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Title: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 28th, 2003, 11:42pm This one has been lurking in my brain for a while, I think I've mumbled about it once or twice, but had to do some research. Anyway, here it is.... It seemed like the perfect marriage – the tall, handsome, well-born young man, and the sparkling, wealthy ‘society’ girl. They adored one another and both sets of parents looked on the union with approval. Lindley Carrick and Dorita Carson had known one another only eighteen months when the wedding took place; it had been a whirlwind romance, both young people swept round in a rush of dances and social engagements. Quite soon afterwards they went to India, Lindley having joined the army. He did his work and they attended innumerable parties of all kinds and generally behaved as young people behave the world over. They made many friends and lived happy lives. They had been married for about a year and a half when they had their first child – a son, Andrew Joseph, he was named and the Carricks were ecstatic with pride over him. As soon as he and Dorita were considered well enough he was taken to all the gatherings and cooed over by admiring friends. “Oh, isn’t he an ickle-wickle darlin’, den?” gushed Blanche Forsythe, Dorita’s best friend, and tickling Andrew under the chin. “Rita, dear, what a clever girl you are! I’m simply green with envy – I want a baby of my own!” and she turned a coy but ravishing smile on the youth who hovered attentively round her. Ralph Merton blushed gloriously and simpered back before turning his attention to the baby. “Yes,” he agreed, “Jolly little fellow, what?” Dorita tried to look as though producing a healthy and handsome baby was something she did every day but failed spectacularly. The next excitement in the neighbourhood was the engagement of Blanche and Ralph. In this the Carricks were closely involved as best friends of the bride- and groom-to-be. They were married on Andrew’s first birthday, this having been Dorita’s idea and taken up with enthusiasm by the rest. “Now we shall all have to be staid married couples,” laughed Blanche when the Mertons returned from their honeymoon. The Carricks glanced at one another with little, knowing smiles. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 28th, 2003, 11:47pm Hmm, very, very interesting, Abi, with lots of potential! More, please! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Carolyn P on Dec 29th, 2003, 12:02am A very thought provoking start. A brother for Juliet, that is an interesting development. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 29th, 2003, 12:32am Ooooh! Carry on please Abi!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 29th, 2003, 12:34am *joins Vikki's chant* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Lesley on Dec 29th, 2003, 12:34am Very interesting - is the brother still around?? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 29th, 2003, 12:35am *types fast and furiously* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Dec 29th, 2003, 12:41am oooh *eyes widen* thank you Abi ;D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 29th, 2003, 12:46am on 12/29/03 at 00:34:54, Lesley wrote:
Well, actually, as a secret between me and you, he/she has a sex change 8oo 8oo 8oo |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 29th, 2003, 1:04am “Hal-lo!” said Ralph. “What are you two smirking about?” It was Dorita, characteristically, who answered. “We have a lovely surprise for you – quite soon I’m going to have another baby, a little brother for Andrew!” She sat back, leaning against her husband, and smiled complacently at the other couple. Blanche gave a tiny shriek and leapt forward to catch her friend’s hands. “Oh, darling! How perfectly ripping! But – mightn’t it be a girl?” Dorita screwed up her nose. “Oh no, he must be a boy. We want to call him Frederick Ralph – Frederick is Lindley’s second name. We don’t like girls, do we, Lindley?” “Certainly not!” replied that gentleman with a laugh. “We want a family of good, strong men.” Blanche elevated her small nose. “Well, I should like a girl,” she said tartly, then, allowing the mist of romance to descend over her again, she sighed and gazed into the distance. “But I would be quite happy with a boy too,” she admitted. Three months later the baby was born. It was a long, difficult birth, and Mrs. Carrick was utterly exhausted. She had only enough energy left for tears to roll silently down her cheeks when it was joyously announced to her that she had a beautiful baby girl. As a matter of fact she was more angry than upset, but tears were all that she was capable of. They had, of course, had an Ayah for Andrew, who performed the less pleasant tasks involved in the care of a baby. But despite that, Dorita had looked after him sometimes and had kept him with her most of the time. This did not change in the least, but Ayah had complete charge of the new baby, who was named Juliet Rachel. Blanche had chosen the names – Juliet after Shakespeare’s character, because she said that the poor child would need a man’s love in her life, and Rachel because it meant ‘lamb’, a symbol of innocence and gentleness and she may as well give the kid a good start in life. There could be no denying that Lindley and Dorita were disappointed in their second offspring, but they still had Andrew, so little Juliet was shut up in her own rooms with Ayah and her parents took very little notice of her. This attitude almost caused the breaking of the friendship between the Carricks and the Mertons. The Mertons said that it was ridiculous to treat your own child as something to be ashamed of just because it was not of the sex you would have preferred. The Carricks thought this was making a mountain out of a molehill, and maintained that if they didn’t want to see their daughter there was no reason for them to do so. But Blanche and Ralph were easy-going and wanted to keep their friends, so they resolved in the end to give poor little Juliet as good a time as they could. