Christmas despite all that
Many people are celebrating Christmas, despite COVID-19, just differently with new ideas. This year, the usual activities or concerts have been cancelled, but I’m thankful for what I have. Most importantly, many people keep the Christmas spirit by helping those in need, near and far. Let’s hope that things will be back to “normal” in due time, that we will not be afraid of large gatherings or passing by strangers on the streets.
By the time I publish this, due to time zone differences, it’s probably past your Christmas day, but let me wish you a peaceful and hopeful year ahead 🌠, in spite of all the challenges and restrictions.
It’s my great honour and pleasure to have received 15 well-written entries to the contest I announced in my previous post, It’s almost Christmas! ❤️ (You can find all the minifics in the comments section of the post.) Many of you wrote about Dr. Martin and/or Happy Martin Clinic, but at one point I started to wonder if we are reading the same novel. 😛 Seriously, it might be translation issues. In Candy Candy Final Story (CCFS), Albert’s original proposal was to build a new clinic for Dr. Martin to express his gratitude, and it was Dr. Martin’s counter-proposal, so to speak, to build it in the village where Pony’s Home was, not Chicago. In that case the doctor would happily accept the young entrepreneur’s kind proposal.
Hence, it was not a job offer. Speaking of which, interestingly, Candy used the term 申し出 in her first letter to Dr. Martin but a slightly different term in her second letter, 申し入れ. In English, they are both translated to proposal or offer, etc. Regrettably, the subtle nuances were lost. If I’m not mistaken, the former term is often used when one is making an offer or proposal to someone higher in position, such as a government official or one’s boss. The second term can be used to anyone. Note that in Candy’s first letter, she was trying to convince the doctor, speaking on Albert’s behalf, to accept Albert’s offer ( 申し出 ). Perhaps Albert was the one who insisted to use that term to convey his sincere gratitude? In the second letter however, Candy used this term when she mentioned Albert’s response: “Albert-san was also deeply touched (moved) by Dr. Martin’s proposal ( 申し入れ ).”
All in all, I have enjoyed reading every entry tremendously, some of which made me smile or sigh in agreement. Anyone who have read these stories would likely be just as impressed and might understand how difficult it was for me to finalize my shortlist. To be honest, I even thought about counting the words, 😉 but I decided not to. Yet, I appreciate those who have kept your stories within the word limits.
I said the stories should be based on the letters to (1) Captain Brown or (2) Dr. Martin, so I was looking for (1) Candy and Albert are already in a stable relationship, apparently (2) Dr Martin’s kindness to Candy and Albert in the past or what made Candy convince the doctor on Albert’s behalf. However, after reading all the submissions, I relaxed my selection criteria somewhat, unless the stories have gone off topic. Rest assured they are great on their own, and you ladies should consider opening accounts to continue developing your writing talents! 👍🏻
Without further ado, this is the shortlist for this contest: Lakewood (very focused and sweet) and Halcyon Days (heartwarming details of their past Christmas). I thought about declaring a tie, but I chose Lakewood’s story because in CCFS Candy did not know Albert was her prince when she moved back to Pony’s Home.
Lakewood’s story reminded me of one of my old drawings, which I will re-post at the end. Congratulations, Lakewood!! 🎉🥂🎆 Thank you! I did not make any change to your modified version, except formatting.
Mr Brown’s Unexpected Visit
by Lakewood
Mr Brown had been planning his journey back home to Illinois for quite some time but he did not want to make his return public. Besides, his relationship with Madame Elroy and the other elders of the Ardaly clan was anything but favourable. The only people he wanted to see again were his brother-in-law and nephew. He also had some sporadic correspondence with Candy and he anticipated to see her again as well.
Upon arrival at the Chicago estate, Mr Brown was greeted by a young and fresh-faced secretary who informed him that Mr William A Ardlay had taken the day off for personal reasons but did not provide further explanations. Mr Brown was surprised to not find George anywhere and he asked the young lady for his whereabouts in which she replied that George was based at the city-centre where his office was within close proximity to the high street banks. Mr Brown was pleased to learn about Albert’s adeptness as a business entrepreneur. Albert’s start-up businesses were flourishing to such an extent that he had the ease to hire more employees and offer opportunities to aspiring young women and men inclined towards business innovation. Mr Brown noticed that the entire estate had a different air and ambience to it which was a far cry from the cob-web and anachronistic atmosphere that the previous management had established. Albert’s reputation as a shrewd businessman had been spreading like wildfire within the professional circles of powerful magnates and entrepreneurs. Even though he was one of the youngest in his field, he was also one of the most brilliant and innovative minds. Nonetheless, Mr Brown could not help but compare Albert with his father who was also one of most hard-working and productive business entrepreneurs in Chicago.
To his disappointment, Mr Brown would probably not be able to see his brother-in-law since he was on leave but then it crossed his mind that Albert could be spending his much needed leisure time at his cottage near the lake situated in the same vast estate albeit further away from the main building which also functioned as William A Ardlay’s business headquarters. Mr Brown had known his brother-in-law ever since he was a toddler. Albert had a vested interest in self-reliance and everything pertaining to that quality whether it be woodwork, construction and repairing. These traits had solidified in his adolescence when Albert demonstrated a particular inclination in the biomedical field. No doubt that Albert was a multi-talented young lad who never ceased to amaze even the stone-faced elders of the Ardlay clan-all of whom had invested in Albert’s intelligent young mind and industriousness. None of them were disappointed in the slightest as Albert would exceed their expectations. However, Albert’s fierce fidelity to hard work and studiousness had taken a toll on the quality of his personal life as he had no friends his age. He was never known to have a girl-friend either even though Mr Brown had a slight suspicion that he was involved with a fellow university student at Oxford. There were some mild rumours circulating that Albert had been dating a beautiful young lady who was studying medicine at Oxford. Albert was supposed to be studying law but he had decided to embark on a joint degree and pursue his studies in medicine too, hence, excelling in both fields. Perhaps that young lady had played an instrumental role in influencing Albert to make such a decision. On the other hand, Albert had always been interested in the biomedical field and all those rumours could have been mere hearsay.
