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Stories & Imaginings >> Cookies & Drabbles >> Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
(Message started by: Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:11pm)

Title: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:11pm
I'm posting this again due to the thread eating monster. I've retitled it, and used the title I wanted since about the second week!
That's the only change I'll make though as otherwise it will take too long.



Rosalie Dene paused in typing the form lists for the new academic year. She had just typed out the list for IIIA and thought there was something strange about it. Rosalie looked down the list of names and it suddenly struck her. She rose from her desk and went through the connecting door to Miss Annersley.

Miss Annersley was about to start her last year as head of the Chalet School. It had been a long time since she had taken over as head, before the war and she was now seeing grandchildren of the first pupils she had taught come into the school. She was looking forward to retirement, and would not be moving far, she had brought a little chalet on the Rosinalpe a few years ago and had quite definite plans about how she was going to spend her time. However she was determined that this last year would see her put all she had left to give into the school that had been her life’s work. She looked up from her correspondence as Rosalie entered.
“Problem dear?”
“No, well probably not. I’ve just noticed something strange about form IIIA as I was typing their list up.”
“What is it?”
“Well have a look,” Rosalie passed over the list to the head, a twinkle in her eye wondering how long it would take for Miss Annersley to notice, “Look at the names of the girls and think who they are,” she added as a clue.
Miss Annersley studied the list for a moment wondering what her personal assistant was getting at. Then she saw it.
“All of these girls are related to each other.”
“Yes, they are all from the Russell, Bettany, Maynard clan. I didn’t notice at first because obviously the surnames of many of them are different, but whilst some of them, like Emily Russell, are daughters of the boys of that clan, many of them have mothers who were at school here. Con Maynard’s twins are going to be in that class, as are Bride Bettany’s two. Then there is Steven Maynard’s daughter and Primula Venables youngest. We should have realised that Maeve and Maurice would have a sizable contribution.” The two laughed at this, remembering the day thirteen years previously when they had heard that Maeve and her sister in law had both had twin girls on the same day.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:12pm
The head passed the list back to Rosalie and both left to get on with their respective jobs. Miss Annersley pondered the co-incidence in the odd moment and wondered what kind of impact it would have on the school and whether anyone would realise. She hoped that it would not cause trouble amongst the girls. Over the years there had occasionally been trouble over the relatives of the founder of school. She remembered the problems Peggy Bettany had and those faced by Cecil Maynard many years later. She had always tried her best to ensure that prefects jobs went to those best suited for them, but these girls were brought up in the ethos of the school from the moment of their birth and so often were the best candidates. Then she was hit by another co-incidence, she suddenly remembered that the form mistress for IIIA was another member of the same family, albeit by adoption, Miss Richardson, their games mistress. This could be an interesting form to keep an eye on.


Mary Jo and Polly Harmsworth left their grandparents house on the Platz in plenty of time to get to school before the coaches arrived. As usual they had travelled to Switzerland in the company of their mother a few weeks before and had spent the rest of the holidays at Freudesheim. Their mother had left the previous week to return to London where she was a sub editor on one of the daily papers. They enjoyed spending time in Switzerland. The house and grounds were large enough for the thirteen-year-old twins to have ample of space to play and the attics held lots of remnants of past years and family memories. Polly had once said that there were family skeletons buried in the many trunks. Her Grandmother Jo had laughed at this and replied, “Oh no! In a family the size of ours there has never been room for skeletons in the closet.  Too many clothes to keep there dear.” This seemed to be true as the attics did hold lots of old clothes, dresses from before the last war, school uniforms of every description and of course Grandmother Jo’s wedding dress. Whether or not there was a skeleton Polly and Mary Jo had yet to find out.


Although they had left in plenty of time to reach school they actually arrived at more or less the same time as the coaches. This was due to an accidental game of hide-and-seek as they went through the rose garden towards the gate separating Freudesheim from the Chalet School. They arrived in haste, out of breath but, by a stoke of luck managed to merge into the crowd that was descending from the coaches. They ran back and forth for a few minutes greeting friends and other relations and then fell silent along with the rest of the school as their headmistress walked slowly through the main doors to survey the assembled schoolgirls.

Miss Annersley was now 71 years old, although her pupils were not wise to this fact. She had taught the grandparents of many of the current girls during her years at the chalet and yet she was still able to still the crowd of excited girls with just a glance from her clear blue eyes, which even at this age did not need glasses. She walked more sedately than previous generations of girls remembered, but she retained her natural dignity and poise and stood erect on the school steps.
“Welcome to another year at the Chalet School. I have news for you at prayers tonight, but for now please go to the splasheries and tidy quickly and then you will have a short time to congregate in the common rooms before abendessen.”
The girls marched into school and before long had followed the head’s words to the letter. Noisy chatter could be heard coming from every common room in a polyglot of languages, rules being in abeyance for the first day or so.

During prayers this babble ceased as the Chalet School had always tried to cultivate a worshipful atmosphere during these short times. The girls sang a hymn, the head girl Mary Winterton read the parable of the talents, and together the girls joined in the Lords Prayer and the old ‘Lighten our Darkness’. This done the music mistress played a quiet piece of music until the folding doors in the hall were opened and the Catholic half of the school could also see the dais that was at the front of hall on the side used by the protestant girls.

It was Miss Dene who rose first to call the roll. Everyone was eager to hear this as for most of them it was the first time they would hear what form they were to be in during this year. There were some miserable faces as it was realised that a remove had been missed or a group of friends had been split, and some quiet rejoicing as others gained removes or were reunited with friends. Mary Jo frowned when the list for her form IIIA was read. There was something strange, although she could not quite put her finger on it. She was also sure that she had noticed Miss Dene pause and glance at Miss Annersley as she came to read out that part of the list. She could not see what it was however and she filed it away in her mind to mention to her twin later.



Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:14pm
Miss Annersley rose to give her normal welcome speech and surveyed the sea of faces that made up her last set of Chalet Girls. All the faces seemed to be turned towards her expectantly.
“I am glad to see you all gathered here again. We have lost some familiar faces, there is a new set of prefects announced at the end of last term, Miss Denny has now left and has retired to Interlaken to live with her brother and Mademoiselle Lachenais has also retired. This means that as a good many of you expect Mrs Entwhistle will now head the modern languages department. A junior member of staff for this department has been appointed and Mrs Hamilton will be joining us on Monday. She was a capable prefect here and is looking forward to taking up her new role among you.

This talk of retirements brings me to the news I need to give you. At the end of this year I will also be retiring. I have taught in this school for most of my life, teaching the grandmothers of many of you girls assembled here tonight. I have had a full life here and have found my career immensely fulfilling, I cannot conceive of having spent my life in any better way. However I am finding it increasingly difficult to serve the school in the wholehearted way I think it deserves to be served and so I feel it is time for me to hand the reins to someone younger.”

With this Miss Annersley walked to the back of the dais and took her seat in the old William and Mary chair that was reserved for her as head. She had found that speech even harder to make than she had expected. Miss Ferrars came forward and simply said; “Your parents have been informed of this news by letter. Please dismiss now. Juniors will go to bed immediately. Middles have an extra half hour and seniors an hour.” The music mistress played again and the stunned school left the hall in silence.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:15pm
The school had been stunned by the heads announcement. The more rational amongst them realised that they should have known it would come some time, but none of them had expected it at the present time. By the following morning the news had still not sunk in and IIIA were discussing it in their form room.
“I’ve heard my mother talking about her since I was born,” commented Shelia Scully. “Yes,” replied her twin, Alice, “Do you remember her impression of the Abbess saying ‘Sybil Russell! What would your mother say?’” The twins went into a peal of laughter at this memory of their mother in one of her frequent anti-establishment moments.  The Scully twins were slightly above the average age for the form, but their mother was not worried about this, believing that there was more to life than passing exams or holding positions of responsibility. She was always reminding the twins to make the most of their opportunity at the Chalet School to learn languages, travel around Europe and mix with a wide range of people. She was keen for them to take an active role in school life but wanted them to learn more than just their lessons.
“Hmm, from what I’ve heard your mum was always the unconventional one in the family,” stated Octavia Winterton. “Mother say’s she had as much trouble with her when mother was head girl as Mary does with you now.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” put in her cousin, Abigail Bettany, “Her Auntie Allie was even more unconventional.”
With this the eyes of all the girls in the room swung round to face Valerie Russell. The girl turned a dark red, and she frowned. Her cousins formed a solid block around her and she realised that as well as Alice and Shelia, her cousin Emily Russell was there, as was Helen, her Auntie Jossette’s daughter. It looked for a minute as if there was going to be some trouble, as seeing this Octavia and Abigail stood shoulder to shoulder along with Abigail’s triplets, Bethany and Charlotte. They were about to be joined by their other cousins when Mary Jo gave a shout. They all turned to look at her, and for a moment the tension was defused, as they demanded to know what Mary Jo was dancing around and shouting about.
“Don’t you see,” she shouted, “Look who’s stood with you.”
Polly suddenly realised what was going on. “We are all related. You lot are cousins,” she continued pointing to the group around Valerie, “and so are you lot,” as she gestured towards Octavia and the Bettany triplets, “And so are the rest of us in one way or another. Even Jonquil’s father was one of Grandmother Jo’s adoptees.”

Realisation slowly dawned across the faces of the rest of the class and they somehow drifted away into family groups as they took their seats. Miss Richardson entered the room a few minutes later to find them sat in the three rows, those from the Russell family on the right, the Bettany family in the middle and the Maynards on the left. She didn’t realise this right away, but before the end of the morning it had seeped through to her, as was the fact that Valerie was giving Abigail furious looks. She filed that away for future reference, school policy being not to intervene in the girls’ affairs unless necessary. The rest of the day was spent in unpacking, seeing to textbooks and exercise books and in short lessons in each subject to refresh the girls’ memories in work covered the previous term. All this put any thought of the mornings conversation out of the heads of all the other girls, but Valerie brooded on it, having a very close bond to her mother who had raised her single handed. The news that they were all related was of great excitement to the others who spent their free time drawing complicated family trees and trying to work out the names for the various degrees of kinship.  

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:15pm
Over the next week or so the school got back into it’s normal routine. French was spoken every Monday and Thursday; German every Tuesday and Friday and English every Wednesday and Saturday mornings. For the rest of Saturday and on Sunday the girls were able to speak any language they liked. Unlike many other junior and middle school classes this posed no problem for most of IIIA. Even those members whose parents had not attended the school because they were related to the sons of the families represented had been brought up to speak all three languages with at least some of their relatives. Miss Richardson was pleased to note that the initial unease she had felt amongst some of her form had died down.
     
It was one Monday morning that Valerie came towards the form room to overhear her own name mentioned. She paused and was about to walk loudly into the room so that she would not be eavesdropping when she caught another comment. It was Jonquil Richardson who was speaking and the words made Valerie stop in her tracks. “I had always heard that Allie Russell was a heedless thing, wasn’t there some row at school about her never being head girl?”
“No that was her sister, Sybil, Alice and Shelia’s mother. Allie was head girl, but only after a very chequered history. I believe she was near expulsion when the Abbess caught her smoking, it was only ‘cos no one else was involved that she was allowed to stay. Apparently that was why she behaved, at school at least, from then on. That’s what my mother told me when she heard me even talking about smoking.” This last was from Mags Carrington and her twin, Mollie, backed her up. “Mother say’s that Allie was a hot head and she wasn’t surprised when Valerie was born.”

Valerie burst into the room like a tornado. “How dare you talk about my mother like that Mollie Carrington? And as for you Jonquil, at least my grandparents weren’t mad.” This remark referred to Jonquil’s grandfather who had been a pioneer in manned space flight, and had made an attempt at the moon before anyone had believed it possible. Mary Jo and Polly who had stayed on the sidelines until this comment then joined in to defend their ‘sort-of-cousin’ and the argument continued as Emily Russell and the Scully twins leapt to defend Valerie and their Aunt Allie. Emily had just finished a blistering attack on Con for dropping out of Oxford and on Mags and Mollie’s mother for ‘spreading gossip’. She stuck her nose in the air at this point and left to join her friend Daisy Garden, with a last word of advice to Valerie to “Ignore the babblings of those whose parents never taught them any better.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:16pm
This advice Valerie had to follow as Mrs Entwistle entered the room for French Dictee. Throughout the lesson she was aware of glares and smirks being passed around the classroom and at the end she gathered in the marks and frowned herself.
“I am very disappointed in you girls. Every one of you is capable of far better marks than this. You have all been able to speak and write French for a good number of years now. I have seen better marks from a set of novices. Now I do not know what has been distracting you all morning, but you had better deal with it quickly because you are all going to do your corrections not three, but ten times before any other prep tonight, and tomorrow break I will give the same dictee and expect you all to have no more than two mistakes each.” Len left the classroom with these remarks little realising that she had stirred up the divisions in the form even more.


As the day progressed the atmosphere deteriorated even more. Since this was about family everybody in the form was involved. The Russells were in the minority compared to the united body of the Bettany and Maynard families against them. Valerie was angry about the attitude of the other families towards her mother and her cousins were annoyed at the slur placed on their family, as Helen Ramsey said, “It’s a bit much when our grandmother founded the school.”

Tabitha Bettany who, whilst not the brightest spark at lessons had a quick wit and a ready pair of hands when it came to handicrafts seized this remark and acted on it. When the form returned to the classroom for prep Daisy, Emily, Alice, Shelia, Helen and Valerie all found a paper crown on their desks. Helen flushed as she realised that it was her remarks that had led to this revenge, but Alice and Shelia grabbed them in glee and put them on, remarking that it was about time some people recognised that some branches of the family were more important than others. Tabitha was quick to respond with “Yes, that’s why they are made from paper, gold is only for those who earn it.” And with this remark she produced some gold chocolate coins from her desk and proceeded to distribute them to the Bettany and Maynard clans represented in the form.


By bedtime the form was split. The Bettany and Maynard girls were scornful of Valerie for listening at the door, and maintained that they had said nothing out of order  and mentioned nothing that wasn’t common knowledge amongst the families. Valerie insisted that no one had the right to speak scathingly of her mother, especially when her grandmother had accepted the situation. The Bettany girls said that the Russells were getting above themselves and the Russells asked what right Jonquil had to call herself family when she was not related. The Maynards insisted that legal adoption was just as valid and the Russells replied that resorting to legal arguments was always a sign of being on the losing side. This incensed the Maynards as their Grandmother Jo was currently embroiled in a legal battle with her publisher. The girls went to their dorms seething with resentment against each other and most had a rather disturbed nights sleep.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:18pm
The following days saw no let up in the trouble and Ruey watched the form with unease as she observed the split in the form, although she was at a loss as to explain it.
“I would have expected them to be more united rather than split like this,” she confided in her sister Len.
“Yes, you could cut the atmosphere in the room with a knife most days,” agreed Len, “ I wonder what started it all.”
“I don’t know for sure, but Valerie seems to be at the centre of most of the arguments.”
“Hmm, that is difficult, I know the whole family knows about Allie and Valerie, but mamma never liked us to talk about it. Papa was shocked by the whole thing and was all for voting Auntie Madge off the board of the school, but mamma managed to talk him round.”
“Uncle Jack is rather old fashioned isn’t he? Do you remember the fuss he made when you continued to work, even after having the babies?”
“Do I ever! He told me that babies needed a mother at home to bring them up and that I should remain at home to look after them as my own mother had done. I don’t think he has ever realised just how much work mamma does. It was Anna and Rosli who brought up most of us.”
“I love the two of them dearly, especially for the way they took us in, but they are both wrapped up in their own little word and both seem stuck in a time warp.”
“I dread to think what would have happened if he had been Uncle Jem with Sybil and Allie to deal with,” commented Len with a laugh, “This doesn’t solve your problem with IIIA however.”
“No,” sighed Ruey, “I’ll give it some thought over the weekend, maybe the guide hike will shake some of it out of them. They are all in different patrols and the change may help.” With this hopeful thought she left Len’s room and returned to the gym where she was expecting a fourth former for some remedial exercises.


Hilda Annersley breathed a sigh of relief as she signed the last letter. “Is that the last for today Rosalie”
“Yes, for you at least. I have some that need to go over to St Mildreds for Bill to sign, but they can probably wait until morning.”
“Leave them until then. Even with an assistant you work too hard. Look at the pair of us, 20:00 and still at it.”
“The first few weeks of the autumn term are always hectic. It is easing off now. This is the last time you will have to go through it anyway.”
“Hmm, do you know, I think I will miss even this part of the job.”
“Well I miss that coffee of mademoiselle’s. It tasted like nectar, Len makes a good pot, but somehow not quite the same.”
Miss Annersley looked at her assistant and laughed. “Do you not realise why that is?”
“No,” replied Rosalie quizzically.
“Mademoiselle used to brew it with sugar in. Len, being one of our ‘modern girls’ refuses to add sugar. Just stir a couple of sthingyfuls in you cup and it will taste much better.”
The two laughed at this and made their way to the staff room where they were welcomed with open arms by the other staff. Len supplied them with coffee and Hilda and Rosalie surreptitiously stirred in three sthingys of sugar each and greatly enjoyed their treat.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:19pm
“Do you have any plans for your retirement Hilda?” asked Nancy Wilmot. The staff had been discussing this question among themselves as no-one knew quite what the head intended to do beyond the fact that she had brought the chalet on the Rosinalpe two years previously on inheriting a sum of money from her cousin.
“Lots and lots,” replied the head smiling “but things are not definite just yet so I’ll keep my own counsel for now. Now, how are the girls settling in this year?”
The conversation ranged round the various forms and eventually came to Ruey and IIIA. “I don’t know what has got into them,” Ruey admitted, “their work is fine most of the time, but their behaviour, well, frankly it leaves me gasping. If they were any other girls I’d want to know what kind of upbringing they had received.”
“What are they doing?” asked Kathie Ferrars.
“The latest was Abigail Bettany. She swapped the contents of Emily and Valerie Russells desks around. We had just sorted that little lot out when we found she had also done Daisy and Helen.”
“The little monkey. Are you sure it isn’t just mischief?”
“I think so. There seems to be some trouble between the Russell girls and the rest of the form.”
All eyes turned to the head. She shook her head and said “There is no trouble in Australia, and no major changes in the family anywhere that I know of. There are so many of them now, but with Joey next door I’m still normally amongst the first to hear anything. Does any one person seem to be at the heart of it?”
“Well, as far as I can see Valerie is always involved, the others vary.” The head frowned at this and finally said “Leave it with me. If the situation gets any worse let me know and we will decide then how to deal with it. Otherwise treat the offenders as you would normally, and try to find some incentives for them to work together. Maybe you could re-arrange their seats, partner them differently for some work, things like that. I know I don’t need to tell you how to encourage teamwork; it is one of your specialities. I have every confidence in your abilities my dear.”


After this the head left the room, seeking an early night with a good novel. Ruey looked round and commented, “I’m glad we have such a helpful and understanding head. It will be such a shame when we loose her. She has been such a help in developing my teaching skills, and a real encouragement.”
“Those of you who have never taught anywhere else are lucky,” added June Skellern, a junior maths mistress who had come to the Chalet School after teaching in Birmingham and Portsmouth. “I’ve worked with heads who watch your every move, and offer criticism but no advice, and with heads who never leave their study and only deal with admin and offenders. Miss Annersley if by far the best head I’ve ever come across.”
Lucy Hamilton who had stayed behind at the school to catch up on some marking remarked “It is going to a tough job for whoever follows her. I can’t think of anyone who could just step into her shoes.” She was leaving as she made this comment, being collected by her husband who was careful of his young wife and didn’t want her walking home alone in the dark. She was thus unaware of the embarrassment her remarks had caused in the staff room. Nancy Wilmot had acted up as head many years previously when Miss Annersley had been on an educational tour. She had a successful term, but the school had found it a real challenge. She was now senior mistress and had every intention of becoming head if at all possible. Nancy had found the heads words in her speech to the girls, and the earlier one to the staff disturbing. The Head had stressed the idea of a younger person taking over, and whilst Nancy was a good 15 years younger, she recognised that most people would never dream of calling her young. Lucy’s offhand comment made her realise that even the staff may not see her as Hilda’s natural successor.


Meanwhile Hilda Annersley had retired to her own suite of rooms. She had not immediately got ready for bed however. She took a letter from her pocket and sitting in an easy chair read it through for the fourth time since receiving it that morning. When finished she sat for a while, a gentle but slightly sorrowful smile just caressing her lips and her hand resting on the letter. As her clock chimed she shook herself and rising, folded the letter and placed it carefully in a large wooden box, full of other letters in the same hand.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:21pm
A week or so later Joey and Jack Maynard were sat in the salon at Freudesheim having English tea together. It was rare that they had these moments as both were very busy people and with a large family on the Platz, at the school and in England, there was often a visitor or two. Still this afternoon seemed peaceful, Jack had been able to leave the San early, although he was to return in the evening for a short while, and Joey had left her lengthy correspondence, latest book and legal papers to themselves. The two had been married for 37 years and were familiar with each other’s moods and feelings even if no words had been spoken. Jack viewed his wife with concern, she was still young in his eyes, only 57 and yet she looked drawn and troubled. He wondered whether to ask her what was worrying her, but held back worried that in doing so he would precipitate another argument. This time together was too brief to waste in arguments, especially about legal matters, or about the school. Jack sighed and Joey hearing was immediately full of concern, “What’s wrong Jack?”
“I’m just tired that’s all. I spent all morning operating and then skipped lunch to do some paperwork before the clinic this afternoon. I’m just glad to get away for a few hours. I need a good break, at the very least.” Jack ran his fingers through the remnants of the fair hair that remained on his head. Joey looked at him, seeing the careworn lines round his eyes, the lack of lustre in their colour and for a moment felt some of the old tenderness towards him. “Why don’t you lie down for an hour? I’ll darken the room and fetch you a blanket and Anna will prepare some soup for you to have before you return.” To her relief Jack agreed and she put this plan into practice. Once he was settled she went back to her den to continue her correspondence, but ended up sat chewing her pen. She still loved Jack; she had since that sudden revelation when she was only 20, just before the Nazi’s took over the Sonnalpe and they all had to flee Austria. The trouble was that the closeness they once had, now seemed just a matter of routine. They didn’t see eye to eye on anything Joey thought of as important. She knew Jack needed to retire, and especially since Hilda had given her notice for next summer the subject had come up more frequently. Jack however wanted to return to England.


Joey determinedly picked up the legal papers she needed to read and get back to her solicitor in England, the legal English made her head ache, and having seen Jack so exhausted she was in no real mood for it. She soon let the papers drop and sat doodling, staring at nothing in particular when the doorbell disturbed her. A few moments later Anna knocked on her door. “Pardon me, there are two Fraulein who insist on speaking to Mrs Maynard. I have placed them in the salon.” Joey dropped her pencil and rose to her feet. Bidding Anna make more tea she made her way downstairs and entered the salon expecting to find some girls from the school, as the few fans that made their way out here asked for her by her professional name if they managed to find her.


The two seated uneasily in the salon jumped to their feet at her entrance. Joey was taken aback for a moment at their haste, and realised that she had not a clue who they were. The elder looked to be in her late twenties, and she supposed the younger to be about thirteen. The elder was dressed in a flowing skirt and gypsy style blouse, the younger in flared jeans and a flowery blouse. Both girls had primrose coloured hair, the elder in a short crop and the younger in a slightly longer pageboy bob. They had grey eyes and a slightly nervous look about them. They were alike enough to be related and Joey thought she could detect a familiar touch about them, however it eluded her for the moment. Remembering her manners she turned to the elder, “Good afternoon, I am Mrs Maynard. Can I help you and your sister in any way?”
“Oh, Holly’s not my sister, she’s my daughter.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:22pm
The first Miss Annersley knew about the visitors was when the direct line to Freudesheim rang later that evening.
“Hilda, great. Just the person I needed. Can you take another pupil, probably in IIIA with our other girls?” gushed out Joey at express speed.
“Er, ask me that again. Slowly this time please Joey.”
“There is a girl here I need to get into the school as soon as possible. Are you able to take her? She will most likely be in IIIA with our other girls.”
“Who is she?”
“If you can take her you had better enter her as Holly Maynard, she will be spending her holidays with us for the time being.”
“Holly Maynard?”
“Yes, now can you take her?”
“Joey I think I had better come over and see you.”
“Oh, Hilda must you. It is chaos here at the moment. I have two unexpected visitors, and Jack is insisting on flying to England on the next available flight, and with all these charter flights and holiday flights and what not that is at midnight tonight. Can I not just enter Holly now and do all the business stuff with you later?”
“Certainly not!” Miss Annersley’s voice froze slightly, not a tone she used often with Joey. “If you wish to enter this, Holly did you say, then you will do it properly. There is a space in IIIA but only if she is up to the standard of that form. They have a high standard this year, especially as they had a flying start with the languages. This girl might be better in a lower form if her languages are not up to scratch, and you still have not told me who she is. You named her Maynard, but all the girls are already entered, and I can’t think of a Holly.”
“OK, I’ll come over in the morning and do things properly, is 10:00 AM all right for you?”
“That is fine, I will look forward to hearing all about this Holly.”
“See you then, but unofficially you will take her won’t you?”
“Joey, you are incorrigible. If we can take her then, yes, probably, that is as far as I can go now. I will see you in the morning.”


Joey put the phone down and returned to her troubled visitors. The news they had brought had thrown the entire household into uproar. The elder of the two girls had given her name as Rose Grayling and had introduced her daughter as simply Holly. They seemed unsure then how to continue, and in the end Joey offered them some tea and sent Holly to a window seat where there was a selection of magazines to look at. This meant that she was able to talk to her mother with a certain degree of privacy. The news she brought was enough to cause Joey to drop her tea, and in the process of clearing it up she was able to send Anna to wake Jack.


It only took Jack a few minutes to make his way from the study where he had been laid dozing. He thought he was still dreaming for a moment when Joey repeated what Rose had told her. He stood open mouthed and Joey repeated herself.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:25pm
“This lady claims that Mike is the father of her daughter Holly.” Jack looked automatically towards the window seat where Joey was pointing. On seeing Holly curled up in the window seat, oblivious to the consternation at the other end of the room, he blinked, drew himself upright and addressing Rose stated, “I think you must be mistaken. My son is not yet thirty and could not possibly be father to a girl as old as your daughter.”
Rose had been expecting a reaction like this and was prepared.
“You may wish to sit down sir, I think this may come as a shock to you.”
Jack and Joey sat down and stared in astonishment as Rose told them her tale. She had met Mike briefly one summer when he had been on a sea cadets’ camp on the base where she lived. Her own father was a low ranking officer at the time and the family had been living in married quarters. Mike had been there for two months and the two sixteen year olds had indulged in a brief romance. Mike had met her parents and both had been impressed with his determination to make a career out of the navy when he left school. Rose and Mike had been to several dances together, and had walked together on other occasions. Rose said that Mike had behaved like a gentleman throughout the summer, and neither of them intended for anything to happen, “But on that last night it was just too much for us. We knew that Mike was going back to school the following day and that it could be we would never see each other again, and, well, things just happened.”
Jack gave a snort at this, and Joey, realising that the girl appeared in earnest, said more gently than she felt, “But how can you prove this? You must understand out position. We have never met you or heard Mike speak of you and now you turn up claiming that your unfortunate daughter is also his.”
Rose gulped and then, taking her courage in both hands, replied, “Mike said he probably wouldn’t mention me in Switzerland as his parents didn’t have much time for the family, especially the boys. He was very proud of you and of all you have both achieved with the San and your books, Mrs Maynard. He did tell me two things that might help convince you.”
“I can’t think what,” responded Jack tersely.
“The first is something I’ve already checked, but of course you may do so again. Holly is blood group AB, I have an O type.”
Jack went grey at this, and Joey looking at him said urgently, “Jack what is it?”
“Only 3% of English people have AB type, Mike is one of them.”
“That doesn’t prove it conclusively then.” Joey was clutching at straws.
Rose spoke again at this point. “There is also the other thing. It’s something Mike told me.”
“Well speak up girl.” Jack was rather gruff now, trying to decide whether he believed Rose.
“Mike told me that one summer he was in a lot of trouble. He had been bird nesting, almost had an accident and seriously upset his mother. He said that no-one would speak to him afterwards, even to scold, and he was naturally very upset himself, shocked at what had happened to himself and worried about the consequences to his mother. He told me that in order to relieve some of the pain he wrote a diary during those few days and before they were shipped off to England he slipped out of the house and buried it because he didn’t want anyone else reading it. From what he told me it is still where he left it because he told no one else. Apparently he put it in a cocoa tin and buried it under a large stone by your front gate. I didn’t see any stone there now though.” Rose suddenly stopped in confusion as she remembered coming through that gate an hour or so earlier.



Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:26pm

It was Joey’s turn to loose her colour now. “We moved that stone a few years ago, people kept tripping over it. Jack go and,” she stopped because Jack anticipating her had dashed to the garage to grab a spade before digging on the spot where the stone used to be. Joey realising this sat back and asked Rose why she had come looking for them after all these years. The story the girl told was a pitiful one. Her father had always been adamant that she should not inform Mike about the baby or look to him for support, as he did not want to ruin the boy’s promising career. He had left the navy after his twenty-five year service, and with his annuity had brought a small business. He had been successful at first and supported the little family. Since her mother had died when Holly was young, Rose had stayed at home and become housekeeper for her father, helping in the business when Holly started school. However over the past few years there had been an economic downturn in businesses across the country and her father had been hard hit. He had struggled on to support his daughter and granddaughter but had eventually succumbed to a heart attack six months earlier. When the business had been wound up it was discovered that it had been badly in debt and although there was life insurance, once all the debts had been covered there was very little left. Joey felt a tear come to her eye as she thought of the brave man who had tried to protect both his daughter and her son. Jack came back in, his hands filthy, and nodded at Joey, “It’s there,” he said simply.


“I don’t want anything for myself,” Rose said hurriedly. “I can get a job quite easily in one of the big cities. My parents insisted I stay in school and then my dad looked after Holly while I went to evening classes. I have some good ‘A’ levels and a secretarial qualification. My languages are good too. That comes of living on naval bases around the world as I was growing up. Mike said even at 16 that I spoke better French and German than he did living out here.” She smiled at the memory as she said this. “I was just hoping that you or Mike would be able to help Holly. I don’t know where to find him now, but from everything he told me about you I was able to get here.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:28pm
The upshot of their discussion was that Holly was to be entered at the Chalet school as soon as Hilda could take her, spend her holidays with the Maynards and that Rose was to look for work in Interlaken so that she could see Holly as much as possible. When this had been decided Joey went to get the two unexpected guests settled in. She left them together having supper in the room she had given Holly and went downstairs to find Jack. She saw him standing at his study door looking grim. “Come in here please Joey,” he requested. Joey for a moment was taken back years to a time when she was standing in the study at the School, waiting for a telling off for some sin. She shook herself; Jack wouldn’t treat her like that. She entered the study and went to sit in the armchair at the side of Jack’s large oak desk, a piece saved from Pretty maids before it was given over to the National Trust. At that moment she caught sight of what was sat on the desk. A battered cocoa tin, rusty with age and covered in soil. Next to it was an exercise book, open and the pages covered by Mike’s characteristic schoolboy scrawl.

“Can you explain this Joey?” demanded Jack, pointing to the book. He passed it over to Joey and she read it slowly from the beginning. He heart broke as she saw just how hurt Mike had been not only over his treatment at that time, but over his reputation as the ‘bad boy’ of the family and how he felt that neither of his parents had any time for him because, “I’m just not good enough. Mamma is only bothered about the girls, and even then she leaves them mainly to Anna, she is so busy with her writing, some day’s I only see her at mealtimes. Papa would love me if I were good like Charles, or strong like Stephen. If I can become an officer in the Navy then maybe he will be proud of me, but now he won’t even look at me. He doesn’t really know who I am anyway, he is here even less that mamma.”

“Joey you know I only ever agreed to you writing if it didn’t interfere with your duties as a mother. Now I suddenly find out that you left those to a maid and neglected our children. This situation with Holly, Rose and Mike is the outcome. I hold you responsible for all this trouble. If you had given Mike the time he should have had them, maybe he would have had at least some moral values!” Jack was working himself up into a temper by this time, always his weak spot, but he was nothing on Joey when she started. She had been growing more indignant at Jack’s tirade continued, but now she joined in. Well I like that. What about your responsibilities as a father? It was your good catholic principles that were to answer for us having such a large family, and yet you have always been at the san morning, noon, and night. If it wasn’t for my writing we could never have fed the family, never mind decent schooling for them. Even that was only possible because Madge insisted on reduced fees for herself, Dick and me. I don’t see how you can blame me for this problem. Look at what Mike says in this diary. At least I went to him as soon as I was able to get up. You ignored him for days. That was inhumane. I told you so at the time and I still think it.”
“It was needed. He had to see what he had done. You hadn’t given him any discipline. Well I’m going to give him some now. I’m catching the next plane to England, it leaves at midnight and I’ll give him a good thrashing when I get to his base.”
“Jack don’t be silly. He is 29, a fit naval officer and you are in your 60’s,” pleaded Jo.
“I will do as I see fit with my own son Joey. I’m also going to see your solicitor and tell him to drop this stupid case. You will be doing no more writing from now on. You will care for the grandchildren that I can only presume Anna has been looking after.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:30pm
Jack left to pack his case. Joey sat in his study wondering what had happened to the man she thought she had married. She had always known that Jack was old fashioned, but that was one of the things that had attracted her to him. He seemed to care about things and people that no one else did. He was a strong role model for their children she thought. Then she realised that none of their boys had wanted to follow him into medicine. The only one to do that had been Margot, who had also inherited her father’s temper. Numbly she went to ring Hilda at the school, and receiving only a little satisfaction on that score she wondered through the house, barely thinking what she was doing, a little tidying or straightening here and there, but mainly just walking through the rooms. She found her footsteps took her in the end to her den, and it was here Jack found her when he came to bid her goodbye.


“I had hoped to find you doing something more productive.” Joey remained silent. “I see you have been going over those legal papers, I told you I will be seeing your solicitor.”
“That’s just it Jack, he is my solicitor. The case has nothing to do with you, he acts on my instructions, not yours. I will pursue this case as far as they advise me it is possible. It seems that my publishers want to settle, they still haven’t realised that it’s their actions I want to change, not to take their money.”
“Joey, we will discuss this later. I must go now to get that flight, now please come with me, I intend to lock this room before I leave.”
Joey stood eyes blazing. “This is my house as well Jack, how dare you lock me out of my own work room in my own house.”
“Because this is my house and when we married you promised to obey me, not the other way around. You have been disregarding my wishes behind my back all these years and I’m determined that is going to change. Now leave the room before I put you out of it.”
Joey perforce had to do as Jack requested, but it was with a very bad grace that she submitted to his will. The two parted on very frosty terms and with no embrace for the first time in their married life.


After Joey’s phone call Hilda Annersley put down the phone with a sigh. Joey had no idea of what running a concern like the Chalet School really took. She really seemed to think that she could just ring up and place a girl just like that. Joey had always been cheeky, and seemed to think she could have her own way in everything, presumably because for most of her life that is what had happened. True there had been some hard incidents, such as Phil’s polio, or the time they had thought Jack was dead, but even then everything had a happy ending. This meant that Joey had come to expect everything to go her way eventually. This legal trouble was a case in point. A number of years ago her publishers had signed a deal for her next ten books. Joey was slower writing now that she had been and after book number six her editor had contacted her and broke the news that sales had been “Disappointing” and that the rest of the ten-book deal was cancelled. They would be glad to continue to publish her, but contracts would now be signed on a book-by-book basis. Joey had immediately sued for breach of contract, but the publishers were using a review clause to escape the contract. They had agreed to a financial settlement, but Joey had turned it down wanting not the money but the re-instatement of the original contract, something the publishers would not agree to. Hilda knew that Joey was not even considering the possibility that she would loose, although everyone concerned knew that it would eventually happen.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:32pm
Hilda wondered about Holly, and let her mind range over the possibilities. She could not think whom the girl was, especially being sprung on them at thirteen years of age. Her active mind was intrigued by the puzzle and being unable to solve it she was still restless when she went to bed. By 1:00 AM she was still wakeful and decided to get up and have some warm milk. She was on her way to the kitchen to fetch some, having used up her own supply earlier in the day when something caught her eye.


There was a light on along the staff corridor. As Hilda walked past she realised that it was coming from Ruey’s room. Knowing that the young teacher was worried about her form Miss Annersley knocked gently on the door. “Ruey, dear, are you alright.” A worried looking Ruey opened the door. “Miss Annersley, sorry did I disturb you. I just can’t get to sleep.”
Miss Annersley smiled, “Neither can I dear. I’m just going to have some warm milk, would you care to join me?” Ruey agreed and the two crept through the darkened school to the kitchens, and then back to the head’s sitting room. Neither of them was really up to talking, they sheared the warm milk together, and the head tried to set Ruey’s mind at rest about her form. “They seem to have settled a little. There has been no real bad behaviour, their marks are steady, and although there is still an obvious rift in the form they do not seem to be at each other’s throats any more. I think you are making a steady improvement with them and I am very pleased at how well you are doing.” All the same she wondered how the situation was about to change and what IIIA would make of it.


After a long conversation with Joey the following morning where Joey told her all about Holly, but was strangely reticent about other matters, it was decided that Holly would start school after the half term holiday which was to happen in just over a weeks time. This would give the girls parents time to inform them about Holly, something the head thought was necessary and overruled Joey on. “The poor child cannot be expected to deal with the questions they will through at her if she is simply introduced to them as Holly Maynard. Have some sense Joey. She will have to remain with you until then. Now can you arrange for me to meet Holly and Rose? It will probably be best if they come and have Kaffee with Ruey and me.”



During the half term holidays IIIA were surprised to discover that they were all going to meet with their parents or grandparents or aunts in one place or another. They thought it unusual, but none of them realised the surprising news they were to be given. They all therefore returned to the school after the brief break agog with anticipation about meeting this new member of their family. Elizabeth, Mary Jo and Polly were especially eager, as she was their cousin.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:34pm
They were huddled in small groups when Miss Richardson entered the classroom, bringing Holly with her. She led the girl to the front of the class where Holly found herself subject to the stares of the combined Russell, Bettany and Maynard girls. They saw a friendly looking girl, of mid height, colouring much like some of theirs, primrose hair and clear grey eyes. She met their curious stares with a frank look and a shy smile. “Girls, this is Holly Maynard. I know your parents have all explained to you who she is, so please welcome her and help her to settle into the school as soon as possible. Cheryl, will you please sheepdog her?”
“Of course Miss Richardson,” replied Cheryl Bettany, one of Maurice Bettany’s twins. Her sister Clare smiled towards Holly and putting up her hand said, “Holly, there is a spare desk next to me if you would like it.”
Holly gladly slipped into the chair besides Clare and for the rest of the morning worked hard at her lessons, proving that she was well up to the standard of the form, even if her languages were a little stilted. She was whisked away my matron to unpack during rest period and the remainder of the form took the advantage to discuss the situation without her restricting presence.

“I like her, she seems as if she will fit into the school,” commented Clare. Cheryl added “She asked a lot of questions about the school and lessons and such and wasn’t fazed by the languages. At least she is trying with those, do you remember that dreadful fright the fourths had this time last year.” They all laughed as they remembered the girl who had refused to speak in anything other than English, except in language lessons. She had laughed at them for keeping the language rules when no one was listening and insisted that she would not be able to learn if she had to try and do it in a language she didn’t understand. She had been very miserable and in the end had managed to prevail on her parents to take her away at half term. This meant that Miss Annersley had been very insistent that the language issue was at the forefront in the new prospectus and she had explained it thoroughly to Holly.
“It’s one in the eye for you Maynards anyway, especially after the things you said to Valerie,” crowed Emily.
“We didn’t say anything to Valerie that we shouldn’t have. And what about the things you said to Jonquil?”
“Those were true, her father was mad.”
“And Valerie’s mother was a hot head.” The accusations began to fly around again, this time made worse by the fact that the Maynard connection was now being made out to be hypocritical in condemning Ailie whilst accepting Holly as one of their own. By the time Holly returned the form was embroiled in one big row again.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:36pm
Holly soon found that she was embroiled in a family row. She was struggling to work out who all these girls where and how the family fitted together; and suddenly she was thrown into the middle of an argument she couldn’t follow, but somehow seemed to be central to. She liked all the girls in her form; at least she thought she would, if they would allow her to. Cheryl and Clare, and their cousins Connie and Carol, were very friendly to her, and tried their best to explain where she fitted into everything. They showed her the family trees they had drawn up at the beginning of term. “So, your parents were twins, Maeve and Maurice, and they both had twin girls, you two, on the same day.” Holly thought that she was finally getting somewhere.
“Yes, that’s right. Now, my mother is a cousin to your father, Mike, and a niece of your Grandmother Jo.”
“I think I see, let me look at that chart again. Where do the Russells fit in?”
“Your Grandmother Jo has a sister, Madge, and they are her grandchildren,” explained Clare, “So they are quite distant relations in a way. Our Grandfather, Dick is Madge’s twin and your Grandmother Jo’s older brother.”
“It is all very complicated. I don’t know if I’ll ever work it all out.” Holly sighed, and then raised the question that had been bothering her since that first day. “So if they are all related, why are there such divisions in the form? And why do I keep getting dragged in?” Connie and Carol looked at each other and then at Cheryl and Clare. They had discussed this amongst themselves, the 4C’s being a tight knit group that had not been as involved in the argy-bargy as the rest of the form. In the end Cheryl acting as spokesman for the four said, “That is more difficult to explain. You see we’ve all grown up hearing all the family gossip and well sort of imbibed the legends with our mother’s milk. That leads to some major problems when all the family’s dirty linen gets dragged out every time there is even a minor row. No one likes to hear her own bit of the family talked about in that way.”
“But why am I being dragged into it?”
Cheryl grimaced; she had been hoping to avoid this. “Well at the beginning of term Abigail made a comment about Valerie’s mother, and it was followed up a little later by similar ones from Mags and Mollie. Valerie’s mother, Ailie was never married to Valerie’s father, and has never let anyone know who he is. Valerie then embroiled the Maynards in the row by making comments about Jonquil’s father who was a space explorer and Emily especially has tried to say that Jonquil is not really part of the family, which is nonsense since the Maynards adopted her father along with Miss Richardson and their younger brother, Roddy. The Russell’s have been rubbing their hands over you because the trouble started over Valerie, whose parents are not married, and neither are yours and you come from the other side of the family. Do you get that?” She added this last, as Holly was looking rather confused.
“So most of the arguments are not about yourselves, but about what your parents have done? That’s stupid”
“Well, yes it is, that’s why we’ve tried to keep out of it. But that’s the way it is in a large family. They may start arguing about one thing, but it always ends up about something else. Our parents, being twins and spending their first 8 years in India away from the family have somehow been closer to each other than the rest of the family and we have always stuck together as well.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:37pm
Holly found that if she wanted any peace she had to stick with the 4C’s and this worked out very well for her. They were all of a similar age and were cheesed off with the in fighting from the rest of the form. This arrangement had pleased Miss Richardson and she mentioned it to Len one afternoon as the two took their ease in the staff room during Kaffee. “I asked Cheryl to sheepdog her as I noticed those four had kept out of most of the trouble, as far as they could anyway.”
“It seems to have worked,” agreed Len “and it will do the 4C’s good to include someone else in their group as they seem to be doing. I’m just glad Holly’s languages are up to scratch. I was tearing my hair out last year, and wouldn’t want to repeat that experience.”
“I think Holly will do all right. She seems well able to stand up for herself, yet is polite and well mannered as well as being up to scratch in her lessons.”
“Mother told me that her grandfather had lived all around the world and taken Rose with him, so that is where the languages come from. I believe Holly went to a state school, and has probably needed to learn to stand on her own two feet due to her unusual family situation.”
“Not that uncommon any more. Holly makes the second in that form whose mother wasn’t married and then there is that girl in upper V whose parents are divorced and I believe there is another in the KG as well. I think we are going to have to deal with these families more and more.” Ruey was more aware than Len what effect an unconventional family background could have on a girl and she had been at pains to be open to the one’s she came across.

“Do you know there is a board meeting during the holiday’s?” Len asked casually.
“No, but I was expecting one. I suppose it will be to decide on a successor to Miss Annersley, they will need to do it soon so the two can work together during the summer term to have a smooth handover.”
Len thought about this, “I think it might be a little more than that. I think they are going to talk about the general direction of the school and the way they want it to move forward before appointing a head who will be able to move it in that direction.”
“Do you think they will listen to the current staff,” questioned Ruey.
“They normally consult before any major decision, but I don’t know exactly what they will do.”
“You sound worried, are you expecting anything major?”
“I don’t know, but mamma has been asking me a lot of questions. You know, what do I think about this, how would the staff react to that, how would the girls feel about the other?”
“Hmm, do you think they are planning major changes?”
“I don’t know, but I think they are not ruling anything out either.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:38pm
Joey, as anyone who knew the situation would have told you was not to be locked out of her den for long. She simply knobbled Gaundez one day and asked him to replace the lock. That done she made sure that she had the only key for the new lock. She sent a telegram to her solicitor advising him that no matter what Jack may say, she was still interested in pursuing the case and then she tried to wire Mike and warn him that his father was on the warpath, that was to no avail, she got a reply from his CO advising her that Mike had taken leave to join his father and he didn’t have a contact address for them. This left Joey to stew. She knew that there was no way she could allow Jack to stop her writing, she also knew that if she tried to satisfy herself with looking after her grandchildren, then she would go slowly crazy. She was quite happy for Len’s children to be in the house whilst Len was at the school, and liked to look in on them every now and then, but she was not intending to devote the rest of her life to them. She grew very angry as she thought about the demands Jack was making on her. As the days turned into weeks she grew seriously worried about Mike and Jack and was just about to try and make an international telephone call to Mike’s base when a letter arrived. Joey pounced on it as soon as she recognised Mike’s handwriting.

Dear Mamma,
     The CO has just informed me that you telegrammed to warn me about Father. Thanks for trying, even if you were a tad on the late side. I had just left in fact. I was due some leave and when I received a telegram form father summoning me to London I showed it to the duty officer and requested that I took it immediately. He was agreeable so I got on the next train. I think I might have stayed behind if I had known what was going to happen.

     Dad was in a vile rage. I don’t think he was that bad, even when I was a kid and I know I drove him to the edge a few times. I think he had spent the whole plane journey and then the night at the hotel just winding himself up more and more. I had barely walked through the door before he let me have it right between the eyes. Yes, he actually punched me. I didn’t believe the old man would have the strength, but I felt the bone crack. I could do nothing about it. He came at me with no warning. I wanted to hit him back, and if it had been one of my mates I would have, but he’s an old man! I stood back and raised my arm to defend myself and he got another blow into my stomach. I was doubled up now and he satisfied himself by finally kicking me…well I won’t say where, but boy did it hurt. I think the physical activity finally got to him and he sank onto the sofa.

     I went into the bathroom and cleaned myself up as best as I could and when I came out he explained to me what had happened. Then we had a blazing row. I knew nothing about Holly, believe me Ma, and Rose, well yes I loved her, but it was a long time ago and I’ve no idea if we would still get on as well. Dad wanted me to resign my commission, and marry her. That would be foolish as far as I’m concerned. We parted on less than friendly terms. He basically told me that he never wanted to see me again unless I was  “Willing to shoulder all my responsibilities”. Well, I’ll do my share, but I’m not having Dad tell me who and when to marry.

     I took the rest of my leave anyway, went to the Highlands and did some climbing. It gave me time to do some thinking, and time for my face to heal. I can just imagine what would be said round here if word got out that on old man had broken my nose. I am willing to support Holly; I can pay her school fees and would like to meet her. It would be good to see Rose again, from what little Dad did say she has done her best by both me and Holly. I haven’t got anymore leave due for a little while, but may be able to wrangle some after Christmas. May I come out to Freudesheim then? Mind you if Dad is to be around I might be better staying somewhere else, see what you can arrange for me will you. Not at the school though please. I remember the last time I went there. Wondered through the garden in my uniform, trailed by a pile of silly giggling girls.

     I did gather from something Dad said that he was not expecting to be in Switzerland much any more. He mentioned moving back to Plas Gwyn. That surprised me as I thought you were settled on the Platz for life. Don’t let him push you around Ma, he will given half a chance and he sounded deadly serious about being in England permanently. I saw Con whilst I was in London. In fact I slept on her spare bed the night after I had seen Dad. She is worried about you as well. She has been hearing some stuff about this case of yours. She seems to think that you will have to come to an out of court settlement, or you may risk loosing altogether. I think she knows someone who works for your publisher. She mentioned a name, Amy Stevens I think. It didn’t mean anything to me, but it might to you.

     Do let me know how you are doing. I might be the ‘bad boy’ of the family, but I still care about you. Dad said you had found the book I buried. Don’t be too concerned, it was just adolescence. I know that you and Dad are concerned about your kids. I will make you proud of me one day, Promise.

           Love Mike.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:39pm
Joey read this letter, tears coming to her eyes at the last paragraph. ‘Poor Mike,’ she thought, ‘we’ve both failed him.’ Then her concern about Mike slightly relieved by having some news, she suddenly realised that Jack had still not returned home, even though he had only spent a few hours with Mike. Joey was furious that Jack had dared to try and disown Mike, and determined that he would still be welcome in the house. She wondered where Jack was, and was surprised to find that she was not actually that bothered.

“Do you know what the staff meeting is about?” June Skellern asked her friend Lucy Hamilton. “No idea, why should I?” replied Lucy curiously.
“Oh, I don’t know, it’s just that sometimes I feel that those of you who are old girls or who have taught in the school since the year dot get to know things before the rest of us. Some sort of ‘Chaletian Osmosis’ maybe, “ she laughed at the idea and Lucy hoped that her friend would not be proved right.
They joined their colleagues in pushing the tables together to form one long one that could seat all the staff, and then drew up their chairs and accepted a cup of coffee from Len. The staff were agog to know what the meeting was about, especially when they found that they were to be joined by the staff from St Mildreds. Miss Annersley came in after a few short minutes, followed by her PA Rosalie Dene. Miss Dene held a stack of folders and was followed in turn by the school secretary Clair Kennedy, also carrying a stack of these folders. Miss Annersley took her chair at the head of the table, besides her great friend Nell Wilson, head of St Mildreds, and opened the meeting.
“Thank you all for attending tonight. The sacrifice of your free time is much appreciated. I have been in touch with the board and they would like to canvas your opinions on the future of the school. As you know I will be leaving at the end of the year, and the board wish to appoint before then to ensure a smooth continuity for the girls. It will also mean that I will be able to help my successor begin to take over the reins, and enjoy the summer activities without having the burden of the administration for the coming September. The board have decided that this will be a good time to look at the future of the school as a whole and to appoint a head who is in agreement with them over how to take the school forward.”
Ruey and Len looked at each other at this point and giggled, remembering their previous conversation. Miss Annersley ignored the interruption and they became serious again as they listened to the rest of her speech.
“In the packs you will all find a copy of the prospectus from a number of schools, boys, girls, and co-educational from around the world. The board are asking you to study all of them and note what you think are their strengths and weaknesses. There is also a list of possible things for the school to consider, should we become co-educational?” This caused a splutter from certain staff members.
“It is only a consideration at the moment. Another idea is to change St Mildreds from a finishing branch into a sixth form and university preparation branch. There are suggestions about curriculum reform, especially with science and religious studies. There is also a suggestion about changing our strongly Christian ethos into a more humanitarian one so that we can accept girls from other religions, or who have been brought up with no belief whatsoever. There are suggestions about our language rules, about our traditional links with the San, about uniform, about discipline, about a whole range of things. The board have been as broad ranging as possible and want your opinion on all these matters. They basically want a picture of how you see the school in ten years time. They would like you all to discuss this amongst yourselves and then formulate your individual opinions and feed them back to the board by about three weeks time. This can be done anonymously if you like, and Rosalie will send all replies back to the board together, so please drop any replies into the tray that will be in her room. I will inform you that this is not compulsory, but the board would like to know the opinions of as many staff as possible before they make any decisions, they will be looking to draw up their own development plan for the school during the Christmas break, and will then look to appoint a head who will be able to put it into action. I need hardly add that for any of you thinking of applying for the position this will be a very useful exercise.” Hilda looked round the room and added “I believe the board will be looking to make an internal application, but they have intimated to me that they will consider written applications from any member of staff, once they have finalised the development plan.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:43pm
This was a bombshell for the staff, and as Rosalie and Clair handed the folders out they all started looking through them, wondering what they should say, and what their colleagues thought of this. Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson left together to give the staff some privacy to discuss the questions and as they walked back to Hilda’s quarters Nell looked at her friend and suddenly giggled. “Did you see their faces? Pussystruck doesn’t do it justice”
“Nell, what English, have you been speaking with Joey recently.”
This sobered the lady up as she replied, “No, and I’m not sure what is happening. I saw Matron Greaves yesterday and she said that Jack has still not returned from England. Gottfried is running the San in his absence, but they are feeling a little in the dark Apparently they even went so far as to try and contact Jem, but Australia said he and Madge have flown to England suddenly.”


Madge and Jem had indeed flown to England after receiving a telegram from Jack and after a long and expensive international phone call. Joey was completely in the dark about this as her sister was holing that Jack could be persuaded to ‘see sense’ and Joey be spared the knowledge of his intentions. Madge had always been protective of her younger sister and Jem in his turn had taken over this role, often acting more as father to Joey than a brother-in-law. It was with this attitude that he had approached Jack, however they had not been able to change Jack’s mind, the only concession they had received from him was that they would deliver his ultimatum to Joey in person. It was with heavy hearts that Madge and Jem flew to Switzerland to break the news to an unsuspecting Joey.


“Madge, What a surprise. I didn’t know you were in Europe. Shall I send a car down for you?” This was Joey’s delighted response at receiving her sister’s phone call from Interlaken.
“No, Jem had hired a car for our stay, I don’t know exactly how long we will be here for, but I thought I would warn you before turning up on the doorstep. We should be with you in time for Kaffe und Kuchen.”
Joey dashed off to warn Anna to bake and then to get the main guest room ready for Madge and Jem. That done she ensured that there were fresh flowers in the salon and retired to the kitchen to hurriedly change the plans for dinner as there were suddenly two more guests. The doorbell rang and Joey welcomed her sister and brother-in-law effusively, it being over a year since she had last seen them. They were all seated in front of the open fire in the salon, with coffee and warm scones before Madge raised the reason for their visit.
“Joey baba, we went to England to see Jack.”



Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:43pm
Joey stared into the fire, watching the flames. Keeping her voice steady she said “Oh, and what did he have to say, anything interesting?”
“Joey, listen, this is serious.”
“No, you listen, that man locked me out of my den and is trying to order me around like a five year old. He hit Mike and tried to make him marry a girl Mike hardly knows, and then he told Mike that he would not be welcome here unless he did. I have heard nothing from Jack since he left for England, nor has he been in touch with Gottfried or any of the children. Why should I listen now?”
“Because he has resigned from the San effective immediately and has no intention of returning to Switzerland,” cut in Jem, annoyed with Jack for doing so and with Joey who did not seem concerned.
“What do you mean, not return, this is our home?”
Madge sat next to her sister and took her hands, “Joey, Jack has told us that he wishes to live at Plas Gwyn and will not return here. He has asked us to tell you that you are welcome to join him, but only on condition that you drop your lawsuit against the publishers and stop writing. I think he is serious about this; he is still furious with Mike and says he will not be allowed home until he has married Rose. He told us about Mike’s diary, I’m surprised this didn’t come much sooner, you know Jack has never agreed with working mothers, he seems to feel that you have deceived him about the amount of work you were doing all these years. I know he has acted harshly, but I think you are going to have to decide what is more important to you.”
Joey continued to stare into the flames and neither Madge nor Jem dared disturb her. When she spoke her voice was flat, as devoid of emotion as she could make it, “It’s not just the writing, I might come to terms with that eventually, it is his attitude to me and towards Mike. I have always said that I would never turn one of my children out of the home, and I mean that. I cannot live with Jack anymore. These last few weeks have been an eye-opener. I realised that once I knew Mike was safe, I wasn’t concerned about Jack any more.”
Jem and Madge shot a glance at each other. They had discussed this and knew already that it was a possibility Joey would come to this decision. Neither of them was keen on it, having tried everything they could to get Jack to relent, but they had decided between them on the flight that they would support Joey whatever she decided.
“Joey, if that is still your decision tomorrow, then I will talk to my lawyer in England and we will see about a separation agreement and financial settlement from Jack.
“Yes, I don’t think either of us would agree to divorce.” Joey continued to stare into the fire and Jem, worried about her reaction asked Madge to help her to bed, where he appeared 20 minutes later with soup, soft rolls, hot milk and a soothing dose.
“Try to sleep as much as you can Joey. You have had a trying few weeks and I don’t want you ill. You appear very stressed and in need of rest. Madge and I will probably be here until after the school board meeting now, so we will help you through this.” With these words, seeing that the dose was beginning to take effect Jem left the room, beckoning to Madge to do the same.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:44pm
Hilda looked at the letter she had just been brought. “Sorry Miss Annersley, it slipped in with the school post,” said Clair as she handed it over. On seeing the handwriting she checked hurriedly, but being marked private it had not been opened. She breathed a sigh of relief and slipped it into her pocket. It was not until lunchtime that she was able to read the epistle, and her heartbeat slightly quicker as she opened the envelope. It was only a brief note this time, but the sentiment contained caused a colour to rise in her face, and she slipped away to her own quarters for a few moments to place this letter with the other treasured ones. Then looking in the mirror, straightening her MA gown so that she once again looked trig and trim she made her way down to the hall where the girls were waiting to hear the Christmas play.

