AWF- Chapt. Seven

"Let Anne speak for herself Marilla this is important." Rachel decided.

"Rachel, I have no interest in Charlie Sloane. He's my student. Boys get all kinds of crazy notions when they are young. He'll grow out of it." Anne said.

"Here Anne, sit down and have a snack. How's your speech coming along."? Marilla asks as she pours some Tea.

"It's alright. I've got it memorized. I just need to practice it more. I have to get my dress finished. Do you know anything about the Christmas Ball?: Anne asked starting on her Plum puff.

"I've heard of it but have never been. My Parents wouldn't allow it. It's rather folly don't you think Rachel?" Marilla inquired.

"Well the Barry's seem to think it's so important but they always have been ones to put on airs. I was always too busy with my Thomas and our children to get involved with all of that. Though you're young and don't have any suitors, Anne. Maybe you should go. You have that dress of yours, that should do." Rachel suggested, feeling it wasn't right that Anne never encouraged any Avonlea Boys and was getting at the age she should be noticed by grown Men.

"I'll think about it, Rachel. I do love to dance. It does get lonely around here sometimes. I miss Matthew, I guess." Anne sighed as she remembered evenings spent with Matthew. Diana's Aunt Josephine sounds intriguing.

Anne and her Students kept up their daily lessons. She spent most of the weekends working on her Redmond assignments and working around the Farm. She usually though had a couple of hours to go out and entertain herself in her fairytale woods and the seashore beyond their Farm.

She had written out her proposal for the School Board this morning for the Winter Carnival. All she needed was the Students Posters, to show that she had their support of this idea. She hoped the Children's work would also inspire them to support it.

She still had to work on the finishing touches for her dress and an English assignment left to do. Anne decided to save her Math work until the Evening when she had less distraction. It was a fairly nice Fall afternoon and she promised to see Diana, if she could get away this afternoon.

Anne and Diana were at the Beach, enjoying what would probably be one of the last Fall days left before the early Winter frostbite set in.

"So what are you writing about now, Anne? You seem pretty occupied." Diana asked combing the beach shore for shells.

"I have to write a creative poem, so I am using the Seashore for inspiration." Anne replied, chewing on her pencil, as she tried to think up another word for inspired.

"I love the sea and wisp of the wind. I can just fly away! Gliding over the ocean seas. Wouldn't it be lovely to take a Voyage somewhere, Anne? To some far off island." Father said Ireland is all green and beautiful. He showed me pictures," Diana said cheerfully.

"You should write a story about an adventure at sea. A sea of unrest. With a strong young Captain who braves the Winter Sea, dodging Ice Bergs. Maybe brings his ship in damaged and torn but his steady crew keeps it together. Then he is honored all over the Atlantic for his courage and bravery! He will win the heart of a young School Teacher or Seamstress who is traveling to visit her Grandparents or teach in a school for orphans. Something Romantic like that, Anne." Diana said sailing along, her arms rising to enjoy the strong Ocean breezes.

"Perhaps. I'll think about it, Diana. You seem to have the story all plotted out." Anne said trying to come up with another verse.

"I am not very good with dialog, Anne. Besides what do I know about love and romance."? Diana laments, more interested in floating away, then pen and paper.

"Well you should think about it Diana. I'm much to busy to be writing anything except this poem and learning Latin, right now. I have to run into town this week to do some Banking for Marilla. Not to mention some hints, I've been getting about cleaning out the Hen House!" Anne said with no enthusiasm.

"I don't know how you find the time, Anne. You are such a hard worker." Diana sings. She starts singing a song about the Sea and Anne listens absently.

Anne finishes up her poem. She hands it to Diana to read over and Diana catches a spelling error that Anne missed, so she corrects it.

"It is quite good Anne. I don't know how you do it?" Diana states.

"It just comes to me, besides the Sea talks to you, if you really listen closely." She replies, looking out to the rolling waves, licking up along the sandy Shore.

"Oh you must see the dress Mother and I are working on for the Christmas Ball. It is a Rosy Pink with puffed sleeves! All kinds of ruffles and a flounced skirt! I'll be dancing on a cloud all night long!" Diana exclaimed dreamily.

"Anne, are you done yet? I can show you those Dance steps I told you about now!" She said rambling away.

"I guess I'm done for the moment. Alright, let's give it a try." Anne said, putting down her notebook and putting a rock on it, to hold down the pages.

