Chapter 1 An Irate Neighbor It was a warm sunny day in August.
A light breeze was blowing and there was not a cloud in the sky.
A slim sixteen-year-old girl with serious gray eyes and long auburn hair was sitting on the front steps of a farmhouse on Prince Edward Island.
Anne surely was reading a book of poetry.
She had been saving the book for a sunny day, but now that she was enjoying the lovely breeze and the poppies blowing in the yard, she lost all interest in it.
This was a day better suited for dreams.
The heavy book of poetry fell to her feet as Anne's mind wandered to the new school year.
She was about to start her new job as the teacher at Avonlea School.
She imagined a time in the future forty years or so when a former student would return for a visit.
In her dream, Anne could not decide if this student would be a college president or a member of the Canadian Senate.
She only knew that he would be very successful.
He would return to Avonlea to thank his old teacher and tell her that he never would have been so successful if it weren't for her devotion and hard work.
Suddenly Anne's pleasant dream was disturbed by a Jersey cow trotting into the yard.
Immediately following the cow was Mr. Harrison.
He was their new next-door neighbor.
Anne had never met him, although she had seen him a few times.
Actually, very few people had met Mr. Harrison, even after several months in Avonlea.
Those who did know him called him a crank.
Mr. Harrison burst into the yard and stomped toward Anne.
"'What is the meaning of this?'
"'Excuse me,' Anne said, standing up and placing her hands on her hips.
Anne had already heard stories about Mr. Harrison.
Mrs. Lynde had visited his house and said it was a mess.
He only washed his dishes on rainy days.
He never swept the floor.
He ate his meals at strange times.
Then, to top it all off, he had a pet parrot.
No one in Avonlea had ever had a pet parrot before.
I'm sorry, Mr. Harrison, Anne said sharply.
Unfortunately, Anne had quite a temper and she thought he was very rude for bursting into her yard without even a hello.
I don't understand what you're talking about.
That cow.
He pointed to the cow still standing in the front yard.
This is the third time I've found your Jersey cow in my oats.
Where is your aunt?
I want to speak to her right away.
If you mean Miss Marilla Cuthbert, Anne said sternly, she is not my aunt.
She and her brother Matthew were kind enough to take me in from an orphanage when I was young.
And no, Miss Cuthbert is not at home.
She is visiting a sick relative.
Then who will deal with this cow?
Mr. Harrison shouted.
She's eating all my oats.
I will deal with the cow.
Anne said.
She belongs to me, not Miss Cuthbert.
And I think this problem might be solved if you took better care of your fences.
You have some nerve, young lady.
My fences are fine, and no red-headed youngster will tell me otherwise.
Red-headed?
Anne was furious now.
I have auburn hair, not red, and I'll have you know that I would rather have red hair than no hair at all.
Mr. Harrison's face grew bright with anger.
I am sorry to be rude, Anne said.
I should try to be considerate and imagine your side.
It must be difficult to find a cow in your oats.
Thankfully, a good imagination is one of my strengths, but it is difficult to have a good imagination when someone is so rude.
Mr. Harrison was about to speak, but Anne cut him off.
Thank you for your visit, Mr. Harrison, she said.
I will make certain that Dolly is locked in our yard.
I give you my word that you will not find her in your oats again.
After Mr. Harrison left, Anne locked Dolly in the milking pen.
You stay put now, she said and checked the latch on the gate twice before heading back to the house.
When Marilla returned later that afternoon, Anne prepared tea for them both.
She told Marilla about Dolly and the oats.
That cow can be a nuisance.
Marilla said with a sigh.
I'll be glad when the auction is over.
We need to sell all our livestock.
It's been too hard since Matthew died.
Anne took a deep breath.
She still had to fight back tears when she thought of him.
Anne had vowed to wear black every day as a tribute to dear, sweet Matthew.
How was your cousin Mary?
She asked to take her mind off Matthew.
She's actually my third cousin, but I suppose family is family.
Marilla was a very practical person.
She's not doing well.
Her doctor says she might not last the month.
I'm very worried about her twins.
They're only six years old.
My goodness, Anne said.
What will happen to them?
Mary has a brother in British Columbia, but he can't take them right now.
He's working as a logger and won't return from the woods until spring.
Oh, Marilla, I hope it will work out.
I know how hard it is to be alone in this world.
I was all alone until you and Matthew took me in.
We'll just have to wait and see.
Marilla said.
Once again, she was being very practical.
There was no sense worrying about something before it happened.
Now, Anne, Marilla continued, is there any news since I've been away?
Oh yes Marilla, an awful lot has happened in the past three days.
Anne said glad to change from a topic as sad as orphaned twins.
She told Marilla all about the Avonlea Village Improvement Society.
She, her dearest friend Diana Barry, Gilbert Blythe, and a few others were starting it.
We want to improve the look of Avonlea, Anne explained.
We'll paint the community hall, fix fences around town and ask Mr Bolter to tear down the old shack on his property.
It is an awful-looking old thing.
I'm amazed it still stands on its own.
Oh, Anne, Marilla said.
She almost broke into laughter.
Levi Bolter will not tear down his shack.
He's a stubborn old goat of a man.
Well, we're certainly going to try, Anne said.
I can be very determined, you know.
This time Marilla did laugh.
She also shook her head.
Yes.
Yes.
I'm well aware how determined you can be.
