HIS EYES (Gilbert Blyth - Anne with an E)

Ch 10: Gilbert Returns Home

This journey felt different than before. He did not resent the idea of going home, nor did he fear the responsibilities that would meet him as he opened the door to the Blyth family home. He looked forward to the musky smell and familiarity that the walls held. Sebastian before him, looked less excitable about the cold weather. Buy Gilbert was certain that Prince Edward Island would welcome them. He knew that he would have to stand up for his friend. Especially now that he wanted Sebastian to feel completely at home there.

Anne's letter sat snuggly in his jacket pocket. Beside it sat a little pocket dictionary that he had found and thought of Anne. After all, she had been a sign for him to return. Her meat presence in Avonlea was living proof that family was what one made of it. She did not belong to the Cuthberts in the traditional sense but in every other way she had. It was their last conversation in Charlotte own that opened his eyes. They way she had explained their problem as 'our' and how much Mathew meant to her. Sebastian sat stiffly infront of him, and in many sense Gilbert had felt a brotherly connection with the man that felt like home. The idea that the Blyth house could become a home again, filled himself with pride. Gilbert realised that what was keeping him away was the emptiness. He hadn't realised the simplicity of the matter when filling it would be it's solution.

As Avonlea beckoned him in the distance, and soon the Blyth house came into view. A wave of calm fell on his sholders. As they approached the home it was his turn to observe the look on Sebastian face. Gilbert made his way into his father's room and breathed in. He felt like he was home. He doubted that he had any food in the house apart from oats and rice, he figured that they might have potatoes but that might have been wishful thinking. He would definitely need to look into that. Sebastian never sounded like he could live off potatoes alone. Fortunately he could return back to school today, so returning to his routine of cooking oats and making the kitchen fire - Gilbert decided to return back to school. After all, the talk of gold seemed exciting to listen to. That, and seeing Anne again. After all the months away, he felt certain that she would manage to suprise him again. She had a talent for it.

Gilbert set off to walk past his parents graves. From the look of it, someone had been here to clean around them. There was even a bunch of dried flowers resting at rhe foot of his father's grave. "I am home" he whispered before wipping his cheeks from tears. He prayed himself to stop crying. Leaving the stones and trees behind he continued off to school. His heart picking up a brat as he walked along the little path at the edge of the woods and along the fields towards the old school house.

He had been one of the first to arrive, and the suprise that stick onto everyone's faces made it all the more worthwhile. He was glad rhat the topic of his father never came up, instead everyone wanted to hear more about his travels. It was not lost that his cheeks held colour from his days spend in the southern islands. As each person came in, he waited patiently for Anne to arrive. He did not want to appear to eiger, at the sight of gasped faces, he followed their line of their gazes. She had managed to shock them yet again.

"Gilbert" she breathed. He couldn't help but smile, she had done it again. With her red pigtails chopped off, he couldn't help but think that he would not be able to pull at it and call her 'carrots' anymore. "There is no gold" the muttered.

"I heard" he laughed back. The idea of gold had been exciting but had no consultation on his return. Her letter in itself had been the reason he came back. With Mr Phillips unfortunate entrance to the room, they all scurried to the opposition sides of the classroom.

"It apear we have a new boy in the class" he smeared.  Gilbert stomach turned. He had hoped he had left the rudeness of hate behind in the east indies. But alas, it followed him like a shadow. It was clear now why everyone seemed to think it fine to ridicule each other.  Mr Phillips seemed to spur it on. It felt like they had returned to the day he had first met her. Gilbert Blyth watched as Anne shriveled into herself. Gone was her fearless nature, her corrugate and stubborn nature.  As the day progressed, one would have never noticed her if they didn't look. Heck, Gilbert had heard field mice in his attic that were more loud. She looked different, but he wanted to tell her that he had seen women with short hair on his journeys and it had in fact been a thing of fashion. But as Mr Phillips finished going though fractions, and read out the homework. Anne disapeared into the snow path. How could he tell her that he had come back because of her. That he thought her hair suited her. That the others were idiots. It felt like a fruitless battle. One he would never win alone.