"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", by Gratiana Lovelace (2013-2014) (Done)

Ch. 80 (PG-13, D): Birthday Festivities, and Then Some

"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", Ch. 80 (PG-13, D): Birthday Festivities, and Then Some,  September 05, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace

(An original fan fiction copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace;   All rights reserved; Based on the Elizabeth Gaskell novel, North & South and its  2004 BBC adaptation; No copyright infringement intended)

[I will illustrate my story using my dream cast from the 2004 BBC production of "North & South" and other actors for additional characters:   Richard Armitage for John Thornton, Daniela Denby-Ashe for Margaret Hale, Lesley Manville for Mrs. Maria Hale,  Tim Pigott-Smith for Mr. Richard Hale, Sinead Cusack for Mrs. Hannah Thornton Ogilvy, Jo Joyner for Fiona/Fanny Thornton Ogilvy, Brendan Coyle for Nicholas Higgins, Graham McTavish as Dr. Cameron Ogilvy, Holliday Grainger for Angharad Ogilvy MacIntosh, Simon Woods for Baird Ogilvy, Emma Ashton as Mrs. Dillard, John Light as Henry Lennox, Tim Faraday as Watson, Gillian Anderson at Carlotta Quint Watson, Jeremy Northam as Dr. Miles Houghton, Gerard Butler as Lord Jamie Ogilvy, Juliette Lewis as Lady Thistle Ogilvy, and Helena Bonham Carter as Brigid Gordon, etc.] [(1) story logo top right] 

Author's Mature Content Note:  "N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons" is a story with mature themes of love and relationships set within a period drama of the 1850's.  As such there will be heartfelt moments of love and sensuality (S)--as well as other dramatic emotions (D), including some violence (V)--and I will rate those chapters accordingly.  If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read that chapter.  This is my disclaimer.

Author's Recap from the previous chapter:  Almost four year old Audrey Grace Thornton and her little sister two year old Catriona nicknamed Caty enjoyed their first day of Summer school on the Monday before Audrey Grace's fourth birthday to be held on Friday, June 20th.  And enjoying her school day and meeting the mill school children so much, Audrey Grace asked for shoes for her birthday--not for herself, but for the Marlborough Mills School children she met who are wearing worn hand me down shoes from an earlier Thornton Family shoe give away. So John and Margaret will move heaven and Earth to meet their daughter's wishes in time for her birthday--scouring the nearby towns for fifty children's shoes--with Nicholas Higgins' able help.  And making Audrey Grace's fourth birthday party extra special for her will have some unexpected results.

"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", Ch. 80 (PG-13, D):  Birthday Festivities, and Then Some

It had been a monumental task for John Thornton--with the able help of his Marlborough Mills Senior Overseer and friend Nicholas Higgins--to find fifty pairs of children's shoes in all of the right sizes in only four days time.  It required Nicholas to travel to two other large towns to collect the shoes purchased by John and then bring the shoes to the Mills School in time for their Friday morning classes.  The children were so agog with their new shoes, that the morning was spent in matching shoes and children together--with their impromptu lessons revolving around the numbers representing the different shoe sizes for their little feet. 

Then after all the children were newly shod with simple and sturdy yet supple suede over hard leather bottom everyday school/play shoes--including a delighted Audrey Grace--some party games are played, such as Blind Man's Bluff[(2)].   Being the birthday girl, Audrey Grace is it first, donning a blindfold and then feeling around the room as the children tease her with their voices as she tries to locate them.  When she reaches out and touches/tags someone, her time as the blind man ends and the child tagged  is it.  They go through several blind men until the children are tired.  Then an early luncheon with birthday cake is served for Audrey Grace to enjoy with her classmates.