Mirabelle with an E

Chapter 1

the day I'm awoken by Anne. "Come on Mirabelle it's our first day of school" I throw the pillow over my head. She takes it off. "Come on" I sigh heavily. "I hate you" she pulls me up. "Do wanna try speaking in front of them again" I shake my head. "I- I don't wanna get made fun of Anne" "belle you won't" I give her a really look. "I'm short have red hair and I don't speak" "well the kids other than me and Diana don't know sign language" I smile.

I put my hair back in a ponytail leaving my bangs.

"ANNE MIRABELLE" I grab my books.

We walk downstairs. "I expect it's perfectly normal to be nervous on your first day but I'm sure everything will be fine" I help set the table. "We don't have much experience with school but why wouldn't it be fine" I purse my lips. "Better than fine I have no doubt that it will be none at all right Belle" I shrug. 'Not really excited to go but if you're with me I guess' I sign. "Exactly" she smiles at me.

"We're a few years behind but that's no reason not to be optimistic the only place we can go academically is up if a person puts the best foot forward things can go well" she almost bumps into Marilla.

"Slow those feet down please" "It will be nice to have a lot of new friends although I expect it will be difficult to find a toehold since they've probably known each other forever going to school is my lifelong dream what could possibly grow-" she drops a cup.

"I'll fetch the broom" "you two will do just fine today you are smart as a dickens and as tough as a hundred men" I smile at him.

"I'm not so worried about my brain I believe it to be in good working order and with any luck I'll catch up with the rest of the class quite quickly that's not really my concern" she states. "Do you wanna know what my big concern is" 'and here she goes' I sign.

"I'm sure you'll tell us soon enough" "it's this awful red hair this horrible hideous horrible red hair" she got lucky hers is darker, mines is bright with really green eyes that look like they're glowing with freckles scattered on my face and pink lips.

'You're the lucky one' I sign. I hate my eyes.

After breakfast, we set off to school.

We open the doors. There's shouting and whatnot. "Anne Mirabelle" Diane runs over to us. "Hello Diana" she greets she hugs us.

I like that Anne's excited. "Welcome to the first day of school" she signs it back to them. 'I'm mute, not deaf' she giggles. "Oh right sorry" I shrug.

"Come on I'll show you both everything you need to know"

We take our sweaters and hats off and put the on the hanger. "You can sit with me there's an empty seat behind us" I smile happily.

"Go on and set your things down" I do as she says. "Hello there I'm Moody" he introduces himself. "Oh I'm sorry" "Moody Spurgeon," he says his full name. She nods. "I'm Anne" "I'm Charlie," the other guy says.

"Charlie Sloane," Diana says his full name.

"Happy to meet you" 'my name is Mirabelle but you call me Belle' I sign. They look confused "Her names Mirabelle she's mute so she uses sign language but you can call her Belle" Diana explains. "Can you show me" 'why not' I state.

I show them how to say their names in sign. "Learn something new every day" Charlie states.

"Don't talk to the boys they're ridiculous" "nice to see you too Diana" I smile at her.

"All except Gilbert Blythe he's dreamy but he won't be here today" she explains quickly. 'Who's Gilbert Blythe' I sign. She goes to answer when she's interrupted.

"This is Jane Andrews and Josie Pye and Ruby Gillis and Tillie Boulter" she introduces them and then us. "It is a scrumptious pleasure to make your acquaintances and I shall do the utmost to prove myself worthy of your friendship" they look at each other with weird glances. "Uh Anne loves to read and she knows ever so many big words and Belles is...nice" "does she use them all the time" I look at Josie.

'Bitch' 'Belle' I raise my hands up in defense.

"I like to read too" "no you don't," Ruby says honestly. "How come Belles not talking" "she's mute she uses hand signs to communicate" Anne states. "She can't speak" "she can she just doesn't like too it's private," Anne says keeping it short knowing I don't like talking about it.

"I saw you two at the church picnic I'm sorry I should have said hello," Jane says sweetly.

"There were an awful lot of people there" "mother wouldn't let me" she explains. "Why do they make you wear that old lady dress" I scowl at her. "It's just nice to have something new" "if you're an orphan I suppose I wouldn't be caught dead in it" she insults.

Okay, I officially hate her.

"They aren't orphans anymore they've been adopted" "we're still orphans Diana I'll always be an orphan," she says truthfully.

"Goodness Is hate to be an orphan" "I feel really sorry for you two Anne and Mirabelle" they sympathize.

I hear barking 'wait no that's the bitch' Diana and Anne both chuckle softly. "You're ridiculous" "hey look it's a talking dog can you fetch too," he asks. "Billy leave them be" "sit stay roll over," he says smugly.

"Don't mind my brother he's ridiculous" he barks again. I flip him off Diana pulls my hand down. "Alright calm down" "ya never let the boys know they've upset you" Jane warns. "Never let them know when you like them either" "schools a lot to contend with" I shake my head awkwardly.

"Have you ever been to a real school or did they just send you to special orphan school" I dig my nails into my palms to hold back from clawing her eyes out. "Come on ladies I'll finish the tour" 'I'm fine I'll probably just relax here" she nods but not before giving a glare to Josie.

I sit down at my seat.

I can already tell this place is going to suck.