Welcome to the cherished story of Anne of Green Gables.
This is a six-series bedtime story about Anne Shirley,
A wildly imaginative,
Spirited,
Adventurous young woman who had finally found a home where she felt loved.
Anne Dreams,
Inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery,
Adapted by Callie George.
As you settle under the covers,
Take a deep breath in and a smooth breath out.
Say goodnight to your thoughts and let your imagination wander to the sweet smell of cherry blossoms.
It's springtime once again at Green Gables,
A welcoming home in Avonlea on the beautiful Prince Edward Island.
It was spring in Avonlea.
Marilla Cuthbert was walking home to Green Gables with a rare smile.
She was usually stiff and stern,
But the spring air made her happy.
So did the thought of seeing Anne.
Marilla and her brother Matthew had adopted Anne Shirley a few years ago.
Now,
Marilla couldn't imagine her life without red-haired,
Imaginative Anne.
She stepped a bit quicker toward Green Gables.
When Marilla walked inside Green Gables,
Anne wasn't there.
Where could she be?
I will have to give Anne a piece of my mind when she comes home,
Thought Marilla.
But Anne did not arrive.
Not when Matthew came in after his work on the farm.
Not even when it grew dark and supper was on the table.
Marilla and Matthew began to get worried.
Just then,
Marilla heard a noise upstairs.
She hurried up to the east gable.
There was Anne,
With her head under her pillow.
Mercy me,
Exclaimed Marilla.
Anne Shirley,
Have you been sleeping this whole time?
No,
Came the muffled reply.
Are you sick?
Marilla asked Anne.
No,
Said Anne.
I'm in the depths of despair.
Go away and don't look at me.
Anne,
Whatever is the matter,
Said Marilla.
Come out from under that pillow this minute.
Anne had no choice.
She lifted herself up slowly.
Marilla gasped.
Oh,
Anne,
Your hair.
Why,
It's not red.
It's green.
Anne groaned.
It was green.
Not a bright,
Nice green,
Either.
It was a dreary,
Dull green.
Tell me how you got into this fix at once,
Said Marilla.
I dyed it,
Whispered Anne.
Anne did not like her red hair.
It was one of her lifelong sorrows.
She dreamed of having raven black hair,
Like her best friend and kindred spirit,
Diana.
To make matters worse,
Gilbert Blythe,
A boy at school,
Had once teased her about her red hair.
He had called her carrots.
I bought a bottle of hair dye,
Explained Anne sadly,
But it didn't dye my hair black.
It turned out like this.
I thought red hair was bad,
But this is a billion times worse.
Oh,
Marilla,
Whatever shall I do?
Do,
Said Marilla.
There's only one thing to do.
The dye won't wash out.
We will have to cut your hair.
When Marilla was done cutting Anne's hair,
Anne stared in the mirror.
I didn't think I liked my red hair,
But now I know I did.
It doesn't matter.
I won't dream about changing my looks anymore.
I want to focus on improving myself inside,
Anne said.
Marilla simply sighed.
Your hair will grow back,
She replied.
Marilla was right.
Anne's hair did grow.
It even grew a bit darker,
Much to Anne's delight.
Yet Anne kept true to her word.
She poured herself into her studies instead of worrying about her looks.
She loved her school and her teacher,
Miss Stacy.
Anne didn't think about her hair,
Much.
Instead of wanting to be a raven-haired beauty,
A new dream had begun to grow inside her,
A dream too dear to speak aloud.
One afternoon,
While the family was sitting by the fire,
Marilla had news.
Miss Stacy was here,
Started Marilla.
Oh,
Really,
Said Anne,
Looking up from her book.
I wish I had been here,
Too.
I do love Miss Stacy.
She didn't want to visit,
Said Marilla.
She wanted to tell you about me daydreaming in class,
Asked Anne.
I'm trying to focus,
But it can be an uphill battle.
No,
Anne,
Sighed Marilla,
And please let me finish.
Miss Stacy is very pleased with your work in class,
Anne.
