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        Stories & Imaginings >> Cookies & Drabbles >>  A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
        
(Message started by: Lisa_T on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 11:25pm)

Title: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 11:25pm

We're back!!!!! I'm not gonna give the link cos I know it's dodgy and I need to post Vikki the thing in word.doc form to put up again. In the meatime, I decided to give you just a little more.....partly because I'm hoping to work at this tomorrow and finish it!!! (fingers crossed).
******************88
CHAPTER NINETEEN

AND STILL MORE!

TO Grainne’s relief, she found that Len had been correct in saying that her stay with the languages mistress would rouse very little comment. Most of the girls in Upper IVa had the sense and sensitivity to put two and two together and come to the right conclusion, and also to realise that voicing their opinions was unnecessary- at least in the hearing of either Cecil or Grainne.
Hilda Randolph was, as might have been expected, an exception. When they realised that Grainne was not to be living in school that week, she made a remark to the effect that her own earlier assessment of the situation had been right, and for her part, she thought that was just the way it should be! Fortunately, Grainne did not hear this, but Cecil did, and she gave Hilda a look that made that young lady wish she had held her tongue. She knew that Cecil was quite capable of either speaking to the form prefect about it, or indeed, of going straight to the Head herself. However, Cecil had no desire to create further tensions, so she kept what she had overheard to herself, much to Hilda’s relief.
Grainne found to her dismay that the previous week had had a bad effect on her marks, and determined to throw herself back into her work. Luckily for her, Rosita had the sense to reason with her.
“That’s daft,” she pointed out. “The Staff know what happened last week. It wasn’t your fault! I don’t think they’d let it affect much. ‘Sides, you’re new, so you wouldn’t be going in for Form or Subject prizes in any case. I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.”
“But that’s not the point!” Grainne wailed as she sipped her milk- the conversation took place during Break. “There’ll probably be more interruptions. At this rate, I’ll never get a remove!”
Dorothy grinned at her. “I’m not so sure,” she remarked. “Apart from the last week, you’ve worked like a right slogger. And you were always in the top five. Myself, I’d be surprised if they didn’t put you up to Inter V with the rest of us.”
“Confident, aren’t you?” jeered Cecil in response to this, and the rest of Break descended into a scrap between the two of them.
In fact, although Grainne was not to know this until later, Dorothy was absolutely right. The Staff had determined to give Grainne her remove in the new academic year, and not just because of her work, as Rosemary Charlesworth, the History mistress, pointed out.
“Inter V, even though it doesn’t always seem like it, is a senior form,” she told the rest of the Staff one evening over their coffee. “Their timetable is more flexible than in the Middle School. As well as that, it is an intermediate form, so if Grainne needs to spend two years there due to her circumstances, noone can say anything and it won’t hurt her education long term.” With which statement the Staff agreed.
Meanwhile, once school work was done, Grainne found that her evenings at Len’s were full. Len allowed both girls to help her with all aspects of Baby Gina’s care, and even went one step further and asked Con to bring little Evie over, so that Grainne could gain experience in handling a very young baby.
“She’s so tiny!” she marvelled, as she watched Con ‘burp’ the baby.
Con laughed. “She’s bigger than she was when she was born! She really was tiny then. OK, then, are you ready to have a go at giving her a little feed and burping her?”
“I won’t hurt her?” Grainne asked, as she had done with Gina.
Con laughed again. “No. I’m not going anywhere- if I think you’re dangerous, I’ll take her away from you!” and she gave the younger girl an impish grin that contrasted sharply with her usual dreaminess.
Reassured, Grainne took the baby from her mother, following the instructions given by both Len and Con on how to support the baby’s head correctly. Then she had to manage the bottle and all the various dribblings, before finally attempting to ‘burp’ the baby. The sisters had shown her two methods of doing this- one, by putting the baby over her shoulder, and the other by holding her in a sitting position. After some experimenting, Grainne decided she preferred the second option- although that was partly a result of little Evie ‘bubbling’ all over the back of Con’s soft pink jumper. By the end of the week, Len announced to Reg that Grainne had become reasonably proficient in feeding and winding a baby, if nothing else!

I have done the rest of this chapter. Just don't know if it's worth posting it tonight or not!! ;)

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 11:38pm

*refuses to rise to the bait that Lisa is dangling about!!!* :P

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 11:46pm

:P Fine! If that's how you feel about it, you can just wait! *stalks off highly offended with nose in air*
*lucky there's no juniors about! ;D*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 11:46pm

Well, thanks for that part Lisa - I'm so glad you changed your mind about not posting again on this board, I didn't want to wait till you'd finished!
Personally, I don't mind too much if you don't post the rest of the chapter yet coz I've got to go to bed - but maybe you should keep Vikki happy....

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 11:57pm

LOL!
*wondering whether I want to keep Vikki happy- New Family??????*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:01am

I know! I was intending to write some last night but............

.......KB happened!! ::)

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:04am

*g* Then you'll just have to control yourself a little, won't you? How do you fancy being a llama again, BTW? ::)

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:13am

Well, I would like more of Tara, if you happen to feel inspired!!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:22am

*reminds Lisa about our deal in between cries of 'more*

And Vikki, I suggest you tell that remark to my parents and see what their response is!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:30am

I would do that KB, but being on the other side of the world, that could be a tad tricky!!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:32am

I haven't forgotten it, KB. In fact, I'm off to write another chapter now. That would mean I just need to write two more -which I can polish off easily enough tmw- and revise the last chapter a little. I'm not happy with the phrasing.
Anyway, *just* for you, KB, here's more from the current chapter:
***********************

On the Wednesday night, Grainne found she could not sleep. That afternoon, Len had caught her on her way between lessons to let her know that she was to be excused prep for once and that Daisy Rosomon would meet her in the entrance hall at the end of afternoon school. Grainne had been startled and anxious about this; it did not sound pleasant.
Her forebodings had been correct. After Daisy had supplied her with Kaffee und Kuchen, she had spoken to her gently about the range of options open to her. Some of them had shocked Grainne deeply, and she had said little to the doctor. That lady had returned her to Len’s with some anxiety that evening. She had handled the issue as sensitively as she could, but that did not prevent her going back to her own home feeling more than a little disturbed. Grainne had said very little, either during the appointment or on the way to Die Rosen, but beyond whispering a few words to Len telling her, there was little Daisy could do.
Grainne lay awake and stared into the darkness. She could hear Cecil’s soft breathing across the room, but knew there was little point in rousing her. Cecil was a deep sleeper as Grainne had already discovered in these past few days. What was she going to do? Would she, could she, follow one of the options Daisy had given her- to simply refuse to go through with it? Daisy had told her it could be arranged easily. As soon as she had given the word, an appointment could be made for her at the San. In a week’s time it could all be over. Part of Grainne- a very small part, but a part, nonetheless- was tempted. It would be so comforting to have the operation Daisy had mentioned, and for everything to return to normal. Yet Grainne knew, inside her, that if she did follow that path, things would not ‘return to normal.’ She would know what had happened, and that knowledge would change things irrevocably for her. But what to do?
She made a sudden decision, and moved her covers back softly. Quietly, she left the tiny room she shared with Cecil and crept along the dark corridor to the little dressing room that was currently being used by Gina. Grainne opened the door as silently as she could, and padded lightly across the floor to stand and look down on the sleeping child. Len had told her that Gina disliked sleeping in total darkness, so the shutters stood open, allowing the bright moonlight to flood over the cot.
Grainne knelt down on the floor beside the cot and put her hand through the railings to touch the tiny girl. Gina moved, and Grainne froze. She had no wish for Gina to wake and scream. Then Gina snuggled down again, and Grainne could breathe easily once more.
She remembered all she had learnt over the past few days; remembered feeding little Evie, and the satisfaction of realising that the baby was comfortable and secure enough in her arms to drop off to sleep once she had been fed. For the first time, she thought ahead properly, and realised that in eight months time, she could well be responsible for a baby of her own. The thought terrified her, but at the same time, she did not want to take the route that Daisy had put before her. It was too drastic; too final. Grainne did not think she could live with the consequences of that action. She looked at Gina again. No, she could not do that. That meant she had to consider the other two choices Daisy had spoken of- allowing the child to be adopted, possibly by one of the families living on the Platz, or keeping it herself.
She was so deep in thought that she never heard the door open again, and it was only with difficulty that she prevented herself from yelling with surprise when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned to see Dr Entwistle standing looking down at her.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:41am

*falls off of the edge of the cli.............*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Kathryn on Oct 24^th, 2003, 1:57am

*Kathryn has just walked off with the matress that had no right to be lying in the mud at the bottom of the cliff*

.....SPLAT!!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 24^th, 2003, 3:50am

*would feel very sorry for Vikki if I wasn't laughing so hard at the mental image Kathryn conjured up*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:36am

*deciding that Kathryn is very mean!!* >:( :'(

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Kathryn on Oct 24^th, 2003, 11:29am

Well, with all this time spent wandering the school corridors I have plenty of free time to conjure up these sorts of things ;D KB has to take some credit for this as she was there when I typed it and cracked up on the spot.

