"What is it about the night time that makes everything more beautiful and full of mystery? Maybe it is the way so many things are hidden by the shadows?" He pondered this as he let his mind rest on how he always felt so wonderful when he was alone with Anne.
"I think it is just a romantic time of day. I love Pansies because they seem always so bright and cheerful. How can something so colorful be shy?" Anne replied cheerfully.
"I don't think it is even possible, Anne. Even the brightest skyline lays down its head to a somber quiet evening. I have an idea, Anne. If I take off my Jacket, we can lay back and see if shooting stars appear." Gil suggested as he removed his Jacket and laid it out for her on the grassy field in front of them.
Anne hesitated but it was such a great idea. No one ever seemed the least interested in thenight sky, let alone the mysteries of the Universe. She just couldn't resist the opportunity to learn more about the World around her. It's even better to have someone to converse about subjects who have some of the answers or at least some curiousity.
"Honestly Anne, I'm harmless and I won't tell a soul, if your are afraid it might be taken wrong. I only want for us to be friends, Anne. That's enough isn't it? How many guys can you call your friend?" He smiled over at her, waiting on her reply.
"No one. I tend to only have female friends but I do long for a different perspective. Alright. Thank you for your Coat. The ground is rather damp and I would get cold without my sweater." Anne reasoned as she laid her head down onto his Jacket.
Gilbert smiled at this accomplishment. Someday Anne, perhaps my shoulder won't seem so threatening, he thought. He started to imagine what it would feel like, holding Anne warmly against his chest. He couldn't help but smile at the thought and Anne caught his whimsical expression.
"What is so amusing, Mr. Blythe?" She questioned his reaction.
"I was just happy to be able to have someone out here with me to enjoy this pleasant night with. Usually, I am alone. Alberta wasn't nearly this scenic, I assure you." Gilbert was over stating himself some but Alberta didn't have a pretty Redhead like Anne.
"Surely there are Groves of Trees like this in Alberta?" Anne said in reproach.
"In parts. We were not in a particularly wooded area. It was nothing like this, Anne. Tonight I realize how much I missed Avonlea, like I do now. I don't know anyone around like you. Everyone is so serious or incredibly silly. Though I know there really aren't Faeries or Elves, I enjoy listening to your stories. They are delightful and I always feel a calm reassuring peace from them. I know I can be creative and I enjoy a good poem or rhyme, yet I have never had a knack for writing my own. You are just so gifted Anne. I don't know if it's because your tales remind me so much of the stories my Mother used to tell me or if it's just, I want to learn to capture the moment. Sometimes,I need to escape all the pressure I have put on myself. In any case, I guess I am trying to tell you I am grateful that you tolerate my intruding on your little world." Gilbert said with a true sense of respect in his voice.
"Now listen to you, Gilbert. You started out encouraging me. Now you are just singing my praises. Is there something behind all of this flattery? You didn't do anything mischievous that is making you feel like you must gain my good favor now, have you, Gilbert?" Anne questioned him.
"No, Anne. I've been too busy. I did though want to talk to you about this idea I have. Fred and I were talking about it more tonight. We both agree, that if our youth became more involved with our community, it would help us get to a promising start." Gil said cautiously.
"So what is this idea of yours, Gilbert?" Anne asked reluctantly. She absently cuddled up to Gilbert's Jacket because it was still warm from his ride from the Wrights Farm, on the Newbridge side of Avonlea.
"I wanted to start an organization or club of sorts, to improve the appearance of Avonlea roads. Fred and I were out riding a few weeks ago and noticed how different Avonlea's roads were, from those of White Sands. They had Tree lined lanes, decorative Ledges. You didn't see rusty Farm Equipment or weed infested Fences or Gates. Fred and I thought, with a little encouragement, we could fix these problems, even if we had to lend some elbow grease ourselves. Well, what do you think" Gil wondered as he propped up his head, leaning on his elbow for support to see her reaction to his ideas.
He was actually enjoying the sight of Anne, so relaxed and lying down with his Jacket gathered up in her arms. He just knew, deep down that someday, she would realize what her life was missing. Hopefully in time, he will be able to help her see what he already knew, she needed him. It was just a matter of time he thought.