As Anne and Diana glide awkwardly on the sandy Shore, Gilbert wanders down with Moody in tow. They had planned on fishing this afternoon but upon reaching the Shore, the wind appeared to be too strong to support any serious attempts at keeping a line out to Sea.

"Hey Gilbert! Look over there!" Moody pointed out towards the far Northern Shore. Gilbert climbed up on top of a large boulder to try to see what Moody was squawking about. He saw Anne and Diana trying to dance along the Seashore.

"Oh that's funny! I don't think Diana can lead. What do you think?" Moody mused as he saw Anne turn into Diana again!

"Maybe we should help them out? We aren't going to be able to Fish today. What do you think?" Gilbert laughed as Anne stepped on Diana's foot accidentally.

"I don't know. They will think we are Children. Though Anne does look like she needs some help or maybe Diana, since she just had her foot stepped on. I think that's the second time she stepped on Diana's foot!" Moody chuckled.

"Come on, let's ask. They can just say no. I think we can help out." Gilbert started off over some large rocks to get to their side of the Beach.

"Hello there. It looks like you Ladies might need some help out here." Gilbert offered as Moody stumbled over the last rock and caught up with him.

"Well as you probably saw, I'm not very good at leading. Father always does that and well, Anne and I are almost the same height, so turning is rather difficult." Diana confessed, blushing.

"Than let us help you! I could use some practice myself. I'm afraid to say Mother and I am close in height, as well. Though, I finally passed her up some this year. She's fairly tall for a Lady, that is." Gilbert explained meekly.

"She's a very lovely Woman. Well, I'm afraid I am trying to learn this Dance. I don't have any teachers at Green Gables. Stella Maynard taught me some, enough to get across the dance floor but Diana was showing me something that they did in Carmody." Anne told them.

"Here Anne, I'll be glad to help. Moody, you can dance with Diana, since you dance less than I do." Gilbert suggested, of course wanting desperately to dance with Anne.

"Alright but let's rotate, so I can get used to changing partners." Anne explained, somewhat nervous to be in Gilbert's arms exclusively.

Diana hummed a song and soon they were all humming along to a familiar melody, to help keep in step. Gilbert was patient and laughed every time Anne missed a step. He carefully took her back to the beginning until he was confident she got it right.

They traded off but Anne noticed the difference between the two partners. The way Gilbert handled her, compared to Moody, who was nervous and a bit too serious for Anne's taste. She thought Moody was too stiff.

"Anne come on, keep that arm up! I can't turn you properly." Moody told her abruptly.

"Well, prompt me, Moody, nod your head or something, so I know to let go, I didn't notice your trying to turn or can read your mind, Moody." Anne said as she tried to keep her focus.

"I'll try but usually I don't have to." Moody stated a bit impatiently.

"Here, let's trade Partners, Moody. You're too stiff. Dancing should flow, like an Ocean wave. Flowing in and riding out. You should be gliding across the floor, like floating along a cloud. That's what Mother says. Once you get the rhythm, it should take hold of you, like this." Gilbert grabbed up Anne's hand and placed his other hand along her waist.

He whisked her around, as light as a feather. He twirled her and then he noticed Anne smiling at him, so he decided to turn her and try to dip her over. He caught her surprised glance and smiling, he easily pulled her up, then, turned her around, laughing at her reaction to his stunt.

"I bet you didn't think you could do that, did you, Queen Anne?" He grinned as he looked up to catch a strong Western breeze.

"No, I didn't. You caught me completely by surprise. I was sure you would drop me into the sand, Mr. Blythe!" She laughed back at him as they continued to dance.

"Ha, ha, ha....no, I'm not that clumsy and well, you are very light. Mother is heavy than you are, after all." Gilbert stated, enjoying himself.

"So what's with this, Queen Anne, remark?" Anne questioned him cautiously.

"Oh, that! It is just come out. I think I heard Marilla or Diana say it but you do remind me of that Picture of Queen Elizabeth I saw once, in a history book or some article, my Father was reading last year. You know she was famous for her Red hair. I think I've liked it ever since I saw it. Even Moody can't discourage me. Though he isn't my type. Too shy, looks ...frightening in a dress, I'm convinced!" Gil shakes his head, as if he just ate something disagreeable. "What a scary thought!" Gil said as he stopped to give Anne a break from dancing.

"Very funny, Gilbert. I'm sure you would look hideous yourself!" Moody added as he followed Gilbert's lead to stop.

"Well that was fun. I guess you earned a treat. I brought out some Plum Puffs; I snuck out of the Pantry. You'll have to share this one. I only brought out two and this other one is promised to Diana. Here you go!" Anne offered them out and they thanked her generously.