*offers Vikki some hot chocolate to drink and a hot bath to clean off all the mud*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 24^th, 2003, 11:35am

*would accept Kathryn's kind offer, if it wasn't for the fifteen broken bones sustained in the fall!!* :P

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Kathryn on Oct 24^th, 2003, 11:39am

on 10/24/03 at 11:35:16, Vikki wrote:

*would accept Kathryn's kind offer, if it wasn't for the fifteen broken bones sustained in the fall!!* :P

*but as you were nice and relaxed at the time you sustained no broken bones so you are fit enough to retaliate if you wish*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 24^th, 2003, 11:52am

*heads off in search of Matey to look after Vikki, but only finds the Matey from "Real CS"... :-/

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:32pm

*runs screaming at the thought and contemplates laying a false trail.....to whom? any thoughts, Vikki?*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Trish on Oct 24^th, 2003, 12:57pm

For the past two nights I've been busy reading 'Changes for Con'. Then I read the following here:

on 10/24/03 at 00:32:28, Lisa_T wrote:

She was so deep in thought that she never heard the door open again, and it was only with difficulty that she prevented herself from yelling with surprise when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned to see Dr Entwistle standing looking down at her.

and I forgot just which story I was reading and immediately started hoping Grainne would get away quickly, forgetting that Evil Reg is dead.

*sits carefully on the edge of the cliff*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Marianne on Oct 24^th, 2003, 3:52pm

wow more please!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 24^th, 2003, 8:19pm

*snigger* Well I have finished SA now! YAY!!! At last. But I'm going to dole the rest of it out for the next few days. Certain people have received the finished version- but in return for something else. I'm playing with the idea of not posting ALL of the rest until I've got the stuff from those people *evil grin*- so that you lot can hassle someone else! ;)*
Next bit..
********************************

“I-I’m really sorry,” she began, breathless from the shock.
The doctor shook his head and placed a finger to his lips. Then he beckoned her to follow him. Once they had reached the little room downstairs that he and Len shared as a study, he shut the door, switched on a lamp, and told the girl to sit down.
Grainne did so, and sat watching him. He removed his jacket and tie-he had been on duty at the San- and then rolled up his sleeves before sitting down himself and placing his feet on the desk.
“Is everything OK, Grainne?”
“I was just thinking,” Grainne mumbled back at him.
He looked at her very kindly. “Can I help?”
Grainne met his eyes for the first time, and relaxed. “It’s just I saw Dr Venables this afternoon. She-she said I don’t need to keep the baby if I don’t want to.”
Reg kept his face carefully expressionless. “No,” he agreed. “She’s right there.”
“I didn’t know what to do,” Grainne confessed. “I couldn’t sleep and I was thinking and thinking. And I thought that maybe if-if I did that, it would solve everything. But it wouldn’t, would it?”
“Probably not,” Reg returned after a moment. Inwardly, he was surprised at how well she was reacting. From what his wife had said, he had expected a frightened child; instead he was faced with a girl who, although undeniably innocent, was approaching her problems with a maturity and gravity he had not seen in women several years her senior. His respect for her rose, and that was reflected in his response. “I grant you it would appear to solve the problem,” he told her honestly. “But- inside yourself, you’d know what had happened. When things like this happen, Grainne- you change. You can’t go back to being the kid you were. Even if you have the procedure- it wouldn’t change what’s happened inside you, to your mind and your feelings.”
“That’s what I thought,” Grainne said, surprising him again. “So I’m not going to. But I still don’t know if I want to keep it myself. What would happen about school, for one thing?”
“That could be arranged,” Reg replied, watching her face as he spoke. “The School would do their best for you.”
“But wouldn’t my being there, with a baby, cause problems for them?” Grainne protested.
Reg looked sharply at her. “Has anyone said anything to you?” he demanded. Grainne flushed painfully and said nothing. After making a mental note to tell Len, or to speak to Hilda Annersley himself, he decided to leave it. Instead, he reiterared his assurance that the School would do their best for Grainne, and she nodded, apparently satisfied.
“Or I could have it adopted,” she said suddenly. “Dr Venables said there are people on the Platz who might take it. Who would they be?”
“I’m not sure. The Peterses, maybe. They’ve had two adoptees already. Another possibility would be Dr and Mrs Maynard. Mrs Maynard loves to have young babies around, so she might. Or even Len and myself, assuming we can get more room.”
“So it’d be well cared for,” Grainne said wistfully. She fell silent for a long while, and Reg sat waiting for her to speak again. Eventually she raised her head and faced him. “Can I ask you something?”

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Marianne on Oct 24^th, 2003, 9:50pm

cliffhanger! ugh!

*adding more words to fill quota!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:00pm

on 10/24/03 at 20:19:43, Lisa_T wrote:

Lisa - how could you be so cruel - that is so unfair to the rest of us who have nothing to trade - please don't do this!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:13pm

poor esmeralda! Well, since I've just finished reading three FANTASTIC chapters from someone's trade in, I'm in a good mood and you can have more!

Vikki, did you get the email i sent you?
********************************
Reg grinned at her. “You may!” and Grainne relaxed enough to smile back at him.
“What could have caused this?” she asked abruptly.
“What do you mean?”
“My cousin said she put something in my drink. Could that have happened?”
Reg nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. There are some drugs being developed that dissolve in liquid, and they can cause amnesia- that’s forgetfulness. You don’t remember anything that’s happened afterwards. Some people manage to get hold of them, and they use them for ‘fun’. I think that’s what has happened to you, from what I’ve heard.”
Grainne flushed a little as she realised how much he knew. Then she told herself not to be so silly. It had been perfectly obvious that Len had passed various pieces of information on to her husband, and at the moment she could only be thankful for that.
“I wish I could remember,” she whispered, and Reg looked at her with pity.
“There’s nothing I can say to make it better. Except that we’re all here for you.”
She looked up at him and he saw her eyes were shiny from unshed tears. “I know. Everyone’s been so kind. I can’t believe how kind they’ve been.” She was silent another moment. When she spoke again, Reg had to strain to catch what she said.
“Will it hurt?”
Reg felt a little awkward at the question, despite his years as a doctor. For a fleeting second, he contemplated rousing Len, but then banished the thought. Grainne had asked him, and as he looked across and met her anxious eyes, he pulled himself together and responded. “Yes. But there are drugs we can give you so that it’s not so bad. I’ve been told it’s more like hard work than anything else.”
Grainne nodded, and managed a watery smile. “It’s a shame I won’t get good marks for it then!” and he grinned back at her.
“Do you feel any better now?” he asked gently, after another minute had passed. Grainne gave him a shy smile.
“Yes. Thanks for listening, Dr Entwistle. I still don’t know what I’m going to do. I just know what I’m not going to do. But I don’t need to decide straight away, do I?”
“Indeed not!” he assured her. “You’ve got several months ahead to think on it- and your summer break is coming up. Lots of time then to think- without little distractions like schoolwork!”
Grainne laughed, and seeing her look brighter for the moment, he decided it was time to bring the conversation to a close. It was nearly three o’clock in the morning, and Grainne had to go to school later on. He rose.
“Come along into the kitchen and I’ll make you some cocoa,” he suggested amiably. “And then you should try to sleep. I’ll send a note in with you in the morning for Mat- er, Matron, and she can send you to lie down for a time. Oh, and before I forget, my name’s Reg. Don’t let me hear you calling me Dr Anything in my own house again!” and with another grin at her, he rose and led her from the room to the kitchen, where they made their drink before departing bedwards.
As Reg had predicted, Matron did indeed send the girl to sleep in her cubicle in Daffodil for a couple of hours the following morning, before sending her off to join the others with the injunction to come straight back to her if she felt tired again. Grainne, on the other hand, had been so relieved to escape from the little lady, of whom she was still rather scared, that she had no intention of doing any such thing.
However, those who watched her throughout that day noted a new appearance of calm about her. “Almost as if she’s made up her mind on something,” mused Cecil, desperately curious but too well mannered to ask. She was not the only person to wonder, and more than one person heaved a small sigh of relief when Len finally passed on the information that Grainne had made one crucial decision.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:19pm

Thank you Lisa - and thanks to whoever it was that put Lisa into a good mood.

Would I be pushing my luck if I asked for more?

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:22pm

LOL. Ok, since you asked nicely! ;D
*******************
WINDING DOWN

THE rest of that week passed quickly for Grainne, and Sunday saw them spend the day at Freudesheim once again. Whilst there, Len took the opportunity to discuss Cecil with her father, and Jack had been rather horrified at how his fifth daughter had been feeling. He promised Len that he would deal with it, although not that afternoon, and his eldest daughter left his ‘den’ feeling much happier about it. For his part, when Cecil and Grainne made to leave with Len to return to Die Rosen, Jack gave Cecil an unusually close and long embrace.
That evening, both girls returned to Daffodil, and the following morning
saw Grainne return to a normal time table for the first time in a fortnight. She soon found that there would be no time in the few weeks left of the term to worry either about her marks or anything else. Tuesday saw the distribution of exam timetables in preparation for the following week, and all of Upper Iva threw themselves into an orgy of revision. They knew that if it was at all possible, they would all be moved up to Inter V, and some of the older girls- such as Hilda and Marjorie, both of whom were well over fifteen- were hoping against hope to do well enough in their exams to justify a double remove into Vb in order to be with their own age group again. Practically, they both knew it was unlikely, but there was a precedent, and they hoped it would work in their favour.
Exam week was strenuous, and the pressure created by the tests themselves was not helped by the great heat. Most of the girls wilted, and Matey, eyeing Grainne, seriously considered telling the Head that she was unfit for the exams. However, when she saw that Grainne was doing no worse than anyone else, she decided to hold her tongue. Matey was a sharp woman and she had eyes in the back of her head, as some of the girls were wont to declare. She had noticed the tensions – mild though they were- between Cecil’s gang and one or two others in the form, notably Hilda Randolph, and she was wise enough to see that withdrawing Grainne from this annual ordeal could potentially seriously damage her standing within the form, and she had no wish to do that.
On the Friday of exam week, the Crew gathered in their favourite spot in the garden, near Cecil’s tree. Cecil flung herself down under it.
“Whoof!” she gasped, causing a giggle. “It’s hot!”
“I don’t see how barking helps,” Marjorie pointed out provocatively. But Cecil was too tired and hot to do more than grimace, and a potential scrap was avoided.
“I’m so glad the exams are over,” sighed Celine. “Now there will be no more work to do until September!”
Dorothy snorted. “Don’t let any of the Staff hear you say that. There’s still another fortnight to go!”
“The prees either,” chimed in Cecil. “Some of them have Advanced exams, and they’re as cross as a whole bevy of bears with sore paws just now. I don’t want to get across them!”
“What happens for the rest of this term?” Grainne asked of Celine.
The French girl gave a little shriek of horror. “But do you not know? There is much to do. Next weekend we have our Regatta, and then the Sale is the last weekend. I am looking forward to it.”

