Author's Note: Thank you for all the great reviews. I've never tried to write a story before. But the writing here has inspired me. I have little hope of duplicating Montgomery's style, so I thought I'd try one of the more prosaic characters. I have an idea what each chapter is going to be, now to find the time to write. This is going to follow her to adulthood. Please excuse me if I seem to jump around, but twelve to fourteen years is a lot to cover in one story!
Dora straightened her dress. She grabbed her hair ribbon and apron. "Marilla, will you help me?"
Marilla hurried into the West Gable. "Dora, its only 6:30, you have another two hours before you have to be at school. Besides, I doubt that you will be late since you are going to walk with the teacher."
Dora wiggled up and down. She was so excited about going to school this fall. She'd heard the older children talking about it at church. "I want to learn everything today. Do you think Anne will finally explain to me the difference between a nymph and a dryad?"
"You will have plenty of time to learn everything. And I'd rather you spent more time learning arithmetic and history than fairy tales."
"But fairy tales can teach history and arithmetic!" Anne protested as she came around the corner. "I've finally convinced Davy that he needs to go to school."
After finishing their morning chores, Anne and the twins set off for school.
Davy started asking questions as soon as they started down Birch Path. "Will you be extra nice to us because we live with you? Have you ever whipped anyone? What is homework? Milty Boulter told me that you only like boys like Paul Irving? Is he really that great? Will you quit teaching if you and Gilbert Blythe get married? Tell me, I want to know. Mrs. Lynde said you would."
Anne was slightly dazed by all the questions pelted at her. "I try to be nice to all my students. Paul is a kindred spirit, but I love you. I've only whipped someone once, and I regret it. As for Gilbert, Mrs. Lynde," Here Anne stopped herself before she said something for which she would have to apologize. "Dora, do you have any questions about school?"
"Just one. Can Davy and I sit together?"
"Boys and girls have to sit on opposite sides of the schoolhouse. But," Anne smiled, "You might have a nice teacher who will sit you across the aisle from each other. Now here we are. You have a few minutes to play while I go in and prepare."
The twins wondered over to the swing hung from the tree next to the schoolhouse until Anne called school to order. When everyone rushed in, Davy ran to grab the front seat with Milty Boulter. Dora followed slowly not sure who she was going to sit with and desperately hoping it was someone nice.
Anne started to get the information from the new students. In addition to the twins, the Gillis's had Ruby's cousin, Emerald staying in Avonlea for the year from Toronto.
"Emerald! What a lovely name that matches your eyes." Anne exclaimed. "You must be a real gem. You and Dora can share the front desk on the girl's side. Dora, why don't you take the aisle seat?"
The two girls smiled at each other. "At home, I'm usually Emmie." Emerald said.
"That's pretty, too. Have you ever been to school before?" Dora asked.
"No, I'm only seven. How old are you?"
"I'm seven."
Anne cleared her throat. 'Girls, why don't we start our lessons now?"
The days past quickly, as Emmie and Dora became bosom friends. Neither was the smartest in their class, that honor belonged to Milty, but they were the two most diligent.
One Monday morning, Dora came to school and found her seatmate was out for the day with a nasty head cold. She wondered who she would eat lunch with if Emmie was not there. As the children returned to their desks after the flag salute, Barbara Shaw managed to knock a bottle of ink onto Dora's new pinafore. Dora burst into tears, and Barbara went into hysterics. Anne rushed to clean up the ink and calm down every one. This was not a good start for the day.
Dora tiptoed up to Anne and asked, "Is Marilla going to be mad at me for ruining my apron?"
"No, accidents happen to everyone. You are going to have to wear it all day to protect your dress."
Dora sat back down and tried to concentrate on her subtraction problems. She liked addition much better. It was more fun to see things get bigger than smaller.
At recess, Dora went to the swing. Anthony Pye beat her to it. "Find somewhere else to be. Our club is going to be here. Beat it, you little - spot. Are you a Dalmatian? You are spotted all over. Of course, the spots on your face are brown and the spots on your dress are black."
Dora starred at him in shock. She could not remember anyone being that mean to her other than Mrs. Spot. Remembering Mrs. Spot, tears began to creep out of the corners of her eyes."
"Look, the doggie is crying. Does anyone have a bone to throw at her?"
At this point, Davy came around the corner of the schoolhouse. A boy could not let someone talk about his sister like that. "Come on, Milty, we need to teach Anthony a lesson." Both little boys leaped onto the older boy.
Inside Anne had been thinking about the social to open Avonlea's new Blue town hall. In between wondering how she would survive the embarrassment, she could not help but wonder if she would get a chance to dance with Gilbert. He did not mash her toes like Billy and Charlie tended to do. She heard the shouting and rushed outside just as the first punches were thrown. "Stop children! Stop this instant! Davy! Milty! Anthony, go inside! This was your last recess for the week. The rest of you should get inside, also."
When Anne heard the story, she wanted to excuse Davy but knew that wouldn't be proper. She decided to talk to him tonight.
As noon came, Dora started to wonder who she would talk to at lunch. Emmie was not in school, and Davy had to eat lunch inside by himself. She looked around the classroom. Maybe Minnie May Barry. They had talked a few times at church while Anne and Diana caught Mrs. Allan up on the "news" of their lives and Avonlea. Dora was a little overwhelmed by the older girl's confidence.
Anne looked up to catch Minnie May passing a note to Anthony. The girl may have only been eleven, but she was already quite the flirt. Not like Diana, who had not minded the boys' attention, Minnie was almost forward in her quest for attention. Evidently, the fight had drawn Minnie's attention. Anne might have to mention this to Diana. Sighing, Anne rang the bell to dismiss the children for lunch.
Dora slowly put her books away. Then when she grabbed her pail, she headed towards the porch where Minnie May and her friends always sat.
Minnie was not in a mean girl, but she was in a bad mood. Not only had her mother told her she was too young for the social, but if he hadn't been kept inside. Anthony was going to put their initials in a ""Take Notice" sign today. "I don't know why she was so upset about being called Spot. It isn't like Dora isn't absolutely covered in freckles. Being teased by Anthony is probably the closest she will ever come to having a boy pay attention to her."
Dora gasped and ran down to the creek. Life was becoming unbearable. As she ran by the tree, Paul looked up from his Grimm Brothers' book. Maybe he could help. Paul followed her down to the creek after securing both dinner pails.
"Are you all right? Can I eat with you today? I usually eat with Miss Shirley, but she has to stay in with the boys today."
"Why would you want to eat with me?" Dora asked.
"We're both alone. And you seem nice. Can you tell me why you were crying?"
"Being called Spot reminded me of Mrs. Spot. She's the one who told me when mama and papa died. I got sad when I remembered that."
"I know I get sad when I think of my mama. She died a year and a half ago, and my Father lives in Boston. Can I tell you a secret? Not even Miss Shirley knows this. She thinks my Rock People are fairies, but really I imagine the Golden Lady is my little mother. It helps when I have a bad day to tell her about it. She always understands, maybe sometime you can come and talk to her."
Dora managed a watery smile, "I'd like that. Say you know a lot about fairies. Anne, I mean Miss Shirley, always talks about the nymphs and the dryads. Can you tell me what the difference is?"
Paul returned her smile, "A nymph is beautiful maiden spirit who lives in the mountains, forests, trees, and waters. A dryad is a nymph who lives in the forest."
"Thank you. I've never understood what Miss Shirley was saying before."
With this Paul and Dora were fast friends. Many days Paul joined Emmie and Dora for lunch all finding a kindred spirit with parents so far away.
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