“What is happening?” queried Holly.
“It’s the Christmas play. We do one every year and just about every one takes part. It’s tremendous fun. We have a collection for poor children in Innsbruck and at the Tiern See, near where the school was started. Sometimes it’s a straight play, sometimes a pagent. Normally your Auntie Con or your Grandmother Jo writes them, although occasionally it has been Emily’s grandmother. Shh, look Mary’s standing up.”
“Less noise please,” said the head girl as she rung the bell on the dais. “ You sound like the animals at feeding time. You may speak your own languages for the rest of the day, but I am sure the head will rescind that if she hears this noise.” Mary Winterton left to join the other grandees of the school and the girls quietened down so that only the occasional whisper could be heard. Even this ceased as the doors open and the staff entered as a body. They took their seats, those who were going to read the speaking parts holding the scripts in their hands. The head had joined the staff as they were entering the hall, and entered last, her MA gown sweeping around her as she climbed the steps to the small dais. She stood and surveyed the excited schoolgirls, smiling at their eagerness.
“I think you all know by now that you are here to hear the Christmas play. The staff will read it through to you this afternoon, and the speaking parts will be distributed during the week. Many of you will be needed for the choir and orchestra, and those of you who are able dancers will be needed for the many dance scenes.” This caused some further excitement as dance had been kept to a minimum in their previous plays, but many of them took ballet and other forms of dancing and were pleased that they were to be included in this way. “The play has been written this year by Con Harmsworth, known to many of you as Con Maynard, and the mother of Mary Jo and Polly in IIIA. The dance scenes have been choreographed by her sister Felicity Maynard, and she is very pleased to be able to come out here for a few weeks prior to the play and help train you.” The dancers amongst them were ecstatic at this. Felicity was making a name for herself as a classical ballerina and they knew she was just finishing a season in Sleeping Beauty for the Royal Ballet Company. To be taught by her, even for a few weeks was privilege they had not thought to attain.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:46pm
The play is called ‘The legend of the Christmas Flowers’ and is actually an amalgamation of several different legends all centring on Christmas flowers. The main theme is that the most precious gift we can bring to Christ is our love. It opens with the story of the Christmas spider, an old German legend. A poor woman has been tidying her house all day, ready to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, she has swept, scrubbed, dusted and polished until everything is as spotless as it can be, the only gift she can make to her Lord. The spiders have all been chased out, but when the woman leaves to attend mass they creep back in to see the Christmas tree. It stands undecorated, in a simple pot in the corner of the room, the old woman being unable to afford any decorations. The spiders scuttle over and run up and down the tree, delighting in weaving their webs to decorate the tree as their gift to both the old woman and the Christ Child. Then as they do so, a light shines through the door, and their webs turn to silver and gold thread. The narrator speaks, telling how the Christ child saw the gifts of both and delighted in them. The scene then changes to Mexico. We see lots of excited children, running and skipping as they run to the Christmas Eve service with their gifts to lay before the crib. They talk about what they are bringing and how they will celebrate Christmas, the meal they will eat and how the priest will receive their gifts and distributed to the poor. At the edge of the crowd stands a lame boy. He is unable to join in the games, and his clothes are in tatters, he has no gift to bring, and his mother is reliant on the gift the priest will bring to them later to give the family a special meal to celebrate. This boy longs to be able to bring a gift to the crib, if only once in his life. As the other children progress into the church he sees some weeds growing by the wall and tenderly picks them and ties them into a bunch, ripping off a strip of his shirt to tie them with. He creeps into the church and watches the other children go one by one up to the crib, when they have all gone, he too sidles up to the crib, unfortunately he is noticed by the other children and seeing his paltry offering they begin to shout out, teasing him. The boy ignores them, and kneeling at the crib lays his gift down with infinite care. He moves away, and the church grows quiet as they realise that the bunch of weeds has transformed into beautiful red flowers, those we know as poinsettia. That evening the priest is able to distribute some to every house in the village.
The scene changes again. This time we see a clearing in a forest. Different trees and flowers dance in, saying how they are bringing their gifts to the Christ Child. They are bringing shinning leaves, beautiful flowers, strong wood and fragrant perfume. Holly enters and they all move away, afraid of her sharp leaves. She laments that she has only prickles, and that is an unworthy gift for the child. The others agree and move on seeking the One they are top make their gift to and Holly if left alone in the clearing. She weeps until an angel appears, telling her that she has a great gift, she herself can be the gift, the points on her leaf reminding people of the crown of thorns. The angel reaches out and holds her, the holly leaves pricking the angel, but the blood becomes berries, and the angel says “Give your berries, they represent the blood of Christ.” Holly immediately rises and hurries after the other trees and flowers.
The next scene is the stable, the door is barely ajar and outside sits a young girl, watching those arriving to give their gifts to the newborn baby. She sees the old woman carrying in her small silver and gild covered tree, the spiders scuttling after her. She watches with interest as the Mexican children arrive, led by the lame boy, all carrying poinsettia flowers. She sees the trees and flowers arrive and Holly last of all, laying a wreath of holly leaves and berries. Throughout all this she keeps creeping up to the stable door and peeping through, running back to her watching place with each new arrival. Finally she sees the shepherd arrive, bringing a lamb and then the wise men with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This girl has nothing to offer, not even weeds or prickles. She sits behind the stable door, peering through a gap, and cries over her lack of gift. The same angel we have seen before appears and comforts her, then reaches out his hand and touches the ground where her tears fell. From her tears spring up roses, and at the behest of the angel she gathers them and hurries into the stable to give her gift.
As she goes in the doors open fully and we see the nativity scene. All the characters gathered round worshipping and the angelic choir appears to sing.”
Miss Annersley stood back and let this outline sink in, and then holding up her hand for the girls to remain silent she added, “The staff will now read the play in full. I will indicate where the carols and the stage directions come. Please save your applause and questions for after that.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:47pm
This was followed and Mary Jo and Polly were delighted to hear their mother given three tremendous cheers once the read through was finished. When they were dismissed IIIA made their way to the common room eager to discuss the play.


“Do we all have parts?” queried Holly, “It’s a lovely play, and if I were allowed I’d love a small part, even a crowd scene.”
“That is up to Miss Entwistle and Miss Derwent, they produce the play. Of course if Plato wants you in the choir, then that’s where you will be, or if you can dance then Felicity may need you,” replied Carol.
“I can sing a bit, but I’ve never done any dance, other than folk of course.”
The excitement of the afternoon helped to relieve some of the stress felt in the form and for a few days things seemed to be going more smoothly. Ruey was just letting her vigilance down when another unfortunate incident occurred within the form.

It started when Emily decided to share with the rest of the form something she, Alice and Shelia had discovered from the twins mother. “I say Polly, Mary Jo, did you know that your grandparents are going to divorce. My my, won’t that be a comedown. First we find out about the Maynard skeleton, Our Holly, and now divorce in the family as well.” The Maynard part of the family was shocked, no word of this had reached the children yet, although news of the separation was filtering through to their parents’ generation.
“Grandmother Jo and grandpa wouldn’t do that. They’re Catholic,” shouted Polly.
“Well maybe they are letting their flaunted principles drop a little,” sneered Shelia. “Holly has really opened a can of worms hasn’t she?”
Holly went white at this. She hadn’t seen much of her grandmother, but was taken with the little she knew of Joey. Jack had frightened her a little, and he had left without speaking to her anyway, but Joey had been kind and told her as much as she could about the school, taking her to buy her uniform and comforting her after her mother had left for Interlaken. “Say that isn’t true. I did nothing to hurt Grandmother Jo.”
Valerie, seeing a chance to score a point over Holly without realising what harm she could be doing said, “They would still be together if you hadn’t turned up. It was how he went after your father that started it all.”
Holly dropped her books at this and ran out of the room. The others stared after her, shocked by her sudden reaction. Clare ran at Valerie, “You said that on purpose to upset her, you pig.” She acted as fast as she spoke, and before Valerie knew what was happening, she was on the floor as Clare had pushed her straight over. Daisy and Helen immediately came to her defence, grabbing Clare and tugging at her hair. Valerie struggled to her feet, to find the other of the 4C’s coming to Clare’s assistance, by the time she was tugging at Cheryl’s belt the rest of the form was involved and Miss Richardson walked into the room unnoticed.

Suffice it to say that IIIA did not emerge unscathed from their encounter with the form mistress. Miss Richardson allowed no explanations for their behaviour. She sent them all to clean up, had the desks straightened and then spent the rest of the lesson giving them her unvarnished opinion of girls who resort to fist fighting to solve their differences. They were left with the sad realisation that they had to forfeit their free time for the rest of the day to spend sat upright, with their hands folded behind their backs whilst taking in turns to read from Pilgrim’s Progress. They also found that their Saturday night was to be spent with Matron, hemming dusters and sewing sheets sides to middle. This punishment was, they were reminded nothing to what would have happened if the head had heard about their actions. That would have resulted in being left out of the play. It was only after handing out this swinging penalty that Miss Richardson realised that one of the form was missing. She made enquires and found out that Holly had left the room before the fight began. Dismissing the form to Mittagessen she went looking for Holly, wondering if maybe she should have found out the cause of the fight.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:48pm
She eventually found Holly in a little music room whose window looked over towards Freudesheim. Holly’s eyes were tear stained and her face showed streaks where the tears had run down her face.
“Holly, whatever is wrong?”      
“It’s all my fault isn’t it?”
“What is? I haven’t heard any bad reports of you”
Holly began to sob again and looked out of the window towards Freudesheim. “Grandmother Jo. They said it was my fault, if I wasn’t here then my grandfather would be.”
This left Ruey in a quandary. She wanted to comfort the child, and reassure her that there were more causes to Jack and Joey’s separation, but felt that this would be discussing someone else’s private affairs, something she was loathe to do. She held the girl close to her for a moment, and then handing her a handkerchief bade her wipe her face and listen.
“I have known your grandparents for longer than you have been alive. I can guarantee that there are a lot of causes, mainly a clash of personalities, and issues that have been coming to the boil for a number of years. The arrival of you and your mother has just brought to a head something that was probably going to happen soon anyway. Even if that was not the case, you cannot be held responsible for someone else’s reaction, especially when it concerns things that happened before you were born or outside of your control. I can’t explain it any more, not at present anyway, that is up to your Grandmother Jo, or at least to your Auntie Len.” With this she took Holly down to her dorm and bade her get into bed for a rest, and then proceeded to go and inform matron what had happened to Holly.


The tension in IIIA was mirrored in the staff room. The board’s request had been discussed from every angle, and the suggestions met with every possible reaction. Some of the younger members of staff, especially those like June Skellern who were not old girls, advocated sweeping reforms on curriculum and ethos, wanting the school to be much more rigorously academic and not as bothered with the moral and religious teaching. Some of the older members of staff saw no need for any change, saying that “Today’s girls more than ever need the traditional values we offer.” The old girls on the staff such as Len, Ruey, Lucy, and even those from slightly farther back, Clare Kennedy, Rosalind Yolland and others wavered in the middle, seeing the need for change but unwilling to over-ride all their traditions. Tempers flared as certain questions were discussed. The question about going Co-ed was a flashpoint. Many of the staff where in favour of it, for the junior school at least, pointing out that having bays in the Junior school, up to age thirteen would solve the need for many of the Platz family boys to be sent away to prep schools at a young age. Others claimed this was a slippery slope that would lead to the school having a reputation for teen pregnancies. Nancy Wilmot and Len Entwhistle especially disagreed over this. They were more civilised than their juniors, but still ended with a bitter conversation where both drew on the Maynard family to prove their points.
“Surely Nancy you can see how being sent away from home so early has tended to isolate our boys from the family.” Len tried to make the older teacher see her point.
“No, that is just it, girls need protecting and educating separately from the boys. Think what could have happened to the school if your Mike had been here when he was 16, it could have ended up one of our girls whom he corrupted.”
“It wasn’t like that at all. Mike did not corrupt anyone, girls shouldn’t be ‘protected’ from boys, they should be taught how to handle a relationship with a boy responsibly.”
“Len, you will be advocating we teach them about birth control next.”
“Well, that might be a good idea. I don’t advocate birth control, obviously. However that is a choice the girls should make from an informed background. When they leave here at 18, and enter university they need to know how to deal with the temptations that will face them, and for those who marry at 18, and there are still some, they need to know their choices when it comes to sex and birth control.”
Len and Nancy both believed strongly in their positions, and neither would be swayed. However bringing the example of Mike into the equation offended Len, and she was frostily polite to the older teacher after this. Nancy saw Len as being ‘as bad as her brother’ in advocating sex education and the two began to polarise staff room opinion.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:49pm
“Joey, be sensible, you are not fit to get up yet.” Thus Madge to her sister. Since Joey had heard Jack’s ultimatum from Madge and Jem she had been confined to her bed. A dose had helped her to sleep that first night, but she had risen the next morning, and collapsed walking across the bedroom, her knees going wobbly and giving out on her and somehow once on the floor she just burst into tears and stayed there. Madge bringing in a cup of morning tea for her found her cold, shivering and incoherent. Jem had prescribed rest but was unwilling to give her further medication, feeling that Joey was a bad subject for drugs. Both Madge and Jem felt that she needed a good break from business matters, and had taken matters into their own hands. Joey found herself confined to bed, Madge ran the house, with Jem dealing with matters at the San pro tem. Con had been written to and advised to speak to Amy and see if there was any compromise that could be arranged with the publishers that would satisfy both parties, although nothing would be done legally without Joey. For a short time Joey had been too ill to protest at this treatment, but over the last few days she had begun to champ at the bit again, wanting especially to see Holly and find out how she was settling down, feeling a responsibility for the girl who had been introduced to an extended family and then packed off to school. She had begun to ask if she could get up and invite Holly to tea. Madge had heard from Matron an edited version of what had happened to Holly, Matey just saying that Holly had blamed herself for the events at Freudesheim and had cried herself sick over it. Madge and Matey were both worried that if the two were to meet then it would do both of them more harm that good.


Madge herself was worried about the school. Hilda had told her about the divisions in the staff room, although she hadn’t mentioned the trouble in IIIA not wishing to worry Madge further when she was dealing with Joey. It had not taken Madge long however to realise that there were undercurrents that she was being kept in the dark about and she determined to spend some time at the school once Joey was well.

Holly had returned to the form after a days rest, and in the meantime Len had gone and told IIIA what she thought of them for upsetting Holly in such a way, and telling from the person most likely to know that the situation at her home was no fault of Holly’s. Len went back to Ruey’s room after that and collapsed in a chair. “That was gruesome.”
“Thanks for doing it, they will have taken it much better from you than they would have from me.”
“Are you having problems with them then?”
“I don’t know, there is something, occasionally, especially with Alice and Shelia, just an almost supercilious look, but nothing I can really put my finger on. Jonquil won’t say anything to me of course, but she seems at loggerheads with the Scully’s too.”
“Keep your eye’s open, and if there is anything I can do let me know.”
“How are you coping at home?” asked Ruey, changing the subject.
“Auntie Madge is being great with mother, and I keep the children to my apartment as much as possible, or to our patch of the garden. Rosli has charge of them anyway during the day, so they haven’t noticed much change.”
“I asked about you, not the children or Auntie Joey.” Ruey had noticed the shadows appearing under Len’s eyes and was not going to let her avoid the question.
“Well, I’m happier about mother now Auntie Madge and Uncle Jem are here, so that is one worry less. The girls are doing well and will start in the KG next year, and Reg remains exactly the same. I’m used to that situation now, and from everything the doctors tell me it is not going to change. The girls have never known him, which is one relief, although some day I know I’m going to have to tell them everything. I’m more concerned about the situation here. Auntie Madge has been probing me about how the staff feels concerning the changes that have been suggested. I can tell her my point of view, but I don’t know how much to tell her about the reactions of some of the others. She is their boss after all, being the major shareholder. I’m beginning to feel that maybe I should spend some time talking to some of them and trying to patch things up a little, after all no matter who becomes head we will all have to work together for years to come.”
“You always were the responsible one weren’t you,” laughed Ruey.
“Sorry, it’s the way I’m made.”


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:49pm
Len walked home slowly that evening. She and her children had been living in the apartment at Freudesheim now for four years, ever since she had been told there was no hope of Reg making a recovery and he had been moved to the hospice run by the nuns in Berne. The children did not remember him. He had been in one hospital or another since they were six months old and they were now approaching six. Len had decided early on that she did not want their lives overshadowed by sadness and she had tried to bring them up as normally as possible. She herself had been through a mourning period, grieving for what might have been if Reg had never answered the telephone on that day, but had courageously come through that, and now was, outwardly at least settled in her life at home and school. Most people did not know that she occasionally still ached for the Reg with whom she had fallen in love, married and created three wonderful girls together with. They had such dreams for their children, and she sometimes felt the burden of being alone was too much for her to carry. Ruey and her other trips knew how she sometimes struggled, but Len had always been the strong one in the family and had never truly learnt how to let others share her burden. Tonight, feeling the stresses of home and school, she lingered in the rose garden. Wrapped up warmly in her coat, hat, gloves and scarf she sat on the bench and gazed at the stars. It was here that her Uncle Jem found her quarter of an hour later. He gazed at her for a few minutes and then sat next to her.
“Peaceful out here isn’t it,” he commented, taking a long draw on his pipe.
“Yes, the stars are so beautiful, and on a clear night it always makes me feel so secure to sit here and look at them.”
They sat in silence for a few moments then Jem ventured another comment, “We all need that security sometimes. I’ve lived all over the world, and never found that security anywhere in man made things.” Jem paused here, feeling that Len would find her way better without him.
“You’re right. It’s why I look at the stars. They display God’s handiwork, and that’s what really makes me feel secure. Sometimes everything gets too much for me alone. Everyone thinks I’ve got over Reg. I have in a way, but in another way I never will, I just sometimes need these few minutes at the end of a day, especially at the moment.”
“I’ll leave you to it. Don’t be too long; it is getting cold now though. I’ll tell Anna to start preparing some hot chocolate for you.”
“Thanks for understanding Uncle Jem.” Len resumed her stargazing, and communion with He who made the stars.

Jem wandered back toward the house. He had himself often sought solace under the stars, and had recognised what Len was doing as something he also occasionally felt the need to do. Both people who found it difficult to let others know of their needs and self-contained they needed that outlet of being alone, with no need to pretend, not something that was easy to come by when you were part of a long family.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:51pm
Holly bounced up to the 4C’s excitedly, “I’m to go to grandmother Jo’s for tea, I haven’t seen her since I arrived!”
“That’ll be your ‘new girls’ tea. She has the new girls every term. You missed ‘cos of starting late, but your grandmother won’t let you miss out.”
“Why does she do that?” queried Holly.
“Because she was the first Chalet girl, she wants to welcome all the other girls who come here. It is rather a nice tradition really,” replied Cheryl.
“The only catch is that I’ve got to choose someone to take with me.”
“What’s the problem, it’s not as if you were friendless, look at us, tongues out begging to be invited. Anna bakes delicious cakes,” laughed Carol.
“That’s it. There are four of you, how do I choose,” said Holly plaintively.
“Draw lots,” suggested Clare succinctly.
They did just that in the end, and Cheryl won. Everyone then agreed that this was probably most fair as she had been Holly’s sheepdog.

The two girls set out that afternoon, going through the grounds and the small gate between the two properties. They passed the rose garden where Len had been sat a few nights earlier and made their way decorously to the front door. Joey opened the door herself and after welcoming them both with hugs led them through to the salon where Madge was also waiting. They spent the afternoon looking through some old photograph albums that Joey had found. This, as was her intention, helped Holly become more familiar with the different branches of the family and with some of the school legends. By the time Anna brought the large tea trolley in the four of them were laughing merrily and Holly was beginning to form the opinion that the matriarchs of the family would be horrified if they knew of the divisions in IIIA. She ventured this opinion to Cheryl when the two were washing their hands prior to eating.
“You are probably right, but even if they knew what was going on, all they could do is jaw us about it, and that won’t make any real difference.”
Holly agreed and they went off to see what delicacies Anna had come up with for tea.  

When they returned they told Clare, Connie and Carol about their afternoon. “It was such fun. They both had such wonderful tales to tell. And I loved seeing all those old photographs.” Holly had not been so happy in weeks. Seeing Joey and realising that her grandmother did not blame her had done a lot to help her. Cheryl too had enjoyed her afternoon and filled the 4C’s in with their opinion of how their grandparents would view the rifts in the form.
“Can we not do something about it? I’m so fed up with all this snipping and silly pranks. I know we try to stay out of it, but sometimes that’s impossible,” Carol wondered. Her coat had been missing all it’s buttons that morning, and she had been hard put to think of a revenge that had not already been carried out by one member or another of the form. In the end she had settled herself with placing a large spider in Helen’s desk. The fun and disturbance that had caused in prep had been worth the detention handed out by May Rosomon to the whole form. Even so the 4C’s were beginning to be bored by the whole affair, and now had the feeling that their elders would be distinctly displeased if they knew the state of affairs.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:52pm
A small, select party of staff had taken a walk along to the Auberge one Sunday afternoon. Nancy Wilmot had taken advantage of the cold, dry day to invite her friends to take a walk with her and they had all been willing to take the rare opportunity to be together by themselves. They had taken the path off the platz and where well on their way when Nancy brought up the subject of the proposed changes.
“It’s not that I mind change,” she was saying “I just think that our girls have enough to deal with during the holidays and after they leave school. They need the stability that a traditional education will give them. I’m all for revising our curriculum slightly, so that our girls who wish to enter university are not disadvantaged, but I don’t see the need for radical changes.”
“I agree, but it is the idea of going co-ed that worries me more. I would never know how to teach boys, still if you become head as we expect then I can’t see that being a problem,” added Kathy.
“If I become head,” replied Nancy darkly. The conversation stopped for a while as they reached the inn and ordered coffee and watched some of the local village youngsters trying out the echoes.
“Do you think there is any doubt about the headship” queried Miss Derwent when the coffee arrived, “After all you are senior mistress.”
“Yes, but with all these questions the board is asking anything could be in the pipeline. They seem to be looking for someone younger, Len Entwistle for instance.” The maths mistress appeared to be seriously considering this proposition.
“Oh, she’s much too young,” put in Kathy, “I taught her when she was only 12.”
“She is as old as Nancy was when she stood in as head though,” pointed out Sharlie Andrews.
“And, at that time Hilda told me I was older than she was when she became head, and Madame was even younger when she founded the school,” said Nancy.
“What can you do about it even so, Len is after all a Maynard, and may feel that the position should fall to her by right,” suggested Miss Charlesworth.
“If that is the case then she had better disabuse herself of that notion quickly. I will be applying as soon as the board produce that document we are supposed to wait for, and I intend to give anyone else who applies a good run for their money.”
“Do I see a dirty tricks campaign?” laughed Kathie, trying to lighten the brooding looks on her friends face.
Wait and see! I may just surprise everyone,” was all Nancy would say in reply. The group rose from their table and made their way back to the Chalet, Nancy refusing to say any more about the headship despite the teasing of all her friends. She was comforted to know however that they all supported her, she had arranged this walk to judge if she had the support of the older staff. As her friends talked her mind whirled with plans, she knew that she would have to be more cautious when approaching the other staff, but felt that a certain amount of canvassing would not go amiss.



It was a few days later that Lucy Hamilton approached Len with a degree of trepidation. They had found themselves alone in the language section of the library, reviewing the books held, and Lucy decided to tell Len what had been happening.
“I say, Len, did you know that some off the older staff went to the Auberge last Sunday?”
“Yes, what about it,” asked Len as she looked at the book she held in her hands. It was a French copy of a Jules Verne novel and was falling to pieces, “Do you think we should replace this?”
“Defiantly,” replied Lucy writing the title down on her list, “The thing is, this is difficult, but some of them, Nancy and Kathie mainly have been talking to the other staff this week, and I think you should know.”
Len put down the pile of textbooks she had just picked up and turned to face Lucy, “Are you trying to tell me something? If so, please do so outright.”
Lucy took a deep breath and looked her senior in the face, “They have been talking to other staff, individually and canvassing for Nancy to replace Miss Annersley as head. They say the only other candidate is you and that you should withdraw because of the ‘disgraceful way that those families have behaved this term’. Those are Nancy’s words not mine,” she added as she saw Len frown at this last revelation.
Len continued to look through the books for a short while and then she said, “Thank you for telling me Lucy. I appreciate your honesty. To return that honesty, I have not yet decided what I am going to do; it is not as simple a decision for me as it is for Nancy. I will put the school first in whatever decision I make and still need to work out what will be the best thing to do. Until then I don’t really wish to discuss the question.”
“That’s OK. Have we gone through all the French books now?”
“Just this shelf left. I think we should leave the German until tomorrow.” And saying so Len bent down to review the books on the last shelf.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:53pm
The rehearsals for the play had been going well. In IIIA Helen and Emily were included in the choir as were Octavia, Elizabeth and Mollie. Tabitha had volunteered to be involved in the props and scenery department and was rejoicing in the handicrafts department during all her free time. Of the others Daisy, Mags and Jonquil were included with the dancers, and the others all had small acting parts. The rehearsals had been taken in the main by the prefects, Len supervising on the crowd scenes, and Miss Derwent on the central speaking roles. All concerned were beginning to feel that it was pulling together well, and welcomed Felicity heartily when she arrived a whole month before the end of term.

“Auntie Felicity sure does make you work,” groaned Jonquil when they returned to the common room after one session. She stretched her legs out and could feel the tired muscles.
“Oh, but think how much we are learning, I’ve never danced like this before, and just watching her dance is an experience,” said Mags dreamily. A cushion hit her on the head as Valerie overheard this last comment.
“No crushes in this school, don’t be so sentimental,” shouted Valerie.
Mags returned the compliment with another cushion and soon the common room was filled with flying cushions. They were mostly hitting their mark, although being light doing so with little harm. Those hit were flinging cushions back, with little regard for who had flung them first, or why. As more people became involved they began ducking behind the furniture, dashing from cover to gather more cushions and generally romping around. Those who had been at the general rehearsal entered to room to become immediately involved as the missiles caught them. By this time the majority of the combatants had no idea of what had caused the initial clash, but were having great fun. It was only when Cheryl and Connie ran into each other in the middle of the room and sat down together with a bang that they began to drop their cushions and look around. Some girls flopped across the large sofas, panting, some dropped onto the floor, and some simply stood, too tired to move further. A giggle was heard, and then another. Connie and Cheryl caught each other’s eye and began to laugh. Within a moment all were laughing out loud, and leaning on each other’s shoulders in their helplessness.

“It’s like Grandmother Jo’s photo,” giggled Holly, “You know, the one of the snow fight at half term.” Cheryl knew what she was referring to, but the others demanded an explanation and Holly told them about the photographs she and Cheryl had seen.
“Did she show you the one of the girl with the Sax?” asked Mary Jo eagerly, “That was always my favourite.”
The others crowded round at this asking for elucidation and those of Joey’s grandchildren told of the collection of photos their grandmother had, and the stories to go along with them that they could remember.
“I’ve just remembered, Grandmother Jo said that we should look for a book in the library called ‘Legends’ if we want to know more of these stories, do any of you know it?” recalled Holly.
“I seem to remember Mary talking about it,” replied Octavia, “but she said we should avoid it if we wanted to stay out of trouble.” That comment brought down howls and reproaches from all the form, telling poor Octavia that Mary’s remarks alone should have told her they needed to see that book.