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:45pm

*Thanks Lisa again and wonders whether continuing to ask nicely will continue to produce results.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 24^th, 2003, 11:51pm

*wanders off to read the rest in the e-mail Lisa sent her!!!* ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 24^th, 2003, 11:57pm

*Attempts to find Vikki to snatch laptop from her and read it myself!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 12:02am

*does the same* I was going to wait until tomorrow, but I don't have that much restraint!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 12:48am

here's more..
**************************
“What’s the Sale?” Grainne asked curiously. Thanks to the disruption of the last few weeks, and her earlier absorption in her own affairs, she had never fully understood this. Of course she had heard references to this event, which she gathered to be a most important part of the Chalet School calendar, but beyond that she knew nothing.
The Crew stared at her. “Haven’t we told you?” Rosita demanded.
“No. I’ve heard it mentioned, but that’s all.”
“The Sale was started when Mamma was at the School,” Cecil explained. “It was to help the people of a poor parish in Innsbruck, and then later to fund a free child’s bed in my Uncle Jem’s San. That was in the Tirol. Now we raise enough money to help Papa run the Chalet School Ward,” she finished thoughtfully.
“What about the parish in Innsbruck?” Grainne asked.
“We still send them money,” Marjorie put in. “But now it’s mainly the San we raise money for. Sometimes we raise enough to keep back for the School, and then the Staff use it to buy us things. We can always vote what we want it used for, though. They say that since it’s thanks to us that the money is raised, we should have a say in how it’s spent.”
“How is it thanks to us?” Grainne wanted to know.
Celine waved the piece of fine embroidery that Grainne had seen her working on in these past few weeks. “We make things. Like this. Some people can cook, and so they will help Frau Mieders with the baking. Matey always provides us with strawberry jam, and Old Girls- like Mrs Maynard and Mrs Graves- send us things also.”
Cecil gave a giggle. “This year’s should be good too,” she observed. “You know what it’s going to be, don’t you?”
The Crew turned looks of such interest on her that it was obvious that they did not know. Cecil giggled again. “They- the prees, I mean- have decided that since we’ve done everything else to death, the only thing was to have a Sale celebrating the history of the School. Especially since Auntie Stacie’s book is being released this week.”
“What book’s that?” Dorothy asked.
“You’d know if you listened,” Cecil informed her austerely. “That one she’s had on the go for years- the one about the history of the School. Felicity knew that it was going to be published this summer, and she thought of it- having the Sale about the School, I mean.”
“It’s a jolly good idea,” Rosita said pensively. “How are they going to do it?”
“They’re going to have a big marquee in the middle. That’s going to sell copies of the book as well as this year’s Chaletian, and it’ll also have an exhibition of snaps from since the School was in Tirol. Good idea, isn’t it? An’ the people on the stalls that are on one side of the marquee will be dressed in the old brown and flame uniform that Mamma had, and then the other side will use our gentian dresses.”
“What are we?” Dorothy demanded.
“Brown and flame. Mamma is digging out all her old tunics, and the ones that Auntie Daisy and Auntie Robin used too, so we should have enough.”
“What do they sell?” Grainne asked.
“Everything! Books, needlework, jams, toys, games, craftwork- lots of things. Then there’s the competitions. Like Tom Gay’s house. They do raffles too, sometimes. And we always put on entertainment like dancing and singing and so on. The men either go for a hike with Uncle Eugen, or they can hang around here and play clock golf in the garden.”
“It all sounds miraculous!” Grainne announced, having picked this word up from Cecil, who got it from her triplet sisters, who had evolved it in their own schooldays.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 12:48am

The rest agreed with this and the conversation drifted to considering what they would be doing over the coming weekend. As it happened, everyone, including the exam people- to their great annoyance- was sent on all day rambles on Saturday, and then they had dancing as usual on the Saturday evening. Sunday, true to Chalet School tradition, was a quiet day spent around the house. Upper Iva were not the only form to remember the upcoming Sale, and most people took advantage of the time to work on their own produce for the stalls.
The weekend after was the Regatta. This took place at the huge new swimming pool that had built at the San- the School’s own pool was not large enough for such an event. To the joy of the girls, the pool at the San was out of doors, and they had discovered during its first winter that the water froze across it and it was skatable. So for the first time since leaving Tirol nearly thirty years before, the Chalet School had skating again as a winter sport. In the meantime, as Joey Maynard had observed, the pool was nearly Olympic size and perfectly capable of taking anything they wanted to throw at it for the Regatta. To the Head’s relief, this did not include motor boat racing. The School had experimented with the idea some years previously when they were still using Lake Thun, but Miss Annersley had been only too thankful when this dangerous sport was dropped by common consent.
Seats and benches had been set up all around the pool, and those girls not taking part- which included Grainne- settled themselves down to watch in comfort. Several of the girls- and the Staff!- had brought large parasols with them, as indeed had Joey Maynard, who appeared with a very large and very red umbrella that recalled her own schooldays. However, they were careful to ensure that no-one’s view was blocked, so the authorities said nothing about it.
The Regatta involved a number of races that included all age groups in the School. This year, for the first time, a decision had been made to incorporate Old Girls into the actual event, and there was a new race specifically for them. Then there was the Senior Open, which could be entered by anyone over fifteen. This latter rule had been introduced so that Old Girls and Staff could also participate without making the whole proceding risky to the younger girls. However, as no-one took it very seriously, most people enjoyed watching it as it often became a comic event.
Once the ‘serious’ races were over, there came the ‘fun’ races which included amongst other things the infamous tub race, and this series of events- which Cecil and her younger sister Phil threw themselves into- usually reduced the spectators to hysterics, and this year was no exception. Grainne, starting to recover from her own giggles at the sight of Len Entwistle and Peggy Burnett ‘accidentally’ being capsized by Cecil and Phil, who went past them shrieking with delight, was startled to see Joey Maynard and Daisy Venables slide off their respective chairs to collapse on each other on the ground. Unfortunately for Cecil and Phil, Felicity Maynard and her great friend Lucy Peters took advantage of their preoccupation to dunk them in their turn, so a good time was had by all.
The final weekend of the term saw the Sale. The School would break up for the summer the following Wednesday, and the last few days would be taken up with a whirl of various tidying and packing activities, so lessons finished on the Thursday of Sale week, to allow the girls all of Friday to prepare for the Sale the following day.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 12:49am

The day of the Sale dawned bright and clear. “Of course!” said Cecil to anyone who commented on it. “In all the years we’ve been going, we’ve only had one bad Sale day.”
Len, who had come to check on her form, overheard this and grinned. “I remember that. That was the term that Erica and Claire came to us, and we had that awful storm and landfall.” Len shuddered at the memory, and then brightened up again. “But at least no-one was hurt! And as Cecil says, the weather’s been good every other time. Chances are it’ll stay good today!” and with a final look around at both their stall, and the stall keepers who check that their brown and flame uniforms looked as trig as they could possibly be, she gave them all a grin and went on her own way.
Grainne had been assigned the raffles on the book table. This included First Editions of Joey Maynard’s Tirolean stories, and Grainne was rather surprised at the amount of interest in them. In between handing out the tickets and taking the payment, she entertained herself by watching what was happening. The girls themselves had all the a chance to do some buying and looking on their own account early that morning, and Grainne heaved a sigh of satisfaction when she saw that the visitors appeared to be enjoying themselves as much as the girls had.
She had just finished entering a further handful of raffle slips when a shadow fell across her table, and she looked up to see Mrs Maynard herself, resplendent in her favoured lime green with a big straw hat atop her head.
Joey grinned at her. “Doing well, is it?” she enquired, with a nod at the displayed books that made her hat brim flap.
Grainne smiled back at her. “Oh yes, Mrs Maynard! Look!” and she showed the gifted authoress the pile of raffle slips she had placed into a cardboard box.
Joey’s eyebrows rose and she gave vent to a whistle. “Goodness! I didn’t expect them to do that well!” There was a look of such comical surprise on her face that Grainne couldn’t help laughing, and Mrs Maynard laughed with her. The she became serious again.
“So how has your first term at the Chalet School been?” she asked the new girl gravely.
Grainne met her eyes. “It’s been good. I’m glad I came.” It was simply said, and if Joey had not been appraised of Grainne’s true situation by both her eldest daughter and Hilda Annersley, she would have left it at that. Instead, she looked at Grainne with such penetration that the girl felt a little uncomfortable.
“Listen, Grainne.” Joey’s golden voice was very gentle. “I just wanted to remind you of what I said to you some weeks ago.”
Surprised, Grainne looked up at her, and Joey smiled before she continued.
“We agreed, Dr Jack and I, that you’ll be one of our adopted nieces. So make it ‘Auntie Joey’ in future, please!” and Jo flashed Grainne a mischievous grin. “The other thing I told you was that Freudesheim is our ‘happy home’ and that I hoped you would find it so. I just want to remind you of that. As long as you’re at school, and afterwards too, let Freudesheim be your ‘happy home’ for as long as you need it. And now I’m off to do some spending! Where are the competitions?”
Grainne indicated the whereabouts of the competition stall before thanking Joey. Joey gave her a smile before vanishing towards the competitions stall, thinking deeply.
“I was annoyed when Len and Hilda said what’d been happening with that Grainne child,” she mused. “I thought I should have been consulted before.” Joey stopped and laughed ruefully to herself. “It just goes to show, Joey, my girl, that they can cope perfectly well with their own problems! And now to see what Tom’s done for us this year.” And so saying, she headed for the stall laden with the beautifully crafted doll’s houses that Tom Gay, an Old Girl, donated each year.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 1:36am

