Chapter One, Episode 122 - The Caretaker - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update
As I review these various Episodes, I am struck by two things. The first is that my vocabulary is limited. The limits are to my life experience, which leads me to the next issue. My writing is often to literal and does take me back to clinical writing rather than story telling. Revisions are throughout this Episode, most heavily towards the end. I do enjoy this study.

The Caretaker

A young girl swung off her bike. A red bicycle with a basket, flowers woven around the rim. She had secured it to the handle bars, and filled it with books. “Hello. Are you visiting the Richardsons?” It was just before nine in the morning. Brigitte, on her way to work at the Estate, came down the few steps and greeted the young girl. When Brigitte approached her, she realized that she was about 17 or 18 years of age, 

“Hello. I’m Tanya Meadows. I’m here to take care of Ben and Abby while Mrs. Richardson is at the library for the morning.” Tanya lifted her bike onto the small porch, wrapped a chain around the back wheel and locked it securely. Pulling out a brightly coloured mask, hooking it over her ears, she smiled with her eyes at Brigitte, then reached an elbow out for an elbow bump.

Brigitte began to ask her the litany of questions posed at restaurants, clinics and some stores. “Have you travelled outside of the country in the last two weeks? Have you had a fever…..? I don’t really remember all the questions, but you must be okay or Joanie - I mean, Mrs. Richardson - wouldn’t have asked you to come today.”

The Richardson’s front door opened. After her children came through the door, their mother followed them and pulled the door closed. “Tanya. Thank you for coming. When the Library contacted me about requiring onsite work, I called your mother to make certain that resuming babysitting for me was appropriate given the restrictions  -  and I see you’ve met my new neighbour, Brigitte Smithson.”

“Tanya! Tanya!” Abby was jumping up and down, clapping her hands. “You came back.” Tanya Meadows had been babysitting for the Richardson’s for the last three years. Since the pandemic restrictions clamped down on life and for quite some time, she had been no longer able to come to the Richardsons. 

