...only to be accosted by the pageant queen mom extraordinaire, Ada Hubble. This time, thankfully, she's in better spirits. I don't know if even I could handle another tirade. Fortunately, for us, Hetty's not up for idle chit-chat herself, and shoos young Libby inside. (Has she got a voice coach yet?) Yet, Ada presses on. She shares that her old school chum--one Margaret Powell (yep, another character we've never met and don't care about, thanks)--has just been named Superintendent of Schools for the Island. Incredulous Hetty scoffs about how Miss Powell is so young; "she's scarcely forty", for goodness sake! Only old men or old ladies who have no desire to teach anymore should be named to this position! But leave it to Ada to go for the throat in her own, subtle way. She believes her BFF was chosen because "the Education Ministry appreciates her progressive views on teaching". Which is why Hetty will never rise to such an illustrious position, because her brain and methods are stuck in Biblical times and not the early twentieth century. And there's that whole Master Drill Sargeant thing. Politely, Hetty asks Ada to give her regards. Ada thinks Hetty can inform her on her own; the ever-so-smart pageant queen mom invited the Best Friend Forever to the Christmas concert, where "we'll see what she thinks about it." Score: It's a tie! One for Hetty; one for Ada.
School is in session. Topic du jour? War. What else?! Both Clive Pettibone and Alistair Dimple would be proud. So, who's going to be Lord Kitchener today? Oh, crap. No roleplay. We're talking about our boys in uniform over there now, just as kids are working on decorations; although I think the schoolhouse is sufficiently decorated with maps of Europe and that sort of thing. One boy asks if the soldiers ever get homesick. Hey, look! Daniel is sitting in front of Libby, though Daniel is more occupied with cutting out paper dolls or whatever, and Libby is more occupied with making snowflakes and not paying attention. Daniel, I don't know if I should be suggesting this; but couldn't you be even just a little bit more like Libby? In one fell swoop you are putting all three of your elder siblings--yes, even meek and mild Cecily 1.0--to shame with your good behaviour. Here I thought mischief was a King family trait. I guess Daniel's genetics are whack. I digress. Hetty answers that, sure, the soldiers miss home; but they've got to keep on keepin' on if they want to kick some Hun butt, that the ultimate solution to everything is the mantra of..."Mr. Dean?" One of the boys gives it up: "Head high, shoulders back, purpose firm, and never slack." Blonde Dean boy, Hetty salutes you. She also reminds her not-always-attentive students that they must always go with their "travelling companions three"--none of which are good intellect, a soft voice, and a big stick. What are they, kids? "Industry, constancy (is that even a word?), and punctuality." Libby doesn't even bother to answer, she just keeps cutting away. Hetty taps her shoulder, to which Lib responds by exposing her tongue behind the Drill Sargeant's back. Finally, Miss King reminds them if they follow these laws, they can deal with anything...except for an aching back. Note to Hetty: Sitting on the edge of a desk when your back isn't exactly agreeing with you is never a good idea. Say, don't Avonlea or Carmody or Markdale have any good chiropractors?
School's out! Daniel's now at the Chronicle office--which, apparently, also doubles as the telegraph office--to wait for Cecily 2.0 to walk home with him. Unfortunately, she's gotta write like she's never written before and is a bit irate. She suggests he go to the Foundling Home and hang out with Felicity (maybe he'll also discover what's up with the Dean sisters...they've yet to be acknowledged). Daniel wants to know what's going on. It's the War Office with the latest news. Cecily, a bit calmer now, asks him to run along. After he leaves, Cess keeps writing. But then she stops and looks up. Uh-oh, this can't be good. It's off to King Farm, where Janet's sweeping the porch...wearing nothing but a shawl. Seriously; what is wrong with her and Olivia? Wait, maybe they're super-warm blooded and can take the cold better. That's it! She sees Cecily approaching and wonders why she's home. Cess asks where her father is; he's in the barn. She wants to get him; but Janet stops her dead in her tracks and wants to know why they should get Alec, and what's going on. Then she sees it...the Brown Paper of Doom in Cess's gloved hands. Bracing herself and looking away from her youngest daughter, she commands Cecily to tell her the news. Slowly, she breaks it: "Felix is listed...as...missing in action." Cess goes to hug her mom, both crying. No news of Elbert's fate, unfortunately. I fear he's being sucked into the Vortex as I write this.
Shortly thereafter comes the seemingly-stoic Hetty. Cecily is at the door to greet her. The Drill Sargeant asks if everyone's inside. Affirmative. How is everyone? Alec = good. Janet = bad. Hetty is sorry Cess had to bear the news; Cess, meanwhile, volunteers to take care of Hetty's horse. Good call, Cess. You really don't want to be staying here this time. Then, for the first time in a while, we finally see a glimmer of emotion other than anger in Hetty. She's actually a little...you know...sad. But it's only for a second, of course. You really think a Master Drill Sargeant is going to allow her hard shell to come off? As she's taking off her outerwear, a tearful Olivia approaches and says how glad she is that Hetty's there. Of course she's there; where else would big sis be at such a time? Olivia offers that everyone there is terribly upset. Will Hetty accept this? Of course not. She insists Olivia pull herself together, because "Janet needs our strength...not our blubbering". I beg to differ; and surely Hetty would know that--as the Bible is her favourite book--the Apostle Paul would disagree, too. So would the author of Ecclesiastes.