Hooray that Joey has finally found out that other people can manage things without her! (And great way to put it, Lisa.) And yes, I know I've already read the rest, but that doesn't stop me from commenting as we go along!!! ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 1:53am

No probs KB. Please continue! ;D
I'm not so sure about this next chapter- please comment freely on whether or not you think it works!
**************************
A FRIENDSHIP IS BORN

AS Rosita remarked later, the Sale was a ‘howling success.’ The School raised more than enough money for both of their charitable concerns, and, as Cecil said gloatingly, they would still have a good fifty pounds left over for their own ends. Prizes had been won by the deserving, and Con Richardson had occasioned gales of laughter by winning Tom Gay’s offering yet again. Miss Wilson had won Joey’s books, and promptly declared her intention of handing them over to the Sarah Denny Museum, much to the annoyance of Mrs Maynard, who protested that she refused to be any kind of a museum exhibit at this early date. ‘Bill’ ignored her, however, and the books were subsequently presented and displayed.
The Sale over, the School flung itself into a frenzy of packing and tidying up. Various girls trooped in and out of Matey’s room, begging permission to leave such and such a thing behind, as it was an ‘awful pain’ ‘lugging’ it home again. Matey had given Christine Willoughby- one of the supplicators- an awful glare, refused to consider it, and sent the disgruntled girl off with a reminder that it wasn’t too late to add a few more fines to the box.
Members of Via trailed around looking miserable, as Felicity did not fail to point out. This was their last term at School, and when the coaches left on Wednesday morning, they would have left too as pupils. Via considered that Felicity, who was to have an additional year, was very heartless and told her so, before departing en masse to find somewhere where they could be miserable in peace, as Jean Morris said mournfully.
Wednesday morning came at last, and Fruhstuck was earlier than usual to allow the coaches to depart on time. Those girls travelling back to the UK had a long trip ahead of them, and the authorities preferred that most of it should be done in daylight, if at all possible. All possessions apart from the contents of night cases had been sent on ahead, and the only dormitory work that needed to be done this morning was stripping the beds ready for the maids, so everyone was down in the entrance hall waiting for the coaches on time.
Cecil, Marjorie and Grainne joined them, even though all three would be staying on the Platz. Cecil and Marjorie always enjoyed the opportunity to say last minute goodbyes, and Grainne had gone because they did. Now Cecil closed the big front door as the coaches rumbled down the drive, and shivered.
“Brr. Spooky, isn’t it? It’s so quiet!”
“Not while you lot are anywhere around,” Matey assured them as she bustled up to them. Cecil only grinned at her. Matey in the holidays was someone to be taken considerably less seriously, and Matron, knowing what she was thinking, laughed at her and departed, with a reminder to them all to go and collect their own cases from Daffodil, so that the maids could get to work.
Obediently, they did as they were told, and returned down the stairs- the front stairs!- to the entrance hall. Len was standing at the foot of the stairs, and she grinned at the three as they descended.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:04am

“Who gave you lot permission to do that, I’d like to know?” she demanded.
Cecil jumped down the last three steps in one go, and threw her arms around her sister. “I did! It’s hols now, Len, so don’t scold!”
Len laughed. “True for you. Marjorie, you’re coming with me. Cecil, scoot on home and unpack there. Grainne, the Head says you’re to go to her private salon now. You’re going ‘round to Freudesheim this afternoon, so mind you do as she tells you now. You don’t want to miss any treats Mamma may have planned!”
After swopping farewells with the other three, Grainne turned- rather reluctantly- and went towards the Annexe. Once there, she went swiftly to the room that the Head had told her would be ‘hers’ from now on, and dumped her own bag. Then, checking that she looked presentable, she made her way to the Salon, where she found Miss Annersley enjoying a cup of tea and doing some fine crochet work. The Head put her work down and smiled at the girl as she entered.
“Grainne! Cecil and Co get off, then?”
Grainne gave her a shy smile. “Yes. And Len says I’m going to Freudesheim later?”
The Head nodded. “Yes. I’ve got to go down to Interlaken with Miss Dene to place some orders for next term, and I didn’t think you’d like to come with me. Cecil will find you something to do, even if Mrs Maynard doesn’t!” She finished with a laugh, and Grainne grinned.
Before the Irish girl could speak again, the salon door opened again, and Grainne turned, expecting to see Rosalie Dene. Instead she froze.
Miss Annersley gave her a quick look. “Hilda! Come along in, my dear. Now, I’ve just been telling Grainne that you’re both to go over to Freudesheim later on today as I need to go down to Interlaken this afternoon. So suppose you both sit down and have some tea with me now, and then you may run along and change into some holiday clothes. No need to wear uniform, even if you are still in school!” and she laughed again as she poured out tea for each of them.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:13am

Hilda, meanwhile, was fuming. Her own parents had had to go away on business at very short notice, and her father had contacted the Head to ask if she could look after her young cousin for a few days until they were home again.
Miss Annersley, not knowing of the strain that had existed between her namesake and the Irish girl, had agreed easily. But now, as she looked from girl to girl, she groaned inwardly. It had been a difficult term and she was exhausted. She had no desire to spend her precious holiday time straightening out this complication.
There was a tense silence. Grainne looked down and refused to meet anyone’s eyes. Hilda’s blue-grey eyes- so like the Head’s- glittered dangerously. The Head, looking at them again, made a decision. She set down her teapot and rose, and both girls rose with her.
“Girls, I don’t know what’s happened between you. Frankly, I’m not sure I want to. I’m going to go over to St Mildred’s to talk to Miss Wilson for a time. When I get back, I hope you’ll be on speaking terms. We need to live together for the next fortnight or so until your parents return home, Hilda, and I don’t want to live in a strained atmosphere. That’s all I’m going to say, girls. Please act with the maturity I know you’re both capable of.” With that, she nodded to them and left the room, leaving two red faced girls behind her. Grainne had never heard the Head speak in that tone before, and Hilda, as her cousin, had carefully avoided trouble with her until now, and so had never expected to hear that voice.
They eyed each other resentfully in silence. Both girls heard the door shut as Miss Annersley left the building.
After a time, Grainne made the first move. “What’s wrong, Hilda?” she asked softly.
Hilda turned a furious face to her. “This is all your fault! Why do you have to be here? I thought it was just going to be me and Auntie Hilda. And I didn’t even get the nice room,” she finished crossly. She had been put into the small room that Miss Wilson used from time to time, and while certainly more than adequate, it was not as daintily furnished as the lavender room that Grainne was using.
Grainne looked at the other girl with startled eyes. “But- don’t you know why?”
“No. I don’t even know why you’re still here, after what you’ve done. You should have been sent away!”

