Eudaimonia (A GIlbert Blythe Love Story)

Chapter Two: Beginning of an Adventure

This girl had lived there for the past three years and spent her time running through the town. Everyday had been rather the same, ordinary even. This day would however prove to be a rather unordinary day. This day would be the day her adventure began. This day had begun like any other. Theodora woke up and ran down the stairs. The cooks had made breakfast which was too much as always. She ate a piece of toast and then told the cook what she always did which was to eat some and feed her child who also worked on the grounds. It was met with a simple nod and then she started to run up the stairs once more to prepare herself for the day. When a voice yelled out as she left the table and headed towards the stairs at a sprint, "Theodora it is not ladylike to run"

Theodora halted and responded, "I apologize Mother. I'll try to remember,'' she stated and got ready and then bid her mother goodbye and walked until she was out of her mother's sight and then ran to the docks as she did everyday. She loved to watch in amazement as the steamboats came to dock and the men who worked them got off and the passengers who had traveled all over the world stepped off. Each person with their own amazing stories that they could tell.

She arrived as quickly as her legs could take her. Today was like any other as the steamboat came to dock. Well-dressed men and women always came off first, gasping at the city while holding their lovers hands. Their children talking loudly and jumping up and down. Some of them walked off shakely, due to what many called sea legs. After the passengers, the crew walked off. The crew consisted of very few women, They most likely cleaned some areas of the ships and maybe cooked. The majority of the crew consisted of men who were covered in soot and sweat from shoveling coal all day.

Once everyone was off the boat, Theo ran through the town. Stopping to smile at some of the men and women selling food and goods they had made. Everyday was different things being sold but everyday it smelled amazing. She stopped when she saw a man selling food that looked delicious and she realized that she had grown hungry.

"Good afternoon, how much for a bowl" she said and he named a price for a bowl and she handed him the money graciously and smiled in thanks before taking a bite of the food.

"Miss you gave too much" He said, as he kept his eyes on the ground below him. She smiled in his direction.

"I meant to sir. The food is most delicious, thank you" she said giving him one final smile and a thank you as she turned to walk away she bumped into a tall man covered in soot who seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere as he kept telling his friend to stop asking to stop for the food around them.

"My apologies, Miss. I did not mean any harm." she heard the man say and she smiled and looked up at his face. He continued to refuse to make any eye contact.

"It is quite alright, sir," she smiled and brushed her hands on her dress, "Do you work on the steamer that just came to port?" she questioned excitedly.

"Yes, Miss" the man said, she rolled her eyes.

"There is no need to call me miss, my name is Theodora but you can call me Theo" she held out her hand as he took it and quickly shook it. He kept glancing around them to see if anyone was noticing the interaction.

"Okay, Theo. My name is Bash and this is Gilbert" she finally took full notice of the skinny boy standing next to the man, Bash.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss" Gilbert said.

"Do you work on the steamer too?" Theo spoke with a smile, "And as I said please call me Theo"

"Yes" Gilbert responded with a smile on his face as he took off his cap and nodded his head toward the girl.

"It just must be so wondrous to travel. I would love to see the world and write about all the things I saw and about all of my travels" she rambled slightly, "Well, It was a pleasure to meet you Bash, Gilbert perhaps we will see each other again" She turned once more and walked toward her home with a smile on her face that she couldn't wipe away but she wasn't quite sure why..

Once she arrived, she went to the kitchen to help the cook prepare tea for herself and her mother. Once they were nearly done, she was about to call her mother, just as her mother appeared at the door of the kitchen, "Oh mother just in time, would you like some tea?"

"Please, darling" her mother responded as she grabbed the cups and began to sit them on the table, "Oh, I have forgotten to tell you I have some news that I am very excited to tell you"

"Wonderful! What is it, Mother?" Theodora said as the two sat down to have tea.

"Well seeing as you enjoy watching the steamboats come to port, how would you like to travel on one?" he mother asked, calmly.

The girl smiled hoping that what she was thinking about is what her mother is going to say, "Oh I would love nothing more. It would bring me so much joy."

Her mother let out a laugh at her daughter's excitement, "Well, I wrote to your cousins a month ago to ask if you were to take passage if they would care for you while you are there and they wrote that they would love for you to visit."

"That is the wonderful news I could have ever heard, how long will my visit be?" Theo's smile grew more knowing that she would be able to travel somewhere new.

"Well Theodora they have offered to take you in indefinitely so you could stay and attend college there." The joy of the news sent her over the moon. She was nearly jumping for joy but kept it in control as to not hear another lecture from her mother.

"Really mother" Theodora stood quickly and ran to her mother. She wrapped her arms around the woman, "When do I leave?" she asked her arms still wrapped around the woman.

"The boat that came to port today is the one you will be taking. It is meant to leave tomorrow. Seeing as this is so last minute for you at least i have packed some of you items while you were away today" Her mother replied, "But ive only packed you clothing so if you wish to take any of your journals you should go and pack"

Her mother smiled at the excitement of her daughter and how excited she was for the trip. She knew she would miss her daughter greatly but she knew this is what her daughter always wanted to do and she was not going to hold her back from her dreams.

"Thank you" Theo began to run to her room. Turning back to give her mother a final kiss and hug before running to her room.

"Theodora what have I told you about running" her mother spoke.

Theo only replied with a smile.