Chapter 4
Morning at Green Gables
Sun streamed in through the window as Anne woke up. She sat up and looked around at the plain room. At first she was very confused as to where she could be. But then she remembered. She was at Green Gables. How could she have forgotten? Anne didn't quite know what to feel, because she may not get to stay here. But it was morning and Anne found she could only be positive in the morning. For even if though there was a chance she didn't belong, there was also a chance that she did. How could life be bad if there was a chance that she might live in Green Gables?
So she brushed the dream sand from her eyes and got a better look at her maybe-room.
It was very plain. White and clean and full of possibilities. There was a desk in an alcove, a big heavy bureau across from the bed, a little bedside table with an old ornate lamp next to it, and a huge window. Anne immediately jumped from her bed and rushed to the window to get a better view of the little town of Beecher.
But as she got closer she let out a small shriek. It was snowing!
Marilla came bursting through the doors.
"What's wrong? Have you fallen?"
"It's snowing!"
Marilla's concern melted off her face, "You mustn't shout like that. I thought you were injured."
"Oh, I am very sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. But it's spring! I have never seen it snow when it was this warm out."
"It isn't snow. It's a cottonwood tree," replied Marilla. But Anne still looked quite confused, so Marilla continued, "You see that tree in front of the window? It has these pods that release little bits of cotton like fibers into the air. It's how the seeds get distributed."
"Oh that's very smart. It must be a very clever tree to do something like that."
"Trees do not think."
"Oh sure they do! What else would a tree do all day? It can't move."
Not knowing how to respond to such things, Marilla curtly said, "It's time you get ready for the day it's already 9:30. Come down for breakfast when you are done."
Anne nodded. She quickly got her clothing out of her bed and went to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth with her new toothbrush and put on her old clothes. She looked and the mirror and sighed as she saw her hair. Ratty and Red. She redid her two braids and quickly came down the stairs. Marilla nodded in approval of Anne's quickness. She was glad that the child hadn't dawdled so. Marilla gestured to Anne's spot, which had a hot bowl of oatmeal in front of it. Anne sat down and Marilla went to the sink to start on the dishes. But before she could pick up a pot to scrub, Anne spoke up.
"Do you always eat in the kitchen?"
"Yes. It's easier to clean. And we don't need to use the dining room unless we have company."
"When I have my own dining room I will always eat in there. At the house before the orphanage there was a beautiful dining room. We weren't ever allowed in there though. Mrs. Clay said that we would mess it up. She was nice for the most part. But I wish she would have let us eat in the dining room. You think we can eat in there sometime?"
"Well, I'm not sure we will get the chance. I'm taking you to Chicago today. To straighten this up."
"Oh," replied Anne. She went back to her oatmeal. She seemed to eat mechanically. As if she was trying very hard not to think. Anne kept her eyes fixed on the window outside. She barely blinked. This sudden change of character made Marilla uncomfortable. It seemed unnatural coming from the bubbly girl. So she was quite glad when Anne finished her bowl and brought it to the sink.
"Do you need me to dry the dishes?"
"That's fine," replied Marilla handing Anne a towel.
"I'm very good at cleaning the dishes. I had to do it at the orphanage. It's a nice chore because you don't have to think much. So I would let my mind wander. The nuns didn't like me to daydream much. They said it would be better if I focused my thoughts in prayer. But when I would clean the dishes, I could think about whatever I liked without getting yelled at. Once I imagined I was Cinderella. It was one of the movies we got to watch at the orphanage. I didn't get to watch many movies at the other places. Usually just at school and those were usually educational. But I loved Cinderella. Her parents died and she had an awful life. But she ended up alright in the end, huh?"
Not knowing how to respond Marilla just nodded.
"I haven't seen very many movies. I was only at the orphanage 5 months. And we could only watch movies once a month as a treat. So that's five. And once I got taken to the movies by a foster mom. She bought me a soda and a popcorn. But then she got pregnant. So she stopped being a foster mom." Anne stopped talking for a moment and then suddenly said, "That's a pretty plant in the window sill. What's it's name?"
Marilla was relieved. She finally knew how to respond to this odd wisp of a girl. "It's an African Violet."
"I meant it's name name! Not it's species. Like Bernadette! Or Susan!"
The relief that Marilla felt disappeared, "I don't give plants don't get human names."
"Oh," replied Anne. And then she slowly and shyly said, "May I give it a name?"
"I don't know what giving it a name will do, but if you want to, go ahead."
Anne's face lit up at once. "Thank you. I love to name things. Names are so important you know. They give a sense of purpose. And nothing truly belongs to someone unless it has a name. Let's see, how about Clarissa. I knew a girl once named Clarissa. She had long blonde hair. I love blonde hair. Say what would you call my hair?"
"Red."
Anne let out a sigh, "Yes, I thought that was what you would say."
"Well, that's the color it is."
"I know. But I hate it. I have never liked my hair. It's so bright."
"Well, it's what the Lord gave you. So be thankful."
"That's what the nun's said," Anne grumbled as she finished drying the last plate.
Marilla found it hard not to laugh. Being a devout Lutheran, she found it funny that this little girl would take such a issue with nuns. She was sure that if she was Catholic that wouldn't be the case. After she was able to recover from near laughter, Marilla turned to Anne and said, "Well, I suppose you should go get your things," It seemed a cruel thing to say. Especially after spending this time with the girl. But if she had no claim over the girl, and it was much more cruel to keep her hopes up.
Anne went up the stairs to get her bag. And when she came back, she was holding the toothbrush. "I wasn't sure what to do with this. I mean I didn't want you to think I stole it. But I didn't figure you needed it. I mean I used it and all. I swear I wouldn't steal it."
"Good heaven's child! It's only a toothbrush. You can have it. Here is a baggy so it doesn't get your clothes damp."
Relief visibly swept over Anne. She gratefully took the baggy and went back up the stairs to
Marilla couldn't help but wonder what kind of life this child led, where she was afraid to take a toothbrush with her.