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Dec 29th, 2003, 1:09am Thank you Abi *very appreciative of the shiny new drabble* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Carolyn P on Dec 29th, 2003, 1:12am Yes, thank-you Abi. This story is very intreguing. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 29th, 2003, 1:25am Thank you Abi!! Poor Juliet!! *wonders what happens to Andrew, and the Mertons!!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 29th, 2003, 1:28am *advocates the use of patience, yawns and goes off to bed* Nighty-night, everyone :-* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Dec 29th, 2003, 1:30am *huggles abi* night night sleep well :-* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 29th, 2003, 1:36am Night night Abi!! :-* :-* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 29th, 2003, 4:03am on 12/29/03 at 01:25:45, Vikki wrote:
Might the Mertons be the parents of Tony Merton, with whom Grizel was in love, and who later married Deira? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Jennie on Dec 29th, 2003, 9:07am This is a great start, Abi. It has overtones of 'The Secret Garden' in the way that her parents treat Juliet. Will there be some more soon? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Lesley on Dec 29th, 2003, 9:59am Poor Juliet, knowing from the start that her parents didn't want her! More please Abi, this is very interesting! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Susan on Dec 29th, 2003, 3:05pm OOHH Abi, this is really good. Waiting patiently for more. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Esmeralda on Dec 29th, 2003, 3:18pm Oh thank you Abi, this is really interesting - poor Juliet, though. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 29th, 2003, 4:38pm *wonders if Abi has got up yet?* *waits for more story!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 29th, 2003, 10:56pm *crawls out of bed and yawns widely* What's that? More story? Bah - humbug! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:02pm *reminds Abi that Christmas is over and pokes her* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:13pm *sighs blearily and posts some more* Then came the Is that ok? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:16pm NO, IT IS NOT!!! *threatens Abi with a wet sponge* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Esmeralda on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:16pm Glad that Abi's drabble hasn't gone under the minimum word limit ;D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:21pm *giggles and dodges the wet sponge* Then came the Great War, that terrible bath of blood and carnage. Blanche wept bitterly when Ralph went away, but beneath her usually gay exterior she was a courageous woman with high principles, and both she and Ralph knew that he must fight for his country, and she was proud of him. Dorita was saddened too, but somehow since the very recent birth of Juliet she and Lindley had not been so close as they had been. Perhaps their disappointment over her was the first real cloud that had come over the horizon of their marriage. Somehow the women managed, mostly now without their menfolk. Apart from this sudden gap in their lives the War did not affect them much, tucked away in an insular little community where srife could hardly touch them. Sometimes there were letters, occasionally someone returned home for a short time for some reason, before going off again to fight. One of the women received news that her husband had been killed, quite early on in the War. The rest of them rallied round to help and comfort her, but it brought the reality closer to them. They all prayed fervently. The War had been going on for perhaps two years when a letter arrived for Blanche, informing her that her husband would be returning home due to an injury received while fighting. He arrived a week later, and even Dorita was shocked at his changed appearance. He had been tall, strong, good-looking. Now he was still tall, but he walked with his shoulders slightly bowed, as though his burdens had been too heavy for him. He was thin. His faced looked as though he had aged twenty years in the two that he had been away – it was tired, scarred, almost haggard. The first time Blanche looked into his eyes, as he limped up the path towards the house, she whitened in horror. The shy twinkle that had captivated her from the first was gone. In its place was a grimness, haunted by the horrors of human hate and suffering that he had seen. For a moment Blanche stepped back in fear. Ralph stopped too and held out his arms. “Blanche?” he said, simply. And Blanche knew then that he loved her, and she still loved him, and she ran forward into his arms. For a few blissful moments both of them were able to forget pain, unhappiness and fear in the comfort of a loving embrace. That better? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:22pm Much better, thank you! *beam* This is a very interesting angle for the story, with so much emphasis on the parents! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Carolyn P on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:28pm Ooh! I just want more and more of this. Am I getting greedy? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Esmeralda on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:28pm Thank you Abi, that was very moving, and an interesting and unexpected change in direction. *Very quietly and respectfully asks for more. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 29th, 2003, 11:35pm Not at all, Carolyn! We do, too! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 30th, 2003, 12:02am Actually, I think this bit is slightly random and not quite fitting in, but here it is anyway... Yet even in the first ecstasy of their reunion. Blanche knew that Ralph was changed forever. He told her a little of what he had seen – not the worst. “I never knew there could be so much cruelty in the world,” he said sombrely, and Blanche listened to him – thereby helping him more than she knew – and drew her own conclusions, knowing that he would try to shield her from the worst horrors. They talked, too, about Dorita, and Blanche confided her worries about how their friend was wrapping herself in the life and care of her little son. Juliet seemed to be almost forgotten, and though Ayah adored her she would have had a queer and lonely upbringing if it had not been for Blanche and now Ralph. They took her out and bought her toys and taught her, while Dorita built up a steady wall around herself which only Blanche could really penetrate. And she did. Although Dorita had got so strange Blanche wanted to help her, for her own sake and Juliet’s. But the War ended at last and there was great rejoicing. The men came back – all except Angela Shepherd’s husband, and it was very hard for her to see all the other women happy in the company of their husbands when she would never see her own again. The return of Lindley helped Dorita. He had always brought out the best in her, and now he slowly began to take down the barrier she had built. Once more she started to become the bright, happy young thing that her friends remembered. But the Mertons still behaved more as though they were Juliet’s parents than her own parents did. The Carricks rather laughed at them for doing this, but Blanche and Ralph bore it, for Juliet’s sake. Both Dorita and Lindley had changed. Although they still went to parties and were popular in the community, the soft innocence of youth had gone from Dorita’s face, replaced by a harder, more calculating look. Lindley was no longer a carefree youth in love, generous and jolly. He too was harder. The War had changed everyone, but to Blanche and Ralph it had brought a maturity and a greater understanding of the world and its ways. To Lindley and Dorita it had brought out the selfish thread that ran through both of them deep inside, something which was not seen much by the outside world but was there all the same and coloured slightly everything that they did. Life would never be the same again. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 12:06am Thank you Abi!! *dashes over to Abi and gives her a huge huggle to ask for more story please!!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Carolyn P on Dec 30th, 2003, 12:07am A very thoughtful insight into why the characters developed in the way they did. I presume the Mertons are going to feature quite prominantly in this story, I do like the way they have been included and shown as being affected by the same events but in a different way. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 12:07am Excellent, Abi. The tension is rising. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Esmeralda on Dec 30th, 2003, 12:10am Thanks Abi - I wuld say it fits in very well, a good explainatory(?) scene. That doesn't look right but I'm too tired to spell properly. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 30th, 2003, 12:29am And is Angela Shepherd an important person to remember too? Wouldn't be Grizel's future ma-in-law would it? Great story too! When can we have some more please? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:06am Ooh, Rachel started a chant! *joins in* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:16am *would join in, but afraid of spoiling the pretty chant due to lack of singing ability!!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:20am *suggests that Vikki just move her lips soundlessly, as it may be enough to fool Abi* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:31am *grin* That's what I used to do in carol services etc at school!! ;) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:35am So did I. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:43am Ah ha!! Another thing we have in common!!! ;) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:45am Do you think we're really one person, just posting as two to confuse people? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:54am I think we'd have to be a person with about four pairs of hands to achieve our numbers of posts simultaneously!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 3:00am Yes, probably. Or maybe cable Internet... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 3:04am Is that how you manage to post so much so quickly? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 3:07am Sadly, no. I'd like it, though, and we used to have it. *sigh* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 3:14am Is it the same thing as broadband? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 3:19am Yes, it is. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 3:26am Wish we had it!!! :( |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 3:28am *sigh* Me, too. Stupid Telstra only laying cables to the first apartment... >:( |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 3:35am You should strangle them with the cables!