Anne seemed downcast at dinner. Gilbert couldn't put his finger on why, but it was clear to him that her spirits were low and her mind a million miles away. He carried the conversation almost single-handedly, which was an odd role reversal for the pair.
After dinner, they walked down King Street until they arrived at the public house hosting the evening's trivia game. Anne had only been in a "pub" once before, and not as a patron. The prospect of this new and exciting experience exhilarated her, and all at once she was up to her ears in adrenaline and butterflies.
Gilbert showed her to their table and introduced her to his team: Paul, a prairie boy from Winnipeg, Manitoba; John, a real looker from Ottawa; and Lewis who'd grown up in Toronto and whose father was a professor at the University. The four gentlemen were peers at school and teammates on an intramural rugby team, in addition to being partners in crime when it came to trivia.
"It's very nice to meet you, Anne. Gilbert tells us your wicked smart so we're hoping you'll agree to lend you talents to our team for tonight's game," said Paul.
"Play with you? What fun! I'd be delighted!" returned Anne, already pulling up a chair and sizing out the competition.
"There are five teams tonight but our only real competition is "Les Quizerables," Paul explained.
"What a cheeky name! Which one are they?"
"Over there," he said, pointing. "The group from the Women's College. We've come close but never once have we beaten them."
Anne looked over and, low and behold, there sat Christine, the defacto captain of "Les Quizerables."
"It figures," said Anne, under her breath.
"What?" asked Paul.
"Oh nothing," she said quickly. "What's the name of your team?"
"The Trolly Dodgers." he returned. "Lewis really loves baseball, and he's always late for class because he missed the streetcar. He lives with his parents, you see, and seeing as he's our captain, it just made sense to pay homage and poke fun at him in particular."
Anne had assumed that Gilbert was the captain, not for any particularly good reason except that in Avonlea he was the captain of everything. Not because he wanted to be, per say, but because the other boys saw him as a leader and he was good at sports, although fairly uninterested in them. Anne had no idea what public transit had to do with baseball but she smiled and pressed Paul for the rules of the game.
The emcee kicked things off with a few jokes and then it was off to the races. Anne held back for the first few questions, getting a sense of the flow of the questions and the other teams. John got one for their team, Christine another for her's, and a gentleman two tables over the third. Gilbert leaned into Anne and whispered in her ear.
"You knew that one, and the one before it. Come on, Anne, the team needs you," he said, smiling. Overhearing Christine get another question correct, Anne's eyes lit up like two flames burning in the dark night - it was go time!
"What famous composer performed his epic piece 'Moonlight Sonata' for the first time in 1802?"
Anne rang the bell.
"Ludwig van Beethovan," she exclaimed, a little louder than was necessary.
"Correct."
"Alright, Anne, way to go," said John.
"In 1851, Herman Melville penned this novel, featuring Captain Ahab?"
Anne rang the bell again.
"'Moby-Dick'."
"Correct," confirmed the emcee. Everyone on The Trolly Dodgers clapped.
"We were introduced to Scrooge in this man's 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol."
Christine rang the bell.
"Charles Dickens," she said calmly.
"Correct. One point for "Les Quizerables"."
"Blast, I knew that one," said Anne, pounding her fist on the table. "Alright, no more funny business." She rolled up her sleeves. "Take no prisoners, am I right, gentlemen?"
"Haha, yeah, sure, you got it Anne," chuckled Lewis.
Anne set her eyes on Christine and focused in like a wild animal about to attack its prey.
"In what city was United States President Abraham Lincoln assassinated?" the emcee called out.
"I know this one," Gilbert said and reached for the bell but Anne got there first.
"Washington, D.C." she called.
"Correct." Gilbert tried to mask the slight embarrassment he felt by congratulating her.
"Nicely done, Anne."
The same scene played out again, with Gilbert on the brink of getting a point only to be scooped by Anne.
"I'll go get us some drinks," he said quietly, leaving the table. Anne hardly noticed.
Christine got the next two questions right, and then Anne took back the lead answering correctly five questions in a row.
"In 1879, this man famously tried "10,000 times" to complete his invention of the light bulb," said the emcee.
Gilbert looked up from the bar and over to Anne. They had shared some special moments over the study of electricity back home in Miss Stacey's class and he was keen to catch her eye and share in this fond memory with her. Anne, on the other hand, was so preoccupied with winning that she had no room for sentimentality in that moment.
The fire and fury of Anne's determination only escalated as the game play continued. Christine managed to squeeze in a correct answer or two but generally Anne dominated. She hardly let her teammates contribute, and eventually they all leaned away from the table and into their pints, occasionally glancing over to Gilbert who had decided to take a stool at the bar rather than return to the group.
"Last question. Double or nothing. Teams will have one minute to agree on an answer and write it down," said the emcee, unsure whether any of this mattered as The Trolly Dodgers were so far ahead it was near impossible for anyone to take them at this point in the game.
"Which ancient Greek is considered by many to be the father of western medicine?"
It was an interesting question. Half of the players in the room were physicians-in-training, but it would take a medical student who was also a lover of classics, philosophy, and ancient civilizations to know the correct answer was Hippocrates of Cos.
"Gilbert!" said Anne, turning to her table mates. "Wait, where's Gilbert?"
"He's at the bar, I think," said Paul, neutrally.
"Gilbert!" she shouted, "we need you."
"I'm good. You got this, Anne," he hollered back, setting down his empty pint glass.
She looked back at the team, all of whom were casually observing to see how this little demonstration would play out.
Anne sat motionless for a moment, the reality of her behaviour over the last 30 minutes or so very slowing sinking in. She stood up carefully.
"Gentlemen, it has been a pleasure playing with you but I think it's time for me to turn in. It seems trivia brings out my competitive side. I hope you'll forgive me for ..."
"Forgive you? Anne, we couldn't be more grateful," said Paul. "I don't think I've ever seen the Women's team this fit to be tied. I mean, look at them."
"Good night, gentlemen," she smiled. "I hope to see you all again soon."
She grabbed her purse and headed to the bar. Gilbert put on his hat and the two left without uttering a word. They walked a long way in silence. Nearing the boarding house, Gilbert finally offered:
"What's going on with you tonight, Anne?"
She was quiet for a moment and then she said: "I don't know. I feel all torn up inside and entirely upside down and I don't know why."
Gilbert considered. "It's late, well past curfew. Best you go inside soon or risk trouble with house mother. May I call before church? I'd like to talk more with a good night's sleep behind me."
"Of course," said Anne.
"Good night."
"Good night."
Gilbert nodded and headed down the path. He paused at the gate and considered turning around to say something from the heart, but a small burst of stubbornness and pride stopped him and he carried on his way.
Anne dressed for bed and said her prayers. She turned off the light in her room and tucked herself in under the warm blankets. What had she done? Why was she so awkward at dinner? And why, oh why, had she let herself get so caught up in a silly trivia game? What was going on with her? Just then, a tidal wave of uncertainty about Gilbert and his true feelings for her washed over her. It churned in her stomach and made her feel sick all over. What if she'd imagined their relationship? What if this was all in her head? At that moment, she was struck with an image so strong and so sharp that it pained her like a slap in the face:
Gilbert and Winnifred, arm in arm at the county fair.