Post by PamA on Apr 18, 2006 12:53:54 GMT 1
Pandora’s Box
Epilogue
Thursday lunchtime
“I expect you’re all wondering why I’ve called this meeting,” Julia looked at each of them in turn as she spoke. The gathered staff nodded their heads as she met their gaze, each a trifle annoyed that their precious lunch hour had been commandeered by Julia, who’d been very secretive about the subject matter that she wished to discuss.
“You may have noticed,” Julia continued, “that our work experience girl, Pandora Wilson, failed to show up this morning.”
“That hardly warrants a staff meeting,” Faith said, a comment that brought murmurs of agreement from her colleagues.
“Normally it wouldn’t,” Julia agreed, “but there is something about her absence that I think you have the right to know about. I phoned Heather Clark to tell her that Pandora had failed to show up this morning. I was going to talk to her about Pandora anyway. I think you’d all agree that Pandora, well, shall we say, isn’t exactly the image that we want to present to the public.”
“You can say that again!” Jimmi exclaimed. Everyone chuckled and nodded in agreement at Jimmi’s outburst.
“Anyway,” Julia continued, “Heather had never heard of the girl. I tried all the other schools in the district and not one of them had a Pandora Wilson registered. Furthermore, and I don’t know why I didn’t realise, none of the schools are doing work experience at the moment.” Once the news sank in they all started talking at once until Mac voiced the one question that was going through all their minds. “Who the hell was she then?”
“Good question,” Julia replied. “It’s worrying that I accepted her in without question.”
“Surely you had some paper work before she arrived? I mean she didn’t just walk in and introduce herself as a work experience girl.” Helen voiced her concerns.
“I had a letter the week before she arrived. It seemed all in order, apart from the fact that some details of Pandora – namely her address – were missing. But I assumed Heather would be in touch with anything else I needed to know.”
“Wasn’t there a Pandora in Greek mythology?” George asked, “And didn’t she have some kind of box that she opened and let out all the ills of the world or something like that.”
“You’re not seriously suggesting that our Pandora and the mythological one are one and the same!” Mac said laughingly.
“Don’t be silly Mac,” George chuckled, “She wasn’t nearly old enough!”
“This conversation is getting really silly,” Greg admonished them, although the grin on his face suggested that the idea of Pandora being a figure from ancient legends, had amused him too.
“Well,” Julia laughed, “I believe the real Pandora was left with `Hope’ in her box. Maybe she’s left us with some.” Julia looked across at Helen who, unlike the others, had a serious expression on her face. “Are you alright Helen?” Julia asked her.
“I found this on my desk this morning.” Helen pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. “I thought one of you had left it there and I was going to ask whoever it was what it was about.” She handed the scrap of paper to Julia who read what was on it and passed it round. There was just one word written on it – HOPE.
.........................................................................................................................................
“Well, how did it go?” Cassandra asked Pandora. Pandora would have been unrecognisable to the Mill staff. Her hair hung in soft curls around her shoulders and she was wearing a long white dress trimmed with gold braid that reached down to feet that were encased in dainty gold sandals.
“It went really well,” she replied, “I’m quite certain that with the exception of one they all realise that most of the choices they’ve made have been for the good.”
“And the exception?” “Helen Thompson. I think she may have realised that turning down Marc Eliot was not one of her better decisions. But, you know and I know that she will get another chance with that one.”
Cassandra smiled. “Did you leave her anything?” “A message of hope. Though whether she’ll understand or not....” Pandora shrugged her shoulders. “Still, Cassandra, I know and you know that they’re fated to be together. Now what’s my next assignment?”
“You’re going to go as a temporary staff member at a children’s nursery. There are 11 members of staff altogether, all female this time.”
“And how do I prepare? Do you have anything for me to watch to see how I should act?”
“Well, most of the staff there are trained nannies. That `Little Britain’ DVD really helped you to prepare to be an English schoolgirl, so I’ve picked up three DVD’s that will give you some idea of what’s required to be a nanny.” Cassandra picked up the films and read the titles out to Pandora. “We have – Mrs. Doubtfire, Mary Poppins and Nanny McFee. I’m sure you’ll learn everything you need to know from those”.
Pandora nodded and settled down in front of the television to prepare for her next mission but she couldn’t resist one last Vicky Pollard moment. She turned to Cassandra and with a huge grin on her face said, “Yes but, no but.”
