QWERTYUIOP

A SHORT STORY by VIVIEN ALCOCK

PREPARED BY : Nadia Athira Yunus | Suerwani Supar | Dk Siti Ruzainah Arzali | Siti Nur Syuhaila Dean Class of 4 Topez 2012

CONTENT
Background of Writer Synopsis Themes

Character and Characteristic Plot Setting

Moral Value

BACKGROUND OF WRITER
Vivien Alcock (23 September 1924 11 October 2003) was an author of children's books. Born in Worthing, West Sussex in England, her family moved to Devizes in Wiltshire when she was aged 10. She then studied at the Oxford School of Art. In addition to The Haunting of Cassie Palmer, Alcock also wrote such popular titles as The Stonewalkers, The Mysterious Mr. Ross, The Cuckoo Sister, The Trial of Anna Cotman, The Monster Garden, Travelers by Night, A Kind of Thief, Singer to the Sea God, The Red-Eared Ghosts, and her final book, The Boy Who Swallowed a Ghost. By the time of her death in 2003, Alcock had become a "widely admired" writer, as Eccleshare went on to note, "with a gift for blending fantasy and reality--and a particular understanding of the inner feeling of teenagers, especially those who observe quietly from the sidelines."

The author of action-packed books of mystery and fantasy that are very popular with teenage readers, Alcock had a "gift for well-paced, single-strand narratives and engaging characters," commented a writer for the Times of London in an obituary of the author.

SYNOPSIS
QWERTYUIOP is about a poor, young graduate named Lucy Beck who has just finished her O levels at Belmont Secretarial College. She is a slow learner herself but she is determined to find a job in order to get out of poverty. Fortunately, she is offered a job by Mr. Ross, the Manager of Ross and Bannisters. However, she begins to face problems from her first day of work. She encounters many peculiar incidents when she starts using the electric typewriter. Whenever Lucy types, the words QWERYUIOP which is on the top lines on the keyboards will keep on appearing. She is determined to keep on her job, so she tries to overcome her fear. Later, she finds out that there is a spirit lingering around the office. She finds out from that Miss Broome, a former

secretary of the late Mr Bannister was forced to retire after working for forty-three years. That was why the spirit of Miss Broome is adamant in holding on to her position as the companys secretary. Towards the end of the story, Lucy tries to get rid of the spirit that has been haunting that place for many years. She assured Miss Broome that the late Mr Bannister needs her in the afterlife. She managed to convince Miss Broome to leave and finally she could maintain her job.

THEMES
Determination
Despite the supernatural nature by which Ms. Broome badgers and demoralizes Lucy, she shows no signs of giving in to her demand. Instead, she is steadfast in defending her position as the secretary.

Possessiveness

Not even death could part Ms. Broome from what she feels is rightfully hers. She continues to haunt the office through her electronic typewriter.

Loyalty
As with her possessiveness towards her job, Ms. Broome was also extremely loyal towards Mr. Bannister. Even after she passed on, her spirit continued in its endeavor to serve her employer.

Lonliness

Loneliness can be a strong influence in a person's life. Ms. Broome had no life outside of her office. That made her more possesive of her position in the company; a possessiveness that went beyond the grave.

Commitment

This attribute can be clearly seen in both Lucy and Ms. Broome. Both are extremely committed to their profession.

The Supernatural
It is interesting that such an integral character in the story happens to be an ethereal entity. Yet this theme is rather prominent in the story.

Compassion

This theme holds water especially in the final confrontation between Lucy and Ms. Broome. It is not through hatred nor coercion that Lucy manages to outsmart Ms. Broome, rather, it was through compassion and understanding of Ms. Broome's intentions.

CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Lucy Beck
A young seventeen year old lady who got a job as a secretary at Ross and Banisters Characteristics:

She is a young, shy, a low achiever, not competent and highly qualified and insecure graduate of secretarial studies.

Lucy Beck was young and small and mouse-coloured, easily overlooked. She had a lonely O level and a typing speed that would make a tortoise laugh.

She has a very low self esteem, inferior complex, no confidence and pessimistic She is wondering who will employ her as she is aware of her inadequacies. Lucy assumes that there are more qualified and brighter people than her who are qualified for the job vacancy. She became ambitious, determined and optimistic to change her life style.

Lucy is tired of being poor and she is fed up with macaroni cheese and baked beans. She is also sick of wearing second-hand clothes. She gathered her strength and determined to get a job to get out of poverty.

Lucy becomes enthusiastic and a quick learner when she got a job. She also became courageous when she has to face the conflict with the spirit of Miss Broom. Lucy got a job at Ross and Bannister, a small firm with a factory just outside the town. She is so excited so came to her work place on Monday morning, at ten to nine and waited as the door to the office is closed. She faces problems when each time she types, the word QWERTYUIOP appears on the paper. When she finds that it was the ghost of Miss Broom, she became courageous and keep typing and liquid the unwanted words and reached the end of the letter by triumph.

 Lucy became sympathetic, caring, insightful and understanding after knowing Miss Broomes history. She took the initiative to look for an amicable solution. Lucy is shocked when she heard the news about Miss Broome from Harry Darke. She was forced to stop working after she had been working for forty three years. Lucy sympathizes Miss Broome and tells her that Mr Bannister is only acting out of concern as he was worried of her health. Lucy managed to convince Miss Broome that the late Mr Bannister needs her help in the after life. GHOST OF MS.BROOME : The spirit of Ms Broome who haunts the office where she once worked as she is so attached to her job. Characteristics: Loyal, dedicated and took her job seriously at Ross and Bannisters.

