In the Woods When First We Met

141. Hiding Or Healing

After they left school, Anne seemed to be in a fog.

She gripped the note from Mr. Phillips tightly in her hand.

"It's Friday, at least," Gilbert said, looking at her. "Couple of days at home might be good. No school."

Gilbert did not like when she was quiet.

When Anne talked, it reminded him of the phrase "showers of blessing". She kept a fountain as a pet, filling it with her words, and Gilbert would sit by that fountain every day if he could, tossing pennies into it and making wishes. But when she grew quiet, it was like a gale was brewing inside her; he could see the storm clouds behind her eyes. He wished she'd start talking...about anything.

Finally he asked, "Are you going to look at that note?"

"It's for Marilla," she said distractedly, sounding as if the note didn't have anything to do with her.

He nodded. "That's true."

He hoped Mr. Phillips's note didn't say anything about her being in the privy with a boy. But he wasn't going to push her to read it if she didn't want to. Anyway, she was doing the right thing, technically- the note was for a parent, she wasn't meant to look at it. ...But Gilbert wished she would; the more information they had, the better prepared they could be.

When they reached Anne's property, Gilbert said, "Why don't I come in with you?"

"You can't," Anne said flatly.

"She's going to wonder why you came home at lunchtime," Gilbert pointed out. "Can't I just be a random classmate who walked you home?"

Anne briefly considered that. Then she said, "No. If you come in, you might start talking."

This made Gilbert sad.

Then he said, "Anne, it kills me to push you because I really don't want to-"

"Then don't," Anne interrupted.

"I know, but you don't have time anymore. School will be over at three o'clock today and too many people know, someone's going to go home and start talking. This is coming out."

She bit her lip.

Gilbert pleaded, "Let me come with you. I'll do it all for you, you don't have to do anything. Please, Anne."

"No," she said. "I'm going to tell them myself. I'll get it done...sometime. I doubt they'll go into town at all this weekend. ...I just need a day to think. Before school on Monday...wait, no, there's church, and that's in town," she realized. "Ok. Before church on Sunday, they'll know."

She nodded her head firmly as if to settle it in her mind.

He nodded. "Good," he said, but he wished he had more confidence in her plan.

Anne looked down at the note she was holding, the one from Mr. Phillips.

She decided she would read it after all. She opened it.

Mr. and Miss Cuthbert,

Your child has come to school sick far too many times. I am requesting that you keep her home temporarily. It shows a lack of respect for my role as an educator when parents send children to me who are obviously ill, as I am then exposed to their illnesses and the excellent quality of my teaching is affected. I cannot be expected to teach a student who comes to school unable to unprepared to learn.

Please ensure that you do not send her back to me until you are confident she is well enough to attend without disrupting my teaching.

Mr. Phillips