Anne was still pondering his proposal. She wondered how receptive the Farmers would be to such a request. She didn't want to discourage the two, since she really couldn't predict what the outcome would be with their efforts.
"I think it is a worthy challenge. I will help out when I can, Gilbert. You two are taking on quite a task. People can be stubborn and no matter how logical you come across to them, change is difficult for them. Yet, a little change can spur on the others to follow suit. As long as you are prepared for the work it will entail, I think it has merit." Anne finally shares her feelings about the project without being too unrealistic.
"We know probably better than you do, how they respond to new ideas. We think we can appeal to their sense of pride and community. I think it is a way to continue on the momentum of developing Community pride and good will throughout the Provinces, not just Avonlea." Gilbert ruminated over the ideas in his head.
"You are right. If it employs Avonlea's youth to useful participation, it can only produce good works." Anne said with renewed confidence in his idea.
"Thanks Anne. I'll have to bring it up with Mr. Andrews. Hopefully we can meet at the Great Hall. We should be able to attract more attention from the Community if we can hold our Meetings there." Gilbert had decided earlier.
"That makes sense. Well let me know when you have things more arranged. I'll try to make the meetings when I can. What is it now, Gilbert?" Anne saw Gilbert turn his head and then suddenly grabbed onto Anne's arm to help her catch site of what he was seeing, shooting across the late night sky.
"There Anne! Look at where I'm pointing your hand. It's a Shooting Star! Did you see it, Anne?" He was sitting up, staring at the sky, and not wanting her to miss it.
They bumped heads as Anne turned quickly to catch the Stars flight. She briefly looked at him in the eye and for just one moment. A flash of recognition crossed both of their faces. Like the feeling you get when you glance aside and think you recognized someone but weren't really sure they were there or who we thought they were. Of course Anne knew Gilbert, he was her Student but it was different. That look on his face. Was it a moment of wonder? Anticipation? Yes, that was it! Like a moment that slipped out of time and space. Was it because of the Shooting Star? Did it really have some mysterious, magical effect on people? Anne shook her head, as if to shake out the gathering cobwebs of unwanted thoughts. They were just sticking in her head for now, unwanted but not easy to dispel. She will come back later, when she felt more secure in trying to explain this odd kind of recognition of sorts.
"I'm sorry, Gil, I saw it! Wow! Aren't they just amazing? It just went by so fast, I was mesmerized by it. Thank you for catching my attention." Anne replied, still staring up in wonderment and Gilbert just knew it had to be lucky.
"Anne? Did I miss something? Gilbert asked, hoping, well, anticipating something. Her answer! Her acknowledging that she too, felt something in that moment that just passed between them. All the reward Anne gave him was her pause, a lost thought and an embarrassing laugh, to cover up her sudden uneasiness over that simple recognition. Seeing none in her words, he tried to come back to Anne's own words and give her an answer back.
"Well! What luck we have! You must make a wish, Anne and someday it will come true." Gilbert reminded her. She really did remember this but it was nice to hear Gilbert speak up about it.
"That's right! I remembered Diana sharing that custom with me. Thank you for reminding me." She said kindly but somehow the moment seemed lost to him now.
"Anne?" Do you know where Shooting Stars land? I mean, wouldn't gravity pull them onto the Earth's surface?" Gilbert asked as he looked over at Anne who was still captivated by the starry night.
"Well, I'm not sure, Gilbert. I think they are too far away to be pulled onto Earth. All the Stars seem set in their places. Well actually, they are moving and so is our Planet. It's just so slow, we don't notice it as much. Since we do both have day and night." Anne explained. She had only been to Queens after all.
"I guess so. Some of them must hit something? Can the atmosphere really be that endless? Something keeps us from being harmed by all of those Stars." He tried to give it more thought in his head.