It was at this point that Felicity walked into the common room with a message for the dancers about their next rehearsal. Her eyebrows went up when she saw the state of the room, but she was quick to notice that IIIA were mixed together, laughing and comfortable with each other. Having heard everything Ruey had to say on the subject she was wise enough to deliver her message and withdraw with a twinkle in her eye saying just, “It’s a good job I’m not on staff, this room looks as if you had been having a free for all in here.” The girls looked at each other, and realising there was only five minutes until the bell went for bedtime, worked together with an earnest to put the room to rights.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:55pm
Len was exhausted when she reached the railway station at Interlaken and was glad to spot her Uncle Jem in the crowded station concourse.
“This way Len, I’ve got the car outside and will run you up to the Platz. Joey said you would be grateful not to have to wait for the connecting train.”
“Thank-you Uncle Jem. It’s always a tiring journey and I’m looking forward to getting home.” Len sank into the car with a sigh, and Jem turned on the heating as he drove carefully out of the town. Len remained silent, and when Jem cast a glance in her direction he noticed her grey face and the dark circles under her eyes. His niece had a hard row to hoe and he knew that there was little that could be done to change it.
“How was Reg?” he asked.
“Just the same. He doesn’t recognise me, and sometimes I wonder why I go to visit, but I know it’s my duty. The nuns are very kind and look after the patients, but it is such a depressing place.”
Jem nodded as he steered the car round the bends on the mountain road. He knew what these institutions could be like, and he too had mourned for the loss of a promising young doctor.
“Do they hold out no hope for him at all?” his doctors instincts were outraged at the possibility of writing someone’s future off, although he knew it happened and had to do so himself on countless occasions.
“No, they have tried everything, new drugs, old treatments, familiar places, nothing has had any effect. They say he has recovered as much as he ever will. His life expectancy is good, although they say he will have a higher risk of infections like pneumonia.”
“That’s right, although even that can now be treated with some of these new drugs that have been discovered over the last twenty or so years.”
They fell into silence again as they drove higher and higher. Len was too exhausted and tense after her visit, and Jem felt that it would be crass to talk of lighter things, yet knew that there was nothing he could say to help Len. He drove round another hairpin bend and glanced at Len, seeing the tear marks on her face, and the way she bit her lip. Noticing this he sped up as much as he could and got her home in record time.




Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:55pm
Arriving at Freudesheim Jem leaped out of the car and went around to open the door for Len, offering her his arm as he supported her inside the house. Len made to go round to her own apartment but Jem stopped her, “No, come into the house tonight, the children are already there.” He led her in and handed her over to Joey and Madge who got her into bed as soon as they could. Jem himself went into Jacks study and sat down at the desk, his head in his hands. Madge came in a few minutes later and placed her hands on his shoulders. Jem turned to face her and she sat down in the armchair.
“Such a sad loss,” Jem murmured.
“Yes, when I first heard the news of the accident I thought ‘What a brave boy’ but never realised what it was going to mean.”
“None of us did. He was brave, and saved that child’s life, but what a price to pay.”
The two of them sat together for a while, remembering the details of how Reg had been out walking one day and had come across a child hanging from a collapsing wooden bridge. He had immediately gone to help. He had managed to pull the child to safety but the bridge had been unable to take his weight and had given out under the strain. Reg had been plunged down a precipice; the falling bridge causing part of the mountainside to fall along with it and Reg had been half buried under the landslide. It had never been expected that her would be dug out alive and his injuries when he was rescued were horrific. He had banged his head many times on the way down and when he hit the bottom had broken his legs, pelvis, and collarbone; and even worse, had fractured his skull. The landslide then covered him with rocks and earth, some of this landing on top of his other injuries. The earth had for a while reduced his oxygen supply and he was unconscious from loss of blood when he was finally removed from the scene. Reg had remained in a coma for a number of days and when he awoke knew no one. He had suffered a massive trauma and over the next few weeks had a number of strokes. As time passed his body recovered except for a slight limp, but his mind never did. Now he had the mental age of a young child. His sleeping patterns were erratic, and he needed round the clock nursing care. His memory had never recovered as far as it was possible to tell, he showed no recognition of people or places, and it appeared that his short-term memory had also suffered, as he showed no capacity for learning or reacquiring the life skills he once had.  Len and her family had searched through all the different treatments and hospitals, but none had been able to help, and now he was a permanent patient at a hospice run by a religious order for long-term patients with mental disorders. Len went to visit him about every six weeks and found it a very trying experience.

Madge and Jem remained where they were until Joey appeared, “Thank-you Jem. She finds it so hard seeing Reg like this, and despite all the good work the nuns do it is still a dreadful place to visit.”
“She is very brave, and loyal. A lot of women would stop going,” added Madge.
“Len is like that. I don’t know how she manages sometimes, but she had always had that inner strength that keeps her going.” Joey was proud of her eldest child.
“How is she now?” asked Jem, as a doctor always concerned about the health of those around him.
“Tired, but eating super and looking as if she will sleep. I’m glad you brought here instead of letting her go to the apartment alone. Sometimes she cries herself to sleep after seeing Reg, but I think she seems much more settled after the care we’ve given her tonight,” replied Joey.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:57pm
A week after Len’s visit to Reg in Berne, Hilda and Madge had been over to St Mildreds together to see Nell and discuss some of the board’s ideas for St Mildreds. It was intended that Nell would remain as head of the finishing branch until her retirement in a further year’s time. At that point it was thought that the new head of the school would probably become titular head of St Mildreds with a deputy in charge as the finishing branch became more of a sixth form and university preparation branch, with a stream for arts specialisms and one for domestic specialisms to cater for those girls who would not be going to university. This would replace the sixth form in the school, as girls would be expected to do their advanced GCE’s here. The three had discussed this from every point and knew now what they wanted to put to the applicants for the position.

It was the position of headmistress that Madge and Hilda were discussing as they walked back to the school.
“How do the staff feel about you retiring?” asked Madge, wondering if this would account for the undercurrents she had felt when she arrived.
“It is no surprise to them. I think some of the older staff are more worried about the changes the board have mooted. They are at that age when they see change as a threat rather than a challenge. The younger staff, especially the old girls say that they cannot imagine the place without me, but when they start talking about the future I think that they relish the thought of the challenge that some change will bring.”
“And what about you, do you see retirement as a challenge or a threat?”
Hilda laughed, “Quite defiantly a challenge. There are a lot of things I want to do and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

It was a short walk across the Platz between the two sections of the school, but it was a walk the two were not destined to finish. They were walking along the road that was the main lifeline for the Platz. Even with the growth in the tourist industry and the enlargement of the San, the road was normally a quiet one and today seemed no exception. The weather had recently turned icy cold and both ladies were wrapped up warmly, using alpenstocks and nailed boots as an extra precaution against the icy patches that were appearing on the road. They set a brisk pace and chatted as they walked. As they neared a corner Madge lost her footing slightly and slipped, grabbing at Hilda to support her. The two skidded on the ice, barely managing to remain upright. It was at this moment that a lorry bringing supplies to the various hotels and the San rounded the same corner. It applied its brakes sharply on seeing the two ladies in its path. This was to prove of no use however as the sharp braking caused the lorry to go into a skid, and it hit the same patch of ice as Madge and Hilda had moments before. The lorry span towards the two ladies who were unable to get out of its way due to the slipperiness of the ice. The lorry hit Hilda a glancing blow, throwing her off the road and onto the grass bank. Madge was not as fortunate, taking the blow full on. The lorry came to a stop as it hit a tree, and its bonnet span off, trapping Madge against the bank.


It was Rosalie who took the telephone call from the San and although she numbly wrote the details down as she did with all telephone calls, she placed the receiver back in its cradle and dropped into her chair in shock. Then, gathering all her strength she took her message pad and made her way to the staff room. All the staff were gathered there, prior to abendessen and when Rosalie entered there were exclamations at her appearance. Rosalie, unable to answer questions, stood and simply read the details she had written on the pad, and collapsed onto a nearby chair. There was a stunned silence, and then gasps of horror as the news sunk in.
“What will we do?” gasped Miss Charlesworth.
“Carry on,” retorted Matey through her tears, “we must do so. Hilda will want us to give the girls our very best at a time like this. Send the prefects to deal with abendessen and we will have some time to gather ourselves.”
This was done and then the mistresses looked around for guidance.
Matey had already said her piece and felt that she had no more advice to offer. The staff were in a state of shock at the news of the accident and were unsure how they should deal with it. Eventually Len could stand it no longer and stood up.
“Ruey, your form along with the other relatives should be informed separately from the rest of the school. Will you gather them please as they finish abendessen and we will tell them together? Matey, will you ensure that St Mildreds have been informed? Nancy, it should be you who informs the school, are you feeling up to it?”
Nancy looked up and nodded her agreement, unable at the moment to speak.
“I will go and ring the San, see if there is any more news. Ruey, take our girls to the prefects room,” finished Len.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:58pm
Len crept into prayers, sitting at the protestant side for once, as she was a little late after helping Ruey break the news to the family girls. That had been a hard task, but being on staff as well as Madge’s niece she felt that this was her duty. She had left Ruey and Felicity comforting the girls, although she was encouraged by the way all the girls had turned to each other for comfort. She saw how Nancy was holding herself together as she led the girls through the prayers and could hear the tension in her voice. As the prefects drew the sliding doors apart the staff were refusing to catch each other’s eyes, fearful unless they should break their steady demeanour. Nancy stood rigid at the lectern, her knuckles white and back rigid as she waited for the prefects to regain their seats.
“Girls,” she started, and her voice broke, “Girls, we have some serious news for you. This afternoon there was an accident and, and,” her voice broke again and she struggled to maintain control, “There was an accident and Madame and,” this time her voice broke and she was unable to carry on.
Len took a deep breath and rose from her seat, she put her arm around Nancy and turned her away from the school. Nancy slowly went back to her seat and the comfort offered by Kathie, barely hearing Len addressing the school.
“Girls, as Miss Wilmot has informed you, there was an accident earlier this afternoon. Both Miss Annersley and Mrs Russell, or Madame, were involved. Mrs Annersley has numerous fractures but given time should make a good recovery. Madame, I am sorry to inform you, is more seriously injured. She had lost a lot of blood and has some internal injuries as well as the broken bones and cuts and bruises. Please pray for her, and for our family that we will find the strength to face whatever comes. There will be no dancing tonight, please go to your common rooms and spend the evening quietly. We will give you more information as we receive it.”
Len said no more, but sat down and stared at the floor until the girls had all left.

Len remained at the school that night, and for several thereafter having arranged hurriedly for Phil and Hilary Greaves to take her little girls back to Aldernest with them for a few days. Like the rest of the staff she felt unable to sit in the Head’s study, but waited in the school office with Rosalie and a few others for more news. They sat on chairs brought in from other rooms in the administration suite and made desultory conversation whilst waiting for the telephone to ring. It was twenty two o’clock before it did, making them all jump with it’s sudden incursion into the silence that had finally fallen. Rosalie took a deep breath before answering. They all listened intently to the short terse conversation. Rosalie hung up and looked around the room with tears in her eyes.
“That was Helen Greaves,” she said, naming the matron at the San, “Hilda is doing well, although she is being kept sedated to help her deal with the pain and shock. They expect to be able to slowly withdraw that over the next few days and her fractures should heal in due course. Madame however,” Rosalie’s voice shook, but drawing strength from her memory of Len’s performance at prayers, she carried on, “Madame is critically ill. The doctors do not know if she will survive the night. They need to operate, but at the moment she is too weak to survive and operation. Her children have been called for and should be arriving in the morning. Jem has sent a request that we leave telling the grandchildren how serious the matter is until their parents arrive.”
The staff nodded and went to pass the news onto the staff who had remained in the staffroom. Len, Ruey and Felicity put their arms around each other and slowly made their way to the prefect’s room where they had left their relations earlier in the evening.
“There is positive news of Miss Annersley,” began Len, “She is sleeping now and her fractures have been treated. Mrs Russell, however is still seriously ill. That is all I can tell you for the moment, but we hope to be able to give you more news tomorrow. Please go up to bed now and Matey will be round with some warm milk for each of you.”


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 9:59pm
Over the next few days, life at the Chalet School continued as if in a dream. Lessons continued, as did rehearsals for the play, but there was no energy in it. Everything appeared to be drifting, waiting anxiously for news from the San. Madge was still hovering on the brink of life and death; her children had all arrived and were staying at Freudesheim, although spending most of their time at the San. The girls were all aware now of the critical situation and whilst still in school at their parents’ request, were doing very little work. In IIIA all the earlier animosity was forgotten as the Bettany and Maynard girls did all they could to help the Russells through each day. Ruey was pleased to see this, and did everything she could to encourage it to continue.


The staff room was a different matter. Since her lack of action and subsequent breakdown on the night of the accident Nancy had felt diffident about taking an active leadership role. She had let the school drift slightly, saying that life was ‘continuing as normal’ and had let Len pass on news from the San telling those who asked that as Madame’s niece she was the most appropriate person to do it. Matey shook her head when she heard this comment, but help her peace for the time being. Matey had been keeping an eye on Len, wondering if the strain would be too much for her, but Len had learnt over the last few years how to deal with the extraordinary stresses that life could throw at her and was doing so now with a courageous fortitude. Even Matey was surprised however by Len’s actions at a play rehearsal one evening.

Rehearsals for the play had been continuing and were now at the stage where most of them were full cast rehearsals, or at least full cast of certain acts. Len had not been as involved recently as her responsibility had been mainly crowd scenes. This night however she had attended the full rehearsal and been dismayed by what she saw. Whilst all the girls knew their lines and prompt and the non-speaking actors were all in the correct places with the correct moves, it was obvious that something was lacking. The girls showed no enthusiasm for what they were doing, there was no spontaneity in their actions, no liveliness in their performance. As Len watched, she realised that this was a mood prevalent through the school and she decided to do something about it. The rehearsal was taking place in Hall, and Len motioned to one of the prefects, “Go round the school and bring all the girls who are not already here.” May Rosomon looked at her in amazement, but ran to do her bidding. The few girls not already there began to stream into the Hall and Len motioned to them to sit, then calling those who were rehearsing to listen she spoke to the assembled school.
“Our tradition of performing a nativity play has been very important to us as a school. It was started when the school was in its infancy and has continued ever since. Madame founded the tradition of performing a nativity play each year, and wrote many of the plays we have performed. As you know we hold collections to help the poor in Innsbruck, near where the school was founded, but that is not why this tradition is so important to us. As a school we could do many things to help the poor, and indeed do. What is important is the message we are bringing. The message of our play, each year, and indeed of the Christmas story is one of Love unrestrained and of peace and hope. This year many of us are anxious and fearful; we need this message more than ever before. We owe it to Madame and to ourselves to ensure that we put our all into presenting that message.”
There was silence after this, then Miss Derwent dismissed the girls saying, “Please think about this. There will be a full rehearsal tomorrow night, choir, dancers, actors, everyone.”

It was now the last week of term. Hilda was recovering and Bill had informed her about the extent of Madge’s injuries. This had saddened the head, but she remained calm, assured that Madge was in the best of hands, with both the medical staff and with her Heavenly Father. She heard also about Len’s courage at the school and commented, “Len has always shown great courage and leadership.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:01pm
Ever since Len’s speech at the rehearsal the girls had put more into the play than they ever had before. The staff were astounded when they watched, Miss Derwent saying, “I think this will be the best performance they have ever given.” The performance was scheduled for the final evening of term, and the staff had decided that it would go ahead as scheduled, although the usual party afterwards would not be held, instead the girls would have supper with their guests followed by singing for all who liked to attend. This had been decided before the news came through from the San on the last Sunday of term. Madge would have her operation on the following morning.

The doctors had decided that although she was that weak she was unlikely to survive the operation, her chances were greater than without it. Jem found this the hardest decision he had made in his life. He had spent a long time on the Sunday afternoon sat at his wife’s bedside, wondering if it was worth putting her through the trauma of an operation. He had decided in the end that he would be advised by the other doctors at the San who would be performing the operation. It was by a slender majority that they said to go ahead, and so Jem gave his consent. That night neither Jem nor Joey left Madge’s side.

The Monday morning saw Jem and Joey gathered together with all of Madge and Jem’s children in a waiting room at the San. They had all been in to see Madge that morning, although she had been kept sedated and did not realise this. Now all they could do was wait. The room was tense and quiet, all lost in their own thoughts. They knew there was very little hope, but would not give up just yet. Every time they heard footsteps approaching the door they all looked up, only to drop their gazes again as the sound passed and died away. They sat there for an hour, and then another hour, numb, but clinging onto a thread of hope. Then the door opened and Gottfried Mensch and Phil Greaves walked in. They had both obviously come straight from theatre, Phil was still wearing his gown, and the sorrow on their faces said all that needed to be said.

It was Miss Wilson who informed the school about Madame’s death. Len and Felicity had shepherded the Russell girls over to Freudesheim where the girls joined their parents. Bill had come over to the school on hearing the news, feeling that the staff who had known Madge may need her support. She found them in the staff room grieving but not shocked. They were all intelligent women who had known that this was a last hope for their founder. Matey approached her, “Will you inform the school, Nell. I have sent Len off with the Russell girls, I felt they needed her and I wanted to spare her this.”
Miss Wilson looked over towards Nancy, wondering if she might wish to speak to the school, but Matey just whispered “Leave Nancy be at the moment.” Miss Wilson took the hint and remembering her own philosophy of always being honest with the girls went to break the news to the school at large.

The school at large was not as affected by the news as they had been by the accident. That had included their headmistress whom they knew; most of the girls had never met Madge, or only knew her as a figure who had occasionally opened their sale of work. They were affected by the sombre disposition of the staff however and the last few days of term passed quietly. The decision had been made that the nativity play would go ahead as planned, in honour of Madame and the girls all vowed to continue their efforts to put their all into presenting the message of the play to their audience. They had a successful dress rehearsal and were as ready as they ever would be.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:01pm
On the final night of term they were changed and ready, the dancers for the first scene were on stage and peeping through the curtains, and there was an audible gasp from the stage when they saw Jem and Joey accompanied by all Madge and Jem’s children come and take their seats on the front row. The news quickly spread round school and audience and a hush fell as Mrs Wilson stood on stage and welcomed everyone with the usual brief address. Afterwards everyone agreed that the performance could not have been better. There was an air about each single performer as every girl strove to remember the message she was bringing, and what it meant to those who were watching. As they stood at the end to sing Adeste Fidelis, the carol with which every Chalet nativity play ended some of the cast noticed that Joey had left her seat, and was speaking in a low voice to Miss Wilson, that lady was nodding and as the singing finished and the curtains drawn she walked onto the stage and introduced Joey to the audience as the “first pupil of the school, and sister of our Founder, Lady Russell, who died earlier this week. She wishes to say a few words.” Joey stood and looked around at those present. She stood tall in her Jade green dress and matching shoes, her hair in its usual earphones above her ears, a striking figure, but it was her words that were more striking to those gathered.
“I know that many of you were not expecting to see us here today, but we found that it was impossible for us to stay away. My sister founded many traditions in this school, some have lasted, others disappeared, but the most enduring has been our Nativity play. This was a tradition dear to her heart, as was the cause the collection is given to. The money goes to help the poor in a parish near where the school began.  My sister gave everything she had to the school whilst she worked here, this example has been followed by the current head, Miss Annersley, whom I am pleased to say is recovering well and hopes to leave hospital before Christmas. The girls too have followed this lead, and tonight you have seen them give their all to bring the Christmas message to you. Will you please give what you can in the baskets by the doors so that this message of hope and love can be shared in a practical way with others? Thank-You.” Joey stepped off the stage then and Miss Wilson came to the front. “I wish to thank all those who have put in such an effort to making this performance one of our best. There are too many to name, but I wish to mention especially Len Entwistle who in spite of her family’s anxiety was able to inspire the girls to perform in the way they did tonight.”
She stopped there and a round of applause broke out, from the stage and the audience alike, and a blushing Len was observed hiding in her mother and Uncle’s arms.


The school departed the following morning and left the Russell, Bettany, and Maynard families to mourn in peace. Freudesheim was a large house, a former hotel, but it was not large enough for all the family connection, and Hilda had offered the use of the school for any family members who needed it. This meant that the school filled up again quite rapidly; Dick Bettany, Madges twin and many of his children began to arrive, followed by many of Joey’s children. There were also a lot of the third generation present with their elders. The funeral had been planned for the Monday following the end of term and most of the staff had stayed on. Jem had requested that the funeral be limited to family, staff and those friends already present on the Platz.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:02pm
The funeral took place at the chapel built by the school and to which Madame had donated the alter. The chapel was packed with family, local friends and staff from the school. The chaplain led the short, simple service and then Miss Annersley delivered the Eulogy. She was unable to stand yet, but had been allowed to leave the hospital for this funeral and was wheeled in a chair by Miss Wilson. She spoke of how she had first met Madge when she was employed as English teacher. How Madge had given her a chance by appointing her head at a young age, how Madge had been unfailing in her support for the school, even after her marriage, and how she had given of both her time and money for the school. This was not because she founded it but because she believed that educating the girls, not just in academic subjects, but in character as well was crucial in determining the shape of the next generation. “Madge was never frightened of change, she founded the school in a country she had never lived in, then moved it a number of times. She faced change in her personal life, living in many different countries and embracing the different lifestyles that brought. Yet throughout all this she kept sight of the things she held dear, her family and her faith. She has now faced another change, and is no doubt embracing it with joy. Let us follow her example and face the change her death has brought to us with courage.”
There was a rustle of surprise through the congregation as all the members of IIIA along with Len, stood as Miss Annersley sat down. They formed a group at the front of the church and the chaplain said, “These girls came to visit me yesterday. They told me a little about themselves, about the events of this last term and about their Christmas play. They said that they wanted to bring a joint offering today to the memory Mrs Russell and all she had taught them.”
Len stood next to the group and raised her violin bow and to her accompaniment they sang a traditional Austrian carol, in English and German:
Still, still, still
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:03pm
Jack Maynard stood at the back of the church fingering his rosary during the service. He had been unable to stay away when he heard the news. Jem had been his mentor and partner for many years, and Madge had been Joey’s sister. He had lived in their home and cared deeply about the couple. When they had come to visit him in England it had pained him to hurt them in the way he had, but he was unable to change his convictions, he felt let down by Mike, and more importantly by Joey. He knew that his children viewed him as old-fashioned, but he held his views on marriage and family unchanged. He felt that it was wrong, sinful for a couple to make love before they were married and that their children whilst not to blame would suffer the stigma of being illegitimate. He also believed that a mother should place her children’s upbringing before a career and should not work after a child had been born. In addition to this he felt extremely guilty for the way he had failed in what he saw as his duty as a father, to be a strong role model for his sons, training them in right living and Christian principles.

As they milled around in the cemetery after the committal Jack approached Jem. “Sorry, old chap. It must be hard.” Jem shook his hand and placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Thanks for coming. Does Joey know you are here?”
“Not yet, I’ve come straight from the airport and have booked a room at the hotel. I didn’t want to cause a problem at a time like this.” Jack wandered off as more people came over to speak to Jem. He slipped away and went into the garden at Freudesheim. He walked around, looking at the roses all tied up in their Hessian bonnets to guard against the frost. He smiled as he remembered the cabbage patch that had stood on that spot when they moved into the house, and the hours of backbreaking labour he had put into transforming it. He walked around and surveyed the front of the house, seeing its many windows, including the one above the porch where Con had climbed during one of her sleepwalking episodes. He moved towards the main gate, seeing the place where he had dug up Mike’s diary that fateful day in the autumn. At the time he had thought that was the cause of the problems in his marriage, but now, after time to reflect, he knew that the problems had started years before. Joey had always been involved in the school and he had buried himself in his work at the San. They had been growing apart now for longer than he could think.

“Jack, I wasn’t sure if you would be here,” Joey’s voice broke across his thoughts, “Do you want me to make you a bed up?”
“No, I’m staying at the Hotel, and in any case am only here for the one night.”
“Oh.”
“Shall we…?” began Jack hesitantly.
“Come inside, there are too many guests to come here, so lunch will be at the school.”
The two entered their once happy house, and avoiding the study entered the salon and sat facing each other, either side of the fire.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:04pm
“I hear that you have finally dropped the court case.”
“We came to a settlement. Amy Stevens is working there and helped negotiate it. They will guarantee publication of the rest of the books on the contract, but in return I will take a greatly reduced percentage. They have also asked me to abridge a series of classic novels for children. I’m to start on the first one, Nicholas Nickleby, after Christmas.”
“Hmm” There was silence for a few minutes before Jack spoke again, “I received a letter from Jem’s solicitor. He suggested a separation agreement.”
“Jem said he would instruct him for me. I wasn’t very well at the time.”
“Sorry.”
“That’s ok”
They lapsed into silence again. Sitting there brought back memories for both of them. They had truly loved each other, and in some ways both still did.
“Jack,”
“Yes,”
“Can’t we…I don’t know, do something?”
“I don’t know. It’s difficult Joey. I know that I may not have been around much as a father or husband, but I thought I was doing the right thing. I did love you, very much, but it’s all so different now.”
“I know. When we first got married I thought that being married to you was the most important thing in my life, I would have given up anything for you. But as time passed that changed. I found that I could not do without that creative outlet. Things got all pent up inside me until I had to write. Then you began to spend more and more time at the San, the family began to grow up and need me less, and my writing became even more important to me. The school too, I was always welcome there, and when you were working and the children at school or asleep it became a refuge. You stopped being the most important thing in my life, and that meant that I stopped wanting to make those sacrifices for you.” Like Jack, Joey had had time to think over the previous months and was clear on what had happened.
“I know. I found the same, I was working more and more, the job demanded a lot anyway, and I didn’t want to hear you talking about the family, the school and your books, things I felt excluded from, so I hid in my work, making the situation even worse.”
“And then there was Mike,” added Joey, determined now they had begun to talk to have everything out in the open.
“I may have been wrong to loose my temper and hit him, but he has to be shown the right thing to do. I cannot condone his actions, either in the initial act of sleeping with the girl, or now in refusing to do his duty. I feel unable to allow him in my house.”
“But I will.”
“I know.” There was a difficult silence and then Jack continued, “I told the solicitor that I would offer you this house, I will take Plas Gwyn. I will make over to you all my shares in the school company, and when the life assurance matures next year I will make over half of that to you. There will also be a monthly figure from the pension plans I have, but I haven’t received the final details of those yet.”
“If the solicitor agrees then that all sound reasonable. What about the children?”
“They are living independently now. Even Geoff and Phil have finished university. I will make provision for them and the grandchildren in my will and expect you to do the same.”
“I’d already thought of that. The solicitor is to draw me one up.”
“If I predecease you, I will also ensure that you will be financially secure.”
“This all sounds so business like. What happened to us Jack?”
“I wish I knew. This is not what I wanted, but neither of us is able to change to suit the other, and I don’t think either of us should. I’ll always have a place in my heart for you though Joey.”
Joey sobbed as she heard those words, and Jack rising, placed his hand on her shoulder for a few moments, before leaving the house for the last time.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:06pm
Christmas on the Platz was very quiet. At Freudesheim Len and Ruey entertained the children, Jem had remained on waiting to finish his business at the San and the board meeting and various members of the second generation gathered for Christmas dinner.
On the Rosinalpe Hilda was in her own chalet, complete with a walking frame. Also visiting her were Nell Wilson, who often spent the holidays with Hilda, and Kathie and Nancy. It was Hilda who had insisted on inviting this pair, saying only that she wanted to spend some time with them.

Hilda had spent a lot of time thinking about the school, and about the things she had been hearing since the accident. She had drawn her own conclusions, but had decided that she wanted to speak to Nancy informally before the board meeting. On Christmas day the four had listened to the Nine Lessons and Carols service from Kings College on the radio, had a traditional dinner, and spent a pleasant time chatting over Christmases past. During the next few days the three able to do so had gone for walks occasionally and all spent time reading, doing crosswords, chatting and generally relaxing. On the day before New Years Eve Nell had suggested a walk to a higher Alp. Kathie had been keen, especially as she had yet to use the new alpenstock that had been a present from her Uncle. Nancy however demurred, “I would normally love to, but if I don’t do this darning now, I’ll end up leaving it until we are back at school.” Nell and Kathie went, wrapped up tightly against the cold, wearing their nailed boots, and taking coloured snow goggles to guard against snow blindness as the higher parts of the mountain were above the snow line.