"Oh Anne, here, I didn't need all of this. You can share it with me." Diana stated.

"What do you have here, Anne?" Gilbert asked when he sat on the log nearby to eat his Puff. "It looks like your handwriting."

"It's my homework. I had to write a poem for my Redmond class." Anne explained.

"Can I read it?" He looked up at her, awaiting her reply.

"Well, wash your hands. I have to send it in this Monday." Anne told him not sure she wanted him to judge her work.

He washed his hands and Moody leaned over to try and read over Gilbert's shoulder.

"Moody quit it. You can read after I do." Gilbert complained, irritated to have Moody so close to him.

"Fine, just read it out loud, Gilbert. You can read, can't you Gilbert?" Moody said sarcastically at Gilbert's bossiness.

"Fine! Here, I'll read it. You probably can't read it right as it is." Gilbert insulted Moody.

Moody just huffed and Gilbert read Anne's poem out loud for all of them.

"It is very creative, Anne. Do you believe all this stuff about Magical Sea Creatures and Mermaids?" Gilbert wondered.

"It's just made up. Anything can be possible though. Human beings are a very complicated creation. Why can't we ride Seahorses? It seemed logical at the time." Anne explained, taking it from him. :"Dolphins are fine but they move too fast to be graceful enough for riding."

"I'd like to ride aDolphin! That would be fun!" Gilbert said thoughtfully.

"If you can find one big enough Gilbert! I think you should consider a Whale!" Moody teased him.

"I'm not fat Moody!" He said angrily.

"Not quite but you are rather stocky. Poor Dolphin. He'd buck you for sure!" Moody laughed at the picture in his head of Gilbert being bucked off by a swimming Dolphin.

"Well, Sharks are bigger. Perhaps that will suit me better. At least they would make a supper out of you, Moody!" Gilbert told him, not at all pleased with Moody's implication..

"I think it's time for us to go. I have to work on my dress before I have to help with Supper. Are you ready to go Diana?" Anne wondered as she picked up her small blanket out of the sand.

"I'm coming, Anne! I just have to shove these shells into my pockets, here." Diana explained as she caught up with Anne, who was heading towards to the road home.

"Thank you for all of your help, Boys. I think I can now manage to not be too awkward at the Dance, I hope!" Anne stated as they headed back Home.

"Well that was fun Moody. I can't believe how much I enjoyed dancing with Anne. I just got a tingling feeling, to bad we're so young." Gilbert said feeling kind of lost in the World.

"Well, there are some good things about it. At least we don't have to work all day. No worrying about a Profession, yet. Are you meeting up with Charlie and me tomorrow, Gilbert?" Moody asked him.

"I should be able to, Moody. If I finish my chores on time. Are you drawing a Poster for the Contest?" Gilbert wondered as they continued along the stony path, across the cliffs of the rocky Seashore, towards Gilbert's House.

"I have to. I'm just concentrating on the Ice Games. I'm not an artist but Mother has been saving pictures for me, so I can make a collage. What about you Gilbert?" Moody asked him as he leaned his hand on a particularly large rock, so that he could maneuver over the one jutting out in front of him. He balanced his forward foot, so that he could carry his other one over and set it down firmly on the rock ahead of him.

'Well, I want to emphasize Family Fun, to get our Community involved, so I am doing a collage as well. It will have an audience with several scenes, highlighted to show the variety of activities we will be sponsoring. What do you think of that?" Gilbert said, dropping both feet nimbly on the next rock's surface.

"That could work. It's a bit complicated but if you can do it, it should look good." Moody decided as they finally reached the smoother Sandy Shore, nearer to Gilbert's Aunt's Farm. "So Moody, do you thing Anne likes me? Even a little bit?" Gilbert asks him absently as he plopped down on a log to watch a large Freighter pass by, moving along the Ocean surface.

"I think she likes everyone, or at least tries to." Moody sits down near him but not too close on the same log.

"That isn't what I mean. I mean the other way. You know what I mean." Gilbert spoke but couldn't actually come out and say the words out loud.

"Like that! Well, I can't tell. I mean she talks to you nice enough. It seems she is more interested in you than especially Charlie but I heard he walked her home, yesterday." Moody said not really caring about Gilbert's feelings in this regard.

"She did? Who told you that? I never hear anything about it?" Gilbert suddenly felt upset and worried.

