her first day at school, how it went from there …

by Sharon Santoni

If you missed yesterday’s post, expat Kathy Taylor has arrived in a sleepy little town in the middle of France, with herĀ  husband Jack, baby Max and the twins Susie and Toby who just started at school.Ā  Finding her way around with her schoolgirl French isn’t always easy ….

 

………oooooooOOOooooooo………

 

Over the next couple of week’s Kathy gradually settled in to the new school routine.Ā Ā  Her day’s started early getting everyone ready and out the door on time, and once the children were at school she began to find her marks in the sleepy little town.Ā  The high point of her week was the farmer’s market, on the old town square, where she would shop her fresh food and pick up new French vocabulary.

 

Marie Claire was a big help, and never failed to say bonjour each morning, but she also had a career to maintain and their morning coffees were rare occasions.

Kathy knew that she had to make herself one or two good friends, and one day while shopping her hopes were raised.Ā  A very chic looking young woman came up to her and introduced herself as Perrine du Combignac.Ā  She explained that she had heard about Kathy via a friend and she wondered whether she would enjoy coming to tea at her home, to meet some other ladies.

Kathy was pleased and intrigued.Ā  Perrine seemed very kind, but she found her manner slightly intimidating and she wondered how the tea would go.Ā  On the Tuesday afternoon, she found her way to the address that Perrine had given and rung at the door.Ā  The house was old and imposing with a heavy wooden door.Ā  She had dressed herself and baby Max with care, and as they stood waiting for the door to open, she gently smoothed his blond hair down and whispered to him “I wonder what they’ll be like?Ā  Best behaviour Max, we want to make a good impression!”

The door swung open and there was Perrine, dressed beautifully in an elegant deep red dress, patent flats and pearls.Ā  She greeted Kathy warmly and shook her hand.Ā  Helped her with her coat and made a fuss over little Max then ushered her into a formal salon, furnished beautifully with antiques and paintings.Ā  Here, Kathy found a circle of young French women, sipping tea from elegant bone china cupsĀ  and chatting calmly and politely.Ā  They turned as one to smile at Kathy and took turnsĀ  in broken English to ask her how she came to be in this remote region of the French countryside.

It was a very pleasant afternoon, but Max was the only baby and Kathy was aware that her lifestyle was very different to these girls’ who had all left their youngest with a minder or a mother-in-law.Ā Ā  After a couple ofĀ  hours she left to collect the twins from school, and promised Perrine to stay in touch.

That evening over dinner, Jack caught her staring into nowhere as she was stirring a sauce …. “Penny for them?”, he came up and squeezed her gently around the waist.

Kathy smiled, “you know Jack, if we are going to stay here, I’ll just have to create my own entertainment.Ā  I’m thinking I’ll start some painting again.Ā  Who knows I may even find a class to join”.

“Great idea”, said Jack,” you go girl…Ā  now what’s for dinner?”Ā Ā  Kathy smiled to herself, and the next day while Max was having a nap, she got out her paints out, set up an easel in the garden and lost herself for almost two hours in a big bold canvas.

Suddenly realising she was late for the twins, she grabbed her bag, put a sleepy Max into the car and drove to the school, still wearing her paint splattered trousers.Ā Ā  Susie and Toby were the last children at the gate, but she found them chatting happily to their teacher, Mademoiselle Auvergne.

“Ah pardon Madamoiselle, I am so so sorry to be late”, Kathy hugged her children and tried to explain in a mix of French and English that it was the first time she had painted for months and she didn’t see the time go past.

“Alors you paint!Ā  replied the young teacher, smiling at her trousers “but I did not know zis.Ā  Zis is wondorfull, please, come with me, come with me …”

Kathy and the children were led back into the school by Mademoiselle who stopped in front of wide double doors.Ā  Before she opened them, she turned with an excited smile “‘Zees is our school atelier, you know for ze painting!”Ā Ā  She swung the doors open to reveal a large room with tables, and easels and a wonderful smell of paint.