Hilda and Nancy watched as they set out, laughing merrily and waving to the pair left behind. As they went back inside Hilda turned to Nancy and suggested, “Bring you sewing down and join me in the sitting room. I will stoke the fire and see if there are any of those delicious Belgian chocolates that Biddy sent me left.” This accomplished they seated themselves comfortably in the sitting room, Nancy darning her stockings and Hilda with a copy of the Chronicles of Narnia. They sat in an easy silence for a while, Hilda wondering how best to bring up the subject she wished to discuss, when Nancy did it for her, “I’m glad to be alone with you, there is something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Yes dear,” replied Hilda, putting her book down, “How can I help you?”

“I made a mess of things last term, didn’t I?”
“Tell me about it,” replied Hilda, avoiding the question for the time being.
“I presumed for a long time that I would be head when you retired. I never even thought about what would happen to the school, or if I had all the necessary qualities to be head. I just assumed that everything would continue as it always had. I panicked when you mentioned change, and especially after that staff meeting. I sort of realised that I wouldn’t want any changes; just to keep the school going as it is now. I even tried to get the other staff to agree with me.” She said this last a little shamefacedly.
“I know,” was Hilda’s gentle reply.
“Then came the accident, and when Rosalie broke the news I felt as if I was in a dream. The staff were milling around, at sea all of a sudden and I just sat there. It was Matey and Len who finally said what had to be done. I wasn’t even able to speak to the girls. I tried, I really did, but I couldn’t get the words out. It was Len again who came to my aid, and faced the whole school.
“You would think that after that I would be able to pull myself together and do something wouldn’t you. I couldn’t. I just kept thinking that if everything continued as normal then the girls would be all right. I made myself believe that it was more appropriate for Len to pass on news, as she was Madame’s niece. I hadn’t been to a play rehearsal, and no idea of how the girls were affected. I think even if I had I wouldn’t have known what to do. Len did it instinctively.
“When the news of Madame’s death arrived, Nell came over to the school and Matey asked her to tell the girls. I know she was surprised that I didn’t do it, but after breaking down in front of the girls once, I just couldn’t face doing it again.
“Now I just don’t know what to do. Everyone is expecting me to try for your position. But I know the younger members of staff especially feel that no one could step into your shoes, and I’m beginning to think that myself.” Nancy finished in a rush, relief at making a clean breast of her worries mixed with a worry about what Hilda might say flooded through her. Hilda herself took a moment to think, and utter a silent prayer for wisdom before replying.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:06pm
“I am glad, very glad that you have been able to see all this, and to come and talk to me about it. I had hoped for a chance for us to talk together whilst you where here. I think you a very good teacher. You have a wonderful grasp of your subject and are able to make even the most unmathematical of creatures understand what you are teaching. That is a rare gift. Then you understand the girls, you respond to them, and they to you. You are able to maintain a good level of discipline whilst having an out of classroom relationship with the girls, and that is also very necessary in a school like ours. This is something that some teachers find difficult to establish, but did it successfully. All said you are one of the best teachers in the school.
“However, for a head there is another necessary quality, and that is leadership. A good head teacher needs to be able to lead both the staff and pupils. The head sets the tone for the school, and it is the head who will determine whether a school succeeds or fails. In times of trouble or difficulty, it is the head who is ultimately responsible for the way the school reacts.”
“I didn’t show any leadership did I? I went to pieces myself and just hoped that routine would take care of the school,” Nancy was determined now to face all her faults. “What should I do?”
“Do you still want to become head, that must affect any advice I give you?” Hilda looked Nancy full in the face, her blue eyes piercing into Nancy’s soul.
“I don’t think I would make a very job of it, do you?”
“I think that it would probably not be in the best interests of the school,” was Hilda’s diplomatic answer.
“So,” Nancy left the question hanging in the air.
“I think I would advise you to write to the board and tell them that you do not wish to be considered for the post. Then quietly let the staff know that you have done so. You have excellent teaching skills exercise them to the full; help the junior staff especially those in your department to develop their skills; support the new head teacher to the fullest extent; and above all enjoy doing what you are so good at.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“No, I know it isn’t, it never is when it concerns your pride, and this does, but you have a strong character and can come through this. Remember Nancy, there is always help available if you will but ask for it.”
Nancy bowed her head for a minute, and then looking up at Hilda said, “I’ll give it my best shot. I do want what is best for the school at heart.”
“I know you will dear, now if you have finished those stockings, what about making a pot of tea? You can think this through later when you are by yourself.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:08pm
On New Years day Nell walked down to the Platz to collect any personal mail that may have arrived at the school for them. She found a fair bit, and having spoken to the school maids about their return shoved the letters in her rucksack and headed back to Hilda’s chalet. She was greeted with joy when the other three saw the bulging bag. Inside where not only the letters, but also a box of cakes from Anna whom Nell had bumped into outside Freudesheim. They shared the cakes as they opened their mail, laughing at the news from various friends and old girls, and enjoying catching up on the gossip. Titbits from various letters flew through the air as they read out snippets from their missives.
“Look at this,” laughed Kathie, “Sharlie has been having a whale of a time in Vienna, see how she describes the opera.” and threw the letter across the room to Nancy.
Hilda had opened the majority of her letters and joined in with the conversation, but as she reached the bottom of the pile she noticed one particular letter and pushed it into her pocket unnoticed by the others. That letter was not be read under their gaze. She waited until they were all engrossed in a letter from Mary Lou to Kathie and slipped out of the room, muttering an excuse. She moved along the small hallway slowly with her frame and entered her bedroom where she sat in a chair and looked at the letter before opening it.

She had not received a letter like this since before the accident, and was anxious about what it might contain. It was a long moment before she could bring herself to take her letter opener and slice the envelope. It was a longer letter than usual, and as she read it she was filled with a sense of relief. She read through the letter twice, before slowly folding it and putting it away safely in file until she could put it with the others back at the school. She was glad the box in her quarters locked; as she knew that it was possible she would not return. The doctors were pleased with her recovery, but she was still dependent on the walking frame and was due to start a course of intensive physiotherapy the next week.

Two days later Kathie and Nancy left to return to the school. Hilda and Nell remained for another few days, then Nell would return to St Mildreds and Hilda would spend a few days at Freudesheim before returning to the San for her physiotherapy. She would be an in patient again as the regime was a challenging one, aimed at getting her walking unaided as soon as was possible. It would not normally be used on a person of her age, but her determinism had impressed the doctors and so they were willing to give it a try. Whilst she was staying at Freudesheim the board meeting would be held.


To the Board Members of The Chalet School Ltd.
     
     Re: The position of Head Teacher.

I wish it to be known that I do not wish my name to be put forward for this position. Recent events have shown me that I would not be a suitable person to give the school the leadership it requires, especially at this difficult time. I will be happy to remain as head of Mathematics and will give the new head teacher my fullest support.

I also wish to commend to you the actions of Helena Maynard over the past term. She has supported the staff and girls, and given leadership when none was available or forthcoming from other sources. I am personally grateful for her support.

     Yours Faithfully
           Nancy Wilmot.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:09pm
The board meeting had convened by midmorning. There were only five people present, those who held voting stock in the company, and Rosalie who attended as secretary. Hilda and Nell were both present, as were Joey and Jem. Joey had been given all Jack’s stock, and Jem had inherited Madge’s. It was a serious meeting and they commenced with formal commiserations recorded in the minutes. The first business then had to be to elect a new chairman. They looked at each other, none wishing to push themselves into Madge’s role, but after a short discussion Hilda was elected unanimously. They then had two major pieces of business to deal with, the future of the school and the appointment of a new head teacher. It took them well into the afternoon to make some decisions; they wanted to provide stability for the school immediately, whilst allowing plenty of scope for future development. Eventually they came to some final decisions.  

The girls returned after the Christmas holiday from all over Europe and beyond. All of the IIIA girls found themselves together in the common room on the first day, waiting for the bell to ring to summon them to abendessen. There had been some muted discussion about the holidays, but out of respect for the Russell girls who had found them difficult, this subject had soon been dropped and talk turned to the coming term.
“Have you ever been skiing?” asked Connie of Holly.
“No, will we be able to?”
“Rather,” came the response from all over the room and Holly was deluged by people telling her how delightful it was, how you crossed your toes, a comment that had her puzzled, and how you soon picked it up. Then Abigail piped up with, “Of course it will be the Millie’s panto this term as well, have any of you heard what they are doing this term?”
“Mary said that she was told by Chantelle Desmoines that it was going to be Little Red Riding Hood, but we don’t know if she was serious,” replied Octavia.
Emily Russell had been silent during this conversation, suddenly remembering a conversation she had with her grandfather during the holidays.
“I say, I think we ought to do something ourselves this term. Something to show the school that we are ‘a force to be reckoned with’ after all if we all work together then grandfather thinks nothing would be able to stop us. He said that after we sang together at the funeral,” she added, a sad smile fleeting across her face at the memory.
“I bet we could make the school sit up this term if we wanted,” giggled Tabitha.
“Yes, but let’s not rush it. Why don’t we all think for a week and then have a form meeting to decide what we are going to do,” was Helen’s sensible suggestion.
Mary-Jo looked at Polly, “I have an idea,” she said. Polly looked back for a moment, and then a smile creased across her face, “Oh, yes. That would be marvellous. The school would love it as well.” Then despite all teasing the twins refused to breath a word of their idea until the form meeting, although they could be seen whispering in corners at odd moments.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:10pm
The girls entered the hall for prayers to find Miss Wilmot leading prayers for the Protestants. This was no surprise, but there was a surprise when the dividing doors were opened and they found Miss Wilson had been leading prayers for the Catholics. The staff walked over the dais and Miss Dene took the beginning of term roll call. There were no new girls this term, and very few form changes, September being the usual time for that. When Miss Dene sat down it was Miss Wilson who stood to address the school.
“I have been asked to address you as a member of the school board of directors and as the longest serving member of staff. I have a lot of news to give you, and details of some new school arrangements.” The girls looked at each other in surprise, and then settled down to listen to ‘Bill’ in anticipation.

“As most of you will probably realise, the death of Mrs Russell and the injuries sustained by Miss Annersley has meant that those of us in charge of the school have had to have a serious look at how the school is run and what we are going to do about appointing new staff.
“First of all let me give you news of Miss Annersley. She has been making a stead recovery and was discharged from the San for the holiday period. She still needs aid in walking however and will be re-admitted to the San next week to undergo some intensive therapy, which it is hoped will speed her full recovery. Please continue to pray for her girls. She hopes to be able to return to us after half term.
“Following last terms events it has been decided to appoint a new head teacher right away. This person will deputise for Miss Annersley this half term, in addition to continuing to run her own department, although her teaching duties will be reduced. I will be giving up some of my hours at St Mildreds also in order to assist her in this. Your new head teacher, whom we know will give as much dedication to the school as Miss Annersley has, is,” Miss Wilson paused, and looked round at the girls, a smile on her face, “Mrs Entwistle.”

Len rose, and walked sedately to the front of the dais, a grave expression on her face. This faded into a blush of embarrassment as the school, beginning with the prefects and spreading through the whole school stood and applauded.

She stood for a minute, giving them space whilst she recovered herself. Then rising to the occasion she held up her hand, the school fell silent.
“Please take you seats again girls.” There was a rustling as they sat down.
“Thank you all very much for your enthusiastic support. Now before you are dismissed, there is still a little news for me to give you. Firstly, I will be teaching only the junior classes, and the seniors amongst you who are language specialists. Mrs Hamilton will be taking the middles and the normal senior classes.
The other news is about the St Mildred’s pantomime. They will be requiring some help from you, as they have in previous years. I have been informed that there will be a need for juniors to take on the role of woodland animals, and for some of the dancers. I might add that Felicity has decided to stay on and will be helping St Mildred’s as she did here with the nativity play.
Now the usual first night arrangements apply. Juniors will go to bed straightaway, middles have another half hour and seniors another hour. Miss Lawrence, please.”
At this request the school stood up and marched out to the lively music Miss Lawrence the music mistress was playing on the school’s beautiful grand piano.

The first week passed quickly. There were the usual alarms and excitements; one of the lower second had somehow ended up with her brother’s trunk. She said in explanation that they had the same initials and her mother must have fixed the labels to the wrong trunks. Matey had met her artist mother and could understand this, so she just harrumphed and found some spare clothes and linen until the mistake could be rectified. The staff on hearing this story were moved to wonder what reaction the poor boy got when he began to unpack his sister’s dresses at his prep school. Nothing major happened to upset the school and Len on reviewing the week began for the first time to relax about taking the position.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:11pm
She had not been shocked when Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson had asked her take tea with them and proceeded to offer her the position. She knew that Nancy had withdrawn as that lady had quickly told her so. She also knew that she had been considered as many of the board members had sought her out during the previous term to ask her opinion on various ideas. Whilst not being surprised, she was unsure about accepting the position.
“I am younger than a lot of the staff, will they accept me?”
“They accepted your leadership last term, and you are older than I was, and older than your Auntie Madge was. There are none of the older staff who would look to take on the role, and the younger staff already look to you. I proposed you to the board because I know you are the right person for the job.”
“If you don’t mind me asking Auntie Hilda, why?”
“Len, you have been a leader since your school days. Think of the way you helped Jack Lambert, she caused you a lot of problems in one way and another, but she came through in the end because of your leadership. There have been other occasions too. This last term you took control of a department and did so very ably. There was a new member of staff, Lucy who was new to teaching and you were able to mentor her and show her countless ways to improve her teaching whilst encouraging her and without criticism. You helped Ruey deal with a problem form, taking on some very difficult situations. You kept yourself out of intrigue and staff room gossip at a time when it could have been very tempting for you leap to your own defence. In addition to all this the support and leadership you showed to the whole school at the end of last term, a time when you were under stress and grieving yourself counts for a lot. You were the only member of staff I would have been prepared to consider. I hope my recommendation counts for something,” ended Hilda with a twinkle in her eye.
“Your recommendation is the one that means the most to me,” replied Len seriously, “What about the others on the board?”
“I seconded your appointment Helena,” said Nell Wilson.
“Your mother declined to vote, she felt that it would be too close to nepotism to vote on the issue. She did agree that you were the most able candidate, but was worried about how you would deal with the stress of the job. It was with this in mind that we have decided to put you in place as deputy now, with Nell to support you, and then when I return we will work together with the aim of you doing the total job by the time I retire at the end of the summer term. Nell will work closely with you as she will be retiring after another year and we want to make some major changes to the way St Mildred’s is run. Part of that will mean that the whole school, including St Mildred’s and St Nicholas’ will be counted as part of the whole school, under one head teacher, you. This will not be for another year though, and of course you will have a lot of say in the final details.”
“Hilda hasn’t said, but your Uncle Jem was sure that you would cope well with the job. He is insistent however, as are all the board that you move into rooms at the school during term time.”
“Then I must turn it down. My first duty is to Isobel and Wendy. I cannot leave them with mother and Anna for a whole term at a time.”
“We had thought of that Len. Please credit us with some sense,” replied Hilda, dryly, “There is room in St Nicholas’ for them. They were six in the holidays and there are a good number of six year olds in there already. They can join the boarders there, or if you prefer they can attend as daily boarders, and sleep in a room in the head’s flat, which is where you will be also.”
“I will have to think about it, and see how the girls feel about starting school two terms earlier than we had planned,” was the only commitment Len would make at that point, but her brevet aunts knew that she would finally accept the position.

Isobel and Wendy were ecstatic about starting school, “May we really mummy, I want to sleep at school as well, may I”
“Me too mummy, I want to live in school if I can, please mummy.”
This reaction settled matters for Len, and by the beginning of term St Nicholas’ had two new boarders and Len had settled into one of the two spare rooms in Miss Annersley’s flat.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:12pm
While Len was reviewing that first week, the members of IIIA were having a form meting. They had congregated in the form room, having gained Ruey’s permission, and awakened her curiosity. It was a somewhat noisy meeting to begin with as everyone tried to speak at once. Eventually Mags who was form prefect that year took her dicker and banged on the desk with it. This gained the forms attention and having done so, she proceeded to take advantage of the fact, “Right, now I have your attention, we had better be quiet or we will have the staff and prees down on us. If we all talk at once then we will get nowhere, so why don’t we go round and each say individually what we have thought of.” This idea was accepted and they all stared at each other, waiting for someone else to go first. Then Abigail and Bethany started giggling. Mags frowned at them, “I think you two had better start, what have you and Charlotte come up with?”
“We wondered if we could challenge the other forms to games and stuff,” began Abigail hesitantly.
There was a series of groans, “We already do that,” complained Elizabeth.
Bethany added, “Not like this, we thought of tiddlywinks, snap, all our games from the common room and run it as a common room tournament just for the juniors.”
“It’s an idea,” said Mags, “I’ll put it on a list,” suiting the action to the word she produced a crumpled sheet of paper from her pocket and held out her hand for Mollie to hand over the pencil stub she was idly playing with. “Now, who else has an idea, yes Emily, do you?”
“I wondered if it would be possible for us to host a Saturday evening. All the middle and senior classes do and some of us will be middles this time next year. We could ask Miss Richardson for permission, and if she agrees then approach Mrs Entwistle,” was Emily’s idea.
“Do you have any idea what we could do?” asked Mags as she noted this idea down. Emily shook her head.
“We can think of that if they say yes,” added Helen, “we don’t want to waste our brains until then do we.” This had a lot of agreement so Mags looked for the next idea.
“I wondered if we could do something with St Nicholas’,” put in Carol nervously, “They are part of the school, but don’t seem to do much with the rest of us. I remember when I was there I dreaded coming to ‘the proper school’ because we never mixed. Maybe we could play with them in their free time, or teach them some dancing or something.”
“That’s a nice idea, but I’m not sure how we could do it,” said Jonquil, “I wonder if we could do anything as guides. They might think we are not old enough though.”
“I’ll write it down anyway, we can always think about it later.” Mags was determined to keep the meeting in order. “I think we can do something about all these ideas. We can appoint some people to sort out common room challenges for the games, if we can get the other forms to agree, we can draw up fixture lists like Miss Richardson does. The Saturday evenings, I propose that Emily and I as the one who suggested it and form prefect, talk to Miss Richardson. Carol, you can think some more about your idea, and we can all look for ways to help the babes when we can. Mary-Jo and Polly, what are you two looking so smug about.”
“We have an idea as well.” The two spoke almost in unison.
“Out with it then, this is what you have been giggling about all week I suppose,” said Mags resignedly.
“We thought,” began Polly portentously, “That the juniors should have their own newspaper. Not a magazine like the Chaletian, but something with news that came out every week. We could all write it, put in the results of the matches, and those games that the trips were talking about, and reports about the Saturday evenings, and things about the Panto, and about who’s been doing stuff the others might want to know about. We could even interview people who saw things happen and write what they say.”
There was a silence as the form took this in, and then an excited babble. Mags resorted to her dicker once again.
“The question is,” she said, “Can we actually do it. I know we can do the writing, but how many copies will we need, can we get the paper, how will we copy it. Lots of things need sorting before we can start. If we do this it must be done properly or the whole school will laugh at us. Polly, Mary-Jo, have you thought about any of this.”
“We wondered about us writing a copy each.”
“Every week, we will have no time for prep,” said Daisy who was keen to keep her position at the top of the form.
“We can only use the duplicating machine if one of the staff does it for us, and I don’t think that is likely, do you?” asked Polly gloomily.
“There is always carbon paper. How many can we carbon at once?” wondered Mary-Jo.
“I think we will have to experiment with that, until then everyone can put their minds to working out how to do it.”

The practical upshot of this meeting was that Emily and Mags sought out Ruey with their request, and the trips, along with the Scully twins, Alice and Shelia, and Tabitha Bettany were put in charge of organising some inter form challenges in the common room. The six of them disappeared as soon as possible to put their heads together about the best way to do this. The rest of the form were to put on their thinking hats about St Nicholas’ and about the newspaper idea.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:13pm
Felicity took her post and disappeared back to her bedroom. She was thankful that no one had questioned her ability to remain at the Platz. She had kept quiet about her reasons for taking a long break and knew that the time was coming when she would have to make some hard decisions. She looked at the post in her hand, and recognising the writing on one envelope realised that the time might be closer than she had realised. She opened the letter with some trepidation and read through the business like letter with a cold feeling appearing in her stomach. A feeling akin to fear coursed through her and dropping the letter she ran to the bathroom a hand over her mouth.

There was a knock on the study door, and it opened to reveal Ruey, Len, have you got a moment?” she enquired.
“Of, course, come on in,” Len smiled at her adoptive sister. “Is there something on your mind?”
Ruey smiled, “You could say that. I’ve brought a request from IIIA.”
“You sound so tantalising, do go on.”
“They have asked if they can host a Saturday evening,” Ruey grinned as she told Len this.
“Oh, my. I wasn’t expecting that. Are they serious?”
“Deadly. They had a form meeting and then Mags and Emily came to see me with a formal request. From what they say I think that they want to show the school that they can do something together.”
“That is a good thought, but a Saturday evening for the school may be a larger undertaking than they realise.”
Ruey defended her form, “Some of them will be doing it next year anyway, and except for Holly they have all been in the school since the year dot. I’m inclined to think it would be good for them. There will be that element of teamwork which we worked hard to achieve last term.”
“I wouldn’t like to see them make a mess of it and loose face in front of the school. If we let them do it, they will need to prepare and promise to let you know if they run into any problems. I know you will keep an unobtrusive eye on them anyway.”
“So you are going to say yes?”
“I think so. Let me have a word with the prefects and see what Saturday’s are available.”

The outcome to this was that IIIA were given the required permission and immediately began to think about what they could do. It was Holly who came up with the spark that ignited the fires of their imagination.
“I wonder, could we do something with that Legend book we were talking about last term, the one with the old stories of the school in it.”
Mary-Jo jumped on this, “We could…”
At this moment she dried up as some of the other juniors entered the common room and IIIA had no intention of their ideas being passed round the school before they could surprise everyone. They had their idea though and spent a lot of time laughing over that book as they planned their entertainment.

Jem was slowly packing away his clothes. He had found that organising the San here was going to take much longer than he had anticipated and he had decided that he should move into a staff flat at the San. They had all been full until recently but some staff changes had made one available and feeling it unseemly for he to continue living at Freudesheim Jem took the opportunity to move. He also felt that it would be better for Joey.
“But you are welcome here for as long as you need to stay,” protested Joey when she first heard of this.
“I know that, and I’m deeply grateful for the way you have opened your home to me and the rest of the family. However it is not good for you, for either of us if I stay here. We need to move on, to continue our lives, not spend every evening talking over old times. I also think that if I stay here then people will begin to talk, and neither of us want that.”
Joey had tried a few times to talk him into staying, but Jem had been adamant. By the third week in January he had moved into staff quarters and seemed to have settled there for a good stay.

This turn of events left Joey at Freudesheim with just Felicity and Anna. She spent much of her time writing, having begun the abridgement of Nicholas Nickleby, but found that time hung heavily on her hands. Felicity had been very busy with the nativity play and was now spending a lot of time at St Mildred’s helping with the panto. This left Joey alone. Not one to enjoy too much time with just her own company she began to drift over to the school more and more frequently. She always had a reason, a book to lend, a jumper that had been left for a visitor, a letter from an old girl, and a gift from Anna who had been on a baking spree.



Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:14pm
“Do keep me informed, I do wish I could see what they come up with,” Hilda requested of Len when that lady was visiting her one afternoon.
“Oh, I will. I’m quite looking forward to it myself. Ruey tells me that they have been practicing like mad, and have put a lot of work into it, however even she doesn’t know quite what they have planned. Holly has requested that mamma is invited as apparently their inspiration came originally from her. In spite of this, mamma is as much in the dark as the rest of us.”
“How is your mother doing?  She has not visited me for quite a while.”
Len sighed, “I wish I could say the same. She seems to be visiting the school much more frequently at the moment. There is always a reason, and it’s not me especially she is visiting, I find her with Matey, or in the staff room, and yesterday Mary Winterton told me that she had wondered into a hobbies club meeting. The girls were quite pleased about it, she was very encouraging, but it seems odd.”
“Have you spoken to her about it?”
“Not yet, but if it continues I may have to. I may ask Uncle Jem to help as well.”
“That would be a good idea. He is a very sensible man as well as a good doctor.”
“Talking of doctors, have they said how you are doing?” Len looked at the head who was sat in a chair, her walking frame within easy reach.
“The doctors and physiotherapists are very pleased with my progress,” Hilda smiled as she said this, “That sounds like a school report doesn’t it?”
Len giggled, “It certainly does.”
“I have been walking in the gym, without the frame, and it looks as if I will be able to return to the school as planned at half term. I should be able to relieve you and Nell of some of the paperwork then at least.”
“I look forward to having you back. I didn’t realise how much paperwork there was. Rosalie has been wonderful, she has such a gift for organisation, and I don’t think I have ever appreciated her as much.”
“You will get the hang of it in time. Rosalie is a treasure, and of course a lot of the paperwork is routine once you are used to it.” Hilda had spent many long hours over that paperwork, and sympathised with Len.
Len, cheered by seeing Miss Annersley well recovered and looking forward to being back at school made her way back to the school herself, noticing as she did that the temperature had dropped even more and that the sky was looking suspiciously heavy.

“I think we may be in for snow,” Len announced as she entered the staff room.
“Overnight do you think,” queried Lucy who had been looking out of the window, waiting for Dr Hamilton, her husband, with their car.
“Yes, if it is too heavy for the car don’t risk walking in the morning,” warned Len looking at the young teacher, “You must be careful, the last thing you need at the present time is an accident.”
“Don’t worry, Ian is extremely protective of me at the moment. He is treating me as if I was made out of glass.”
Len smiled sadly at a fond memory, “I remember what Reg was like at that time, cocooned in cotton wool doesn’t come close to describing it”
“Will we be having winter sports?” asked Sharlie Andrews, helping to divert Len’s thoughts.
“As soon as the snow is here, and firm enough we will have the usual half day holiday for the first winter sports day, and then as much outside exercise as we can get in. However since it is not yet snowing, let’s just wait and see. Patience is a virtue after all.” Len left the staff room laughing as she made this comment, seeing, out of the corner of her eye, Ruey’s cushion fly towards the door as she shut it.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:15pm
Len’s weather wise predictions proved true and the school woke the following morning to find the world had turned white.
“Will we be able to Ski today do you think?” Holly asked her more experienced friends as she knelt on her bed, breathing on the window so that she could see out.
“I don’t know, but you’d better shift before Matey catches you like that, there would be an unholy row if she saw you now,” warned Polly.
“We will need to wait and see if the snow is hard enough. We do normally get a half-holiday for the first winter sports. I hope Mrs Entwistle will continue with that,” said Mags taking pity on Holly’s excitement. “Now you had better scram for your bath, Helen has already come back.”
With this Holly grabbed her bag and towel and ran. Like many of the girls she had to rush that morning and jumped in and out of her bath whilst it was still running, then pulling the plug she cleaned her teeth whilst it drained and set it running for the next girl. She was back in the dormy within 10 minutes and dressed a few minutes later. By the time the bell for private prayers rang she had managed to clear a space in the frost on her window and gaze out at the transformed world before plumping down onto her knees. It has to be said that her prayers that morning consisted of a garbled Lord’s Prayer and some confused thoughts about skiing.

At breakfast Len took pity on the girls. As they finished eating she rang the little bell that stood next to her place and rose to her feet, motioning the girls to remain seated. They all sat with bated breath waiting to see what she would tell them.
“The snow is holding, and the forecast is for the frost to remain, and the wind to die down. We will have lessons as normal this morning and then after mittagessen and rest period you may all change and the rest of the day will be a holiday, to be spent outside skiing and tobogganing. I need hardly add that the usual restrictions apply. Any girl reported for bad behaviour this morning will forfeit the treat. Please stand for grace.” The school rose as one and stood behind their chairs whilst Mrs Entwistle said the brief grace the school always used. Then scurrying to clear away their dishes they began their usual round of morning tasks.


