Sun, Feb 17, 1991
Mother's Own magazine is holding a regional essay contest on the topic "Mother of the Year". Initially Sara feels left out, until she decides to write about her Aunt Hetty. Some of the local girls, including Felicity, ridicule Sara for even thinking that Hetty King is Sara's mother in any form. Regardless, Felicity, feeling and sounding superior, is certain that she herself is going to win. Similarly, the mothers all disregard the work that Hetty does with Sara as any kind of mothering. Once the essays are written and ready to be mailed, Felicity and the other girls steal Sara's essay before it can be mailed. With Felix's help, Sara vows revenge against Felicity, ultimately using some information she learns about Felicity and Sally Potts' identical birthdates as the basis for her revenge. The ruse works, however Sara is uncertain how to undo the prank once it gets out of hand. Once Hetty learns what Sara has done, her reaction is somewhat surprising. After all is said and done, Sara's prank has some unexpected consequences.
Sun, Dec 16, 1990
Muriel Stacey, former teacher at Avonlea School and Hetty's colleague at teachers college, has just been promoted to Provincial Superintendent of Schools. This promotion irks Hetty, who has always finished second to Miss Stacey and who was expecting the promotion herself. Miss Stacey is coming to Avonlea for a visit, which further irks Hetty, who sees the visit as an inspection. To prove her success as a teacher especially at this important time just before a school presentation to the Lieutenant Governor, Hetty vows to increase school enrollment. Thinking the workers at the cannery a good source for possible students, Hetty manages to recruit one: Gus Pike, but Gus agrees only on the stipulation that he can continue working. Despite Gus' rough edges, Hetty admires the quest for betterment that Gus displays. In turn, Gus respects everything that Hetty has to teach and say to him. However unwittingly through a discussion with Hetty, Gus is convinced that many of his old habits, including his fiddle playing, are a path straight toward being just like his convict father. This news makes Gus miserable as music is an integral part of who he is. When Miss Stacey arrives in Avonlea, she sees Gus' internal conflict when she herself meets and gets to know him.
Mon, Apr 8, 1991
Several changes are happening at the King farm. First, Janet's judgmental and demanding Aunt Eliza comes for a visit. Much to Alec's chagrin, they learn that Aunt Eliza's stay at the last relation's lasted eight months. Second, Janet herself is feeling strange, not knowing the cause. Third, a pipe-smoking, fiddle-playing young man named Gus Pike is staying temporarily in their hayloft. All alone in the world, Gus, recently arrived on the island looking for work, is uneducated but world traveled, having sailed the seas on merchant and fishing ships. And fourth, Felicity, aged 13¾, is feeling no longer like a child but a young woman. First and foremost on her mind is wanting the affection of young man and to be kissed before the summer is out. She believes she's found that man when she meets David Hawes, the bowler of a visiting cricket team and who Sara thinks is at least 18 years old. Felicity does whatever she can to spend time with David while he's in Avonlea. She sees an opportunity with him at the post-cricket match ball, which is only for adults. Thus she will need her parent's permission to attend, something which is not a foregone conclusion. Through Felicity's attempts to be grown up, Gus unexpectedly acts as her guardian and protector.