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Stories & Imaginings >> Cookies & Drabbles >> Grizel in Florence 
(Message started by: Kathryn on Jun 10^th, 2003, 12:03am)

Title: Grizel in Florence
Post by Kathryn on Jun 10^th, 2003, 12:03am

Concocted this in the shower the other day: great place for thinking!!! Probably some poetic licence, but that's CS. Please add to it.

Grizel stood in front of the Duomo, wishing that she wasn't even there. She should be at Bedford studying PT, not in Florence studying music as ordered by her father. She didn't even notice what she was looking at, but thinking harsh thoughts about her father and stepmother. Her stepmother?! Unfairly Grizel blamed Mrs Cochrane for being where she was today. If it wasn't for her.... But then Grizel stopped and thought for a minute. If it wasn't for her stepmother, Grizel would not have been sent to the Chalet School with Miss Maynard, now Mrs Russell, the charming wife of Dr Russell, the head of the San on the Sonnalpe. She would not have spent the last four years in the Tyrol with Joey, Juliet and the Robin. Grizel still remained jealous of the Robin and her primacy with Jo, but she was beginning to understand that Jo's heart belonged to the angelic child.
Whatever problems Grizel still carried from the strict treatment of her stepmother, her years at the CS had at least taught her to stop and think for a minute. But that didn't make her situation any easier. She was here to study music for two years and then return home. To what? She didn't exactly enjoy music, but her years under Herr Anserl had made her an excellent instrumentalist, but her music lacked the passion of the a true musician, like Margia Stevens.
Grizel'd already had a lesson with her piano teacher in Florence and had met some of the other pupils studying the course. But she had not joined in the afternoon tea, pleading a headache.
As she stood musing about where to go next, the Uffizi (might as well look at stuff while she was here!!) or back to her rooms she failed to notice some workmen off to her side, carrying some planks. As they walked towards Grizel she suddenly noticed them and jumped backwards, landing on some poor innocent's feet!
'Oh, I'm terribly sorry!!' Grizel gasped.
'Don't fret, my feet are tough,' replied a jolly-lookin young woman, about Grizel's age. 'I say, aren't you in Signor Alberti's piano course? You're Miss Cochcrane.'
'Yes..yes, I am,' stammered Grizel, looking embarrassed. 'Oh, I saw you yesterday. I'm awfully sorry, I didn't catch your name.'
'Gerry Challoner,' replied the young woman, holding out her hand.
'Not Gerry, surely?'
'Geraldine, really, but I prefer Gerry,' grinned Miss Challoner. The crowd, for some reason was growing around them and it was becoming difficult to maintain a modicum of polite conversation without resorting to raising their voices. So Gerry suggested they retire for afternoon tea at a local cafe. Grizel, still embarrassed at landing on Gerry's feet, agreed and they headed for coffee.
Once seated Gerry started. 'Must I call you Miss Cochrane? I mean, we are going to be studying together and it seem ridiculous that we must be Miss this and that. I much prefer Gerry to Miss Challoner.'
'Certainly,' replied Grizel. 'I'm Grizel.'
'Now, Grizel. Why the long face? You are in the most beautiful city in the world, studying with the best masters of music and surrounded by the miracles of the Renaissance. So why the miserable look ?'
Grizel, disarmed by Gerry's forwardness replied 'Well, it is like this'......

Please continue!

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by ariella on Jun 10^th, 2003, 12:18am

"I do love music, only I'd so much rather be studying PT only my step-mother won't have it" Grizel began as the anger slipped back into her voice. "Then I miss my family as well. Oh not my father and step-mother" she cried as Gerry raised an eye-brow, "I miss Madame and Jo, and yes even Robin, they have been so good to me".

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Rachael P on Jun 10^th, 2003, 10:20am

Realising that Gerry could not possibly know who any of these people were, Grizel launched into a full description of her happy years spent in the Tiernsee at the Chalet School. Unlike Grizel, Gerry Challoner was an observant youg woman with a real talent for conveying the emotion of a piece of music as she played. She watched Grizel intently as the anger subsided and the features relaxed, revealing her to be much prettier than the sharp-faced loner Gerry had initially studied in class. A much lighter tone now marked Grizel's speech as she enthused about the Tyrol and Gerry herself was moved by descriptions of the snow-peaked mountains, deep blue lakes and flower strewn valleys of that region. But as Grizel's tale came back to the present day, she could not prevent the old resentment creeping back into her voice and by the time she had brought Gerry up-to-date, her familiar bitterness had returned.