Holly surveyed herself in the mirror. The school ski outfit was gentian blue, like the uniform and suited her well. She wore her crimson scarf pinned crosswise round her chest, thick ski mittens, a warm hat, and had snow goggles with their coloured glass hung ready round her neck. She gave a start as she realised that the splashery was emptying quickly and joined the rest outside on the slopes where they proceeded to fasten on their skies. Holly looked around nervously, “What do I do?” she asked of nobody in particular, then the 4C’s came and surrounded her.
“Give me your sticks,” said Connie holding out her hands for them, “and then Cheryl and Clare will tow you over to a clear space where you can have room to practise. Put your skies together, then it will be easier for us to tow you.” They took her to a space near the bottom of a shallow slope and showed her how to move her feet, sliding them along.
“The main thing is to be careful that you don’t cross your toes,” warned Clare.
“Or do the splits,” added Connie, “do you remember how Polly did that last winter?”
The 4C’s broke into laughter at this memory and then all tried their best to show Holly what to do. She had managed a few steps when suddenly it felt like her toes were like magnets and she couldn’t keep them apart; down she went with a bump.
“Oh, that’s what you meant about my toes” she remarked, rubbing her bottom with a grimace.
“Yep, it takes some practice, but you are doing well. Oh, look how easily she does it,” added Connie as Mary Winterton, the head girl came over to their group in a gracious arc.
Mary looked at the little group and said, “You appear to be doing well, Holly, but I think there are a few tips that will help you get the basics a bit easier. You lot go and join your classmates on the higher slopes and we will look after Holly for a while now. You’ve done a good job at getting her started, thank you.”

The 4C’s went off leaving Holly with Mary, and they were joined soon by May Rosomon, the games prefect. The two with many years experience of skiing and also of helping their juniors soon had her moving around and when the recall whistle came she found that she was able to move over and join the line of girls removing their skies. In the splasheries she stretched her arms and commented, “I loved that, but I do ache now, I cannot imagine how on earth I will be able to move later.” This puzzle was solved by her as Matey entered the room, “Quickly girls, I want you all to have hot baths before getting changed, I’ve left a jar of bath soak in each bathroom and a tube of gel in each bedroom, rub into any aches left after your baths. You had better be sharpish about it; there is not a lot of time before the bell will ring, so no lingering please.” Holly found that she was revived after this, and prep being cancelled; the school spent the evening dancing. By common consent they left the more vigorous dances alone and enjoyed the slower of the country and folk dances the school loved. By the time they went to bed that night the whole school was exhausted, and slept soundly. It was just a shame that the same thing could not be said of all the staff.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:18pm
Kathie Ferrars was finding it difficult to drop off to sleep. She had returned to school this term expecting to find that Nancy became head, and had hoped to be promoted herself to senior mistress. Then, on the first day of term Nancy unaccountably told her, and rest of the staff that she had decided not to apply for the position. Kathie had tried to open the subject with her, only to find that Nancy refused to discuss the matter. Kathie had found this term difficult, she was not happy to loose her own chance at promotion, knowing that in a school like the Chalet School where staff left infrequently, promotion was hard to come by. She found it hard to adjust to having a head teacher whom she could remember teaching herself, and resented the easy way Len appeared to slip into the role. She found it unaccountable that Nancy was so accepting of the situation, and worried about her friend’s unwillingness to discuss the situation. ‘I wonder if she was under pressure to drop out so that a member of Madame’s family could have the job,’ she thought. Kathie knew this idea was unworthy of her, but even as she pushed it out of her mind the damage was done and she began to believe that was what had happened.

On this particular night Len had not appeared in the staff room, having some work of her own to catch up as she too had taken advantage of the first snow to ski with the school. She had worked until late and was then joined by Ruey for a bedtime drink. They had both been about to retire when Len had heard a knock on the French doors in the study. Opening the curtain with some trepidation she saw with a shock that her mother was stood there.
“Mamma, what are you doing out at this hour? Is something wrong at home?” she asked anxiously.
“Not a jot of it. I was just going about the house when I saw the light on here and thought I’d come across and see what was keeping my eldest out of her bed.”
“Auntie Joey, why didn’t you telephone? You could catch a cold coming out at this time of night, and you’ve forgotten your gloves.” This last was from Ruey as she handed Joey a cup of hot chocolate and caught hold of the icy hands.
“I shoved them in my pocket, I thought they would be OK for a few minutes,” replied Joey insouciantly.
“I will lend you a pair for going home in, Ruey can you run a get a spare pair from my bottom drawer,” Len decided that it was time to take charge here. “Now, mother, please drink that quickly, and then Ruey and I will escort you home. This is no time for any of us to be outside.” She refused to discuss the matter further, saying simply, “We were about to go to bed, and I think you had better do the same once we have you home.”
It was only a short time before Ruey arrived back, complete with not only the spare gloves, but dressed for outside herself. Len asked her to wait while she got changed, but Ruey said, “No, I’ll see Auntie Joey home, you wait here to let me back in, and make a fresh drink to warm me up when I get back, it will be much quicker that way.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Mamma, go with Ruey and I will ring you in the morning. No, if you don’t go now, I’ll get Matey.”
Joey, as fearful of Matey now as she had been as a schoolgirl, went, albeit unwillingly. Len breathed a sigh of relief and set about making a drink for Ruey, knowing that she would have to deal with this problem now, and resolving to speak to Felicity before tackling her mother in the morning. A few minutes later Ruey arrived back, and seeing that Len was all in said, “I’ll have that drink in bed if that is OK”
“Thank you. Will you find Felicity tomorrow, and come to see me; I think we are both free before break? We need to discuss how to deal with this.”
Ruey gave her sister a hug and both departed for their beds.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:19pm
The two sisters did not know that some of their comings and goings had been observed. Kathie had decided that as she was unable to sleep, she would continue with her book, but finding she had left it in the staff room, put on her slippers and dressing gown and went to fetch it. Once down it seemed a shame to go back without a drink and she went to the school office to get some milk. This was a new institution of Lens. So that she would be able to offer drinks to visitors without disturbing the kitchen during the day, and so that the staff could obtain milk after the kitchen had shut at night, a small stockroom opening off the office had been altered to contain a refrigerator, a small heating element and a kettle. Rosalie especially liked this new arrangement, finding her life much easier without frequent trips to the kitchen. It was here that Kathie crept to now, and to her surprise noticed that the head’s study door was ajar and the light on. Careful not to disturb Len if she was working late, Kathie went into the little kitchenette and poured her milk into a jug. Taking it up she left, but not before she heard Joey’s dulcet tones bidding Len goodnight, and caught sight of Ruey stepping out of the French window.


Kathie moved quickly, not wishing to eavesdrop, but could not help but wonder what had been happening. As she curled up in bed with her book and drink her mind mulled over the possibilities. She, like the rest of the staff had realised that Joey was visiting the school more often, but had thought nothing of it until now. Kathie began to wonder of Joey was here at Len’s invitation. ‘Perhaps she needs her mothers advice. I wonder if that is why Joey has been around so much.’ Kathie began to feel drowsy after this thought and as she lay her book and cup down resolved to ask the other staff, those who had taught Len, what they thought.


Len looked up at the knock on her door. The morning had been busy, there had been the usual round of breakfast and prayers, followed by a short time dealing with sinners in the shape of the Emily Watson and Caroline Greenbank, two Americans in the fourth form who had decided to spend their time during the meal seeing how many of their neighbours they could kick under the table. Len had noticed their behaviour from her place at the staff table and had detained the pair, telling them to report to her room after bedroom duties. Miss Annersley herself would not have bettered the lecture she gave the twosome, and they left the study stunned to find themselves condemned to eating at the staff table for the next two days. Len then dealt with the correspondence whilst fielding two telephone calls from parents, one from an educational supplies company, and a long detailed call with a colleague from a school in Interlaken who wished to introduce the idea of language days into her school following the pattern used by the Chalet. Len finished this call with an invitation to come and visit them one day to see how they dealt with language teaching as a cross-curricula issue at the School. She sat back and ran her fingers through her chestnut hair as she surveyed the mound of correspondence still awaiting her attention. It was at this point that the knock came on her door.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:20pm
It was Ruey who entered, a serious look on her face. “I know you wanted me and Felicity to come and discuss Auntie Joey, but I think Felicity is in trouble as well. I went over to Freudesheim after breakfast to tell her and found her sat in her little bathroom. I think she had been sick, and she was crying. I couldn’t get much out of her apart from the fact that she was worried and defiantly not pregnant. I put her back to bed and asked Anna to keep an eye on her.”
“That’s good, what did mamma say?”
“She was still in bed. Anna told me that she hasn’t been getting up as early as usual, in fact she told me it was normally at least 9:30 before she rose.”
“I suppose that is no wonder if she is up as late as she was last night,” Len sighed, “I’m not sure what to do, I think I might consult Uncle Jem, about mother at any rate. Felicity, well, she has never confided in me the same way the others have, but I suppose I can treat her like a member of staff and ask her straight out, especially if her health is at issue.”
“Do you want me to do anything to help?”
“No, I think not. Oh, but if you could ask Matey to come up on your way back to class I would appreciate it.”
“Will do. Don’t worry too much Len, you know you are surrounded by people who care for you.”
“Thanks Ruey.”


After some discussion with Matey and much thought Len decided to leave the problem with her mother for the time being, as Matey had pointed out it could be just that her mother needed to adjust to being on her own much more. Given time and patience, it was possible that this would solve itself, and if not then they could intervene. The situation with Felicity was more pressing and after some thought Len decided to invite her sister to tea that afternoon and see if she could gently get Felicity to tell her what was wrong, and if not then she would, to use her own phasing, ‘come the headmistress’ as Felicity was a member of staff, albeit a very part time one. This decision made, Len picked up her books and went to see her senior language specialists for a lesson in French literature.

Mary-Jo and Polly had been putting their heads together, not having given up on their idea of a magazine for the juniors. It would be their thirteenth birthday shortly before half term and a letter had arrived that morning from their mother, formerly Con Maynard, asking what they would like for a present. They had already discussed the matter thoroughly and at break time got their letter cases out and wrote asking for a joint present of a typewriter. They were not sure how fortunate they would be, but Con had told them that for their first teen birthday she would “Push the boat out, and Daddy agrees with me,” so they were hopeful.
“Then, maybe we can use carbon paper and produce something, even if it is only a copy per form or something like that,” said Polly hopefully.
“Maybe we could all share the typing, do a copy and a carbon each, that might make it a bit easier,” Mary-Jo was more doubtful.

They decided in the end to wait and see what their mother came up with and turned their energies to the tiddlywinks tournament that was progressing towards it’s final, the upper II being current favourites to win. IIIA had been knocked out early on, but had taken this manfully and continued to support and arrange the matches, and between them had subscribed their weekly sweets as a prize for the winning form. The form mistresses of the junior form had seen what was happening and had watched with something akin to amusement as IIIA had organised this tournament and chivvied the other forms into taking part. In the end it had been a great success and IIIA were now looking for something to follow it up with.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:23pm
They were to host their evening at the end of the week, and had put in a lot work, ensuring that they could not be accused of lack of preparation. They were determined to show the rest of the school that they could do this successfully, and wanted to be included on the list of hosts permanently. Ruey had advised them to have a few days off now, and then come back to it fresh on the Thursday, but they were finding this advice hard to follow.
“It’s too important to leave,” moaned Valerie, hearing this advice.
“I might not rehearse it properly, but I can’t help thinking about it,” commented Abigail, “I’ve never done anything like this before and want to get it right.”
“Don’t we all,” added Emily, “but I’m sure Miss Richardson knows what is best, so we had better try and do as she says and have a rest.”


Felicity had made her way to the study with some degree of trepidation. She knew that if Ruey had told Len how she found her that morning then Len would want to know what was happening. Part of her wanted to tell Len, and have everything out in the open; another part of her felt ashamed and frightened and wanted to hide away. She knocked at the door and entered and was relieved to find Len sat by the window seat rather than behind the desk.
“Come on in and pull up a pew,” said Len, hoping that a sisterly affection would help Felicity. As she poured the tea and watched Felicity take a chair, she observed the dark circles under Felicity’s eyes, her thin, almost skeletal frame, and the way her hand shook as she accepted the cup. They made some conversation about the pantomime and the school, but Len was concerned as she noticed that Felicity was finding it hard to continue the conversation, and was fighting back tears.
“Flicky, darling, what is wrong?” asked Len, putting her cup down and reaching out to her sister.
“Oh, Len. You are being so kind, and I know Ruey must have spoken to you this morning.”
“Yes, she did, and yes, I’m concerned about you, especially as she told me you had been sick. Can you possibly tell me what is happening?”
Felicity gulped and opened her mouth to speak, but her fear overcame her and she shut it again, shaking her head. Len rose and drew her sister to her, taking her over to the window seat. She sat with her arms round Felicity, sensing her fear and trying to let Felicity feel accepted. As they sat there Felicity started to sob, and Len let her for a while, knowing that the release would be good for her. The sobbing grew wilder, but as Len was about to move to check it, Felicity gave a huge gulp, and looked up at her sister. Her face was streaked with tears, her hair disarrayed and her nose running, nothing further from the graceful ballerina could be imagined. Len handed her a tissue, and was about to send her into the bathroom when Felicity began to speak.
“Thank-you Len. I know I must look a right state, but if I don’t tell you now I never will. I don’t want to return to London. I was sick every day that I was doing Sleeping Beauty. I love dancing; it makes me feel whole, but not professionally. There is so much stress on form and weight; I felt that every extra ounce would show. My teacher would quiz us all about what we were eating, and tell us off if it was too little or too much; but the stage managers and choreographers, those people who matter professionally, would pinch out arms and stomachs, looking for extra flesh and tell us to loose it immediately. I was so nervous that I used to make myself sick every morning, just so they couldn’t criticise me.”
Len looked horrified, “My poor darling.”



Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:24pm
“Please, let me finish. Sleeping Beauty was one of the biggest roles I’ve had so far, one of the principal dancers, but it was a nightmare for me. When the run ended I was so relieved. I came up here to recover as much as to help with they play. I was doing well, even the accident and Auntie Madge’s death, while they stressed me, didn’t make me ill; I just lost my appetite a little. I was pleased and thought that I was recovered. Then I got a letter a week or so ago from the company. They want me to go back by the end of February and audition for Odette in Swan Lake. It would be a leading part. Even reading the letter made me sick. I didn’t need to make myself sick the fear did it. I haven’t purposely made myself sick since coming back here, but I’m being sick every time I think about going back to that life.” Felicity burst into tears once more as she finished speaking.
Len put her arms around her sister again, “I am so proud of you. It must have been so hard for you to tell me that, it will be easier now it is out in the open, you can’t hide away any more. You are also doing very well if you have not made yourself throw up since coming here. Your current sickness is nothing to be ashamed of, and we must think about what we can to help you.”
Len looked at her sister and realised how done in she was. “I think it best if you sleep here tonight. Have the bed in the flat and we will talk a little more tomorrow. I will let mamma know you are staying, but nothing more.”
“Will we have to tell anyone?”
“I think so. You are going to need some help, and will have to make some decisions. I think Matey and Uncle Jem will need to know, with your permission. Would you like me to tell them for you?”
“Yes please, I don’t think I could go through that again. Please do it quickly though. I don’t want to keep seeing them and wonder if they know yet or not.”
“OK. Now, lets get you to bed. I think you need to sleep. I’ll get Matey to look in on you later and see if you need anything.”
Felicity went, as she was bid, thankful to have her problem shared at last. Len gave her time to change and then looked in. Seeing Felicity settling she left quietly and walked thoughtfully through the school to Matron’s own domain.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:25pm
Meanwhile in the staff room Kathie was proceeding to air her discontent with the current regime. She had fallen slightly behind schedule with her marking, and during the break was trying hurriedly to catch up. She broke her pencil part way through and threw it down in exasperation. “I wish I had more time. I should have done this two nights ago, but Joey knobbled me all evening to ask about the Millies panto. I don’t know anything about it, so why she picked on me is anyone’s guess. I wish Len wasn’t so dependant on her.”
“Whatever do you mean?” asked Miss Charleswoth curiously.
“Oh, nothing really, but I couldn’t sleep last night and went for some milk. Joey was just leaving the study to go home, and at such an hour. Len does seem to be encouraging her to be here rather a lot.”
Miss Yolland disagreed, “I wouldn’t say that exactly. She might not be discouraging her, but that is a far way from actually encouraging her.”
“I don’t know about that, all I do know is that Joey is here far too much and Len isn’t doing anything about it,” Kathie was not to be dissuaded from her opinion.


Matey and Len had a long discussion about Felicity, and Len had her eyes opened by Matey. “This isn’t the first time the school has had to deal with an extreme stress reaction, think back Len, we have had girls and staff who have had one reaction or another. Do you remember Miss Bertram and her bilious attacks, or how Jeanne Behrans developed a rash before the GCE exams, or Louise Barfield who had to use a blue pen and a red pencil in order to write. We have had our share of girls with eating problems too, although we keep a strong eye on the girls, partly to watch for that kind of problem.”
“I never knew.”
“No, we do try and keep things like that confidential. It only compounds matters if everyone starts pointing and talking about it. I don’t want to put ideas in the girls heads either.”
“So, what do you think we should do about Felicity?”
“Probably not a lot will be needed. She seems to have overcome a lot of the eating problems, although she will need a lot of support and a secure, accepting environment. She must make her own decisions about her future. I know you want to help, but do that by letting her talk, and do not tell her what to do. If there is a possibility of her remaining here, then let her know. Help her to explore her options. I will ring Jem and talk to him about her health. She may find that things improve now she has told you, but if not there are things he can do to help stop the nausea.”


Len decided that the possibility of Felicity staying would need discussing with Miss Wilson and Miss Annersley. She could see clearly a way of offering Felicity a role at the school and in other local schools, but realised that this should be cleared with the others first. She resolutely put these thoughts away until she could arrange a meeting, deciding that for now she would simply offer Felicity a refuge at the school should she want to take it.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:26pm
The next event for IIIA was their evening. They spent Saturday in a state of nervous anticipation and it was with some trepidation that they stood behind the curtains on the stage and watched their audience file in. They saw the giggling and nudging of the older girls, wondering if their juniors would be able to entertain them.
“They have no idea do they?” laughed Tabitha as she watched.

Alice Scully walked forward. She was wearing a pair of small round glasses perched on the end of her nose, and an academic gown, strangely tied at the front, but flowing behind her. She held a pointer and wheeled a blackboard to the side of the stage.
“Now, for our history lesson today girls we are going to look at a subject very close to home.” She span the blackboard down to reveal the slogan “Chalet School Legends” decorated with enlarged pictures of the different homes of the school.
The curtains opened at this point and revealed the rest of the form dressed in various editions of the school uniform that had been begged and borrowed from their various relatives. Joey seated at the back gave a gasp as she saw one of her old tunics on her granddaughter Elizabeth. The girls had arranged themselves in chronological order along the stage and Alice began to walk down this line now.

The girls on the stage waited like statues as Alice walked from the current uniform back to Joey’s. Then she produced a large book and took her place at the dais, which tonight was on the opposite side of the stage to the blackboard.
“First, let me introduce the very first pupil,” Elizabeth stood up and walked to centre stage. “Josephine Bettany had an action filled career at school.” She narrated the story of Joey suppressing Bill at guide camp and at a sale. During this Elizabeth was reacting to the things Alice was saying, and as she finished stalked off, holding up a very large red parasol, the red peril, for which Joey had been famous during her younger days.
There was snorting coming from the staff ranks as those who had been at school with Joey remembered these incidents, and many sidelong glances were cast at Joey. She however sat with a grin on her face as she anticipated what would come next.

The girls had found characters from every era of the school’s history, Gay Lambert and measles, Verity-Anne refusing to sing, Mary-Lou saying ‘not a sausage’ and more. Those present knew many of these people, although some of the stories were new. The episodes were acted with verve and vigour and the audience were in fits of laughter as Clare and Connie tugged each other’s hair, whilst Alice related the story of Jack Lambert and Jane Carew fighting over Miss Ferrar’s car. This scene produced a shock for the audience when Clare picked up the bucket and made to throw it at Connie, then as Connie ducked she threw the contents over the audience, covering the front row with silver tinsel.

Eventually they appeared to have reached the present day telling an edited version of their own cushion fight the previous term. Then they gave the school one final surprise. Alice stepped down from her place at the dais and flung off her gown, revealing a version of the uniform never seen before, IIIA’s impression of the uniform in another 50 years, and they proceeded to enlighten the school with a recital of the future of various current pupils.

The school voted this one of the most entertaining of evenings and Joey was seen wiping a tear of laughter from her eyes as Elizabeth came down to centre stage to finish, using a walking stick, bent over and wearing a grey wig, but still in the same original uniform and said, “I’m still a Chalet girl, and I still hate maths, now where did Bill go to again, I need her to come and look at this cottage we want to use for the sale.”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:27pm
For the next few days Felicity stayed secluded in the head’s flat. Len had assured her of support and the relief of telling her story had brought a degree of emotional relief to Felicity that resulted in her sleeping for most of the time. She woke when Matey and Len came to see her, and was able to take comfort from Matey briskly informing her that the school had dealt with people in similar situations before. By the Wednesday she was recovered enough to welcome Miss Annersley back to the school.
“Auntie Hilda, it’s so good to see you again, are you feeling better?”
“Much better dear, and looking forward to having you as my guest.”
“I couldn’t impose on you like that. I will move back to Freudesheim tomorrow,” protested Felicity, slightly embarrassed about the thought of being the guest of her former headmistress.
“Well, we will see in the morning. Now, could you pour tea whilst I unpack my bag please.” Hilda walked slowly, and sedately, but under her own power once again into her bedroom. Once the door was shut she carefully removed a three short letters from a pocket in her bag, and carefully placed them inside the wooden box along with all the others, being careful to lock the box when she replaced the lid.

Polly and Mary-Jo tore open their letter eagerly, wondering what their mother would reply.
“Yes!” they screeched, causing the rest of the form to look up from their various ploys and surround the pair.
“What is happening?” asked Tabitha.
“Mummy said yes,” replied Mary-Jo.
“Yes to what?”
“To our having a typewriter for our birthday. She is sending the money to Grandmother Jo and she will buy one in Interlaken or Berne for us,” explained Polly.
“That’s OK for you, but why are you so excited,” queried Valerie.
“Don’t you see?”
“See what?”
“It means we can do our newspaper. If we can type it with a carbon copy we will be able to do a copy for each class.”
“Do you really think so?” Daisy was still cautious about the idea, having gained first place in the form every week so far during the term.
“Yes, so you had all better get thinking and writing. Our birthday is half term, and that is only two weeks away. We want to be able to start as soon as we come back.”
“Does anyone know what we are doing for half term?” questioned Octavia, changing the subject.
The conversation ranged round the various places they had been. Most knew Switzerland fairly well, having been at the school for a number of years. They thought a trip to Lucerne most likely, especially as they had been looking at lake formation in geography. Nothing had been posted yet, and they knew that it would depend finally on the numbers going to relatives and the accommodation that was available in the various resorts.


Felicity had avoided the subject of her stay at the school with Miss Annersley, wondering how much that lady knew. Miss Annersley had not been informed of all the facts, just that Felicity had been suffering a great deal of stress in her professional life, and had been ill. She being wise in the ways of girls and knowing Felicity since she was a baby, had been able to piece together the rest and understood Felicity’s apprehension. The following morning, following a breakfast meeting with Len and then prayers with the school she returned to the flat and found Felicity, wrapped in a huge shawl sitting curled up in a basket chair gazing out of the window. The sight of the slight girl enveloped in the shawl smote her heart and she sent up a silent prayer for wisdom, hoping that the offer she was about to make to Felicity was the right one.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:29pm
IIIA spent their walk that morning discussing the idea of a newspaper. The weather had improved slightly. There had been a few days of frost and the authorities had decided that all the girls must have a walk this morning as more snow was forecast. They had set off walking down the path towards the original St Mildred’s buildings. This was a broad and easy path and one that should not have been blocked with the snow. The girls were all wearing nailed boots and carrying alpenstocks as well as being warmly wrapped. They were rejoicing in being outside after a few days with very little exercise.
“So, what are we to include?” asked Abigail as she tramped through the fresh snow.
“School news,” replied Polly, “Who is in trouble, who won the tiddly winks, how to spot a prefect from across the room, what we had for breakfast, a list of best and worse lessons, letters from readers, and advice column. Mother says anything can be news, it’s all to do with how it’s written.”
“How long will it be with all that, we can’t type too much,” protested Octavia.
Mary-Jo took a deep breath, “We thought that if we did it once a week, then we could do a foolscap sheet each time. That should be doable, and we can take it in turns to do the typing. We thought of a copy for each junior form, that’s five copies for the juniors. We don’t want it going any further do we?”
“Certainly not, the seniors would squash it and the middles laugh at us. Besides five copies is enough to do at a time.” Emily was quite adamant about this.
Connie now decided to take a hand; “If we do that we can call it Just for Juniors. It would be good to have something special for us. Can I write a bit about prep, I can’t believe the amount of the beastly stuff Miss Ferrars expects us to do?”
“The question is not Can you, but,” began Bethany, and they all joined in “May you.” They had all heard this many times in their lives, this particular error being Miss Annersley’s bete noir. Connie flushed, “You pigs. Still you all know what I mean, we could write short articles about things we want changed at school.”
“We could campaign for warm baths in the morning, and for clean dresses more than twice a week,” put in Tabitha, who had a hatred of rising in the morning and had never yet been able to make her dress do more than two days, much to Matey’s displeasure.
It was at this point that Miss Richardson decided they had been bunched together too much and came over to investigate. Cheryl saw her heading towards them, and by the time she reached their part of the line they were discussing the latest ideas about half term. Miss Richardson looked at them suspiciously, but having no evidence decided to get them moving round a bit and take their minds off whatever piece of mischief they may be planning.
“Right IIIA, it is quiet down this path, and there is plenty of space, so feel free to snowball all the way back up to the main road,” saying this she fitted the action to the word and flung a well aimed snowball at her niece, Jonquil, and the rest of the form soon joined in. They finally returned to the school rosy cheeked and refreshed from the exercise. Ruey’s plan had not wiped the ideas out of their heads however, just postponed the discussion until a more opportune time.


Felicity looked up as Miss Annersley walked over to her. She pulled the shawl closer around her and shivered despite the heat emanating from the nearby radiator. Felicity gave a smile and said, “Sorry for being in your way Auntie Hilda, I meant to clear out before you came back, but sat down to look at the view and didn’t realise how much time had passed.”
“That’s all right, I was expecting you to be here, and wanted to talk with you anyway.”
“Oh, has Len told you then?”
“She hasn’t said a lot. I gather your working life was causing you a lot of stress and your health was suffering. Len told me that being here had helped you a lot, but that the thought of going back to that lifestyle was making you ill again. Is that correct?”
During this speech Hilda had drawn a chair up and sat down near Felicity. She had purposely given the girl a few minutes to gather herself, and now looked at the pretty face with its dark circles under the eyes marring the delicate beauty. She waited patiently for Felicity to reply, and eventually the reply came.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:30pm
“That is right as far as it goes. I didn’t respond to the stress of being a professional dancer very well. You always taught us here to be strong women, confident of who we were and how we looked. You taught us that we were in control of our own lives. I found it a bit different out there. When I was at the ballet school we had to answer to a mistress over how much or how little we ate. If we didn’t get it right then we were reprimanded. Once I joined the company weight became all-important, and about the only part of my life I could control. I told Len all this, and about how I would make myself throw up every morning, just to ensure that I didn’t look wrong. I thought she would have told you.”
“No, Len respects your confidence far too much for that.” Hilda looked at Felicity, and her years of experience dealing with girls came to the fore. She could see Felicity’s nervousness, and realised that the girl still would not meet her eyes. “Is there anything else you wish to tell me, my dear? It will be far better to have everything out in the open, and much easier in the long run.”
Felicity sat still, her fingers making the only movement, and they twisted themselves up in the fringe of the shawl, the tension between wanting to tell the Head everything and her shame over her position being almost unbearable. Then in one swift movement she broke. Flinging herself on the floor at the heads feet she wept, her head buried in Miss Annersley’s lap. A few minutes later, she took her courage in both hands and looked Hilda in the eye.
“Auntie Hilda, I stopped eating properly. I existed mainly on fruit and salad. I had some days were I fasted completely and others were I just ate at night. When the show finished I forced myself to eat, knowing that I couldn’t come back here if I wasn’t doing so. That made me sick again. When I arrived here I was eating almost normally, very small potions but a bit of everything, but I was still being sick. In all the furore at the end of last term no one noticed. Then I got a letter asking me to go back and that made me sick again. I’ve tried to continue to eat properly, but it’s making me sick. I don’t know what to do anymore. I thought this was the life I wanted. I love dancing, I feel alive on stage, it’s like I become someone else. I feel free, as if I could do anything whilst I’m dancing. I can’t give that up. But, I can’t go back to that tension, to that worry about how I look, to that lifestyle.”
Miss Annersley held Felicity’s gaze, “Felicity, I can’t make decisions for you. I want you to know that I will personally support you whatever you do. I would advise you to think carefully about what you want out of life, how you want to live and what your priorities are. I would suggest that you take some time away from here, and from London, and consider carefully the offer I am about to make you.
     “We would like to offer you a part time teaching position here. You would teach all classes dance in a variety of forms as part of their physical education, and then offer ballet as an extra in small groups and individually. If you wish you could also take some classes in history of dance, or in musical appreciation where it covers ballet music. This would initially be a part time position, but there would be room for it to expand into a full time post as time went on. In the meantime we would not be averse to you teaching in other schools, or taking private pupils. As a boarding school we would also offer you accommodation, if you wished.
     “I think that it is important that if you accept this offer it is because you wish to make these changes in your life, not as an escape from the past. You need to deal with these stresses, and to be sure of your health, and that is one reason that I think you should go away to make this decision. Have you thought about contacting Margot?”

