Another Year In Avonlea

School

Some short time down the line, Avonlea finds itself sending most of its children to school. "Marilla, Matthew," Anne squealed. "School! I'm so excited to see my dear friends! I barely saw them! Except Gilbert of course- but he doesn't count! I want to see Diana, Ruby, Tillie, and Jane! I even want to see Josie Pye! Oh did you hear Prissy is off to college? Isn't that just thrilling! I can't wait to be off to college soon!"

"Anne, calm down and eat your breakfast!"

"I can't eat when I'm so full of excitement, Marilla!"

"Well, don't say I didn't warn you when you're hungry in class."

"I can pack a little extra for lunch!"

"Alright then. Head along."

Anne smiled brightly, grabbing her things and running out the door to the woods. She stopped where a fork in the road appeared, and waited. After a minute or so, Diana could be seen walking down one path to Anne.

"Diana! My dear bosom friend! I haven't so much as spent a sliver of my time with you in such a long time! Are you aching from the agony of silence as I am?"

"Hello Anne," Diana said, giving her a hug. Anne's smile dropped when she still saw no smile on her friend's face.

"I see the worry on your face," Diana said. "I'm doing much better Anne. I just need a perfect moment to make me smile is all. I'm sure I'll smile today, seeing all our friends again."

"I do hope so."

"I do too."

"So, meeting up with me isn't perfect?" Anne let the curiosity get the better of her.

"Not just yet."

"Nor was making amends."

"No," Diana said, her eyes traveling further down the path behind Anne, as if searching for the other she had made amends with.

They walked in silence down the path. The silence wasn't comfortable however, and was rather tense, so Anne had to break it.

"I was thinking about trying to remake our enchanted kingdom again from the little hut. The problem is Cole isn't here to make new clay statues for it, and there's no way to build the hut up the way it was."

"We could always find a new magical kingdom. I'm positively sure that one is gone."

"Oh," Anne said sadly, "how tragical."

"Indeed it is," Diana said.

From that point on, they both walked in silence, not knowing or wanting to say anything, until they reached school.

-

Ruby walked into the school house, seeing the two friends she had spent the most time with sitting and talking.

"Jane! Tillie!"

"Hi Ruby," Jane smiled.

"We must catch up," Tillie laughed. "I'm ever so interested in hearing all about your summer! Mine was quite relaxing after such hectic school last time!"

"Mine has been relaxing too," Jane smiled.

"Billy didn't kill you?" Tillie joked. "I thought I was talking to a ghost all morning!"

All the girls burst into laughter, coming back in to whisper when Josie Pye sat down. "He's been reading," Jane said. "Now he wants to be an officer when he is done with college! It's just the queerest thing!"