Valentine #25 November 1961

In a quiet moment at her sister’s wedding, Sue watches Bill kiss her sister Jean—then remembers the first time he ever kissed her, long ago when they were just kids. Though Bill had always been close to both sisters, Sue had always believed he saw her as special. Now, years later, she finds herself caught between the memory of a love that never quite ended and the reality of the day’s vows.

Jill and Greg find themselves caught in a strange 500-year-old contest meant to crown today’s sweethearts, but the tradition only deepens the rift between them. Though they’ve agreed their love is gone, the outcome still hinges on a peculiar prize—and Pru and Nigel may be the ones to claim it.

Meg tries to use a library book titled *How to Get Your Man* to win over the boy next door, but her attempts only lead to mishaps. When she finally decides to return the book, a chance accident brings her and Jack together over their shared love of reading.

In this quiet, poignant two-pager from Valentine #25, Ann Vaughan finds herself caught between two worlds after befriending Marla, a girl whose life seems far more glamorous than her own. As her mother, Mrs. A. Vaughan, watches with quiet concern, Ann begins to question the value of her own home and family. The story unfolds through a simple, heartfelt exchange—perfectly capturing the subtle shifts of growing up and the ache of comparing oneself to others.

Sue’s tired of Gilbert’s dull routine, so when he chooses bookkeeping over the dance, she swaps him for Shane Walsh—just for the night. The next day, Gilbert packs up to leave town, but only makes it five miles before his sore feet force him to hitch a ride back in a horse-drawn cart.

Rose starts writing in her little brother’s old exercise book after a shopkeeper tells her personal diaries won’t arrive for a week. She scribbles entries about a boy she meets—one she thinks she’ll never see again. But when she returns to the shop, the man behind the counter is someone unexpected: Trevor, who asks her for a date.

Ann, engaged to Peter, finds her world upended when Peter brings home his old friend John Gavin. As she grows closer to John, her loyalty is tested by feelings she can’t ignore—especially when Peter’s absence leaves her alone with him. On the eve of Peter’s return, John confesses his love, forcing Ann to face a painful choice between two men she cares about.