Determined to see his beloved brother-in-law again and discover for himself whether he is devoting any time to his personal life, Mr Brown advanced towards the cottage and lake anticipating to see Albert there. Given the vast property of the Chicago estate, Mr Brown had to walk for about half an hour but it was a brisk walk as the weather was gorgeous. The sun shone brightly and the Northern wind was fresh but not chilling to the bone as usually the case with the infamous windy weather in Illinois. Even if he failed to find Albert, he would have succeeded in getting in a bit of exercise by taking a walk in the lush green environment of the Chicago estate.
As Mr Brown finally approached the lake and also saw the picturesque cottage nestled on a small hill, he noticed two figures in the distance. He immediately recognised Albert’s tall and lean silhouette next to a petite young woman with long curly hair. She was wearing a floral dress which delineated her slim frame. Both Albert and this young lady looked as if they were part of a painting as both of them had golden-blonde hair glistening in the sun. The whole scene was akin to a dream and Mr Brown was pleased to see Albert in such a state of bliss. He did not want to infringe upon the their privacy so he decided to leave the scene as quietly and discreetly as possible. Yet, he was curious enough to verify who this young woman was and whether he had seen her before. At some point the young woman extended her arm and held Albert’s hand. He turned towards her and placed his other arm around her waist and they both kissed passionately. It was rather reckless of them to do this because anyone within the vicinity could have easily seen them. Their passion had exceeded any form of inhibition and they simply continued to share their prolonged kiss caressed by the warm rays of the afternoon sun. The young lady wrapped both her arms around Albert’s neck while he encircled his long fingers around this lady’s tiny waist. Mr Brown fondly remembered those beautiful moments during his clandestine encounters with Rosemary. This young woman kissing Albert actually looked like Rosemary albeit considerably smaller in stature and frame.
To his astonishment, Mr Brown suddenly realised who this young woman was as both Albert and this lady turned around and continued walking hand in hand but did not notice Mr Brown in the distance. He was glad that they were so engrossed in each other that his presence remained unnoticed. In order to maintain this discretion, Mr Brown silently walked back to the office buildings of the Chicago estate but this time with a smile on his face. He had noticed that the relationship between Candy and Albert was unique as the two of them shared such a special and intimate bond but he had not expected that they had furthered their love to such a passionate level because they always seemed to be so disciplined in the presence of others, especially those connected to the Ardlay clan.
Walking back to the Chicago estate, Mr Brown couldn’t help but release a chuckle at the thought of the formidable Madame Elroy discovering the love between Candy and Albert. Had she witnessed what he had, she would have had a cardiac arrest. Mr Brown was more than certain that the romance between Candy and Albert would bring a breath of fresh air within the stale and sterile environment of the Ardlay clan-an establishment Albert was determined to tear asunder via his radical albeit professional expertise as well as his otherwise controversial personal preferences in choosing the love of his life.
Dear Ms Puddle,
I would like to thank you again for taking the time to read our short stories and provide constructive feedback. The entries submitted were of impressive quality and I am surprised that some of the participants have explained that they are not fan-fiction writers. I have come across a few pretentious people who brag about being weathered fan-fiction writers but their stories are bland, nondescript and way below par.
Congratulations to the winner of this competition and I am looking forward to participating in subsequent fan-fiction contests.
Kind Regards and Happy Holidays!
Thank you @Magnolia for writing a touching story about a sick child. 🤗 Undoubtedly Candy grew up with such experiences that influenced her decision-making process. Glad to hear you want to write again, and many thanks for your positive feedback to other participants too. 👏👍 Best wishes to you in the new year 🎉🥳
Nice of you to point that out. I was actually inspired by Candy’s narration of a similar incident when describing to Terry (at St Paul’s) the hardships of not having a medical doctor at Pony’s Home. Although Candy always had fond memories of Pony’s Home and proud to have been raised by such good people, she also underpinned the vast challenges they would face when the orphan children would get sick.
I’m sure this was the norm in many rural areas back in those days, @Magnolia. Even nowadays, children or adults face the similar challenges in the developing countries around the world.
Quite a few commenters here on your forum have brilliantly discussed the underlying theme of healthcare-for-all in the novel and I couldn’t agree with them more. It’s a pity that most fans are only concerned about the identity of “anohito” and they fail to understand the significance of other themes in this novel which are much more important such as equivalent access to healthcare and global peace.
Best wishes to you too!
Valid point @Magnolia. Well said!
Well said, @Magnolia. 👍👏 The story of Candy Candy is more than just Candy’s love life or her adventures. Other than what you have listed, I’d add “welfare of the underprivileged” or “poverty”.
Couldn’t agree with you more.
Thank you for this new post and sharing @Lakewood’s heart-warming short-story with us.
I agree that @Lakewood’s story has managed to capture the essence of the CCFS, in particular, the brewing romance between Candy and Albert during their adulthood.
Wishing Everyone a Lovely New Year!
Thank you Irana93! 🤗 Happy new year to you too 🎉
I like the lover’s quarrel in your story and the way they resolved it was so sweet! I particularly like the ending 👍👏
Thank you for your feedback and encouraging words!
Thank you @Irana93 for your participation 🤗
Hi Ms Puddle!
All the short stories were awesome and this Christmas break is a perfect time to read them. Hope you enjoyed reading our stories and congrats to @Lakewood!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Thank you Christine! 🤗 Same best wishes to you as well! 🎄☃️
Yes I did enjoy reading all the stories. I like your detailed description of the new clinic and its surrounding views/areas. Candy’s excitement was palpable too. 👍👏
The construction of a new medical clinic is always met with a warm reception and even more so in a small town, village or orphanage as in Candy’s case.
I appreciate the time you took to read my entry. Thanks again!
