Anne with an E The Next Chapter

Get Well Package

It was a glorious Saturday and Anne was supposed to be looking through wedding dress catalogues with Marilla, Diana and Jeannie, but instead she was stuck in bed recovering from the last few days of fevers, chills, headaches and a cough. The whole class had come down with the flu and Anne was the last person standing that past Tuesday. She had attempted to get through her math lesson, knowing that those who were still in attendance could gather up the last bits of information before their college entrance exams, but half way through the morning, Ian McHenry, Alma Donohue, Vernon Smith and Ella Davidson were all half asleep on their desks and shivering from the fevers. Anne's own eyes had been burning since she'd woken that morning and she was feeling weaker by the minute. She put down her chalk and looked at the sad little group.

"Though I do admire your determination, I'm afraid none of us are going to retain anything from this lesson if we don't get home and get some rest. Alright everyone, let's pack up and head home".

Anne's chest felt especially wheezy and her head was aching. A low drumming had started in her ears and she felt like everything from her neck up was under water. It turned out that the entire class had come down with a horrible virus and everyone was now confined to their bedrooms for rest and recovery. With no local doctor, everyone did what they knew to do. Lots of fluids, rest, chicken stock and onions in their socks. Marilla had another remedy she didn't often share with others, but she gave Anne cabbage leaves to wrap around her chest to reduce the congestion and swelling. Marilla had sent word via Jerry to Jeannie to let her know they wouldn't be by that Saturday and Anne lamented to herself for the rest of the week that she wouldn't get a dress in due time for the wedding.

"I may as well wear my old brown working dress.. that seems to be my luck in life...never to have a glamourous gown!"

"I beg your pardon Anne?" Marilla protested, "you've had plenty a beautiful gowns, I think you need some more rest. You're as grumpy as a bear".

She starred out to the bedroom window hearing the birds chirping softly and feeling the warm breeze flowing in...it would have been a splendid day in Charlottetown. As she closed her eyes and tried to channel her positive energy, she slowly drifted back to sleep finally able to rest without a wracking cough waking her up.

Before long she felt the gentle tap of paper on her face and she woke up with a start to find Gilbert standing over her bed with a giant smile on this face and an enveloppe in hand.

"Gilbert what are you doing here?" she said covering her face with her blankets, embarrassed at how dreadful she must have looked.

"When is the last time you had a bath?" he asked teasing her.

"Urrrgh..." she groaned as she peeked out from under the covers... "you need to leave please"

"Noooooo, don't be silly. In a few months I'll be the one nursing you back to health when this happens again, and it will happen again- you're a teacher, you're surround by germs".

The thought of Gilbert having to see her in this state was mortifying to her. She really did need a bath, but her chills wouldn't allow her to get out from under the covers and she had been too weak to deal with it.

He handed her a package "Just a few goodies from Dr Ward" he said.  Inside she found a balm to apply to her neck and chest, some lozenges and a tincture for her cough and headache.

"Thank you so much, this will make a world of difference. Where are Marilla and Matthew?"

"They were out in the field with Alderic" he said as he pulled up a chair near her bed.

"That explains how you made it up here!"

"Yes indeed....I'm also here for a check up" he said as he rolled up his sleeves and felt around her neck and her forehead for signs of illness.