#blyth ontario

[jasperjphotography]

Memorial Hall 35mm F2 May 2024, Blyth

[a-new-vers]

~H5~

Woke up today to find out Halsey has set the stage for a new hunt for fans to go on. In true Halsey fashion, it's cryptic with a distinct visual style we can probably expect from this era.

So let's explore, shall we?

A Lil' Timeline:

Halsey played the 27th at Lollapalooza India. During their set before they began to play Gasoline, a visual on screen displayed a URL: FOR MY LAST TRICK (click to go to the site).

Click HERE to see a video of when it was displayed at the concert.

The Website:

The theme behind the website seems to be opening a miscellaneous stick/patch packet.

The first thing is prompting the user to "pull to open" as in a tag to swipe off. You can see the collection of patches behind the plastic wrap. Once you finally open the package, all the patches will disperse.

This is where the Internet sleuthing begins, people. 24 unique patches (technically 25, but I'll get into that later) with different meanings. Let's get into it.

1 - SNA Flight Tag

So really obscure, but googling Air California flight tag brought me to this used bookstore site. In any case, the thing to notice is the date it is attributed with, 1968.

2 - Vintage Blotter Art

According to this blog (which is the only place I could find the image), this is a vintage blotter from 1994. Blotter art is an "...art form printed on perforated sheets of absorbent blotting paper infused with liquid LSD."

3 - Blythe Dolls

I believe this doll is a Blythe doll. Image reverse search does not come up with an exact result, but from the details you can make out, the dolls eyes are quite clear. Which looks a lot like Blythe Dolls, a doll brand that came out in 1972. Their gimmick was that the eyes could move left to right.

4 - Witch Halsey

Unsure, but it would seem it's Halsey as a witch. The aesthetics are similar to IICHLIWP (H4).

If the main theme here is the 70s, there’s the movie Season of the Witch that came out in 1973, February 14th. It’s apparently commentary on traditional American suburban lifestyle through the perspective of a housewife who does not like her place in life. She meets a witch and progressively gets into the occult.

5, 18, 19, 23 - Outside of USA

5: It's hard to tell what most of the words are, but the text "Pagado" (Spanish for "paid") is on the piece of paper. . The particular location might be Palenque, a Mexican city. Relevant date: June 25th, 1977.

18: Belleville. Based on a real winter carnival programme. Belleville is a a city in Ontario, Canada. Relevant date: 1971.

19: “We smokers all want to be non-smokers too” or something along these lines. I'm trusting online translation for this (German to English). Unable to find when this was made.

23: “For Us.” French. The image search doesn’t result anything. Unable to find when this was made.

6 - Peril is My Pay

Based off of a detective book involving traveling. The font is the exact same as one of the book covers. It was published in 1960s.

7 - I have something to tell you

A sign up. I assume it has to do with being updated on any album news.

Looking through the inspect tab you can see the information is being sent to “Sony Fan Music.” It does take note of which country you are in and your address.

8 , 9 - Round visuals

I think these are visuals to give grasp to the 70s theme. It’s reminiscent of 60’s/70’s clothing/aesthetic.

10 - Michigan license plate.

1971 comes up in the plate. Michigan has come up in HFK (H2), on Bad At Love. I doubt this has anything to do about the “boy back in Michigan” but perhaps traveling back throughout her albums.

11 - Ghost

Jan 27th 2014, interesting date to put since this is the date this is all happening, just a decade after.

I've seen some people say this is meant to be the anniversary for Ghost, the song. Although it came out in 2014, its release date was in July, and it originally came out on sound cloud on February 3rd. So unsure why Jan 27th is there. EDIT: I have been made aware that Jan 27th 2014 was its international release date! I am but a fool.

The text can be in response to the lyric “Where did you go?” and the themes on the song of someone leaving. IDK, this could also be a meta thing. If a theme here is traveling and visiting locations/people, then perhaps one thing you won't find if the ghost?

Additionally, this follows the theme of revisiting her previous albums.

12 - Cannel 17

WPHL-TV is a television station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, serving as the local outlet for The CW Television Network. The logos here are form the 60’s/70’s.

13 - Master Mystifier

Or, alternatively, Harry Houdini. The date I do not believe has any relevance here but perhaps the idea of magic.

I came about the google search “Houdini’s Last Trick” where his last trick is widely asked about. It would seem to be an inspiration for the name of the website. So potentially Halsey will lean into magic, tricks, and deception.

14 - Calling Cards

Text on card: “Compliments - May I See (C) You (U) Home? If not, please return this card.”

“May I See You Home” seemed to be a common phrase for calling cards. They were handed out to ask people out. Again, the font and images are similar to H4 aesthetic. These were used in the 18th and 19th century.

15 - B&W Hair

Oh, I actually no idea.

16 - Candy

The closest I could get to finding what this meant is when this font was used for the book Candy by Maxwell Kenton, published in 1958.