You’re welcome, @Christine! That’s so true, and that’s why I clarified in my post it was actually Dr. Martin’s idea to build the clinic in that village, which touched both Candy and Albert significantly.
This is simply my opinion but I have the impression that Dr Martin wanted to leave the rather inhumane environment of the city of Chicago and head off for greener pastures-as the saying goes. Apparently, he enjoyed working with Candy all those years and wanted to resume his team work with her.
Since this novel is so ambiguous, any interpretation is possible. The anime had provided some useful background to Dr Martin and his traumatic past which had taken a toll on his psychological well-being eventually leading to his alcoholism.
Unfortunately, this novel is not only ambiguous but also nonsensical in many aspects, especially after Section II. The epistolary section is useless and the writer doesn’t seem to know how to use this technique. The only interesting section towards the end of the novel is the Epilogue but even that section is cut short as everything else in this “light” novel.
Many people who read this novel have commented that it seems more like a summary than an actual story. I agree with them and I’ll add that the entire narrative appears to be terribly rushed, hence, the severe lack of character development. The author had the great opportunity to shine via her writing and prove that this story is rightfully hers. However, all she’s managed to confirm is that without the visuals provided by both Igarashi and TOEI, this story is as flat as a pancake. Perhaps there will be a reboot of the anime and/or a re-publishing of the manga but I doubt it with all those ongoing legal disputes between writer and illustrator.
I would agree with those comments. The novel definitely resembles a summary of the story we all know but without any further info regarding the main characters.
There’s a possibility that Nagita wasn’t even in the mood to write a proper novel but simply a closure to Candy’s story without providing any further information or insight.
That seems to be the case, @Anita. However, I think CCFS is more than just a summary of the original story. Nagita sensei did add something new or modify her old novel in some areas, albeit not as good as many had expected.
I also think that the epistolary style for section 3 isn’t ideal or well utilized, @Christine. However, the epilogue is not as bad.
You’re right about that-Ms Puddle. I also find the Epilogue to be one of the best sections of the novel. The dynamics between Candy and Albert as demonstrated in the Epilogue furthers the insight in their meaningful relationship and how they became a couple, even though it’s implied. However, the overall structure of this novel lacks in coherency and clarity. The readers are left with a multitude of questions due to the writer’s lack in providing a quality narrative and worthwhile story. The bottom line is that this story has no resolution.
It’s true that the novel ends with many questions unanswered, @Christine, but most importantly, we all know Candy in her 30s was happily living with her lover very far away from Pony’s Home.
Hello Ms Puddle,
Pleased to receive a notification regarding your new post on Christmas. Hope you enjoyed a lovely day. My partner and I are still trying to get over all the food and especially the Christmas roast. It was delicious but a bit too heavy. Anyway, it’s only once a year so going a bit overboard with all the sugar-salt-fat isn’t too much of a crime. LoL
I haven’t managed to read all the entries but I can imagine how hard it must have been for you to make a choice. Those were quite a few entries submitted and judging by the ones I’ve read so far, the quality is very high.
Looking forward to more fan-fiction and, in particular, to your fan-art.
Are you planning on illustrating more characters from the CCFS?
Thank you @Lynn for your beautiful love story of Vincent and Rosemary. I enjoyed his perspectives of Rosemary’s beauty and how he could not help falling in love. 💕💗
Yes it was a tough decision to select a winner, and I really enjoyed reading all the stories. 🤗
I do plan to draw different characters in 2021, but right now I haven’t made up my mind yet. 😉 Thanks for asking!
Pleased to know that you liked my short story about Vincent and Rosemary. It would be great to see more of your fanart when you find the time. We are so busy that free-time has become a luxury.
I have an idea. Why don’t you arrange to the fanart for one of your fanfics or the fanfics submitted here on your blog? It could be a specific scene from a short story. It’s just a thought.😉
Thanks @Lynn, it’s a good idea! I’ll think about it 🤩🤗
@Lynn is right. Please do consider creating more CCFS-related fan-art @Ms Puddle. Your illustrations are some of the best in the CC community.
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement, @Michelle 🤗☺️
I agree with you. Ms Puddle’s fan art is superb!
Thank you @Irana93 for your encouraging words ☺️
Oh yes, @Lynn. You should expand this touching love story and publish it somewhere 🤗👍
Thanks but I wasn’t referring to me or my short story. I meant your own fanfics or any of those you have selected as your favourite entries.
Thanks again Lynn for the idea 👍🤗
There seems to be a problem with the sequential order of the comments. I have just responded to a comment of yours but then another one appeared so there’s a bit of confusion as you may have noticed. Perhaps it’s a glitch.
No worries, Lynn. I got it 🙂👍
That’s great! The notifications appear to have resumed to normal.
Merry Christmas, Ms Puddle!
I would like to thank you for considering my short story. Lakewood’s story definitely stood out and your selection was spot on.
Enjoy the rest of the holidays and have a happy 2021!
Merry Christmas to you too @Michelle! 🎄💝🎅 I have enjoyed reading your letter from Patty to Candy. So glad to read that she moved on in her life in her studies and even found new love interest 💕 I also like how she expressed her disapproval of Candy’s behaviour 😉
Thanks. I regard Patty as being the one who genuinely cared about Candy and not pronouncing her self-interests as Annie did. Patty also appeared to notice the deeper relationship between Candy and Albert. In the manga and anime, it was Stear who had noticed it.
Yes I totally agree with you, @Michelle! I like Patty way more than Annie. It’s too bad this character seems to have been “neglected” by the author 🙄
You’ve selected the most suitable word – “neglected” – regarding Patty’s character. Apparently, Keiko Nagita wanted to place all the emphasis on Candy but that reduced the overall quality of the story because supporting characters such as Patty add significant depth to the narrative. All successful writers focus on the technique of never abandoning their supporting characters.
That’s true and writers such as Tolkien, Rowling, Suzanne Collins, and many others are so successful because they’ve created a wealth of well-rounded and developed characters instead of focusing only on one.