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:31pm
“Er, you have quite taken my breath away Auntie Hilda. Whatever I expected it wasn’t a job offer. I know what you mean about an escape route, but I can see that you are right, it wouldn’t be fair to the girls if I accepted simply to escape the pressures I’m under.”
“That’s right, it wouldn’t be fair to yourself either. All that would happen is that you would exchange one set of pressures for another, without learning ways to deal with them.”
“I suppose Margot would help. I never thought of asking her. I haven’t been to that convent, but I know they have guest quarters. I could write and see if they would have me. Margot said in one of her letters that they take people in for retreat, and I suppose that is what I would be doing.”
“Yes, a retreat to re-evaluate your life. The convent atmosphere will be a great help there, they are used to helping people come to a place where they can make life decisions, and they will focus you on God. Don’t forget your heavenly Father, your best source of help and direction.”
With these words she rose, and made her way out saying as she left, “Why don’t you write to Margot now, use my writing desk and when you’ve finished leave it with the post in the school office. I’ll see you at Kaffee Und Kuchen and if you want to talk more we will do so then.”

The weekend before half term Len took the Friday off to visit Reg. This visit had been planned for a while and Len felt unable to put it off, even though she felt she ought to be spending some time with Felicity. She took the train with a heavy heart, dreading the visit as usual, and the dark clouds overhead did nothing to alleviate her mood. The journey went as usual, but Len was met on arrival by one of the nursing sisters.
“I’m sorry but Reg caught a cold a few weeks ago. It seemed to be clearing up, but then he began coughing and has steadily grown weaker again. We fear pneumonia and have been treating him with antibiotics but there does not appear to be the improvement there should be. We are considering options for further treatment and feel that it might be necessary to move him back to the San at the Gornetz Platz.”   Len signed the necessary forms in a daze and then went to Reg’s room. Once there another sister gave her a gown and mask and left her at his bedside. The room was dim and Reg was asleep, his breathing ragged and a sheen of sweat on his brow. Len sat in the chair reciting her rosary, her mind elsewhere.


“What do you think Uncle Jem?” asked Len when she returned to school and rung her uncle.
“Let’s get him transferred up here, and then I’ll advise you. I don’t know enough about his current state, and hesitate to offer an opinion until I do.”
“Thank-you. Will you be able to take him soon?”
“Yes, I’ve already been contacted by the sister’s and we will be transferring Reg tomorrow. I’ll come and see you after I’ve assessed him.”
“I should be there.”
“No, you have enough to do at the school. There is no difference you can make and he won’t know. Time enough for you to be here when we know what is happening. I will come and see you, and take the opportunity to give Felicity the once over as well.”


The next day came soon enough, and when Jem came to see Len he was unable to offer much more news.
“Reg is stable, but showing no improvement. We are trying some new drugs, but I’m not sure what effect they will have. All we can do now is wait and see.”
“I’ve grown accustomed to that over the years,” replied Len with a wry smile.
Jem gave Felicity and Hilda quick check ups and pronounced Hilda fit and healthy once more, although he was more reserved about Felicity.
“I think you need some TLC young lady.”
“I’m hoping to go and stay with Margot soon,” responded Felicity, in awe of her Uncle of whom she had seen very little over the years.
“That will be good for you, in the meantime I’ll leave a tonic with Matey for you, and would advise early nights, a reasonable amount of exercise and as much fresh air as is possible given the weather.” Jem purposely avoided giving advice about her diet, but decided to have a word with Matey about the necessity for light, frequent meals, with out stress on the amount.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:32pm
“Uncle Jem, have you seen mother recently?” queried Len over tea, “She was here almost every evening, and then after turning up at bedtime one night, we suddenly haven’t seen her at all. I would have popped in, but it’s been so hectic here recently.”
“Don’t worry about your mother,” replied Jem with a laugh, “I think she decided to leave you people in peace for a little while, now she’s my headache.”
“What has Joey been up to now?” asked Hilda, passing Jem a plate of shortcake.
“Oh, this is delicious. She has been coming over to the San and visiting anyone and everyone. The nurses are finding her on the wards every time their backs are turned, and if she isn’t on the wards, or going between the private rooms, she’s sat in the staff room till all hours passing round Anna’s baking.”
The three women groaned at the thought, but Jem just laughed, “She needs time to settle down and become used to being alone. Helen Greaves and I keep an eye on her, and some of the junior doctors are becoming quite protective of her; although that might be in their own interests, Anna is one of the best cooks I’ve come across.”

“I wish this snow would stop,” complained Abigail one afternoon as she gazed put of the window at the whirling flakes that had been falling since weekend. The dark clouds that Len observed when she went to Berne had resolved themselves the following evening into one of the worst blizzards this part of Switzerland had known.
“What will happen about half-term?” queried Holly.
“We will probably have to stay here, but I’m more worried about the food situation. If the trains can’t get through then we may run short,” replied Emily.
“Would that really happen? What would we eat?”
“It’s happened before,” said Emily briefly, watching Holly, a grin appearing on her lips at the girls horror. “Don’t worry, the Abbess is careful and we keep good stocks just in case throughout the winter months.”

Len found the blizzard a good mirror to her thoughts that week. Reg had not improved and Jem had asked Len to consider some of the decisions that might become necessary. She knew that many of her friends considered that it might be better for her if Reg was to die, but she felt that somewhere, deep inside was the man she had married and vowed to love, honour and obey for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, as long as they lived, and she could not find it in her to wish his death. Len found herself withdrawing into the privacy of the head’s apartment, valuing the solitude that could be hard to find in the busy school. She knew what her uncle had been trying to gently tell her, that she might soon have to decide whether or not to let Reg die gently. She wished that life had dealt her a kinder hand, but was thankful all the same for the unobtrusive support given by Miss Annersley.

All the staff did not echo this support for Len. The staff room was in uproar one evening when relaxing over a cigarette Kathie ventured the comment, “I though this was one reason why most boarding schools had an unmarried head. Len cannot maintain her commitment to her family and to the school at the same time. Look at what has happened, first we have Joey here at all hours and now Len is all caught up in the illness of a husband most of us thought she shouldn’t have married in the first place.” After a shocked silence there was uproar as various staff leapt to Len and Reg’s defence.
“She is entitled to a private life,” protested Lucy Hamilton, knowing how soon she was going to be taking some ‘family time’, a new concept to the older staff.
“Not at the expense of the school,” countered Kathie, “She hasn’t spent a single evening here this week.”
“The girls have had plenty of her time though. She had the prefects for Kaffee yesterday, and has taught all her classes with her usual professionalism. She has been keeping office hour just like Hilda as well, and there has been a steady stream of girls going to see her all week.” Rosalind too was eager to defend the new head.
“But surely part of her job is to attend to the staff, and our problems with the girls. I still think it was a rushed, panicky appointment. They should have waited to see how well Hilda recovered, and until they were over the shock of Madame’s death. A more considered appointment could have been made then.”
Ruey stood up and walked across to where Kathie was holding forth. The group around the mistress saw her coming and parted to let her through. She stood, looking down at her old teacher, “I used to think a lot of you, but Len is worth ten of you any day,” then she turned and picking up her knitting on the way left the room.
“Oops!” Kathie tried to make light of it, “I didn’t see Ruey, I suppose now the Maynard Mafia will be after my blood.” She tossed off a light laugh as she made this comment, and then picked up her novel and buried herself in it for the rest of the evening.
Nancy meanwhile gave Kathie a puzzled look, wondering what had brought out this bitterness against the Maynards after all these years. She didn’t connect it with herself, having had no thoughts of resentment against Len. Kathie could feel Nancy’s eyes on her, and studiously ignored her friend, hoping that by the morning something else would take her attention.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:33pm
All week the blizzard continued. Early on the Thursday morning, before fruhstuk, Len called the staff together in the staff room and broke the news to them.
“I’m afraid we are going to have to cancel the excursions planned for half term. The rail company has informed me that they do not expect the line to reopen until the middle of next week.”
“Are we all on duty?” asked Miss Charlesworth.
“Those of you who would have been anyway, yes, of course. Those who were free are obviously stuck here as well. You may have the time free, or you may muck in with the rest of us and then have a weekend later in the term.” Len looked around at this, wondering what they would make of the choice.
“Nice to have the choice,” grinned Ruey, “I’ll stay and help, no use having time off if we can’t get anywhere.”
“I think I will have to take the time off,” Lucy said, “Ian is free that weekend, and I could do with a break. We will have a quiet weekend at home.”
“You finish soon anyway,” snorted Kathie, “It’s not as easy for those of us who don’t have a home up here.”
“And what about food?” queried Nancy, hoping to divert Kathie’s attention and determining to get to the root of her friends current attitude soon, “Have we enough stocks laid in, or will we run short?”
“Karen thinks we will be able to manage as long as we don’t have the girls cooking over the holiday period. I’ve just left Hilda ringing round all the local old girls and we shall pool our resources as much as possible and all feed together. This will mean we will be entertaining the old girls to abendessen and possibly mittagessen over the holiday weekend. I’m going to suggest that we make a feature of that and involve them in our plans. In the meantime we need to make some plans to entertain the little darlings and inform the parents.”
“Postcards as usual then I suppose,” sighed Rosalind Yolland, “how will we get them out?”
“They will come round with the registers this morning. If they are returned to the office Clare will take them over to the san and they will go out in the san bag via the helicopter. I’m suggesting we meet tonight and thrash out some plans. I’ll arrange for the prefects to take all prep and supervision.”
Len left at this, to go back to the office and check on the progress of their plans, leaving a staff room buzzing with chatter about the unexpected change of plans.


Felicity curled up in her favourite window seat in the head’s apartment, burying herself in the warm red shawl she had been wearing a lot recently. She was oblivious to the dancing snowflakes outside as she buried herself in Margot’s letter. This was the reply to her request to be allowed to stay at the convent for a little while.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:35pm
Felicity curled up in her favourite window seat in the head’s apartment, burying herself in the warm red shawl she had been wearing a lot recently. She was oblivious to the dancing snowflakes outside as she buried herself in Margot’s letter. This was the reply to her request to be allowed to stay at the convent for a little while.

“Dear Felicity,” she read, “I as so glad you were able to write to me and tell me what was happening in your life. I know that as an elder sister I was not always approachable to you younger ones. I put it down at the time to struggling with my vocation, but to own the truth, a lot of it was pure selfish laziness. I pray you will forgive me for that and that we will be able to put the past behind us.
I showed Mother Peter the contents of your letter. She has asked me to assure you that it will be treated in all confidence and will not be disclosed to the rest of the community. She has extended an invite for you to join us for a short time. You will be welcome to stay in the retreat house, with other visitors who mainly stay for up to a week, but mother suggests that you come and live in the community. This can be for a matter of weeks, or a longer period if you and she decide it will be beneficial to both parties. Don’t worry we are not trying to coerce you into a vocation, it doesn’t work that way, but we both feel that it will help you to follow our settled routine while you take time to think.
I know that you will have a lot of questions about this, and I’ll probably leave something out, but I’ll do my best. We have two routines in this house, one for the contemplatives, which includes the early, and night offices, and one for the rest of us who have active community based work. You may feel free with some guidance to follow the contemplative routine if you wish, but I certainly can’t do it. I tried when I was a novice, but after I was disturbing prayer with snoring it was gently suggested that medicine and a contemplative lifestyle were not best suited!
We rise at six for private prayer, followed by mass at eight. This allows those of us who have to travel across the city to be out on time. We have a light breakfast in silence, and then personally I will wash, tidy my cell and pray before leaving for the clinic in the poor quarter of the city where I’m currently working. As you know the order have houses in Europe, Africa, Asia, and both North and South America. The European and North American houses serve as fundraising, spiritual support, rest and retreat houses, as well as serving the poor in the cities they are based in. This is why I came here after being in Delhi. It is policy for us to serve about seven years in a third world country, followed by a similar time in a developed country. This means we do not become too weary or worn out. I remember how I raged when I was told to come here. I most defiantly did not want to leave the women’s clinic where I felt that I was doing well, to come back to Europe to a job I thought anyone could do. I will own now that I was ready to throw something when the recall letter arrived. I realised when I had been here about a month just how tired I really was. It is a good policy, although it didn’t seem it at the time.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:36pm
Now where was I? Oh Yes! I spend most of the day at the clinic, having my lunch there, and taking time in the church round the corner for the mid-day office. Mother Peter will probably find some kind of work for you to do. I think she has something up her sleeve, I recognise the glint I saw in her eye. Miss Annersley has nothing on Mother Peter I can tell you, but they are both as kind and helpful when you need them to be.
We spend time from either four, or when we arrive back, in study of the scripture and devotional texts. At six we eat our main meal, and unlike breakfast we talk during this. Following the main meal we have chores to do, and then more time for reflection on the day. This has to be at least half an hour, but from seven thirty we may congregate in the lounge for recreation. We finish the day with compline at nine, after which we are meant to observe silence until the rising bell in the morning, unless there is a special need of course.
Mother Peter will act as spiritual director for you as she knows your story and feels it will be better than using either the director of novices or the sister retreat director. Anything you discuss with her will be in confidence, and she will do her best to help you. She has a certain wisdom that I’ve only seen in a few people and has certainly dealt faithfully with me, although there have been times when I’ve wished she hadn’t!
I act as doctor for the community and will help you regain your health. I’ve dealth with similar problems with some novices in one of our sister convents recently, as well as having a lot to do with the girls at the school attached to this convent. I rather think Mother Peter intends to have you doing something with the girls, she was very interested in the details of the nativity play, and in the pantomime!
I hope you do come to us. It will be a good idea for you to have a break from the world whilst you make the decisions you told me about. Miss Annersley was right there. You are free to make the choice to stay in the retreat house as well if you prefer, although I can’t for the life of me see what you would do all day if you did stay there for more that a week or so. Like Mother Peter keeps telling me, I need to wait until age has robbed me of 90% of my energy, and possibly the use of my legs before I could make a contemplative. Do let me know when you will arrive as Mother Peter will arrange for me to have a few days away from the clinic to help you settle in, if it is possible. If you have any questions, write and I’ll see if I can get permission to telephone the school one evening.
Now, show this to Len and Miss Annersley if you wish, and come soon. I would love to see you. I saw mamma when I returned to Europe, and Con stopped off at the clinic once when she had dropped the twins off at school, but I’ve seen nothing of the rest of you since the day I took final vows, and most of you were in tears then. Such happy memories you left me with. (I’m grinning as I write that, honest.)

     With much love, and wishing you every blessing,

           Margot.
(Sister Mary Margaret)


Felicity put down the thin sheets and considered Margot’s proposal. It sounded very attractive to her, but she was concerned that it might be seen as escaping rather than retreating. At this point Felicity was not willing to trust her instinct and wanted the guidance of Len and Miss Annersley before deciding firmly to accept, so she left the letter in the lounge and went to the study to see what progress had been made on the half term plans.



Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:39pm
WOW! It's taken me about an hour and a half to repost all this. Maybe tomorrow I will eventually be able to add the next bit. I think it was Wednesday when I last added anything, and I want to write the half term bit 'cos it moves the story on .

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lisa_T on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:45pm
Having been a victim i can say this without being lynched, but in some ways I don't mind it when a thread needs to be posted. Although the comments are entertaining, it's rather nice to be able to read a story straight through in one go. I'm really impressed with this one and Vikki's all over again, once you get the net effect, so to speak.

Keep going! ;D

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:51pm
Well done, Carolyn!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 17th, 2003, 10:52pm
As a reader I agree with you. However as a ...pauses for thought... drabbler (not daring to say writer never mind author) I find the comments a) useful for developing the plot and/or picking up things I might have missed and b) invaluable when it comes to spuring me on and keeping me going.
I suppose this board is good for having all the comments, and then the fiction site for reading straight through.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 17th, 2003, 11:17pm
I have to agree with both Carolyn and Lisa about the pros and cons of getting your thread eaten!!
It's quite good to be able to condense the story, but the threats and harrassment are fun to re-read!! (after the event, that is. ;))

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lesley on Oct 18th, 2003, 12:04am
I think there are good points to both - but saying that, in my thread, without the comments there are some scenes that would not have been written - Bill enduring Miss Moore's sarcasm and lines - in particular!

Well done Carolyn for re-posting - that's about how long it took me when it happened!

More as soon as you've recovered please!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 18th, 2003, 12:11am
So, we now have four members in the eaten thread club!!
Anyone else want to join? ;) ;)

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 18th, 2003, 2:28am
Thank you Carolyn, I wasn't on board when you asked people what they wanted you to do but I'm glad you chose this option.
It is good to be able to read the stories straight through, but it is also fun to read to the comments, and sometimes I find other readers have picked up on something which I missed, which is helpful.
And Carolyn, IMHO you have every right to call yourself an author and if I said anything to upsset you I'm very sorry.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 18th, 2003, 6:23am

on 10/18/03 at 02:28:43, Esmeralda wrote:
And Carolyn, IMHO you have every right to call yourself an author and if I said anything to upsset you I'm very sorry.


Absolutely! Carolyn, you are not only entitled to do so, but ordered to do so!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 18th, 2003, 12:33pm
OK OK.
Actually Esmeralda you didn't  upset me at all. I recognise there is a difference between things that you just read, which would I suppose be from a writer; and things that you read with involvement which I would consider to come from an author. It is very difficult to pin down what makes that difference. I suppose character development is part of it, and events unfolding rather than a sudden 'Oh, that's happened has it'. I certainly feel that I have seen it in a few people here, but am scared to list them in case I miss out someone I would have included, or insult someone I don't, so includes but not necessarily limited to, Rachel (P?) who wrote Changes for Con; Lesley; Esmeralda; Rebbecca;Ray; and I think KB from the very very small ammount I've seen.

Being the person I am I find it very hard to say good things about myself, it seems vain somehow. I'm getting better though and am trying to stop making negative comments at least.

Better go and finish writing the next bit.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 18th, 2003, 12:38pm
*decides that to get into a semantic argument over the issue would only reduce the amount of time Carolyn has to write, so restrains herself and limits herself to the occasional cry of 'more, please'*

*blush* *also flattered by her assessment of my writing skills*

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 18th, 2003, 1:06pm
Tiny bit to whet your appetites. Mine is whetted enough and I want my lunch.



A collective groan went round the hall at prayers when the change of plans for half term was announced. Miss Annersley smiled, and then held up her hand.
“I know that this has come as a disappointment to you all, but we have had half term in school before and enjoyed ourselves and I am sure you will have a good a time. Mrs Entwistle will inform you of some of the ideas we have now.” Miss Annersley took her seat and yielded the dais to Len. Len surveyed the gloomy girls and grinned, she was sure that they would not be gloomy by the end of the weekend.
“The first plan I can you tell you is to invite all the old girls living on the Platz to join us each day for Mittagessen and Abendessen. They will also be in charge of the entertainment for the Saturday evening. I can’t tell you yet what form that will take, but as we have a number of former prefects and staff around I know it will be good. If the snow stops then we also intend to use the time for more winter sports, including some rather novel ideas that Miss Richardson is concocting.” Len flashed her sister a grin as she said this, knowing how original some of those ideas were.
“There will also be chance for you to shine, although we are keeping our plans for tomorrow secret until half term begins at lunch time. Now, I expect you to show us how chalet girls behave. You could grump and grumble about this and therefore not enjoy the holiday; or you could behave like Chalet girls and make the most of what is available and enjoy yourselves to the fullest. We as staff will do our part and hope that you will do your part in making this an enjoyable holiday. School, stand.” There was a scrabbling as the girls rose to their feet and Miss Lawrence began to play a rousing Sousa march to lift their spirits as they marched back to their classrooms.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lesley on Oct 18th, 2003, 1:07pm
*Thank you Carolyn - list also includes yourself!*

Lots more please - want to know what will happen next! Will Hilda pick up on Kathie's resentment?

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 18th, 2003, 1:59pm
*Thanks Carolyn for that little appetiser and points out that it has served to sharpen appetite, also points out that she has to go shopping as soon as England acheive victory against South Africa.

*Appreciates Carolyn's assessment of her writing & wishes she had same confidence, but promises to try and stop making negative comments about own work.

*Also restrains herself from getting involved in discussion which as Lisa T (who I would also include in your list) said, is rather subjective.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 18th, 2003, 2:09pm
Esmeralda - I did say the list wasn't exhaustive... I knew I would forget someone, yes I agree with you. I also agree it is too subjective a thing to discuss, here at any rate. If anyone wants to discuss what make an 'author' as opposed to a 'writer' please can it be done under off topic as I don't want to risk offending anyone. You are too nice to want that.

Oh, yes looking at the half time, are you sure that you will get shopping if you wait for England to win????? :P



“What will happen do you think?” asked Holly.
“Oh, it probably depends a lot on the weather. I expect that we will have some fun, the staff are normally very good about that,” replied Cheryl lazily.
“Glad you think so,” Miss Richardson noted as she breezed into their form room with a bunch of postcards in her hand. “Carol, hand these round please so you can all inform your parents of the change of plans, we need to do them quickly.”
“How will the cards get out if we can’t?” queried Valerie Russell as she scribbled a quick note to her mother.
“Miss Dene will drive over to the San with them and the helicopter will take them out with the San mail, it is also delivering us some meat, so you will not go hungry over the holidays.
“I wish I could see it,” dreamed Jonquil, “I’ve always wanted to get close to a helicopter.” The rest of the form laughed, Jonquils passion for machines being well known within the form.

The rest of the day sped quickly and the following morning saw short lessons designed to revise the work done that half term. The school had lunch and took the deck chairs in the hall for their usual rest. There was a low buzz of chatter wondering how the rest of the day would be spent. As the quiet half hour came to an end, Len, accompanied by the form mistresses came in to the room.
“Girls, we are asking each form to provide part of the entertainment for tonight. Each form will be given a 10-minute slot, order to be determined at the time by a draw. You may join with another form and take up to 20 minutes. The time will be watched and any form that goes over will be penalised. The staff and old girls will be awarding prizes for most entertaining in each division of the school, along with a few other awards that we will reveal at the time. You may dismiss initially to your form rooms, although once you have decided what form your entertainment will take you may then use whatever rooms are necessary. Your form mistresses will be available now for 15 minutes and will then be dropping in on you during the course of the afternoon. Abendessen will be at 18:00 tonight to enable us to start the evening at 19:00. That is all. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.”
The girls watched their new head leave with an astounded look on their faces. Whatever they had expected it wasn’t this. Then as they came to their senses babble broke out as they all started talking at once. The form mistresses began to round up their flocks and the girls slowly departed for their form rooms, an excited buzz following them. Mags had managed to grab her twin Mollie, and whisper something to her, and they quickly passed the idea to the rest of IIIA. Miss Richardson was pleasantly surprised therefore to find her form ready to march to their form room quickly. Once there she said that she would leave them to discuss for a few minutes and then return. To her surprise Mags as form prefect stood up and said that they had already decided what they would like to do, and proceeded to tell her their plan. Ruey was taken further aback when she heard their plans, but agreeing with them she gave them a little advice and then left them to begin.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 18th, 2003, 2:57pm
*Points to full time score and puts coat on :P

Thanks Carolyn - I can't wait to see what the form come up with this time ???

*Goes shopping :P

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 18th, 2003, 3:32pm
OK England finaly pulled their socks up!
If you are shopping then you can't read this can you...



The girls gathered in hall where the benches had been laid out in rows. The staff and all the old girls living thereabouts, along with some of their husbands, most of who were employed at the San, joined them. At 19:00 prompt Len took to the stage and held out a large pot that contained slips from each form mistress, giving the name of their form, or forms in a few cases. The first slip she drew read Inter V and these damsels took to the stage and arranged themselves in small groups, with one of their number, Alex taking her seat at the piano. As Alex was the daughter of Nina Rutherford, once a world-renowned pianist this was no surprise to the school. Their song however was. Based loosely around different Beatles songs the form had put to music some of the happenings of that year, and different members of the school could be seen to turn beetroot as their misdeeds were aired in public once more. IIIA had their turn to cower as the song ‘Let it be’ was changed to ‘Let it Fly’ and recounted their cushion fight of the previous term.
This was followed by a Joyce Greenfel nursery monologue, read by Mary Winterton and acted out by the rest of the upper sixth. The school rocked with laughter as they watched the stately sixth formers do a nursery ‘music and movement’ session.
The second form had their turn next and they had both joined together and provided a series of picture puzzles for the school to solve. They had spent the afternoon drawing or finding pictures to give clues to famous books and used their time to distribute these to the audience, who then had ten minutes to solve them before the answers were given. They just about managed this in the twenty minutes, mainly through having seated themselves at the end of each row rather than together to aid distribution and had the answers ready on a blackboard to reveal. They had even managed to put together their sweets to provide a prize for those people who managed to complete the list.
There were another two forms before IIIA had their turn, and they rose, along with the first form to everyone’s astonishment. IIIA had spent the afternoon teaching the first form some of the country dancing that the school excelled in. They had concentrated on the dances that the children were capable off, those that included ring games or songs and together they did ‘Here we go round the mulberry bush’, ‘Oats and beans and barley grow’ and ‘Roman soldier’. This last had the school in fits once more as the children hobbled off the stage with one leg, one arm and one eye.
The entertainment continued and the girls had though up a wide variety of items. At the end the girls were dismissed to get bathed and changed for bed, being told to return to the dining room in pyjama’s dressing gowns and slippers. A final treat in the shape of mugs of hot chocolate was waiting for them. They supped on this, enjoying the unexpected boon and waited for the announcement of the prizes.
The most entertaining senior prize was awarded to Inter V; the middles prize went to Lower IVa who had written a series of limericks describing themselves, and the junior prize went to the second forms for their ingenuity. Other prizes were then given for fun, for the most apt entertainment to Upper Ivb who had a skit based on being trapped in a snow drift; and the best use of time, again to the second forms who had fitted a whole competition complete with prize giving into their brief allocation.  Len had announced these prizes, but she then gave way to Hilary Greaves, once Hilary Burn, head girl and former games mistress.
“As old girls we expect a lot from those who follow us. It would be easy after all these years to look back, sigh and say ‘Ah, things are not what they were.’ We are continually surprised by Chalet girls past and present who do far more than we would ever have expected. The entertainment tonight has been funny, enjoyable and most of all original. We however always look for more than that, and the special award we want to give says more about being a true Chalet girl than anything else. This is for IIIA, a form that volunteered to forgo any chance they would have had for a prize in order to assist their juniors. Their form mistress tells me it was their own idea, from all the form and also their first thought. The mistress of the first form tells me that IIIA have been a constant help this term, having already given up some of their free time to organise games tournaments in the common room, which they have then assisted the first form with. This prize for helpfulness is awarded to IIIA with pleasure and I for one will watch their progress through school with interest.”
IIIA squirmed under this rather fulsome praise, but were cheered rather when they saw the prize, a large iced cake to be served at their table the following day during Kaffee und Kuchen.


Knew the Abbey books would come in useful some day  :D

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lesley on Oct 18th, 2003, 3:54pm
Excellent Carolyn - thank you!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Rebecca on Oct 18th, 2003, 5:06pm
Fantastic!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 18th, 2003, 6:20pm
The Saturday morning saw school in charge of the prefects. They had their guides meeting as normal, with the guiders volunteering to be on duty also, and then after milk and biscuits had a hobbies club meeting. The prefects were absent from this, giving the other sixth formers charge of their juniors. The reason for this was discovered in the afternoon when each form received a list of races and games to be held that afternoon with orders to enter at least one person from each form for every race or game for which they were eligible. The prefects had distinguished themselves with a variety of games that ranged from Junior knot untangling race, to Senior blindfold pot throwing, and event which took place in the art rooms and at which every spectator was issued with a plastic rain cape. The afternoon passed quickly as the girls were racing around the building taking part in and watching these unique races and competitions. By the end of the afternoon no one would have dreamt of complaining anymore about spending half term at school. They went off to Kaffee und Kuchen where IIIA enjoyed the fruits of their labours the day before tired and eager to see what the old girls had devised for the evening entertainment.

