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Anne of Green Gables
Announcement By Kelly Sweet Dreams | Anne Tells | Diana's Surprise | Gilbert's Concern | A Lazy Afternoon | Yesterday's Rose | Farewells Chapter five—A Lazy Afternoon Gilbert had been packing all day. He would be leaving for Kingsport in just three days. For several years he had looked forward to getting his medical training. Since he had won the Cooper Prize his tuition was paid. At Convocation the previous spring, the medical course, was all there was for him. It was going to be easy to leave Avonlea, once more, to pursue his ambitions. Now, however, leaving had one great big drawback—Anne Shirley. Gilbert sighed, “at least he would see her at Christmas—it was so far away.” He, also, planned to spend every last minute that he could with her before getting on the boat train for Nova Scotia. “Gilbert,” he heard his mother call, “Charlie Sloane is here for you. Do you want me to send him up?” “Hey, Charlie, get up here,” shouted Gilbert. “So, are you and Anne going to the Harvest Ball? I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t. I do envy you, my friend. I don’t know how you did it—getting that girl to agree to marry you. I certainly couldn’t do it.” “Well, you still have that adorable blue-eyed girl on your arm these days, don’t you, Charlie? How long do you plan to court her?” Gilbert said, earnestly, “she’s not likely to stick around for ever—and don’t tell me you are afraid your mother won’t approve. Or, are you afraid of rejection—I’ve been down that road. Charlie, you are a college graduate. Use that head of yours. You won’t get anywhere sitting and wishing. I would like to stick around and talk, but I promised Anne I’d meet her for a ramble this afternoon.” At Green Gables Marilla was packing a picnic basket for Anne. She knew that girl was going for a walk with Gilbert this afternoon and was not likely to be back in time for supper—she never was—and in her current state of mind could not be expected to remember and plan accordingly. She looked out the window and saw Gilbert coming up the lane. She was about to call up to Anne when she heard her thunderously running down the stairs. Anne was out the door before Marilla could say a word. The latter just shook her head. “That girl should slow down or she’ll sprain her ankle.” “Gilbert,” Anne cried as she threw herself in his arms. “I wasn’t expecting you for another half an hour.” Gilbert, spinning her around, said, “Charlie came by and I needed an excuse to leave. Besides, we don’t have very much time to spend together.” “Don’t leave without this.” They heard Marilla say. They turned to see her coming toward them with the picnic basket she had prepared. “You two need your nourishment and I know how you are—we won’t see you, again, until past suppertime.” Anne smiled sheepishly. “Thank-you, Marilla, you are probably right.” Anne and Gilbert took the basket and walked hand in hand through the gate and down the lane. Back inside Green Gables Marilla sat down by the fire. She had been lost in thought for some time when Mrs. Rachel Lynde came into the room. “I saw those two love birds on my way up the road. I noticed you sent a basket with them—good idea. They don’t seem to have any concept of time.” Marilla sighed. “I am afraid Anne is a little feather brained these days. She has her head so far in the clouds she’d forget her feet if they weren’t attached. I am a bit leery of sending her off to Summerside in her current state of mind—and it’s apt to get worse before it gets better—with Gilbert leaving this week—she just can’t seem to think very clearly. I would feel so much better if someone could, at least, help her get settled into her accommodations.” “Well, Marilla, I do need to do some shopping in Summerside. I have wanted to get out there for some time. Why don’t I go with her and help her out and then get my shopping in. You would have your piece of mind and Anne would get the assistance she needs—although Anne is very independent—she has been known to make rash decisions. And, its true, Gilbert doesn’t improve the picture.” Gilbert and Anne were completely unaware that her travel arrangements were being decided. They had found a nice little clearing among a grove of pine trees. If Anne had the option she would make her home under the trees. Trees were among her friends. Diana had once ‘caught’ her hugging one. During her early days in Avonlea rumors spread rampant that she talked to them. And at that moment Anne was consumed by happiness. She had Gilbert and all these trees. All the cares of the world could not penetrate their solitude. “It was awfully nice of Marilla to make up this basket for us.” Anne said as she set out the food on the picnic blanket. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have thought to even bring one. Usually, I am very particular about bringing such things.” She told Gilbert. “I just don’t know what’s come over me.” She thought to herself. She found herself blushing before she could finish the thought. Gilbert sat watching Anne as she set the picnic items out. “Life is good,” he thought, “but I am going to miss her something terrible.” “Where are your thoughts taking you, Gilbert,” Anne interjected? “May I come with you?” “Oh, Anne, I wish I could take you everywhere with me—if Summerside weren’t so far away from Kingsport. Do you know that this is the first time in all the years I have known you that we will not be in close proximity? After Avonlea School we both went to Queen’s Academy, then back to teach school, then off to Redmond College and back. We have taken very similar paths. But now that we are together we must part. Isn’t it ironic? “It is also ironic that because you wouldn’t speak to me for so long in our youth that I wanted you for a friend all the more. If we had the chance to do it all over, I might not be willing to go through five years of silence from you, but in hindsight, that is just what brought us together. How I ever made the decision to let you take my job at the Avonlea School, so that you could help Marilla, I will never fully know. Providence must have been prodding me and I listened—and you have been my friend ever since.” True as Marilla had said, it was past suppertime when Gilbert left Anne at the Green Gables gate that evening. Home | Fan Fiction Home | Submit a story | Forum (yahoo groups) |
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