For my part, I wouldn’t have had any issue at all if a writer focused on one or more characters as long as the main character had depth-of-character. Unfortunately, in Candy’s case there is hardly any character development and despite her life-learning experiences, her mind doesn’t become sophisticated. She remains child-like stature-wise and intellectually-wise without ever letting go of that ridiculous naivety of hers even when she becomes a grown-ass adult.
Honestly, it’s a real waste that Nagita had created all those awesome characters but miserably failed in providing decent character development. Whether one likes Terry or not, he is one hell of an interesting character but Nagita puts a tombstone on his character development after Section II of the novel. At least his character gets some form of decent development in the manga and especially the anime. The reason why Terry is even appealing to the older generations of women is thanks to the anime. Had the anime focused on the novel version of Terry, he wouldn’t have had a fraction of that appeal he had back in the 70s and early 80s.
In Albert’s case, however, the manga and novel do him greater justice as more depth-of-character is ascribed to him. Yet, he remains a mystery man from the beginning until the end of the novel. He is clearly one of the most fascinating characters in this story but the readers barely get to know what he thinks and feels.
That said, Nagita had the golden opportunity to create her own story by providing character development and background to her characters-both the main and the supporting ones. Apart from Terry and Albert, there are many interesting characters in this novel such as Stear, Archie, George and Patty. I’m sure that the readers would have wanted to know more about them and their mindset. Even the “villains”-Eliza and Neil remain stock and two-dimensional, hence, being reduced to mere caricature evil creatures and nothing more than that.
All in all, this story had so much potential in becoming a remarkable novel with global acclaim which would have withstood the test of time but it clearly hasn’t aged well and it’s severely mocked and ridiculed by young men and women for its insufferable melodrama and cheesiness. Fortunately, we’ve got the anime and manga because the novel sucks.
My sentiments exactly, @Michelle, although I’m not a big fan of the anime version. Sometimes I wish Nagita sensei had written the sequel instead, starting from Candy’s return to the orphanage after the discovery of Albert’s true identity as WAA.
Indeed these are all successful stories, @Irana93. Perhaps Nagita sensei was a bit rushed or pressured by the publisher to limit the number of pages. I honestly don’t know. 🤷
It would be sheer irony if Nagita had given in to pressure from publishers because she had been going on and on about how she had wanted to break free from publishers’ pressure in the 1970s-1980s when the manga and anime were basking in their popularity.
I agree with you about the overall lack of character development in CCFS, @Michelle, but not that bad in the manga, considering that it was limited with its target audience being girls under 17.
In CCFS, the focus is Candy, yes, but later it shifts to Albert starting from section 3. Most of her letters mentioned him, her feelings/opinions about him, or what he did (to her or other people). In the epilogue Candy somehow became the “passive” one, and the spotlight fell on Albert.
Even though a few fans enjoy taking a swipe at the anime, it did a far better job in filling those innumerable loop-holes of the author’s narrative. As for the manga, I agree with you that it’s superior in style and that’s thanks to Yumiko Igarashi and he amazing illustrations.
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Yes, @Michelle! I truly admire Igarashi’s illustrations and presentations of the author’s narrative. Her character design was of superb quality! It’s really too bad the two talented women won’t be cooperating again ☹️
I agree that the manga and novel both do more justice to Albert, whereas the novel has significantly decreased Terry’s character. He becomes a mere reference after the 2nd segment of the novel.
That’s right @Irana93. It was only a part of Section 2 where the reader had direct access to Terry’s stream-of-consciousness. After leaving London, Terry is reduced to being mentioned by other characters here and there. In stark contrast to Terry, however, Albert constantly gains in momentum and becomes more and more significant in the story as well as the most important man in Candy’s life.
That’s because Terry belonged to Candy’s distant adolescent past whereas Albert was prominent in Candy’s present and as it seems in the novel in the 1930s, in her future as well.
Exactly, @Irana93. Candy in her thirties occasionally mentioned Albert using present tense.
Can’t agree with you more, @Irana93. Terry didn’t have his own voice anymore. On the contrary, we readers have more insights into Archie and Patty’s inner thoughts.
It’s hilarious how some pro-Terry fans fail to discern the mutual attraction between Candy and Albert. They keep on ranting that the correspondence between Candy and Albert isn’t romantic, yet, they desperately try to avoid the indisputable textual evidence in which Candy herself states that Terry had never written anything romantic to her even though they were supposed to be a couple.
Those fans fail to grasp the contextual framework of early 20th century correspondence. Men and women in love back in those days would do their utmost to conceal any sexual or romantic content in their letters to the ones they loved due to the possibility that a third party could easily access to those letters.
In the novel, we catch a glimpse of some sexual tension between Candy and Anthony and later on with Candy and Terry because their stories are based on second-hand narrative and not on open and direct epistolary correspondence. In other words, the reader gets to see what’s going on behind the scenes in Sections 1&2 as it’s based on a narrative.
However, in Section 3 and the Epilogue we no longer have a second-hand narrative but a direct access to the personal and intimate letters exchanged between Candy and Albert.
Back in those days, lovers were extremely careful when writing to their significant other in fear of getting caught or having someone else read their letters. Presumably, this is the reason why Terry was also completely unromantic in his letters to Candy but his fans conveniently try to spin-doctor this and desperately attempt to evade the topic.
The irony is that Candy and Albert were far more romantic and sensual in their letters even though they were both concerned what third-parties would say about them and their intricate relationship. Perhaps the reason why Candy and Albert decided to live in another country was to avoid malicious gossip and back-biting. The Epilogue bears undeniable textual evidence that Candy and Albert were flirting and eventually courting as any woman and man in love would do.
It’s good to know that many people and independent online sources on various social media platforms have arrived to the conclusion after reading this novel that Candy and Albert had developed a romantic relationship and that’s why anohito is Albert.