As wiki describes the plot "Candy Christian, aged eighteen, is an extremely pretty and desirable but naïve young woman, who finds herself in a variety of farcical sexual situations as a result of her desire to help others. The men in her life, regardless of age or relationship, wish only to possess her."

17 - Southern-Belle

Clearly the saying southern belle. A girl born form the south, typically with certain attributes. The saying came from the idea that “... a girl who was expected to grow up into a lady. She was supposed to be fragile and flirtatious while also sexually innocent. She was beautiful but risky to touch, like porcelain.”

https://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/2259#:~:text=Course%3A,risky to touch%2C like porcelain

20 - Rabbit

I couldn’t find anything that looks the same, but I assume it has to do with Alice and Wonderland. Concerning dates, the book was published in the 1800s, while the arguably most famous iteration (the animated movie) came out in the 50s.

However, this can relate to the potential theme of magic and deception and girl/womanhood. But I’m also inclined to think the rabbit might have nothing to do with Wonderland and might be something else all together.

21 - K-Mart

Wiki comes in handy here. As described, “Satisfaction Always icon seen on Kmart branded packaging until the mid-to-late 70s, adapted from a hanging sign displayed in every early Kmart store.” So 70’s themed.

https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/Kmart_(United_States)/Other?file=Kmart_-_1960s_(Satisfaction).svg.

22 - Eye, Eye, Eye, and Eye

The eyes. Girl IDK, they’re eyes. They kind of remind me of the biblically accurate angels and the eyes they have. Although, I doubt that's what they're meant to be.

24 - Cigarette

People seem to think this relates more to Badlands, and I’m inclined to agree.

Themes:

Here are overall themes that seem to be present within the collection.

- Travelling

- Magic

- 60s-70s

- Eyes

- Books

- A Feminist Lens

- Past albums

A Tangent on Web Dev:

I just kinda wanted to point out the cool coding stuff they've done. When the patches are still in the plastic bag, they're always randomized in which order they're in (you have to refresh to notice this). They also disperse in a randomized order. I thought maybe the way they disperse could be a trail of sorts, like a map. But it seems totally random. I still find it cool how they've done that, every time in a different location, as if you open the package they come out uniquely for each person.

Oh and about the 25 patch, it seems the first patch in your packet appears twice when you open it. Idk if the number 25 matters or if this was done by accident. But the 25th patch is a duplicate, and never one in particular, just which ever is the first in your shuffle.

The End

For now.

[gogandmagog]

a peek at Susan Baker's WWI era wardrobe

    "I was commissioned by Laura Robinson of the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston to produce a dress for the character Susan Baker, the Blythe's family's house-keeper, in the book, Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery.         The dress is currently on display in the Normandy area in France; later in June it will be at the L.M. Montgomery Institute on Prince Edward Island; and later on in Ontario.  In Rilla of Ingleside the character Susan Baker is described as wearing plain, simple, practical style clothing.  She is not a slave to fashion and would dress in a sensible, serviceable style.           The skirt is ankle-length with enough fullness to allow ease of movement - it is tapered to the waist with fullness gathered into the waistband.  The collarless blouse is a basic period style with straight sleeves with button cuffs and slight tapering to fit.  There are no embellishments and the buttons are simple in style.           The colour of the skirt is a light shade of khaki and the blouse is a darker shade with small print design.  The colours were chosen to be symbolic of the khaki uniforms worn by the soldiers fighting in trenches on the European front in WWI.  Susan Baker in her way was doing her bit for the war effort on the home front."

— Arnold G. Smith, reproduction period clothing costumer

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Cuz We Are Living in a Canadian World, and I am a Canadian Girl

This was not my first copy of the classic Canadian book about girlhood. It also wasn't my second, which got lost in a move, and it wasn't my third, which...crap, I have no idea what happened to it, but it is the copy that is currently on my bookshelf. I was given my first copy at age nine or so, sitting in my maternal grandfather's living room in Ontario. That side of the family was and still is absolutely obsessed with the Anne books. They talk about Gilbert Blythe the way 2000s girls talk about Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. I'm pretty sure I have heard my cousins use the phrase "I found my Gilbert" in relation to their significant others. Then of course we moved to Alaska and I was on my own to find the rest of the Anne books. But for today, let's talk Anne of Green Gables.

Everyone's favorite PEI orphan is an extremely well-known character at this point, between the books themselves and a myriad of film and television adaptations aimed at kids and adults. Anne studies and Girlhood Studies are pretty popular in Canadian higher ed institutions (I have a friend who was focusing on Anne for her graduate studies), and the idea of this redheaded girl who can see the magic in the world has been sticky since LM Montgomery published in 1908.

