January had been bitterly cold and terribly bleak. The snow covered all of Avonlea and its surrounding areas. Both the Upper and Lower roads to Carmody had been cut-off, with only limited access by sled across the fields. Even then, most of the locals were reluctant to venture out. Long-time residents were prepared, and members of the Ladies Auxiliary Committee were able to cater for those less familiar with an Avonlea winter.

Anne tried not to revel too much in the extra holiday time. However, it was too hard to resist when she saw Minnie Mae and her friends making snow angels at the edge of the Haunted Wood. She had tried to drag Gilbert along until he asked if Fred would be joining them, at which point Anne decided she no longer wanted Gilbert's company.

Diana, on the other hand, was happy to join in.

"Diana, I never want to grow up! Adults never stop to make snow angels or breathe in the crisp crackle of a winter breath."

"We all have to grow up. We all at some stage become adults and marry and have children of our own. Or at least, that's what some of us want to do."

Anne looked over at the blushing Diana. "What a horrible thing to say, Diana! To wish your youth away for such mundane, responsible things!" Diana looked thoroughly admonished and regretted speaking up. Anne, however, had not noticed. "To think we are here only in servitude to others without any freedom to express our own joy and curiousity! It's bad enough to be judged for living by every nosy parker who walks past. But to then be judged on whether or not we are even worthy of what is expected of us, without question on whether we even want that…"

Anne paused when she heard the sniffily. "Oh, Diana! What did I say?"

"But Anne. I do want those things. I want to be married. I want to have my own home to keep and maintain. Most of all I want to have children and show them all the magic you have shown me. But you don't seem to want me to have those things. Do you think less of me? Am I still worthy?"

There was a short gasp before Anne tackled Diana in a ferocious hug. "Diana, Diana, Diana! You are the highest of all women! You are always worthy! But tell me: Is that truly what you want?"

Diana could only smile tentatively, her eyes still glistening with tears ready to fall at any moment.

Anne sighed. "Then we can still share our different paths together. I can live vicariously through you, with your blossoming brood and jolly Fred ever grateful for his brilliant wife managing both house and farm. You can live vicariously through me, on my wild adventures across the colonies, writing about my great escapades and alluding the authorities who try to silence me."

Diana could not help but laugh at this imagery. "And should you ever grow up and marry someone? What then?"

"Well, you can laugh and say, 'I told you so', while we teach our combined broods how to make the best snow angels! For it is not in what we each desire but protecting our right to achieve it! "

The pair continued to laugh and dance in the snow, however, Anne could not shake the nagging feeling inside. Was she truly destined to travel her path alone? Was there no-one who could walk alongside her in life? What had happened to the dashing prince of her dreams, promised to come in and sweep her away to a castle in Spain? Anne sighed. Prince or no prince, Anne knew she could still fill her life with verve and friends, no matter where she went. Perhaps it was more about what she could make of life rather than simply waiting around for life to happen. Surely making snow-angels was as fun (if not maybe more so) as the beautiful resulting image?

Eventually, all good things come to an end, including snow-angels and winter holidays. Once again, Gilbert offered to take Anne back to Carmody and Anne accepted on the condition he stopped asking about Fred, even in his jesting manner! Though technically he never agreed, Anne took his laugh as a promise and willingly hopped in the sleigh. Next to her seat was a journal wrapped in red ribbon. She gave Gilbert a quizzical look.

"Ah, this is Paul Irvings's poetry journal. I have been trying to reach him on an intellectual level and he finally entrusted me with his poetry. Now, I know from your friendship, this is a big deal. A huge honour and one I do not take lightly. However, I fear it is totally over my head and I really could do with your guidance on this."

Anne gently touched the ribbon. "Would you like me to read aloud on the way to Carmody?"

Gilbert nodded. "That sounds lovely."

And thus they travelled, down pass Mr Harrison's home and towards Carmody; Gilbert sat proudly next to Anne and maintaining a steady pace with his horse. Anne leaned gently against his shoulder, evoking the magic of Paul Irving and his Rock People.

Mr Harrison chose that moment to look out the window to see the pair riding past. "Hmph. Much better choice than that fair-headed farm boy. At least that one can keep up with her." It seemed the talk about Anne's love life would never cease in Avonlea.