Can’t agree with you more, @Irana93. I just want to add that there’s no point to argue with pro-Terry fans when they think forcing a kiss on a young lady is acceptable or even romantic while being respectful or gentle is boring. 😂
Congratulations to Lakewood for this awesome fan-fiction!
It was a pleasure to read all the entries as they were astutely written without any exception. I was astonished to read from some of the participants that they are not fan-fiction writers given the fact that their writing is top-notch. I agree with Ms Puddle that they ought to consider forming their own page and offer further contributions of theirs in the near future.
Merry Christmas to all and let’s all hope for a much better 2021 filled with reason, compassion and decency!
Hello Avon, wishing you a joyful 2021 as well! It’s wonderful to hear from you again🤗
My blog is undoubtedly blessed with many talented ladies and gifted writers. I consider all entries my Christmas presents this year 💝🎉🥳
Me encantan sus comentarios destacando las palabras del japonés y la traducción que darìa, o bien, porqué se pierde el sentido al traducir, como es el caso… este minific es hermoso. Muchas Gracias^^
Hola hanamikai 😊 ¡Feliz Navidad! 🎄🙏☃️🎅
Glad you like my explanation of the Japanese text and enjoyed this short story by Lakewood! 🥳🤗
Thanks for selecting my story although I consider all the other entries to be of equivalent quality and significance. Besides, what makes fan-fic interesting is that it “deviates” from the norm of the novel proper. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a fan-fic but a mere replica of the original story devoid of any form of individual creativity and nuance.
Enjoy the winter holiday season.
Regards.
Yes you’re right, Lakewood! I’m very impressed with the quality and creativity of the other entries as well. That’s why it was a difficult decision. 😉
Best wishes to you and stay safe! You enjoy the winter season too ☃️❄️🌨️
Cool story @Lakewood! Enjoyed reading it!
Thanks @Myra.
Hi @Myra, I like your story too, from Albert’s perspectives. 🤗 I like his familiar tone to Candy and how grateful he was about George 👏👍
Thank you.
Congrats, Lakewood, and I also enjoyed reading your short story. It was eloquently written and to-the-point.
Hi @Sarah, thank you for submitting your story too ☺️ I like Candy being mature and independent, able to defend herself against Eliza’s attacks 👍👏
Thank you, Ms Puddle. My intention was to upgrade Candy’s character and make it more dynamic and independent as this would respond better to the emancipated women of our day and age.
That’s nice, @Sarah! I agree, even though both Candy and Patty stood out in the story as strong and independent back in those days. For Candy, she could have lived like a princess or led an extravagant life but she chose to serve her community.
I’m happy to read in your minific that Candy confronted Eliza without Albert by her side. 👍👏
Neither Candy nor Patty were independent and autonomous. Candy would always have a privileged white male to protect her such as Anthony, Stear, Archie, Terry, George, Albert, etc.
Whenever Candy screwed up, she would immediately run back to Miss Pony and Sister Lane. Indeed, Candy was known for her moral strength and perseverance but not for being independent because she could not bear being alone. If she were truly independent, she would have stayed in Chicago or perhaps another town or city and fend for herself via working as a certified nurse at a hospital or medical clinic. She could have also furthered her studies by going to university and working, simultaneously. Instead, she ends up getting married or living with a rich dude (whether that’s Terry, Albert or somebody else) and waiting for him as any other dreary housewife would back in those days when patriarchal norms were rampant.
As for Patty, she was even more needy and dependant on men and her parents as well as relatives continued to support her morally and financially. To her credit though, at least Patty decided to further her academic horizons by going to university and not being anybody’s housewife or staying at home making homemade cheese like Candy did. Candy worked at a medical clinic in her village thanks to Albert and later on she enjoyed an affluent life thanks to “anohito”, whomever he may be…
That said, it’s not surprising at all that the younger generation of women are chillingly indifferent to the story of Candy Candy because modern-day women cannot identify with such traditional, conventional and submissive women dependent on men women.
The anime producers tried to create a more dynamic Candy due to the rise of the second wave of feminism in the late 1970s- early 1980s.This is partially the reason why the anime enjoyed a far greater appeal than the manga or the very cheesy 2010 novel.
Feminism was already strong during the later half of the nineteenth century going well into the twentieth century in the Western world, most notably in North America, Scandinavia, Continental Europe and the UK. During Candy’s time, there were many note-worthy dynamic women who rightfully made their mark in women’s rights and emancipation movements being Susan B Anthony, Alice Stone Blackwell, Simone De Beauvoir, Marlene Dietrich and Amelia Earhart. Let’s not forget the Suffragettes and the “Flapper Movement” of the 1920s.
During the 1930s, women such as Amelia Earhart were tearing the patriarchal norm asunder by taking over aviation professions which had been occupied traditionally by men, whilst conventional women like Candy were moping around at home waiting for a man to bring home the bacon.
Well said @Sarah!
Unfortunately, the story of Candy Candy did not age well and became all too anachronistic in a relatively short period of time. Imagine that novels by Jane Austen, Mary Wollstonecraft and “George Eliot” (Mary Ann Evans) continue to be relevant to young readers even though so many years have gone by.
Sadly, the novel turned out to be even more melodramatic and corny than the anime. The manga continues to maintain a certain appeal but that’s thanks to the marvellous illustrations by Yumiko Igarashi. Had it been the other way around and the novel circulated prior to the manga or anime, the CC community would have only been a slight fraction of what it is today. This novel is simply benefitting from the popularity of the anime and manga. Yet, even back then in the long distant 70s & 80s, Candy Candy was ignored by English-speaking countries and only accepted in Latin America, Italy and a bit in France. I won’t refer to countries in Asia because I am not aware of the appeal of this story in the East but, presumably, the manga would be appealing in Japan due to the overall appeal of manga and anime which continue to remain as such in the contemporary world.
