When Duty Calls

Summary
Fern and the others try to make an upset Ladonna feel better after she finds out her family will have to move from Elwood City.

Major

 * Fern Walters
 * Ladonna Compson
 * Bud Compson
 * D.W. Read
 * Arthur Read
 * Buster Baxter
 * Muffy Crosswire
 * Brain

Minor

 * David Read
 * Rapty (does not speak)
 * Lafawna
 * Vern
 * Pal
 * General Higgins
 * Tony Arnoni
 * Laurie
 * Rufus Compson

Cameo

 * Francine Frensky
 * Cisely Compson
 * Gussie Compson
 * Madison Compson
 * Sue Ellen Armstrong
 * Alex
 * Maria Pappas
 * Bitzi Baxter
 * Binky Barnes
 * Jane Read
 * George Lundgren
 * Platy

Trivia

 * The Compson family moves to Oregon in this episode, and it's also revealed that this is the fourth time they have moved.
 * It is revealed in this episode that the Rapty that Bud has is his second; the first one was left behind when he moved from Guam.
 * The second Rapty is then left behind at the end of the episode; however Bud does that on purpose so that he and D.W. could keep writing to each other.

Episode connections

 * The Compsons moved to Elwood City from Louisiana in "Based on a True Story."
 * Buster recalls leaving Elwood City for a time in "Arthur's Faraway Friend," and being afraid that his friends would forget about him.
 * Fern and Ladonna say that they are inspired to write their own book, like Arthur and Buster did in "Arthur's Faraway Friend" and "Buster's Back."
 * Arthur shows his diorama from "Arthur and the Whole Truth."
 * The selfie of Arthur, Buster, Muffy and Ladonna in Muffy's video was taken during "The Longest Eleven Minutes."
 * Bud gives D.W. Rapty, he's seen again in "The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur."

Production notes

 * London, from the And Now a Word from Us Kids segment, is featured in a podcast from The Military Child Education Coalition.
 * This is the first two-part episode to be written by someone other than Peter K. Hirsch since "Fifteen."

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