Chapter 10 - The Queens College Journal
It had been over a week since the redhead had had a conversation with her best friend about the residential school where the young Ka'kwet was being held. It was a Wednesday afternoon, Anne was spending her first meeting with the editorial staff of the Queens College newspaper, Diana had also joined her.
Another well-known face of the two friends, Charlie Sloan, was also part of the team, much to the dismay of the redheaded student.
They were all seated around a rectangular table, there were a total of fourteen students, a large majority of them were boys, as there were only four girls.
A young brown man with round glasses, rather tall and slender, happened to be the chief editor, he was also the oldest. He said, "Well... Before we begin, and before I listen to your suggestions for topics, I'd like to welcome our two newcomers, Miss Diana Barry and Miss Anne Shirley-Cuthbert! Charlie, who is at my side, will be happy to explain everything to you in detail, according to him you already knew each other before arriving in Queens...", Anne raised her eyes to heaven at his remark.
Charlie smiled a little strangely that seemed forced, he always had trouble looking cheerful, so when he forced himself, it was immediately obvious.
Following this, the round table began and Benjamin Roy, the troop leader, asked everyone to present their ideas for topics for the next issue of the newspaper. The subjects that were mentioned did not seem to excite the young redhead, but since she was new, she did not really dare to intervene.
But was it any wonder that most of the subjects were related to Queens College itself? So by necessity, these subjects weren't very captivating. Three-quarters of the subjects were about sports competitions, which didn't make her happy, she thought there would have been a little more material to write about.
The young man with glasses finally paused on the two newcomers, "I know you've just arrived and you probably haven't had time to think about ideas, but I ask you anyway, do you have any suggestions?"
Diana hastily replied, "No, actually we haven't-", when her friend cut her off, "I have an idea for a story, but I'm not sure that's editorial, I understand we were only supposed to talk about activities related to Queens College?", she asked him falsely naïvely.
The student seemed very interested, "Well, we do focus on topics related to the institution, but it's possible that we're interested in other things, if it was related to education it might be more relevant, is that the case?"
A big smile appeared on Anne's face, "You don't think you can say that well! That's exactly the case! Do you know about the Halifax residential school?" Diana began to stare at her, feeling that her young friend would not have the patience to wait very long to talk about the subject that was so dear to her heart.
The young man immediately replied in a rather detached tone, "I may have heard about it a few times indeed, but I don't think anyone will be interested in the subject. But I think it's very good, we're going to be able to save some of these native people."
The redheaded student couldn't help but think aloud, "Save?! "Benjamin raised his eyebrows at the words, "Well, my dear... Isn't it true, don't these people make you sad to see? They live like savages, their children must starve most of the time, it can only be good for them. »
Anne got up from her chair, leaning her points tightly on the table, "I beg your pardon?! Do you think these kids are in a better place right now?! Have you even spoken to any of these natives?! These children are being taken away from their families, they have no right to leave, or else they are threatening us with a gun. God only knows what the children go through within these walls! How can you afford to judge the way of life of these people?! Just because they live in a different way than we do doesn't make these people savages. The real savages are those people who sequester them!" she concluded breathlessly.
Diana took her friend's hand and stood up in turn. The student stared at them, "Miss, you've managed the feat of holding a meeting in this essay, so I invite you to take the door, Miss Barry, you can do the same if you wish."
The two friends went out hand in hand, Anne had gotten so mad at herself that her hairstyle was half undone. They stood there for a moment in the corridor without saying anything, until the redhead spoke, "Diana, I wouldn't blame you at all if you went back, you don't have to follow me in my nonsense."
The elegant brunette caressed her friend's hand, "Oh no, don't think about that Anne! You were right in every way! There's no way I'm staying in the same room with people like that.", Then she humorously added, "Aaah... if it were possible to make our own diary, we wouldn't have to go through this. »
Anne's eyes lit up, "And if we could consider it... ».
Later in the afternoon, the two young students were returning to the Blackmore Manor, when they saw Moody Spurgeon circling in front of the house.
Diana intervened first, "Good heavens! What are you doing here, Moody?! You finally figured out that Ruby..", the young man instantly cut this one off, "I-I know! I-I couldn't write to Ruby, you think she figured that out?!", the two girls laughed in unison.
Anne laughed back, "Do you know who we're talking about?! But anyway you must not be here, Miss Blackmore does not approve of suitors' visits except on Saturdays between two and four o'clock."
The young man panicked, "But I-I was sick! I couldn't go back to school like everyone else, I-I arrived yesterday..."
All of a sudden, a little blonde girl came out of the house and ran furiously towards the poor boy, "You have no business here, at least if you had come to see me! Gilbert Blythe wrote to me, so I don't care that you didn't." she turned her heels as soon as she finished her sentence.
The two girlfriends who had witnessed the scene, and didn't really know what to do to comfort the clumsy boy, his eyes were shining, you would have thought he would burst into tears at any moment.
The redhead walked up to the young man and put her hand on his shoulder, "If it makes you feel any better, Gilbert didn't write to Ruby, he wrote to me. I think you can guess why she said that..."
Moody looked the girl in the eyes, "But that's awful, poor Charlie, I'm going to have to tell him that when I get home, I've just arrived and I'm already bringing misfortune to people."
Anne was instantly alarmed, "No, no, no ! Don't go imagining anything, it's purely friendly, don't go telling everyone !", the young boy stared at her from the corner of his eyes, "Yes...yes Anne we know, there's nothing romantic between you and Gilbert...", even Moody didn't seem convinced. Diana who was behind, guffawed, which attracted the attention of the redhead who glanced at her blackly.