After instructing Olivia to go and wash her face, Hetty heads to the parlour. Felicity is sitting facing her parents (say, who are watching the Dean boys? Is Daniel finally getting into mischief?); Janet is in a rocking chair, Alec is standing behind her. Felicity is looking either annoyed or bored; it's hard to tell. Janet's just looking down at her handkerchief in her left hand, while Alec is reading Felicity the riot act with his eyes. (That is one mad skill, yo.) But then Hetty enters. Alec turns and shakes hands and gives her the green light to talk to his wife. Felicity is definitely looking annoyed now; and she should be annoyed. Very. Very. Annoyed. Hetty begins her speech about how all her prayers are with both Janet and Felix, and how this is a sacrifice that she--Janet--must bear. Janet doesn't get it. (It's alright; I don't get it, either.) Hetty expresses her belief that it's during hard times when "strength of character is revealed". Janet reminds her sister-in-law just precisely what is going on. "My son is missing. My SON." Yeah, Hetty. Janet's son, and your nephew, is missing. In the middle of a war. Thousands of miles, and kilometres, away. Yet, instead of letting Janet know exactly how troubled she is about this as well, Hetty has the audacity to turn into an ice queen. (I blame the aliens again.) Hetty says that she knows this; Janet exclaims that Felix should never have been over there. Alec tries to calm her; Felicity just sits there and says nothing. (Yep. Aliens.) Hetty continues and begins to say that "it's natural to feel..." something; but Janet cuts her off, and reminds the ice queen about how she filled his head with "all that nonsense about honour and duty". Hetty doesn't understand. Janet then goes into "j'accuse!" mode, saying Hetty forced Felix to rush off and sign up. Alec's had enough of his wife's tirade. He reminds her that "missing" doesn't mean "the worst", that Felix is a good, level-headed boy, and proclaims he's going to come home! Janet doesn't believe a word. Felicity doesn't say a word. Oh my gawd, she's turned into Cecily! It really IS Bizarro Avonlea!
Quick, we need to get away from this sad scene, so let's jump ahead another day. Libby and some other girl--I presume it's an Ashley wannabe--are carrying a crate with decorations en route to the Town Hall. Libby is informing her comrade-in-decor she's just going to lipsynch her way through the concert, and then she'll just sing...err, I mean "screech", whatever tune she wants. (Either way, I'm sure her mom will LOVE it!) The bespectacled Ashley prototype protests, thinking Drill Sargeant Hetty isn't going to like that, that she'll "kill" Libby (the Ashley Prototype must think Hetty has a secret weapons cache). The defiant Libby proclaims, "Let her try!" I'd love to know what Libby's "Plan B" is. Or maybe I don't. Over at the noticeboard, Rachel spots a flyer regarding Carmody's Christmas programme, all the while ignoring Hetty calling her name. Hetty's got three packages in her hands, her back is killing her, and she needs help! Ignoring her still--a trait Rachel has mastered to perfection--Rachel queries whether or not Hetty knows that Carmody scored the Bell River Bellringers for their festive occasion. So who exactly are the Bell River Bellringers, and why should we care again? Now Hetty is interested. Carmody can't have these famous bellringers! Avonlea didn't snag them first! Rachel adds they'll be doing "a featured rendition of 'O Holy Night'". She sounds quite impressed; she shouldn't be. It's easy to play; it's harder to sing. Hetty isn't happy; according to her, this bellringing group is "semi-professional"! Can you imagine what her reaction would've been if they were completely professional? Her back probably would've gone out right then and there! But wait! There's another caveat...this is going on the same night as the Avonlea concert, changed from a different date to cater to the group's schedule! Hetty is seeing every shade of red now; she believes it to be an act of provocation! Leave it to Rachel to attempt to bring her gal-pal back down to earth; she reminds Hetty that "it's just a Christmas concert". But no. Not in Hetty's mind. This is a matter of life and death for her teaching career, especially considering Margaret Powell is coming to see it. No way Hetty will have her ushered in to an empty space. "Something must be done!" And if Hetty proclaims something has to be done, then something must be done! To the Bat-Cutter!
Back to King Farm. Janet goes to one of the parlour windows to watch Alec and Daniel get a tree to bring in. And now it's time for another flashback! We're supposed to think we're seeing a previous Christmas, with a much younger Felix and Felicity helping Alec find a tree; but really, it's a scene from the season one finale "Nothing Endures but Change", after the aforementioned three spot Sara with her father, the King sibs' uncle Blair. (Nearly 25 minutes in and still no Sara mention from anyone. You'd think there'd be at least a little concern here.) Back to the present. The tree is in the house and standing on its own power, or so it seems. Janet carries an ornament box over to a chair, sits down, and muses about all the memories the box holds. She pulls out a snowflake one, presumably one of Felix's, and recalls that Felix used to like trimming the tree, that it's hard to start without him. Alec reassures her that everything will be fine. Janet wonders how he can know. He says they have to keep hope, and keep Christmas as usual, as they owe Felix that much. Then Janet starts in on her hubby. He signed the papers that allowed him to enlist...against her will. She didn't want him to go away; and he couldn't have gone without permission. Alec reminds her that Felix was nineteen and "knew his own mind", that he couldn't stop him. Janet gets accusatory again: Alec didn't try to stop Felix. Now, let's consider the following: Felix started a delivery service and was unstoppable until Blackie died. He got up a fox farm with Izzy and was unstoppable until after he traded in a partnership with her for one with Nat Lester, and Nat made it all about himself. Lastly, Felix turned the King Farm into a guest house (at first to help his sister recoup the money she'd burnt...err, lost) and was unstoppable until the secret got out to Simon Tremayne (that whole overbooking thing) and Janet coming home to a fine mess. Now, Felix is somewhere in Europe; Elbert is probably dead. Methinks Felix is finding a way home.