Prologue: Nan plots to get Nick and Jo to kiss under the mistletoe. She enlists the help of Nat by having him get Nick to check out a "blocked chimney" while she tells Jo that Asia wishes to discuss the supper menu. She arranges to have them meet at the kitchen door.
Asia tried to keep a straight face as she went about the kitchen, but it was difficult since she had helped Nan and Nat tack some mistletoe above the door that led to the dining room. She was definitely part of the plot.
She could hear Nan's voice coming from upstairs, calling out to Jo. The door to the outside flew open and there came Nat followed by Nick, a serious look on his face. The sound of two sets of footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Nick and Jo would meet under the mistletoe as Nan had planned.
With Nan behind her, Jo was about to arrive at the intended spot when Rob cried out from the parlor. "Mama, I'm hurt!" he wailed. Jo immediately turned around and dashed out of the room to care for her son.
Nick looked at the kitchen hearth and then glared. "There ain't no smoke in here," he said. "What's goin' on, Nat?" Nat noticed Nan frantically motioning to him and he understood that she meant Jo was not there as planned.
Nick caught a glimpse of Nan and sighed. "You kids picked a bad time for a joke," he frowned. "Sorry, I gotta finish choppin' that firewood. You can show me your trick later." He exited quickly, closing the door with a resounding slam.
The two conspirators faced one another, "It didn't work," said Nat.
"It would have worked if Rob hadn't got hurt," Nan sighed. "It was a case of poor timing."
"I think Nick saw the mistletoe," said Nat. "He was staring right at the doorway."
"Maybe we could arrange for someone else to stand under it," Nan mused. Both stood there, silently scheming, when at once they turned to one another and spoke in unison.
"Dan and Bess!" they smiled.
Asia kept busy, smiling and humming to herself. Within minutes the two were back, leading their unknowing victims. Dan and Bess were just a few steps away from meeting when Tommy ran through the door yelling, ""Asia, what's for supper tonight?" The five collided, tumbling to the floor and knocking over one of the chairs.
Sitting up, Bess saw the mistletoe. She looked at Tommy, then Dan, then Nat, and finally at Nan. "I know what you're trying to do, Nan," she said icily. Dan said nothing, but frowned at Nat, his face reddening with embarrassment and anger.
Bess stood up, and with a toss of her head, briskly left the room. Dan paused to give Nan an angry stare before going back outside.
As Tommy sheepishly backed out of the room, Asia walked over to Nan and Nat. "I'm going to the market," she said. " I'll leave you two alone with your scheming."
Nan looked up at the mistletoe. "It's really pretty," she said.
"Yeah," Nat answered, "It's too bad your plan didn't work."
"Yeah," Nan sighed.
The two gazed up at the green leaves with the bright red berries nestled in the center. "That doesn't mean it has to go to waste," Nat said.
"What do you mean?" Nan was puzzled.
Nat put his arms around her and kissed her.
"Wow," said Nan. "That was so… so nice!"
"Not at all like that time we tried kissing in the hayloft," Nat smiled.
The two glanced nervously away, searching for the right words to say.
"I… uh…guess we really should get busy with our lesson books," Nan's face glowed.
"Uh… right!" said Nat. "I'll help you with that writing assignment."
Then they walked away, hand-in hand, to the parlor.
Really, who besides Jonathan can do such a perfect portrayal of one of everyone's favorite characters?
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