the trouble of serving her.
Joey regretted her words as soon as she got outside, it now seemed even colder, and having come so close to warmth and drink, it was hard to turn away and renew her search, but her pride would not allow her to do otherwise. She continued to trudge along the street, trying to ignore the ache in her legs and the feeling of weakness which threatened to overcome her. All things considered, it was hardly surprising that she failed to notice one of the other patrons slip out of the café after her and begin to follow her into the centre of the town.

Last edited by Ellie on Sun Feb 01, 2004 1:37 am; edited 1 time in total

#86: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:25 pm

I was going to say it served Joey right until I read the last sentence...

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:27 pm

Oooohhh! Is Joey going to be attacked? Maybe mugged? Ellie you are still able to keep this story living up to its title!!

Thank you!

#88: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:39 pm

I reckon Joey should advertise that pram on Ebay! Just think how old it is! It must be worth something.

I hadn't thought of Jo getting mugged as she has already been taken for a homeless person and I shouldn't think anyone would have designs on her virtue, the state she's in!

Tensely waiting for more! Shocked

#89: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:42 pm

*giggles at the idea of Jo using eBay*

#90: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:10 pm

KB wrote:

*giggles at the idea of Jo using eBay*

After this drabble she will be have been kicked, screaming and hollering into reality!

(I hope)

#91: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:17 pm

And here was I thinking she was already there! Wink

#92: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:22 pm

...And it gets better and better. Am very concerned about this potentially unsavoury fellow following Joey. Or is it perhaps Roger! Ellie described it as somewhere that Joey wouldn't normally frequent, so maybe it was a gay bar! Laughing

#93: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:24 pm

*shrieks with laughter* I hadn't thought of that!

#94: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:33 pm

However bad Joey has shown herself to be in this drabble, I wouldn't want her to be mugged. The gay bar suggestion is interesting!

#95: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:36 pm

Umm...could someone please provide some translations. I have NO idea what happened in the bar. Other than the fact that Joey was obviously not welcome there.

#96: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:38 pm

Er, did you read the part, Chelsea?

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:49 pm

Ellie! We need to know Jo's fate!!!

#98: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:51 pm

KB wrote:

Er, did you read the part, Chelsea?

Okay, I'm obviously missing something, but there is a heck of a lot of German in the part I'm reading and I cannot read German.

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

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:55 pm

Ellie, how do you manage to keep the tension going. Aren't you a nervous wreck yourself by now? I know I would be.

#100: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:59 pm

I don't speak German, but it looked to me as if the bloke told her that there wasn't room fo rthe pram in the bar. If she wanted to be served she had to take it outside and leave it there.
Hope a German speaker can confirm that!! Laughing

#101: Author: Dot, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:25 am

Try Babelfish

Dorothy

ETA: It worked!! Mr. Green

#102: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:29 am

Pat wrote:

Yes, that was what was said Pat, at least, I hope it was. The German was coutesy of Babelfish in the first place.

#103: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:37 am

Glad I guessed right! Soem of German is sufficiently like English to be able to have a guess sometimes. I'm ashamed to say that I lived in Germany for 2-3 years, and don't speak tha language.

#104: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:40 am

Pat wrote:

I'm ashamed to say that I lived in Germany for 2-3 years, and don't speak tha language.

*looks shocked*

Pat! What on earth would you have done at the CS?! Laughing

#105: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:47 am

In my defence, I was living in RAF Married Quarters, surrounded by English people, and shopping in an English supermarket!

#106: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:27 am

*Apologises in advance for the brevity of this post*

Restaurants and cafes were evidently in short supply in that area of town. Joey walked a considerable distance before she even caught the scent of a cup of coffee, and when she did catch a glimpse of a woman raising a cup to her lips it was in a rather different establishment. She made her second impulsive decision of the day, and once again, it would have been better for her if she had not done so.
Loathe as she was to do so, she had no choice but to leave the perambulator outside for a moment, while she went inside to make enquiries.
Having made arrangements to her satisfaction, Joey went to reclaim her daughter. As she turned away she caught sight of a man leaning over the pram.
With a strangled cry of “My Baby!” she dropped her bag and ran outside.

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:34 am

*falls down Ellie's cliff with a piercing scream!*

#108: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:35 am

*reaches cliff in time to grab Vikki's ankle and hold on for dear life*

*calls for a lasso*

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:48 am

*on being hauled back to the top of the cliff, thanks Nicci profusely, if rather weakly, and awards the school's own medal for bravery!!*

#110: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 2:48 am

*knocks Nicci and Vikki over as she goes plummeting over the cliff.

#111: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 4:35 am

Help!

This drabble has probably set a record for number of trampolines required.

#112: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:06 am

Follows Chelsea headlong over the cliff. Ouch, Ouch, Ouch! I don't think bouncing on a trampoline on my head was a good idea Confused

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:32 am

She left the baby outside!! Is is completely mad!! Just shows she is used to doing things and everyone else will pick up the pieces.

This is very interesting Ellie, but please don't hurt Hil-Gwyn (glad you liked it Very Happy

)

#114: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:32 am

Mad, bad and stupid, I'd say! She deserves to have Gwynnie kidnapped for that action!

*hurries down the ladder to treat those at the bottom of the cliff who might need first aid*

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:47 am

Idiot woman - couldn't she have picked the baby up? More please Ellie.

Follows KB down the ladder to help with the first aid.

#116: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:50 am

*thanks Lesley for coming and wonders who needs help most*

#117: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:08 pm

*weakly holds up hand*

Both Chelsea and Vikki landed on top of me!

#118: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:13 pm

*hands Vikki and Chelsea over to Lesley and asks Nicci where she hurts*

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:35 pm

Fairly impressed that KB took on the most seriously hurt herself! Ministers to Vikki and Chelsea - chief complaint from them is that Nicci was too bony!

