2. The Two Birthday Cakes
2.1 Footprints in the Snow
April 1912
"We better head back to Ingleside", Di Blythe commented as the sun dipped behind the spruces, "I promised Mother we wouldn't dawdle."
"And I still have to finish making the lemon biscuits for Shirley's birthday dinner." added Nan. At sixteen, the Ingleside twins considered themselves grown up. They each had their 'specialty' baked treats that they contributed to family occasions; Aunt Marilla's famous plum puffs for Di, lemon baking powder biscuits for Nan. They were home for the Easter break, and had spent most of their time swapping stories from their first year of teaching.
The Blythe family of Ingleside had walked down to collect the Meredith family from the Manse who were invited to Shirley's birthday celebrations. After weeks of snow flurries that had kept everyone house bound, when the day had dawned bright and sunny they couldn't resist the opportunity to be outside, even if it was only for a short time. Jem, the eldest longed to be out in the snow, Walter missed the inspiration of the woods for his poetry, Nan and Di, missed the opportunity for private chats, and Shirley missed the opportunity for solitude. Even the 'baby' Rilla (who at 13 really couldn't be called the baby anymore), longed for the society of others, if only to show off the new lace collar. Their parents, Anne Shirley of old and Gilbert Blythe had joined them, "relishing the opportunity to stretch our legs" Anne had said, though nobody was fooled; everyone knew that at the first hints of spring Anne Blythe needed to be outdoors.
Ever since Jerry, Faith, Carl and Una Meredith's father had been appointed as the Glen St Mary Methodist Reverend and moved his family into the Manse, it had become something of a tradition for both families to gather together for birthdays. In years to come weddings and grandchildren would intertwine the families closely. For now however, the bounds of friendship kept them close. The children had been inseparable since they met and the adults enjoyed the close friendship of the kind that only those who are 'the race that knows Joseph' can understand.
"I'd rather stay here" said Shirley. He'd always felt a little separate to his family but at fourteen he was beginning to understand that his interests were different to the others. Right now, he was leaning on Carl Meredith, looking over his shoulder watching, fascinated, as Carl pointed out the differences in the trails in the snow. The tall, thin, rectangle tracks were rabbit prints, the more blocky shapes belonged to a friendly squirrel Carl had named Lancelot.
"Come on Shirl," said Jem, thumping him on the shoulder. At almost twenty, Jem was the self-assured Redmond College student and captain of the football team. He was also the older brother never missed an opportunity to tease his siblings. "Let's see how old you are this year!"
Knowing how this would wind-up Shirley, Jem ruffled his hair in a deliberately patronising way and ran towards Ingleside.
Shirley still hadn't reached his full height, but knew he could hold his own against his brother, grinned wickedly and took off after him.
Laughing, the rest of the group linked arms and followed them up the path towards Ingleside.