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:05am Believe me, I've thought about it. I don't think this thread is very stable... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:07am What makes you say that? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:16am It didn't tell me you had posted, and down the bottom of the page, instead of the usual thing, there was half of a URL... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:19am Hmmmmmmmmmm!! Sounds weird! Well, I've saved it to my hard drive so if it does go, we don't lose the story! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:20am Glad to hear it! *waits anxiously for further developments* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:29am I don't think the TEM will do anything while we're watching!! :-/ |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:35am I have my doubts that it's that predictable! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:38am It'll either wait until one or both of us log off and then do it, or it'll pick another thread!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:40am *nods and looks around warily* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:44am Maybe we could set a trap and catch it? ::) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:52am *finds a useful piece of paper that says all trap-setting is to be done by the Second Pree and scuttles away* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 4:56am *quickly alters the paper so it says all trap setting is to be done by the Games Pree, and pins it to Xan's bedroom door!!!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Kathryn on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:02am *Piles the TEM gear outside Xanthe's door to use when she wakes up* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:03am *amused by Vikki's report and wonders what Xan will think when she gets up* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:14am Well, Xan could always pass the responsibility on to Carolyn, as the next most prolific poster....... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:17am *wonders just who would end up doing it!* ;D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:20am Whoever has the least posts I guess! ;) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:22am But there are quite a few people with 0, and I can't imagine they would appear to do it! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:25am Well, whoever only has one post then!! ;) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:31am That would involve the following people: bdd-7 (never seen them) Vickyw (ditto) Bernie (and again) Lynn (this is getting boring, isn't it) Andi (do I have to do this?) Louisa (really?) Alice (no, I don't!) Ida Vin bonnie_ghirl VickiJ (different spelling, but it's a popular name, isn't it?) Laura Hilary_Deadman JaneV Emerence (feeling slightly sorry for the TEM) Simone rebeccamason (and everyone else from Trebizon?) Madge (isn't she a little old for this sort of thing?) Nina_Brisley (so at least we'll have a lovely hand-drawn record of what happened). Congratulations, you've all been nominated to trap the TEM!!!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:35am Well, it was last seen chomping on all 12 pages of the tim tam thread........ >:( >:( >:( |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:37am *can't help but be sceptical about the success of the mission* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:38am Do you think? *heavy sarcasm* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:41am Yes, I do! *with equal sarcasm* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:46am Don't blame you!! (no sarcasm) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:48am I still think you would be the best leader of it, Vikki! (no sarcasm) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:50am I don't think so!!!! :o :o |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:52am Why not? Oh, apart from the no backbone thing... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 5:55am I'm scared of TEMs!! One of them ate my teddy when I was little! ;) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 6:02am *reminds Vikki that TEMs only eat Ts, not teddies...* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Lesley on Dec 30th, 2003, 8:55am May we please have more story? Thank you! ;D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 10:12am *applauds Lesley for her bringing-back-on-topicness and echoes her sentiments* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Dec 30th, 2003, 11:35am Thank you Abi ;D *points out that she hopes someone has removed the TEM-busting equipment from outside her door, as it wasn't there when she got up this morning* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 30th, 2003, 12:08pm Xanthe, I really needed those flame throwers, pitchforks and rubber gloves at six o'clock this morning. I did leave a wee note stuck to the floor with chewing gum promising to return the gear as soon as I'm finished with it. You can either have it all back now or you can wait until I have time to sanitise all the equipment . . . . your choice ;D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Lesley on Dec 30th, 2003, 1:20pm Really, really intrigued as to why Rachel should need that equipment - but sort of afraid to ask... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Chloe on Dec 30th, 2003, 1:48pm on 12/30/03 at 12:08:46, Rachel wrote:
