Welcome to Avonlea

Chapter 1

My hand reached out for probably the twenty-second or twenty-third time pulling Anne's hand to keep her from pinching herself. I lost count, but I believe the number was correct, maybe. "Isn't this the most sensational and wondrous day." She turned to me with a big smile. "We're finally going to have a real home." "It is wonderful. Taking in not one but the both of us is very kind. Not many adopt siblings." She still smiled but pinched herself. "I can only hope this isn't a dream." She looked past me to the window that showed the outside world moving by from our train car. "Oh. I can only imagine it is such a beautiful place. A home fit for a person like Princess Cordelia." I smiled and grabbed her hands to make her stop pinching. "As long as it's a kind home, it's all that I could ask for." She faced back forward almost unable to control her excitement and happiness. I shared it with her but I knew how she was feeling. It almost seemed too good to be true.

Our joy was interrupted hearing a baby crying. I glanced at Anne and could see the memories of our last household surfacing. She was to help with the children and I with the cleaning. We both were in charge of cooking the meals and all the other chores that were pushed on us. I did switch with her when it became too much or when I finished my chores. Two pairs of hands were better than one when handling everything. But that home was where we stayed longest. They continued to have children but we were punished and yelled at on a daily basis. My eyes looked out the window taking in the scenery ignoring any bad memories that tried to surface. It was extremely difficult but managed. She had Princess Cordelia and her adventures. We both read, but that's where we differ. She likes to act out the scenes while I picture them in my mind and seeing it.

"Are you quite all right, dear?" I glanced back at Anne knowing she was the most traumatized with the Hammonds that took us in and from the orphanage. They almost seemed to take pleasure in mistreating and making us feel worthless. "I like imagining than remember. Why are the worst memories the most insistent?" "I wouldn't know. You both should rest." I looked back outside unable to relax. We both were wanting to be in a good home but the doubt made my stomach twist into knots. "If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked but your own conscious of you and absolved you from guilt... you would not be without friends." I glanced at Mrs. Spencer and saw she looked uncomfortable from the quote Anne just recited. "I love Jane Eyre, don't you?" "I never met her."

I frowned at her response, did she it realize it was a book? It was a wonderful story about hardship and love. I looked straight ahead wondering if anyone in this place called Avonlea didn't explore the worlds you can escape to by simply reading. "I'm glad you've woken. I have more questions for you about Green Gables." "I'm sure you do." "Why do you suppose neither of the Cuthberts ever married?" "Anne." I whispered loudly to her. "Did either of them have a tragical romance?" My eyes closed at her prying questions. "It's none of our business." "But I'm bursting with curiosity!" I sighed and looked back outside. I smiled a little when Mrs. Spencer shushed her. She always wanted to know more than was necessary. The world outside of books seemed almost cruel then where the words can take you.

We waited until the train car was almost empty so we weren't pushed along. Our bags were frail no matter how many times I tried to fix them. Watching as everyone that got off dispersed either heading home or elsewhere. Arriving at the station, the poor man in the booth had to listen to Anne. I found it refreshing when he just smiled obviously not used to someone with such a wide vocabulary and so expressive as every word from her mouth was just like a book. "Anne. Let's sit. I'm sure one of the Cuthberts will be here soon." "Yes. I'm so excited, I could burst." I followed Anne outside to wait on the bench waiting for Mathew Cuthbert to arrive.

Mrs. Spencer left us with with the man in charge of the station until he came. "What do you think they will be like? I'm desperately wanting to know their story's." "Anne, we can't just openly ask them to tell their entire life story's to us. We all need to get to know each other and build trust." "How are you not dying to know? What if it was a romance that ended tragically or they lost the battle of winning the heart of their love to another?" I looked down and smiled. I was curious as well, but convinced myself to wait. "If they wish to tell us, they can. Let's get settled and get to know each other first, give it time." She sighed and looked around the train station. I actually am curious but I wouldn't ask unless they chose, if at all, to talk about themselves. I glanced around just like Anne and was taking everything into memory.