The poetry was the perfect way to pass the time. As Gilbert gently pulled up the sleigh near Lawson's Store, Anne sighed with content. With a soft voice, scared to break the moment, he asked: "What is it, Anne-girl?"

With a wistful far-away look, Anne replied, "Wasn't that a perfect moment, Gil?"

Gilbert gulped his first reply back down into his belly. Right now, Anne's cheeks were rosy from the cold and her eyes were shining with the sentiment, blinded by her own happiness to their immediate surroundings. She seemed so ethereal and yet she had shared this very real moment with him. He was trying very hard not to be carried away with her comment. The moment HAD felt perfect. It HAD felt right between them. But if he wanted more of them, he would have to tread carefully.

Anne blinked and remembered where she was. She looked over at Gilbert, embarrassed for her ramblings. "I'm sorry. I meant to say, thankyou for the poems. It was so special. I mean it was very special of you to share them with me." Anne was clearly uncomfortable with this new sensation and quickly made to exit the sleigh.

"It's okay, Anne. I enjoyed listening to you read. Thank you for sharing it with me. Now, can I help carry your things inside?"

Anne was about to decline his offer when a big burly man came stomping down the main road towards them, bellowing "Miss Shirley! I want a word with you!"

"Do you know that man?", Gilbert asked as he precariously assessed the situation.

"No," Anne timidly replied. Then she noticed the book in his hand. "Wait! I think he is Mabel's father? That's her Frankenstein book in his hand!" Without further ado, Anne started to stomp across the snow to meet the man halfway. Gilbert quickly hopped down from the sleigh.

By the time he reached them, the man was already yelling at Anne, "What is the meaning of this? You gave my Mabel a book like this to read?!"

Anne's tiny frame barely reached the man's shoulders. He was broad and tall with a thick bushy beard and moustache curling around his face like a dark thicket. His eyebrows were rather animated, accentuating every word in his declaration as they verily danced around his sparkling blue eyes-eyes that matched the same searching look Mabel had during their science lessons. He gave off the aura of a Green Knight, except he was dressed in navy and dark brown. And yet, despite all of his blustering, Anne stood her ground, staring up at his face and putting on her best schoolmarm look.

"Indeed I did, Mr Sadler. Young Mabel has a curious and inquisitive mind, which deserves to be fostered. As her teacher, it is my duty-"

"You gave her a book about cutting up dead bodies!"

"Again, yes I did. And if you would let me finish, Mr Sadler, I would be more than happy to continue discussing your daughter's education inside, where it is dry and warm, and away from other inquisitive folks."

Mr Sadler stopped and looked around. It appeared like he suddenly remembered he was standing in the main street of Carmody and did not want to continue the discussion outside.

"Fine. Is there somewhere inside Lawson's we can talk, or do I need to lumber on up to the school?"

"Yes, Mr Sadler. There is a small room at the back of the store. If you would care to join me, I will also be happy to make a cup of tea for us both." Anne looked over at Gilbert. "My colleague here is Mr Gilbert Blythe, a fellow teacher from Avonlea. Would you mind if he joined us?"

"Sure, why not?", grumbled Mr Sadler. "I'd like to know what he thinks of your teaching methods too." Gilbert stifled a laugh; considering it was his idea to give Frankenstein to Mabel, Gilbert was more than grateful to be invited into this discussion.

Inside, Lucilla offered to bring the tea while Anne set up table and chairs in the back room. Mr Sadler's large physique took up most of the room and yet Anne was the one with the most commanding presence.

"Mr Sadler, may I begin? First, I would like to comment on how brilliant young Mabel is. Her mind is sharp and attentive, more so than most children her age. However, her interests often distract her away from the schoolwork set each day. I often spend much time bringing her … back to the classroom."

"Are you saying she daydreams?"

Anne signed. "Well, that would best describe her now. A few months ago, Mabel would physically walk off to the woods to explore her own personal studies. We have finally reached a compromise where she stays in the classroom and I allow her to draw or write notes from memory."

Mr Sadler at least had the decency to look a little ashamed of this. "Ah, yes. This is a known problem with her."