That explains why i tripped over it when i got up at three and why it wasn't there at about eight when i wnet back upstairs. Rachel, keep hold of it :) May we have more story please Abi! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Nina_Brisley on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:18pm I'd be quite happy to get rid of the TEM for you, but sadly posting here now means I have two posts which rules me out ~ sorry! But I could probably draw a lovely picture of the TEM so you know what you are looking for ;D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Dec 30th, 2003, 2:45pm *somewhat worried about what Rachel was doing* *wonders if she has taken up "extreme-gardening" or possibly "extreme-housework"* put the weapons back on the thread when you're finished with them please Rachel... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 6:50pm on 12/30/03 at 13:48:08, Chloe wrote:
Chloe!!!! What the heck were you doing getting up at 3 o'clock? :o |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Susan on Dec 30th, 2003, 7:01pm on 12/30/03 at 18:50:27, Vikki wrote:
I was only going to bed at 3:00am!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 7:47pm Sue, I wen't to bed at 6 am, but I still want to know why Chloe was getting up at that time!!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 8:28pm on 12/30/03 at 14:18:13, Nina_Brisley wrote:
Thank you, Ms. Brisley. That would be lovely. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by EBD_Herself on Dec 30th, 2003, 8:36pm And I could write a beautiful description to go with your illustration Nina! What fun we could have together! ;) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 8:47pm *resigned sigh* Look who's back! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Pat on Dec 30th, 2003, 8:50pm Wonder who's posting as her this time!! Starts counting the possibilities!!! ::) ::) ::) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 8:53pm *denies it's me, but concludes ruefully that I probably won't be believed* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 9:26pm Well, since we never discovered who EBD_Herself was......... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Carolyn P on Dec 30th, 2003, 9:26pm Considering her recent comments I hope that Rachel isn't using the TEM hunting equipment on the evil-ex. But if anyone fancies trying Xanthe's way of getting into the books we could use it on Reg. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Susan on Dec 30th, 2003, 9:28pm on 12/30/03 at 19:47:00, Vikki wrote:
I wouldn't mind knowing either but I just thought it strange Chloe was getting up as I went to bed |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by KB on Dec 30th, 2003, 9:42pm on 12/30/03 at 21:26:23, Carolyn P wrote:
So are we reviving the SSOR again? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 10:04pm *Grin!* *likes that idea!!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by EBD_Herself on Dec 30th, 2003, 10:52pm I would like to publicly deny that I am KB. Thankyou for reading. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Dec 30th, 2003, 10:54pm *giggles* Chloe was getting up to go and sleep on the sofa... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Lesley on Dec 30th, 2003, 10:56pm To EBD_Herself Well who are you then? *Lesley hoping the simple question will sneak in - but knowing that there's more chance of a snow ball fight in Lucifer's back yard!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 11:08pm on 12/30/03 at 22:54:49, xanthe wrote:
I have to ask why!!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 30th, 2003, 11:50pm on 12/30/03 at 21:26:23, Carolyn P wrote:
Oh, how I wish I could! "Get back you evil ex-husband! I have a flame thrower and I'm not afraid to use it!" "No Rachel please! I'm sorry I was so evil to you!" "Not a chance!" "PLeaase!" "Definitely not! You can't even spell the word!" "Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhh!" "Hah! And that was just the pitchfork for starters!" "Yyyyyyyeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhh!" "Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" "But <gibbering> what's the rubber glove for?" "This! Hahaha!" <twangs rubber glove over his big fat stupid nose> "Owwwwwwwwww! Mummy!" "That's right, run snivelling back to the evil witch woman who gave you life!" "Boohooo!" "Woos!" Yup, I like this idea lots! Ooooooops - more story please ;D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 30th, 2003, 11:58pm *is glad not to be Rachel's Ex!!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 31st, 2003, 12:01am on 12/30/03 at 23:58:06, Vikki wrote:
He deserves no sympathy! Don't get suckered into feeling sorry for him! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Dec 31st, 2003, 12:05am *hopes Rachel feels better for writing that* Vikki, I do not fully understand why Chloe elected to go and sleep on the sofa... [and before any bright spark suggests it's cos I snore, I happen to know I don't!!!] |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 31st, 2003, 12:07am *thinks that the yibbling is much better than the story and chants for more* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 31st, 2003, 12:25am Rachel, I didn't say I felt sorry for him, just that I was glad not to be him!! Xan, how do you know you don't snore? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 31st, 2003, 12:40am Xan does snore - I can hear her from here normally ;) And I am glad you clarified your remarks Vikki - think of being married to someone like Reg, only twenty million times worse, and you will get a glimmering about my evil ex! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Dec 31st, 2003, 12:43am on 12/31/03 at 00:25:53, Vikki wrote:
