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Stories & Imaginings >> Cookies & Drabbles >> Margot confesses
(Message started by: catherine on Jun 4th, 2003, 3:48pm)

Title: Margot confesses
Post by catherine on Jun 4th, 2003, 3:48pm
Mary-Lou and Margot walked to the study in silence, both wondering what would be the end result of Margot's disgusting behaviour over Ted Grantley.  They reached the study and Margot's bravery suddenly disappeared.
"Come in with me."  She gulped to Mary-Lou who nodded briefly, knocking on the door.
"Herein!"  The Head's voice called to them, not a flicker of surprise crossing her face as Mary-Lou and a quaking Margot appeared in front of her.  "Go through to my sitting room girls, I will be with you in a moment."  She said gravely and getting up herself, put her head round the communicating door to the office to warn Rosalie Dene she would not be available for quite some time.  This done, she returned her attention to the matter in hand and joined Mary-Lou and Margot in her sitting room.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Susan on Jun 5th, 2003, 1:34am
As she walked through the door she uttered a brief wordless prayer for help.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 5th, 2003, 9:19am
The head calmly but with a grave look on her face walked into the study and surveyed the two girls sat infront of her, 'You may go Mary-Lou, and thankyou' Mary-lou nodded and left the heads quaters, not daring to look at poor Margot. Out side the office Margots two sisters were waiting intently to see their sister.

'Oh you two, she may be a while you know, runalong and do something else!' said the elder girl with mre irritation in her voice than had been intented. Mary-Lou felt a pang of guilt, she had failed, she felt a duy to Joey,after all she had done for her, to look after her triplet daughers.

inside the office MArgot was quaking ith fear...

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by ariella on Jun 5th, 2003, 9:43am
she realised this time she had really pushed past her limits and the stern look in the Head's eyes warned her she was in great trouble. For a few seconds Margot wondered if perhaps she should summon up all the strength she could and try to at least keep some pride only even thinking this made her realise the fall extent of her wrong doing and she began to cry hysterically.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by catherine on Jun 5th, 2003, 9:53am
"Stop crying Margot and tell me what you've done."  Miss Annersley said gravely, making no attempt to comfort the girl.
"I'm a criminal!"  Margot howled.  "I've been as nasty as I could be and all because I'm a stupid little kid that got jealous when her sisters started to get friends."
"And what exactly have you done or said?"  Miss Annersley enquired, interest in her voice.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 5th, 2003, 9:58am
'But it's too awful to say, really i can't' Margot said looking up at her esd mistress and breaking downwith a fresh bout of sobbing.
'Pull yourself together child, there's no reason for you to wallow in self pity.' miss Annersly's stern words had the desired effect and Marogt stopped intantly, with the occaisional hicough they were able to continue their intervew.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by ariella on Jun 5th, 2003, 10:00am
"I ... oh .... I was blackmailing Ted" .... Margot stammered ... "I didn't mean to ... my ...."

"Enough Margot, you are too old to blame your devil now, please explain everything" said Miss Annersley sternly.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Rachael P on Jun 5th, 2003, 10:03am
Despite Margot's despicable behaviour, Miss Annersley was human in the face of such an outburst. After the initial tumult of tears had begun to subside, she gently removed the sodden handkerchief from her pupil's clammy hands and her voice, when she spoke, had begun to thaw.
"Here, take mine, Margot. You may use my bathroom to wash your face - the cool water will help. Be quick, though - we have a lot to discuss"

A more hangdog schoolgirl had never been seen at the Chalet School. Margot did as she was bidden and then trailed back into the head's study, like one condemned. She sat in the chair opposite Miss Annersely and slowly raised her head to meet her headmistresse's penetrating gaze.

"Well, Margot ... what have you to say for yourself this time?"

(I am so tempted to finish with a "nobody knew what words were exchanged behind those closed doors but Margot was to emerge a reformed character", blah, blah but ladies, I think we need to be firm on this one!!)

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Rachael P on Jun 5th, 2003, 10:05am
Oops - sorry!
Mine was meant to follow Reply 3 .... :-[

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 5th, 2003, 10:21am
'Well Me, len and con are sisters, i want us to stay best friends...but Len started being friends with Ted so i started blackmailing her, i sai i would do...things...if she didn't stop being friends.'

what exactly did you do? Miss Annersly was panicking slightly this could be a genuinely terrible crime, how could she justify keeping such a girl in school...even if it was joey Maynards daughter!

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Clare on Jun 5th, 2003, 12:24pm
"I-I-" Margot faltered. "I mean, we're triplets Miss Annersley, we should be satisfied with each other!"

