AnneShirleyBlythe-Little ones are the sweetest aren't they? I have had my share of teenage years from my step-kiddo, but nothing is quite like the toddler years and being Auntie to my friend's kids. I don't know if you ever venture over to A03, but if you ever do, do check out Hades over there, they let me add in Photos, so you get the actual photos I find for these chapters, and you can browse the story for them. Hope you are well and enjoy this chapter as well! It's a little Shorter...but hey next chapter is the beginning of 1918...another year and a half to go through! and a year until Armistice Day!


"Seffie, look," Rilla points to the window full of dolls in front of the infamous eatons on a cool November day.

"Dolly," she says kicking out her little legs as Rilla held her on her hip. Her little red jacket and black boots were as festive and practical as ever.

"Yes dolly," she says. "Shall we go inside Santa's Work Shop?" She asks and Seffie looks at her before nodding her head. Persis and Leslie are already in the toy store and she found them easily debating what toys and dolls to get the little one for Christmas.

"She has plenty of things," Rilla tries to tell them. "I don't need a new trunk to take them all back with me.

"We're just looking around," Leslie smiles. "It's been so long since there were little children in the family."

"Persis?" A woman calls out, and Persis turns to see a young woman who is dressed warmly in furs and a jaunty hat that makes Rilla want to ask her where she bought it, but she doesn't.

"Katrina," Persis says letting out a breath, awkward enough that Rilla looked at her sister-in-law. "It's been a while since you have been in the city."

"Yes, well Patrick prefers the country and needs to be close to the training camp, I took the train in for some shopping," she says while looking over Rilla and Seffie in the corner of her eye.

"Of course," Persis says nodding his head. "How lucky you are to have him home with you, though I have been remiss, this is Ken's wife who is visiting for the season with their daughter," Persis explains her presence.

"Pleasure to meet you Mrs. Ford, Katrina Davis," She nods to Rilla, who does the same in return.

"Rilla, this is Persephone," Rilla responds softly, feeling suddenly inadequate in this woman's presence.

"Quite the name," Katrina comments. "I mean it's classical, but Ken was always from the classical things in life, I mean he once named his automobile Triton for some reason or another."

"It was my choice, he just went along with it," Rilla says unsure if this woman was sizing her up. "Not that he had much a choice at the being away and all. You are very lucky to have your husband with you."

"Yes, well my parents thought it was good for me to marry someone who could stay with me after other plans had changed quickly," She says quietly. "I should get back to my shopping, It was lovely to see you Mrs. Ford's, Persis," she says before looking at Rilla, smiling awkwardly and turning away.

"Well, that was awkward," Persis lets out a laugh. "I think I need some tea after that."

"She…she didn't seem to want to like me much did she?" Rilla says after a moment. "She…she and Ken were a thing before…well before Ken married me?"

"It's all water under the bridge, she did well for herself and however she made it sound in passing is far from what happened," Leslie says quietly.

"I know," Rilla says nodding her head, blushing at the memories of their fumbles their night together. "I just, didn't expect—I guess I didn't know what to expect in actuality?" Rilla admits as Seffie tugs on her collar and Rilla leans in as Seffie says something quietly.

"Is there a ladies' waiting area?" She looks to Leslie.

"Of course, just this way," Leslie nods looking at the doll in the box and to a worker nearby and quietly asks for it to be held as Rilla and Persis follow her.

To: Lieutenant Kenneth Ford

ID 163322

10th Battalion

CEF,

France

November 15th 1917

Dearest,

I am writing this from your window at your parent's house, yes I am in Toronto. I have been since the middle of October, your father has invited me and after some talks with Father, we decided that I should get away for a while. For Seffie to know your parents as well, though I may even stay for the holidays, it isn't decided yet. I would feel bad if only the Twins, came home as Jem and Shirley were away fighting, and Walter wasn't coming home at all.

But seeing your mother with Seffie is lovely and it would be kind of me to let them have Seffie for the holidays as she is part of you.

We shall see.

Seffie is all over the place these days, we took her down to Eatons to toys in the window, she was so enamoured by them all. Christmas is around the corner and this time Seffie might understand a little bit about her.

We plan to go to the parade as well…your mother and Persis are excited to take her. I've seen photos over the years and I can admit to you, that I am rather excited as well. I am glad that I came with your Father, truly.

