Chapter 2: A Play, a Burnt Manuscript, and Forgiveness

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A couple of weeks had gone by. Tonight, Meg, Jo, and I are going to see a play with Laurie and his tutor, John Brooke. We were currently looking around the house for things we needed for tonight.

"I want to go to the theatre," Amy whined.
"Maybe some other time, dear," I said.

"You can't go, Amy. So don't be a baby and whine about it. Where are the opera glasses," Jo asked.

"You're just hogging Laurie. Please, can't I go," Amy asked.
"I'm sorry, Amy, but Laurie only reserved five seats," I answered.

"Do I look shabby," Meg asked.
"It's not a coronation, just Laurie
and that awful Mr. Brooke," Jo said.

"Ask him for another ticket," Amy begged.
"No," Jo said.

"You've got a cold. Rest your eyes," Meg said.

"We'll make ginger tea," Beth said.

"You're weeks behind in algebra. I won't have an ignorant sister. Don't sulk, you look like a pigeon," Jo said as we headed out the door.
"You'll be sorry for this, Jo March," Amy shouted before Jo closed the door.

The play was amazing. I felt bad that Amy couldn't come. I feel as though she would have enjoyed it. We had gotten out of Laurie's carriage and Meg started talking with Mr. Brooke while Jo and I stood behind with Laurie as he and I locked arms.

"The play was wonderful, Laurie. Thank you for inviting us," I said.
"It was no trouble," he said.

"Meg and Abby are sensational actresses. We put on wild theatricals. It's just something that we play at," Jo said.
"Well, as a matter of fact, at school...," Laurie began.
"What do you think of that," Jo asked.
"Let's see what they do," Laurie replied.

"It wouldn't be good to pry into their conversation," I said.
"Come on, Abby," Jo said while pulling me away from Laurie and over to Meg.
"Jo! Jo," I exclaimed.

"Good night," Jo said as she dragged Meg and me inside and closed the door.

"That was extremely rude," I said.
"Meg plastered herself on him and don't get me started on you and Laurie," Jo said.

"It's proper to take a man's arm," Meg said.

"How was the theatre," Beth asked.
"It was wonderful. I was absolutely
inspired by the love scene," Jo answered as she headed upstairs to look for her manuscript.

"I think you fancy Laurie, Abby," Meg said.
"Laurie? Don't be absurd. I see him as a friend and nothing more," I said as a blush crept onto my face. "He's like a brother to me. He reminds me too much of Jo. I believe you fancy Mr. Brooke."
"John is a gentleman. I'm just being polite to him," Meg said.

"Has anyone taken my story," Jo asked while heading downstairs.
"No," Meg, Beth, and I answered in unison.

"Amy, you've got it," Jo said.
"No, I haven't," she said while reading her book.
"You know where it is then," Jo said.
"No, I haven't," Amy said.

Whatever Amy did is going to get a rise out of Jo. Jo has a horrible temper and can't control it sometimes. I do my best to hold in my anger, but on the extremely rare occasion I'll lash out at someone. Only never like Jo is about to do to Amy. Amy admitted to burning Jo's manuscript. Once Jo heard this, she started fighting with her on the ground.

"You wicked, wicked girl! I never can write it again, and I'll never forgive you as long as I live," Jo said.

"Jo, stop it," Meg exclaimed.

"You're hurting her," Beth said.

Then, Marmee walked in to see what was going on.

"Let her go. What's happened," Marmee asked as I pulled Jo off of Amy.

"I hate you," Jo shouted.

"Don't touch it, just let it go," Marmee said as she, Beth, and I took Jo to our room.

"You're dead! You're nothing! I never want to see you again," Jo shouted as we walked up the stairs as Meg began to console Amy.

After Jo, Beth, and I put on our nightgowns, Marmee decided to speak up.

"It's a great loss. You have every right to be put out. But don't let the sun go down on your anger. Forgive each other. Begin again tomorrow," Marmee said.
"It was an abominable thing, and she don't deserve to be forgiven," Jo said.

"Good night, girls," Marmee said.
"Good night, Marmee," Beth and I said in unison before climbing into bed.

"Good night, Marmee," Jo grumbled while getting into bed.

Marmee left and Beth quickly fell asleep.

"Jo, you must forgive Amy. I do believe she truly is sorry," I said.
"I'm too angry to forgive her. Don't forget that tomorrow will be the last day we can go ice skating and we are going with Laurie," Jo said.
"I won't," I said.

After breakfast the next morning, Jo and I went to a nearby river with Laurie to go ice skating. What we didn't know was that Meg had sent Amy after us to apologize to Jo.

"I'll go on the first bend and see if it's alright before we begin to race. Remember to keep near the shore. It isn't safe in the middle," Laurie said before skating away.

Soon, Jo and I began to follow the path Laurie took. All of a sudden, we heard ice cracking and Amy screaming.

"Amy," I shouted.

"Hold on! Hold on, Amy," Jo exclaimed as she, Laurie, and I skated toward her.

Soon, Laurie was on his stomach.

"Get a rail! Grab it, Amy. There we go. That's it, that's it," Laurie said as Jo handed him a long tree branch and pulled Amy out of the water.

Laurie put his coat on Amy and we headed back home.

"Josephine March, you walked from Walden Pond in just bloomers," Marmee asked.

"As if she noticed! Dear Amy," Meg said.

"How could I be so horrible," Jo asked.

"Thank God for Laurie," Marmee said.

"Do you and Abby love him more than me," Amy asked.
"Of course not, Amy," I replied.

"Don't be a beetle! I could never
love anyone as I love my sisters," Jo said.

I'm glad Jo finally forgave Amy. I would've probably had to force Jo to forgive Amy knowing how stubborn they are.

Angélique (Theodore Laurence x OC)Where stories live. Discover now