Ah… I see what you mean, @Sarah. I meant Candy and Patty were independent mainly because they did seek their own paths or serve the community, when compared to Annie or Eliza. These two were merely waiting to get married one day.
Also, in CCFS, I mentioned before that Candy stayed home not necessarily because she was a housewife or lazy. She could be taking a sick leave (possibly due to worrying too much about Miss Pony) or having a break from her shifts (if she continued working as a nurse in a hospital). This part remains unclear but it seems a bit out of character because Candy had always worked very hard ever since she left London of her own accord.
Yet, just my two cents, of course 😉🤗
Hello,
I’ll have to agree with @Sarah and simply add that whoever tries to identify Candy or Patty with feminism has lost the plot because none of those women in the CCFS have any such qualities of feminism in them. Arguably, Miss Pony, Sister Lane and the Salvation Army nurse (Frannie or Fran, depending on the translation) could bear significant qualities of feminism. It’s a pity that the author puts far too much weight and value on the male characters by making them much more complex whilst the female characters remain happy-pants simplistic and dependant on men.
Throughout the novel, Candy had run back and sought refuge again at Miss Pony’s home three times: first, after Anthony died; secondly, after Terry abandoned Candy at that extreme Christian boarding school in London; third, after Candy discovered that Albert was WAA.
It’s interesting that those three males (albeit inadvertently) had prompted Candy to run back into the protective arms of Miss Pony and Sister Lane. The only times she finally left her comfort zone for good was when she sought protection in the arms of a man (Albert, Terry, or a random guy not ever mentioned in the CCFS).
Concerning the ending of the novel, I agree with @Ms Puddle that the readers can’t know for sure whether Candy is a simplistic housewife or a dynamic working woman. However, I consider that if the author wanted to provide a hint that Candy was in employment, she would have provided some scanty info here and there about Candy working as a nurse during the Interbellum. The last time Candy was actually in legit employment was during her training at the Chicago hospital which was anything but long-term. She had later on been working at Dr Martin’s shabby makeshift clinic and with Dr Martin again at the clinic built in her hometown but both of these positions were given to her out of philanthropy by Dr Martin and later on by Albert.
Nevertheless, this murky novel is riddled with so many imperfections ranging from historical inaccuracies to downright lazy writing that anyone can assume whatever he or she wants. It’s such a shame some fans take it out on each other regarding the identity of Candy’s lover instead of placing the responsibility where it actually belongs and that is on the author herself for creating such a lame story.
Fortunately, we’ve got the remarkable artwork of Yumiko Igarashi and I’ll go as far to say that even the TOEI animators took the time and effort to create a far more credible and interesting storyline which made sense, hence, its wider appeal.
True, in that sense I agree with you both, @Lynn and @Sarah. Candy did seek refuge at Pony’s Home again and again in the story, though I personally see nothing wrong that she needed a place to collect herself and get back up on her feet. Interestingly, she did not run back to Pony’s Home after the breakup in New York. Albert had unknowingly become her new refuge, until she wasn’t sure what to do with her feelings for Albert, aka WAA.
Arguably, apart from Anthony’s death, Candy returned to Pony’s Home with a goal in mind: the first time it was a transition when she found her calling and the second time she wanted to help Miss Pony and Sister Lane as a nurse. It’s true, however, that Candy might not have practiced her nursing skills much in a hospital, but she did work hard for Dr. Martin at the new clinic, considered that might be the only one in that village.
It seems Nagita sensei had put more effort into developing Albert’s character in CCFS than Candy the heroine. 😉
No one here is questioning that Candy worked very hard whenever she returned to the orphanage. The point being made is that Candy was never independent and all the textual evidence confirms even further that Candy couldn’t handle being alone and fighting on her own as she always needed someone to support her, especially emotionally. It’s a pity that Terry failed to notice this because he preferred being with Susanna considering that she’s more vulnerable but it was Candy would was by far more emotionally fragile. In Section 3 of the novel, Candy admits in her unsent letter to Terry that she would have never managed to cope if it hadn’t been for Albert being by her side. This is an interesting aspect of Candy’s character which shows how deep down inside she was emotionally vulnerable and couldn’t manage to endure life’s hardships without a supporting group or a supportive partner.
Hi @Sarah, I guess we have different definitions or standards of being independent. I personally think having emotional support from certain people (partner) does not necessarily mean a person is not independent. Many men or women who have been successful in life are often grateful to their partners for their unflagging support.
To me, Candy returned to Pony’s Home because she needed a place to rest and/or pick up the pieces. She did leave Pony’s Home when she was ready to fight again.
It’s very interesting you compared Candy to Susanna in that regard, because the latter apparently had chosen the escape route. However, it’s understandable Susanna had mental instability because she practically lost her career because of the accident.
One can tell Terry chose Susanna not only because she was more emotionally fragile. Yes, she was physically challenged to support herself, but he couldn’t help feeling guilty of not taking care of her. Candy on the other hand was more resilient; she had good friends and should be able to eventually find her own happiness elsewhere. Not to mention Terry could no longer promise her anything, and keeping Candy with him was essentially a selfish act.
Anyway, @Sarah, let’s agree to disagree? We have different opinions, but that’s totally fine with me. 😉 I brought up Candy being very hardworking since she left London was to explain why I think it’s a bit out of character she in her 30s sat in the house all day doing nothing but reminiscing 🙄
Yes, you’re right about that – Sarah – and Candy’s emotional fragility could be a result of her not having parents. Candy would get very emotional when wishing to have had a mother to advise her about various aspects of her life. Even though she was most grateful for all the love and support she had from Ms Pony and Sister Lane, Candy wanted to have had a mother and that’s why she became so triggered when Terry kept on negating his mother during their summer vacation in Scotland. This is a humane and touching aspect of Candy’s character and it goes to show how traumatizing it can be for those who suffer the misfortune of not having loving parents. If I’m not mistaken, Keiko Nagita had also lost her mother when she was young. Candy could be Nagita’s “alter ego” to a certain point.