#120: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:36 pm

I wanted to get back into practice before the Gathering! Wink

#121: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:09 pm

Its interesting how things they did a generation ago are now completely out of the question, in the early CS, leaving a child outside in the Pram was completely normal, nowdays you wouldn't think of it for a second, my mum always tells me the story about when I was joung and she went to the local Post Office, leaving me outside of course cause thats what you did in those days and then walked all the way home forgetting that she had a baby ? Ran back and got me of course, but I would never leave Megan anywere unattended. When she was little my biggest headache was what to do at Petrol Stations as to unstrap her out of the car seat to take her in to pay was a major hassle, especially if she was asleep, but I didn't like to leave her alone in the car even for a few seconds to pay.

#122: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:12 pm

Yes, people did leave their babies outside shops etc in their prams, and remember Joey is in Switzerland in the early 60s so it wouldn't have been so irresponsible as it seems today.

There was no-one standing by the pram when she reached the pavement. With a feeling of dread as great as she had ever encountered, she peered into the vehicle, realising that she could hear no sounds of her daughters displeasure. Hilda, who had been quiet for the instant, immediately begin to whine when she recognised her mothers face. “Oh thank God, my darling,” Joey picked the girl up, her eyes filling with tears of relief. As she realised what could have happened, she began to shake uncontrollably, her legs feeling as capable of taking her weight as a pile of melting ice cubes.
She first leaned back against the plate glass behind her, gradually sliding down so she and the child were sitting in a crumpled heap on the footpath.
She buried her face into the child’s hair and sobbed, all dignity forgotten, oblivious to the curious glances and scandalised comments of the passers by.
She was aroused by a touch on her shoulder, “Sehr geehrte Frau Sie haben selbstverständlich eine große Furcht gehabt, Sie mögen innerhalb zurückkommen, vielleicht Sie möchten, daß eine Tasse Kaffee Ihnen über dem Schock hilft?”
Joey looked up and saw the pretty young woman she had been talking to, was it only minutes earlier, looking down at her with a concerned expression on her face.
“Yes, thank you, that would be lovely,” she managed to recover herself enough to reply, but she made no move to accept the invitation to go back inside and have a cup of coffee. She didn’t feel able to move at all.
“Sie können das kleine Mädchen mit Ihnen selbstverständlich holen.” Although the woman was still smiling there was a trace of impatience in her tone. It was not good for business, having an apparently mad or drunk woman sitting on the pavement directly outside the premises.
“I wouldn’t come in without her.” Joey replied, “Never again.”
“Wurde Sie mögen mich sie halten, während Sie aufstehen?”
“Thank you.” Joey handed the girl to the woman’s outstretched arms, fighting down a fleeting moment of panic as she did so. She quickly scrambled to her feet and snatched the child back hastily. As she did so she came to the belated realisation that she also needed to find some changing facilities.
The other woman released Hilda back to Joey’s care with no less eagerness, having already reached the same conclusion.
Joey did indeed begin to recover once she was inside with a cup of coffee in her hand. The other women clucked around her sympathetically, “What a terrible thing.” “Did you see who he was?” “Do you want the police?” The last question being asked in such a manner as to imply that that answer should be in the negative. The presence of the police would be bad for business.
Joey shook her head to the last two questions, she had been to concerned with seeing if her baby was safe to pay any heed to the man, although, she thought now, that there had been something vaguely familiar in the outline she had glimpsed through the glass. She puzzled over it for a second or two before deciding that such a thing was highly unlikely. Once she had drained the coffee she remembered Hilda’s needs and requested that she be allowed to use the staff facilities.
The other women exchanged glances, but feeling that they had little option but to accede to her request, given the circumstances, and she was led to a small back room. There was none of the luxury apparent in the public areas and Joey, who frequently left such matters to Anna or Rosli, wondered how on earth she was going to manage to change the child in such a cramped environment, but manage she must, and in a short time Hilda was feeling more comfortable, but still very, very hungry, and longing for her own nursery, and her own Rosli.
Jo returned from the rest room, uncomfortably aware of the smell emanating from the small bag she carried, but unable, for the moment to do anything about it.
“And now Madam, do you still wish me to proceed?” The young woman who had brought Joey back into the premises asked her.
By now, Joey was by no means sure that she did want to do so, but knowing that she owed something for even the limited kindness that had been shown her, she nodded her head.
“Then peraps you would like to give Gretel that bag to dispose of in the dustbin.”
Gretel, easily the youngest person there came forward to take the bag from Joey’s hand. She would have protested, obviously these people had no idea that nappies were so expensive, but as she took a deep breath prior to saying as much, she realised that it might be the most sensible course of action.

#123: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:27 pm

I also left my children outside shops in their pram. It was quite normal in the 70s.
I'm glad that Jo remembered spare nappies, which would of course have been towelling one in those days. Lovely to deal with! Laughing

#124: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:53 pm

I had towelling nappies, as did my brother!

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:37 pm

SO what will she do next I wonder?

#126: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:50 pm

*wonders who the familiar figure is?

Please tell us Ellie!

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:54 pm

Thank you Ellie! Glad that little Hilda hadn't been taken! Almost (but not quite) feel sorry for Joey having to deal with nappy!

Was the man Reg?

More please - when ready - I'm not nagging!

#128: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:46 pm

With apologies to Caroln P, Rachel and Lisa T.