I share a room... I have shared rooms/tents/caravans with a range of people... if I snored, I would know ALL about it!!!!!!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:00am *huggles Rachel* *thinkls Xan may be protesting too much!* *decides to ask Chloe!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:04am Cheers Vikki - you can join in next time if you like. I have a spare set of flamethrowers, pitchforks and rubber gloves, not to mention my collection of shiny lovely shiny ccarving shiny knives. They're shiny. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:13am like my sword was before Vikki stole it |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:20am Confiscated Abi, confiscated!! And thanks Rachel, I'll look forward to it!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:26am *scowls at Vikki and plots revenge* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:31am ** Starts a thriving blackmarket business selling shiny knives to disgruntled drabblers ** |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:34am *feels a cold chill of fear!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:35am *creeps up wearing sunglasses 8) and dark hood to hide the very distinctive plaits and purchases a nice shapr shiny knife* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:54am ** counts her illicit gains and wonders how long it will be before Abi realises she's been diddled and the shininess is actually tinfoil wrapped around a blade made of leftover christmas cake ** |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:56am *waits for Abi's response!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:59am ** offers Vikki a shiny blade to munch on while they both wait for Abi to reappear ** |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 31st, 2003, 2:08am *accepts rather nervously* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Annie on Dec 31st, 2003, 11:42am Er, I hate to interupt ladies and, well and, er ladies (I assume) but, wasn't this originally a drabble thread? Or am I greatly mistaken, ladies and, er... ladies. Well... Won't someone (i.e. Abi) please carry on. I'm waiting. BTW, Abi- this is really cool and I'm enjoying it immensly |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 31st, 2003, 12:11pm Drabble thread? DRABBLE thread? Are you sure? I could have swornthis was another Yibble thread. Are you positive it's meant for drabbles? You are? Certain? Very well. MOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE story s'il vous plait, bitte, please (can't remember what "day" it is ;) ) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Toria on Dec 31st, 2003, 12:18pm Vikki stole you sword? Oh Abi she could be dangerous, do you want help getting it back? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Annie on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:00pm on 12/31/03 at 12:18:07, Toria wrote:
I, well, I think I'm going to be busy at the time you are going to suggest we try to get the sword back. Most sorry, well, sort of, maybe, perhaps, vaguely, actually not at all. Good luck. *runs off before my excuse could be thought to be invalid* ::) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Dec 31st, 2003, 1:20pm on 12/31/03 at 13:00:36, Annie wrote:
Many congratulations and may we have a naming party to celebrate the happy event? ;) ;D ::) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by @ustria@my on Dec 31st, 2003, 2:38pm *Seconds that idea!* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Dec 31st, 2003, 7:50pm *wonders how Annie's family feel about her 'busyness'* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Jennie on Dec 31st, 2003, 9:50pm What about Malvina? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Jan 1st, 2004, 12:42am Don't worry about the sword - all is under control! Vikki gave it to Miss Annersley, I went to her and explained that I was keeping it for the sole pupose of battering people like evil-EBD and the TEM with it, so she let me have it back. By the way, what was that about story? ON NEW YEAR'S DAY? :o ;D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Jan 1st, 2004, 1:29am Right, got this bit typed up at last...... It was a time of elation and celebration – the War had ended, the British had been triumphant. There was an atmosphere of jubilation everywhere at the beginning of 1919. The Carricks, the Mertons and all their friends revelled in it. A burden was released, once again things were normal. Yet, how quickly things could change. The date was March 13th. The hot season in India was just beginning and the Carricks had already moved up into the Hills. Lindley was there too, for the time being. It was always noted with interest how much time he seemed able to spend with his family and away from his work, though no-one said anything. No-one cared to arouse the emnity of the Carricks, at the centre of the circle of friends. The day started like any other day. Lindley, Dorita and Andrew were down by the river where it was cooler. Andrew played by the water, splashing around at its edge, shouting and laughing in childish excitement. His parents sat a small distance away, enjoying the peace of the scene, watching Andrew with love and pride, and still happy in one another’s company. At present Andrew was engaged in attempting to throw stones to the other side of the river, but finding that he was singularly unsuccessful in his attempts he turned his attention elsewhere. He scrambled up on to