I went out for tea with Persis, you see the entire train ride to Toronto everyone kept thinking I was married to your Father, and not you. Your father kept correcting them of course, but it was still embarrassing. Doesn't help that Seffie calls him Papa, she calls your mother and mine Granny, and my father Grampy.

She explained that it was rather common for older men to marry younger women in higher society, I mean you are older than me, but men are old enough to be their wife's father…that is something else entirely! Six years is practically nothing compared to the ones Persis pointed out.

We also ran into your old sweetheart. Can I call her that? Anyway, she came up to Persis first and I was then introduced, she was surprised to see me there I think, or maybe in general? I don't think she wanted to like me much. She commented on Seffie's name and how you were always into classical names and named your automobile Triton. I just sort of stood there as she went on…

It was strange, to say the least, your Mother told me to essentially ignore it and it was all water under the bridge and it was wrong of her to bring it up in my presence.

Along with this letter, you will also find a small clipping of hair. Seffie had a piece that kept going into her eyes constantly so we trimmed it for her. I thought you might like to have it as a memento and for a chance to see the colour. I glued it onto the board of the small photo frame so hopefully, it doesn't get lost on you.

Hope you are well, and tell Bleaker I hope he is well as well. The mail has come, and a letter from you has arrived that my parents redirected to me.

Love always Rilla and Seffie


Rilla Ford,
Ingleside, Morgan Rd
Glen St Mary
PEI

October 20th 1917

My darling Rilla,

This is Friday – one of our lucky days. For me, it has been largely a day of rest and writing. I have been meaning to write Persis for the past week or so and haven't been able to until today. Though usually, I slip in things for Mother to tell her. Father told me about the old house, and that he's been on the Island as well making sure it was ready for the winter.

Nothing new has happened here lately after the last battles which I am sure you have read about haven't involved us Canadians lately. So I am fine for the most part. I turned my ankle badly pushing to repair a truck that had been ditched, I was fine until I slipped in some mud and got out of a few marches with my hobble. This morning we had our two-hour march without packs or haversacks and so seemed very light work, though my ankle grumbled.

Bleaker is telling me to get it looked at, but really what are they going to do that I haven't already? Plus we are supposed to be cleaning up for another inspection tomorrow later today – this time by the Canadian Corps commander but most of the fellows haven't started yet – at 3 pm.

I have eaten the last of the box of goodies, even the ones that had little fingerprints baked in. I didn't wish to at first, but hunger wore out as I was trying to dry out some clothes, it rained again overnight, but today it has been fine although cloudy. Actually, it's really not very good weather for drying clothes, but mine are quite dry now and we don't expect to move for a day or two – and then it is reported, it will be by motor lorries again.

Our walk this morning took us through a lovely bit of farming country – and a couple of quaint villages. In one place they were threshing from the stocks. Everywhere the meadows are still green with rich timothy or clover pastures. Farmers are busy drawing manure and ploughing, and the rich warm odour of upturned earth was pleasant to smell.

Forgive me, it is now Saturday,

Shortly before 5 am, I was awakened by the orderly sergeant's voice calling to our platoon sergeant "Inspections Off" – a welcome announcement indeed, so I rolled over and had another good sleep, until 7 am when breakfast was handed to me by Bleaker. We expect to move again tomorrow, toward our objective, so we will have a church parade later this morning. But for now, we have all cleaned up and shaved and are now pursuing our customary several spare time occupations. Chores and writing, are the two main ones honestly!

It is a fair morning again and the sun is shining, but it is so low in the heavens and there is always such a haze that it hasn't much power. Strangely, last night there was a terrific bombardment – by far the heaviest I've heard yet. Far enough away it wasn't a danger to us, but we could feel the rumble in the ground and the echoes. There was no let-up and about 4 o'clock it was particularly heavy. Then too, at any time of the night, if one were awake he could hear the hum of vast numbers of aeroplanes overhead. There's an aerodrome very near hear and every night recently raids in force have been made over Fritz's lines…

I hope the October weather on the island is pleasant and that you and Seffie are doing well, I always thank God for you and pray that you may be kept safe while I am away. Whatever you read in the papers, remember that I think of you always.

Love Kenneth.