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:25am

Grainne looked at the smoothly polished floor and bit her lip. She had not expected this. “The School didn’t really have any choice,” she said quietly, and Hilda glanced at her.
“What do you mean?” she began uncertainly. “Why couldn’t you just go home? That’s what would happen in most schools.”
Grainne met her eyes honestly. “I know. It would have happened like that at my last school. But they couldn’t do it.”
“Why not?” Hilda asked, curiosity winning over dislike.
Grainne shuffled her feet over the floor. “My mum doesn’t want anything more to do with me. My dad’s always busy. It’s partly my aunt’s fault that this has happened. Where else would I go?”
Hilda looked at her in shock. Her own parents loved her dearly, and she them, and she was certain that had she been in Grainne’s position, they would take her back. They’d be angry, undoubtedly, but there’d be no question of throwing her out. “How did it happen?” she asked softly, and Grainne realised that, almost for the first time that term, Hilda was speaking to her in a voice free of hostility. As quickly and as simply as she could, she told Hilda what she had told Cecil some time before- with the added benefit of her own additional understanding.
Hilda listened thoughtfully. “I see,” she said eventually when the other girl had finished. “Now I understand why Auntie Hilda didn’t sack you. But why didn’t she tell us all this?”
Grainne looked shrewdly at the other girl. “Maybe she thought she wouldn’t need to,” she said quietly. The shot went home and Hilda blushed furiously.
“Grainne, I’m really sorry. I’ve been an idiot. If I hadn’t been so miffed with Cecil and her Crew, and the fact that you were part of them. I’d probably have realised some of this for myself. After all, I’m one of the oldest in the form.”
“Why were you miffed with Cecil?” Grainne asked in surprise.
Hilda looked silly. “It-it sounds daft now,” she muttered, “but I thought it wasn’t fair that Cecil’s so popular and all, and I didn’t think it was fair that I was only put in Upper Iva when I should have been in Inter V at least, and I thought that was rotten seeing as the Head’s my cousin.”
“But that’s not Cecil’s fault!” Grainne protested. “And Marjorie’s as old as you, and she didn’t go up, and her mum’s an Old Girl and Old Mistress!”
“I know,” Hilda mumbled. “I think I’ve been too swollen headed. You see, in my last school I didn’t get on with anyone. I was like the lowest of the low. And then my dad said they’d decided to send me here to Auntie Hilda’s school, and – I guess it went to my head a bit.”
“But Miss Annersley doesn’t own the school,” Grainne protested, thoroughly perplexed. “She’s Head, but Cecil’s Auntie Madge is the most important person.”
Hilda managed a rueful grin. “I know that now! But I didn’t know it then. You see, all my dad knew about the school came from mostly my Auntie Nell. We hadn’t seen Auntie Hilda since my Uncle Edgar died, so my dad prob’ly forgot all he knew. So he just called it ‘Auntie Hilda’s school’ and left it at that.”
“And you thought that ‘cos you’re related to the Head, people’d like you, only it didn’t work out that way,” Grainne mused. “And then when everything happened with me, you thought it wasn’t fair that people were willing to put up with me and let me stay and –and everything.”
“Yes,” Hilda agreed. “And you’d made friends quickly and I-I,” Hilda stuttered to a stop.
“You’ve learned that it doesn’t matter who you are, or who you’re related to,” came the Head’s voice from the doorway. She had returned with Miss Wilson some moments earlier, and they had been standing listening.
The girls turned to look at her guiltily as she entered, and she smiled at them. “Hilda, you’re finally starting to realise that you need to be liked for yourself, and that you can’t pretend or rely on your relationships with others indefinitely. Those things will take you only so far, and when it comes to it, they tend to fall away.
“Grainne, you’ve learned- painfully- that while some people cannot be trusted, others can. You’ve also found- to your surprise, I think- that because, in spite of everything, you’ve been honestly yourself with the others, they have responded and you have made some very good friends here. I hope you’ll keep them always.” Miss Annersley smiled at them, and her partner took up the tale.
“It strikes me that the two of you have both experienced loneliness,” commented Miss Wilson. “While I know that’s not so much of a problem for you now, Grainne, I think it has still been so for Hilda here. The two of you could be very good for each other. If Miss Annersley and I send you off to Karen to get some coffee and cakes for us, will you promise us that you’ll do some more talking there and back- and return in one piece?” The younger of the two Heads grinned at them, and the girls returned it slowly, before they both nodded.
‘Bill’ laughed at them. “So what are you waiting for? Miss Annersley and I are parched. Off you go!” and, as usual, she was obeyed on the word.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:29am

GRAINNE LOOKS FORWARD

SOME weeks later, Grainne woke earlier than her usual holiday rising time of half past nine. Wrapping her coverlet around her shoulders in a fashion that would have horrified Matey, she went to cuddle down in one of the Head’s big armchairs in the Salon, and look out of the French windows.
Hilda had returned home the previous week, and since the Maynard clan were not expected back for another fortnight, Grainne had little planned. She knew that the Graves and Courvoisiers would entertain her if necessary, but while she was friendly enough with Marjorie, and liked young Marie, several years her junior, she couldn’t help missing Cecil and the Crew. Now that she had got to know Hilda better, she found herself missing that young lady too, and moved restlessly in the chair. Now, finally, she could have that thinking time that Reg had mentioned, and she screwed her face into such a grimace that the Head gave her a startled glance when she entered.
“Grainne! What’s the matter, child?”
Grainne jumped and looked sheepishly at Miss Annersley. “Nothing. I just realised I’ve no excuse now for not thinking stuff through. So I’m going to.”
Miss Annersley laughed as she sat down herself. “I see. Still, there can’t be any need to look like a gargoyle over it! Anything I can help you with?”
Grainne shook her head. “Not right now. I think it’s something I need to do myself,” she added as Miss Annersley began to sort the mail which arrived as ceaselessly as ever, even though it was holiday time.
“I see,” said the Head again, a little absently this time. Grainne grinned to herself and turned back to her view.
“Here’s one for you, Grainne,” said the Head presently, and Grainne looked up eagerly.
“From Cecil? Or Hilda? Or one of the others in the Crew?”
“Your English!” the Head complained. “None of them. I know their writing, and I think this is from an adult- it doesn’t look like a child’s writing to me.”
“Who would that be?” Grainne demanded, confused. “I don’t write to any grown ups!”
“I’m sure Mrs Maynard and Mrs Entwistle would be flattered to hear that,” Miss Annersley returned dryly, and Grainne flushed and giggled.
“Well, you know what I mean!” she argued, and the Head laughed.
“Indeed I do. Suppose you open it and find out!” and she threw the letter across the room to where Grainne was sitting. Not surprisingly, she missed, and Grainne had to climb off her perch to retrieve it.
Greatly wondering, she ripped the envelope and looked curiously at it’s contents. The writing looked vaguely familiar, but it was not until she had reached the end of the first page that the penny dropped, and then she gasped with shock.
Miss Annersley looked up from where she was frowning over one of her own letters. “Who is it?”
Grainne looked at her blankly. “It’s my father.”

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:38am

Tut, tut Lisa! What a place to leave it!!! ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:43am

Absolutely! It's verging on cruel, really...

*goes off to hide somewhere from the rocks that are sure to be hurled any time soon*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:46am

Absolutely! Malice aforethought, no doubt about it.
Of course, you two and Lesley can afford to be superior over it....

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:46am

*joins KB in hiding!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:47am

*wriggles over to make room but hopes Vikki has brought her own computer*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:53am

*assures KB that she has!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:57am

*very grateful for the fact, as she is trying to get a plan done for Matey's story*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 2:57am

*wondering why either needs a computer when both have the completed thing and thus are not waiting on any kind of hook..*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:01am

Hey, we have to keep up with other people's comments! And we both have our own stories to work on!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:03am

How true. I think I'll join you- i need more protection than either of you. And I want to watch that Matey thing. And evolve something new for Tara...

*stares dreamily into space...*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:06am

*wonders whether Lisa really should be let in, considering her threats*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:15am

Hey! If I can put up with being a llama, then you can put up with being a.........

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:17am

*a high-pitched terror-filled scream fills the room*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:19am

a-a-a.......................Sorry KB. Just can't pronounce it tonight. This morning. Let alone spell it.
*sigh*
*You do realise you've gone OT again?!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:25am

Hey, it's your thread. If you want it on topic, you bring it on topic! :P *disinclined to be nice to Lisa, as she's planning all sorts of nasty things for me*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:26am

*stuffs fingers in ears to muffle KB's screams!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:28am

*wonders whether she will send Vikki "Peace" and "TOG", even when the parcel arrives*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:31am

Hey! How do you know it's nasty? It might be cute. Not Derek cute, but really cute. And cuddly.
Oh, and what's your favourite colour? *genuinely interested*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:33am

Hmm fave colour is probably royal blue. And I don't know it won't be nasty, but with you and Vikki plotting, I can't see how it would be a nice thing to be!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:47am

on 10/25/03 at 03:28:03, KB wrote:

*wonders whether she will send Vikki "Peace" and "TOG", even when the parcel arrives*

Is sure KB wouldn't really breach a contract like that!!! :o :o :o

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:50am

*waits to see what I will become before any final decisions are made on the matter* ;) ;) ;)

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:58am

*is glad Lisa decided against...... Well, the one she decided against!!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 4:04am

*hopes I get to find out the mysterious something at some point, so that I can be relieved*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 4:07am

Oh, I think we'll tell you!! It's too good not to share!! ;)

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 4:10am

:-/ Should I be relieved or grateful? :-/

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 4:15am

I think both, might be appropriate!!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 4:29am

Well, to drag this, kicking and screaming, back on track!! The ending is truly beautiful...............

.......................well worth waiting for!!!!

*wonders how long Lisa's going to make them wait!!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 4:30am

*heartily agrees with this sentiment*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 4:34am

Shouldn't that be "heartlessly"? Considering 99.9% of the others have no idea what happens and are on the cliff edge?

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 7:14am

*lol* Well, I heartily agree with you and heartlessly express that nasty sentiment. *all bases covered*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lesley on Oct 25^th, 2003, 8:16am

I know what happens next! ;D I would say that it's worth waiting for - but as I'm not having to wait for it - that probably doesn't help!.

KB and Vikki - isn't it nice being in the know? Oh and BTW as your conversation has pushed this to 5 pages Lisa may not have the chance to post her final chapter(s) before this all gets archived!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 8:19am

Very nice to know! And we did expand this thread, didn't we? :o :o :o Well, we'll see if the moderators are feeling nice today or not...

