Chapter 3: The Fire is Out
Author's Note: I've had some people tell me how Anne and Gilbert should act when they find out about the fire, but I don't know how they will yet. Oh, to Sam-anonymous-reviewer, Sorry the author's notes in the middle of the story bother u. I'll stop if you really hate them.
The fire spread on through most of the kitchen. The smoke didn't even have a chance to leak out into the living room. The window inside the kitchen was open, so the smoke exited through there.
Anne had recovered from her unsuccessful endeavor to bake a cake. Gilbert's headache seemed more important than any cake ruined or saved. She gave him some medicine, but unfortunately she had given him a very strong type of medicine. The strong medicine caused him to become somewhat delirious. He could not tell a horse from a donkey in his state.
A scream came from the kitchen. Gilbert ran as fast as he could in such a delirious state to find out what had happened. Once in the kitchen, he saw orange. He could see nothing but orange and yellow and red. What was this stuff?
"Gilbert! Don't just stand there! Help me!" shouted Anne. She ran in the blazing kitchen. She took an empty bucket and filled it with water. The bucket of water did not suffice. The flames kept growing.
"Anne, what is going on?" said Gilbert. His head ached. All he could see were colors. The flames did not appear to him as they should have.
"Gilbert, have you gone blind? The kitchen is burning down!" exclaimed Anne.
The fire kept spreading. The colors grew warmer. Anne had managed to extinguish the fire in the northern half of the kitchen, but she feared it might be too late for the rest.
Gilbert's deliriousness had soon subsided. He was aware of the fire now. "Anne! The fire can't be put out with that little bit of water. Don't you own a larger bucket?" said Gilbert.
"It's in the shed." she said.
Gilbert went to the shed. He looked everywhere but could not locate a large bucket. If he were to find the bucket, it may be too late to save the kitchen now. He continued to search. Suddenly, it occurred to him that the storm had stopped. He stepped outside. Sitting there was the large bucket he had been searching for.
He went back to the kitchen. There he found out that Anne had not controlled the remaining part of the fire. He quickly filled the bucket and doused the fire with it. He repeated this procedure numerous times. After a while he felt too tired to go on. Anne then took over. She went hysterical with the water, but it was she that could finally extinguish the flames.
The couple retired to the living room, tired from all the dousing they had done.
Anne looked at the slightly toasted kitchen. "Thank you for extinguishing the fire," she said.
"I did not extinguish it. I merely brought the bucket. You, my dear, are the real hero." replied Gilbert. He did not wish to take the credit when he did not earn it.
Gilbert felt terrible. He was exhausted from that fire. "Anne, did you notice the storm has ceased?" he said.
She turned to glance out the window. He was right. The storm had stopped. "I hadn't even noticed." she replied with a laugh.
"I think I should leave now before the storm starts again." said Gilbert, getting up.
Anne followed. "I'll come with you," she said.
He smiled. "You don't think I can even make it home by myself, do you?" he asked.
"Are you accusing me of not trusting you?" she replied.
"That's exactly what I am accusing you of." he said with a laugh.
Come on Gilbert, let's leave before the storm starts again.
While walking to Gilbert's house, Anne took notice of all the damage the storm had caused. The Lake of Shining Waters had lost its shine and housed debris of all sort.
"Look Gil, the flowers are sad. They won't be smiling for a long while yet. What a horrible sight! All of Avonlea looks gloomy. Its lost its charm with the storm." she said.
"Don't be so pessimistic Anne. Avonlea's charm will be restored as will the flower's happiness." said Gilbert. He too noticed all of the damage the storm had caused.
Thunder rumbled in the sky. It was accompanied by several bolts of lightning. Rain soon followed. Anne and Gilbert took cover under a large Weeping Willow. The storm started once again.
"Why has it started again?" asked Anne.
"There's no trusting Mother Nature. She must be cross about something to cause such a tempest." said Gilbert.
Anne looked at the bright side. "Well, at least we are together," she said.
"Yes, at least we are together," agreed Gilbert.
Author's Note: I thought extinguishing the flames would be more exciting than it actually was. I tried my hardest not to make Gilbert the hero. I think Anne was the actual hero. She put out the fire. Gilbert just brought the bucket to her.