As long as Mrs. Richardson was working from home, it had not been a great problem. Without Tanya, and with her children's help, she set them games and tasks allowing her to maintain some semblance of a schedule. Her husband, Andrew worked in another province; most days he was able to spend up to two hours on a video chat with the children. After speaking with Tanya's mother, the children's favourite babysitter was back. Mrs. Meadows chatted about the family bubble they had maintained for several weeks and how it had been difficult for Tanya to not be with her school mates, but had enjoyed the extra reading time. The Richardson children loved and missed her. She loved them and missed them equally. For Tanya, this would be the first face to face contact she had had with anyone outside of her parents, brothers and sisters for many weeks.

~~~~~

I’ve been saved! When Brigitte realized that she wouldn’t have to explain to the children that she wouldn't be spending time with them; that Mrs. Beaufort at the estate had called her in to work, she was ready to cheer. When she met Tanya and the situation had been explained to her, she relaxed. “Tanya, would you do me a favour? The children and I had plans for this afternoon, but I’ve had to cancel them. I have some butterfly stickers, markers, new crayons and colouring books for Abby.” Brigitte ran back in the house for a book bag. “Everything's in here. There's also a book about motorcycles, as well as a sketchbook and pencils for Ben. He might want to draw some sketches from what he reads. His book is for ages 10 - 13, so I hope it won’t be too much for him. That doesn’t seem like very much for Ben, but I ran out of time when I was shopping for their gifts.” Brigitte set them on the porch, still maintaining the correct distance from her young saviour.

“I definitely will! Abby and I will have fun with the new colouring books. I’ll be sure to help Ben with his motorcycle book. He used to be interested in sketching absolutely everything. Maybe it'll get him drawing again.” Tanya was certainly sure of herself. Both the children’s mother and Brigitte were grateful to this lovely young girl. Joanie got in her car and drove off to the Library. Brigitte set off walking to the Estate to meet with Miss Emelina, who was back from her vacation.

“Come on, kids. Let’s go in the house. Your neighbour gave me some things for you, but we’ll look at them inside.” Tanya picked up the book bag, sharp corners of the contents suggesting a treasure hunt was on the way.  “Ben, open the door for us. Did you kids have your breakfast? We’ll make popcorn for a snack in a little while.”

“Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.”

 ~ Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers)

Chapter One, Episode 121 - Far Away and Close to Home - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

One area of writing that I've had little practice in is writing children's stories. I have, in this episode, had an opportunity to write children's dialogue. Not being around many children over the last 40 or so years, I've had to rely on memory and TV child characters.

My most important revision was in the eighth paragraph. The experience of the children at their grandmother's wedding related to the content, had been left out in the original Episode 121(Far Away and Close to Home). My revision, with young Ben's help, clarified that issue. 

Far Away and Close to Home

“End it, Ben.” Joanie had tried. 

Joanie Richardson and her husband, Andrew Richardson, started their little family later than most. Their careers had come first, children would not necessarily be part of their life plans. However, after one night daring to be without protection, Joanie became pregnant with Ben. Four years later and planned this time, Abigail was born. Two children was enough for them both. Two years later, her husband was offered a transfer on the mainland across the country. Lucrative and a career move upwards, he wanted to take it. Joanie wished to remain in Hartley with her career, a well paying job as Head Librarian at the local library and close to her mother. She wanted her children to know their grandmother. Hours and days of discussion did not bring them to any compromise. Ultimately, Andrew took the job, which his son, Ben labelled ‘the far away job’. He came home often. With the coming of the Covid19 pandemic, and being very far away, he would have no trips home for a while. Maybe a long while. Video chats became regular with his little family. Both parents were working from their separate and distant homes. The time difference between east and west allowed Andrew to entertain the children for two hours each of Joanie’s on-site work days.

Today, was Joanie’s day off. Being away from the computer was always welcomed. When she saw Ben focussed on some game on his computer without stop, she decided that it was time to say something. “End it, Ben. You need to be doing something else….please, go out in the yard to play, read one of the graphic novels I brought home for you from the library.” His mother, exasperated at no response, took a deep breath to calm herself. “What else do you like to do?”

After a few minutes, his eyes still on the screen, thumbs clicking away like mad, shoulders moving up and down with each game play he said “Mom, I miss my friends and I’m bored. This is what I like to do.”

His mother sighed. “Ben, you used to like building things. You and your father built that birdhouse that’s hanging from the eaves. There’s the little doll house the both of you built for Abby’s last birthday. And the little stool you built for your grandmother? She loves it so much she sewed a special cushion to put on it so she would have a foot stool for her reading chair.”

“Yeah, and dad’s gone to his far away job and Grandma got married. My friends are all stuck at home with their parents. You’re alway’s working for the library or taking care of Abby.” Normally shy with strangers, young Ben was not always a nice polite boy with his mother. Especially when it came to calling an end to his games.

Joanie decided to play her ‘for your Grandma’ card. “Well, come outside with Abby and me. Remember your Grandma telling us that she worked with her up at the Beaufort mansion. Well, she's moving into Grandma’s house today. You'll be able to tell her all about meeting this new neighbour.”

Ben suddenly put his game aside on the floor and sat up straight. “She's the one with the motorcycle!? Grandma told me all about it and about her. We saw her at Grandma's wedding, didn't we? Do you think she’ll be bringing her motorcycle here?” Ben absently stepped over his game barely missing the snaking cords threatening to trip him. “Should I go comb my hair?”

“You’re hair looks just fine, Ben. Just tuck in your shirt.” Joanie was almost laughing at her son’s transformation, but she managed to keep a straight face. Calling out to her daughter, Joanie started towards the door. “Abby, are you ready?”

“Yes, mom. Can I bring Molly with me? She doesn’t like to be alone.” Abby clutched her soft doll to her in a child’s firm statement of determination. “Do you think the new lady will like my doll?” 

~~~~~

Brigitte did, in fact, ride her motorcycle to her new home. When Ben was asked to greet Brigitte, he suddenly got shy, never taking his eyes off of her motorcycle. Abby thrust her Molly at her mother who caught it just as the doll was about to land face down in the dirt. Not a shy bone in her body, she ran over to Brigitte. The children's mother had met Brigitte when her mother and the butler married. Her instinct was that she would be a good neighbour. So far, it seemed, Joanie’s instinct was right. 

“In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings 

them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt as injustice.”

~ Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Chapter One, Episode 120 - Finding Herself - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update
This episode is a little side trip into a major move for Brigitte Smithson, Emelina Beaufort Lady's Maid - now Personal Secretary. There were few edits to make: some punctuation and minor wording changes later on in this piece.

Finding Herself

The wonder of being independent was almost overwhelming. Brigitte had been dragging her feet about this decision. At twenty-nine years old, living with her parents, while comfortable felt somehow constrained. They had worked out a relatively easy relationship in the past four years. She had returned to Hartley from the mainland when she was twenty-five, jobless, homeless and tanned from her post high school years of wandering. Like many young adults she had been trying to ‘find herself’. She learned that finding oneself was not like walking into a store and choosing a preferred persona from a shelf. It was the dirt under your fingernails from digging a hole for a tree…..over and over. Brushing black flies away from your sun baked face. Never having a hair style except tied up with a rubber band or string. Finding herself was wearing a cutesy uniform to wait on customers who were either grateful, rude or just people. It was learning how to smile regardless of the patron ordering their food. Finding herself was learning how to pick fruit from a tree laden with apples or pears or peaches, deciding which was ripe enough to pick, gently releasing it from its home and filling the heavy canvas bag strapped across her shoulder and back. Finding herself was being a nanny and not really even liking children, but learning they weren’t as scary as she had thought. Finding herself was being without a home base but learning how to eke out a living where ever she lived. Finding herself was turning her motorcycle west. Her parents had welcomed her home.