Aside from Anne seeing the magic in the world--which, wow do we need that vibe back in this, the year of our lord 2023--one of my favorite things about the first book in the series is that it has massive found family vibes and does not shy away from the importance and joy of female friendships. Like, for all the Anne and Gilbert vibes in popular culture, Anne and Gilbert don't become Anne and Gilbert until the end of book 3 of the series, arguably realistically book 4, and their relationship matures and expands in book 5. But in Anne of Green Gables, Gilbert is just an annoying boy who transforms into an academic rival after Anne sets a hard boundary by way of a slate to the head.

What's critical about this first book is that the key relationships Anne forms are with Diana, Marilla, and Matthew. She gets to be a girl and have fun and adventures with her new family, her best friend, and a pack of Avonlea girls. There is something so pure and comfortable and heartwarming about the community that Anne builds around herself. This is extra poignant when one grows up with this book and grows to understand the full context from which Anne comes. Marilla understands immediately that Anne's light was miraculous for continuing to shine despite the neglectful, possibly abusive situations she came from--even if Marilla then immediately clamps down on that feeling for another few chapters.

Anne gets to be a girl with friends and free time and a family that loves her. There is something quietly magical about that, and I think that has quite a lot to do with the book's ongoing popularity, even if the popular culture imagining of Anne has drifted some over the years. For all that Anne herself sees a world full of dryads, white ways of delight, and romance, the quiet joys of Avonlea life and an Avonlea childhood is the foundation for Anne's imagination to fly.

[spockvarietyhour]

Blyth and Watt Hardware Store, 289 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario. 1901 [Library and Archives Canada]

[canadajobbank]

Hiring now: Food service supervisor

[snellblogs]

Canada Road 5

AUGUST 23

Between Goderich and Kincardine,

Lake Huron

Great Lakes

Ontario

Can’t see the Sunset for cloud

Today we had rain and thunder storms.  The lake was completely calm early this morning in fact it was the flattest I have ever seen it and I thought ah, I will be able to swim today.  But first I sat down to meditate by the lake, using a red plastic chair, sheltered under an awning and fellow swimmer swam out so far he was just a dot on the lake.  Then the slight drizzle got more intense and as he left the lakeside the rain began in earnest.  First heavy and then in a trice torrential and although I tried to stay and meditate, the rain was coming in so I moved farther back.  Then as it poured a drip began from the awning right onto my head and my hood was rapidly wet, so I gave up and took the path back up to the cottage and went and meditated peacefully in my room.

Later that morning watching the thunder that rolled in and counting the seconds between lightning and thunder I saw white lightning strike the lake at the horizon straight from the thunder clouds.  I wouldn’t have missed it.  Lightning on Lake Huron!

The fields were drenched.

Next day:

It’s raining on Lake Huron.  The washing and swimsuits and towels on the line strung between two huge pine trees is not getting any drier. 

Its evening now and yesterday I achieved a best:  I won my first ever game of five pin bowling.  I beat everyone, much to everyone’s amazement.  It was simply a great feeling to be the best at something, no matter how insignificant or how transitory.  It was a laugh.  I just remembered my Dad bowling beautifully almost making it graceful and tried to follow suit and it seemed to work somehow.

Then I went to see a piece of wonderful Canadian theatre at a very small place called Blyth which when it is not performing outdoors performs in the local town hall which looks like a museum or church or a cross between, a beautiful piece of architecture.

Today’s swim was good, the water is fresh but manageable, but I was able to swim up and down without being knocked over by the waves or swept off my feet by the current.  It takes some time to get used to swimming on one of the Great Lakes.

Today I went for a walk up the dirt road that leads in here through farmer’s fields that stretch for as far as you can see on either side.  They grow vegetable crops but without hedges or fences just a bunch of trees might signify the end of one field.  Either side of the track are a wide selection of beautiful summer flowers.  We collected one of each kind only.  There was the golden rod and the meadowsweet, black- eyed-susan, toadflax, vetch, purple thistle, pink clover, scabious and a blue flower and a shaking grass.  They were in the most beautiful clumps almost painted on and in such delicacy. So much colour.

The sun is hiding tonight but the lake is flat with no waves.

[plumbingmate]

Best Day Boarding School in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa is a bustling city with plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure. It has parks, museums, sports teams and more. But what about your kids? Do you want them to get the best education possible? Or do you want them to grow up without any knowledge of their cultures or traditions? Of course not! That's why we've compiled this list of day boarding schools in Ottawa that will give your child everything they need to succeed both academically and socially.

Blyth Academy The Glebe, Ottawa

Blyth Academy is the largest network of private high schools in Canada. With eight physical campuses and two virtual schools, we create a unique opportunity for Grades 4 to 12 to reach their fullest potential, and ultimately shape the world.

Each campus is designed to be a community of 75-150 students with average class sizes of 12 students per class. Blyth Academy offers a comprehensive full-time program, as well as night school, private courses, summer school, and online classes either teacher-led or self-paced.

We deliver the curriculum set out by the Ontario Ministry of Education, but what sets us apart is our ability to tailor education to the individual student. Our carefully curated individualized structure allows our guidance teams and teachers to consider each student’s learning style and areas of interest when customizing an academic plan unique to them.