About forty-five minutes later, Joey surveyed the results in a mirror, unsure as to whether she liked what she saw or not. She certainly looked different, with her ‘earphones’ gone and the rest of her hair styled into short bob. It was still straight, but since it had been, painfully, thinned, it was no longer so heavy nor lank looking.
Well, I certainly look different, but I suppose I’ll get used to it.” She replied when the stylist asked if she was happy.
The stylist shrugged imperceptibly, thinking that since it had been her own decision to have her hair cut off, it was the customers problem if she did not like the effect.
Dubious as she may have been about her appearance, Joey had no regrets about having her hair cut off, it was something she would have done years before had it not been for Jack. She felt a small tug of regret as she thought of the times he had delighted in unpinning her hair, shaking it loose and running his fingers through it, but it was quickly suppressed.
She had long found it a burden to keep plaiting and pinning her hair each morning, not to mention the length of time it took to dry after being washed, and since Jack’s feelings were no longer a consideration, she had no reason to put off the decision any longer. True, it hadn’t been part of her plans when she had left Fruedesheim, but since she had been at a bit of a loss since discovering the Embury’s were at home, and the salon had served the much needed coffee along with the hair cut, it seemed a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
Breezily telling the stylist to send her the bill, Joey began to pull on her coat. “I’m sorry Madam, we do not operate in such a manner.” The icy tone brought her up short, there was none of the warm concern which the woman had shown earlier. “We expect to be paid immediately.”
“But I’ve hardly any money with me, and I have to buy some food for my baby.” Hilda had continued to grumble all the time Joey had been having her hair cut, and Joey, who was herself beginning to feel the effects of going without food for over twenty-four hours had come to understand just exactly what she was complaining about.
“I’m sorry but you must pay.” The stylist named a sum which made Joey’s eyes widen slightly. “That is for washing, cutting and styling, plus two cups of Kaffee. The first cup is not charged for, due to the circumstances.”
“I can assure you that you will be paid, if you send me the bill. I am Mrs Jack Maynard, my husband is in charge of the sanatorium on the Gornetz Platz.”
“I do not know of it, but it would not alter things if I did. We do not operate in this way. We have cut your hair, now you must pay for the service.”
“Well, you can hardly stick it back on again can you? That being so, it‘s rather silly to be standing here arguing.” Joey tried to jolly the woman into changing her mind.
“You will now pay, please.”
“But, that is nearly all the money I have with me, I can’t let my little girl go hungry, you must see that.”
“You have a cheque book perhaps?”
“Not with me.”
“Then you must either go to the bank or give me the money you have, the child will not suffer if she is late for one meal.” The stylist remained implacable, and Joey was left frantically wondering how she could persuade the bank to give her some money without a cheque book.
She was suddenly seized with another idea, “If you could allow me to use your telephone, I could ring my friend. She ought to be home by now, she can send someone to pick me up and send some money to pay for your services.”
“Certainly, you may use the phone, but the cost of the call will be added to the bill.” The stylist was almost beginning to wish she had followed Joey’s first suggestion, Hilda’s constant whining was beginning to play on her nerves and she wanted to be rid of this customer who had been nothing but trouble all along, but having begun to argue the point, she was not going to back down in front of the other staff.
Joey picked up the telephone and dialled the Embury’s number, relieved by the thought that she need not back the long journey back by foot. It was however, a short lived relief, since the ringing tone continued unanswered long after it was obvious that there was still no one in the house.

#129: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:50 pm

You know what, with all the excitments, I'd compeltely forgotten about Reg!

thanks Ellie, but we'd all like to know who the mystery fellow was so please get writing!

#130: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:54 pm

I hadn't thought of Reg either. Ellie, please let us know whether or not it was Reg - by writing more story!!

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:55 pm

She always was such a wholesle thoughtless creature wasn't she. No reason not to have her hair cut, but then, with no money Exclamation

Stupid woman. Exclamation

Why the apologies Ellie?

#132: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:03 pm

Carolyn P wrote:

Why the apologies Ellie?

Because of the bit about Jack liking to play with her hair - it was inspired by the Holocaust drabble.

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

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:16 pm

*Surely the sensible thing would have been to find out if she could charge the cost of the hair cut before having it done? Rolling Eyes

Thanks Ellie!

#134: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:19 pm

Lesley wrote:

*Surely the sensible thing would have been to find out if she could charge the cost of the hair cut before having it done? Rolling Eyes

Thanks Ellie!

*points out that Jo isn't exactly known for doing the sensible thing.

Love the pickle you've left Joey in.

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

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 2:01 am

And she's been so used to other people doing things for her, so such a thought would not have even crossed her mind.

#136: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 2:47 am

*giggles* That's fantastic! I'd love to actually see Joey in that predicament!

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

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 3:45 am

Thanks Ellie!! Looking forward to more!!!!

#138: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 4:32 am

*joins in Vikki's chant*

#139: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:19 am

I don't supposes Joey has ever been short of money before. If she was going to town, she would have asked Jack for some. I expect he managed the finances.

The cut OOAOML's hair in case of brain fever didn't they. Perhaps having short hair will bring Jo to her senses! Nothing else seems to have worked!

#140: Author: keren,

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:30 am

Pat wrote:

I suppose I m ust be near you children's age.
Mum used to park me in the pram inthe front garden and my sister in the back garden,
When she took me for a walk Lots of people who she did not know used to say hello to me.
they were people who would see me in the street during the morning when i was outside in the pram.
Oh how times have changed...
Any way, so who is the man...Reg?? Laughing

#141: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:15 pm

I don't understand the apologies either!

Never mind. Ellie, where are you?!

#142: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:07 pm

keren wrote:

My kids were born in 71 & 74. I had one of the big old-fashioned Silver Cross prams for my first. Not the solid body though. Mine had a soft one, but the size of the thing was the same.

#143: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:14 pm

Lisa - the apologies were for using the hair cutting idea.

I had a Silver Cross dolls pram to play with when I was a little girl, it was actually quite big enough for a real baby - much bigger than todays prams.

This is all for tonight - and I didn't know if I was going to manage that earlier cos' I was feeling a bit stuck, then hubby went to bed coughing and sneezing so I turned the TV off, turned the music on, and suddenly I coud write!
I can't help wondering how this would have turned out if it had been written to a different sound track though...