Brigitte had been working at the Beaufort Estate after she had washed the dust and dirt out of her mind and body; the joys and lessons from her long time away clean and polished. She was often unaware of it, but she really had found that precious thing she called ‘herself’. Even so, when she was sitting in Digby’s office at the Beaufort Estate for her job interview, her heart beat wildly and with each word spoken, she could hear the dryness of her mouth. She was interviewed by the Housekeeper, Martha Haverstock and the butler, James Digby. The job? To be a Lady’s Maid for Mrs. Beaufort and to be the cleaner for the Upstairs. It seemed a very strange household. Mrs. Beaufort was a recent widow and in deep grief. It was a big old house, still run in the manner of an Upstairs/Downstairs situation. Brigitte wasn’t even sure she wanted the job. There was far more staff than one individual would require. She would be the youngest staff member by several decades. There seemed little life in the house on the day of her interview. The grounds were immense. After many resumes and interviews either declined or without a response, she would not even be able to pay for her groceries, let alone the little rent her parents asked for. She needed the job. 

Now? At the beginning, being a Lady’s Maid for the Estate Owner, with no other training than experience serving restaurant patrons, it was just one more challenge. A challenge with a paycheque. It was a challenge she had met and was now Mrs. Beaufort’s Personal Assistant. Now she was standing beside her 'Old Faithful' motorcycle in front of what would now be her own home, one half of a duplex on the Estate. It had been Martha’s home. So many changes had occurred. While the Covid19 pandemic had destroyed many lives in the swath that it had cut around the world, this strange group of people had not only survived but thrived despite the restrictions. Admittedly, it seemed almost like a soap opera many times. Old relationships finally out in the open, one wedding, a story teller and even a ghost. But such good, kind people. 

The rumble of a truck caused Brigitte to turn. Samuel Forrester, the estate gardener and yardman, using his pickup, had volunteered to pick up her belongings and help her move in. She didn’t have much, but her motorcycle, her clothes and a few pots and pans. Her parents had insisted she take her own bed and any furnishings in her bedroom. Joanie, Martha’s daughter lived next door. “Brigitte Smithson? So wonderful to finally meet you. These two little ruffians are mom’s grandchildren. Children this is Miss Smithson.” Joanie ruffled their hair, looking at them fondly. “Ben, say hello to our new neighbour. Abby, say……..” Joanie stopped. Little Abby had already run over to Brigitte and hugged her knees. “Mommy, is this the new lady that’s grandma’s friend?……Ben….mom said to say hello to her, come on.”  Nine year old Ben, shyly walked over to Brigitte. “Hello. Do you ever wear a mask? If you don’t have one, I can give you mine. Abby shouldn’t have hugged you right away like that.” 

Brigitte smiled and knelt down at eye level with the children. “It is lovely to meet you. Your grandmother has told me a lot about you both. I’ve seen the pictures you draw for her and they are really fun.” Glancing briefly at Joanie to catch her eye she said “And if it’s ok with your mother, you can call me Brigitte.”

“Do you have crayons, Bridge?” Abby, taken immediately to Brigitte, had trouble pronouncing her name. It almost sounded like the word bridge, a word Abby knew.

“Well, I don’t know where they are, but I’m sure I can find them. Maybe after I get all moved in you can come and visit me to help me with my colouring books.” Brigitte didn’t have any crayons or colouring books, but a trip to the drugstore would solve that little obstacle.

“Come on, children. Let Brigitte get into her new home. We can visit with her later. Ben, come away from Brigitte’s motorcycle.” Joanie tried to shepherd her children home.

“Ben, why don’t you come over tomorrow afternoon and I’ll show it to you.” Brigitte’s experience as a nanny would come in handy after all. 

“Can I ride it?” Ben looked up at her hopefully.

“Oh no, you’re not quite big enough yet. Isn’t that right, mom?” Brigitte met Joanie’s eyes. “But make sure you come over tomorrow after you have your lunch. I’ll have a surprise for you.”

Joanie took her children by their hands and tried once more to move them in the direction of home. Brigitte would get things set up tonight, but in the morning she’d have a ride into Hartley for crayons, colouring books and a motorcycle for Ben. She knew exactly the toy store to go to. Maybe she’d get him a model motorcycle that they could assemble together.

“People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. 

But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates.”

~ Thomas Szasz, known for Critique of Psychiatry

April 1920 - September 2012