Barbara's Triumph

A short story about Barbara Shaw, who, some of you may remember, was a pupil of Anne's at Avonlea School. A rather scatterbrained, accident-prone pupil. Anyway, I like writing about the minor characters in books, and I had a particular affection for Barbara, knowing something about being accident-prone myself.

Chapter 1. Of Barbara.

"Is it true? Barbara Shaw has been given Avonlea School?" Mrs. Jessie Spencer asked of Mrs. Rachel Lynde, in the kitchen of Green Gables.

"It's true enough," replied Mrs. Rachel, knitting away comfortably, "Mr. Pete Sloane told me so himself, and being on the school board, I reckon he's as good an authority as anyone on the subject, that's what."

Mrs. Jessie shook her grey-curled head doubtfully. "Barbara Shaw, teaching school? I don't know. I heard that she did very well in Queen's, but…"

"She's hopelessly harum-scarum?" Mrs. Rachel nodded wisely. "I well remember when Anne taught her at school. Such an awkward, accident-prone of a girl there never was! If she could walk down the aisle without tripping over her own feet it was a day to be celebrated. But she's come a long way, that's what, Jessie, and I reckon she'll do real well at teaching Avonlea School."

"But don't you remember what happened at church the first Sunday she was home from Queen's?" persisted Mrs. Jessie. "The way she sat twitching so queer during the whole of the sermon, and then, when it was time to go, hopped out of church?"

"I do," Mrs. Rachel conceded. "That made real talk. But Josephine Shaw told me later, at Carter Flagg's store, that after she scolded her, Barbara had explained that a spider had got into her shoe, and of course, she couldn't do anything about it during the sermon, so that's why she was twitching about. And apparently she hopped out of church for fear that she would squash the creature dead if she walked on the shoe that it was in."

"But it looked so queer! And she's still so scatter-brained!" Mrs. Jessie continued. "Remember when, one of the weekends she was home from Queen's, some of the young folks got up a concert at Avonlea Hall? Barbara was reciting "The Lady of Shallott" but forgot the verses half-way through? And then she began to hiccup?"

"Well, that was rather alarming," admitted Mrs. Rachel. "But probably that was because she was so nervous. She's awful awkward reciting in public."

"And I heard Prillie Rodgerson wanted the school. Prillie's a nice, well-mannered, girl," said Mrs. Jessie.

"Nobody said that Barbara wasn't," retorted Mrs. Rachel, "And Prillie's nice enough, but the way she flirts is something scandalous, that's what. All the Rodgerson girls flirt."

Mrs. Jessie sniffed. "Well, Rachel, she does have a reason. She's the prettiest girl in Avonlea. Barbara, now…well, well, that doesn't matter. What matters is her teaching school well, of course."

"And I maintain she'll do that," Mrs. Rachel said, with a firm nod. "The fact is, Barbara's real earnest and well-meaning, and you wait and see, Jessie, she'll make a fine teacher."

Mrs. Jessie sniffed.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Barbara Shaw, at that moment, was sitting at her bedroom window, gazing dreamily out at the creeping twilight. She was making all sorts of lovely plans. She was going to teach school, and teach it well! She knew that many in Avonlea didn't think she could do it.

In truth, Barbara Shaw was not the most graceful-looking of girls. She was very tall, with long legs and arms, which, although in recent years she had learned how to keep out of her way, still gave her an awkward look. She was nut-brown, with golden-brown hair and golden-brown eyes that crinkled up when she laughed. Her harum-scarumness vexed her aunt Josephine sorely, and the lady despaired over her niece ever developing any social graces. The year at Queen's had helped, but she still worried over her. She was nothing like other girls in Avonlea. And she didn't have as many friends as she ought to.

It was true that Barbara was rather laughed at by the young folk of Avonlea, and not very intimate with many of them. It hurt her when they laughed, and she, when younger, had often preferred to prowl about the woods alone, rather than play with them. Her only really close friend was Annetta Bell.

However, Mrs. Rachel had been right about Barbara's being earnest and well-meaning. Barbara was determined that she would teach her pupils so well, so thoroughly, that nobody – nobody could say that she was too scatterbrained and accident-prone to make anything of herself.

"I WILL succeed!" Barbara said out loud, suddenly jumping out of her window seat. She attempted to dance a jig, and nearly tripped over her feet, but what of that?

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Well that was "Chapter the First." How was it? I really would like your opinion. But please bear in mind that I have feelings, and give constructive criticism. But do give your opinion. Reviews will inspire me.

Silver Stockings

P.S Pleasepleasepleaseee….