Anne nodded. "Yes, which is why I am happy with our compromise. Nevertheless, I have been working hard to meet her halfway. Mr Sadler, have you seen Mable's artwork?" The answer was a simple shake of the head.

"Mabel does not draw whimsical or fantastical creatures. She draws anatomically correct details of animals she finds in the forest. When I say anatomically correct, I mean full graphic details on both outside and inside the body. Now, if it was creative art, I would be more than able to help. However, Mabel has a far more scientific curiousity about her. This is where I asked my esteemed colleague for his advice." At Anne's gesture in his direction, Gilbert fought the urge to look around for another person.

Anne continued. "Mr Blythe initially suggested I provide her with books about Leonardo da Vinci. Perhaps you are aware of his beautiful artwork? He was also well known for his studies into anatomy and the physical features of birds particularly."

Mr Sadler grunted. "Yes, we saw that book. Almost threw it out because of the pictures. You're lucky I saw the whole book and not just that chapter." Gilbert choked on his tea. That book had cost him a week's wages! "My Mabel does love it so." Gilbert recovered with a quiet sigh of relief.

"No, Mr Sadler. You are lucky to have resources available to help your daughter explore this part of her mind. It was also Mr Blythe's suggestions to consider Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein. Yes, you could take the shallow interpretation to be using dead body parts to create a monster. However, it is also about the ethics of science and religion. It is an exploration of how we understand science, and most of all how we take responsibility for our actions, no matter how great we think the purpose is."

Even slumping, Mr Sadler was an imposing man. However, he had started to concede to Miss Shirley's argument, recognising all of these features in his young daughter. "Look, it's just … hard. Mabel's not like other girls. And I don't know what to do with her!"

Gilbert leaned forward. "If I may, Mr Sadler? Mabel is a unique girl with a unique mind. And you are right, she is not like other girls. However, she doesn't HAVE to be like other girls. Take Miss Shirley here. I have known her since school and she is NOT like other girls. However, her uniqueness is what helped her thrive at Queens and become one of the best teachers your daughter could ever have. She doesn't have to be like other girls. With the right books and teachers, Mabel could be better than other girls. She could go off to be a scientist or doctor or anything!"

Poor Mr Sadler looked defeated from both sides, and yet there was a twinkle of pride in his eyes. . "Do you really think Mabel... ?"

Anne reached across the table to hold Mr Sadler's hand. "Yes, Mr Sadler. I really do. She could attend school out of town. Maybe Queens. Maybe beyond. But she will need your support to do so."

Mr Sadler looked up into Anne's eyes. "What if she never marries? What if no man wants a girl like her?"

Anne stopped to think. She had been thinking this same thought recently. "Mr Sadler, if Mabel wants to marry, I am sure she can find someone who belongs in her life. But she is still young. She doesn't need to think about these things right now but she does need to think about education. And if one day she does find someone to marry, don't you think it would better if it is someone who can be right there next to her as she is, rather than wanting her to be something else?"

The room fell silent while Mr Sadler processed all Anne had said. "Thank you, Miss Shirley. I see now, Mabel is very lucky to have a teacher like you. And you too, Mr Blythe. Miss Shirley here also benefits from having a colleague like you to support her and work with her."

Mr Sadler stood up. "Perhaps I could read this book with Mabel. You know, she had already read it through four times since I first caught her with it. And no matter where I hide it, she finds it again. Maybe it's time I support her instead." And with that, he turned and walked out the door.

Anne and Gilbert sat silently staring after Mr Sadler. "Anne, what just happened?"

"I think," Anne stuttered. "I think I just avoided a report from a parent."

Gilbert let out the nervous laugh he had been holding back. "You sure don't do things by half, do you!"

Anne smiled. "Gil? Thanks."

"What for?"

"Being here with me. Supporting me. I was terrified but you really helped."

"I told you, Carrots. We are a team. We work together. Side by side."

Anne smiled in agreement.

The next day, as school returned, Anne found a carefully wrapped picture on her desk. It was a very detailed sketch of the bone and muscle of a crow. Very. Detailed. With labels and everything, signed "Thankyou, Teacher".

Anne was never sure exactly how she kept her breakfast down but she also never forgot the look of pride and love shining from Mabel's young face.