Possibility (Gilbert Blythe)

Chapter nine

"And then I told him that: No I don't want to travel the entire planet just so you can get an invitation to a royal dinner. Well after that remark they kicked me out. I'm mostly okay with it as my uncle contacted me before and it is him I'm headed too" Shared Aidan as we strolled down the road.

I had no clue how many similar stories of orphaned children existed in the world, but Aidan's story of being contacted by a long-lost relative was new to me. This was a wish I knew many of us kept; faith in other family members finding us lost in the world. However, there were not many cases of this, therefore I never dared wish this upon myself as I thought it irrational. I confided my thoughts with Aidan, who understood what I meant and who had never wished this himself. It took him by surprise when he received the letter, and he did have a certain skepticism to it all. Once he received a certain conformation and money to travel, he saw no harm and was filled with utter joy.

"Well, it is indeed lovely to hear happy endings to tales," I told him as I peeked up at the blue skies. "You're quite right. We are just children after all" His grip around my waist abruptly tightened, as if he was saddened by the thought of his experiences, which I understood more than anything.

As the scenery had grown to a heavy one, I asked: "Perhaps we better take a rest?" I wanted to take our minds of anything else and the travel had caused my arms to go sore. Aidan agreed and surveyed the area for a small patch of green where I steered the horse. It happily strolled over to the longest straws, and I hurled myself over, my feet landing on the soil. It was an unexpected, lovely feeling to plant my shoes in the soil again.

"Does the horse have a name?" Aidan suddenly asked and it dawned on me that I had no idea what the horses' name was. I never really called it by anything other than a horse. My love for the horse was strong of course, but the Cuthbert's never instructed me with a name. "No," I told.

"My previous caretakers didn't name their horse either" He petted the horses' neck long and softly. "Perhaps it's not custom to apply names to one's animals," I told him.

"I disagree. Their kitten's name was Mittens"

"Well that is rather un-imaginative" I snorted out a laugh.

"What would you call it?"

"Why, I would need time to dwell out a proper name, but perhaps Alexander. It's a very strong name"

This time he snorted out a laugh. "Yes for a one-hundred-and-ninety centimeter tall muscular man with an ax"

"Whoever said a kitten cannot be muscular?" I played a joke as the laughter grew. My hands fell inside of my trousers as I scanned the remaining road. I had never gone this road before and I did not know how long we were supposed to travel, but a feeling in my gut told me it was not far away.

"May I ask you a question as to why you wear pants?" Aidan's voice sounded right beside my left ear. I took a step to the side as his close figurine made the butterflies rise and he tilted his head to the side.

"It's not particularly practical to ride in dresses," I told him as I ascended the horse again. I did understand his question, but it did indeed leave a slight intuitive feeling that he might not find it appropriate.

"Better that way I suppose. Do you..." He scanned out the area again, to where I had studied. "..know how long it's left or if this is the right way?" He asked.

"Do you not trust a stranger enough to know the way?" I asked as a joke, but his straight facial expression left me baffled.

"Yes of course this is the right way, however, I do not know how long it is left," I told him. It left me wondering if the reason I am a girl, was a factor he took into his equation.