For personal use and select distribution only; ©1999 by Rachel Manson
Cecily King was sitting in the Avonlea Telegraph Office wondering why she didn't quit this depressing job, that told her about every death of anyone in Avonlea. She sighed. Then she sat bolt upright as a telegraph came in.
We are sorry to inform the inhabitants of Avonlea that the H.M.C.S. Victorious was sunk off the coast of France. We extend our deepest sympathy to the friends and family of General Samuel Penhallow and Lieutenant Captain Felix King.
There were no survivors.
War Office Official,
Martin York
Cecily let out a shriek. Sobbing she grabbed her coat and ran to Alice Penhallow's to give her regrets.
She knocked on the door. An attractive woman in her thirties answered the door.
"Are you Alice Penhallow?" Cecily asked in a broken voice.
"Well, I used to be." She smiled. "What can I do for you, dear? Come in for some tea."
"I can't. I have a message for you. The H.M.C.S. Victorious went down yesterday, there were no survivors. You cousin, General Samuel Penhallow went down with it." Cecily looked up at Alice to see a tear run down her face.
"I can't believe he's gone. I got a letter from him the other day!" Tears were now streaming down her usually cheerful face, making it go all blotchy, which completely ruined her beauty.
"If, if it makes you feel any better, my, my brother was on that ship as well. I am sorry, but I have to go tell my family too." By now Cecily was crying herself. She turned and ran to King Farm.
Cecily burst through the kitchen door and ran into the parlour. It just so happened that everyone was at King Farm preparing a Valentine's Day party, so everyone she needed to tell was there, almost. Sara, Aunt Olivia and her family were in Halifax. Neither were Andrew and Peter. Yet, the Pettibones minus Morgan, he had enlisted a year earlier, and the Kings minus Felix were there. As well as Abigail's family, Great Aunt Eliza, Aunt Hetty and Felicity and Gus with their daughter Nicole.
All heads turned when Cecily burst in with tear-stained cheeks. Izzy was the first to react. She rushed to her best friend's side, put her arm around her and led her to a chair.
"Cecily, what's wrong?" Cecily, between sobs, somehow managed to gasp out,
"Felix's ship went down. No survivors." A ripple of gasps and cries went around the room. Gus opened his mouth to tell them all that Felix was alive, but remembered his promise and shut his mouth. Abigail was the first to speak.
"Janet, you should never have let that boy go do something so stupid!" Janet's sobs were louder now. A voice broke out.
"Shut up everyone! Felix is NOT dead. He WILL come back!" With that Izzy ran out of the house. Clive and Arthur stood up, but Muriel put a detaining hand on both men's arms. They reluctantly sat down.
Izzy didn't cry, she just ran home and packed a bag. She packed a blanket, a pillow, a weeks worth of clothes and some other items. She wrote a quick note and left it on the kitchen table. Then she headed for the train station.
"Izzy! IZZY!" Muriel was surprised at the silence. Then she saw the note.
Dear Father, Muriel and Arthur,
I've left home. I don't believe that Felix is dead. He will come back to on the train and I intend to wait at the station until he arrives. I'm 20 years old and VERY stubborn, so don't try to change my mind. Muriel, please come every Friday and give me a weeks worth of clothes and I shall give you my laundry. I WON'T come home until Felix is back.
I love you all,
Izzy
When Clive and Arthur came in, Muriel just handed them the note and went off to prepare dinner with a sigh.