"Diana did. She said Charlie told Anne, he had to visit Mr. Harrison about something to do with his Mother but it wasn't true. I saw him this morning, I cut through his Pasture to your place and he said he hadn't seen Charlie all week. Of course if he did, he would have swat him for running through his fields, teasing his Dairy Cows. Why does Charlie still do those stupid things, Gilbert?" Moody asked, throwing a rock out towards the ebbing tide in front of them.

"Why do you still bring stupid frogs and snakes to School, Moody? Because that's what kids do, I guess. Though don't you think, after the ant incident, you should find some other way to tease the Girls?" Gilbert suggested to him.

"Like paper wads or pulling girls hair? How do you get away with those stunts, Gilbert?" Moody wanted to know, jealously.

"Just lucky, I guess. That and face it, it's not slimy or dirty. Girls don't like to get dirty or so you figured out." Gilbert grinned.

"I guess your right. I like frogs and snakes, though. Girls are such sissy's. Do you think Miss Shirley is afraid of snakes?" Moody asked him curiously.,

"Who knows? Most Girls are and Women too! It really is funny though. They jump at anything! Even a harmless Gardner's Snake! Sometimes I think they are rather naïve." Gilbert reasoned as he uses a stick to practice writing out letters in the sand.

"Maybe I should find out. What do you think, Gilbert? Should I try it?" Moody asked him, leaning over to see what Gilbert was writing. When Gilbert noticed, he quickly ran his stick over the wet sand, to hide the letters.

"I think you should give it a rest but do what you want, Moody. You know what will happen if she figures it out. You would be the obvious culprit and she will punish you. If she doesn't die from fright or get so mad, she swats you for it! I think she has a temper." Gilbert goes back to his writing practice.

"What makes you think that? She seems fairly nice to me." Moody decided

"What Redhead that you know doesn't have a temper? Dad says Redheads have, "fiery tempers, that match their hair color but it also make them so exciting!" Gil smiles at the thought. He thought a fiery Redhead would be fun to have.

"Well I don't have much of a temper, I recon." Moody reasoned.

"No, I suppose not but you are a McPherson, they rarely do. You old jellyfish!" Gilbert laughed at he thought.

"Take that back, Gilbert! I have heard enough from you today!" He glared over at him furiously.

"Calm down, maybe I was mistaken. You do know better than to threaten me though, right Moody?" Gilbert looked out again to see where that large Freighter had gotten off to.

"You know I don't like to settle my battles with fisticuffs, so obviously, I'm not threatening you, Gilbert." Moody replied, grumpily. He knows Gilbert would best him in a hand-to-hand fight.

"Then I suggest you learn some manners then Moody. A smart Man listens when another is taking the time to instill a little wisdom his way." Gilbert advises Moody with some wisdom passed down to him.

"Right, Gilbert, it's getting late. I've still got the Chickens to feed. I need to get on home. Maybe I'll start that Poster tonight. Hopefully we aren't' hosting any Minister, my Mother feels we must play host to any and all Ministers that happens our way. Father complains bitterly but Mother just ignores him. She said, "You can always skip Dinner if your soul finds solace in the fields but she will not risk turning away a Man of the Clothe, who could be a Savior in disguise!" Moody quotes his Mother, mockingly.

"Well, you never know, Moody but I'm glad we don't have too much company. I like people but not all the time, especially at Dinner time!" Gilbert grins as he gets up to follow Moody back up to the Path home.

At the Blythe's Homestead-

"Oh Gilbert! There you are! I was starting to wonder where you had gotten off to." Mary stated, looking concerned at him as she watched her Son, hanging up his hat and heading for the pump to wash up. She went to the oven and removed the Roast for Dinner.

"Go call you Father. Dinner is ready. We may as well get started, it's getting dark out." She told her Son, who was rather distracted but Mary was busy. She was used to Gilbert's various moods. It seemed to be a Blythe attribute.

"Father! Father, Dinner's ready! Mother's waiting on you!" Gilbert yelled out to his Father, who was working on a damaged stall latch.

"I'll be right there, Gilbert. Tell your Mother to go ahead! I'll be in by the time everything's set!" He hollered back, as he started to pound in a nail to finish attaching the faulty latch.

"Alright!" Gilbert yelled back and picked up a towel he found along the ground, it must have blown off the line and he carried it in with him through the side Kitchen door.

"Here, Mother, I found it on the ground. Must have blown off the line." he held it out and Mary snatched it up and put it on the back of a Kitchen chair. She then handed a stack of plates to Gilbert.