Ms Broome had worked for forty three years :girl, woman, old misery. She is unwilling to let go of her position and continues to defend her post, even after her demise. Lonely as she had no family and friends. The office was her home; the job was all she lived for as she did not have any family of her own. She had no place worth to go and she insists to stay on.

She is persistence, vengeful and also possessive over her secretarial job at Ross and Bannisters.

Miss Broome dies but she does not want to leave her job and insist to stay on. She types nasty messages to new secretaries to instill fear. The typewriter rocked as if with laughter, its keys clicking like badly fitting false teeth. She creates havoc with intention to scare those who will replace her place at the office. Finally she is convinced that she should leave as her help is needed. Miss Broom leaves the office permanently after Lucy managed to convince her that Mr Bannister needs her help in the afterlife. The typewriter became silent, sunlight glittered on its keys making them looked wet.

HARRY DARKE

Ross and Bannisters handyman. He is an old man who has been working with the company for years. Characteristics: Helpful and concern He does all the odd jobs in the office and helps out new employees. He is helpful in giving useful information to Lucy regarding the spirit of Miss Broome and shows concern to her. He even told Lucy not to be like a frightened mouse, and not to worry. A loyal worker at Ross and Bannisters. He has been working for thirty years with Ross and Bannisters, retired with a silver watch but still cant keep away from his job.

 Encouraging and supportive to his colleague He praises Lucy for her braveness and determination to keep on her job even after she has confronted the spirit of Miss Broome. He said that Lucy is no longer the timid mouse and she is a right little lion. Then he gives her chocolate biscuits with her tea as a credit and encouragement.

 LUCYS MOTHER/ MRS BECK She is a patient and hardworking housewife who live a hard life. She has to support her brother. Characteristics: Content with her status in life.

Mrs Beck is satisfied with her status, she said to Lucy that We are jumble sailors on the rough sea of life. Thus she accepts her fate and shows no actions or thoughts of wanting more than what she has in life. Forgiving and compassionate She had an argument/quarrel with Uncle Bert and had turned him out once. Six weeks later, she asked him to return as she sympathize him. She said he looks so lonely, so lost, living all by himself in a horrid little room with the worn lino and the curtains all shrunk. Patient Lucy could not help wishing her mother would sometimes lose her temper, shout, scream, throw saucepans at the spinning, grinning head of Uncle Bert.

 Low expectations She does not expect Lucy to get a job as she was not confident in Lucys ability.

 UNCLE BERT A drunkard man who depends on his sister for support. Characteristics: Dependable and irresponsible He drinks heavily and borrows money from Lucys mother. Caring He is concern of Lucy and thought to prepare her supper since she is now a working girl.

 MR. ROSS Lucys boss Characteristics: Accommodating and concern He is easy to deal with, willing to help and even offers to do something about the typewriter if any problems continue.

PLOT
Exposition

The main character Lucy Beck is introduced as an underachiever that even her principal of Belmont Secretarial College Mrs. Price has low expectations of her. Even her mother is shocked when Lucy gets the job as a secretary.

Rising Action
Lucy finds trouble typing her first letter as the typewriter keeps typing the wrong word QWERTYUIOP which is the top line of letters on the keyboard of a type writer .She uses liquid paper to

erase the mistakes but the typewriter keeps typing the words of warning that is meant to scare Lucy away like the other new secretaries before her. Lucy remembers bits and pieces of the warning given by the janitor Harry Darke. When she realizes that she is dealing with the supernatural, Lucy gets up and runs to the door. However, she soon realizes that she needs to face up to her fears as she does not want to continue living life as a poor person. she then goes back to her table to complete the letter.

Climax

The ghost of Miss Broome becomes angry when Lucy is adamant in staying as the new secretary. The ghost then rocks the electric typewriter making it scream and shake, snapping the keys of the machine like castanets. Lucy fights with the machine for a whole hour as she continuously attacks it using lots of correcting fluid. She tries to erase all the mistakes that the typewriter has produced.

Falling Action

Lucy letters that she manages to type out are accepted and signed by Mr. Ross. The next morning, Mr. Darke tells Lucy everything about the late Miss Broome. Lucy recognizes Miss Broome loneliness and desperate need to belong. She feels sympathetic towards Miss Broome who according to Mr. Darke, has no family that would own her. The revelation of the feeling of loneliness and being unwanted leads her to understand Uncle Bert better. She realizes that he too is feeling lonesome and unwanted.

 Resolution
Lucy calls a truce with Miss Broome when she shows her some kindness and compassion. Lucy tells her that Mr. Banister her boss truly values her and still needs her now that the has also passed on . Lucy types a goodbye note for Miss Broome. Mr. Ross becomes very happy with Lucy work and Mr. Darke respects Lucy for her bravery in facing up to the ghost of Miss Broome.

SETTINGS
The story was set in a small town, Belmont and it revolves around two main settings:

Lucys house which she shares with her mother and her Uncle Bert. In a poor neighbourhood The office of Ross and Bannisters where Lucy works as a secretary. It is a small firm which is over thirty years old.

MORAL VALUES

In order to be successful in life, we need to have a positive mind set On our journey to success, we need to have high level of positive self esteem In communication, be compassionate not aggressive as compassion heals while aggression causes hurt. Appreciate and compliment others accordingly Preserve the family ties and unity through understanding and forgiving Do not judge a book by its cover We should not underrate people and their creativeness or abilities.