Westboro Academy

Westboro Academy is a small, independent day school for kindergarten through grade 8. Learn about our history, mission, team, and the Westboro Academy bilingual education advantage.

Founded in 1993, Westboro Academy has grown to become the region’s premiere school for excellence in bilingual education. Westboro Academy was founded by a small group of parents looking for excellence in bilingual education. By 1998, the school had undergone 2 moves to allow for rapid expansion and finally landed on Brewer Way, near Carleton University, where it stayed until 2019. The current school at 1000 Brookfield Road East was formerly École Gabrielle Roy and we are very pleased to know that we will be here until at least 2039!

Polaris School and Centre

Polaris School and Centre is inspired by the principles of Waldorf education. ​ Our Mission

We awaken knowledge and creative ability through a rich and multifaceted educational experience. Acting with freedom, our teachers evoke reverence for the world and humanity, and guide our ​students toward a life lived with purpose as responsive citizens of the world.

Our Vision

The heart of our community beats with a desire to seek a healthy approach to education for our times. We are committed to Rudolf Steiner's vision of a community where we are equals, free in our realms of activity and truly supporting each other in our striving for social and cultural renewal in the world.

Plumbing Mate is a full-service plumbing contractor that specializes in all things plumbing. We understand that when you need a plumber, you need it done right—and with our team of experienced professionals, we will make sure that your plumbing problems are taken care of quickly and effectively.

Whether you are looking for an expert to identify and fix leaking pipes, or you need someone to install new fixtures or repairs in your home, Plumbing Mate is here to help. We take pride in our work and will always treat your property as if it were our own. Our goal is not just to get the job done quickly and efficiently, but also to leave you happy about your choice of professionals.

Plumbing Mate Ottawa, ON, Canada +16138990340 https://www.google.com/maps?cid=12135542159529235230

[designwallah]

More Cowbell please

[jasperjphotography]

Let's Start Again May 2024 35mm F2

Harvest Stage before the season's show load ins.

[oak23]

i have TONS of pix from our toronto meet so i'm going to put them up bit by bit. here's the first batch by Melissa 

[theintoxicatedreview]

Just a great fresh and tart sour for your Hump Day pleasure in Passion Fruit Punch by @cowbellbrewing #craftnotcrap #craftbeer #cheers #cowbellbrewery #morecowbell #blyth #guava #hazy #instabeer #lcbo #oncraftbeer #ontariocraftbeer #ontario #prost #passionfruit #skål #stayathome #staysafe #the_intoxicated_review #humpday (at The Cantina) https://www.instagram.com/p/COOtjNIlwJZ/?igshid=1q7eu6t1gxivr

[new-cross]

bits and bobs and other magical oddities~

[ofcade]

andrew w. walker,  cis man,  he  /  him,  forty ;  i   think   cadence   blythe   just   walked   by,   a  andrew   w.   walker   lookalike.   they’ve   been   here   in   rocky   view   for   about   three   months,   and   seem   to   hang   around   shoreside   books   a   lot.   i’ve   also   seen   them   working   at   the   university   of   rhode   island   –   rocky   view   as   a   poetry   and   poetics   professor.   when   asked   to   describe   themselves   they’re   likely   to   say   cheesy   romantic   comedies,   scattered   polaroid   pictures,   the   smell   of   old   books,   windows   filled   with   plants,   and   quiet   music.

hiya,   i’m   rowyn   !   i’m   25   &   hail   all   the   way   from   the   est   tmz.   my   preferred   pronouns   are   also   she   /   they.   i’m   so   thrilled   to   start   writing   with   all  of  your   lovely   muses.   cadence   is   a   fairly   new   oc   for   me,   so   i’m   excited   to   develop   him   further   and   see   where   it   goes   !   below   you   will   find   a   long   blurb   of   his   life   and   such.  disclaimer:   triggering   topics   such   as   abuse,   alcoholism,   hospitalization   at   a   young   age,   medical   diagnosis,   assumed   parental   death   will   be   mentioned   below.   please   read   at   your   own   discretion.

cadence blythe was born in a low-kept, hole in the wall kind of hospital in ontario, canada during a rare summer stormy night. his existence came into play in an act of passion and not much more; well, at least that’s what he was told by one of his nasty foster mothers. in fact, he was rudely and offhandedly told that one-night stands were common where he was conceived, but he felt rather unlucky that he had been a result of one, nevertheless. after he was born, on the advice of his maternal grandmother, his mother put him up for adoption, unaware of the fact he had a heart condition. this meant he had to go through a lot of expensive surgeries in his childhood, making him seemingly ‘unadoptable’ because "the hospital bed isn’t really a great selling point.” as cadence would often describe it. by the age of three, cadence finally became ‘adoptable’, but wasn’t adopted because most families were looking for infants. because of this he was bounced around foster homes for the majority of his life, and many times the family was just looking for a paycheck from the foster care system and didn’t really care anything for him.

