Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I got mine three months ago, and I feel extremely mature." "You seem mature." Diana complements Josie. "You do." Says Tillie. "I think the boys take me more seriously, too." "But they can't tell. Can they tell? That would be awful." I put my hand on Anne's shoulder. "Not tell, per se, but I'm not a little girl anymore, and I believe that is noticeable. My bosoms are growing." I chuckle. "Sorry."
"Yet another reason why this is inexplicable." "I got mine last year." "Me too." I tell them. "Really?" Ruby asks with tears in her eyes. "My father had started opening the door for me. It's sweet." "I can't wait until I can wear my hair up."
"I wear my hair up." I say, pointing at my ponytail. "Not like that. Up, as in clique up." Josie explains. Ruby begins to sniffle. "Ruby what's wrong?" I ask. "I'm not a woman. Why don't I have it?" "Trust me, if I could give you mine, I would. This is so inconvenient." Anne says, raising her voice. "Hush, Anne." "Keep your voice down!"
"No one is supposed to know. A woman's cycle is a shameful thing." "Why" Anne ask. "Because we are all gonna die?" I say. "No we're not. It's unmentionable, that's why." "That's not a reason." "Why don't you ever understand anything?" Josie says rude. "Mean!" I comment.
"Marilla says it's God's plan, so doesn't that make it good? I mean we can make a whole person. Where's the shame for that?" "Am I the only one who thinks she's out of her mind?" Josie asks. "It's a secret, Anne. That's just the way it is." "Do boys have to contend with anything like this?" "Boys have their own problems." I explain.
"Why are they doing that? Ruby points at the window. We all stand up looking through the window. Two boys are smacking sticks against the trees. "There's a question for the ages." We all sit down again. "When I get mine, I stay home from school, because I don't want to have an accident." Tillie says making a " with her fingers.
"Accident?" Anne's face goes from normal to frighteningly. "There was this girl a few years ago who bled through right the back of her dress." "Oh, I would die of mortification." All I could think of is the day that, that girl bled through her dress. Was I sick that day?
"The teacher called her up to the blackboard, and everybody saw." "I would just die." Tillie said again. "We know Tillie. It's clear that you'll die." I tell her. "Don't worry Anne. I don't think that it would happen that fast." I say, trying to comfort her.
➸
"Which districts comprise the Prairies? Grace?" I look up to mr. Phillips and then stand up from my seat. "The districts of Athabasca, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Assiniboia." I answer, doubting if it is the good answer. "That is a clever student. Anne, which provinces comprise the Atlantic Maritimes?" I sit back down and look at Anne.
She sighs and stands up. When she stands she puts her hands behind her back. I get it, she is scared that she bled through her dress. "I'm sorry, what was the question?" "Could you not hear me?" Mr. Phillips asks. "Was I not speaking loudly enough?" He raises his voice. "I'm sorry. I just-" "the Atlantic Maritimes!" Josie chuckles and I smack her arm.
"Sometime today."
➸
"Are we going to our tree?" I ask Gilbert. "I can't, sorry. I told my dad that I'd come straight back home." "That's okay, I get it. Do you want me to walk with you?" I ask, while we walk to our coats. "Yes, that's what we always do." I nod and put on my coat.
"Worst. Day. Ever." Anne says taking her coat of the rack. "Nice boys never say people eat insects." "I beg your pardon?" Diana says when she puts one her coat. "It's a mnemonic device. It helps you remember things, right? That's uh, The Maritimes. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI. 'Nice boys-'" "Diana could you please tell Gilbert Blythe that I don't need his help?"
"Why don't you tell him yourself?" I ask when I put on my hat. "Yeah, I'm right here." "I suppose I just did." I try to hold my laugh. Gilbert rolls his eyes at me and says, " Mnemonics is spelled with 'M' not that you need my help or anything." He takes a deep breath. "Have a good weekend." He nods at me and I get what he means. "You too." Diana says. I smack the grin off Gilbert's face, and push him out of the door.
Once out of the door we burst in laughter. "And the price for most stubborn person goes to... Anne." I mimic someone that gives people prices. "The first person that is at my house gets to put a lot of sugar in the others tea." Gilbert says, speeding his pas. "That's not fair you are a better sprinter." I shout, running after him.