"I'm not sure. Maybe when I finish College, then I'll be able to answer those questions. Right now, let's just be thankful we had such a glorious night out here. I really must get going now, Gilbert. Tomorrow is going to be a big day and I don't want to disappoint the Guests. Imagine it! People are coming from all over the Island to be at this Fundraiser. I heard our Special Guest Speaker, Mrs. Greenberg is coming in from Ontario. So I want to look my best. I really must be on my way." Anne explained as she rose to her feet.
"Too bad. I could stay out here all night! Have you ever slept out, under the Stars, Anne?" Gilbert asked her, not wanting the night to end. He watched as she straightened out her many skirts and then reached down to pick up Gilbert's Jacket, carefully shaking it free of any gathering grass or dirt it may have picked up off of the cold, damp ground. After brushing her own hand against its sides, she held it out for Gilbert to take back from her.
"Not really. Though I did wander out in the middle of the night once when I was a Child. At first, it seemed all gloomy but then I decided, since no one really wanted to be out at night,maybe it was more of a magical time. I so wanted to go out and seek out a Fairy. I reasoned they could only dance around at night because, well, things that glitter and light up aren't quite as spectacular as they are in sunlight. You can't see the Stars during the day time after all? Well before I could seriously set out on anyreal exploration, one of the Babies started to cry out and I had to run back inside. I had to see what the matter was with them. I had never had the inkling to go out and explore again but I had that moment. Ithink on it often. It was enchanting. I have loved the nighttime ever since." Anne was now getting lost in her magical dream world.
Gilbert smiled. It didn't take much to set Anne off into her imagination and it was something he was growing quite fond of. "So tell me what did you wish for?" Gilbert prompted her but he knew she wouldn't tell. He just wanted to tease her bit.
"I can't tell you or it may not come true!" Anne said gleefully.
"Oh, come on, if you tell me yours, I'll tell you mine!" He tried to bribe her with his troth.
"It's not going to happen, Gilbert. Diana told me the rules and now you just want to spoil it all for me? Even at the risk of ruining your own! What could you be thinking?" Anne tried to understand his motivation.
"Fine, I'll just keep it to myself but you will always be wondering what it is I wished for!" Gilbert stated haughtily.
"And so I shall! Maybe I'll write a story or sonnet to the young Man who kept his secrets guarded under a paper Hat!" Anne teased him back and started laughting because she remembered how they would fashion Hats out of old discarded Newspapers when she was a Child long ago, now it seemed like an entirely different World.
"A Paper Hat! Why the nerve! How could you down play my wonderful felt Hat so?" He asked her defensively.
"You are such a silly Boy, Gilbert! I have to keep some of it as my own or it won't be orignial enough. Does everything have to revolve around just you?" She challenged him back.
"Oh, of course not! It's just you took my idea, so I should at least get the proper credit for it!" Gilbert replied defensively.
"Don't worry, I won't forget! Who knows if I'll ever write it? I get ideas everyday. They keep changing and it drives me mad sometimes, just trying to keep track of them all! It's so dreadful when a brilliant notion comes flittering into my head and then, whoosh! It's gone and I could spend the whole day trying desparately to capture that thought or motion that intrigued me so much. It's just never ending and it's amazing I get so much done because my imagination is so distracting at times!" Anne rattled on and Gilbert was trying not to laugh at her crazy habit of doing this kind of stuff.
"Honestly, Anne, I never noticed!" Gil grinned over at her fiendishly and Anne just stuck her tongue out at him.
"Oh that's really good! I thought you were so grown-up Anne? How I looked up to your brilliance and here you are acting just like that Child in the Paper Hat!" He chuckled just imaging a small Boy with such a look, Hethen he started to imagine Anne as a tomboy, wearing a dress no less and he laughed harder at the image in his head.
"Now what are you thinking about? I really am afraid to even ask this of you but if I don't you'll just tease me about that too!" Anne reasoned and then waited impatiently for his confession.
"I was imagining you acting like a Boy but in a Dress, wearing a Paper Hat! I know how silly but I bet you did it, didn't you?" Gilbert tried his best to gains some control over his out of control imagination, almost as bad asAnne's own.