the top of a big rock that lay at the water’s edge, stood up and waved at his parents. Lindley waved back and Dorita blew a kiss. Andrew dropped to his hands and knees and looked longingly at a rock a little further on, out in the middle of the river where it was deep and fast-flowing. He stood up again and went to the edge of the rock, then hesitated. Both Lindley and Dorita suddenly realised the danger their son was in and simultaneously jumped to their feet. Lindley roared, “Andrew! Come back at once!” and Dorita screamed, “Andrew – NO!” Andrew was startled by the sudden commotion and turned quickly. Standing right on the edge of his rock he was precariously balanced. To the agonised parents it was as though it all happened in slow motion. Andrew wobbled and flung out his arms to try to balance himself, then, as Dorita shrieked again, hardly realising what she was doing, he toppled slowly backwards. A short, babyish cry rang out above the rushing of the water, then there was a splash that was instantly swept away. Then it was as though Andrew had never been there. Lindley and Dorita stopped running. There was a sudden breathless moment of silent horror. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Jan 1st, 2004, 1:33am *eebles* oh :'( *sniffles* yes, I knew something like that was going to happen, but still... |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Jan 1st, 2004, 1:34am oh. that's horrible! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Jan 1st, 2004, 1:45am *sobbles* *runs away in direction ofd tissue box* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Esmeralda on Jan 1st, 2004, 1:48am Sad, but given that Andrew was never mentioned in the books, I guess it was inevitable. More please, Abi. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Jan 1st, 2004, 1:50am but he could have been, ummm, errr, couldn't he have run awa y and jopinmed acirc us or something sweet like that? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Esmeralda on Jan 1st, 2004, 1:57am No - he had to die - not become a lion tamer Didn't mean to post that then, don't know which button I hit! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Jan 1st, 2004, 2:13am Sorry all, it was just the way it happened. I haven't typed the next part up yet. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Lesley on Jan 1st, 2004, 9:40am on 01/01/04 at 02:13:02, Abi wrote:
Understand that Ali. Thank you for the story. :( |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by keren on Jan 1st, 2004, 9:46am about the episode : WOW |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Annie on Jan 1st, 2004, 4:24pm *sniff sniff* Jolly exciting. Spose it had to happen. Carry on just as good please |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Ally on Jan 1st, 2004, 5:24pm Poor little Andrew, does Juliet remember him at all, or was he never mentioned again? |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Kat on Jan 1st, 2004, 5:47pm I should think that Dorita and Lindley would not stop talking about him - constantly telling Juliet that Andrew could always do such a thing better than she could, that he was always making them proud, doing this that and the other. Juliet probably wouldn't have had a chance to show her true qualities etc because his would always be better and she would always have been put down. Really enjoying this by the way Abi - can't wait to see what you do with it :) Keep it up! (And could we have some more please?! ;D) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Jan 1st, 2004, 6:09pm *joins the queue of suplicants for more drabble* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Jan 1st, 2004, 7:00pm ** Accepts soberly that Andrew had to die. ** But still think it's all a cunning plot as he couldn't stand his parents and he actually jumped into the fast flow of water, held his breath, surfaced several miles away, lived a long happy and productive life and ended up marrying a CS girl in a nice twist of irony. :D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Esmeralda on Jan 1st, 2004, 7:24pm If it makes you feel happy, Rachel, you carry on believng that. :D |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Lesley on Jan 1st, 2004, 8:10pm on 01/01/04 at 19:00:53, Rachel wrote:
A plot worthy of EBD herself! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Jan 1st, 2004, 9:54pm on 01/01/04 at 20:10:38, Lesley wrote:
Perhaps I was EBD in a previous incarnation!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Pat on Jan 1st, 2004, 9:58pm Which version Rachel! You have a variety to choose from! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Jan 1st, 2004, 10:03pm Which one was the best? ;) That one would be me! (I actually could be the real true Elinor M Brent-Dyer reincarnated - I'm sure the dates would work out!) