circles 𖧷 gilbert blythe

2nd chapter „welcome"

„Jules can you please take the boxes from outside with the food to the pantry? That would be nice", Grandma shouted from the upper floor. „I can do that, Grandma", I answered quickly and ran outside to the carriage, where Blayke and Grandpa took out the boxes. I quickly grabbed two of the boxes and ran back into the house. I opened the door to the pantry, which was right next to the kitchen and started to store the food in the shelfs. About 2 Hours ago we had arrived in Avonlea on our new property and since then we were putting our things into the new house. It was exhausting, but it had to be done and I was excited to see the finished house later.

Just as I was done unpacking the food, it knocked on the front door. „Jules can you please open the front door and see who it is. Blayke and Grandpa are in the barn, so we must have a visitor!", Grandmother called and I hurried out of the pantry towards the front door. Who knocks on our front door and why? We just arrived in Avonlea and know nobody here. Probably a visitor like Grandma said, but still I was curious what the visitor wanted and who it is, so I slowly opened the front door. The visitor, who had knocked on our front door was a boy in my age with curly, brown hair, brown eyes, normal clothes and a basket in his hand. I looked at him confused when he started to shake my hand. „Hello Miss Ray River I'm Gilbert Blythe", he introduced himself. Gilbert Blythe? Never heard of this name.

„Hello Gilbert you can call me Jules, what do you want here? We just arrived", I said and he looked surprised. „I'm sorry for the disturbance, but I wanted to greet my new neighbors and give them a welcome gift", he answered and held his basket towards me. I looked critically at the basket and was asking myself what was in it. „These are chocolate cookies and a pastete", he add after he saw my confused face. I looked him in the eyes, when he suddenly started smiling. „Anyways I just wanted to give you the welcome gift. I must go now. I see you and your family are quite busy", he said and gave me the basket. Then he turned around and was about to leave, when I grabbed his underarm. He stopped and turned around. „Are you going to school here?", I asked him.

What a stupid question. I don't know why I asked him that, but probably because I was thinking that when he goes to school here, he is the first person I got to know and maybe my first friend.. how pathetic I sounded. „Oh ehm yeah I go to school here in Avonlea, why?", he asked me smiling and surprised. „You're the first person I saw here and got to know so far. So I was just hoping you would go to school here, so I already know somebody", I answered. „So you will go to school here too? That pleases me. So I guess we see us in school tomorrow", he said smiling and walked away. Suddenly he stopped turned around one last time and added: „Have a great first day in Avonlea, Jules". I nodded and he walked away.

Immediately I disappeared inside the house again and started to smile to myself. I talked with a person in my age! How exciting! I have maybe found my first friend. „Why are you smiling?", Someone asked me out of nowhere and when I turned around my brother Blayke was looking at me, confused. „Oh nothing I'm just happy about being in Avonlea now", I lied. „I know it's really great to be in Avonlea, but who was that at the front door?", Blayke asked and I knew right away that he had heard the whole conversation. „Gilbert Blythe", I answered briefly and put the basket on the table. „Gilbert Blythe? And what funny things did he said that you are smiling to yourself?", Blayke asked again, but this time grinning and I shook my head, laughing. „He didn't say anything funny. I was just so glad to talk to someone in my age", I replied.

„I'm sure it's because he's a boy and you are already in love with him", he joked and I threw a dishwashing towel in his face. He laughed in front of me as I blushed a little. „You know I don't fall in love that quickly and I've never been in love", I said and started to unpack Gilbert's welcome gift. „That's a lie. Just think about „George" from the neighborhood back then when we were 5 years old", Blayke said and started laughing even louder. „Ha ha ha very funny. You know what I mean", I replied and put the basket aside. „Well, that's good for me because I don't want to experience any love drama because of you and Gilbert. I want to enjoy our new life in Avonlea", Blayke enthused and started dancing around the kitchen. „Then start by taking a shower first, you smell disgusting", I shouted and chased him out of the kitchen.

Outside it was getting dark and I was just about to be finished with putting all my stuff into my new bedroom.

„Blayke, Jules dinner is ready!", Grandpa called us for dinner. I quickly put my books on the shelf and left my room. I came downstairs and saw the table already set. Gilbert's pastete was also served there and next to it a small basket of his chocolate cookies. I sat down next to my brother and we started with our table prayer, which we always do before our meals. Then we started eating. „Are you two excited about going to school tomorrow?", Grandpa asked us happily. „Of course!", Blayke replied while I was of a different opinion. „I'm a bit afraid", I answered a bit later. „Fear? Fear is normal. Without fear you shouldn't start to do new things, honey", Grandma said. „I sewed you two extra nice clothes and put them on the drawer in the hallway so that you can make a wonderful first impression tomorrow", Grandma said a little later.

„Thank you", Blayke and I replied almost at the same time. „Oh this pastete is really good, did you make that, honey?", Grandpa asked Grandma. „No, it's from Gilbert", I answered. „Gilbert? Who is that?", Grandpa asked me. „The boy, who had knocked at our door earlier. He brought us the pastete and the chocolate cookies as a welcome gift", I explained to our grandparents. „What a nice boy. Is he your age?", Grandma asked immediately afterwards. „Yes, yes he is", I replied. „That's great then you will go to school tomorrow, thank him and also give him a gift from me, which I'm going to bake in a minute, okay sweetie?", Grandma said and my heart stopped while Blayke was sitting next to me and trying not to laugh.

I'm supposed to go to Gilbert tomorrow and give him a gift from my Grandma? how embarassing..

„Do I really have to do that? Can't Blayke do that for me?", I asked Grandma. „Blayke? The boy doesn't even know who Blayke is. You opened the door for him and accepted his gift, so you can also give him my gift as a thank you", Grandma said. „I think so too. You should do that, Jules", Blayke added and I stared at him with a death glance. „Well, okay I can do it, no problem", I said. „That's great honey. Then I'll start making small filled chocolates right away", Grandma answered and left the table.

Filled chocolates? I should give Gilbert filled chocolates in front of everyone else?...