Monica Turns Up Trumps
Synopsis
Dr. Frank Marilliar is a widower after his wife, Christine's, death 3 years previously, with a son, Barney (aged 18 at a great public school), and daughter, Monica, aged 14. His sister-in-law, Peggy Primrose, aged 24, is now his housekeeper and surrogate mother for the children. After reading Monica's last school report from 'The Gables' (a boarding school in a South-West town), he removes her due to her poor behavior and schoolwork and sends her to 'Braemar House', a day school with a very good reputation located in their town, Medbury.
Monica is good at games and gymnastics (she wishes to study at Chelsea or Bedford after her school-days are over), but will not do either because Braemar House does not have a gymnasium. She does not know many of the other students at the school because of their having moved to Medbury after her mother's death, though she knows the Rector's two girls, Dilys and Myfannwy Tudor, slightly. Monica has many problems settling to the school's standards and teaching methods.
Her father receives a letter from his sister Lucia, living in Kenya with her husband Colin MacNab, asking if he can take their two eldest children to live while attending school in England. Monica resents their coming whilst she is still 'in disgrace', especially after her father refuses to allow her to attend private gym and hockey classes until her schoolwork improves.
Vicki and Alixe arrive, with Monica becoming friendly with Alixe (aged 13) and finding Vicki (aged 15, nearly 16) somewhat of a trial. Vicki causes problems for herself by disobeying Peggy by visiting with Alixe when she was sick in bed, and later by not listening to Monica to remove a valuable table from in front of the fire and then breaking a prized firescreen. Later Vicki and Monica have a serious quarrel, and Vicki ignores Monica's apology.
Vicki covets some Venetian beads of Monica's, and this leads to later problems when she 'borrows' them for a party and loses them. Vicki loses her self-respect and the respect of Peggy by her deception. Monica blames Vicki for the loss of her precious beads, but later with the drawing closer of Christmas, decides to forgive her.
Monica's schoolwork and behaviour improves immensely with her moving up a form in most subjects, and thus receiving her father's praise. He also agrees to allow her to commence hockey and gym classes in the coming term.
The beads are found in a suprising spot by Vicki just prior to Christmas, and Monica decides to give them to Vicki as a Christmas present. Monica thus 'turns up trumps' by achieving greater maturity and learning to live with others.
contributed by Sandra Fitzgerald, Australia __ working from a hardback edition
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