A Ramble
Knowing that Geoff had promised to show Maddy the Auberge on the morrow, Joey deliberately set out in the opposite direction, towards Bertental. She didn't think that the whole trek up to Wetterdorf was a good idea, but part of the way shouldn't be a problem -- she was fit and while Maddy wasn't experienced in the sort of mountain scrambling required, she was young and energetic.
As they headed out of the Freudesheim gates, Maddy said primly, "What would you like to know about me?"
Joey chuckled a little as a little more of her confidence came back. It had been so long since she'd had any dealings with children as young as Maddy, something that had been one of the root causes of her nervousness, but as they gently ambled along the path, heading for Bertental, a few of the tricks she'd once used so frequently to get to know children and adults alike finally returned to her.
"How about," she said, "we trade questions?"
Maddy peered up at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Well, as we walk, we each take a turn at asking the other a question," Joey explained. "Silly or sensible."
"Ooh." A spark of mischief gleamed in Maddy's eyes at that. "Who goes first?"
Joey saw that spark and wondered what it meant. "Shall I?" was all she said. Maddy nodded. "All right then. What's your favourite colour?"
Maddy frowned for a moment, then answered, "Green. Because it reminds me of home."
Joey smiled a bit at that. The rolling hills of Armifordshire were certainly very green and welcoming.
"What's your favourite book?" Maddy asked in return.
"That I've written?" Maddy nodded. "Morag of the Hunt -- because it's the most recent -- and Cecily Holds the Fort, because it was my first published book." Maddy nodded sagely. Joey decided to return the question, and asked, "What's your favourite book?"
"I have two," Maddy answered without hesitation. "Dogstar and Morag of the Hunt."
Joey frowned, not recognising the first title. "Who's Dogstar written by?"
"Diana Wynne Jones," Maddy replied.
Joey had heard of the author -- her name had cropped up a few times in recent months in book catalogues and the like -- although she had yet to actually see any of her books. "What's it about?" she asked consequently curious.
As they crossed the plank bridge that crossed the stream, Maddy launched into a somewhat convoluted description of the book. "It's about a star, called Sirius, who's accused of killing another star and who gets sent to earth in the form of a Labrador puppy so that he can find the Zoi."
"The Zoi?" Joey echoed, now starting to feel a little out of her depth.
Maddy nodded. "He doesn't know what it is, but he has to join the midnight hunt to find it and in the end, he succeeds only to realise if he returns to being a star he'll hurt his owner so he begs to be put back into the puppy's body. It's really sad, but really, really good," Maddy finished.
"It sounds..." Joey smiled a little. "You like fantasy stories, then?"
Maddy nodded vigorously. "It's fun to read about somewhere else that doesn't exist and magic an'...an' stuff like that."
Joey smiled a little wider at that. Although she'd never been one to daydream of myth and magic, she could understand their appeal. "Up here," she directed, bringing Maddy onto the correct path. "Have you ever thought about writing yourself?"
Maddy giggled. Joey briefly wondered what was so funny about that suggestion, then her granddaughter explained, "I'm not very good at English. I'm like daddy, he says; good at maths and science."
"Well, I can vouch that your mother wasn't a mathematical genius," Joey agreed. "Although she wasn't as bad as I was."
"Mummy was bad at maths?" Maddy queried.
"Oh, not bad at maths exactly," said Joey with a smile. "That was Con. Len was...diligent when it came to maths, but she preferred language subjects. Margot was the scientific one."
"You mean I'm like Auntie Nun?"
Joey goggled. "Auntie Nun?" she repeated.
Maddy blushed a little. "When I was little, she came to stay with us an' I couldn't manage Auntie Mary Margaret, so I called her Auntie Nun."
Joey grinned at the explanation. "I see." Privately though, she wondered why Mary Margaret and Reg hadn't suggested Auntie Margot. "And if you're good at science subjects then yes, you're like Margot."
"Yay!" The excited exclamation surprised Joey, but before she could ask, Maddy explained, "I like knowing that Auntie Nun and I are the same."
They reached a small clearing in the pinewood. "Think we'll break here and have elevenses," Joey suggested.
"OK." Maddy flopped down at the base of a convenient pine tree.
Joey unslung the rucksack she'd been carrying on her back and joined her granddaughter at the base of the pine tree. "Drink?" she offered, producing a flask of Anna's fruit cordial.
"Yes please."
Joey poured out a beakerful and handed it to Maddy, along with a couple of biscuits and for a few moments, they munched in companionable silence.
"Is it my turn to ask a question?" Maddy asked presently.
Joey nodded. "I think it is."
"What was mummy like?" Joey bit her lip. "I mean," Maddy continued gravely, "I know that I'm not like her very much, although I look like her."
"Very much so," said Joey quietly.
"And I know some of the things she did." At that, Maddy giggled. "Like the prefects' paint fight."
Despite herself, Joey found herself giggling. "And who told you about that?"
"Daddy and Auntie Nun," Maddy replied, grinning. "Auntie Nun brought it up."
"Margot would," said Joey.
"But," and Maddy's tone turned grave once more, "I don't really know what mummy was like."
Joey sat in silence for a few moments, debating what to say. "Len was...a very special person. But it's not right to say you're not much like her. She was warm and caring; kind...qualities I can definitely see in you. She was patient, a born teacher. That's not to say she didn't have a temper; she did. She was never as volatile as Margot, but she could certainly let fly when she chose. She was untidy -- not even the strictures of Matey, the head Matron at the Chalet School who managed to instil tidiness in most people, succeeded with Len. She had a well developed sense of responsibility, but particularly when she was a girl your age and a little bit older, she could be bossy. Her intentions were good, but sometimes she didn't see that to really be responsible, you have to let those around you take responsibility for their own actions."
Maddy sighed. "I wish I'd known her."
Joey offered a sad smile to her granddaughter. "I wish you had, too."
"Do...you think she'd like me?" Maddy asked softly.
Joey nodded. "I don't just think it; I know it. Len would be very proud of you, Maddy -- just like your daddy is."
