In the Woods When First We Met

129. After Christmas

The first day back to school after Christmas was a happy day because Anne got to see Diana.

While Diana tried to be very modest about her Christmas, and felt uncomfortable bragging about her gifts, Anne asked so many questions that Diana eventually was forced to explain the minute details of every single present she had received. Anne did not think it was bragging in the slightest, and she loved hearing about the new cranberry colored taffeta gown and the fur muff and the kid gloves and the ruffled pillow sham and the tiny little locket on a silver chain. When Diana finally reached the end of her rundown of gifts, feeling as if she'd been horribly boastful, she still wasn't finished- Anne then turned to her for descriptions of Minnie May's presents. Anne had never owned a doll in her life, and delighted in hearing about Minnie May's new china doll that had come with a miniature porcelain tea set and a trunk full of seven dresses- one for every day of the week, Minnie May had said proudly- and a little pink bed and a vanity table with a pitcher and a teeny tiny lace towel.

Diana was pleased to hear about how much her help with the kettleholder had contributed to making a happy Christmas for Anne. Best of all, she said that her mother seemed to have gotten over her distrust of Anne, and perhaps full of the holiday spirit, had told Diana she was free to have Anne come over after school one day.

Anne was also relieved to see that Billy still wasn't paying any attention to her. That helped her mood immensely.

After school on Monday, Jane approached Anne.

Jane's guilt over her brother's actions instilled in her a deep need to show friendship to Anne. She made a commitment to herself to do the right thing since her brother wouldn't.

"Anne," she said, "Would you like to come over to my house after school?"

Anne was momentarily exhilarated at being asked over to one of the girls houses.

But then her face fell.

She wished that the one girl who seemed insistent on becoming her friend was not the same one girl whose house she never wanted to set foot in.

...But Jane's face seemed to fall at exactly the same time Anne's did, as if Jane too had realized some aspect of inviting Anne to her house that wouldn't work.

"Maybe going to my house isn't a good idea after all," Jane said, treading carefully.

What did I do wrong? Anne wondered sadly. She didn't want to go, but she hated to think Jane had changed her mind and didn't want her there.

Jane looked as if she wanted to say something more, but didn't. She told Anne she'd see her tomorrow and she gathered up her things, leaving with her brother and sister.

When Jane thought about Anne later, she wondered if she should tell her parents about what Billy had done.

She did not want her brother to get in trouble.

She'd thought if she could get Billy to change- if Billy could treat Anne with kindness- then Anne would start to feel better, and they could all be ok.

But Billy wasn't going to change and Anne wasn't going to be okay no matter what Billy did.

He really messed her up, Jane thought sadly. And it's going to take more than a few compliments from Billy to make her happy again.