In fact,
She is starting a club for students to study to get into Queen's College,
Said Marilla.
Queen's College in Charlottetown was where you studied to become a teacher.
Do you want to join?
Do you want to become a teacher?
Asked Marilla.
Anne jumped up.
She clasped her hands.
Oh,
Yes,
It has been my lifelong dream,
Cried Anne.
Well,
At least it has been for the last few months.
Indeed,
This was Anne's secret dream.
If she became a teacher,
She could help students,
Students with big imaginations like hers.
It was ever so satisfying to have a purpose in life,
Ever more satisfying to Anne than caring about her looks.
The study group took place after school.
Diana wasn't part of it.
It wasn't her dream to go to Queen's College like Anne,
But Gilbert was part of the group.
Gilbert sat near Anne.
He had asked Anne many times to forgive him for teasing her.
Anne had refused.
Now Gilbert was ignoring her.
Anne frowned.
This was worse.
In vain,
Anne tried not to care about Gilbert.
She tried to study as hard as she could.
Still,
In her nightmares,
Anne dreamed that Gilbert got first on his exam,
And she failed.
I can't think this way,
She told herself.
I just have to do my best.
I must focus on my dream and not Gilbert.
So Anne did.
And before she knew it,
The day of the exam came.
Anne traveled to Charlottetown,
Where the exam was taking place.
In the exam hall,
Anne picked up the paper.
Anne's hands were cold.
For a moment,
She felt as scared as the time when she had asked Marilla if she could stay at Green Gables years ago.
Then,
Anne hadn't known what Marilla's answer would be.
Now,
She didn't know if she would pass the exam and get into college.
But she had to try.
Anne began to write.
Late one evening,
A few days later,
Anne was gazing at the pink sky.
All of a sudden,
She heard a shout from below.
Someone was running up the slopes holding a piece of paper.
It was Diana.
Anne sprang to her feet.
Anne!
Anne!
Diana cried.
Anne,
You passed first!
You and Gilbert,
You both got first!
Anne looked at the paper.
It was true.
Anne,
Say something,
Cried Diana.
I.
.
.
I'm just dazzled,
Stammered Anne.
Only a few weeks later,
Everything was dazzling.
It was the last celebration before the students left for Queens College.
Anne was all dressed up and her hair done up in braids.
She even had a rose tucked behind her ear.
But most of all,
She was shining on the inside.
Then,
Anne saw Gilbert.
He grinned at her.
Anne hesitated for a moment.
Then she smiled back at Gilbert.
Anne had a feeling their story wasn't over.
Maybe I really am growing up inside,
Anne thought.
At last,
The time came for Anne to go away to Queens College.
Matthew got the carriage ready.
He dressed in his best suit,
Just like he had done when he picked up Anne from the train station all those years ago.
But he looked much older now.
Do you ever wish I had been the boy you sent for?
Asked Anne wistfully.
I'd rather have you than anyone else,
Anne,
Said Matthew.
He patted her hand.
Anne hugged him tightly.
Marilla had packed Anne's bag full of puffed-sleeve dresses.
For once,
Marilla didn't care that puffed sleeves weren't practical.
When Marilla saw Anne all ready,
Tears filled her eyes.
Oh,
Anne,
Said Marilla,
You are grown up.
I am not changed,
Anne said to Marilla,
Not really.
I've grown and branched out.
But me,
The real me,
Is just the same.
Where I go or how much I change on the outside won't make a difference.
I shall always be your Anne of Green Gables,
Full of dreams.
Anne said goodbye to Diana,
Too,
And stepped into the carriage.
Anne would miss Diana so much,
And Marilla and Matthew as well.
But Gilbert was going to Queens,
And she felt glad for that.
And no matter where she went,
Anne knew she would never truly leave Green Gables.
Anne and Matthew set off down the lane,
Past the Lake of Shining Waters.
Anne's eyes were shining,
Too.
Cherry blossoms floated down like snow,
And Anne dreamed of what might be around the bend.
