In the Woods When First We Met

126. Baby Presents

"You bringing up babies reminds me," Marilla announced, "Emily Perkins asked us to come visit her. Her baby is a few weeks old now, and they're starting to receive visitors."

Anne did not want to go see the baby.

"Marilla," she said, "Do I have to go? I don't even know them."

Marilla looked surprised. "Emily mentioned to me to be sure I brought you along. She wants to meet you."

"All right," Anne said sadly.

"Cheer up," Marilla told her. "You just said you'd like to do some babysitting. Maybe Emily will let you help her with the baby."

Anne inwardly groaned. She really had no desire to even go see Emily's baby, let alone take care of it.

"Okay," Anne said, resigned. "Do we have to bring her something?"

Marilla shook her head. "Well, I'll bring along a casserole for them. And we should take her some of our Christmas cookies. But no, I already gave them a gift at her baby shower."

"What's a baby shower?" Anne asked.

"You don't know? I'd have thought with all your child care experience, you'd have seen them before."

Anne shook her head. "No one I was with ever had a baby shower."

"Oh," Marilla said, "Well, it's a party. When a baby is coming, friends and relative all come together and have a little party for the mother-to-be. Pretty little treats to eat, and games. And everyone brings presents."

"I didn't know you got to have a party just for having a baby," Anne said. "What kind of presents?"

"Everything the baby will need," Marilla answered.

That disappointed Anne. The presents would be boring, if they were just things for a baby.

But on the other hand, at least it helped provide for the baby. She'd been wondering how she was going to get all the things she'd need for the little creature.

But then she thought that even if the presents were boring, it would be sort of exciting to get to open presents at all, no matter what they were.

"I suppose having a party and getting presents makes having a baby not be such a tragical event."

Marilla laughed in her surprise. "Why, Anne! A baby is a happy occasion. And one's friends and family are delighted to join in in welcoming the little one."

Anne's heart sank at Marilla's words. Of course your friends and family are happy to welcome it, if it had been done properly. Who would be excited to welcome a baby when it's mother was unmarried?

Besides, Emily was grown up. She thought Emily was at least 21 or 22. All Emily's friends were grown up ladies, too. All Anne's friends- well, the ones she was eager to call friends-were just young girls themselves. They wouldn't know anything about hosting baby parties and giving baby gifts.