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 12:00pm

Considering you two are mods, you HAD better be feeling nice today!
****************************
“What?” Miss Annersley left her chair and crossed to her pupil. “Does it give an address?”
Grainne handed her the thin sheaf of papers. “No. It says he’s on the move. And- and that he knows. How could he know?”
“Dr Benson must have succeeded in getting in touch with him!” the Head exclaimed as she skimmed through the letter.
“How would Dr Benson be able to do that?” Grainne asked.
“She’s met him at a conference a few times. When you said you didn’t know how to get in touch with him, we had to ask her. If you remember, I did say that we needed to contact at least one of your parents,” Miss Annersley reminded the girl.
“Oh yes. Can-. Sorry. May I have it back please?” and Grainne finished off with a grin almost as cheeky as one of Cecil’s, and the Head laughed as she handed them over.
“I’m going to keep you away from Cecil in future. She’s a bad influence!”
“Are you going to tell Auntie Jo that?” Grainne asked so seriously that it took the Head a moment to realise that she was being teased.
“I haven’t decided yet.” She looked at her watch. “Miss Wilson and I are going for a walk this morning. We’ll be back in time for lunch. Will you be all right here?”
Grainne said that she would be fine, and the Head went off with a light heart to meet her friend. “Who would have thought that that shy little misery of a girl could have developed so much in one term?” she mused. “It’s amazing what a little kindness can do!”

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 12:03pm

Once Miss Annersley had left, Grainne looked at the letter again. She was astonished. Firstly, she was surprised that her father had even deigned to contact her at all. Secondly, she was touched that, although the phrases were stiff and stilted, her father had made it clear that he did not hold her responsible for what had happened. Furthermore, he had gone on to explain that he had not even known that she had been taken away from Holy Family until Dr Benson had contacted him, and he was deeply sorry for all she had been through. He could not get away for some time to come, but he hoped that Grainne would believe that he had her best interests at heart, and that she would allow him to correspond with him. He finished off by apologising for not being a better parent, and it was this last that made Grainne gape openmouthed at the letter.
It was incredible the difference it made just knowing that one of her parents was even just a little interested in her, she thought dreamily as she watched Miss Annersley cross the garden to meet the Head of St Mildred’s. Grainne shivered as she remembered what had wakened her that morning. It had been a distinct flutter inside her, and, primed by both Daisy and Len, Grainne had known that it would happen at some stage. All the same, she had still not been prepared for how she would feel when she felt the baby move for the first time. Until now, everything had been hypothetical. She had accepted, in an intellectual and theoretical way, what had happened, but beyond her initial anger and hurt- and fear- she had not had much in the way of an emotional response. Now it stopped being an idea and became reality. In a few months time, there would be a real, live baby- hers. She still quailed at the thought of being responsible for another life, when she still felt herself to be a child, but at the same time she did not want the baby to grow up with the feelings of rejection that coloured her own childhood.
She remembered the two proposals suggested if she did decided she wanted to keep the baby herself. One had been that she move into a dormitory in school, with the baby and near the San, and continue a more or less ordinary school life. Grainne thought it sounded like a nice idea in theory, but she wasn’t convinced she would like it in practice. Neither did she like the idea of the entire school knowing that she was in a separate dormitory and why. Then there was what Cecil had said- that most new girls tended to come in the Autumn and Easter terms. Grainne shrank before the prospect of being the girl who was pointed out to others as the one who had a baby at school. No, the more she thought of it, the less she liked the idea.
The second suggestion had been brought up by the Entwistles. Reg had already started planning an extension onto his little chalet with his wife, and they had told Grainne that she could move in with them both before and after the birth, once everything was ready. It wouldn’t hurt Gina to have another small child in the house, Len had said firmly, and it would allow Grainne to continue school life with a semblance of normality.
She could go in with Mrs Entwistle before Prayers, stay in School all day, and return to Die Rosen shortly before Abendessen. Len had also added that being a day pupil would not exempt her from school trips and entertainments and so on- and, indeed, that she would still be expected to participate in School life. The baby could be left at the new crèche the School was planning to start in September, and Grainne, like Len, would have the evenings to spend with her child.
Best of all, from Grainne’s perspective, she would have Len’s help and support, and she knew that everyone else would also rally round. Maybe in the future, she’d be able to be a boarder again, although she didn’t see how, but this option, unlike the other, was a viable proposition. “At least,” she thought, “like Reg says, I don’t need to decide yet. It’s not coming until December. I can think some more between now and then, although I suppose I should have an idea by the end of September.” She smiled and snuggled up in her coverlet again, in spite of the warmth of the summer morning. Suddenly, the future was looking much brighter.

*****************
Only one more chapter to be posted, but you'll have to wait!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 25^th, 2003, 3:43pm

If the other mods agree I'd say let's have the last chapter before archiving, as it is not Lisa's fault that this thread went over 5 pages.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:04pm

Well considering it was two of the mods who were responsible for going over..................
But thanks, Carolyn!

Last chapter!

**************************
EPILOGUE

IT was Christmas Eve. The snow lay crisply over the mountains and the sound of carol singing filled the air- even at the San.
Grainne O’Malley lay on her side and looked dreamily out of the big window. She could hear the carollers singing ‘Silent Night’ and the beauty of the singing brought tears to her eyes.
Beside her, in a crib, lay a tiny baby girl with a mop of dark hair and the blue eyes of all newborns. Grainne could scarcely believe she was real. After all the worry, panic and fear of the past months, she had been filled with a feeling akin to awe when she saw her little daughter for the first time. The unaccustomed feelings, on top of the pain of childbirth, had led to silent weeping- not sobbing or wailing, just a slow cascade of tears down her cheeks. Concerned, the nurses had taken the baby away from her, and Grainne had had to beg them to bring her back. They had demurred, and it was only when Grainne spoke pleadingly to kind Matron Graves that they had agreed.
Moving slowly, Grainne raised herself and went to lean over the crib. She remembered the events of the last months; remembered the frightened child who had cried and sobbed when she had been told of her pregnancy. Now she looked back at that girl, and felt herself to be immeasurably older than she had been then. She knew that there would be hard times ahead; that, regardless of her special circumstances, she would face prejudice and possibly worse. But now she was strengthened. The kindness she had received from the School and the people at the San had begun to give her the emotional roots she had lacked, and slowly but surely she was developing a sense of security and self worth that would see her through further storms.
A sound at the door of the private ward she occupied made her turn to look. There stood Len Entwistle and the Head. Grainne smiled at them, and Len came quickly to offer her a little support as she returned shakily to the bed.
Once there, she smiled shyly at them. She had been so exhausted after the birth the previous day she had been allowed no visitors. Since she had slept the night through, she had not missed them.
“How are you feeling?” Len asked eagerly, as she shed her coat, hat, gloves and scarf.
“Tired,” Grainne told her with a laugh. “But- I’m happy,” and she looked up at her form mistress who gave her a very tender kiss.
Miss Annersley came forward with a huge bunch of flowers that made Grainne gasp. “Wherever did you get those?”
The Head laughed. “Len and I went to Interlaken yesterday, and we got lots of Christmas roses for everyone. I saved an extra large bunch for you,” and she handed the flowers to Len, who had started poking in cupboards looking for a vase.
Meanwhile, the Head had seated herself next to her pupil, and she scanned her face thoughtfully. Grainne was no longer a child, she decided, and it was as well that she, together with most of the Crew, had been promoted to Inter V in the Autumn term. That also had the advantage of allowing timetable manipulation, as the Senior timetables were easier to alter than those of the Middle School.
Furthermore, it had effectively been decided that Grainne would have a second year in Inter V when the rest of her crowd had gone up to Vb. She had been told that, like them, she would start working for her GCE Ordinary Level exams the following year, but she would only take a few subjects- probably those she was strongest in. Therefore, she would be based in Inter V, but practically would take several subjects with Vb. “Although we may end up doing it the other way round,” the Head had commented when they were discussing it. “It might work better if Grainne is based in Vb with her own friends, and then goes down to Inter V for what’s needful. But there’s plenty of time to decide!”

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:05pm

Once Len had finished with the flowers, she came to perch on the edge of Grainne’s bed. “Not rocking you, am I?” she asked with a grin.
Grainne shook her head. Then, “Would you like to see her?” she asked them both, very shyly.
“Of course!” Len responded promptly. “Why do you think we hared down here in this weather?” and she gave a laughing nod at the window. Six months before, Grainne would have reacted badly to this. Now, more secure in the affections of the women beside her, she only grinned.
“In that case, Auntie Hilda can take her first!” she told her form mistress, and had the satisfaction of seeing that lady subside meekly. Grainne had been using the brevet title for the Head out of school since the summer holidays, as a natural result of spending the holiday with young Hilda, Len and Cecil, and hearing them refer to Miss Annersley by that name. She had drifted naturally into using it herself, and when she finally plucked up the courage to use it directly to the Head, as opposed to when speaking of her, that lady had laughed and said she may as well continue.
Now the Head bent over the cot to gently lift the sleeping baby. Len leaned forward to hover over her.
“She’s lovely,” the Head said softly. “Grainne, I know these last months have been extremely difficult for you, but I’d like to remind you of this: ‘All things work together for good.’” She paused and smiled. “I’m very proud of you, child.”
“So am I,” Len echoed. “Auntie, you’ve been hogging her long enough. Let me have a hold now!” and Grainne smiled at them as the baby changed hands. At first, the easy raillery between the Head and the junior languages mistress out of school had startled her, but now she was used to it.
“I call that a shocking lack of respect for your Headmistress,” Miss Annersley said with mock severity. “Don’t you think so, Grainne?” and she gave the Irish girl a twinkling glance. Grainne only grinned, and they became serious.
“Gron, I’ve some news for you.” Len’s voice was full of suppressed excitement.
“Is it nice?” Grainne asked warily.
Len laughed. “Naturally, it’s nice. I wouldn’t be telling you anything nasty at this point in time, and *especially* not on Christmas Eve!” Grainne remained silent, and Len laughed again. “I’m not going to tell you.” She paused, and grinned at the puzzled look on the girl’s face. “I’m going to show you!” and with that, she rose and went to the door, where she beckoned excitedly to someone beyond Grainne’s view.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:06pm

