Welcome to Avonlea

Chapter 3

I was becoming more nervous about what will happen after we reach Mrs. Spencer. Would we be sent back or to help another family? My hands twisted my skirt trying to stay calm. Hearing seagulls, I turned enough to see the ocean. It still looked so beautiful. "I wish I was a seagull. They're the most carefree of all the birds, don't you think?" Anne was all over the place pointing things out. "Look, wild roses! Isn't pink the most bewitching color? I love it, but I can't wear it. Redheaded people can't wear it even in their imagination. Do you know of anybody whose hair was red when she was younger, but got to be another color when she grew up?" "I shouldn't think it likely." "There's another hope gone. 'My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes'. I read that sentence in a book once. I say it to comfort myself whenever I'm disappointed in anything." "I don't see where the comforting comes in, myself." "Because it sounds so romantic, as if I were a heroine in a storybook." "You must have gone to school." "Not a great deal, although Lydia and I went when we were at the asylum. I love school." "She said not a lot knew how to read." Anne sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. Some don't see it as important. If you want to be something great then you must learn." "Hmm." "When we're in a household with so much to attend to, the children, the cooking, the chores, it just wasn't an option."

I looked around and saw just how many small or large ponds there were. "Is there a reason Green Gables is so secluded?" "Reason? My family wasn't inclined to idle chatter." "Do you miss your parents terribly?" My eyes closed hearing that. "They lived good Christian lives. Can't begrudge God for bringing them home." I looked at the sky. I never really thought about religion. We never really had access to a Bible of any kind. Only ever heard maybe a prayer, which was rare. "I suppose not." "You suppose not? Why is it you and your sister find yourself orphans?" "It happened when we were infants." "I'd like to know the circumstances, you've a mind to tell them." "I don't mind telling stories. 'Somewhere in a far-off land, in a place whose name I do not care to remember, a gentleman lived not long ago. One of the with a lance, and an ancient shield on a shelf who keeps a skinny nag and a greyhound for racing-" "How dare you!" "What?" "Do you take me for a fool?" "Well, it's just a much better story than mine." "I didn't ask for any story, I asked for yours. If you can't tell the truth, then I have no time for you." "If you let me what I imagine about mys-" "They died from typhoid fever when we were three months old." I cut Anne off. Ms. Cuthbert turned looked at me but I glanced back out to the area around us. "I'm sorry." "No. I should of said it when you asked. We've been earning our keep for as long as we can remember. We were lucky being out of the asylum instead of in. I never understood it. If children are such a burden, then why do people have so many of them? Nevertheless, it's a shame I'll never have the opportunity." "What do you mean?" "To be one." I sighed and messed with my skirt again.

My head turned hearing a dog barking. It frightened the horse making it raise up causing the buggy to roll back. "Anne!" I jumped off the side when she fell from her seat. "Anne!" I went to the horse petting it while grabbing the reins. "No! Go home! Go home!" I smiled seeing the dog listened and ran off. "Shh. You're okay." I got ahold of the reins on the other side of Mare's head. "Shh." I petted from between her eyes to her velvety nose. "You're fine. The big scary dog is gone." She nickered at me as if offended. "Please. You could of kicked the dog off the island." I finished petting then went to get back on the back part of the buggy. "Oh, my lord! Are you all right?" "Yeah. I'm fine." "Wasn't that an adventure?" "Wasn't it just! You sure you're all right?" Anne was getting back in front. "Mm-hm." Ms. Cuthbert got back on and looked at us. "You were both very level-headed." "We're used to a ruckus." She got the horse to go again and we could only wait to see what would happen.

I paid no attention to anything since she hasn't turned the buggy around. When we came to a stop, I blinked and glanced around. We got off and walking into a beautiful garden with a wonderful looking home. "My, you're the last folks I was looking for today, but I'm real glad to see you." I looked away not wanting to see Mrs. Spencer. "And how are you two doing, Anne, Lydia." "I'm well enough thank you." I glanced at her for a moment. "Fine, thank you." I was back to being quiet. "What brings you by, Ms. Cuthbert?" "Well, that fact is, Mrs. Spencer, there's been a queer mistake somewhere. I've come over to see where it is. Matthew and I sent word for you to bring two boys from the asylum. We told your brother Robert that we wanted boys." "Marilla Cuthbert you don't say so! But Robert sent word through his daughter Nancy that you wanted girls. Oh, that Nancy's a terrible flighty thing. I've often had to scold her for her heedlessness. I'm dreadfully sorry about this." "It was our own fault. We should of come to you ourselves, and not left a important message to be handed on by word of mouth. However, the mistake has been made, and the only thing to do is set it right."