"But you have Emerence" Miss Annersley pointed out. Margot mumbled something indistinct. "Pardon, Margot?"

"that's what Mary-Lou said" Magot repeated shame-facedly. Then she carried on. "You see, Ted got her remove to our form so quickly after all that time in the san, and ever since she's been stuck like glue to Len and Ros, and Con's started to make outside friends too. Why don't they like me anymore?"

"Oh but they do Margot. But you must see for yourself that everyone is entitled to as many friends as they like. You cannot stifle your sisters to feed your own selfish desires". Margot mumbled something again, but this time Miss Annersley caught the words. "Mary-Lou's already said something similar? Well I'm glad she's wise enough to see it. Now, Margot, you must tell me what you were going to do to Ted".

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by catherine on Jun 5th, 2003, 1:37pm
"I-I s-said that if she didn't stop being friends with Len, I was going to tell everyone that she had been expelled from three schools already."  Margot admitted.
"And you know this because?"  The Head kept her self control.
"I-i had an argument with Con and then I wanted to be by myself and I went to Freudesheim and hid in some bushes.  I-I heard Miss Dene saying something about it to Mamma."
"So we can add eavesdropping to your list of crimes, can we Margot?"  The Head said icily and Margot's fair head drooped.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Sioned on Jun 5th, 2003, 1:50pm
The Head sat back in her chair and the surveyed the miserable creature before her. She kept this silence for a full five minutes whilst Margot sniffled and squirmed in her chair. She was waiting...waiting for something to tell her that she needn't be as severe as she should be wilth the child....

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by edith on Jun 5th, 2003, 1:50pm
"I...I didn't mean to, I was just somad at everyone." Margot gulped and wiped away a tear. "Everyone's so beastly to me, they don't understand. And now Emmy's leaving I'll have no friends at all, Con and Len won't speak to me. I've lost all my friends, I've got no one to talk to. I...I...I can't stand it, I think it'd have been better if I'd never been born. It would have solved alot of problems...nobody wants me..."

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Rachael P on Jun 5th, 2003, 2:06pm
Miss Annersley took a deep breath, knowing that this interchange would be the making or breaking of Margot Maynard.
"My dear, child" interrupted the Head in gentler tones. "You must never speak of throwing away God's greatest gift ..."

"But they'll all hate me now ... once they know what I've done, no one will ever want to speak to me. And I can't blame them. I'm a horrible, horrible person. There's nothing wrong with Ted ... I'm the problem  ... I .. I'm spiteful and ... and I'm jealous ..... I hated her being chummy with Len when I'm so miserable about Emmy .. but that doesn't matter now. I'm just so sorry and I hate myself for what I've done. Just think if it had worked and if everyone knew about Ted ... and it would all be my fault ... my own stupid fault. How could I ever make something like that better"

Margot began to cry again but this time she was crying because she realised how her her actions would have affected Ted rather than herself. Miss Annersley leaned back in a chair with an inward smile. At last, she thought, Margot is beginning to understand the implications of her actions and the wisdom of the old saying
"there is so much good in the worst of us
and so much bad in the best of us
that it ill behoves any of us
to talk about the rest of us"

Margot's fair head rose as she looked remorsefully at her Head with a pitiful request.
"Oh, please help me .. what can I do to make this better?"

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by edith on Jun 5th, 2003, 2:34pm
You can think Margot, you can think before you say something, as you say something and afterwards. You must think about what consequences your actions could have. And Margot you must swallow your pride and appologise and mean it, and only then will you be forgiven by your friends, for however awful you are Margot your friends will stand by you, and you will be able to forgive yourself.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by catherine on Jun 5th, 2003, 2:42pm
"From what I understand, most of the girls know nothing about this so I don't think you need fear them. Your mother is in no condition to be dealing with all of this so you will have to own up to your father and tell him everything you have told me.  You will also have to admit your eavesdropping to Miss Dene.  You will have to apologise to Mary-Lou, Mdlle. Miss Ferrars, Miss Wilmot and Miss Andrews as well.  As far as your school career here, is concerned, I am not going to expel you but if I have one more complaint about you this term or in the future, you will leave and I shall ensure your father knows this."  The Head paused.
"Pup-please, can I tell Papa today?"  Margot asked quaveringly and the Head nodded.
"Yes, I think on the whole, it would be best to get it all out the way today.  Stop crying Margot and wash your face.  I believe your father is at home, so while you are tidying yourself, I will call him and suggest he comes over."

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 5th, 2003, 4:52pm
Jack received the call and promtly made his way over to the chalet school, he was unsure which emotions should be going through his brain. The head hadn't told him much, only that it was Margot who needed him.