Dr Benson, a flush in her cheeks and a light in her grey eyes that her friends had rarely seen there, entered the room. Immediately behind her came a tall man whose dark hair, changeable eyes, and resemblance to Grainne marked him as indisputably her father. She gasped with surprise, and Miss Annersley looked at her anxiously. She had not been certain that this was a good idea, but had been shouted down.
Mr O’Malley came to stand by his daughter’s side. The Head made to rise from her place, but he waved her back to her seat.
“Well, my Grainne?”
Grainne’s only response was to raise her eyes to his, and he flinched as he saw the fear there. He deserved it, he knew- he and Elizabeth, and his jaw hardened as he thought of his wife, currently in the Caribbean.
“Will you not introduce me to my granddaughter?” he tried again.
Grainne stared at him speechlessly for a moment. This was the first time she had seen him for a long time, even though he had written to her from time to time since that memorable weekend at Die Rosen. She held out her arms to Len, who placed the baby there. Grainne looked down at the small face and then up to her father.
“Here she is,” she said, almost in a whisper.
Gerard O’Malley placed one hand on the baby’s head, and the gentleness of that gesture finally convinced his daughter. “Father?” It was very soft, but he swept them both into a tight hug, and the others made to leave.
“No, please don’t,” he begged. “From what Stacie tells me, I have much to be thankful for. Especially for you, Miss Annersley, and Mrs Entwistle, too.” He looked directly at them. “I understand that both of you have offered Grainne and the baby a home here for the foreseeable future. I am more grateful for that than I can express. And that brings me to something I must tell my daughter.” He turned back to Grainne. Stacie went scarlet, and Len glanced at her quickly.
“You mean-“ she began, hardly able to believe it.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:07pm

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:10pm

He smiled at her. “Yes, Mrs Entwistle. I’ve been able to pull some strings. I’m sure you’ve both gathered that my marriage is quite dead- has been for many years, in fact.” They nodded. “And then Stacie and I met each other for the first time in London last year at a conference, and it went from there. We never thought anything could come of it. I spoke to my lawyers last week and they say that because Elizabeth left without informing me of where she was going and what she was doing with our daughter, I can arrange a divorce or annulment on the grounds of cruelty and desertion.”
Everyone turned to Stacie, who flushed an even deeper red, if that was possible.
“It will take time,” he said earnestly. “But eventually, we hope to marry. And, when we do, I’m going to resign from the Dail, and we’ll both move out here to the Platz. I know Stacie’s health is better for being out here, anyway. When we finally do that, I’ll be able to offer Grainne and the baby a proper home, with Stacie and I. As soon as the divorce is confirmed, Stacie will start looking for somewhere suitable. You’ll help her with that, won’t you, Grainne? And-and if you decide you want to stay at school as a boarder, that’ll be fine too. We’ll look after the baby for you.”
Grainne looked dazed. “Do you mean it?” she asked in a whisper.
Stacie came forward and knelt beside the bed. She placed both her hands on the girl’s arms, which had tightened around the baby.
“We mean it, Grainne. Your father and I-well,” she looked down, slightly embarrassed. She was a reserved woman, and found it difficult to discuss her feelings. “We want to be together,” she said softly. “And we want you to feel that you’ve got people of your own, up here. And we want to make up what’s happened. You’ve had to do a lot of it so far on your own, through no fault of yours- Miss Annersley explained. We won’t let it penalise you in the future. We’ll give you all the support you want or need. You can be in control.”
Grainne looked at her gravely, and both her father and Stacie felt that maturity in her which Miss Annersley had sensed earlier.
“Thank you. That’s good to know.” She looked down at the child she cradled. “I’m sure she’ll thank you too, when she’s older,” she added shyly. Grainne stretched out a hand to Miss Annersley, who still sat at one side, and smiled at Len, perched precariously on the bottom of the bed. “But most of all, it’s the Chalet School I need to thank. They’ve done more for me than anyone else. I hope you don’t mind me saying that, but even if you do, it’s true.”
Grainne’s father nodded in agreement. He could hardly do anything else. An awkward silence fell, but it vanished when Len gave a squawk and grabbed the coverlet, just in time to prevent herself from landing on the floor. The laughter dissipated the tension, and Len, now recovered, was able to turn to Grainne and ask naturally if she had decided what to call the baby.
Grainne smiled at them and held the baby up for a moment. She kissed the tiny girl on the forehead. “I’m going to call her Natalia Aine,” she told them. Her father’s eyes widened as he looked at her, and, almost for the first time, she gave him the full force of a direct smile. “Aine means ‘joy’,” she explained to the others, “and it was my grandmother’s name. You know what ‘Natalia’ means.”
“’Christmas Joy,’” Len whispered. “Has it been that for you, Grainne?”
The girl nodded. “Yes. In spite of everything. I don’t like to think of what would have happened to us if I’d gone anywhere else but the Chalet School. This is my way of saying ‘thank you’!”

THE END

***************And now for feedback
on- the ending
-the story in general
and lots of it- good bad, indifferent, i dont care which! Post here (if the mods agree) or pm me. Thanks! ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Catherine_B on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:19pm

FANTASTIC writing, Lisa! And thank you for such a delightful, happy ending!

*beaming*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:25pm

I didn't expect that ending. Wonderful, well done.

Good to have that unexpected addition at the end. I had expected to see her father, but never thought about him and Stacie, although I can see the hints were there.

Nice, weepie ending, and love the name. :)

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by PatW on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:30pm

That's really beautiful. I'm sitting here crying. Giving Stacie someone too.

Lisa, don't stop with just this story. You've got to give us more.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lesley on Oct 25^th, 2003, 5:49pm

Have already replied to you by pm but thought it should go on public record. I think this has been a wonderful story, your main character is someone who lives and you have characterisation for Hilda, Len and Cecil down perfectly. Really pleased that the happy ending included Stacie - and not to a doctor! Only slight regret is that you didn't find some way of dropping Grainne's mother off a cliff!

Please write another story Lisa!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 25^th, 2003, 7:30pm

Wonderful story Lisa.
Grainne seemed so real, the CS regulars acted so consistently with what we already know of them, and I enjoyed the relationship between Cecil and Len alongside the main story.
I was intrigued all the way through and never really knew how the story would end.
And the ending? Perfect. That was so beautiful.

*Deeply impressed and very moved.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by BethC on Oct 25^th, 2003, 8:29pm

Really, really good, Lisa - thank you! Have just caught up with a week's worth of happenings (and what a week...) on the CBB, and this was just what I wanted! As Lesley said, the characterisation of Len etc. was great. Loved the ending, except for the fact that it was the ending, if you see what I mean.
Huge congratulations!
(and rather too many exclamation marks substituting for fancy texts...)

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 9:39pm

Lisa, just wanted to say again, that it's really wonderful!!!
You have to write another one soon!! I loved the ending, and feel guite smug that I'd picked up on the vibes with Stacie and Grainne's dad!! ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Kelly on Oct 25^th, 2003, 10:13pm

Wow! Lisa, that was absolutely great. WONDERFUL. Now I must go and study for my exams (2 weeks to go) but am happy after reading that ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 25^th, 2003, 11:45pm

You know I loved this, but I also wanted to go on public record as saying so. It's a beautiful story with very well-drawn characters who act in very life-like ways. I'd like to have seen the fates come back to bite both Grainne's mother and her cousin (was that the relationship? I can't quite remember), but that's because I'm a nasty, vindictive person who likes to see bad people get their just desserts! ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 25^th, 2003, 11:53pm

*hopes Lisa might write a sequel, where mother and cousin get their uppances comed!!!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 26^th, 2003, 1:53am

*completely overwhelmed with all the lovely comments from all you lovely people!*

Well, as it happens, I'm considering writng a short story- emphasis on SHORT there- set three years later or so to see how things have panned out.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 26^th, 2003, 1:55am

Oooooh, yes, yes, yes! Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaase!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 26^th, 2003, 2:12am

*seconding KB's pleas!!*

By the way Lisa, when is your b'day? I know it's June, but the thread where we discussed it has gone awol!!! And I'm trying to update the birthday list in the profiles section! ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 26^th, 2003, 2:21am

13th June. I sincerely hope it isnt on a Friday this year. My 18th was, and you should have heard the number of bad jokes I got for it! Not to speak of pots of water chucked over my head- oh and the eggs. "It's really good for your hair!" someone told me. Yeah, right(!) Eggs may be, shells aint!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 26^th, 2003, 2:25am

You're okay, it's a Sunday next year!! And if anyone had thrown eggs etc. over me on my b'day, I'd've killed them!!!
Water's not too bad because it'll dry, but eggs are sticky!!! :o :o :o

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 26^th, 2003, 2:25am

Nope, you're in luck. June 13 2004 is a Sunday.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 26^th, 2003, 2:38am

Whew! It was a tradition at school you see. The boys got beaten up- one boy ended up in hospital as a result of a 'birthday beating.' Who says boarding schools are civilised?