in some homes, he even had to fight off physical abuse from some of the foster parents, including being slammed into a wall at age five and the foster mother lying about it to a social worker by saying cadence fell off a swing. cadence’s hard life in foster care and eight very terrible foster homes, made him completely self-reliant. when he wasn’t fostered out, he lived in a group home, where the children in the foster care system lived until they were again fostered out or adopted. he described it as “a holding cell until we were wanted.“

despite him growing up in unloved foster homes, cadence had always had it in his head that love was something everybody should strive for, so knowing he was born out of a possible drunken mistake and not an act of love and adoration weighed on him. he didn’t know much about his biological parents at all, and he wasn’t too keen on asking his various foster parents about them either. however, for many years up until he was adopted at aged eleven, he had tried to find out who they were, even though he wasn’t entirely sure why he wanted to know so badly. he had no interest in meeting them or even getting closure from them, but somehow it made him remarkably sad that he didn’t know who they were. he had yet to figure out why he was so eager to meet the people that had abandoned him surely, but they must have had a reasonable reason, at least that’s what he told himself for all the lonely years.

as one of the oldest, loneliest, and more imaginative children in his group home one can only imagine his absolute boredom when it came to making his life livelier in a home that stifled such imagination. cadence, having such creativity, wittiness, and wonder, lived more in his own dream world than out in the real world. which is why when the group home mother and father went to bed, he would tell the younger children a ‘bedtime story’ of sorts about his parents’ ‘love story’ to make him feel better about his shitty situation. he would go on about how his biological parents had been madly in love to only end in tragedy; meaning they must’ve died sometime after he was born but had hoped he was loved by them regardless.

but of course, his high tales of his parents’ love adventure didn’t faze everyone as some of the older girls and boys, who could sense he was lying, would bully him relentlessly about how he’s was a lowly orphan that no one cared about. the older ‘leader’ boy would frequently lead other kids at the group home in acts of physical and psychological abuse towards him. as a result of his upbringing, he developed c-ptsd. more than anything, he wanted to believe his parents wanted him as much as he thought they did in his story, but as he grew up and his childlike mind faded into other important matters, he kind of given up on telling that story to those who would listen. he found himself searching for them in crowds even though he didn’t know what they looked like.

his wish for a good home finally came to fortune with liam and marigold blythe. liam, who was also raised in canada, was an executive producer and director for a very large network, and his mother marigold was a real estate agent from america. he moved with them to calabases, california when he was eleven as that became his new home. he was lucky to end up with such amazing parents and as he grew in their care, he never forgot just how blessed he was to be adopted by them.

despite their differences, his parents encouraged cadence’s belief in extraordinary things and hoped he had carried it throughout his life growing up. his parents had always made him promise to have courage and be kind to others, for—as they explained to him—kindness has power, and that they would see him through all the trials that life could offer. as he went through middle school and high school, he dealt with bullying from his peers. he tried to keep up his hard resolve but sometimes it got too much for him to handle. he lost count of how many times he ran home crying his eyes out, tears streaming down his cheeks. he had friends, there was no denying that, but he was anything but popular.

he’s also a very loveable person. his entire personality shone with a beautiful golden glow. however, his sweet nature should not be taken as a sign that he was weak. he was one of the most determined people that walked the earth. he was energetic and outgoing, always ready to try something new and strive for his ambitions, but this didn’t mean he couldn’t be vulnerable when he needed to. he had always been a very head strong individual, he had one wish and that was to help the people he cared about reach their potential to the maximum. he was a natural born leader, which he showed perfectly to his students as a professor. his passion and charisma made it easy for him to inspire others in a number of ways. he was always in a party mood, but his introverted side appeared at the most inconvenient times.

he received his undergrad and grad degrees in english literature at usc. he began his teaching career as a university professor for english lit for many years at his alma mater, but in recent years, he wanted to be able to venture out to different places and travel more. so, he ended up packing up his stuff and moving out to rocky view where he joined the university of rhode island faculty as a poetry and poetics professor.

[halsteadsbradshaw]

Thank you for the tag @thestarrynightslover :)

I love these but always forget to do them when I get tagged but amazingly I actually did it this time!

Relationship Status: Single 🤪

Favourite Colour: it changes with the day I swear but right now it’s sage green

Three favourite foods: this is so hard but beaver tails (it’s a Canadian pastry not an actual beaver I feel like I should clarify), Alfredo pasta and haystacks

Last song I listened to: Rise Up - CAIN

Song stuck in my head: Fear Is A Liar - Zach Williams

Last thing I googled : “12 pm Atlantic time” I swear I know my time zone but my professor lives in Ontario and always messes it up so I wanted to double check

Time : 1:01 pm

Dream trip: I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Ireland!