He reached the school and was lead straight to Miss Annersleys office where he met a disdraught and small looking Margot an a grave looking head teacher. Jack cringed inwardly, what was to become of his third child, the child with the devil.

The kindly father wrapped his long arms round his sad looking daughter, 'Oh my darling, what has happend?'

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Rachael P on Jun 5th, 2003, 5:01pm
But as Margot faltered through her sorry tale, Jack's face grew grimmer and grimmer and it was as much as he could do to contain his anger. As the schoolgirl stumbled to a halt Jack threw a quick glance at Miss Annersley. Recognising that father and daughter now needed a moment's privacy, the Head discreetly disapeared through her connecting door to Rosalie's study ...

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 5th, 2003, 5:11pm
Jack wanted, and tried with all his heat to forgive his child, he loved her unconditionaly, but could he like her? He was a father that believed in complete honesty from his children - and expected it, he had no idea how to deal wih this situation.

When margot finished her story, she expected t see her fathe stern but forgiving but all she saw was a very angry man with his face contorted in agony, torn between love for his daughter and disgust at the crime.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by KB on Jun 5th, 2003, 11:55pm
Margot couldn't bear to see him like that and turned her face away, tears once more streaming down her cheeks, as she wished even more bitterly that she had somehow kept a hold on her temper.

"Margot," Jack said, and the girl could hear the anger making his voice tremble. "Look at me..."

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 6th, 2003, 8:28am
Margot ignored her andry fathers will that she should look at him, it wasn't until he placed a gemtle hand upon her chin that hertear stained face was turned towards him.

'Margot, i don't understand, none of the other triplets behaved ths way whn you became best friends with Emerence.' This was the entirley wrong thing to say because Margt simply couldn't hold her tounge anymore,

'But that's jut it papa! I'm not the other triplets, i'm naughty margot!' Margot stamered realising she made things worse, more quietlythis time, 'I...I'm sorry father, really I am...' Soon a fresh stream of tears was joining their predecsors on Margots face.

'I don't know what to say Margot, you realise the disgusting nature of the crime don't you, (Margt nodded) good, you know that if you were a grown up you could be punished by the law, dont you?' MArgot hadn't, she turned her dishevelled looking face to her fther, seeing his grim expression realised this was true.

'Yes papa, i know, i'm sorry really i am.'

'I can see, now you must ask god for forgivness, and of course Ted, tell Miss Annersly, you want to apologise to Ted, I want t speak to her.'

Margot left he room to find the head hovering near the door, 'Papa says i must appologise to Ted.'

'You must, but i wil send a prefect to fetch her for you, i can't have you wandering around the school.'

There was a class with prefects near by, from which she picked Mary-Lou, who already knew the story. 'Wait here for Mary-Lou and Ted, i want to speak with your father.'

Margt did as she was bidden and waited in true sorrow.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Clare on Jun 6th, 2003, 9:04am
While Mary-Lou was seeking Ted and Margot waited in sorrow, Jack was pacing around the head's small side room. He was still furiously angry, but he had to wait for Margot to make her apologies before he could burst out his rage in front of the head.

A tap at the office door heralded Ted, who entered the study looking pale. Miss Annersley closed the inter-communicating door on Jack who was still pacing, leaving just herself, Ted and Margot in the study.

"Ted, I believe Margot has something to say to you".

Margot gulped, and looking at Ted's shoes she said "Ted, I'm sorry for threatening you. I-I- was wrong and it was selfish of me. You're a-a-a decent sort, truly". Her last sentence finished on a distinct wobble.

Ted looked straight at Margot who had raised her eyes. What she say there made her reach out and grip Margot's hands. "It's OK Margot, you didn't do anything, and well, I'm not surprised my other school's didn't want me. Let's start afresh".

Margot nodded dumbly. Miss Annersley came forward, seeing speech was beyond Margot at the minute and dismissed Ted, warning her to say nothing to anyone.

"Now you must apologise to the staff, Mary-Lou and tell Miss Dene about the evesdropping." Miss Annersley said, looking at Margot's grey face. "However, I think that is beyond you at the minute." Margot was actually swaying as she stood, the enormity of what she had done was rushing over her. "Margot, I'm going to send you to the San, and you will apologise in the morning. I will send those people up to the San as soon as you are awake." She sent Margot up to the San with Matron, who happened to be passing the door.

As soon as she had gone, Jack stalked through from the little room next door. "Now Hilda, I want to know every detail, and I want to see this clock".