"Here Gilbert, finish setting the table for Dinner, I need to get this food on the table. You must be hungry. What did your Father have to say?" Mary asked Gilbert, scooping Mashed Potatoes into a serving bowl.

"He said get everything ready, he'll be right in, in a moment. Something to do with the stall gate or something like that." He mentioned as he gathered up some silverware and then opens a drawer for napkins to put on the Dining room table.

His Father just then bursts into the small room off of the Kitchen, discarding his Barn Coat and sitting down to remove his Field Boots.

"Here John, let me help you with those." Mary stated as she put down a bowl of Vegetables.

"Don't bother. I can get them, Just finish with Dinner. I'm starving," He said as he accidentally hits the Wall with his discarded Boot, from the force of pulling it off.

"Sorry, Mary, the Wall will survive, I promise." He grinned and Mary shook her head as she exited the Kitchen door.

They sat down and said grace. As they passed food around the table, they caught up with what was going on around them.

"'So Lizzy tells me that Malcolm is fairing well at Queens. His marks are quite good. She is so anxious for him to return this Winter, though he is hinting, he may take a job up at the Docks. They are short handed on loaders and all the Tourists and Businessmen will be arriving in Kingsport, taking Trains to Montreal and Quebec." Mary shared with them as she cut a piece of meat on her plate.

"What does Edward have to say about that? I'm sure he was looking forward to his help with the Herd." John mentioned a he carved more of the Roast, in front of him.

"Of course he isn't pleased. He asked about Gilbert's helping him out. Malcolm is stubborn but the money is very good. He knows Malcolm wants to Marry soon, so what can he say?" Mary replied and looked towards Gilbert, to measure his response out.

" Mother, I have to help Father There's Hockey Season and Miss Shirley told me she would tutor me this Winter, so that I can catch up. If I study hard, I can make up what I missed and be ready to take the Queen's Exam with the other Senior Students!" Gilbert was picking at his food now. They both can see the pain in his eyes, as he finally shoved a scoop of mashed potatoes into his mouth.

"Gilbert, we do owe your Uncle Ed because he helped run the Ranch for us, while we were gone. I'll talk to Ed. Maybe Gilbert's right, Jacob should be doing more. Gilbert can help out on the weekends, after practice or Games on Saturday. Tell them Practice has to be in the afternoon, though Gilbert. If we get them started in the Morning, they should be able to see it through the Evening. I can't let things get behind here because Malcolm wants to get ahead." John told them as he took a drink of his Milk. He knew the advantages and disadvantages of living so close to your relatives. John wanted his Son to have a good education too and he knew Gilbert was bright. He also knew he owed Gilbert at least some of his childhood. Though often John wondered where he was going to get the time to get everything he needs done.

"So what have you planned for tonight, Gilbert?" His Mother asked him kindly.

"I have to work on my Poster for the upcoming Winter Carnival. We get extra credit for it. I have some Math and Reading to do also." He told her trying in to hurry up and finish, so that her could get to the Pie, before his Father got carried away. Once he heard his Father was starving, Gilbert knew two pieces of his favorite Cherry Pie is the best he could hope for tonight.

"I heard that Mr. Sadler was raising Cain about Charlie, his younger brother and Cousin, again! He really has the worst location. He is always blaming the boys for his poorer Milk Production. I know though that he's a skinflint! Though you better warn Charlie. If he doesn't quit bothering those Cows,

Sadler is going to start shoot his gun." John laughed, remembering how red in the face, Mr. Sadler was.

"Mr. Sadler's Cows are pathetic. Diana Barry said Mr. Barry has tried to give him some advice on supplements but old crusty Sadler just guffawed at him and told him to mind his own business!" Gilbert repeated as he finally finished up with his Vegetables and eagerly reached out for the Pie.

"Don't get your hopes up too much, Gilbert. Two pieces is the maximum for you. I worked out back all day, while you got to prance around all day." He stated as he cut the Pie into quarters, placing a piece on a plate for Mary, put out a quarter for Gilbert, then shoved it over towards him and pulled out a quarter for himself.

Gilbert sighed. He knew that last quarter would be demolished by his Father, no matter how fast he ate. Well if he was lucky, his Mother won't feel like eating all of hers. If not, then he would be out of luck he knew.

Someday he'll get Married and then he can decide who gets what. He will probably have his wife make two Pies, once he had kids. No reason to go without. He didn't want them to be short-changed either.

He thought he better get a small Wife. Just in case, as he worked on finishing up his piece of Pie.