Tagging: @spuffyfan394 @shayveridekidd @gilbxrt-blythe @leymr and anyone else who wants to!!

[royalcordelia]

The Secret of Distance (2/?)

Summary: Anne and Gilbert embark on their journeys, but stay close to each other at heart. Courting across 1000 miles isn’t easy, but they’re more than willing to step up to the task. (A post s3 story). 

Notes: If you want to be tagged when the next chapter is posted, I can do that! I’ve seen others do that, and wanted to throw it out there.

~~*~~

Gilbert had grown so accustomed to the rattling of the window on the side of his face, that as the train slowed to a stop, he roused from his sleep. Around him, passengers shuffled on tired feet down the aisle of the train, but Gilbert squinted tiredly, adjusting to his surroundings. Where was he again? 

Outside the train,  a sign was lit up by electric lights: “Welcome to Toronto, Ontario.”

Oh, that’s right, he thought to himself, I’m going to medical school. At 4:30 in the morning it seemed. As he grabbed his trunk, his brain felt like it was trudging through mud. He’d left PEI on a ship to the mainland, then situated himself on the train for a fifteen hour trip. And he had kissed Anne. 

That woke Gilbert up. He had kissed Anne at exactly noon yesterday, and she had kissed him back. He kissed Anne. She tasted the way he expected sunshine would taste if you could jar it like honey. She fit perfectly against him when he pulled her close, drawn to him as strongly as he was to her. Soft hair framed her face, feathery tufts that grazed his fingers when he held her cheek. He’d never forget the sight of her, so beautifully grown, yet so breathtakingly Anne . The thought was distracting enough that he didn’t realize his footsteps had slowed to a halt in the middle of the path. 

He might’ve stood there forever, burning the memory of Anne’s kiss into his mind, but a drunkard rambled past him, colliding with his shoulder. Gilbert stumbled on his feet, righting his coat on his shoulders with a bristled frown. He needed to find his new apartment before he was swept away into whatever unsavory things happened at four in the morning.

From one of his hidden inside pockets, he pulled out a note in Miss Stacy’s familiar script. 

Gilbert, 

Emily couldn’t get you into a boarding house because of your late admission. She does, however, know a young man who has an extra room in his apartment. He’s agreed to let you board with him, and will leave the door unlocked so you may let yourself in. You’ll find Ronald Stuart at 293 North Sunset St - the right hand apartment. 

Good luck on all your endeavors! I know you’ll exceed beyond our expectations. 

Your Exceedingly-Proud Educator, 

Miss Muriel Stacy

Gilbert didn’t know much about this Ronald Stuart, but had sent the young man a letter telling him when to expect him. Part of him was glad he wouldn’t be living under the supervision of an owner of a boarding house, like Anne certainly would be. If he found this Ronald Stuart agreeable, they could become close friends and enact their own rules, answering only to themselves and to each other. 

The house on 293 North Sunset St. was a sizeable place built of bricks the same color as the PEI roads back home. Gilbert snuck as quietly as he could up the creaky stairs leading to the door of his new apartment, before twisting the door knob. Stubbornly, it refused to budge. 

Gilbert peaked at the house number, then his note, then tried the door again, this time with more strength. Maybe Ronald hadn’t gotten his letter in time? Maybe he’d forgotten to leave the door unlocked. 

There was nothing to do about it. He rapped his knuckles hard enough on the door that the noise likely could be heard by the next door neighbors. Even so, the door remained closed. The chilly August air was beginning to sink into his bones. Gilbert knocked again, more aggressively this time. 

“I hear ya, I hear ya!” came a voice from inside the house. Gilbert took a step back from the door, steeling himself for whatever would come once the door opened. A shadowy figure appeared behind the curtains before the door swung open. 

Gilbert cleared his throat. “Mr. Stuart?” 

The fellow before him was a tall one, lanky with hard angles. His dark hair was a mop upon his head where long, straight hair stuck out in all directions. Long eyebrows quirked back at Gilbert, who clenched his jaw. 

“Gil?” the man answered back. Gilbert cocked his head. No one called him Gil. Not even Bash or Anne. 

“Yes, that’s me. Gilbert Blythe. The door was locked, otherwise I’d have let myself in.” 

Ronald ran a hand through his hair, tousling it into an even greater mess. He stepped aside and let Gilbert enter the space. 

“I was real glad was Dr. Oak reached out to me about you coming to stay,” Ronald explained with a yawn. “The last fellow who stayed here graduated last spring, and I’ve been having trouble paying for the whole apartment myself. It’s not much, but it’s plenty for two men to share.” 

Gilbert pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to his new roommate. Inside was the first of four years’ worth of rent payments. Bash had promised to send Gilbert his share of the farm’s earnings in plenty of time each month for him to pay his debts. 

“That reminds me, this is for you,” Gilbert said. Ronald only tossed the envelope on a nearby table and leaned against it, tired eyes examining his new roommate. 

