𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 ᵍⁱˡᵇᵉʳᵗ ᵇˡʸᵗʰᵉ

05

-🌸-

CHAPTER FIVE

Gilbert Blythe had always looked after himself more than a fifteen year old boy should.

With his father at work for most of his life, and now currently on bedrest, Gilbert had to put his own food on the table, get himself to school in the mornings, and study. His mother wasn't in the picture, and now his father was sicker than ever, Gilbert had to take care of more people than he could handle.

That was one of the reasons he was over at the Swansons so much. So he could take a few hours off and just be a kid with his best friend. Christian was the only one who knew how truly bad it was at the Blythe residence, and Gilbert knew he wouldn't dream of telling anyone. Christian was constantly giving Gilbert half of his pocket money so he could pay for Mrs. Kincannon, the lady that took care of John Blythe during the day.

And then there was Penny.

The little sister of his best friend that always insisted on him taking whatever she was baking that day home with him. The one that always had a blue or pink ribbon in her hair that matched with her dress. The Penny that was always smiling and who he had only seen cry once. 

Gilbert glanced down at the pink ribbon still tied around his wrist, unaware he was smiling down at it while bringing his father a tray of buttered bread and tea.

"Must be Saturday," John Blythe said while Gilbert poured up a cup of tea, glancing out to the snow-covered windows. Gilbert nodded, sitting beside his father on a rocking chair with his own cup. "Nice to have you here, son. Will you read my favorite?"

Gilbert held the book John was reading, beginning to recite the verse his father adored. "Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road. Healthy, free, the world before me. The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose—"

He was interrupted by four knocks on the front door.

Gilbert stood from the chair, glancing out the window of his fathers bedroom to see who was there before he opened the door. He widened his eyes at seeing a blonde girl standing on the porch in a blue dress and an overfull basket.

"I'm so sorry." Gilbert placed his tea and the book on his fathers bedside table. "I forgot Penny was coming over today for tutoring."

"Is she having trouble in school?" John asked. As Gilbert grew up, he had met the Swanson family enough to know that Christian and Penny were the only likeable ones out of the family. Margot was uptight and cared too much. And Vance cared too little. Penny and Christian grew up nothing like their parents. The two Swanson children were the only ones in Avonlea that were allowed to just walk right into the Blythe household uninvited.

Neither of them ever did. They always knocked.

"You could say that," Gilbert replied, beginning to walk out of the room towards the door. As soon as he opened it, he was greeted with bright green eyes and a smile brighter than both emeralds combined.

"Good morning." Penny offered him her basket. "I baked you these."

The basket smelled of strawberries as Gilbert took it from her, holding it by the loop while also pulling off her coat and throwing it on the coat hanger beside her.

"Thank you." Penny nodded, placing her hat beside her coat. "Sorry if I'm a bit later than you thought I would be. I got hung up. Anne came over this morning inviting me to Green Gables for a grown up tea with her and Diana. I told her if I had time after this I would go to hers."