There was nothing else she could do, Joey was forced, reluctantly, to hand over most of her meagre amount of money. Looking at the few coins remaining in her purse after she stood outside the salon, she sighed deeply, there was maybe enough to buy some milk, and maybe a small bun for Hilda, there would certainly be nothing left over for her to feed herself. She thought back with longing to the lunch which Anna had carefully prepared for her earlier. The food would still be there, Anna would have cleared the dishes, but she would not have thrown good food away.
It was obvious to Joey now, that she had no option but to return home that night, she no longer had any faith in the Embury’s and she couldn’t face the idea of retracing her steps back to their home to find they were still absent. She dare not even risk making another phone call to them for fear that she might lose some of her money in the public telephone.
She wearily began to drudge back to the railway station, keeping her eyes open for somewhere that could provide cheap refreshments for her daughter.
As she began to move, the man who had been watching her through the none to clean plate glass window of a bar across the road left his seat and walked out onto street, still clutching the remains of his bottle of cheap red wine.
About one hundred metres further along, Joey walked passed a restaurant which would have suited her purposes admirably earlier in the day, it was bright, clean and spacious and the menu sharpened the edge of her appetite even more. It was pointless to even think about entering such a place now though, she doubted that her current finances would be sufficient to even buy a biscuit. ‘Why,’ she thought, ‘had she been seduced into having her hair cut by the sight of the other customers drinking coffee? Why had she not just continued walking?’ “You’re getting to accustomed to living a life of ease, Josephine Maynard,” she told herself, This by no means the furthest you’ve had to walk on short rations, nor is it particularly hard going, and there’s certainly no threat of being pursued.”
She set off again, more determination in every step. The man, who had hovered some distance behind whilst she looked into the restaurant, was taken by surprise when she moved off, and found that he had to almost run to catch up with her again.
It wasn’t until she began to draw near to the railway station that Joey found the type of cheap café that she was looking for. Although it was very basic, it had least had the virtue of being spotlessly clean, and there were enough people eating inside to assure her that the food was edible.
Having already learned her lesson thoroughly that day, she took Hilda out of the perambulator and carried her inside, with no great ease since the child began to wriggle madly once she was released from the restraints of the blankets which Joey had wrapped tightly around her.
Her failure to get away from her mother’s arms caused Hilda to begin to scream loudly. Joey, red with embarrassment made her order as quickly as possible and sat down in the corner.
Maybe it was good fortune, or maybe it was the child’s urgent piercing screams, but the milk arrived in short order, and Hilda was immediately pacified once Joey raised the liquid to her lips.
Miraculously, there was also just enough money left in Joey’s purse to purchase a small crusty roll spread with jam. Joey broke it up and fed it to Hilda, fighting down the temptation to take just a little bit for herself, as she sipped the glass of water which the proprietor had agreed to supply for a nominal cost.
So focussed was she on feeding her child, and fighting off her own need for food that she heard nothing of the commotion when a female passer by chased away the strange man who was delving into the perambulator which someone had left outside the restaurant, throwing around the blankets and pillows and trying to remove the mattress.

#144: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:27 pm

Ellie wrote:

clutching the remains of his bottle of cheap red wine.

Surely its got to be Reg?!

thank you Ellie. I'm not sure we should let you get away with dragging out the mystery of the strange man for so long...but I suppose we have to put up with it if we want to get any more Tensions! Wink

#145: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:30 pm

Intriguing!! or have i missed something? Smile

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

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:46 pm

Pat wrote:

Intriguing!! or have i missed something? Smile

Nope, it is certainly intriguing.
Thanks for that bit Ellie.

#147: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:59 pm

I think it must be Reg, the mention of a bottle of cheap red wine must be a clue.

#148: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 1:59 am

Most intriguing.

Did he have something hidden in the matress?

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

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:01 am

*confused, intrigued and wanting more please Ellie!!*

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

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:08 am

Thank you for that Ellie! Looking forward to more.

#151: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:14 am

Well, I'm glad Joey seems to have found some sense somewhere! And I'm thinking the man might be Reg, too, but I'm not 100% convinced!

#152: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 10:20 am

If it is Reg, maybe he's looking for 'Lens' mystery baby, and in his pissed up state he's taken the mattress thinking its a baby. *stretching imagination a lot now*

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

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 11:48 am

*is intrigued. Is very intrigued.*

Please elucidate the mystery soon, Ellie!

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

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 2:03 pm

*wanders off to look for Ellie!*

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

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 2:18 pm

I think it might be Red too, but knowing these stories it could be anyone. Good for Joey for finally finding her spine and using it. Afterall she has been though difficulties in the past and should be able to cope.

I wonder how many nappies Jo ever changed though Wink

#156: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:18 pm

Perhaps it's Reg, and he's looking for his stash of hard drugs which he had cunningly hidden in the pram.

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

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:08 pm

Jennie, anyone would think you didn't like Reg....... Wink

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

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:24 pm

Wonder if we will find out tonight?

#159: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:18 pm

*joins the long queue of 'intrigued' CBBers scratching heads and making wild guesses*

#160: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:56 pm

*hopelessly confused*
I'm not even gonna try and guess. I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy the ride..
I'm sure Ellie understands where she's going. At least I hope so. And I'm sure she'll explain in her own good time!

*settles comfortably to listen in on the wacky guesess*

#161: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 12:55 am

Lisa_T wrote:

*Is gratified by Lisa's confidence*
*Wsishes she shared it*

Actually I do more or less know where I'm going with Joey's adventure, I just haven't worked out all the details yet, that's why it's taking so long.

