Thread by @lainasparetime

Alright, I need a break from the book I'm reading so let's do an Anne thread! #LainaReadsAnne

#LainaReadsAnne (Sidenote before I start - did I have to look up "epoch" for this chapter? Well, let's just say that an epoch is an event or time marked by an event that begins a new period or development and you can decide for yourself :P )

#LainaReadsAnne Come September and Anne is bringing the cows home from the back pasture... and "till the cows come home" isn't actually that late, is it? What is it, like, twilight?

Anyways, Diana comes to see her with very important news and tries to get her to guess it.

#LainaReadsAnne It's not that Charlotte Gillis is getting married in the church and Mrs Allan wants them to help decorate it. (Charlotte's beau apparently won't agree to it as no one has had a wedding in the church and he thinks it would seem too much like a funeral.)

#LainaReadsAnne It's also not that Jane's mother is letting her have a birthday party or that Moody Spurgeon MacPherson saw Diana home from last night's prayer meeting (Diana is particularly offended about that idea).

#LainaReadsAnne The new is actually that Aunt Josephine has invited Diana and Anne to town next Tuesday and to stay with her for a few days for the Exhibition.

Exhibition is like a fair. Kinda like the Calgary Stampede.

#LainaReadsAnne Of course, Anne is super excited, but fears Marilla will say no. Diana is very clever and suggests having ask for them.

Seriously. Diana is a little sneakier than people give her credit for being sometimes.

#LainaReadsAnne Anne is also grateful that if she can go, her new coat will be ready in time. Once again, this was a Matthew moment. Marilla said her old one was fine and she should be glad to have a new winter dress - and Anne is!

#LainaReadsAnne It's navy blue and all her dresses now are made fashionably because Marilla "doesn't intend to have Matthew going to Mrs Lunde to make them".

Honestly Marilla can be so enjoyably petty XD

#LainaReadsAnne Matthew insisted Anne should have a new coat, though, and Marilla bought some "blue broad-cloth". (Broadcloth is a material dress shirts are made out of - I assume there's also a warm lining.) It's even being made in Carmody by a real dressmaker.

#LainaReadsAnne You know, she is getting close to fourteen. She might be close to not growing much more and also, realistically, she might be getting close to leaving soon. There's not a ton of time left to spoil her.

And Matthew DID indeed spoil her with a new cap, too.

#LainaReadsAnne One of "those little blue velvet ones that are all the rage, with gold cord and tassels".

Marilla agrees to let Anne goes to Charlottetown. What have I said about Diana having a bit of mischief in her???

#LainaReadsAnne They have to leave very early so Mr Barry has time to get there and back the same day. Anne wakes up before sunrise. Matthew gets the fire going and Anne has breakfast done before Marilla gets downstairs.

#LainaReadsAnne Gosh but the descripitions are great. They don't get old. For instance, Aunt Josephine lives in "a fine old mansion, set back from the street in a seclusion of green elms and brancing beeches".

She says Anne has grown taller than her and has gotten very pretty.

#LainaReadsAnne Both girls are a bit shocked by how grand Aunt Josephine's house is. The parlour has velvet carpet and silk curtains. And Aunt Josephine did, as promised, put the girls in the most elegant spare room.

#LainaReadsAnne Anne notes, though, there isn't much room for imagination in such splendor, and sleeping in a spare room isn't what she used to think it was. That's part of growing up, she thinks.

#LainaReadsAnne The things you wanted as a child aren't as good as you imagined when you get them. A little bittersweet, but true sometimes, I think.

#LainaReadsAnne The Exhibition is a grand time. Josie Pye took first place for knitted lace and Anne managed to sincerely feel glad for her. The Avonleas residents did pretty well in general. Apparently Mrs Lynde makes some rocking homemade butter and cheese.

#LainaReadsAnne Aunt Josephine took them to watch the horse races, too. Anne didn't bet with Diana as she wanted to be able to tell Mrs Allan about it without leaving things out, but she did find it very exciting.

#LainaReadsAnne They also saw a man go up in a hot air balloon, which Anne would love to do one day, and had their fortunes told. Anne's was mostly along the "you'll meet someone tall, dark and handsome" line, lol.

#LainaReadsAnne The next day, Aunt Josephine took them to see a concert in the Academy of Music, and after they had ice cream at 11 o'clock at night.

Diana says she was absolutely made for city life.

#LainaReadsAnne After some thought, Anne decides she'd rather most nights be home in her bed at 11 o'clock, with a few special nights here and there. Not a bad attitude, really. Keep the wonder, but have a safe space to land.

#LainaReadsAnne As they were leaving, Anne gave Aunt Josephine a grateful hug and kiss on the cheek. Later, alone, Josephine realized she enjoyed Anne less for her "quaint speeches" and more for how honest and enthusiastic and sweet she is.

#LainaReadsAnne She says to herself, "If I'd had a child like Anne in the house all the time, I'd be a better and happier woman" and thinks about what a good decision Marilla made in keeping Anne.

#LainaReadsAnne The sun is setting as Diana and Anne get home, and they're both truly glad to be heading home. They enjoyed theirselves, but they're grateful to have a familiar and welcoming place to be coming home to.

#LainaReadsAnne Green Gables is bright and warm with the hearth fire and Marilla has cooked a broiled chicken for Anne's welcome home supper.

She says, "I'm glad you've got back, I must say. It's been fearful lonesome here without you, and I never put in four longer days."

#LainaReadsAnne Didn't need company, eh, Marilla?

The chapter ends with Anne telling Matthew and Marilla all the things I just recapped. Besides the drives there and back, all her adventure was told through Anne relating it to them.

#LainaReadsAnne I think that really shows Anne means it when she says, "the best of it all was coming home". It's a really sweet ending to a fun chapter.

#LainaReadsAnne Also it was super foggy this morning so my sinuses are bleeding so maybe chip in ye old tip jar if you're feeling kind today? ko-fi.com/A0602GN