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37. the perfect revenge

Everyone was at the Avonlea town hall council meeting.

For weeks now there had been rumours and robberies, trouble and gossip and everybody was desperate for it all to be cleared up and come to a finish. Many people showed up early, filtering into the town hall as the morning dawned. There was a loud hubbub of nervous chatter and anxious whispers, flitting eyes and tapping feet. The anticipation was bubbling for possibly hearing the truth of the matters and bring an end to all of the chaos, uncertainty and worry that had plagued their town for so long.

The reasonably small town hall which was usually only used for school shows and fairs, small group sessions and the annual council meetings was packed to the edges, with extra seats brought in from nearby houses and those stored in the hall's attics. The incessant scraping of chairs being moved as people entered the hall and joined the rows of seats had frightened away all of the birds nesting in the usually peaceful roof. The hall was easily the most packed it had been in years.

The Barrys were there naturally, as were the rest of the council such as the formidable Rachel Lynde - who despite her voiced concern was secretly revelling in all of the drama and gossip. She'd heard every rumour although surprisingly Marilla had not mentioned a word of any of it to her, considering the majority of the rumours concerned Anne. Rachel definately didn't believe that Anne had robbed anyone but she highly enjoyed the tales of a highway hiest upon Mr Barry's wagon by masked bandits which had been circulating Avonlea the past week. That particular rumour was most thrilling.

Also settled in the seats were the Gillis family, the Pyes, Mr and Mrs Sturgeon, Gilbert's friend Charlie Sloane and his family, along with the families from Orchard Way who were victims of the robberies. Other victims from houses scattered across Avonlea were waiting impatiently for the meeting to begin.

At the back was a very humiliated Mr and Mrs Andrews. Mrs Andrews sat beside her daughters Prissy and Jane, with a smug-faced Billy stowed next to his father. Billy had bragged to his parents about what he'd done to Anne and they had been furious. If it came out he had basically kidnapped Anne in a barn it would be a scandal. Mrs Andrews thought it was a wicked thing to do and was unbearably ashamed of her son. Billy as a child had held a sensitive side which had slowly been drained from him as he got older. Mrs Andrews resented her husband Mr Andrews for turning their son into a bully and blamed him entirely for his behaviour.

"I hear Mrs Andrews didn't want to come along to our meeting today," Rachel Lynde said conspirationally to the man sitting beside her.

The man tended to always find out the latest gossip in Avonlea due to being seated next to her and he didn't mind one bit. Rachel didn't care who's ear she was talking off as long as they didn't interrupt when she was telling all she knew, which usually tended to be a lot.

"There was a great shouting match just yesterday, I was told by their neighbour... both of them yelling at their son as though he'd gone off and done them quite the shame - they're not at all happy with young Billy. Although he looks very pleased with himself if you ask me. Now, I don't know all the details as to why they're angry," Rachel continued. "Well, I don't doubt it'll all come out... Everything does, eventually. That's what this meeting is about. Geting the truth of things out there for all. There's been some mighty worrying rumours of course but what are we to believe? Mr Barry wants to set things straight."

The meeting was called in order and the people settled, a tangible hush falling upon the room. The council members turned to Mr Barry who stood and cleared his throat. He felt unusually nervous, so he turned to look at his wife in the audience and she nodded slightly.

Mrs Barry was not happy about the arrest of Anne and meant to stop it if she could but she knew her husband had not intended for this to happen. She had told him it would be best to organise the recovery of the missing items and a team to go up to Wolfsden Prison in Caipsetown where poor Anne had been taken. What Mr Barry decided to do with her advice was his responsibility and the consequences of them were on his head.