Shirley Unfortunate

Chapter 5: Meeting Gilbert

Anne awoke to birds chirping outside of her window, she got out of bed and reached for the white blossoms, brushing her hand over them gently and admiring their beauty.

"Dearest Snow Queen," she said, "You look ever so lovely this morning. I will be back later to play princes Cordelia with you, goodbye."

She walked over to her vanity that was covered in various treasures such as sea glass and shells she had collected. She brushed and braided her red shoulder length hair. Once she was dressed she skipped down the stairs.

"Good morning Marilla!" Anne said cheerfully, "isn't it a beautiful morning? Everything seems to bloom at the rays of the rising sun."

"Yes I suppose it's a nice morning," Said Marilla placing Anne's breakfast in front of her. "But I think you are cheerful because today you will meet the new orphans and not because of the morning."

"It's true, I could scarcely sleep last night because I was imagining everything I should say to them." Anne said between mouthfuls,

"Well, once you finish eating you can start walking to school early and pick some flowers for Ms. Stacy on your way." Marilla said.

Anne clasped her hands, "Oh, thank you Marilla, may I use Mathew's pocket knife?"

"Absolutely not!" Marilla said strictly. "Children your age should not be playing with knifes! You may use the spare kitchen scissors; they are on the counter."

Anne took up the scissors, bid Marilla goodbye and started on the path to school, clipping any wild flowers she passed and practicing what she could say to the orphans,

"'Dearest Kindred Spirits'- no they may not know that means." She mumbled to herself, "'So I heard your parents died, maybe we could be friends?-no I don't want to scare them off...."'I see you have books, I love to read, don't you?-no they could say no like Tillie and that would make things awkward."

She continued to pick flowers and when she drew near the school house she took a spare hair ribbon out of her pocket and tied the flowers together, she couldn't wait to see the look on Ms. Stacy's face when she gave them to her, she wondered if Ms. Stacy would introduce Anne to the orphans or if she would have to introduce herself....I guess there's only one way to find out She thought. So, she walked into the schoolhouse hoping for the best.

***

''Girls, it's time to wake up,'' Ms. Stacy said tapping Violet's sleeping figure lightly, ''Violet, Sunny, Isadora we have to leave in about thirty minutes and I want to give you children enough time to get ready.''

Violet, Sunny and Isadora opened their eyes slowly and sat up,

''Good morning Ms. Stacy.'' said Isadora rubbing her eyes.

''Good morning, now you three please start getting yourselves ready while I wake the boys and when you're dressed come in and eat breakfast.''

The girls got dressed in their new school clothes and put their books, slates and chalk into their bags, once Violet helped Sunny properly tie her shoes they headed into the kitchen where Klaus and Duncan met them a couple moments later. They all ate breakfast and started walking to school.

''I'm sorry we had to leave so early,'' Ms. Stacy said when they were halfway to school, ''I have to get there early to set up everyday. Perhaps when you children know the way well enough you can walk on your own but for now I'm afraid you will have to walk with me.''