Kathy and the children walked in, Kathy’s mouth was open “But this is a lovely painting room , er c’est trĆØs beau, trĆØs bien …”Ā  She said to the teacher, and then asked her children, “Have you two ever painted in here?”Ā  “No Mom, we don’t do painting in school because there is no teacher for it”

Mademoiselle Auvergne stood in front of Kathy, and took her hand, as if to plead:Ā  “Madame Taylor, is it possible for you to come to the school to teach ze pupils ze painting? S’il vous plait”

“What?!Ā  Really?!Ā  I mean can I?!Ā  ah merci, merci Madame, oui! je veux faire ca!”

Within a week the room was dusted down, aired, restocked and ready to go.Ā  Kathy understood that there had been no painting teacher on the premises for the past year, and the school was delighted that she would take on the project.

Word quickly got out that the maman anglaise was running art classes after school and in no time there was a queue at the door.Ā  Two other mothers turned up to help, delighted to find another artistic spirit in the school, and Kathy was happy to be involved and useful.

Through the art class she found herself other friends in town, and by the end of the first term she really felt she had settled in and become part of French life. Ā Ā  And when at the start ofĀ  the next school year Mademoiselle Auvergne told her there was a new family arriving at the school, who didn’t speak very good French, Kathy found herself smiling and playing the role of ambassador and welcoming committee.

We all haveĀ  our place and our role to play…. it’s just up to us to find it.

………oooooooOOOooooooo………

Thank you for your patience with my fiction, as always it is just for fun.

 

27 comments

Lin Powell April 10, 2014 - 7:01 pm

Very enjoyable little story. I enjoyed having the lovely pictures to help set the scene. A nice change of pace.

Reply
Mary in Oregon April 10, 2014 - 7:02 pm

Great, Sharon! You write so naturally. I am just reading both emissions today and I felt like I was that woman. What a way with words you have. PLEASE, don’t stop!!!

Mary in Oregon

Reply
Joan April 10, 2014 - 7:03 pm

I loved your story, as it rings a bit true!
I love art and find new friends in classes in different cities…

Reply
Colleen Taylor April 10, 2014 - 7:03 pm

in my headWhat a wonderful story you’ve shared Sharon. Your words paint pictures that I want to transform onto canvas. Thank you for your eloquent writing.

Reply
Colleen Taylor April 10, 2014 - 7:04 pm

Sorry about those extra few words in the beginning of my comments. I’m not sure how that happened.

Reply
Curtains In My Tree April 10, 2014 - 7:13 pm

bonjour

what a good heart felt story
Oh to have such a life as that

Reply
Jeanne McKay Hartmann April 10, 2014 - 7:41 pm

Sharon, more please! I love your fiction. So sweet and charming and even though I still live very near the town I grew up in, I relate to Kathy and how she used paint to start a new life. Love the thought that we all have our place and our roll and that it’s up to us to find it. Bravo and thanks for this lovely story! XOXO

Reply
Cynthia Christensen April 10, 2014 - 9:13 pm

What a lovely story! You, my dear, are a kind and gentle teacher. Love the surprise at the end. Moral principles taught in a whimsical way. Storytelling is a lost art. These are the lessons that have lasting results because you beckon us into a child-like fantasy. By the time the story has closed, our spirit is opened, this, permits the moral seed take root in the fertile soil of our soul and produce a lasting, sweet, and fragrant rose to bloom. Thank you so much. More pleaseā™„

Reply
Kate April 10, 2014 - 9:44 pm

So love your short stories and always look forward to them what a nice surprise.

Thank you

Reply
Celeste April 10, 2014 - 9:52 pm

Lovely story. Very good and believable.
So enjoyed your writing.
Thank you for brightening my day.
Celeste

Reply
Rosemary Foreman April 10, 2014 - 10:17 pm

C’ Ć©tais moi, presque, il y a 4 ans…en Valence….seul tous les jours…
I so enjoyed your sweet story!! Keep writing for us!!! TrĆØs charmant!

Reply
Cheryl April 11, 2014 - 12:02 am

I so enjoy your little stories! I hope you continue to write them!

