A Curious Girl: The Annual Ordeal

Yesterday I had a driving lesson as usual, and then the Annual GB/BB Display, in which the Girls' and Boys' Brigades get various special awards, and each section has an opportunity to entertain. I usually call it the Annual Ordeal because we wear black tights when it is swelteringly hot, plus our items are often hot too. Depends. We've done dances, chime bars, singing 'My Heart Will Go On' (argh, but everyone reckoned we were lovely), a gym display (the most satisfying part was jumping over someone and doing a forward roll, because I never knew I could do that), 'If I were not upon a stage' and this year, a race to get a suitable idiot ready for an expedition in rough climates (we're talking wind, rain and snow, through an obstacle course to get the kit, and putting the tent up at the end. No idea who won, but I was the idiot for my team and I enjoyed myself thoroughly, so that was all right.

Before all that, I had to escort the colours - Claire was carrying, Abigail escorting on the other side. It was good because we actually got a bugle. we sang 'Jesus is the name we honour' and then onto the awards. Got to be my least favourite part of the whole night - my favourite is probably watching the boys do drill. They did gun drill with broomsticks and added Teletubbies lyrics. Teehee. And the juniors also did drill - proper drill - flipping excellent. Anyway, back to the point. Award giving. Because you have to stand there for ages whilst sixteen awards are given for the girls, and then sit for the boys, and they have squillions, usually plenty of promotions and things, whereas we only have extra when people do Young Leaders, and everyone who's done it stopped at Grade 1. Sixteen awards - 3rd, 2nd and 1st in inspection for each section, and top girl for each section (Explorers, Juniors, Seniors, Brigaders). Mo make the occasional muck up, but it went mainly OK. Didn't even get third inspection, unsurprising, and decided beforehand that I wasn't going to be top brigader because I haven't even handed in everything for the brigader brooch. Most things, just not my cross-stitch and computer thing. Still, nice to dream, eh? Ever fantasise as awards are being given out? I even watched Claire collect her inspection award so that I would know when to salute. Thinking, 'go one Mo, make me top girl' managed to place everything in a kind of surreal light when she said, 'Top brigader' and then my name! People aren't meant to hear your thoughts, especially when they're as improbable as being top girl!

So I turned, marched up, saluted - the guest of honour saluted back, she's a GB officer type person too - collected it, and walked back in complete bewilderment. Did they just feel sorry for me? Mo's husband Trevor said my face was an absolute picture. Heh. Managed fairly successfully to avoid Matt all night, because I had a feeling that if I did speak to him I would explode. In fact I dreamt so vividly I was having a go at him during the display that I almost thought I really had this morning. I didn't, did I?

During the interval, I went to talk to Claire and Jeri who is the mother of an Explorer called Amy (she's around 7 or 8). Jeri had to speak to me about my general views and history with God when I was getting baptised. She was also a great source of encouragement one GB camp! She's a lovely person. We were called back to go to our rooms where we were preparing, and as Claire left, Jeri stopped me to say that she was proud that I got the award, not coming from a Church family or being in GB for that long, and that I looked smart. (When I was collecting it - after our item I was dressed in simply a sleeveless top and a pair of Stephen's shorts.) I'm not sure what it was, but that was one of the things that brought it home to me, and for a little while afterward I tried not to think of it because it was making me kind of tearful. It's because I admire Jeri a lot; she's so enthusiastic and always going for God. Although I was telling myself off for getting tearful as it's only a silly award!

The finale, for once, was good. I think the one other good finale I ever saw/did was one where we all stood in a circle wrapped around with a paperchain made of newspaper, we broke it, and Christina and Malcolm sung a song called 'You have broken the chains' or something like that. Would have been cool if we'd done a dance routine, but there were rather a lot of us. This finale was 'Genesis 1', and included plenty of percussion, some flags and some pretty pictures.

Mo was going to give me a lift home, but I remember I'd forgotten my keys and there was no-one home, so after frantic phonecalls that resulted in messages on answerphones, I went around her house for a bit. The parents were at a wedding, and I couldn't remember where. Her daughter Rachel was back from Uni a bit, and her son Neal who's in the Company section of the BB (not sure how old he now, though - 12? He was top Private, and promoted to Lance Corporal. Guess that's around about Young Leaders Grade 1, or maybe Grade 0.5. Yeah.) It was nice being around there - would have been better if I wasn't worrying about how badly I was going to be slaughtered when I got home! Eventually Clive called me - they were at a hotel in Rochester. He picked me up, and I guess he forgave me for forgetting the keys, although he didn't say congratulations on being top brigader. However, when I told Mum (I gate-crashed the reception) she was pleased. By this time, I was crying my eyes out, partly because I'd forgotten the keys and partly because it had finally hit home that I was top girl and I didn't know if I was coming or going. Still don't know why I got it, although I'm very pleased that I did. Is this modesty? 'Cause the trouble with modesty is it's not a virtue you feel proud to be complimented on...

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