Gilbert's POV
It's social rulings to find a girl, court a point of interest. We all gain the skills we need through the education of school— but part of education we are expected to find a job, make good point then propose to said girl, marry to make the girl our wife so does everything around the house whilst I, the husband makes the money to keep the roof, clothes and food ongoing throughout the marriage- including when children come along.
I'm not like that.
I witnessed it, many a times with other family members or our neighbours in this small but very largely spaced of our country.
Us, the Blythe family.
A mile or two away being an unmarried brother and sister Cuthbert's. They're the closest to us but we never spoken a word to each other.
But talk is also fast and ruthless in this little town too.
It's been heard that they sent a telegram for a child for their farm, to help Matthew Cuthbert around with the animals whilst his sister continues her daily things around the house and daily chats with the neighbours to keep busy.
It's also been heard that they requested for a young boy, as Matthew was looking for strength and brawn to keep him from working to heavily on his feet.
It was only not too long ago, a week ago I suppose that I saw from a mile or two away that Matthew took their horse and carriage and he's on his way to pick this child up.
It was not a few hours later he was riding back, that's the last I seen as I shut the family door to my father's house and went to take care of him.
•
It was a new week, Monday morning, and the day was a per usual gloomy but bright. I packed my school books, dressed myself in some warm-ish clothes and made my way towards the woods. There's a few ways to school but my gut told me to go this way. Following my gut, I went that way.
Half way to through the woods, I could see some of the lads from my class walking towards someone smaller than them. From what I could see they pigtails braids? I was confused, I hadn't seen her before.
I heard the mention of a dog, and immediately knew I had to step in. It may have not been my business, but I brought up the best way. To respect women, and this boy was certainly not doing that.
"Hey" the tall boy, taller than me— his name being Billy was head-on annoying this 'red-headed' girl.
"I suggest you get to school, you don't want them telegramming your parents then getting into trouble. Do you?" He looked at me as if I was bluffing- I kept a straight face in hopes he'd move anyway.
Luckily for me, he did just that.
It was then the red-headed was revealed fully to me. A smallish red-head with fire but fear in her eyes. She looked at me with shock.
"What's your name?!" She didn't answer but stormed past me. Now usually I'd be offended by the fact I never received a thank you for what I had just done.
But this girl has piqued my interest as to why she was so quiet at first.
•
It was once we got to school, I began to slow down. I decided to follow closely behind her, she was a cute girl so why not.
When she walked inside, I almost banged into the back of her as she stopped in her own small footsteps.
"Hi, what's your name?" I asked very politely but quietly as to not scare her too much.
"I'm Anne, with an E" I smiled as her name was very sweet, and she very straight forward with the directness of her name.
"I'm-" every single lad suddenly entrapped me in a huge celebration reunion hug.
"GILBERT" I sigh, at least Anne with an E knows my name now. I glimpsed behind me for a second to see her looking at me but moving onwards to sit down next to Diana.
"Alright students. Take a seat and open your book to page 39" The teacher turns around for a moment and the guys around me circle like their putting me into an intervention.
"Why did you walk in with that girl?" Moody gestures towards 'Anne' and I shrugged for a second.
"Why not? She's a cute girl. A cute girl is a cute girl" they said no more on the matter as the teacher coughed to get their attention.
"Okay student. I'm going to write something on the board and I want you to work it out on your slates" When he turned around to write on the board. I take my apple and walk over to Anne— I swear I could feel all the girls staring at me, Ruby's especially. But I marched onwards.
Placing the apple next to her books, I try to get her to talk to me, again.
"Hello" Her chest was rising just as fast as the girls and the boys behind me were chittering about me talking to the new girl. Big whoop.
So because she wasn't answering, I decided to tease her. I grabbed onto her pigtail and pulled on it, of course IMMEDIATELY regretting it as her slate met my face causing me to slam hard to the ground.
The guys and the girls gasped, making the teacher turn vastly.
"Anne Shirley, move to the front of the class immediately" Anne, stares at her slate board. Having it meet my face, it cracked through the middle diagonally.
I swear, no one has done that before.
Damn, Anne with an E.
You've got my attention.
