{"id":90,"date":"2023-10-23T10:37:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T10:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/?page_id=90"},"modified":"2023-11-02T17:49:02","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T17:49:02","slug":"a-paris-doll-story-by-christine-rapley","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/?page_id=90","title":{"rendered":"A Paris Doll Story by Christine Rapley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fi \u2013 (please remember that it\u2019s Fi rhymes with tea, not Fi rhymes with sky) and never call her Fiona. Fi Onna is a very proud young Scot. She\u2019s the manager of Fitz Dolz Vintage Department Store in Mossy Well. “FitzD” has been open for a few years now and specializes in all things vintage.  Fi is very ambitious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fi tells Chanelle \u201cThe store is doing quite well but we need to get many more sales especially in the fashion departments.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m disappointed that the new tartan trousers I designed aren\u2019t flying off the shelves.  I\u2019ve got a lot more of the tartan fabric to get more made as I thought we\u2019d soon be sold out\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI imagine it might be because tartan isn\u2019t on trend at the moment\u201d replies Chanelle diplomatically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But thinking quietly to herself \u2013 or at any time in the past 50 years! \u201cAlso it might be off-putting (a wee bit she thinks, but doesn\u2019t say so as Fi might think she\u2019s making fun of her Scottishness)- that we wear the same pattern as uniform. Customers might be worried that others would think they work here\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Fi: \u201cI was flicking through a fashion magazine and what caught my eye was an advert \u2013 with an article all about a fashion show at Masque Department Store. You know, the well known one in Paris? We’ve only had a tentative go at holding a fashion show . I thought perhaps I could go for a week or so to see the fashions. Tip could hold the fort here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mister Tiprego, who everyone calls Tip, is the chief buyer, accountant, and Assistant Store Manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chanelle says with barely disguised surprise \u201cBut you don\u2019t speak French do you Fi?\u201d Chanelle is half French and fluent like a native speaker. And she reckons that she has much more<\/strong> fashion sense than the store manager. Look at her suit, for a start Chanelle ponders- Fi looks like a little old lady. But she must surely only be in her early 20s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t, no. But I know a few phrases and I\u2019d get by. After all, I moved here to England and I manage despite the difference in accents and expressions. I know for example, Ms Hoity Toity – that grand magasin is French for department store.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When Chanelle is on her break Tip comes in to help with the display in the Casa department. Fi tells him her idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fi says \u201cIf I want to get inspiration for how to hold a fashion show at Fitz Dolz, what better place to find it than Paris? I\u2019ll need you to act up as manager for a week or so Tip \u2013 would you be agreeable?  You\u2019d get extra pay of course.\u201d    Tip says \u201cOK, but I might need to phone you if I need to ask you something. You\u2019ve been running the show here \u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her lunch hour that day, Fi rushes to visit the local travel agency and gets information about flights to Paris. She finds that Bambolair has a daily flight to and from Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a bit cautious by nature, she holds off from booking her ticket. Firstly, she realises that she doesn\u2019t have a passport because she\u2019s never been out of the UK so far. Also she will need to re-read that magazine at home to check the Masque dates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019ll arrive a few days prior to the show and can explore Paris and take a break from her work at the store. Dashing round the shops because she is now really excited Fi buys an English\u2013French\/ French-English dictionary, phrase book and a good guide book to Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 She\u2019s done a bit of study, but the language doesn\u2019t come naturally to her. All that tu, vous, il, elle, nous. Croissants \u2013 easy; baguette, ditto. Du pain, du vin, du Boursin! Le metro, le train, l\u2019avion, l\u2019hotel. Et l\u2019amour? She daydreams. She imagines what l\u2019amour might be like \u2013 as most girls do.  Fi has only had one boyfriend in Scotland and that was quite some time ago. She wonders whatever happened to Hamish. He probably found some nice provincial Scottish girl and married. But Fi Onna really is going to Paris, so she sits surrounded by the clothes she\u2019s going to pack. And looks at her turquoise silk purse full of Euros and new credit cards. And the all-important plane ticket. Her passport finally arrived in the post yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Her passport finally arrived in the post.<\/strong><\/em><\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Her turquoise silk purse is full of Euros, new credit cards and all-important plane ticket.<\/mark><\/em><\/strong>
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The day she travels Mister helps her put her luggage into his car and lets his new girlfriend Carolina Papa drive Fi to the airport. The big red Range Rover is his pride and joy so before they drive off, he leans on the boot as if to urge Carolina to drive very carefully. And of course, he also wants them to be safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mister is now temporary manager at Fitz Dolz store and can\u2019t be spared to drive Fi to the airport. This is the first time she will have flown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Have a great time in Paris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Be careful with my pride & joy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Carolina helps to calm Fi\u2019s nerves and on reaching the airport waits with her for the flight to be announced.  The journey to the airport was exciting but the flight to Paris fills her with trepidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Going through passport control and customs isn\u2019t exactly a breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The stocky airport policeman looks stern \u2013 and his Alsation dog looks quite fierce.  But Fi sits quietly and has no worries about the contents of her luggage. There\u2019s nothing that oughtn\u2019t to be there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The customs policeman asks her to open her suitcase.  To her surprise, the dog sniffs a pack of sausages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Fi expresses amazement and says she has no idea how that got into her case. Who could possibly have put them into her case?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when did anyone have an opportunity to do so she wonders. The sausages are confiscated as they are one of the items<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 one is not allowed to take abroad. The dog is not very happy when he sees the sausages disappear into a bag for disposal \u2013 although he probably doesn\u2019t know that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Airport Security<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Oh and a further indignity!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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“What are these, Miss Onna” asks the airport policeman. “They’re just my hairnets, officer!” Fi says with barely disguised exasperation. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From inside the airport building Fi sees the Bambolair plane from the departure lounge window. It\u2019s a small plane. An unusual shape for a plane and Fi wonders if it is safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She boards and chats happily with the pretty stewardess who puts her hand luggage up into the compartment for Fi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Boarding the flight Fi is surprised to find that she is the only passenger, accompanied only by a stewardess. The pilot is female.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The stewardess sits down beside Fi, the only passenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The seats are quite comfy. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name, Miss?\u201d asks Fi. \u201cI\u2019m Camilla. This is my second year as a stewardess. I love the job. Would you like a sandwich and a salad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fi says \u201cOh, I\u2019m too excited to eat much. Besides it\u2019s a short flight, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Camilla confirms that they will only be in the air for about half an hour or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 She brings Fi a cake and coffee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There is going to be a bit of a delay as they wait for clearance for take- off. Very soon they are up in the clouds.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bambolair flight to Paris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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“Looking down there at the little buildings, fields & landscape – it’s like Toyland” says Fi. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chatting with Camilla, Fi says \u201cI expect you are really used to all this -but it\u2019s so strange and wonderful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In no time at all they are landing at Charles de Gaulle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ooh, this is a bit scary Fi thinks to herself<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