Reply
Esther George April 11, 2014 - 12:18 am

Hi Sharon this is such a lovely story, we want more of these beauties…please…. Thank you for sharing. Speaking of good stories, I recently watched this British film called About Time now everyone will think not another time travel movie they do my head in (my daughter will say) but this movie the subject is not the travel but the time and relationships of a family. I know you girls are busy but if you get a chance give this movie a go. There is no violence, nothing cruel just thought provoking and visually lovely. Till next time Regards Esther from Sydney. PS you might need tissues.

Reply
Sally Leonard April 11, 2014 - 1:57 am

What a treat to read your short story! Excellent!!

Reply
Melissa April 11, 2014 - 2:30 am

I loved reading your story. I had tears in my eyes during the first part, it so moved me, and I loved the ending. Thank you for delighting us and taking us just for a moment into a little village in France.

Reply
Pat April 11, 2014 - 1:00 pm

I am a fiber artist, appreciated this little story, well told. I love your website, photos and lovely vignettes. They brighten my day and fill my imagination with lively scenes of color, beauty and joy :-)…thanks for YOUR role, your gift to others.

Reply
Cathy in Idaho April 11, 2014 - 3:13 pm

DELIGHTFUL! Wonderful short story! Have lived both parts and it is very important for us to reach out to others! Also thank you so very much for the precious time you take to create such a lovely blog just for us! DELIGHTFUL! OH happy Spring! C:

Reply
Lucia April 11, 2014 - 5:13 pm

Dear Sharon, wonderful ending to your story! Thank you so much, please continue writing, Kathy’s story had a voice that came right through!
Lucy in San Mateo, California

Reply
Karen (Back Road Journal) April 11, 2014 - 5:59 pm

Love your little storiesā€¦it is fun following along. šŸ™‚

Reply
Tamie April 11, 2014 - 7:37 pm

I’ve never replied to a blog before, but yours is beautiful, and I look forward to reading it every time I receive a new post. Your stories are from the heart, and I’ve loved reading them. Your blog is a little luxury in a busy world. Thank you!

Reply
Lorrie April 11, 2014 - 8:00 pm

A lovely story of how willingness to get involved and a little friendship can go a long ways.

Reply
Sue Malizia April 12, 2014 - 4:18 am

Sharon,
I so enjoyed your short story…..kindness goes a long way and is contagious; just as you wrote. šŸ™‚

Reply
Ana Rosas April 13, 2014 - 12:48 am

Love it! I can see myself in that life! Merci!

Reply
Lynn Minnick MyGREENLifeandRealEstate April 13, 2014 - 11:26 am

Enjoyed your story very much! Thank you for sharing. I was the child in that similiar scenario once upon a time – it was so long ago I don’t think I ever asked my parents how they felt adjusting to a new life…

Reply
Nathalie May 18, 2014 - 6:08 pm

Hello Sharon, I just finished to read “Her first day at school” and ” Her first day at school, how it went from hear”.
I had printed it several days before because I didn’t have the time to read tranquilly. I read it this nice sunday afternoon after a good walk. It’s a very nice story, we now want to know how is the life for Kathy. Is she happy in France . Does she have good friends. I’m sure of it. That’s true that french people are not always “top” to welcome new families espacially if they don’t speak french. I would have been like Marie Claire I think. It’s often difficult to move with one’s family because the beginning is never easy but most of the time, after that, it’s a great experience. My sister had been an expat since 1996 and living now in Los Angeles. So I understand Kathy…
Thank you very much Sharon for your blog and sorry for my English which is not perfect…

Reply
James Ruiz October 19, 2023 - 8:14 pm

What web services provide editing and proofreading services for scientific papers? I need a professional editor for my article.

Reply
Grace Foster March 6, 2024 - 2:32 pm

I remember my first day at school – it was fun and interesting. Last year I entered the university and I like studying here. And Iā€™m glad that I found a nursing essay writing service and was able to complete some of the laboratory work in a short time. Now it has become much easier for me to complete tasks and save my time.

Reply

Leave a Comment