“You drink?” he asked. Gilbert couldn’t tell if the man was offering or judging. 

“No,” he replied, shaking his head. 

“You snore?” 

Gilbert frowned. “...Not...that I know of?” 

Ronald shrugged and headed up the stairs. 

“We can talk in afternoon. I’m going back to sleep. Your room is up the stairs on the right. Mine’s on the left. There’s one more empty room, for guests I guess, if you ever have any.” 

Gilbert bit the inside of his cheek. Would the people from home ever come all the way to Toronto just to see him? Adjusting his cases in his hands, Gilbert took a deep breath. 

“Alright, thank you.” But Ronald had already gone. 

Outside, the street echoed silence around, giving it an eerie stillness. If he hadn’t been so tired, he might’ve felt the weight of being so far away from home and his family. But exhaustion prevailed in numbing his thoughts, and he found his bed without any welcoming ceremony. Laying fully dressed on top of his blankets, Gilbert fell deep into sleep. 

~~*~~

“You a novelist or something?” 

Gilbert looked up from the kitchen table and found Ronald in the doorway. He must’ve looked like some sort of writer, with pages upon pages of inked words spread across the table in front of him. A mug of coffee steamed at both places and at the table, and Gilbert nodded down to it. Ronald accepted it appreciatively, sipping it with a satisfied smile. In the daylight, and perhaps after bathing, the man seemed to have a sophisticated air about him that came solely from his looks and not his attitude.

“No, I’m just writing some letters home. There are a few people who’d want to know I made it here in one piece,” Gilbert replied, somewhat nostalgic for home. His gaze found the opening line of the paper in  front of him: My Anne...

“Where is home, anyway?” 

“Avonlea, PEI.” 

“That far away, eh? No wonder you wandered up to the house so early this morning. Can’t say I’ve ever heard of Avonlea, though.” Gilbert nodded politely, not sure how much Ronald Stuart wanted to share about himself or how much he wanted to share in return. “I’m Ron, by the way. I apologize that I’m not terribly friendly before seven in the morning.” 

Gilbert chuckled and shook his head. 

“I guess I didn’t realize the trip would be over sixteen hours. Sorry for waking you up.” 

Ron got up from the table, grabbing some bread from the breadbox and shoving a piece into his mouth. 

“What made you want to come here, anyway?” 

“Ah, my teacher from home knows Dr. Oak. I was initially intending on attending the, uh...well, the Sorbonne in France, but I changed my mind.” 

The expression on Ron’s face told Gilbert he was not convinced.

“Yeah right, you just weren’t accepted. That or you can’t speak french.” 

“No, I was accepted - or as good as, anyway. I just chose not to go.” Gilbert paused. “But you’re right, I don’t speak french very well.” 

Ron’s jaw dropped. 

“I didn’t take you for an idiot, Gilbert.” 

Gilbert straightened his shoulders, crossing his arms defensively. 

“It’s a long story, one that I’m sure would make perfect sense if you were to hear it.” He paused. Would this Ronald Stuart be convinced that genuine love was more valuable than an educational opportunity? “But to tell the truth, I’d like to just write these letters and get them sent out before the post is collected in a few hours.” Ron held up his hands in surrender and trekked back up to his room. 

Returned to silence, Gilbert tilted his face to the sun pouring in from the kitchen window. He wondered if Anne was enjoying the same warmth on her first day of school. Picking his pen back up, he continued to write.

My Anne, 

I cannot think of a more wonderful way to start a letter. It does my heart such good knowing that wherever you are, you might be anticipating this specific correspondence. I’d like to begin this particular letter by informing you that I have made it to Toronto safe and sound - albeit at four in the morning! I haven’t been a train for such a long period of time since I traveled with my father. Should you still desire to be my penpal (though I hope you’ll want to be a much more than penpals) you’ll find my complete address on the envelope. North Sunset street is just as beautiful as it sounds. 

Have I beat around the bush with enough formality? I may as well jump right in.

Anne, what a fool I’ve been. I’ve had sixteen hours to compose the perfect way to reveal to you in extensive detail all the ways I’ve been a fool, but I fear I don’t have your gift with language, so you will just have to tolerate my inadequate explanations. As Diana might have informed you, I never received your letter, and for the sake of clarity and fairness, I’m going to assume that you never received mine.  

I want to eradicate every doubt in your mind. Anne, I never had any real, genuine feelings for Winifred. I have learned the hard way that there is a vast difference between enjoying someone’s company and genuine love. When you love someone, you don’t just enjoy their company. You ache until the next moment you see that person, yet they’re always with you - in your mind, in your heart. The extent to which I adore you and take pride in your existence is so overwhelming that I wonder why I thought I could ever settle for anything else. Is it bold for me to hope you feel the same way? I truly do love you, Anne. 

