Welcome to Avonlea

Chapter 24

I fell back on my bed finishing the first book and over halfway on the next,  then finally getting started on the rest of my series. I almost had a fainting spell when I visited Mr. Benedict to receive the amount for this year. Marilla and Matthew still have no idea that I had money sent to their bank again. I took in a deep breath relaxing. They would be able to live comfortably until I gave them more next year, I should say live comfortably for years from my first time getting royalties, and I myself would be able to go wherever I choose for schooling to be a tutor. A part of me wanted to stay in Avonlea but the other part wanted to explore a little. I pulled at my braid seeing it hasn't changed color since the soiree, the same dark red. Marilla did have to cut some since it fell even in a braid past my abdomen. "Lydia! We need to go. We're going to be late." I sat up quickly and rushed downstairs.

I stared as the boys skated around on the ice playing hockey. "Hey Anne. Hey Lydia." "Hi." I continued to watch them play. "Ruby, you're supposed to be covering the game." I looked at her and saw where her eyes were watching. "Where are the highlights? Do you even know the score?" "It's just a school newspaper Anne, not The Daily Telegraph." I was was becoming sick of Ruby's attitude since she finally started her cycle. She was doing everything she could to get Gilbert's attention. But ignored Josie. "We don't even need an article about the game- we're all here." "She's busy ogling you know who." I brushed ice away after Billy stopped in front of us, showing obvious interest in Josie. "Cad! Bounder!" "Josie! You really caught Billy's eye!" "All right. I'll write the article." "Wouldn't an actual author want to write it?" I still ignored Josie. "Who are the team captains this week?" "Gilbert." "And?" "Whoever." Diana stood next to me. She was observing the game like I was, though I did show more interest. "Diana." Moody skated by but almost fell. "Going to take pity of poor Moody?" "You know my family won't allow it." "Too rich to be a ministers wife." "Ignore her. She has a dog chasing her." I got Diana to chuckle quietly. "Isn't Ruby covering the game?" I looked between Gilbert and Anne. "Ruby's very preoccupied." "Very preoccupied." She looked at me quickly. I stared back and shrugged. She looked back and smiled at Gilbert who looked uncomfortable. I clapped a few times catching attention. "Back in the game. I want to know who beats who." He smiled glancing for a moment and skated off. "He noticed me. He looked right at me and smiled." "You're delusional." "Ruby Blythe." I felt a knot hearing her. But something else caught my attention.

I smiled and waved at the girl getting one back. I left the others and walked over to them. "My sticks too short for me this year." "Be a man, take the blame. Your stick isn't lousy, you are." "Oh, they're here! Now we'll see just how badly you're going to swallow your words Billy boy." "Hello." They both looked at me. "My name's Lydia." I held my hand out to them. The girl looked at the man who must be her father until he nodded his head. She smiled and shook it. "Good afternoon. I'd like to order another stick, if I may?" I looked at Gilbert as he reached into his pocket. "Uh... I brought money." The man reached forward and took only half of what Gilbert was holding out. "Yes, we make for you. Bring when ready." "So when may I expect it?" "When ready." I giggled which caught his attention. I looked at the girls hair. "Your hair is beautiful." She smiled and nodded her head. "Hello there. I'd like to write an article about you and how you make your splendid sticks. Would that be possible?" "What is ar-ti-cal?" "I would ask you questions, learn about you, your work, and write it down for people to read. Like this." The girl stepped forward taking the paper from Anne. I saw the man shaking his head. I had a small smile hearing them speaking in their own language. "I see. Smart. Yes." "May I come visit your home later? To begin- so I could-" "Hey. Make me a stick?" I glared at Billy. "I'll trade you for it." He held out a handkerchief he just wiped his forehead with and tossed it at him. The girl picked it up and threw it back. I liked her. The man seemed to reprimand her. "Watch where you step redskin." They turned to leave. "I'm sorry, he's very rude." "He really doesn't know how to be a decent human being." The girl turned to look at us. "Can I still visit later?" "It is a long way and not easy." "Anything that's worth having is some trouble." "That way. Past all the fences. Go away from the ocean to the dead tree. Find the thin water that moves, travel upstream until all around you is green trees. Walk with the water the way the sun goes down, until the land grows flat and open. Our home is there." "It sounds like a poetic paradise." "May I come?" I looked between her and the man. They both nodded. "It was nice to meet you." She smiled walking towards the man, I smiled and waved at him.