Mine was pretty mild. One girl got covered in a variety of disgusting substances- including dye. The staff didn't mind anything else- like paint (from the art dept) glue (ditto) Tomato ketchup, and dear knoiws what else, but they weren't happy about the dye- because the dye was fast and it soaked into the brand new 6th form centre's equally brand new carpet- and there it still is!!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 26^th, 2003, 2:43am

Leaving a permanent reminder of you for years to come! Don't you feel special? *g*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Tassie_Ellen on Oct 26^th, 2003, 6:07am

Just had to say how much I have enjoyed this story, Lisa. You have made me laugh and cry, and if this isn't posted on the Fiction page or otherwise preserved for posterity, I'll be VERY disappointed - I think it's something I'll want to come back and re-read every so often.

Thank you :D

*also hoping for that little sequel sometime soon*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Abi on Oct 26^th, 2003, 2:42pm

Awwww, this is LOVELY. Feeling a little cheeky as a relatively new girl but still begging for that sequel (shy, pleading smile).

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 26^th, 2003, 3:23pm

on 10/25/03 at 23:53:36, Vikki wrote:

*hopes Lisa might write a sequel, where mother and cousin get their uppances comed!!!*

I expect the mother would find herself getting her come uppance, in the short term at least, one of her reasons for sending Grainne to the CS was because the scandal was having an adverse effecct on her social life - how would she cope with the scandal of being named as the guilty party in a divorce petition?

*Looking forward to Lisa's short sequel (and hoping it grows)

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Jennie on Oct 26^th, 2003, 3:29pm

Terrific, Lisa. Clean sploches all over the keyboard where the tears landed.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 26^th, 2003, 3:48pm

on 10/26/03 at 15:23:21, Esmeralda wrote:

- how would she cope with the scandal of being named as the guilty party in a divorce petition?

Agh! I never even thought of that. Maybe I'll find a nice cliff and a goot shove after all! ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 26^th, 2003, 3:53pm

Sorry Lisa.
I just thought it would be an apt fate fate for her - surely she'll suffer far more from being a social outcast than she would if she had a quick death (even if it was painful)

*Promises to keep thoughts to herself in future.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 26^th, 2003, 4:11pm

LOL. no no no you mustn't do that- keep your ideas to yourself, I mean. I only squawked because I had visons of me trying to learn something about divorce petitions in the 60s before writing it! LOL. I even went looking for info on grounds for divorce/ annulment in 60s Ireland and I think my solution fits with the facts- with a leetle manipulation! ;D

*once a historian..always a historian?*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 26^th, 2003, 8:27pm

Does that mean that you are going to write that sequel??
Oh, and shall I post the word doc on the archive for you now, as the archived thread got scrambled?

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by catherine on Oct 26^th, 2003, 8:40pm

Lisa, that was lovely. Thank you for writing it.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Rachael P on Oct 27^th, 2003, 9:48am

Beautiful, Lisa and very realistic too considering that EBD would never have attemtped such story matter ...

Thank you!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Sarah_L on Oct 27^th, 2003, 3:51pm

Thank you Lisa, I loved that. A sequel set three or so years later would be good ... Not only to see the mother's comeuppance, but also to see how Grainne and her daughter are doing.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by ravenseyes on Oct 28^th, 2003, 2:13am

This is really brilliant. I have enjoyed it so much. :D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Ciorstaidh on Oct 28^th, 2003, 3:27pm

:'( but happy tears... thank you so much for writing this. It's strange how reading things like this can help you work through stuff you're going through!

Is it okay to hug? I could do with one right now... it's stirring up some bittersweet memories... but still I'm feeling so content with the story... off to find the communal box of tissues again :-)

I must say, when I saw the bit about something stirring inside (can't find the reference grrr but I know it's there) there was a part of me that feared all was not well... but it was. Beautiful.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 28^th, 2003, 4:18pm

*offers Ciorstaidh the hug she asked for*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 28^th, 2003, 8:05pm

*proposes a big group hug*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 28^th, 2003, 8:23pm

*agrees that this is a good idea!!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 28^th, 2003, 9:02pm

*stands in the middle of the room and waits for other people to join in*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 28^th, 2003, 9:08pm

*goes over to KB and joins in*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 28^th, 2003, 9:30pm

Anyone else? It's hard to have a group hug without a group!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 28^th, 2003, 9:37pm

I think they might be scared of us KB!!! ???

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 28^th, 2003, 10:17pm

But we're not scary! Honest, we're not! :'(

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 28^th, 2003, 10:21pm

*quite happy to join in a group hug- only it's still not a group, is it....?*

Sequels- well I've starting thinking of one when I'm trying to go to sleep but it'll be a while before it evolves enough to be put on paper. Besides, I *did* say something about having a go at writing a fill in (term between Three Go/ Island) and there's no way I can do both! ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 28^th, 2003, 10:27pm

*welcomes Lisa into the hug*

Oh, was it you talking about that? I couldn't remember and didn't want to go through the archived threads looking for it. It would be a very interesting term to write, but of course it depends how much spare time you have for it!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 28^th, 2003, 11:56pm

*Joins in what is slowly becoming a group hug*

Lisa as long as you are writing, either will be good, after all if two drabbles at a time is too much, you can always do one after another!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:07am

...while we vociferously demand more on both threads! :D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:11am

Who said i was going to do the fill in as a drabble? *smirk* No my loves. If I do the fill in, it'll be done with GGB in mind, and you know what that means. Oh, and Vikki's gonna be my proof reader! ;D

*starting to wonder if that's a good idea. Somehow, i dont see Ann and Clarissa being too appreciative of purple llamas and blue chihuahuas and lime green hippos and what kind of mouse was it????*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:18am

*suggests Lisa might as well give it a shot and diplomatically ignores her other comments*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:49am

*promises Lisa that she won't suggest any wacky animals for said fill in!*
*suggests sending Ann and Clarissa a copy of Tara, with a view to inclusion in this years FOCS annual!!*

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:52am

on 10/29/03 at 00:49:39, Vikki wrote:

*suggests sending Ann and Clarissa a copy of Tara, with a view to inclusion in this years FOCS annual!!*

Would love to be a fly on the wall if you did! ;D

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:54am

*lol* Great idea, Vikki! Oh, please do, Lisa! And then send us their reply so that we can have a good laugh about it!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:07am

*trying to be the voice of reason here* But FOCS wouldn't find it funny. KB, Vikki et al willmean nothing, and I hardly think they'd be impressed if i substited Ann and Clarissa for KB and Vikki in the story!!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:12am

*pouts* I think they might like it. But if you're that determined, hurry up and finish it for an appreciative audience!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:39am

;) Well, if you feel like that about it, why don't you or Vikki send it in yourselves? *sweet smile*
Vikk could really claim co authorship in any case!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:40am

Can't do anything until we know what happens next, Lisa!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Ciorstaidh on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:25pm

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugz)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

thanx :-)

massive group hug!!!

the irritation of not having access at home! I miss all the late-night yibbling (although that might be a *good* idea, cos I get my work done! not as much fun, though!)

you never know, all this creative output, one of these sleepless nights I might come to add my own little madness to the board - these plot bunnies seem to visit at the most inappropriate times (usually miles from a computer and further from 'net access, as I found when in the Lakes this weekend!)

Staying on Rookin House Farm, 8 miles from KESWICK, miles from ANYWHERE except Blencathra (which I climbed, via Sharp Edge eek) and Helvellyn (which I didn't climb... ran out of time). Lovely weather, no computer, no net access, plot bunny decides to come a-visiting halfway up Sharp Edge... which is not so-named without good reason - it's a Grade 1 scramble! He had to be fought off, I'm afraid, but he's nibbling at my feet again... might leave him to starve until I've caught up with my work... mind you, that's when they become monster plot bunnies inducing all-nighters, isn't it? (Change for Con, anyone?)

K

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 29^th, 2003, 8:06pm

*shudders at the thought of monster plot bunnies* Yes, the little so-and-sos do attack at THE worst moments! Mine seems to have an affection for the water and comes at me when I'm in the shower.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Vikki on Oct 29^th, 2003, 8:27pm

Yes KB! we've heard about your peeping tom bunny!

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 29^th, 2003, 9:36pm

on 10/29/03 at 20:27:00, Vikki wrote:

Yes KB! we've heard about your peeping tom bunny!

KB, can you not have your bunny arrested for that? I'm sure the Freatining Bunny Investigators would be able to do something.

Oh, is it my computer, or is the board incerdibly slow tonight?

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by KB on Oct 30^th, 2003, 12:21am

Hmm, it's certainly an idea, and not one I've thought about before. *goes to look up phone book* And yes it does seem that the board's very slow, or at least it was earlier.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Kathryn on Oct 30^th, 2003, 12:28am

It's very slow at the moment because there are so many users. 16 at last count I think.

Title: Re: A Chalet Girl in Trouble (WAS Serious Attempt)
Post by Susan on Nov 2^nd, 2003, 4:46pm

That was a beautiful ending Lisa. I really liked it. Would like to see the sequel with all upensess coming.

That's one I've managed to catch up with!!