It was far too easy for to Joey to allow herself to linger in the café for far longer than she should have done. It was warm inside, very warm, and that, together with the sleepless hours she had endured the night before and the mental exhaustion which had led her to make her unscheduled trip in the first place left her feeling strangely lethargic and unwilling to move.
Hilda too, now that she had food in her small tummy, was content to lie in her mothers arms, still, quiet, and to all appearances, asleep. “Well, my pet, just a few minutes more, then we’ll have to be getting along,” she told the child, telling herself that it would be a pity to disturb her baby so soon.
“Madam?” She started as she heard herself addressed, noticing at once that the twilight which had just been encroaching upon the city streets as she had walked into the restaurant had turned into a deep darkness behind the bright lights which illuminated the gloom.
Joey gasped, and shifted Hilda’s position slightly, so as to rise to her feet more quickly. She gasped again when a thousand fiery needles began to dance inside her arm released from the numbing weight of the child.
“Are you all right madam?”
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” she lied, “I just didn’t realise how late it had become. I must dash.” She struggled to button up her coat, whilst holding on to Hilda with her unaffected arm. It was little wonder that she failed to line up the buttons correctly, but she did not bother to rectify her mistake, “It’ll do, at least it will keep me warm,” she thought, “And there will be plenty of time to sort it out once I’m safely on the train.”
She made her way out of the café, heedless of everything bar the passing of time, and headed for the perambulator, glad that she would soon be able to relieve herself of her burden, precious though that burden was.
“What on earth?” she gazed with a shocked dismay at the tangle of blankets lying exposed on the top of the pram cover, and the mattress which appeared to have been half pulled out. Not only was there a feeling of dampness in the air, it seemed as though there had been a coating of drizzle whilst she had been inside, both the blankets, and a good part of the mattress were wet enough for Joey to see that she could not use the vehicle to transport Hilda any further that night.
Despairing at he behaviour of some children, for it never occurred to her that any one other than a child would interfere with someone else’s property in such a pointless and stupid manner, she resigned herself to pushing the perambulator in one hand while carrying Hilda in the other. It was not so far to the railway station, “And that,” she thought, “Is the first bit of good fortune I’ve had all day.”

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

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:08 am

Ohhhhh! So what were they looking for then? Still think it could be Reg.

Thanks Ellie! Very Happy

#163: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:13 am

Well, Joey is really a ruthlessdiamond smuggler, she hides them in especially hollowed out copies of her books, and this equally ruthless gang has got wind of her nefarious activities.........

Oh, maybe not then, I'm sorry, I was up at 04.15 to clear the non existant ice and snow off the car, and I think I'm to tired to be sensible.

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

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 2:59 am

Thank you Ellie!! *huggles*

#165: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 4:21 am

*pats Ellie on the head* Er, yes dear.

Excellent part, by the way! I loved the way Jo assumed it had to be a child, and that she unthinkingly sat in the cafe until it was closed! Laughing

#166: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 4:27 am

*wonders what could have been in the stroller.

#167: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 4:42 am

*lol* Maybe it was money that would have allowed Jo to have a proper meal! Wink

#168: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 12:53 pm

It was to be the last time that the fates smiled down upon her that day. As she struggled gamely along, cursing the inconvenience of two of the street lights being dead, she was violently knocked from one side by a tall figure who suddenly tore itself away from the deep shadows with explosive force. The power behind the blow was enough to send her staggering. She let go of the pram, concentrated on protecting her child. The figure paused. She saw something shiny in his hand, reflecting the gleam of the city lights. She tried to turn and run, terror providing her with unknown reserves of strength, but it was not enough. She could not avoid the figures flailing arm. A painful thud on her shoulder, she yelped and twisted her body to shield Hilda. She twisted the wrong way. As she tripped over the kerb, another blow as she began to fall. Catching her on the cheek, sending her crashing to the ground. Instinct told her she could not use her arms to break the fall, that she must cushion the child. She thought she heard the sound of glass, shattering, then she heard nothing.

#169: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 12:59 pm

She lay there, still, grey and to all appearences, d...............

#170: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:13 pm

...deeply pissed off?

No, perhaps not...

#171: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:57 pm

Okay, so we don't much like Joey in this thread - it didn't mean we wanted her dead. And what about Hilda - what did she do to deserve this?

We want answers Ellie!!

#172: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 3:27 pm

One day I will hit the post reply button first time, instead of returning to the index. Grrrrr.

