Part 2 of "The Three of Us"

Untitled Part 8

Jellybean is still missing.

But I finally wrote some more story anyway.

If you are the praying kind, please pray he comes back. He's been gone two months now and it's starting to get really cold outside and it has snowed twice so far. I have- and still am- doing everything possible to find him...I've gotten all the tips about what to do...but nothing is working (yet).

Anyway....So....It's been so long that y'all probably forgot what even happened: Gilbert just had his first day of teaching. He's using his teaching certificate to teach Avonlea school while he does his Redmond courses by correspondence (which is what he and Anne did in the book series). Now he's about to tell Anne how his first day of teaching. Also it's September and their wedding is in December so Anne is working on stuff for their home together too.

—-

"It was...rough," Gilbert said. "Thank you," he added gratefully as Anne poured him some juice.

"Rough how?" she asked, sitting down to join him.

"The older ones keep calling me Gilbert," he began. "They're not being obstinate, they're just so used to me being Gilbert! ...It's so awkward to have to remind them I'm supposed to be Mr. Blythe now."

"Well, you'll have to keep it up," she told him wisely. "They'll never see you as a real teacher if they call you Gilbert the same as if you're still their chum. It's all about establishing yourself as a professional."

"I know," Gilbert nodded. "Just imagine if someone from the school board heard them call me by my first name during class! ...There are a few older ones who are kind of testing me, too. Bully-types. They're seeing if I'll back down when they challenge me. And that's not my only problem," he said slowly, looking down. Quietly, he said, "The younger girls giggle at me and blush when I talk to them."

Gilbert's face was red, but Anne couldn't help laughing. "I'm sorry, Gilbert, it's not funny, really," she said, a grin still on her face. "It isn't your fault you're charming and attractive."

"I'm glad you think so," he said, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "But I don't need the whole school thinking it! I ignore them, but it's embarrassing."

Then something worse hit him. "I hope they don't think I'm the new Mr. Phillips! They're children to me and it isn't becoming of a teacher to pursue them. Ugh. I wish they'd stop."

"They will," Anne assured him. "As long as you maintain a professional distance, they'll stop. And if they don't then surely they'll stop once you and I are married, because you're no longer available. Remember how Ruby finally gave you up?"

"Well, this is like having fifteen Ruby Gillis's all in one room," Gilbert said to her. "But maybe you're right. I hope so."

—-

Two weeks later Gilbert was still struggling, but things were slowly improving.

"You know, it's funny," Anne commented later to Marilla and Matthew. "I thought I would feel jealous of him and I don't. Of course not being a teacher will always be a disappointment to me."

"You're a teacher at Sunday School," Marilla pointed out, thinking that religion was just as important as academics, if not more.

"But it's not the same," Anne explained. "I like having my little class, but...but it's just not the same."

Matthew reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze.

Anne smiled at him and went on, "But I'm not a bit jealous of Gilbert! On the contrary I just feel proud of him! It makes me happy to know he's doing so well."