 At the French airport, Fi is very surprised by the vigorous frisking she has to endure by the young blond security man. He seems to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And she feels a bit violated. She\u2019s certainly not used to such intimate up close and personal behaviour. Impertinence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 She wonders whether he is just doing his job \u2013 or perhaps also taking a bit of an advantage. How many young women or men does he do this to every day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fi is surprised at being frisked<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Oh really, this is a bit much thinks Fi<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

She can\u2019t help but notice that the older Paris airport security police officer looks just like the one at the London airport. Almost an exact copy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They could be brothers. But this man has a moustache (she\u2019s now starting to think in French). \u201cQu\u2019est ce que c\u2019est ca?\u201d The officer says. He doesn\u2019t speak English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airport lady in blue looks on and grins. Fi thinks she probably knows what they are, but it\u2019s not her job to say anything. \u201cThey are just hair nets, monsieur\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c..airnets?\u201d The officer pulls a face and his nose puckers.  Fi gestures frantically to show they are for her hair.  \u201cAh oui, je comprends\u201d, the officer says.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Qu’est ce que c’est ca? Asks the security man <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Fi is relieved to have passed through French Security<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

That was not pleasant thinks Fi and she hopes that Paris is not going to prove to be difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Used as she is to being in charge of people at Fitz Dolz store – going through customs and security at both airports was not at all easy. She feels out of her depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Grand Magasin emailed just before she left England to say that they hoped to send someone to pick her up from Charles De Gaulle Airport. But how will she recognise them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s hoping that if there is someone to meet her that they will speak English. Especially after her un-nerving experience she doesn\u2019t feel much up to trying to communicate in her \u2018pigeon\u2019 French.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cOu se trouve l\u2019autobus pour le centre de Paris?\u201d She knows that phrase if she needs it, but doesn\u2019t think she could possibly understand a response. Especially when they are bound to speak too fast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Whenever she has seen French people talking on TV, they always speak too fast to catch anything. The words get jumbled together and she knows too little. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fi gazes at a large painting in the airport building thinking to herself that she will soon see Montmartre for herself <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The blond cop who frisked her says “Bienvenue a la France\/ Welcome to France” Fi is so relieved to see she can now continue on with her journey. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Oh! There’s someone holding up a card with my name on it – lovely. He looks NICE!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Fi’s heart flutters when her eyes meet those of Louis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fi imagines that the handsome young man works at the store in one of the departments. If he speaks any English maybe he can tell her a bit about the fashion show and all about Masque.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their eyes meet. Time stands still.  And her heart flutters. This is quite exciting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis introduces himself to Fi but doesn\u2019t say much at this stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am Louis Lefranca. I\u2019ve been sent by Masque Grand Magasin to drive you to Hotel La Muette where you will be staying. I think you will be very comfortable there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 It\u2019s a family run hotel with an excellent restaurant. Valentin the manager is really good, and his wife Albertine is also sympa \u2013 how do you say that in English?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Oh I remember, it\u2019s “nice”. They are a great team.\u201d Louis opens the door for Fi and says he\u2019ll put her luggage in the back carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fi feels rather disappointed even let down having noticed the baby\/ child seat in the back of Louis\u2019s van.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis drives her to Hotel La Muette (Seagull Hotel). Fi loses herself gazing at the very different scenery as they travel towards the centre of Paris. She stops thinking of possible romance. But her adventure is beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a9\u00a0 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The perfect gentleman, opening the car door for Fi<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chapter 1 Fi \u2013 (please remember that it\u2019s Fi rhymes with tea, not Fi rhymes with sky) and never call her Fiona. Fi Onna is a very proud young Scot. She\u2019s the manager of Fitz Dolz Vintage Department Store in Mossy Well. “FitzD” has been open for a few years now and specializes in all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":87,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-90","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/90","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=90"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/90\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":192,"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/90\/revisions\/192"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/87"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dollstories.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=90"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}