The End
Epilogue
Thursday lunchtime
“I expect you’re all wondering why I’ve called this meeting,” Julia looked at each of them in turn as she spoke. The gathered staff nodded their heads as she met their gaze, each a trifle annoyed that their precious lunch hour had been commandeered by Julia, who’d been very secretive about the subject matter that she wished to discuss.
“You may have noticed,” Julia continued, “that our work experience girl, Pandora Wilson, failed to show up this morning.”
“That hardly warrants a staff meeting,” Faith said, a comment that brought murmurs of agreement from her colleagues.
“Normally it wouldn’t,” Julia agreed, “but there is something about her absence that I think you have the right to know about. I phoned Heather Clark to tell her that Pandora had failed to show up this morning. I was going to talk to her about Pandora anyway. I think you’d all agree that Pandora, well, shall we say, isn’t exactly the image that we want to present to the public.”
“You can say that again!” Jimmi exclaimed. Everyone chuckled and nodded in agreement at Jimmi’s outburst.
“Anyway,” Julia continued, “Heather had never heard of the girl. I tried all the other schools in the district and not one of them had a Pandora Wilson registered. Furthermore, and I don’t know why I didn’t realise, none of the schools are doing work experience at the moment.” Once the news sank in they all started talking at once until Mac voiced the one question that was going through all their minds. “Who the hell was she then?”
“Good question,” Julia replied. “It’s worrying that I accepted her in without question.”
“Surely you had some paper work before she arrived? I mean she didn’t just walk in and introduce herself as a work experience girl.” Helen voiced her concerns.
“I had a letter the week before she arrived. It seemed all in order, apart from the fact that some details of Pandora – namely her address – were missing. But I assumed Heather would be in touch with anything else I needed to know.”
“Wasn’t there a Pandora in Greek mythology?” George asked, “And didn’t she have some kind of box that she opened and let out all the ills of the world or something like that.”
“You’re not seriously suggesting that our Pandora and the mythological one are one and the same!” Mac said laughingly.
“Don’t be silly Mac,” George chuckled, “She wasn’t nearly old enough!”
“This conversation is getting really silly,” Greg admonished them, although the grin on his face suggested that the idea of Pandora being a figure from ancient legends, had amused him too.
“Well,” Julia laughed, “I believe the real Pandora was left with `Hope’ in her box. Maybe she’s left us with some.” Julia looked across at Helen who, unlike the others, had a serious expression on her face. “Are you alright Helen?” Julia asked her.
“I found this on my desk this morning.” Helen pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. “I thought one of you had left it there and I was going to ask whoever it was what it was about.” She handed the scrap of paper to Julia who read what was on it and passed it round. There was just one word written on it – HOPE.
.........................................................................................................................................
“Well, how did it go?” Cassandra asked Pandora. Pandora would have been unrecognisable to the Mill staff. Her hair hung in soft curls around her shoulders and she was wearing a long white dress trimmed with gold braid that reached down to feet that were encased in dainty gold sandals.
“It went really well,” she replied, “I’m quite certain that with the exception of one they all realise that most of the choices they’ve made have been for the good.”
“And the exception?” “Helen Thompson. I think she may have realised that turning down Marc Eliot was not one of her better decisions. But, you know and I know that she will get another chance with that one.”
Cassandra smiled. “Did you leave her anything?” “A message of hope. Though whether she’ll understand or not....” Pandora shrugged her shoulders. “Still, Cassandra, I know and you know that they’re fated to be together. Now what’s my next assignment?”
“You’re going to go as a temporary staff member at a children’s nursery. There are 11 members of staff altogether, all female this time.”
“And how do I prepare? Do you have anything for me to watch to see how I should act?”
“Well, most of the staff there are trained nannies. That `Little Britain’ DVD really helped you to prepare to be an English schoolgirl, so I’ve picked up three DVD’s that will give you some idea of what’s required to be a nanny.” Cassandra picked up the films and read the titles out to Pandora. “We have – Mrs. Doubtfire, Mary Poppins and Nanny McFee. I’m sure you’ll learn everything you need to know from those”.
Pandora nodded and settled down in front of the television to prepare for her next mission but she couldn’t resist one last Vicky Pollard moment. She turned to Cassandra and with a huge grin on her face said, “Yes but, no but.”
The End