With all that disclosed, I’m certain there are times when I made you feel like I didn’t care for you at all. For that, I hope you know how very ashamed and sorry I am. You won’t ever feel like that again, I promise. If, in our separation, you grow doubtful or lonely, I’ll be on the first train bound for Charlottetown. 

As for follow up questions: 

Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, when in heaven’s name did you start to have feelings for me? Most days I was certain I’d never win your heart, but then I’d catch you looking across the classroom and think maybe it wasn’t so hopeless after all. 

Did you receive the letter I left you in your room? You never said anything, so I wondered. Oh! And what did your letter say? I’m so bitter that it disappeared.

Are you well? How are you adjusting to being away from home? I know Green Gables was so precious to you. How is Queens? Do your new classmates adore you, yet? I’m certain they do.

I’m sure I will have more questions the more I fondly remember each encounter I’ve had with you, but for now, I won’t bombard you. 

As for me, I’m better now that I’ve arrived to Toronto and have unpacked all my things. My roommate, Ron, is a peculiar brand, and it’s still unclear as to whether or not he is - as you’d say - a kindred spirit. So far, I have my doubts. We’ve known each other all of eight hours and he’s already called me an idiot. But we have our own bedrooms, and there’s more than enough space for the two of us, so I can’t complain. Class begins tomorrow, but I’ve some final paperwork to complete. I hope to explore the campus and learn all the hidden nooks where a medical student might read and daydream about his love back home.

I still have to write to Bash, and I want to send this as soon as possible, so I’ll conclude here. I miss you terribly already. Yet, how thankful I am that we got the time we did. 

Know that I remain always 

Yours, 

Gilbert 

(PS:  My roommate called me Gil at our first meeting. I’ve not decided if I like it yet, but maybe if you call me by that name, I’ll warm up to it.)

(PSS: Is it too much trouble if I ask you to enclose a picture of yourself, or something that I can keep on my bedside table that will remind me of you?)

Gilbert had just folded the letter up and sealed it, when Ron came back into the room. In his hand was a picture frame that Gilbert recognized immediately. 

“Who’s this?” Ron asked. 

Gilbert snatched the frame, eyes icy. 

“Were you going through my things?” 

“I was just leaving some clean linens, and I saw it on your table. Not trying to pry, but I’m...curious.” 

Gilbert peered down at the frame, and felt a wave of homesickness sweep over him. It was a photograph he’d had taken shortly before Hazel had come to live in the house. It had been difficult to find a photographer who wouldn’t fall prey to their prejudices. 

“It’s my brother and my niece,” he explained. Ron seemed to sense the thin ice he stood on, so he nodded. 

“She’s sweet,” he commented, nodding down at Delphine’s bright eyes. 

“The sweetest,” Gilbert agreed, pushing away the photograph when he felt his throat close up. They were silent for a few moments when Ron fixed his eyes on Gilbert.

“Why didn’t you go to the Sorbonne?” he asked evenly. Gilbert matched the serious gaze, unashamed of his choices.

“I would’ve had to marry a girl I didn’t love, and leave behind the one I do.” 

Ron’s face didn’t change, but the lack of judgement was slightly promising. 

“Family and love, huh? Wish I could relate.”  Then he spun on his heels and headed toward the front door. “Well, I’m off.” 

“Oh, uh, bye?” 

The tense, awkward air in the room evaporated when the door slammed behind Ron. A long exhale left Gilbert’s lips and he grabbed a clean sheet of paper. This letter to Bash continued much like his letter to Anne’s had, full of apprehension about Ronald Stuart and anxiousness about the impending start of school. He’d exhausted all of his mildly uninteresting topics before he added:

I do have some news that might interest you. Anne and I are...well, I don’t know for certain what we are. Courting? Yes likely. More than friends? Absolutely. Together? In every way a man can be together with his love across 1000 of distance. I ended things with Winifred and ran like a madman through Charlottetown to see if Anne would give me one last shot. She did. Thank god, she did.

My courtship with Winifred actually ended two weeks ago, as poorly as you can imagine. But I did right by her in every way I could, and respected her enough to be honest that I could not be with her if it’s Anne that I so greatly adore. Not that I said Anne by name, but Winifred knew. She made me promise not to tell anyone until she could safely leave Charlottetown, which is why you are just hearing about this now. Though I regret having humiliated her to the point of returning back to France, I feel so much...lighter, happier. Knowing that Anne cares for me the way I care for her leaves me feeling confident I made the right choice. I think Winifred will see that one day, too. 

I miss you, Bash. Delly too. The more I’m here, the harder it is to imagine that I’ll be living without you. I can barely remember what it was like when it was just me - without my brother, without the laughter of the baby. There’s a room here for guests if you ever want to visit, but I’ll come home when I can. Something tells me if I stray from Avonlea too long, something vital in me will starve.

I love you all. I hope the harvest is going well.

Your brother, 

Gilbert.

With both letters sealed and addressed, Gilbert stepped out onto the new streets, drinking in the Toronto sun as he made his way toward town.