Well said, @Anita. Don’t forget Candy was still a minor when she faced these difficulties in life as an orphan without loving parents. What’s touching in the story is that Miss Pony and Sister Lane always welcomed her “home” with unconditional love. 💕
I think Keiko Nagita sensei lost her father at a young age. I’m not sure though and will double check. ☺️
It’s not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing, Ms Puddle, because you have clearly misinterpreted my comment even though I have reiterated my position and clarified it to the fullest. Nevertheless, I will specify, yet again, that my comment centres on the definition of feminism and how both Candy and Patty fail to belong in that specific term. Apparently, there is nothing wrong about seeking emotional support. Your response is throwing the ball at another turf which my own comment has nothing to do with. Instead, my comment has to do with the fact that Candy was not an independent feminist but a traditional woman of her time who adhered to the norms of patriarchy. As for Candy being unemployed in the 1930s, the author has not provided any textual evidence or even a minute reference that Candy is working. Based on the final section of the novel, Candy appears to be waiting for her partner while she’s sitting around at home. If the author wanted the readers to assume that Candy was working, there would have been some minor reference. Even Candy admits that she’s not much of use to attend to Ms Pony or anyone else because her “anohito” wants her by his side all the time and not because she has important responsibilities to attend to such as working at a hospital and helping those in need.
Hi @Sarah, sorry for misinterpreting your comments. I agree neither Candy nor Patty was a feminist.
Candy could not help Miss Pony because she was too far away and did not want to leave Anohito either. The feelings were mutual.
Yes, she was just a normal, traditional woman of her time. Perhaps her goal in life was to be happy with the man she loved and to belong to someone. Indeed Nagita sensei did not provide any textual evidence of her employment, but all I was saying was that it was a bit out of character.
Right.. There’s a bit to unpack here.
First, online references (including Wikipedia although these sources are never 100% reliable) seem to suggest that Nagita lost her father when she was 12 and her mother when she was 21. There’s a further explanation allegedly provided by Nagita that the death of her mother prompted her to write the story of Candy Candy. You can check Wikipedia for more information but I would take this online source with a grain of salt.
Secondly, I have read Sarah’s comments and she’s right that Candy does not muster those qualities indicative of a dynamic and independent feminist. I think Sarah’s examples of Amelia Earhart and Simone de Beauvoir are astute and it goes beyond saying that Candy’s character is a far cry from those emancipated women. That’s not to say that Candy’s character isn’t noteworthy because it is albeit for other reasons.
However, modern day women cannot relate to Candy or most of the CC/CCFS characters, especially not young women. Times change and so do people. I’m in my early 30s and I consider that there are so many differences between me and the younger generation. Imagine the differences between traditional women such as Candy back in the 1930s with young and resourceful women of 2020? There’s no use even trying to compare. Yet, there were quite a few women ahead of their time such as the aforementioned Amelia Earhart and Simone de Beauvoir, both of whom are still so relevant and relatable, nowadays.
Hope this comment sets the record straight a bit. Again, no one here appears to be castigating Candy but simply specifying that it’s a fallacy to identify her as a feminist because it’s crystal-clear that she’s not.
Thank you @Anita, and that’s also what I vaguely remember too. Nagita sensei lost her father at a young age, and she began to have imaginary characters that later formed the Ardlays in Candy Candy, something along this line. Like you, I would not trust these online resources 100%. 😉
Just to clarify, I’ve never identified Candy or Patty as feminists, but I did say they were more independent when compared to Annie or Eliza.
But thank you Anita for setting the record straight. 🤗
Thanks, Anita. That was my point, exactly!
Yeah, the sources out there aren’t too credible and they seem to be based on mere fan-pages rather than proper reports.
Anyway, glad everything is sorted out and the aforesaid terms have been clearly defined and comprehended.
Take Care!
Tbh, it’s not too difficult for anyone to be smarter and more independent than Annie and Eliza.
So true, lol, @Lynn. Indeed some readers actually prefer Susanna to Annie and Eliza. Annie’s letter to Candy is highly suspicious, to say the least.
It’s sad that Keiko Nagita had decided to create female characters who can’t sustain themselves emotionally.
I agree with the comments which place Candy and Susanna on the same plane when it comes to being emotionally vulnerable; whilst Terry functions as an emotional “crutch” for Susanna, Albert functions as an emotional “crutch” for Candy.
It’s interesting how in the anime and manga Susanna and Candy have almost the same response when going absolutely mental by the thought of losing the man they hold most dear to them. On the one hand, Susanna goes berserk at the thought of losing Terry and Candy goes full-blown hysterical as well when chasing after Albert and literally begging him not to leave her after he disappears from the hospital.
Interesting comparisons, @Lynn! While both Candy and Susanna seemed to behave the same in these scenarios, Candy could not let Albert go not because he was her love interest. She was too worried about his well-being that she insisted to take care of him herself.
That an interesting point @Lynn and that may explain the reason why Terry was drawn to both Candy and Susanna. In the anime, he even admits that he’s attracted to Susanna. In the novel, however, the readers have no idea what he feels because he stops being relevant after Section II of the novel.
That *is* an interesting point.. (I meant to say).
I think Terry had also admitted liking Susanna in the manga too but I’m not sure. In the anime though he definitely said it albeit to himself.
Igarashi did an astute job in drawing Terry and Susanna together as of they were a couple. Even though Terry loved Candy, he was obviously attracted to Susanna. He’s not the first to have mixed feelings and he sure won’t be the last.
Feelings are complex and seldom does someone love only one person forever. People and feelings change over time. That’s life.
I agree with you both, @Myra and @Lynn. Yes, feelings are complex, and Terry never promised Candy anything. As I mentioned before, I think Terry had left Candy behind when he started his full-time job at Stratford. It seems it had never crossed his mind he would encounter Candy by chance again. Not to mention it was natural for him to fall for his beautiful colleague.