Gerry, herself was deeply sympathetic to Grizel's plight. Geraldine Challoner came from a large, loving family and had never known anything but support and encouragement from her parents. Her early talent at the cello had been nurtured and fostered, certainly, but she had never been pushed and Gerry considered for a moment what sort of feelings this might have engendered. Would she have lost her own passion for music if the element of choice had been withheld? For the life of her she could not understand why anyone would force their child to study something at this level when they were so plainly disinterested. However, hers not to reason why. Grizel was unhappy and having seen the cloud lift, albeitly briefly, Gerry was determined to help her new found friend.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by austriaamy on Jun 10^th, 2003, 8:11pm

on 06/10/03 at 00:03:26, Kathryn wrote:

If it wasn't for her stepmother, Grizel would not have been sent to the Chalet School with Miss Maynard, now Mrs Russell, the charming wife of Dr Russell, the head of the San on the Sonnalpe.

Don't you mean Miss Bettany?

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Marianne on Jun 11^th, 2003, 2:13pm

no offence austriaamy, but i'm in a really fowl mood, stop critising everything people write! We all worked out i was madge - therefore miss bettany but we don't need to say so!

It really dosn't matter!

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by catherine on Jun 11^th, 2003, 3:04pm

(But wasn't it because Grizel was so unhappy at home that Madge took her away? I can't see her offering to do it if Grizel was happy at the High and happy at home and plus, it was the fact that her stepmother wanted rid of her that prompted her to tell Madge she could have Grizel.)

"I say! What rough luck!" Gerry exclaimed sympathetically. "But you know, it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom." She said thoughtfully.
"I don't see how." Grizel muttered grumpily - she was not yet ready to be cheered up.
"Well you can play even if you're not fond of it so you ought to be able to keep up with classes and then you get the chance to meet a whole lot of new people. Plus look at this place," Gerry waved her hand to indicate their surroundings "we're in the middle of one of the most cultural cities in the world and since you've already spent a few years in Austria, you ought to appreciate it more than most! Think of the letters you'll be able to write to them - you'll make them green with envy I should think!"
"That's true." Grizel looked slightly more cheerful.
"Plus," Gerry added cunningly. "if we manage to save up enough money, we might even be able to afford a holiday on Italy's coast at some point! And Austria isn't all that far away, I daresay you'll be able to squeeze in a visit at some point."

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Toria on Jun 11^th, 2003, 4:33pm

(It is Mrs Cochrane who's really keen for Grizel to go to boarding school and therefore persuades Grizel's father to let her go. If Grizel had been happy though she wouldn't have needed to go anyway.)

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by catherine on Jun 11^th, 2003, 4:39pm

(That's what I thought - thanks Toria!)

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Toria on Jun 11^th, 2003, 4:42pm

That's quite alright Catherine :)

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Aletea on Jun 11^th, 2003, 5:23pm

While running the risk of being maimed, I'm going to fling a bomb and sit back with a smile on my face to see its effects...

It's foul, not fowl.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Rachael P on Jun 11^th, 2003, 5:26pm

*definitely diving for cover now .....*

Methinks you have more courage than sense, OOAO!

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Marianne on Jun 11^th, 2003, 8:15pm

I'm dyslexic. sorry, can't be helped.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Kathryn on Jun 12^th, 2003, 4:38am

I did mean Madge Bettany but fingers typed Maynard :-[

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Aletea on Jun 14^th, 2003, 12:30am

Sorry, but dyslexia doesn't mean you confuse words that are pronounced the same but spelt differently, just letters.
Ooh, talking of dyslexia, according to some new research a certain form of it is being unable to distinguish sounds when listening to them, which is something I struggle with; i.e. song lyrics, people giving their names over the phone etc. Mind, I think it's a bit too late for me to be bothered with being diagnosed now!