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Chloe on Jan 1st, 2004, 10:29pm Yay we got more story, may we have some more still though please ;D Vikki as far as i know xan doesn't snore, i've never heard her and as for why i got up at 3 i have no idea i couldn't sleep in my bed and i thought i'd try to sleep on the sofa, but got upset as my dad couldn't tell who was on the sofa whne he came down, (i did forgive hm as he wasn't wearing his glasses and the room was dark) |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Jan 1st, 2004, 10:35pm Here's the next part... It was some hours before the little body was discovered, swept downstrean nearly a mile and then into the side of the river, caught in a tangle of roots and undergrowth. Andrew was buried very quietly two days later. The tragedy struck every one of the Carricks’ friends. No-one knew what to say, what to do. The only people allowed to enter the bungalow were the Mertons, and even they were unable to help much, just to be there. Many years later the memory of those days had faded to almost nothing in Juliet’s mind, though if she thought very hard she could recall hysterical wails, raised voices, banging doors, alternating with hushed whispers, tears and frightened faces. Only one moment really stood out clearly. The moment when she had been brought to her mother, in the hope that the sight of her daughter would be a help. Juliet had run to her with a cry of, “Mummy!” Completely unaware of what had happened, she had been terrified when her mother jumped up from her chair, her face contorted in hysterical fury, and literally pushed the child away from her, screaming, “Take her away! I never want to see her again. Go away! Get OUT!” Juliet burst into tears and was hastily borne away by Ayah. She remembered no more than that, but Ayah had soothed her with songs and tender words. Later on, once she had reduced Dorita to a state of calm, Blanche came to see her. She held small Juliet in her arms and explained very gently that Mummy was upset because Juliet’s big brother had died, and that she had not really meant what she had said. Juliet only half-understood, and she had seen little of Andrew, so she was not much touched and her memory of that time soon passed away. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Lesley on Jan 1st, 2004, 10:52pm Oh, poor Juliet, she never stood a chance with those people as parents! Yes, they would be devasted but they should still have remembered the child they still had! Thank you Abi. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by xanthe on Jan 1st, 2004, 11:04pm *asks permission to use the kalashnikov on the evil mean nasty carricks* |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Abi on Jan 1st, 2004, 11:41pm Neither Lindley nor Dorita were predictable people, and they each reacted to the death of their son in different ways. Lindley became older in a way that the War had never aged him. Almost overnight his face grew stern, his voice became hard and he was suddenly a rather awe-inspiring figure. Dorita for a few weeks shut herself away and refused to speak even to her husband. It was as though to see anyone would hurt her more than she could bear. Only Blanche saw her. Blanche was good for Dorita, who was inclined to become hystericaln and over-wrought. Blanche calmed her and listened to her and sometimed talked good sense to her, when Dorita was in a mood to be able to take it in. Yet even after such a tragedy as this, one must pick up the threads and attempt to carry on. The Carricks did this but they were bitter. They vowed that they would live as though they had never had a son. They would forget him, never speak of him. Juliet would not know that she had had an elder brother. If she did not hear of him she would soon forget his existence. Four year old memories are short. But from that moment things altered for the little girl. She had been disregarded, now she was disliked. Her parents might say they had forgotten, but they never forgave her for living where her brother had died. Perhaps the healthy and supportive friendship of the Mertons and others might have helped things to return to normal, perhaps the presence of Juliet might eventually have healed the wound, had not something else not happened. Some time before that day in March Blanche had confided to Dorita that she was expecting a baby. Then Dorita had been happy for her friend. Now she was sad, and just a little resentful. But the real blow came when, almost exactly three months after the funeral of Andrew, Blanche’s baby arrived in the world – a son. “A girl – I wouldn’t have minded her having a girl! She wanted a girl,” raged Dorita. “But to have a boy – when I –” she came to a halt, speechless with anger and frustration. Even Lindley did not seem to share or understand her feelings. He thought she was being stupid. But Dorita felt as though Blanche had done it on purpose, to spite her, to rub salt in the wound. Blanche avoided Dorita for some time after she had had her son, and it was not until he was a month old that she at last came, nervously, to the Carricks’ bungalow. She did not bring Jonathan with her. Dorita saw her coming and was ready for her. As Blanche entered the room Dorita rose to her feet. Blanche knew immediately that her erstwhile friend was hostile to her, and it made her task all the more difficult. “Rita,” she began hestitantly. “I – I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you earlier. I – have been so tired – with – with –” “With your dear little son?” suggested Dorita acidly. “Well, I –” Blanche bit her lip. “He hasn’t been christened yet. We wondered whether you and Lindley might like to be his Godparents?” There, it was out. Dorita could take it or leave it. She hoped she would take it. Dorita’s finely marked eyebrows lifted. |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Vikki on Jan 1st, 2004, 11:51pm Oh dear! I forsee fireworks here......... :-/ |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Rachel on Jan 1st, 2004, 11:54pm Some people just don't deserve children! Let me at em with a badger! lemmeatem!! |
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Title: Re: Juliet's Childhood Post by Susan on Today at 1:08am Pushes Captain and Mrs Carrick even further down in my estimation. No wonder Juliet changed so quickly when she was shown a little love and understanding. Well done Abi. |
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