"What have I to gain if I admit to it? You'll just spread it all over the School and the Boys will never listen to a word I tell them! I'll have to whip them all and lose my Faith in good teaching forever!" Anne dramatized to try and encourage him not to make fun of her with his peers.
"No, I wouldn't do that. They wouldn't care any ways Anne. Who hasn't? Well anyone who knows how to have a good time that is. There are always those who take everything in life so seriously. Where's the fun in that, I ask you? Well it was fun for awhile. I was just teasing you because, well, it is fun don't you think so?" Gilbert decided he better check even though Anne didn't seem to object openly at least to his teasing.
"I'll get over it. Yes, it's fun to tease others as long as you don't try to hurt their feeling over it. You must be careful with or else you may end up in a fight and you know I see no resolution in mere fist fighting over something that can be solved peacefully." Anne reminded him of her earlier words to him from before.
"I understand what you are trying to say. I'm much better at that but I was never really a Bully but rather just a Pest. Not a Rat though. I'd never stoop so low Anne. No matter what Charlie may accuse me of. I was taught to respect my Elders and push aside my Enemies if they asked for it! Even my friends can be Rats at times but they don't get away with it against me!"
"So I've heard. Just watch yourself. It would be a sorry day that I would be forced to have to seriously swat you for misbehaving." Anne told him seriously.
Gilbert started to feel like they were losing the good feeling the evening gave to them. He looked all around him, with concern. He really wished he had something to give to her. To remind her of this time together. He wandered around the field some, trying not to disturb Anne's revelry. He then spotted some Purple Lilacs, growing out off of the pathway some. He broke off some stems before she finished with her last sentence. When she turned to see what he was up to, he presented her with his thoughtful gift.
"Here, Anne. These are for you. I just felt you must have something to remind you of tonight. I would rue the day you have to discipline me for something so naughty but I'm not perfect. So don't dislike me too much if I lose my temper.I really have gotten much better as I have grown up. I just never liked anyone who hurt others or took things that didn't belong to them. I know other ways to get the message across without having to knock some sense into them, as Father aways says. Well,today was a very wonderful day and tomorrow is a special time in your life. You never know when an opportunity will present itself!" Gil said confidently and Anne smiled at his enthusiasm.
"Gil, you always seem to find some secret way to make me smile. How do you do such a thing?" Anne looked over at him slyly, taking in the fragrance of the token Flowers she held before her.
Gilbert looked over at that almost hidden, elfish grin of hers. Is she flirting with him? It sure felt that way! No. That's not like Anne. She probably is hiding some sweet secret, coveted by her imagination and too precious to share with some Boy, from School. He sighed regretfully and Anne picked up his obvious change in moods.
"Did I say something wrong, Gilbert? Really I meant nothing wrong by that statement. It was just after losing Matthew, I missed the shy way he would just smile over at me. He had a smile that I promise, brought with it the very sunshine. He was so shy though. So perhaps that made them more priceless. I just knew he didn't smile as much as he should, so when I would catch that smile, we both couldn't help but snicker because, well, we just did! Like being caught with your slip showing or discovering you just stuck your hand on a post with wet paint. You know what I mean, right, Gilbert?" Anne looked at him like a child, her large eyes, searching his own for a sign of agreement.
"Yes, Anne, I think so! I've had a few embarrassing moments in my time. I'm afraid to admit to." He blushed and tried to squelch any uncomfortable thoughts that might dare to attack him and find him foolishly confessing to all. Actually, too many to count! He thought with a nervous smile crossing his face.
"Ah, yes, Mr. Blythe. I can see by that errant smile that you do know what I meant!" She brightened up and spontaneously turned around on her heels, feeling a bit flush herself over the whole conversation with him.
"Why Miss Shirley! Is that a look of merriment I spy on that face of yours,for that comment to slip out like that.
"What am I to do with you, Gilbert? If I didn't know better, I'd swear your were deliberately trying to make me into the ditzy School Teacher of Avonlea. You didn't plan all of this in advance, did you?" She accused him, making sure she was a few side steps away from him as they walked up onto the Barry's Bridge.
