Thanks to AnneFans for providing the inspiration for a scene at the end.

Innocence Lost

Mary Blythe was twelve years old and considered herself quite mature. She lived in a house on Prince Edward Island with her parents and her little brother and sister. They were a pretty normal family, except her little brother Jamie was a bit unusual. He didn't behave like other boys his age. He ran around like a wild thing and her parents couldn't control him. She knew other people couldn't understand Jamie when he spoke, but she understood him well enough. Anyway, his needs were simple, so long as he got his own way in everything, he was happy.

At school she often fielded questions about Jamie. Her classmates saw him misbehaving at church and were mystified that her mother seemed to let it slide. She would just lead Jamie out of the church if he got too noisy. They knew he was different, sometimes they teased Mary about him and she was torn between agreeing with them and defending him.

Mary had to admit that she found Jamie annoying. You couldn't play games with him, because he'd scream if he lost. He insisted on having all the best toys, not that they had many. Her mother always took his side in an argument, because it was easier she supposed, but it wasn't particularly fair to her. She was supposed to let him have his way all the time. Her mother was too sad and too tired to argue. She would just snap at Mary to behave herself and to let Jamie have his way.

She liked to visit the Lynde family as often as she could. The children there were about her own age and they behaved and reacted normally. The Lynde girls and she could retreat to a bedroom to discuss girly things. Mrs Lynde was a kind lady who always had a smile for Mary. She'd ask her how her family were faring and would give her a hug if she mentioned the latest Jamie incident.

When it all got too much, sometimes Mary would seek advice from her grandmothers. Granny Blythe was a kindly soul. One afternoon, after a particularly annoying morning, Mary visited their farm on the way home from school. She figured her Mama wouldn't notice if she were late home, though just in case she told Eliza where she would be.

She knocked on the kitchen door and walked in to find her grandmother just pulling some scones out of the oven.

"Why, Mary, how lovely to see you dear. Would you like a scone?" Mary nodded, they smelt divine "and some milk?"

They sat down at the kitchen table. Jane Blythe often worried about Mary, she thought it must be difficult for her at home, so she was pleased to see here that afternoon. They sat and enjoyed the scones for a little while and Jane waited for Mary to speak. Eventually she said "Granny, can I talk to you?"

"Yes, of course you can dear."

"It's just, Mama is so tired all the time and Papa is busy…"

"Yes, I'm sure they are."

"So, I don't have anyone to talk to."

Jane waited. Mary gave a deep sigh then said in a rush "I'm finding it hard to live with Jamie."

She looked up expecting her grandmother to be cross, but instead Jane reached over to hold her hand. "I'm sure you are darling."

Mary had been feeling terribly guilty about her mixed emotions regarding her brother, so to confess to someone and not to be in trouble for it, was a huge relief. "It's just I love him and all, he's funny and he makes us all laugh sometimes, but…" Jane smiled encouragingly at her "he's always doing stupid things and making a scene. Then Mama and Papa are sad, and they get cross with Eliza and I even when we haven't done anything wrong. They expect us to behave, while Jamie gets away with everything…" She broke down in tears then, as the emotion of the situation got away from her. Jane led her to the couch in the parlour, so she could give her a hug. "I feel they love him more than me or Eliza. We haven't done anything wrong have we?"

Jane held her poor granddaughter as she sobbed, then said "Darling, you haven't done anything wrong at all. Your parents love you and Eliza so very much, but we all know Jamie is different. He doesn't, he can't, always understand the rules and that makes caring for him very difficult. They can't expect him to behave like you and Eliza will. That's hard for the two of you, I know. Deep down your parents know too."

"Then why don't they say?"

"Because, darling, they hate to admit it to themselves, and you know they are just exhausted. Caring for Jamie is a full-time job, particularly for your mother. She just doesn't have the energy for anyone else, even you and Eliza. I know that's not ideal, but it's true."

"Then why doesn't she send him away? He could go to a home where they care for children like him, I've overheard the people at church mention it."

"Mary, those homes are anything but. I can't imagine they really look after children like Jamie. As hard as it is for you all, Jamie is best off here. Your Mama loves him too much to send him away. She would never forgive herself if she did that.

You know you are always welcome to come here if you need a break. There's nothing wrong with that. Tell Eliza too, you are both always welcome here, or I'm sure at Green Gables."

Mary nodded gratefully. It was good to know there was somewhere she could escape to, if needed.

One day Jamie decided he had to see his Uncle Matthew, maybe he'd squirt some cows milk into his mouth again, that was fun. He waited until Mama's back was turned and he was out the door in a flash and running down the road.

Down the track he was surprised to see some big boys who he didn't know, they were big and hairy, and they had the makings of a beard like Papa's after a long day. Maybe they'd be new friends for him, so he smiled at them and was about to give them a hug.

The boys Silas and Eli Pye looked at the little boy. They thought they knew most people in town, but they didn't know him. Silas greeted him "What have we here, Eli? Hey kid, who are you?"

Jamie answered, but he was incomprehensible.

"What are ya, a daftie?"

Silas shoved Jamie and he was caught by Eli.

Jamie started to cry, and the boys laughed cruelly. "What are ya, a cry baby?"

"Cry baby, cry baby" they jeered as they shoved him around. He stumbled and fell to the ground, he lay there frightened, but that was no fun for them. So, they hauled him back to his feet. "Why can't ya speak cry baby?"

Marilla noticed that Jamie was nowhere to be seen. She ran around the property calling his name, but there was no answer. John heard her and joined the hunt to no avail. "He wouldn't have gone over to Green Gables, would he?" John suggested. He went to saddle the horse, but Marilla had gathered her skirts and was already running down the road.

She rounded a corner and saw her boy on the ground with the awful Pye ruffians standing over him threateningly. They never knew what hit them. She flew to his defence like a whirlwind. Gathering a very relieved Jamie up in her arms, she rounded on them and told them in no uncertain language that she would be talking to their parents, that it was despicable to bully an innocent and that she hoped God would have mercy on them, for she wouldn't. They scattered instantly.

"Come now Jamie. Let's take you home." She carried him back, the shock of what she had done catching up with her. She hadn't felt anything at the time as adrenalin had taken over. Now as it wore off, she was shaking. They bumped into John who had finally caught up with her. He flung himself off the horse and gathered them both up in his arms. "What happened? Is he all right?"

"It was those awful Pye boys. They were attacking him." John had a good look at Jamie who was still crying with shock.

They hugged and kissed him and told him what a brave boy he had been. Marilla comforted him with milk when they got home. She lay down next to him that night stroking his hair as he drank again, thanking her lucky stars she had rescued him in time. She planned on making a visit to the Pye household the next day. She had some choice words for the boys' parents.