The Cardboard Box: Antimacassars

[grrlpup]

Canon Story: The Cardboard Box
Title: Antimacassars
Author: grrlpup
Rating: G

She'd meant to finish these new antimacassars long ago. Living alone with few visitors, however, she'd put it off. Well, now she was caught out. Detectives all over the house, curious neighbors dropping by, seeing the stains! It wasn't sisterly to blame, but she wished Sarah had never brought that... oily Mr. Fairbairn around. Her needle stabbed with more force.

Comments

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Very nice! I do like the idea of Mrs. Cushing taking her frustration out on the needlework.

And great minds think alike (I wrote my diamante this week on antimassacars)!

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Pomade - the lubricant that kept the engine of the Victorian Empire running.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Among other lubricants :) I mean engine oil, of course.

PS: I love the film O Brother Where Art Thou? Makes me think of the line "I'm a Dapper Dan man."

[grrlpup]

Yay! I'm glad you alerted me to it. Antimacassars 4ever! :D

I'm sure Mrs. Cushing is infinitely more skilled than I am, but my needlework always showed my emotions, impatience and frustration especially. Stabbity-stab.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

hee, hee. I love the phrase 'stabbity-stab' So apt here (and in RL). I used to cross-stitch and had an aunt who expect the back to look as nice as the front. Argh!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Poor Miss Cushing - if only a stained antimacassar had been the worst of her troubles.

[grrlpup]

Yeah, little did she know. :(

[castiron.livejournal.com]

Everyone has their priorities.... Very nice!

[grrlpup]

Ha, yes, although they might not admit it. Thank you!

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

A clever explanation as to why Miss Cushing has apparently decided to work at an antimacassar in the midst of all the questioning over the ears.

[grrlpup]

Thank you! sanguinity proposed that they might alternately be piecework that a respectable lady could sell; I find that plausible too.

[debriswoman]

A great little character study:-)

[grrlpup]

Thank you! One always wonders about those "placed-faced" women. :)

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Also a commentary on the nonstop nature of women's work - and the way men made that work nonstop.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Yes and yes and the grimy nature of Victorian life.

[grrlpup]

I've never smelled macassar oil, but it does seem like it can't have been worth it.

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this very nice little sidelight. And probably a good assessment of Fairbairn.

[grrlpup]

Perhaps someone will write a fic to resuscitate his character someday. Not holding my breath though. :)