"Honestly Anne! How could I know you would be out this late? Exactly at the moment I would be returning from Fred's? I'm smart but not quite qualified as a certified Genius, at least not yet." He grinned over at her rather proud of his quick wit.
"I suppose not. It is rather suspicious but even if it isn't, Rachel will find some way to make it appear as such. Gilbert, I'm sorry to have to ask this of you but, uhm…" Anne froze, biting her bottom lip because she felt small having to ask this of him.
"I know what you're trying to say Anne. I'll just turn out here, along the Barry's..er..Lake of Shining Waters here, so that no one will see us together." Gil replied reluctantly. He knew it was for the best.
"Thank you Gilbert. I'm sorry. I feel so foolish, having to sneak around like this. I swear, I feel like I'm ten years old, trying to sneak back in the House, without being caught outside! Gilbert, don't grow-up to follow my lead, too much. I fear some of my flaws, may truly be permanent." Anne said with remorse.
"Hey Anne. You really shouldn't do that to yourself. Father said if you speak negative thoughts like that all of the time, soon you will start to believe them." Gilbert looked at her seriously.
"But in my case, it is merely an observation. I have had my short comings pointed out abundantly." She said wistfully. She looks away from him because she was sinking into the noise of harsh words and harmful sentiments.
"Anne? Anne? Please, I don't know who you are talking about but I just can't see it. I refuse to see you as anyone but just Anne. So far, she seems to be an awfully nice young Woman with a kind heart. You put up with my ramblings. Usually I get shushed or stern glares from my friends, whenever I start talking about anything serious. I can't tell you how much better, easier things are, when you have someone to talk to that actually cares about what you are trying to say. I can't always explain what's on my tongue but you are so patient with me. Eventually, I can find the words I am searching for in my head. I guess I'm trying to say, you care about things most people take for granted. So do I. No one cares about why that old Maple Tree is hunched over the way it is. I do and I want to figure it out. A Winter Storm in its early life, maybe? A buggy out of sorts, crashed into it, permanently causing it to stand there as it does? It's a mystery, Anne but wouldn't it be fascinating to try and solve it?" Gilbert's alluring glance and that charming smile. I think I am starting to like seeing this face of his, more and more often Anne started thinking losing site of what Gilbert was trying to say to her.
"Anne? I have to turn here. Well, when I learn anything more about the sorry state of your Maple, I promise to bring you currently, up-to-date!" Gilbert said cheerily and Anne looks over at this jolly Puck as he prances off to a spacious clearing and practically leaps onto his Horse. The Horse responds with a neighing objection, which makes Gilbert's shoulders haunch and his face cringe. Anne's going to beat him one of these days and he will deserve the punishment. So much for leaving stealthily! He'll make some lame excuse if it ever comes up in conversation.
Gilbert pulls back on the reins to force his Horse to turn and watch her walk off. Her Hat was almost dangling on her back, barely secured by its ribbon ties. Such a happy girl she would be, if he wasn't always trying to show off around her. He couldn't understand his own impulsiveness at times. Anne was quite, "chipper" there at one point. He rather liked that Anne-girl. Humph! Anne-girl? That was what she was, wasn't she after all? The sweetest of little girls she must have been. He wondered what she looked like, at eight or nine. Was she a chubby little toddler, always into mischief! Then turning to face you, head on, with those big, innocent green eyes, pleading for your mercy! The first day of class, the first time those big Green Eyes looked wide-eyed, straight into his own. She had that look that would melt the heart of even the sternest of Father's.
Ah Anne! Turn those beautiful eyes back my way! With your twirling skirts and pouty lips. That laugh, like a merry child's at first but turning quite boisterous if she had the upper hand! How she swayed and teased him. Did she tease me with those Flowers?What was she up to now? I wanted to pull her close and swing her merrily around and around, until we grew so dizzy we landed upon the ground below us. Whew! I'm glad I didn't get carried away! I would have lost my head for sure! I'd just hold her down and kiss her until I could no longer breathe! Then she would definitely demand my head on the block ! I'm positive of that! He thought, startling himself with that idea!