In the Woods When First We Met

104. A Harbinger of Glad Tidings

When will it be spring? she thought miserably as she walked toward the woods.

As if he'd read her mind, the first thing Gilbert said when she approached him was, "I read in the farmers' almanac that we're supposed to have a short winter this year."

"That's music to my ears," Anne said, lifting her boots higher to trudge up the hill. "Winter isn't doing much for my spirits."

"Well...you've got a lot going on," he said quietly, looking at her from the side.

She looked down.

"The shortened daylight isn't good for anybody." He finished. "But it won't be long."

Anne looked at him. "Well you, Gilbert Blythe, are a harbinger of glad tidings."

Gilbert laughed. Something about the way she spoke brightened his days.

Other people just...talked. They had a thought, and that thought came out of their mouth straight like an arrow.

But Anne had a million thoughts swirling around in her mind like snowflakes, every one unique, and before she let them go, she dressed them up as if preparing a Christmas tree.

"I hope so! They're saying only about twelve weeks of cold weather, maybe even a bit less," he told her.

Anne stopped. "Of course winter could drag out forever...so I'm glad it won't...but....when you say it that way it sounds like a long time...maybe if I re-phrase it? Twelve weeks is three months." She thought about that a moment, then she shook her head. "No, saying three months makes it worse."

"Eleven weeks," he corrected. "We've already had one."

Anne nodded. "Thank you for pointing that out. It helps immensely. Eleven does sound like a lot less than twelve."

"Glad I could help," Gilbert said, smiling at her.

"Is the farmers' almanac usually very accurate?" She asked now.

Gilbert nodded. "Oh, absolutely. You can set your watch by it."

This may not necessarily be true, he thought, but she didn't need to know that.

"Winter'll be over before you know it." He said confidently.