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by ariella on Jun 6th, 2003, 10:05am
"She will make a fine woman one day Jack" said Miss Annersley wisely. Jack looked surprised since at this moment it was the last thing he expected anyone to say about his daughter.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by catherine on Jun 6th, 2003, 10:56am
At the moment, Hilda, quite frankly, I doubt it."  He sat down and lifted a strained face to the Head.  "Where did Joey and I go wrong?  I thought we were bringing our children up to be honest, decent people but we've obviously failed somewhere along the line, to judge by all this."
"I think,"  The Head began carefully.  "That Margot has got into the habit of blaming things on her devil and thus not accepting responsiblity for what she has done and we have all been guility of riding her easily in such matters.  She's had a difficult row to hoe, Jack.  She wasn't strong when she was little and when she went to Canada, she was without her sisters and you and Joey.  I know Madge was there but I think we all agree that even the best of aunts is not quite the same as a mother.  She came back to find Len and Con fitting easily into things again and joining up with the group they had left behind but for her, it was very much like starting over.  Her friendship with Emerence hasn't improved her behaviour but she has made great strides and is a far nicer, better behaved youngster than she was when she first returned.  She's not a bad person, Jack, she simply let pride and jealousy get in the way."
"Perhaps.  Well, I think I'd better see this clock."

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Rachael P on Jun 6th, 2003, 12:05pm
Miss Annersley produced the box which Mary-Lou had confiscated, allowing Jack to remove the packaging and reveal the ill-fated clock in all its glory. Jack let out a low whistle ...
"What extravagance!"
The Head nodded. "Emerence's parents are extremely wealthy people and they've certainly seen to it that their child never goes short. She regularly begins term with outrageous sums of money, although to be fair to her, we ration the amounts she is allowed to have and she rarely spends it on herself. She's a generous little soul even if she doesn't fully appreciate the value of things."
"Well, we certainly can't allow Margot to accept this" mused Jack. "It's far too expensive and she certainly doesn't deserve it whether Emmy's going to the other side of the world or not." Jack was at his most emphatic.
"I'm not so sure" replied the headmistress whose years of experience with troubled schoolgirls had given her greater wisdom in such matters.
"What do you mean?" demanded Jack. "How can we possibly allow Margot to keep such a thing?"
"Think about it Jack. This clock will never give Margot any pleasure, not with the memories it holds of these events. But it will stand as a symbol of what she did and what she was becoming .... mark my words, Jack, this clock may be the key to Margot's future. If she is allowed to keep it, I predict that on more than one occasion she will find it both a timely reminder and deterrent. And if it helps her to choose to listen to her conscience over her devil, then I have every faith that she will become the fine woman that we expect of our girls."

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by catherine on Jun 6th, 2003, 12:41pm
It was a very miserable, shamefaced Margot that appeared before the Head the following morning to be told that she could keep the clock.
"I only hope it will serve to remind you of what a nasty girl you were turning out to be."  The Head said severely.
"Yes, Miss Annersley."  Margot murmured.
"Very well.  You have some apologies to make now.  I shall leave you here and send the relevant people to you."  By the time Margot had stammered out apologies to Miss Dene, Miss Ferrars, Miss Wilmot and Mdlle, to say nothing of Mary-Lou, she had no fight left in her and when Miss Annersley finally arrived back, she had subsided into a chair and was weeping.  The Head said nothing but packed her off to bed, before returning to her study to attend to some letters.  She had not got very far with them, however, when she got a call from the San to say that Margot was crying herself sick and could she come.  With a sigh she pushed her work aside and ran up to the San, just as a very white but still sobbing Margot returned from the bathroom.  The Head glanced at Nurse.  "She's been sick."  That lady said briefly.  "I've tried scolding her, I've tried coaxing her, nothing works.  She'll be really ill if she carries on like this."
"Leave her with me and I'll do what i can."  Nurse left and the Head sat down in a chair, pulling the sobbing Margot onto her knee, despite the girl's fourteen and a half years.
"I'm sorry, I truly am."  Margot sobbed.  "You don't have to stay, I know I don't deserve it."
"You let me be the judge of that."  The Head said kindly.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Rachael P on Jun 6th, 2003, 1:06pm
Choking back her grief, Margot became more coherent.
"Oh Auntie Hilda - what am I going to do?"
Miss Annersley prudently ignoring this use of her brevet title, which was forbidden within term-time, hugged the trembling figure closer.
"What is is Margot? You've made your apologies and I'm proud of you ... I know it can't have been easy"
Margot's voice shook as she tried to explain. "Oh Aun ... Auntie Hil ..Hilda ... Papa hates me, I kn ... know he does. I don't think he's ever going to forgive me ...." These last words being barely audible as Margot struggled to contain her emotions.
Jack's last look as his daughter as he left the school was one of sheer disgust and Margot knew only too well the value her father placed on honesty and integrity. She had felt no bigger than a small insect which Jack Maynard might have trampled beneath his shoe and what was worse, she knew that she deserved every bit of his comtempt. Although outwardly one of the least demonstrative of the Maynard children, Margot loved both her parents with a passion and practically idolised her father. His cold demeanour as he had bid her goodnight had cut her to the core and she had been unable to sleep for tossing and turning in her bed.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 6th, 2003, 1:06pm
Rocking Margot as if she were no bigger than a toddler, Miss Annersley spoke soothingly in an attemt to stop the child weeping herselfseriously ill.

