"Wind, Sand, and Stars" 1?
By Rita Widmer
Disclaimer: I don't own LMM's books and characters.
Rating: PG
Summary: Anne Shirley Blythe's granddaughter, Anne, lives out her dreams with all the pain, fun, and adventure that come with it.
Author's Note: This is another WWII story, but it is unlike any story I've read so far here. This story is in tribute to the women pilots during WWII called the WASP and the 38 that gave their lives.
Just a little background, Jem and Faith moved to the US in 1921. They have one child named Anne. All three now live in California.
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The sun was setting in front of her, and from her height she had a special view of the sunset. She pushed back her face as the wind blew it around. Doing one more barrel-run, she called out a whoop of excitement. Her fuel was running low, and during wartime she had to conserve every last drop.
The plane landed softly on the ground only slightly jolting her in her seat. She smiled as she saw Pop, the old man who ran the airfield walk over.
"Hey Pop, how did I do?" asked Anne.
"Your nose was a little low on the way down," he answered with a twinkle in his eyes.
"You know very well it was not too low like my grandmother I hold my nose high."
"The Shirley's nose is one to be proud of," called a voice behind her.
"Dad, we were talking about the nose of the airplane, and anyways I didn't get the Shirley nose. What brings you here?"
"A curious letter came in the mail for you. Your mother couldn't stand waiting for what it held so she ordered me here."
She grabbed it from his hands with too much excitement for her dad. He knew something had been up for awhile now.
"What is it, Anne?"
"It's from Jackie Cochran. I wrote to her about the WASP, and she sent me a reply. Dad, she wants me to try to join. There is so much I have to do. Let's go home and tell Mom the good news."
Anne never saw the worried look that crossed over her father's face. Her mind flying off into the sky above with dreams of what her future held for her. A dream her father wasn't sure he had the heart to break.
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Anne rushed through the house looking for her mother. "Mom, mom, where are you?"
"I'm up in your room, darling," called her mother from the doorway.
A rush of air that was Anne ran into her room and hugged her mother. "What you doing?"
"Packing your clothes. You leave the day after Christmas for Prince Edward Island, remember?"
"I can't go now, Mom. I have so much to do. I'm joining the WASP, and it's not easy to get in. I have to pass physical tests, prove that I have my pilot's license; they have to do a background check."
Faith stood stunned at the news her daughter just gave her. "That can wait, Anne. You know how hard it is to travel these days with the trains primarily being used for the military. This is probably your only chance to go until the war is over whenever that will be."
"But Mom…"
"The WASP will still be there when you come home, darling. You promised your grandparents that you would come this year."
"I don't know if I can sit around and wait that long," said Anne with a low heart.
Faith looked at her husband who was standing in the doorway watching the scene. "Good things come to those who wait, Anne." With that Faith walked out of Anne's room hoping Anne will make the right decision.
Anne flopped down on her bed and cried. She didn't know how long she laid there arguing with herself on what to do when she felt a hand on her back. Turning over she looked at her father's face.
"Your mom and I have been talking. We'll support your joining the WASP as long as you take this trip first, and on the way home you can stop and get all the work done to join."
"Really?"
"Yes, Anne-girl." He smiled down on his little girl.
"I'll do it for you, Dad. Thank you, thank you, thank you." Anne sat up and plowed herself into her father.
"Now come on. Dinner is on the table, and I know you must be hungry."
"I'm starving. I forgot about lunch today working on my airplane."
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The next couple of days went by fast as Christmas approached and then it was Christmas. Anne hated knowing she was leaving her family tomorrow, but they all had a typical joyous Blythe Christmas. It was a much quieter one then Jem knew growing up with all his brothers and sisters, but he had grown to love it just as much. There was something to say about a small gathering.
Faith and he had always wanted a large family, but that was not their destiny. Anne's coming into the world had been too much for Faith to handle, and it had almost taken both the mother and daughter's life with it.
The boisterous Anne kept the house lively enough all on her own. She ran everywhere wanting to be as fast as her airplane could go, but never reaching it. As a small child, she would run down the hallway with her arms spread out pretending to be an airplane. Flying was Anne's dream, and though, it had been an expensive dream it was one that this father couldn't take away. They all had to make sacrifices over the years to keep her in the air. Some of which Anne never knew her parents did for her especially since the war started, and for now they preferred it that way.
With many tears flowing down the small Blythe's family faces, they said good-bye the day after Christmas. It was a start of a new beginning for Anne that left her excited and nervous all at once. She had the skills to make it, but her young mind was still not ready for the realities of the real world away from the protective eyes of her parents.
It was time for her to say good-bye to innocence and hello to full adulthood.
TBC…