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Raya on Jun 19^th, 2003, 12:44am

....

"I'd love to see the Tirol," Gerry continued,coaxingly. "You make it sound so gorgeous. Won't you agree to hoe in here and do your best with the music, so that we can get to know each other better and you can take me with you when you visit? And oh, I say! Do you think they'd take you back as music mistress when you're qualified? It'dbe better than nothing, anyhow. And you could be with you family -- your adoptive family, that is," she said, trailing off in the fear that here she was treading in some rather dicey territory. She got her reward, though, for Grizel's face was already brightening at the thought, and soon broke into a wide smile.

"I always said I'd do anything but teach music," she said thoughtfully, "but teaching at the dear old Chalet School would be a sight better than going back to England once the training here is over! I know Madame would have me. I was Head Girl my last year, you know, and -- well --" she flushed a little -- "I made rather an awful fist of it at first, I'm afraid, but it turned out all right in the end and I really did feel I'd given something back to the School. I know Madame thought so too, because she told me."

Gerry surveyed her thoughtfully. It occurred to her that Miss Grizel could be rather a self-centered young lady when she chose. All the same, she thought, "there's good stuff in her! And anyway, she's heaps more interesting than the wan prodigies they tend to go in for around here. I'll stick to it, I think, and see what happens. I ought to get a trip to Tirol out of it, anyway!" She smiled back at Grizel, signalling to the waiter as she did so.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Marianne on Jun 19^th, 2003, 4:03pm

Grizel was not the type of person that could read others very well but this time she considered that Gerry might just use her to gain a trip to the tyrol.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Susan on Jun 20^th, 2003, 2:00pm

But if she gained a friend did it really matter?

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by edith on Jun 20^th, 2003, 2:03pm

Grizel sighed, she'd made mistakes before, she'd try to be friends with Gerry but if Gerry tried to get a trip to the tyrol out of her she'd tell her where to stop.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Marianne on Jun 20^th, 2003, 2:35pm

Susan - it was part of the story, i wasn't analysing it!

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Raya on Jun 20^th, 2003, 11:34pm

...
Leaning back in her chair, Grizel suddenly became aware of a tickling sensation in the region of her lower right calf. She glanced down to see that Gerry had slipped off one of her shoes and was resting one delicate stockinged foot on Grizel's own, lightly caressing the younger girl's ankle with her toes.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Susan on Jun 21^st, 2003, 1:15am

Grizel froze in terror. What should she do?

(Marianne that was supposed to be Grizel's reaction, just following on from your post. Sorry I didn't make it really clear).

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Raya on Jun 21^st, 2003, 10:34pm

"Er," she said, "..."

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Marianne on Jun 22^nd, 2003, 9:08pm

ahh, tis all to much for my brain! :)

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by ariella on Jun 23^rd, 2003, 7:52am

Grizel got up hurriedly wondering if she should explain her actions to Gerry or dart from the room as quickly as possibly. She wanted this girl as a friend, but how did she explain that this was all and that what Gerry had done disgusted and confused her. If only there was someone to talk to, Grizel longed to be back at the Sonnalpe and to be able to discuss this with Joey and Madame.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Susan on Jun 23^rd, 2003, 2:44pm

Her head was in a spin from all the confusion.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by edith on Jun 23^rd, 2003, 2:50pm

Hang on wheres this going!
Remember Gerry's the same Gerry from Gerry goes to school and she is friends with Grizel by Rivals.

Title: Re: Grizel in Florence
Post by Raya on Jun 24^th, 2003, 11:32pm

on 06/23/03 at 14:44:42, Susan wrote:

Her head was in a spin from all the confusion.

...because in her heart of hearts, if she had had the courage to admit it, she had rather enjoyed the sensation of being wooed by this attractive girl only slightly older than herself. "...But anyway," Grizel thought somewhat incoherently, "friends is much the best thing to be with girls. Especially for travelling." Aloud she said, "I say, Gerry, I'm awfully sorry, but I've just realized I've to get back to my digs, as I'm -- er -- expecting something by the afternoon post. But I'll see you tomorrow at the Conservatory? And, and, I am so glad we met." And with a firmly valedictory smile and wave, she was gone.