'Now Margot, there's no need for this, the staff forgive you, as does, Ted and your sisters. come on now shhh.'

'I know they do, they shouldn't but they are good people, but does papa, does papa forive me?'

'Your Papa is a very good man Margot, he loves you with all his heart but you must showhim you can be a good person, at the moment he blams himself - do you understad margot?'

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Rachael P on Jun 6th, 2003, 1:57pm
"But why does he blame herself" asked Margot, perplexed. "It was all my doing ..."
"Oh, my dear girl" began Hilda Annersley. "Being a parent is a very great responsibility. Mothers and fathers must not only look after their children's welfare physically, in terms of food and clothing and so on, but also their spiritual well-being. Do you remember when you were tinies how Mamma and Papa insisted on you all saying "please" and "thank you"? Well, that was just the beginning. How do you know the difference between good and bad or whether it is acceptable to lie or steal?"
Margot shifted uncomfortably as the words hit home but the Head persisted.
"Yes, it's because your parents have spent many years training you and all your sisters and brothers to understand what is right and what is wrong. They have helped you to develop a conscience and Margot, when you listen to your devil, what you are really doing is ignoring your conscience. This is what is tormenting your father. He believes that he has failed himself and that he has failed you because so many times you listen to your devil before your conscience ... this time with terrible results"
Margot nodded. "But how can I make him see that it's not his fault?"
For a moment, Miss Annersley made no reply other than to gaze intently into the child's eyes. "I think you know the answer to that, Margot"
Margot considered everything that had happened and at last, comprehension dawned.
"You mean, if I prove that I can listen to my conscience instead of my devil, then Papa will see that he isn't a failure?"
"Yes, my dear. Papa is very angry and very disappointed at your actions but he loves you as much as he ever did and always will. He doesn't hate you but he does hate what you have done so it is important that you demonstrate this will never happen again"

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 6th, 2003, 2:05pm
'I will begin right now Miss Annersley, i'll make him proud of me,' Margot gabbled breathlessly with such furventsy that it broght Tears to the heads eyes.'

'I know you will child, now do get some sleep and stop worrying the nurse.'

Miss Annersley left the san and made her way back to her comforatable study, smiling, she knew tis had indeed been the making or Margot maynard.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by austriaamy on Jun 9th, 2003, 4:38pm
Why did she have to apologize to Miss Ferrrars et all?

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by catherine on Jun 9th, 2003, 4:40pm
For spoiling their holiday.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by andycee on Jun 12th, 2003, 2:52pm
Whew - I'm wrung out just reading this. No wonder EBD resorted to the 'behind closed doors' solution

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 18th, 2003, 4:45pm
:'(

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Raya on Jun 19th, 2003, 12:22am
Aw, you guys forgot the part where she tells Miss Annersley, "All right then, I'll become a nun -- then he'll love me again!"

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 19th, 2003, 9:28am
Margot, walked out of the office, but then suddenly returned, crying, 'I know what i'll do, i'll be a nun!' and promtly ran out of the room again, leaving an astounded headmistress behind.

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Liss in her Admin Hat on Jun 21st, 2003, 8:35am
This was really good!  Does anyone mind if I post it as a fic on the site? (I may have to edit it a bit.)

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Marianne on Jun 21st, 2003, 4:33pm
I sure don't! great idea! ;D

Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by keren on Jul 24th, 2003, 11:15am
it was really good.

When someone said that jack was angry I wondered whether he was going to yell at Hilda and ask how comes all this was going on at the school and no one knew about it! ;)


Title: Re: Margot confesses
Post by Lisa on Aug 10th, 2003, 7:18pm
I really like this! In fact, I'm tempted to print it as one and insert it into 'Ted'....rather than the frustration of all those closed doors. How about someone write one for Diana Skelton in Bride???? Maybe I'll have a look and see what I can do about it myself.. There's just too much inspiration around here!!



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