“ I notice that Joey has appeared again,” remarked Kathie sourly to June Skellern.
“That’s not so strange with all your old girls here is it? She seemed a permanent feature earlier in the term anyway.” June was not that bothered. She was not a fan of Joey’s but had no reason to dislike her.
“No, I suppose not. I rather expected her to take a larger role anyway. She is the mother of our new head and related to half the girls in one way or another I suppose.”
June laughed, “I’ve heard you talk about the ‘Maynard Mafia’ before. It can’t be half the girls though really, can it?”
“Feels like it at times. Those who are not related are mainly related to one or another of her relations, or to some other old girls, the Guernsey connection mainly. I sometimes think that there can’t be much future here for people like me and you who are neither related nor old girls.” Kathy was feeling her way with her younger colleague, but couldn’t help but show some of her resentment as she spoke.
June looked at Kathie closely, this sounded suspiciously akin to treason, and she was wary of speaking out against the school regime to one of the more senior staff. She could see that Kathie was sincere, and she recalled some of Kathie’s earlier outbursts.
“I suppose that in any school which retains its staff as well as this one does, that there will become limited prospects for promotion unless the staff are willing to leave to seek it. However most of the staff here seem to be content with their position in the school and to be teaching more from a sense of vocation than career prospects,” was her considered reply.
“Yes, but vocation doesn’t rule out promotion. I think most of the ‘old maids’ here and some of the younger staff too became teachers as a prelude to getting married and never thought of it as a lifelong career choice. I never thought like that. I always wanted to teach and this was my first job. I hoped that the experience of teaching in a premier school would stand me in good stead, but first I was offered a head of department when Rosalind Moore left to nurse her mother, and then having given that a few years, I seemed settled and just didn’t think about it. Recent events have made me re-evaluate my position, and whilst I don’t really wish to move, I think it is a crying shame that to gain any senior position you have to an old girl or a Maynard. Even Nancy it appears wasn’t good enough because she was at St Scholastica’s and not the original Chalet.”
June was taken back by all these revelations from an older mistress, and uneasy about the situation she felt she was being put in. Looking around for a chance to escape, her eyes lit on the cake that was to be given to IIIA that teatime.
“That looks scrummy. I wouldn’t mind some of it myself. Still those kids certainly deserved it.”
“Hmmm, that form is made up completely by members of that family and they’ve probably had it dinned into them since birth that the school rewards helpfulness. They were bound to win something anyway. I’m glad I don’t teach that form, I’d have to watch my every word in case it was reported back,” finished Kathie with a laugh.
June was horrified that she appeared to have made the situation worse, but Nancy appeared at her shoulder that moment, “June, I think you are needed to make up a fourth for scrabble. Why don’t you join the other youngsters since we have an unexpected afternoon to ourselves.” She shot the younger woman a smile and pointed her across to where a rowdy game of scrabble was just commencing. June relived to be rescued dashed across the room and joined in an hilarious game where the only allowable words that could be made had to have been on the schools list of banned slang at one time or another.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 18th, 2003, 7:16pm
Kathie made to move, but Nancy placed her hand on her shoulder and stopped her from rising.
“Don’t make a scene, Kathie,” she said under her breath as she slowly released her grip and sat down facing her younger friend.
“What do you mean, sending June off like that as if I’m not fit to associate with?” Kathie flared up, going on the attack in order to try and stop Nancy from prying into her own attitude.
“I’m not sure you are at the moment,” replied Nancy slowly. She reached forward and picked up a cigarette packet from the table, lighting one she added, “Look, Kathie, I know something has upset you this term. You don’t appear to have been yourself at all.”
Kathie reached out in turn for the packet and lighting one took a long drag before replying. “On the contrary I think I am finally being myself. It’s you I don’t understand. You suddenly seem to have lost all your fight, all your determination. I wish you would stop glaring at me every time I express an opinion. I am myself at last instead of the automaton that I was in danger of becoming, and that you appear to have become.”
Nancy, shocked by this candid opinion held by someone she had long considered a friend, stood and made her way out of the room in silence. Kathie watched her leave, regretting for a moment that she had been so open about her opinion and wondering if the breach with Nancy could be healed. She knew that Nancy was her only real friend, the others in the staff room being on ‘hail fellow well met’ terms with her, but none having that depth of relationship that she had once shared with Nancy.

Nancy had retreated to her own room. She lay on the bed in complete defiance to Matey’s ‘recommendations’ to the staff. The stillness did much to calm her. She was confident that her own actions this term had been correct, and in watching how Len had taken hold of the job she had no regrets. Nancy puzzled over Kathie’s attitude. She was sure that it went deeper than the issue of Len as opposed to Nancy being head, and she began to wonder about Kathie’s own ambitions. Kathie had never said that she would aim for further promotion, although she had also never said that she was satisfied in her current position. Nancy wondered if Kathie had expected to succeed her as senior mistress, and possibly even later as head. Nancy shuddered at what would happen with a head who could express this kind of bitterness over disappointment, and then shook herself because she knew that the board would never allow it. This explanation didn’t quite satisfy the mistress and eventually she rose and went to sit at her small cherry wood desk. She opened the top drawer and took out a pack of cards that she quickly spread out on the desk top for a game of patience. She often found that playing patience helped her orderly mind solve another problem. This afternoon she played several games before giving up and returning to the staff room the puzzle of Kathie’s behaviour still only partially solved.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 18th, 2003, 8:23pm
Wow - OK I coukdn't read while I was shopping, but so much story to read when I got home!
That was brilliant and I am so looking forward to seeing what happens next.
I have some sympathy with Kathie's feelings but NOT with the manner in which she is dealing with them.  I would like to see her being thouroughly squashed, but unfortunately I don't think that would solve the problem.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lesley on Oct 18th, 2003, 9:12pm
Wonderful Carolyn, really quite disturbed by Kathie's bitterness - surely someone can get through it?

Oh and more please!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 18th, 2003, 9:30pm
The atmosphere between Kathie and Nancy was strained, as both felt their way carefully, making polite conversation over Kaffee. This spread to the rest of the staff room and there was a general unease as the meal progressed. Len who had come to join the staff for the meal noticed this and watched carefully to see if she could discern the cause. It became evident to her that Nancy and Kathie were at odds over some issue, and Kathie would not meet Len’s gaze. Len was not sure about the cause, but she guessed that Kathie’s conscience was not as clear as Nancy’s appeared to be. Once the meal had been cleared away and the mistresses began to disperse Len came up quietly to Kathie and said, “Would you like to come and read Mary-Lou’s latest letter. It arrived in the bag that came from the San, and I thought you might like a sneak preview before I pin it up on the board for the rest of the staff, I remember that the two of you were good friends by the time she left.”
Kathie struggled to keep her emotions under control as she remembered how she had originally felt about the bumptious Mary-Lou, and how she had quashed those feelings under the influence of the school. She had realised since that her original assessment of that young lady had probably been nearer the truth. Mary-Lou still held a great deal of influence at the school and was apt to pop up at odd moments when she was least expected. Kathie knew from bitter experience that Mary-Lou was very personable and took delight in ‘helping’ others to become the person she thought they ought to be.
“No, I think I will give that treat a miss this time thank-you Len. I’m not exactly in the mood for Mary-Lou’s particular brand of butting-in.”
Len laughed softly, “Why, do you think you would be in for a dose of it yourself?”
“I can remember when you had a dose of it yourself,” retorted Kathie, wondering if this was overstepping the mark slightly, but beginning to feel irritated by the reasonableness of those around her.
“OK, I’ll go and retrieve it from the office and post it now, and you can fight for your turn with the rest if you choose,” replied Len lightly. Inside however she was perplexed about what had brought about this change in the mistress.




That is the lot for today, the word count tells me I've done 3671 words, and I'm flagging so the rest of half term can wait until tomorrow. Thinking of enough entertainment ideas to fill a half term is taxing, and there is the millies panto to come as well, and being essential to the plot I can't leave it out!!!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lesley on Oct 18th, 2003, 10:28pm
Well done - very impressive amount of postings!

When you've recovered, more please!

(If not Nancy or Len - Hilda?)

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 18th, 2003, 10:49pm
Thank you Carolyn!!
Can't wait for the next bit!! ;D ;D

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 19th, 2003, 12:50am
Wowee! Things is crook! Sadly, the only way I can see this ending is with Kathie leaving or being fired. It would be hard to trust her after that and it would be a shame as I like her, although not as much when she's like this!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Catherine_B on Oct 19th, 2003, 1:03am
oh no - please don't fire kathie!    :o   she's  much too nice and she does have a point about promotion, after all....

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 19th, 2003, 9:16am
HeHe. Oh, I have plans for Kathie!  ;D

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 19th, 2003, 9:24am
*suddenly anxious that Carolyn has taken some of my ideas on board*

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 19th, 2003, 2:36pm

on 10/19/03 at 09:24:23, KB wrote:
*suddenly anxious that Carolyn has taken some of my ideas on board*


Nope, my plans for Kathie are homegrown.

Next, girls and the rest of half term, and Len. A bit of Hilda may be thrown in if you are lucky.

As for when, well I have quite a bit of college work to do, 1) plan an activity for 7yr olds to revise time, one that they can do in their groups and that can be differentiated and 2) research for my anti-discrimnation assignement that is on gender in children's book illustrations. I intend to look at the potrayal of domestic scenes and how it has changed, and include a section on the implications for practice of course. The problem is as I have said previously the college library doesn't have the books! I think the HE college might have, and I can use their facilities as long as I don't want to borrow anything!



Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 19th, 2003, 6:49pm
The Old girls had thought long and hard about what type of entertainment to provide. They knew that the girls had been sat through a planned entertainment the previous evening, but had been active all through the day. In the end they decided on an idea proposed by Hilary and settled the details with much laughter. The girls assembled in the hall after abendessen and were greeted by  “Your MC for the evening, Dr Daisy Rosomon.” Daisy announced blandly that they were having an evening of speeches. The girls frowned at this news, worried that the old girls may have lost their touch. Then the first speech was announced, the head girl was called upon to give a speech on the subject “The proper use of custard pies during a hockey game.” As Mary made her way to the dais looking stunned, Daisy gave out the rules, she must speak for 2 minutes without hesitation, repetition or deviation. The old girls had put their minds to finding as many strange topics as possible, and had compiled a list of people to call on from each division of the school, including the staff. Bill, visiting from St Mildred’s was staggered to find herself presented with the subject, “The best way to smell a dead dog” and Miss Annersley found herself presented with “Six uses of a carving knife”. The juniors were included as well and Valerie was given the subject “The day I met an alien.” The evening passed quickly, and the old girls were thanked for adding another idea to the often-recycled list used on Saturday evenings.

Sunday dawned dry and clear, much to Ruey’s relief as it had been given over to her for winter sports. They had arranged for the girls to attend the services in their own chapels and then to change immediately into skiwear. They were to start with skiing and tobogganing and then hot soup and rolls would be brought out for them to eat on the go. Ruey had planned races, snowballing, snow sculpture and numerous other games. She had also raided the attic at Freudesheim and found some pairs of snowshoes, and taught some of the pupils how to use them. The afternoon finished, as it was growing dark with a display of fireworks brought across by one of the younger doctors at the San. The girls, worn out with all the exercise, spent the evening quietly with the prefects organising paper games.

The juniors had already been dismissed to bed when Len received the phone call that took her racing to the San in the school car. Jem met her and took her through to Reg’s room straight away. Len could see how he had deteriorated over the course of the last few days. He was now clammy to touch and his face showed a pallor that Len knew instinctively was not good. His breathing was ragged and it pained Len to see how he caught each breath before he was able to breath out. Len and Jem stood there for a few minutes and then Jem drew her to the side of the room, out of earshot of the bed.


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 19th, 2003, 7:39pm
Poor Len - please don't let this be the l;ast post of the night Carolyn, I've got to know........

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 19th, 2003, 8:21pm

on 10/19/03 at 19:39:40, Esmeralda wrote:
Poor Len - please don't let this be the l;ast post of the night Carolyn, I've got to know........


This may not help, but here it is.....



“Len, this is about as bad as it gets. I know that we have already discussed what may happen from here on. Reg will not be able to survive now without what we call heroic measures. We have given him every type of medication possible, and all kinds of treatment. His only chance for survival is to let a machine breath for him. Once we put him on the machine there will be no turning back, and it may be that it will never be possible for him to breath on his own again. However without that aid he will not live through the night. This decision needs making soon. If you decide not to go ahead we will be able to sedate Reg a little further to ensure he is in no pain, but not too much as that in itself will suppress his breathing. My instinct says that we should go down that path, but the decision has to be yours, and if you want to try this last attempt then I will give the go ahead.” Jem had looked at his niece’s drawn, grey eyes as he spoke, wishing he could make this easier for her. They had been stood at the side of the small room and Len shook off Jem’s hand and walked over to where Reg lay, the dark blue coverlet contrasting sharply with the lack of colour in his face. Len then spun on her heels and left the room saying just, “I need to think, I’ll be back soon.”

Jem let Len go, presuming she would make her way to the little room set aside as a chapel. He resumed his watch at Reg’s side, hoping that Len would make the decision that would free her, and yet knowing that there was a good possibility that she feel it her duty to go ahead with the treatment. He didn’t realise but Jem was mistaken about Len’s destination. From a young age she had been accustomed to being in the San, and although her parents had tried to shield the family from the unpleasant side of Jack’s job, they had grown up here.  Len walked without thinking and her footsteps took her automatically to the room that had been her father’s office. She stood outside the door, and then presuming it to be empty now her father had left turned the handle and walked in. Len realised her mistake at once. This room was an office no longer; it appeared to be a residential room. Where the row of filing cabinets once stood was a bed, a smaller, lighter desk had replaced Jack’s large one; a wardrobe with a mirror on the door stood behind the door, where Jack had kept his coat stand and the shelves full of medical tomes had disappeared to be replaced with a smaller set of shelves, a chest of drawers and a low square table that sat next to the easy chair, the one item of furniture that Len recognised.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 19th, 2003, 8:28pm
No Carolyn - it doesn't help much.

Perhaps if I try begging.......


Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 19th, 2003, 9:34pm
*wondering where Carolyn's going next!*
MORE PLEASE!! ;D ;D

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 19th, 2003, 9:36pm
It only took Len a moment to take all this in, but that was long enough for the room’s occupant to rise from the easy chair in surprise at Len’s sudden entry.
“Can I help you?” The query jolted Len to her senses and she turned to look at the young woman who was speaking. The girl was about the same age as her sister Phillipa, maybe a year or so older. She had a sensible face with steady brown eyes and her hair cut into a short crop.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know this room was in use, I’ll go.”
“Hang on, are you ok?” asked the girl, her keen eyes seeing the strain Len was under.
“I don’t know, my husband, Reg, he’s dying, probably and I have to decide what to do.”
To Len’s amazement this girl nodded, and said, “I doubt that I can be of much help to you, I’m only a student doctor, but I do sympathise with your dilemma. Would you like me to take you down to the chapel, it will be more private for you to think, and the chaplain is normally here between 9:00 and 10:00 as he say’s people always seem to face a crisis at might.
“I can find my way thank you. I think I ended up here automatically, this room used to be my father’s office.”
“Well that means you’ll be able to find me if you think I can help in any way.” The girl shut the door behind Len before either of them realised they had not exchanged names.

Len felt refreshed by this encounter with a stranger who was nevertheless willing to help, even after her privacy had been intruded upon. She was still not sure what decision she would make, but something within her said that it was time to return to Reg, rather than seek out the privacy she craved. She walked determinedly down the still corridors, past nurses walking in pairs, chatting as they off duty, past rooms dimly lit with glimpses of sleeping patients, until she came to Reg’s room. She paused at the door, took a deep breath and opened it. It was a peaceful scene that met her eyes, Jem stood by the bed, studying the chart and a nurse was wiping a thermometer that had obviously just been used. Len paused on the threshold, wishing that she could stop in this moment and not have to go any further, but her training came to the fore and she stepped courageously into the room and joined Jem by the bed. Jem turned to speak to her, but before he could the nurse called urgently, “Sir Jem,” Jem turned and uttered an exclamation as he realised that Reg’s heart was giving out. He started resuscitation procedures as the nurse rang the bell for assistance.
Len looked on in shock as the doctors struggled to restart Reg’s heart. After a few moments Jem came over to her. He looked at her with compassion and placing a protective arm around her said, “I’m sorry Len, we restarted his heart, but it is too weak. He cannot live much longer. The decision has been made by a higher power. I think you had better come and say goodbye.” Len joined the medical staff at the bedside and mutely took the seat that someone placed behind her. She took Reg’s hand and thought about the few brief happy years they had shared together. A tear trickled down her face, and then another one. She made no move to wipe them but let the tears fall, one by one. It was much later when one tear hit her hand, and trickled off onto Reg’s hand that Reg himself stirred. He opened his eyes and the usual blank expression was replaced for a moment with a look of recognition as he stared direct into Len’s eyes, and then, giving her hand a squeeze, he died.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lesley on Oct 19th, 2003, 9:44pm
Thank you Carolyn.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Chloe on Oct 19th, 2003, 9:46pm
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( sniff sniff :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

but more soon please

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 19th, 2003, 9:46pm
Thank you Carolyn - that was so sad, but beatifully done.

I'm glad Reg had that final moment of recognition. :'( :'( :'(

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 19th, 2003, 10:18pm
*reaches for communal tissue box*
*swears because it's empty*
*wonders who was supposed to refill it*
*dries eyes on hem of skirt*

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 19th, 2003, 11:18pm
Thanks, Carolyn, that was just lovely.

*replaces communal tissue box, although it wasn't my turn* Wasn't it yours, Vikki?

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 19th, 2003, 11:36pm
No. I think I did it the time before last!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 19th, 2003, 11:50pm
Oh, okay. Maybe it was one of the Rach(a)els...

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 20th, 2003, 12:00am
I think it probably was!! ;D ;)

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 20th, 2003, 12:10am
*loves the way Vikki shirks her responsibilities whenever she can*

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 20th, 2003, 12:17am
Speechless with indignation!!!
*swears that she always fills the tissue box when it's her turn!!!*

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 20th, 2003, 12:25am
Pax! Enough hijacking or we might not get more story any time soon!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Oct 20th, 2003, 12:36am
*shakes hands with KB, and agrees that this probably verges on spreeing!!* :-[

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Oct 20th, 2003, 6:12am
*eagerly anticipates more of "Fights"*

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Tassie_Ellen on Oct 20th, 2003, 11:06am
I've just read this right through from the beginning, having not read it in its first incarnation. I am still weepy - it's been a lovely story, thank you Carolyn.

Ellen *blows nose and wipes eyes, then runs out to buy boxes of tissues on a two-for-one special, 'cos we might need more soon (I hope)*

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Rachael P on Oct 20th, 2003, 12:15pm

Quote:
Rachel (P?) who wrote Changes for Con


LOL, Carolyn - I'm flattered by your mistake but Changes for Con was definitely Rachel's baby - my authorial talents. or lack thereof, are ably demonstrated by the fact that on the whole, I read the threads rather than contribute to them!

This is brilliant, though and you can definitely describe yourself as an authoress/writer along with all the other drabble owners ...

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lesley on Oct 20th, 2003, 6:48pm
*Suggest Rachael P - who had two of the three top drabbles in recent competition - is certainly qualified to write!*



More please Carolyn!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Oct 20th, 2003, 10:45pm
Very small post as I made the mistake of ringing my mum with a question tonight, thinking I would be on the phone for about 5 minutes, over an hour later...

Don't know how safe it is posting before Friday, so I may only make small posts this week anyway. I promise to carry on writing though.



Jem took Len back to Freudesheim where she remained until after the funeral. By her own request this was attended only by those on the Platz who had known Reg well, and the two children, Isobel and Wendy were not present Len did not return to the school until the weekend after half term. Joey was worried that this was too soon as Len had remained deadly calm throughout but Jem pointed out that in many ways Len had been grieving for a long time already and that this but another step along the journey begun on the day of Reg’s accident. Joey demurred, but recognising Len’s right to determine her path through life said nothing to her daughter.


Len had in actual fact been glad to leave Freudesheim and her mother’s presence. Joey was obviously expecting Len to be grieving and extremely upset and Len found this hard to deal with in her present state of mind. She had taken a long walk through the snow the day before the funeral, taking strength from the crisp air and the familiar sight of the mountains. Len’s mind was in turmoil as she walked, waves of emotion overtaking her. Feelings of relief, of a burden lifted mingled with those of regret for what could have been and with guilt and remorse for being slow to make a decision. She knew that on this last point the doctors had tried to relieve her, saying that even if she had requested it immediately then Reg’s heart would still have given out before they had been able to do anything. Even with this knowledge Len still felt guilty, she had loved Reg so much, how could she feel relief at his death. She uttered a silent, wordless prayer for help as she navigated the paths she had walked many times whilst seeking solitude over the years since Reg’s accident. The oft-quoted psalm came unbidden into her mind, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber.”  Len stopped her walking and stood by a huge pine tree, looking across the valley towards the Jungfrau. There was no let up in her emotional state, but underneath it all grew a certainty that ‘He who kept’ her indeed not slumbering.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lesley on Oct 20th, 2003, 11:45pm
Excellent - that sort of reaction is common when someone has been in that state for so long. Len feeling relieved and guilty she's relieved at the same time.

More please, Carolyn

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Today at 12:06am
Thanks.

I found that scene really difficult. I didn't feel that a huge funeral scene would be appropriate, but wanted to show somthing of Len's confusion. I also felt it necessary, given that it is CS and always shown as being important to Len, to show how she found some strenght through her faith, without being preachy and without it resolving the turmoil, because it wouldn't.

I didn't want to go over the top, as I have tried to develop Len as a person who prefers to deal with her own problems in solitude, hence the scene in the rose garden earlier, and her leaving Reg's room that night. I considered a heart to heart with Miss Annersley, and haven't totaly ruled it out, but somehow this is what seemed better, and this is what Len did anyway and therefore what I had to write.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Lisa_T on Today at 12:26am
do you realise that most of the 'hearts to hearts' the Maynards have in these drabbles over their troubles tend to be with Hilda rather than Joey? That says it all!

More please Carolyn!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Today at 1:58am
This reminded me of when my grandfather died!
He had dementia for about six years before he actually died, and in that situation, you do do your grieving before they die. And it does come as a relief. (terrible as that sounds, if you've never experienced it.)

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Today at 2:43am
I've been through it, Vikki, so I know what you mean. It's a lot worse when the person who is suffering knows what's happening to them. In a lot of ways, Dementia is a blessing for the sufferer.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Today at 2:58am
It's terrible for the people who love them though. Having someone you care for not even recognise you is horrible. Worse if they get violent with it.

Would you mind my asking who you went through it with? You needn't answer if you'd rather not!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by KB on Today at 4:05am
I don't mind at all, although it was nice that you asked. My maternal grandfather suffered for about 7-8 years, and he passed away in 1998. My paternal grandmother also developed it during the last year or two, and she died in 2000. I suspect my matenal grandmother might also develop it, but she hasn't showed the symptoms yet. She does have Parkinson's and other age-related problems, so it would be a blessing for her if it did develop. (FYI, my paternal grandfather died when my father was only 21.)

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Today at 1:10pm
KB!!!
Oh honey, that's terrible! One grandparent with it was bad enough, I can't imagine two, or possibly three!!
*sending huge retrospective cyber hugs*

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Today at 4:12pm
I hope that none of you mind what I've written here. I know that Reg's situation was different, but the eventual outcome was similar, and I hope that no one has been upset, or offended by what I have written.

I read a children's picture book about death at college this morning and it had me in tears just about. It was very tenderly done, but something about the way it looked at death through the eyes of this young boy whose grandad had died completly got to me. And I'm not in that situation at the moment.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Today at 4:29pm
Carolyn,  I thought that was really touching.
My maternal grandmother had dementia, although I didn't recognise it as such at the time - I was only 13, and I'm sorry to say, rather self centered, but I know how difficult my mother found it when she was trying to look after her in our home, and I know how guilty she felt when she could no longer cope, but sad as it is, it is also a relief in a way.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Vikki on Today at 4:38pm
Carolyn, you haven't caused any offence, I felt you handled it beautifully, and sensitively. And I'm waiting eagerly for the next bit!!

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Carolyn P on Today at 6:36pm
Half term had finished as planned for the girls. They hardly noticed Len’s absence, and by Len’s request the school at large was not informed as she did not want Isobel and Wendy affected by the reactions of the other girls. She had decided to tell her daughters what had happened after the end of term when they were together by themselves and could be a family once again.

The Wednesday after half term saw the first train come through and the girls were relieved to receive the much-awaited letters from home. Since the helicopter had brought in the main the week before nothing had arrived and most of them were eager to hear from their families. Mary-Jo and Polly were especially keen to see what the post brought as their birthday had now passed and they were anxious to see their present. They were not disappointed. Con had been in touch with a large office supplier in Interlaken and arranged for a good modern typewriter, complete with reams of paper, carbon in different colours, spare ribbons and correcting paper. She had also included a supply of staples, a stapler, different coloured folders, reporter’s pads, pens and pencils, a hole punch and treasury tags. The twins unpacked the box in amazement, awed that their mother had been so thorough in her generosity. This was more than they had expected and they were astounded at their fortune.
“We will be able to do everything we had planned,” gasped Polly as she looked at the heaps of stationary piled on the table in the common room.
“Let’s go and get the others. We can get started right away,” Mary-Jo twirled Polly round in her excitement and nearly sent her flying into the bookcase.
OK, OK, don’t throw me around like that, we don’t want matey on our case, do we?”

They grabbed the rest of IIIA and swarmed round the typewriter like bees round a honey pot. Polly inserted the fresh sheet and they all took a turn at typing their names. Mary-Jo and Polly were familiar with a typewriter, having used their mothers on a few occasions, and some of the others had attempted to type before, but for some of them it was their first attempt. Once they had all had a turn Polly whispered something to Mags and then called for the forms attention.
“You know that we asked mother for this because we wanted to start a juniors newspaper. She doesn’t know that exactly, but she has been able to send us everything we will need to get started. I’m going to give you a pad each to write your articles, and then when we have got enough stuff written we can start typing out our copies. We will need five copies if we are to do one for each junior form, which means typing it out three times, that will give an extra copy for the common room too.” Polly finished in a rush, and Mags took over.
“I’m suggesting that we appoint the twins as joint editors since their mum does the job and it’s their typewriter, and we will all need to do some of the typing, but if we aim for an issue every 10 days or so it won’t be too much for us. So lets get started.”
For the rest of the week IIIA could be found in nooks and crannies scribbling in their pads and the clatter of typing was heard throughout their free time as they all took every opportunity to practice their typing. It was a week before they had their first issue ready, but surveying how much material they had written ready, they thought they would be able to do the second quite soon, and so Emily typed on the end, ‘ watch for our next issue, coming soon.’
They took the first issue early one morning and left a copy in the desk of the form prefect in each junior form; then they waited nervously to see what the reaction would be.





I'm not sure what to do about posting this now in the light of Liss' request about long stories. I am comming towards the end, well I'm nearer that than the beginning. I don't know if I could write without all your emcouragement between  each little bit, and much as we all complain, I think the cliff hangers are a brilliant part of this. I don't want to ignore Liss however.
What I might do is finish this as is, especially as now it's a second generation thread it isn't too long. If I ever do it again, I'll probably do a small ammount drabble, then rewrite for the fiction site, drabble the next as a separate thread and then rewrite for fiction, the only trouble with that is the rewrite really needs to be done once you have finished and seen the inexpected things the characters do. I'm not sure, I'll just obey Liss and follow the herd.

Title: Re: Fights at the Chalet School  (aka The Family)
Post by Esmeralda on Today at 6:53pm
I know how you feel Carolyn - I'm sort of feeling the same, but I don't know if I ever would get it finished if I wasn't posting it on here.
The problem is, I still don't really know how long it's going to be.
Also, I don't think it's CS enough for the fiction site, and even if it was, it's certainly not fit to be on there in it's present form.



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