Long Distance Love Letters

A Teacher's Eye

"You are all dismissed!" Anne called to her class at the end of a taxing Tuesday. "Have a wonderful day. I am excited to hear what you have decided to write your essay about tomorrow!"

Her class of young, bright minds began packing up, chatting as they excitedly went into the bright summer day.

However, one did not. In Gilbert's previous seat, a young boy sat with his head resting on the desk, completely asleep. His hand held his pen, the ink dripping onto the paper as if he had fallen asleep in the middle of writing.

Anne knew this boy well, as she knew all of her students. Thomas Walton. He was a bright child. He was very polite and was constantly seen offering to help his peers.

He reminded Anne a lot of Gilbert, except that the rest of the class did not seem to worship him like her class did her husband. Anne had a strict no bullying rule in her class, but she could tell that a lot still went on behind her back.

Getting up from her seat, she responded cheerfully to her students' farewells as she walked over to the young boy.

Quietly so as not to startle him, she squatted down in front of him and gently nudged his arm.

He slowly woke in a daze, his eyes widening when they landed on her.

She offered him a kind smile. "Are you alright, Mr. Walton?"

"M-Mrs. Blythe," he stammered, clearly embarrassed. "I am so sorry, I suppose I didn't get enough sleep last night. The lesson was so interesting."

"It is alright, Thomas," she said soothingly. "You are a very bright young man. Do you have anyone to walk home with?"

The question seemed to make him shy. "I typically walk home on my own. I have asked some of my classmates, but they said I live in the opposite direction of them."

Anne's heart broke, knowing the many of her other students were lying. "How about I walk you home?"

"Oh, Mrs. Blythe, you don't have to do that. I'm alright."

"I'm sure you are," she affirmed. "I was hoping you could keep me company. I occasionally get lonely walking home."

A small smile appeared on his face. "Alright."

Anne gathered up her things and the two walked out.

"You know," she commented as the two walked down the sunny path. "I used to walk home this way with my best friend when we were your age."

"Really?" Thomas asked.

Anne nodded. "In fact, your seat in class is exactly where my husband used to sit."

A shy smile formed on his face. "That is neat."

The two made small talk before emerging into his family's property. It looked deserted.

Anne furrowed her eyebrows. "Are your parents not home?"

"My mother passed away when I was born," Thomas explained casually. "My father is away a lot. I'm not sure where he is right now, but it has been about a week."

"Any siblings?"

He shook his head. "It's just me."

Anne's heart sank as she thought back to Gilbert at his father's funeral, knowing he was all alone in the world.

She put her hand on Thomas's shoulder. "How about you come have dinner with us tonight?"

His eyes widened a little. "Oh, no, I'm alright. I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Thomas," she replied, kneeling in front of him. "I would love to have you. My husband would, as well."

He thought about it for a moment before nodding hesitantly. "Alright, if you're sure."

•••

After picking Joyce up from Marilla, the three headed home. Anne had wanted to say hello to Gilbert, who had finally set up his practice at Green Gables, but Marilla said he was with a patient.

Thomas seemed uncomfortable at first, definitely out of his element, but soon enough, Joyce helped him relax. The most sociable 2-year-old her mother had ever known, she was ecstatic to meet someone new. She had immediately grabbed his arm and pulled to show him her toys that she had made with her father. As they played, Anne left to make dinner.

Watching them from the kitchen, she felt her heart hurt. She hadn't met Thomas's father, but knowing that he was home alone the majority of the time made her blood boil. No wonder he had fallen asleep in class.

Soon enough, Gilbert walked through the front door in the kitchen. Anne walked right over and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a kiss.

He smiled. "Hello to you, too." After leaning down and kissing her stomach, he looked over her shoulder into the living room. "Um, Anne, who is that boy in our living room?"

She gently shushed him before pulling him out of Thomas's view. Whispering in the corner of the kitchen, she told him the story.

Gilbert sighed, clearly seeing himself in the young boy. "He can stay here for the night, but you do know that we can't just keep him."

She crossed her arms. "I know," she said hesitantly. "But I want to know where his father keeps going. He is not old enough to be on his own; you know that all too well." She gasped quietly. "If his father can't raise him, what if we adopt him?"

"Anne," he whispered, clearly about to talk her down, before signing. "We will talk in the morning, okay? For now, let's make sure he's comfortable."

The rest of the night went a lot smoother than Anne was expecting. Though both Gilbert and Thomas were awkward around each other at first, the tension quickly dissipated. Soon, they were buddying around together, playing piano and writing Thomas's essay for class. Anne would have helped him, but Gilbert insisted that she take a break and get her grading done.

When bedtime rolled around, Joyce was more than happy to give up her bed for the night for her new best friend. Plus, it meant she got to spend the night with mommy and daddy.

As Anne and Gilbert laid in bed with Joyce dead asleep in between them, Anne looked over at her husband with a smile.

"You like him, don't you?" she whispered.

Though he didn't give a verbal response, he gave a begrudgingly smile and kissed her forehead.

And that was all the response she needed.