9 The Delights of Anticipation

CHAPTER 9 The Delights of Anticipation It was a lovely August morning when Anne ran into the kitchen. "Oh, Marilla!" she cried excitedly. "You'll never guess what is going to happen." Marilla put down the jars she was cleaning to look at Anne. "My word, what has you so worked up?"

"There's going to be a Sunday school picnic!" Anne clapped her hands and danced around the kitchen. "We're all going to the Barrys' farm. There'll be boats on the Lake of Shining Water and—can you believe it?— we're having ice cream! I've never had ice cream." "Oh, do calm down." Marilla put her hands on her hips. "All this jumping around is giving me a headache." Anne stopped in her tracks. "Marilla, I just remembered. I'm to bring a basket of baking but I don't know how to bake." Marilla looked at Anne, who was suddenly so distressed by the prospect of baking. "Don't worry," Marilla said. "I'll set to baking up a nice basket for you. A Sunday school picnic is a good cause, after all." And just as suddenly, the girl was happy again. She ran to Marilla and planted a big,

wet kiss on her cheek. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you," she cried. "Life is so wonderful since I came to Green Gables." It should be noted that this was the first kiss that any child had willingly placed on Marilla's cheek. She could say nothing as Anne skipped out of the kitchen—it was hard enough trying to stop the tears.