Inspiration from Anne of Green gables

Anne's Diary Feb28th

Dear Diary,

Hester guessed what Jarusha would say next and wished she could cover her ears so she wouldn’t have to listen to the words; "My girls, Julia and Rosalind were your own half sisters."

But the awful truth was spoken. Even though Jarusha’s heart bled for Hester, she felt that a weight had been lifted from her own shoulders. She hugged the small girl who had started weeping softly and she cried too and murmured that everything would be all right and that she would look after her and help her to find her mother.

These are the events of how Hester Murray came to live with the Renfreys and become like a daughter to them. For her part, Jarusha felt as though she had been given another chance to be a mother and her heart opened up to the experience. There were bound to be some painful times but Hester was strong of spirit and Jarusha had a lot of love and understanding to offer.

The household was a busy one as summer wound down. Roland was a successful farmer and made many trips to the city to auction his livestock and crops. Jarusha sold her handcrafted goods at the local market. Hester too had many tasks that kept her occupied and whenever she could she read. There were other times when she yearned to be back in school and to be in the company of other children.

And by and by, it became time for school to begin.

your bosom friend, Anne

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Anne's Diary Feb 21st

Dear Diary,

One Wednesday afternoon, Hester made her mind up to ask Jarusha all about the tragedy in the pond and especially about how it involved her mother. Mrs. Renfrey had finished sweeping the hallway with her willow broom and Hester had hung all the clean clothes outside on the line. Usually the young girl would carry one of her books out into the garden and sit under a tree and read for at least two hours. The birds’ twittering and the cows’ lowing would lull Hester until she slipped inside whatever story she was reading. From her doorway, Jarusha would watch and only turn away once the girl relaxed, knowing that Hester’s sorrow was forgotten for the time being. But this time, forsaking her book, Hester hesitantly turned back to the front door cradling the laundry basket. She approached the parlour where Jarusha was working on a small cross-stitched cushion cover. "Please may I know about that time with you and my Ma?" Hester tried to cover the nervousness in her voice. Jarusha looked up from her needlecraft; "Sit ye down girl. I’ve had it on my mind to tell you the story. It will be hard for you." She inhaled deeply and began; "The girls’ father was Mr. Murray. We were together before he met your mother. We lived a life without having any wedding. I birthed two baby girls, before he run off with your mother and, after a while he married her. I thought my life was over."

Your bosom friend, Anne

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Anne's Diary Feb 7th

Dear Diary,

A bright, mid-summer day dawned. The muslin curtains at the casement window rustled and billowed in the morning breeze. Hester stirred in her bed. She had slept well and there had been no worrisome dreams this time. The small cream-coloured bedroom was becoming to feel more like her own room, for she had been occupying it for almost two months. It had been that long since her mother had disappeared. In all that time, there had been no news of her.

On that strange night after Hester and the Renfreys returned to help Mrs. Murray, they had searched the building, the sheds, the fields, and long the creek. They had rode out further to ask the McWilliams, the Taggarts and Miss. Stickland, the village teacher. No one had seen or heard anything. It was almost dawn before a tired and weeping Hester was wrapped in a blanket and transported back with Jarusha and Renfrey to their house. Husband and wife had decided, after a tense conversation, that it would be tolerable to mind the girl for a short time. That same morning Mr. Renfrey had gone to see the local constable to give him a report and Jarusha had written two letters to send to Halifax where Mrs. Murray was thought to have some people. The letters were returned within a fortnight unopened and undelivered. Hester was inconsolable for the first three weeks and could not comprehend that her dear mother appeared to have run away from home without saying goodbye--without saying anything at all. The worst of it was that Hester believed her mother had planned to leave and had kept it a secret. Could Jarusha help her with this mystery? Hester resolved to find out.

Your bosom friend, Anne

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Anne's Diary Feb 1st

Dear Diary,

As the big woman ran to Hester, the girl cried out the news, gasping and panting at the same time. Jarusha squatted and held Hester gently by her shoulders saying, "Yer such a good wee girl doing the best thing for yer ma. We’ll be there in a twinkling." Directly, Mr. Renfrey flew to his small barn and hurriedly opened the big door. He had disappeared for less than a minute before he emerged sitting in the front seat of his buggy with his horse hitched and ready.

The buggy was soon thundering up the lane and Hester imagined that they were flying through space. She was worried, afraid, excited and yet felt secure, wrapped up in a thick blanket, beside Jarusha who was sitting stiffly and looking straight ahead. Mr. Renfrey, a bearded, barrel-chested man, shouted occasionally at his horse and frequently glanced back at his passengers and frowned as the gusty north wind blew dark hair across his face. After more than fifteen minutes the little Murray house and outbuilding were in sight and Renfrey gave his strong horse one last command; "Giddy-up old friend!" Once through the gate, the driver slowed the cart and girl and woman jumped down and sped to the house. Hester was first through the front door and hurried into the parlour. As she came around the side of the big, fireside chair she looked down to the hearth….Her mother was not lying there! She turned to meet Jarusha, just coming into the room. "My ma must be in her bed," she exclaimed, and turned into the little room where her mother had a cot and a small chest. The bed was unoccupied and the chest was open. Mrs Murray’s Sunday hat and jacket were missing—there was no one in the house.

Your bosom friend, Anne

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