“Good heavens!” Rosalie stalled in the doorway of the study, “You look as though you have been up all night.”
“I have.” Hilda admitted wearily. “In fact, I’ve only just got back. Do you think you could get me a cup of coffee please dear?”
“Of course,” Rosalie hastened off to do her bidding, wondering what emergency had arisen to take the head out of the school all night. Naturally her first thoughts led her in the direction of the San, and the patients therein.
“What is it?” she asked, “What’s gone wrong now, it isn’t Jeanne is it? Or Daphne Bettany?”
“No dear, as far as I’m aware all our people at the San are safe and sound. No, it’s Joey.”
“Joey?”
“Yes, she, apparently she went out with young Gwynnie sometime yesterday afteroon, and she hasn’t returned.”
Rosalie looked at Hilda, a stricken expression on her face, “Oh no. Joey wouldn’t just go off like that, something must have happened, but, she wouldn’t put Gwynnie in danger, maybe she’s just gone to stay with, Winefred Embury, or Frieda, they may have called her, but didn’t she say anything to Anna? Or leave a note.”
“Anna was out herself yesterday, until late last night, but she say’s that Joey didn’t eat the lunch she prepared for her. She seems t have left the house before Anna, and Anna doesn’t recall receiving any telephone calls. Also, she and Jack have searched through the house, in case she did, as you suggested, leave a note, but they have found nothing. It appears that Joey has taken a few of Gwynnie’s garments, but no change of clothing for herself, and it seems as though she has very little money with her.”
“Oh no, poor Joey. And poor Jack too, he must be frantic, you know how he and Jo dote on one another. I suppose that’s where you’ve been all night.”
“Actually, no.” Hilda was glad that Rosalie had tacked the last question on the end, most of Jack’s concern had been for little Gwynneth Hilda, his stated opinion of Joey’s actions did not bear repeating. “Naturally, we thought the same as you, to begin with. Jack and I rang around everyone he could think of, there was no answer from the Embury’s by the way, and no one has seen her. I rang Biddy Corvousier myself, and I’m afraid she was rather distraught, and in need of company, and as Jack said, there was nothing else I could do at Freudesheim, so I went to her. This has really hit her quite hard, you know, but she was a little calmer when I left her and Hilary is going to look after her today. I did call into Freudesheim of course, before I returned to the school.”
“What more can go wrong this term?” Rosalie gave Hilda an anguished look, “I know we’ve had our fair share of drama’s before, more than our fair share I should say, but nothing like this. And you’ve borne the brunt of it all haven’t you? You’re not to do another thing today, except drink up your coffee and go to bed. The school, and everyone else, go do without you for a change.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Rosalie, how can I? Have you forgotten that it’s half term? The girls will be going off on their expeditions shortly, I need to speak to them before they leave, and make arrangements for Hilary Francis since she’s been barred from going. Louise is going to her people, so I don’t need to worry about her.”
“She left last night, I believe,” Rosalie murmered, “But are the expeditions still going ahead? Shouldn’t we be searching for Joey?”
“Gaudentz and the other men have been searching all night and they will coninue once they have had a short rest. Jack was out looking too, once Anna arrived home to sit by the telephone. Jem Russell is involved too, he was going to work at the San today, but he has arranged for some of the other doctors to cover for him.”
“Oh, well if Dr Jem has taken charge the jobs sure to be done properly,” said Rosalie in a tone of voice which caused Hilda to look at her secretary in surprise.
She had been surprised, though grateful, that Rosalie had opted to work for the school rather than resume her position at the San after the upheavals which followed their expulsion from the Tyrol. She had never realised before that Rosalie held unrequited romantic feelings to her erstwhile boss.
“It still seems a little, well, not right, to go off on excursions when we could be helping.” Rosalie had continued talking, unaware of the heads sudden flash of understanding.
“Not at all. We can hardly send the girls roaming all over the area. The best way we can help is by carrying on with our normal duties, we owe it to the girls to do so, and have you forgotten that Cecil and Phil are pupils of this school?”
“I had,” Rosalie admitted, “They haven’t been told then?”
“No, and Jack won’t have them told at the moment. I’m not sure that I agree with him, but I can’t override his wishes, not at the present time anyway. That’s another reason to get the girls away, considering all the people Jack spoke to last night I can hardly imagine that the pupils won’t get to hear of it soon. I shall have to speak to the staff, of course, but for now this is to go no further.”

#173: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 3:41 pm

Two on the trot, great!

Is Gwynhilda Reg's child and he is kidnapping her?
Is it someone from the SSOJ in cunning disguise?
Is it someone with a pram collection who wants it for his collection?

And all I was worried about at the beginning of that was whether Jo had a return ticket as she seems to have run out of money!

I wonder if Rosalie's comments could be a criticism of Jack rather than unrequited love for Jem?

I think Hilda should go to bed and let someone else take over for the day!

Teeters on edge!!!

#174: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 5:12 pm

No, Gwynnie is NOT Reg's child - that particular combination occurred in Rachel's brilliant 'Changes for Con', the story which, I think, launched a thousand other drabbles.

And yes, Joey did have a return ticket.

Finally, it seemed to Joey that there was a glimmer of light at the end of the long tunnel through which she was travelling.
The doctor put away the small light which he had been using to illuminate her eyes and let go of her wrist.
He turned to meet the questioning gaze of the other person in the room, and motioned him to move outside “There’s little point in you waiting, your wasting your time waiting here to speak to her, you would be better employed trying to find whoever it was that did this.”
“We will, you needn’t worry about that.”
The doctor shrugged, in his experience the police were always confident of catching the perpetrator, but he knew that this confidence was sometimes misplaced. “She’s beginning to come round, her pulse is still strong, I don’t think she has suffered any long term damage, not physically, anyway, but it will still be a while before she’s up to answering questions, and even then, I have to warn you, she may not remember anything about the attack. It often happens, with concussion, that the last few hours before the injury happened are lost. The memories may come back weeks, or even years later, but often they are never recovered at all.”
“Are you sure? Is there nothing you can give her to help her remember?”
“No there is not.” the doctor snapped, “And even if there were, I wouldn’t want to. This is natures way of helping the person to cope.” He moderated his tone as he looked at the boy in front of him, “You’re not very experienced at this are you?”
The other man flushed, “No. It’s the first time I’ve done anything on my own, actually.”
“And you want to make a good impression. Don’t worry, your colleagues have already been through here, seen it before. They know what the score is and I’m sure no-one will think any the less of you if you can’t produce a nice fool proof statement which wraps everything up nicely. Do you know who she is yet, by the way?”
“No, we had a description of a missing woman sent to us last night, and she did seem to fit the description, but it’s not her. She’s about the same height, but this other woman had a very distinctive hair style, and she wasn’t from this area anyway, besides which, she was a lady, married to a doctor herself I believe, a chap called Maynard, whilst this one, it seems she was wearing a second hand coat which didn‘t fit her properly, and she was quite grimy and smelled of alcohol, and she was in the area where the whores operate.”
“Maynard? I have heard of a Dr Maynard who runs a Sanatorium in this country, but I know nothing of his wife, but no matter. If you were attacked and left bleeding on a damp pavement I think you might find yourself looking a bit grimy, as you put it. I hope that you are going to speak to this patient with respect, otherwise I may decide it is not in her best interests to talk with you.”
The policeman gulped, realising that he had overstepped the mark, but the doctor had seemed decent enough, he had expected him to agree with his views about women drinking alcohol, but maybe, unlike himself, the doctor had not seen the damage it could do when a wife and mother could not function without a bottle of vodka inside her. “I will treat her with the respect she deserves.” he muttered.
“No, you will speak to her with the respect I think she deserves, otherwise you will not speak to her at all.”
The policeman nodded, knowing that his superiors would be less than impressed if he reported back with the information that the doctor had refused him access to the victim.
It did not, however, alter his opinion of the woman in the bed, she had had a child with her too, bad enough to out with a child at all at that hour, but to be out drunk, prostituting herself with a child, she deserved everything that happened to her.
The doctor looked at the antagonism showing on the policeman’s face, “If it helps you, there is no evidence that she had been drinking. There was alcohol on her clothing, yes, but there was none inside her system. Also, there is no reason to think that she was not intent on catching a train. I think that if you are to make a success of your career, you need to put your personal feelings aside in the future. But now, I have other patients to see, not least this one’s child. I suggest you go now, there will be little point in coming back until at least after lunch time.”
The doctor dismissed the young policeman and made his way to the next ward, satisfied he had done all he could for his patient.