The fact that Terry never cleared the air by dispelling the rumours of an (alleged) affair between him and Susanna speaks volumes that he was probably attracted to her. Otherwise, he would have done what all people in the entertainment industry do (as well as other public figures) by rectifying the situation and specifying that those rumours are groundless. He wouldn’t have to provide details or mention that he was involved with someone else. All he had to do was announce that nothing is going on between him and Susanna. Whatever happened this so-called ‘tough guy’ (aka pseudo-rebel) of St Paul’s? Where was all that self-professed straight-forwardness of his? At least for Candy’s sake, he could have put a lid on those rumours, provided that they were actually rumours to begin with and didn’t have an iota of truth in them. Who knows? Perhaps those gossip columns were right to a certain extent. Besides, there’s no smoke without fire.😉
Well said, @Myra! My sentiments exactly. Terry didn’t have to disclose his private matters. All he needed to do was to dispell the rumours or avoid appearing with Susanna in public like a couple.
That’s precisely the case. If Terry wanted Susanna off his back, he could have been upfront with both the reporters and with her that he’s not interested in any of his colleagues because he’s involved with someone else. Plain and simple.
Terry had all the opportunities possible to be honest and direct but he chose secrecy and hiding as if he was recoiling. His character is weak but then again, all toxic male characters are innately and comprehensively weak.
Valid point, Ms Puddle. I’ll pose the following question, nonetheless. Could it not have been the case that Candy had already begun to have feelings for Albert which transcended mere friendship? It’s not uncommon for people to have already developed romantic feelings for someone else and realize or admit it later on in their lives. I’m not saying that Candy had already been infatuated with Albert but I’m placing it on the table of theories as everyone else from both the Terry-fan and Albert-fan fields are doing. Besides, all we can do-both the Tfans and the Afans-is speculate and assume since this novel is ambiguous to the core.
Hi @Lynn, I see your points, and you’re not the only one who raised this question. However, I have reason to believe Candy did not have romantic feelings for Albert back then, at least not yet. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have talked to him about her love stories with Terry, Anthony and Prince on the Hill. She was immensely eager to meet with Terry in New York too, which explains why she was terribly disappointed and even collapsed in the train on her way home.
Hello @Ms Puddle and @Lynn,
I find your arguments perfectly reasonable but, unfortunately, certain fans will continue to be delusional and keep begging and obsessively insisting that Terry’s stance towards Candy was romantic even though he had abandoned her in London and moved on with his life in New York.
Nonetheless, most people know that Albert was the one who truly cared for Candy as he respected her. His gestures in clearing her name and finding Caesar and Cleopatra (with George’s help) are only a few examples of how profound his feelings were for her.
Candy reciprocated her romantic feelings for Albert 100% via her intense letters to him. Those letters between Candy and Alert do not resemble those written between friends but between lovers.
Well said, @Myra! In addition to your brilliant points, I’d like to say that it’s strange Terry wasn’t jealous or mad at Candy for her decision to take care of Albert until his recovery. Some fans might argue that Albert had saved Terry back in London, so Terry was only grateful. Yet, Terry was no longer as possessive, which is undoubtedly an indicator that his feelings for the girl might be fading 🙄🤔
With regards to whether Candy being employed during and shortly after the Great Depression, it’s safe to assume that she wasn’t.
During the Interbellum, many health workers such as Candy were laid off or not required as they were during World War I. Doctors continued to be in considerable demand but not nurses and other health assistants.
If Candy is living in another country which is not her motherland during the 1930s, chances are that her finding a job would be even more difficult.
Good points, @Leda. I won’t insist Candy must be employed during the interbellum. I’m not an expert in history either. All I wanted to say is that it seems a bit out of her character for being idle all day, reminiscing or daydreaming. 🤔
I’m not trying to make a point but simply pose a theory and add it to the list of innumerable ones already posed by Terry-fans and Albert-fans alike. Due to the acutely vague nature of this novel, all these theories posed by both sides of the fandom can neither be confirmed nor debunked. Nagita has allowed everything to be possible and that makes her story inherently weak.
I’ll agree that all interpretations are possible and it’s best be open-minded.
Thanks for your response and no need to apologize, Ms Puddle. Sometimes people and their comments could get a bit misunderstood and it’s best to clear the air by (re-)clarifying.
So true, Sarah! Thanks 😊
Exactly! 👍👍
Very nice story and well written.👍
Hi @Anita, it’s interesting you let us read another unsent letter from Candy, this time not to Terry but to Albert, about her bottled-up feelings (frustrations). Well done 👍👏
The advantage of writing fanfics is that you can take the story wherever you want irrespective of the original plot. In the case of the CCFS, the plot is so vague that fanfic writing is extremely easy.
Yes indeed, @Anita! We can let our imagination run wild, so to speak ☺️🤗
Thanks for your kind words, folks.
Got round to reading your story and I’m glad I did as it was a pleasant read. All submissions were fine and everyone was very kind to devote some time into contributing.
Season’s Greetings!
Yes @Halcyon Days I agree with you all stories are of high quality. 👏 I’m grateful for all the contributions 💕
Thank you for submitting yours too, which is touching and convincing. 🤗
Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed reading my short story. I’m not a fan-fiction writer and this is probably the second or third time I’ve ever submitted a story.
Thanks again, Halcyon Days! My honour indeed 🤗
I appreciate it @Halcyon Days and I also enjoyed reading your short-story. Like you, I’m not a fan-fic writer either and the only forum I have ever posted a short-story is here.
Thank you so much! It’s hard to imagine that you’re not an experienced fan-fiction writer because your writing skills are excellent and your thoughts are well-structured to form a congruent narrative.
Agreed!
Well said, @Halcyon Days!
Once again it’s my honour, @Lakewood. Thank you 💝
Really enjoyed reading your stories! Lakewood’s and Halcyon Day’s were the two which stood out and I agree with Ms Puddle’s decision-making. Keep writing because you’re good at it!
Have a great winter holiday!