50
Writing to Mrs Lester would take some planning and careful wording and having to keep a secret, and Rilla already had so much to do. Ken would have to wait for once and see how he liked it! But the littlest Blythe - like all the Blythes - wasn't capable of such bitterness.
"Mightn't you write to Ken?" Rilla asked Una the following day.
Una eyed the envelope lying on the wicker table set on the veranda where they were sitting. "That would mean I would have to read it."
Rilla shrugged. "You mustn't think there will be anything romantic in it, or any such nonsense like that. Ken and I are over. It was a foolish school girl dream and I've finally woken up."
"I don't think I should. Ken wouldn't like it."
"Well I would like it, and you're my chum not his. Just tell him I'm busy, because I really am. Things are happening on this little Island, Una, big things too. Ken Ford is not the only one with high and mighty aspirations, you know. You don't have to swan back to France to make a difference."
"I never understood that turn of phrase," said Una. "Difference doesn't necessarily bring good."
Rilla leapt up from her chair and hugged her friend impulsively. "You do say the strangest things lately, dearest. Mmm, you smell like daphne. Is that cologne?"
"N-no, just a new soap -"
"And your hair," Rilla returned to her chair and studied her chum, "you're styling it differently, aren't you?"
"Don't you like it? It was all Betty's idea."
Calm, capable Betty Meade was being trained up as the new Sunday school teacher. Only Betty wasn't so calm as she once was. She had lost twenty pounds and had her eye on Fred Arnold, the Methodist minister's son.
"Yes, I do like it, only…" Rilla cocked her head, "I always thought it would suit you better if you parted your hair on the side."
"But that would mean one braid would be thicker than the other," said Una, patting the dark coils over her ears.
"Some kiss curls then, or - I know - why don't you pierce your ears!"
"Never," Una was firm, "I happen to like my earlobes exactly as they are."
"If you two have finished nattering," said Teddy, who was lounging on the swing seat, "we have to be at Lowbridge school by one."
It was only Rilla the school board were expecting, Teddy had been roped in to give Rilla a ride. He had bought himself a bicycle. What with that, his new shoes and civvy suit, to say nothing of having to feed himself for the first time since signing up, he was running through his payout from the War Office worryingly fast.
"I must be going too," Una nodded, "I've got three new pupils wanting piano lessons after lunch. And two more tomorrow. I can't understand it, Rilla. The same ad has been up in Carter Flag's store for years and suddenly I'm having to turn folks away." Her smile diminished as she continued, "I wish I could turn away those Howard girls."
"Have they paid you for the last term yet? Or are they still spending the money their mother gives them on lipstick and ribbons?"
Una pursed her lips and gave a guilty grimace. "I just happened to have their bill on me at Prayer Meeting last night. So I handed it to Mrs Howard… in front of all the Elders."
"Una, you didn't! What a stoutheart you are. I never knew you had it in you."
"Neither did I," said Una, frankly, "but if I'm going to get this diploma then I've got to be brave."
"That's it, I give in. We're going with this one," said Teddy, picking up a sketch from under Ken's letter.
"But Una hasn't seen them all yet," Rilla whined.
"Seen what?" said Una.
"The designs for Walter's portrait, the one for Lowbridge school. The board sent us a short list but none of us can decide. Jem likes the one in Teddy's hand and so does Father. Mother and I like these ones," said Rilla, pushing aside Ken's letter and fanning the rest of the sketches over the table. "We called the twins, but they said they would be sure to love whatever we chose. Susan has submitted her own drawing. And Shirley thinks the whole idea is pointless and says a landscape would be best."
Una peered at the drawings. Some in pencil, some in charcoal. Walter on horseback, Walter in profile, Walter in uniform, Walter at sunset, and a spooky caricature of a Piper.
"Why are you asking me?" she blinked.
"Why do you think, you goose? Of course, I had to ask you, because you loved Walter too."
"Oh… I," Una bit her lip, her eyes darting over the images but always veering in Teddy's direction. "I agree with the twins," she said at last. "Whatever you think is best. Sorry, Rilla, I've got to go. The Howard girls want to learn Topliner and I haven't even looked at it yet."
She was halfway down the mint smothered steps before Rilla caught up with her. "Una, you forgot Ken's letter!"
"Oh no, I really don't think-"
"I know it's asking a lot, but I also know you'll write the right thing." She stuffed it into Una's cardigan pocket. "Now give me a kiss and say that you will."
...
see you tomorrow, love k.