#175: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 5:22 pm

So Joey's new hairstyle has backfired on her. I hope the policeman has the sense to ask her name before he makes any assumptions.

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

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 5:53 pm

That's always supposing she can remember her name! Good job the doctor is sympathetic considering how prejudiced the policeman is - he should never allow personal circumstances to influence his judgement.

Ellie - they were wonderful posts - interesting idea about Rosalie. Poor Hilda - no rest for her!

#177: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 6:05 pm

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
You know, there are times and seasons when I have serious trouble remembering what's happened where. Carolyn's 'Fights' always confuses me when I read this but I think I got it straightened out. I think. I also think I need to slow down and read stuff more carefully..
Oh well.

And poor Hilda indeed! She's really drawing the short straw in this one, isn't she?
*getting all kinds of weird images when reading about baby Gwynneth Hilda as 'Hilda'..*

#178: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 6:08 pm

Weird. The thingy said that my message hadn't sent because of 'debug mode' (not the dreaded U know What?!) but lo and behold...........

Very very strange..

#179: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 6:14 pm

If Jo has lost her memory and she doesn't fit the description because of her hair cut, I wonder if this rather nice doctor - who seems to have a good deal of common sense - will think to call the San on the off chance. However, given the title of the thread, perhaps not!

So, Gwynhilda is not Reg's child in this drabble - another wild theory out of the window to explain the strange man Confused

And whoever it was left Gwynhilda at the scene - what about the pram, I wonder?

#180: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 6:58 pm

I knew Joey should have kept her earphones - says she with 20/20 hindsight vision.

Hopefully the policeman learns to keep his personal opinions to himself in the future - though I can see why he doesn't think that Joey is Joey (so to speak).

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

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 7:06 pm

So Joey having her hair cut was an integral part of the plot. The mystery deepens. Like the doctor, and the policeman deserves everything he will get, (presuming he will fall down a cliff).

Tensions all around.

#182: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 7:47 pm

Slightly worried by Lisa T's comments - Carolyn, if you think I'm treading on your toes or muscling in on your territory please say so - I don't intend this to be like Fights, or any other drabble, and the last thing I want to do is plagarise anyone.

The hastily convened staff meeting revealed that apart from Linda Stone’s quick glance out of the window, no -one had seen Joey at all the previous day. “At least we know which direction she went off in now.” Hilda mused, “It will give Gaudentz some idea on where to focus the search.”
“I could help,” Rosemary Yolland spoke up, “I’m not down for escort duties this time.”
“I don’t see why you shouldn’t, once the girls have departed, but are you sure you want to do this? It isn’t every term that you get a break?”
“But how could I enjoy my break, worrying about Joey and Gwynnie and knowing I was doing nothing to help?” That young woman replied logically, “Of course I want to look for them.”
The other mistresses, who had up to now been relishing the thought of a free weekend joined in with her sentiments.
“Very well, it is your time after all, you may do as you wish.” Hilda told them, “Except I do need a volunteer to watch over Hilary Francis. I was planning to do so myself, but Rosalie has convinced me that I’ll be no use to anyone unless I catch up on some sleep.” she smiled in Rosalie’s direction.
“Quite right too.” The new nurse, who had so far taken no part in the discussion spoke up. “And don’t worry about this problem child of yours either, I’m sure I can find her something to keep her occupied.”
Several of the old girls exchanged looks, remembering the activities which Matey had deemed suitable for misbehaving pupils in their own days, and more than one of them felt stirrings of sympathy for Hilary.
“That will be all then, the breakfast bell will be ringing shortly, Hilda dismissed the assembled company, except I shall need you to stay close to the telephone, Rosalie, I’m sorry.”
“Of course,” Rosalie gave no hint of her true feelings, but Hilda knew that she would have much preferred to be out with Rosemary Yolland and the others.
“If there is any news Jack will want us to know as soon as possible,” Hilda told her, “We don’t want the rest of you people wandering around for no reason, and by the same token, I would like to ask those of you who are in the search party to make contact as regularly as possible. I know that public telephones are hard to find up here, but I’m sure that any householder would be glad to let you make a call under the circumstances, and I know that I needn’t remind you to offer to pay. Those of you who are n duty this weekend, please make sure that no word of this reaches the girls.”

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

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 7:54 pm

Ellie, don't worry. I had Joey lost under completly different circs, and in a different place. As for the rest, this is a great story and any ideas that we have both used probably came from someone first anyway, I certainly seem to be predictable, and I wouldn't say that about this. Don't worry, just carry on. *Huggles Ellie*

Of course if you have Len and Reg die after their car is caught in an avelanche and we find Len is pregnant at the time, then I might say something else Laughing

#184: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 8:02 pm

I wouldn't call you predictable Carolyn - far from it.

*Furrows brain trying to work out how to get Len and Reg buried under an avalanche*
(Not really)

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

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 8:15 pm

Thanks for that Ellie - but have I missed a bit?- why is Hilary Francis missing half term?

*Sure that the new nurse will be very nice to Hilary! Wink

#186: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 8:26 pm

Thanks for that bit. Poor Hilary - stuck at school when everyone else in on trips and it isn't really her fault at all.