The parade turned out to be more than what Rilla thought it would be as they found spots on the sidewalk. A sea of children and their parents, waiting for it to begin on the cold November afternoon. Seffie was bundled up and in Owen's arms, and Persis and Leslie huddled into each other in a mother-and-daughter way, that made Rilla miss her Mother.

"Mommy," Seffie calls out to her and Rilla takes her as the faint sounds of the marching band could be heard. There was no snow on the ground yet, but cold enough to need a scarf and gloves.

"Almost time," Rilla tells her as the music grows louder and louder, and the clip-clop of hooves echoes on the paved roads. "Look Seffie, looks," Rilla points to the first marching band that was made up of Toronto Constabulary in their uniforms with bagpipes leading them in. Seffie not knowing what to do as the sounds got louder covered her ears, tears threatening as she curled into her mother.
It was a mix of soothing and excitement as clowns frightened her, but she loved dancing ladies and the floats of fairytale stories. It was bright, colourful, and overwhelming as Rilla tried to tell her to not be afraid. The only relief that Rilla had was that Seffie was far from the only child who was crying or occasionally upset though ultimately relieved when the Parade passed by after fifteen minutes.

"All done," Rilla whispers, drying the tears on her daughter's face.

"Done?" Seffie sniffles looking around. "More?"

"No more," Rilla laughs kissing her cheek.

"But we can go see Santa at the store?" Owen says beside her. "Would you like that Seffie, go see Santa?"

"Santa?" Seffie repeats, wiggling as she holds out her arms to her grandfather, and for a moment Owen thinks he has it figured out until she pats his greying beard with her little chubby hands. "Santa!" She squeals giggling.

The woman can't help but laugh out loud and Leslie pokes her husband's side in his dark jacket with a red woollen sweater under it.

"He is getting a little fat isn't he," Leslie teases him with a twinkle in her eyes. Rilla could only smile, she hadn't noticed them the last time she was in Toronto, now as a child of course, but they were still very much in love after so many years like her own parents. She could only hope that she and Ken could have the same thing in their marriage.

"Let's get some hot chocolate and coffee and warm up," Persis says looking around, scanning trying to think of a place that wouldn't be overwhelmed by the Parade. They end up in a fancier spot than Rilla expects to bring a child, but they say nothing about her child as they bring her a cup of warm milk to start with, which Rilla promptly takes out of her reach and tries it first before helping her take a drink of it.


Rilla Ford,
Ingleside, Morgan RD
Glen St. Mary PEI
Canada.

October 30th 1917

Dearest

I write this not knowing if I should, but I am writing it because I cannot stop myself and it is last my candle I barely surviving tonight.

I killed a man in cold blood tonight. I have had my share of death by my hand in the war I cannot dispute that, but I have never killed in such rage.

We were ambushed. We were walking to the village day leave on reserve as it wasn't raining for a change. We aren't scheduled for anything right now, despite every else is most likely knee-high in mud. It took all of us by surprise. I'll spare you the details, but wasn't a fair fight. I sent Claude to get help, he's the fastest runner.

Bleaker was hit on the side of the head and shot in the leg. I swore he was dead, he isn't, but he got one incapacitated while I fought the other two. One held me as the other searched me looking for good. It was it until he found your photo he smirked as he flicked open the cigarette case which I keep it in.

I learned a few things in German since I came here, but what he was saying was beyond those words. Rilla made he made the worst gestures and I knew exactly what he was saying I don't know what came over to me, but I saw another comrade in the corner of my eye and suddenly I was free and I wanted to say it was all a blur as my heart thumped in my chest, but it wasn't and I know exactly what I did, and I did not care in that moment.

God forgive me Rilla….for being that sort of man, I should have taken him, prisoner, I should have followed protocol, but instead, I let rage and my own emotions rule this one in my mind.

I killed a man and somehow…got a promotion? It makes no sense to me.

I have the same uniform, so nothing new to show you at the moment it's just a few extra things to sew onto it now. Bleaker is out for the next while until his legs heal. I have a few scrapes and bruises but I am all right. We shall what happens as things progress in the next few days.

Just know that I am thinking of you and that I love you and God please let this war be over at some point.

The candle is dying.

I love you, Kiss Seffie for me.

Your Kenneth,


Rilla Ford

Barton Ave, Toronto On

December 6th

Explosion in Halifax, Nan and Di are safe, shaken up but safe.

Dad, Dr Blythe.