#187: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 9:52 pm

I think you might have missed a bit Lesley, Hilary is having to stay behind after she and Louise nearly had a fight about the state of the bathroom - if you cast your mind back to the very beginning, Stella got into the habit of clearing up after Hilary, swapping places on the bathing list with Louise to do so, then after they fell out, she swapped back again and Louise made a fuss about the mess - Miss Annersley caught them scuffling and handed out various punishments to the whole dorm but since Hilary and Louise seemed most responsible she barred them from the half term excursions, which didn't matter to Louise since she was going to her family anyway. I hope this makes things clearer........

In Gypsophilia dormitory the girls were getting up in silence. None of them were sure whether the punishment was still in force over the half term weekend, but none of them wanted to risk finding out that it was. Even without their chatter, it would have been obvious to the casual observer that all the girls were looking forward to the forthcoming excursions, the grins on their faces were testament to that. All except one girl, Hilary rolled out bed reluctantly, knowing that she had nothing to look forward to. Had it been up to her, she would not have bothered to get out of bed at all, but she knew that if she made the others late she could expect no mercy from her peers, “Though I don’t know what else they could do that they aren’t doing already,” The one slight spot of relief was Louise’s absence, at least she wouldn’t have to worry about her following her into the bathroom. She tried to remember who followed Louise, hoping that whoever it was wouldn’t try to pull the same trick.
As it was Flaurette caused a minor sensation, when it was her turn to rush to the bathroom she forcibly hauled the next girl in line out into the corridor, and waited patiently for Hilary to take her turn, after which she dashed out of the dormitory before the next person in line had time to realise what was happening.
As she had suspected, the bathroom was every bit as bad as Louise had described, but more than ever was she convinced that Hilary was unaware of the standards required, surely she would not have deliberately done the same thing two days in a row, she was already missing out on the half term entertainment, goodness only knew what other punishments the head might come up with.
Flaurette speedily cleared up the mess, omitting her own bath in favour of giving herself a quick splash from the water running out of the taps, finally she put the plug in the bath and raced back to the dormitory, resolving to swap places with Louie until such a time as she could once again talk freely with Hilary and explain matters rather more plainly than Stella appeared to have done.
Once in the speisassal, conversation flowed easily, and amid the excited chatter Stella failed to realise that Flaurette had little to say to her. As it happened Flaurette was thinking rather more deeply than she had hitherto been accustomed, Stella had been quick to join in the general condemnation of Hilary the previous morning, yet it seemed to Flaurette, she had known only to well why the bathroom had been left in such a condition. No doubt she had undertaken to tidy up after Hilary with the best of motives, but it was bound to be discovered in the long run, it would have been far more sensible, not to say kinder, for her to shown Hilary where she was going wrong. As it was, not only had she deliberately withdrawn her help, she had offered no explanation for Hilary’s behaviour when she could so easily have done so, and as a result Hilary was missing out on the half term treat.
Flaurette was beginning to think that Stella’s reasoning behind the decision to stop talking to Hilary in the first place might have been equally flawed, but as a relatively new girl she did not yet feel secure enough of her position to argue the matter, however, Hilary was both surprised and gratified to feel a gentle squeeze of her arm and a sympathetic smile as the school filed out of the speisassal.

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

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 10:20 pm

Thanks Ellie - I do remember the scene in the dormitory but must have skipped the bit that gave additional punishment to Hilary and Louise. Shows Hilda had other things on her mind or she'd not have given so unfair a punishment that only penalises one of the two most to blame.
Smile

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

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:29 am

Lesley wrote:

Just one question: what has happened to Gwynnie?

#190: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:37 am

She turned into Hilda! Wink

Ellie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you anxious. I think I just get confused sometimes because both you and Carolyn have/are writing full length SCS drabbles that are fairly staff orientated- and your styles are a little similar. But I'm not accusing either of you of plagiarism, so don't think it! I love your work, Ellie, and yours too, Carolyn.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:51 am

Thank you Ellie!! lots of story!!
*starts chant!!*

#192: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 1:44 am

Yay Flaurette for helping Hilary and showing Hilary her sympathy. Now, maybe she can show others her sympathy for Hilary.

#193: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:44 am

Good for Flaurette. Just thinking that if they called the police to say Joey is missing, why didn't they call the hospital jsut to check if a woman (and child) had been admitted. I guess they are jsut to tense to think straight.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:53 am

Lisa_T wrote:

She turned into Hilda! Wink

But where is she with Joey suffering from amnesia?

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

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:16 pm

Ellie, More excellent installements, thank you!! I love your new policemen who doesn't listen and makes wild assumptions. You would think if Joey evenly closely matched a description he would contact Jack to rule it out. Afterall if she is missing presumed run away surely its only natural that she might have changed her appearance!!

However, I hope Joey has more adventures before this is sorted out. Wink

Oh, and how is Con getting along?

#196: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:22 pm

PatMac wrote:

Because they didn't know where she was - they would probably have ended up calling half the hospitals in Switzerland, and they had no reason to think that they would be in a hospital anyway (and more to the point, it never occurred to me Embarassed

)

Quote:

But where is she with Joey suffering from amnesia?

She's being cared for in the same hospital.

Lisa - I'm highly flattered to have my writing mentioned in the same sentence as Carolyn's.

Lesley - yes it was unfair, but at the time she had forgotten that Louise wouldn't have been going on the trip anyway.

#197: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 4:06 pm

Ellie! That was mean, mean mean!!!

I thought you'd posted more! bawling

#198: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 4:11 pm

And how many times have you given that impression yourself Lisa Laughing

Hopefully there will be more later, but I had to go to work - there's as much hance of pigs flying as there is of me being given the day because of the weather, not that there's much weather left now anyway.

#199: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 4:39 pm

ME?!!!

I very rarely pull that stunt! Wink

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

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 5:53 pm