Аня из Авонлеи
XIX. Just a Happy Day
But,teacher,Iwanttoaskyouaveryimportantquestion.Youwillanswerittruthfully,won’tyou?”
“I’lltry,”promisedAnne.
“DoyouthinkI’mwronginmyupperstory?”askedPaul,asifhisveryexistencedependedonherreply.
“Goodness,no,Paul,”exclaimedAnneinamazement.“Certainlyyou’renot.Whatputsuchanideaintoyourhead?”
“MaryJoe...butshedidn’tknowIheardher.Mrs.PeterSloane’shiredgirl,Veronica,cametoseeMaryJoelasteveningandIheardthemtalkinginthekitchenasIwasgoingthroughthehall.IheardMaryJoesay,‘DatPaul,heisdequeeres’leetleboy.Hetalksdatqueer.Itinkdere’ssometingwronginhisupperstory.’Icouldn’tsleeplastnightforeversolong,thinkingofit,andwonderingifMaryJoewasright.Icouldn’tbeartoaskGrandmaaboutitsomehow,butImadeupmymindI’daskyou.I’msogladyouthinkI’mallrightinmyupperstory.”
“Ofcourseyouare.MaryJoeisasilly,ignorantgirl,andyouarenevertoworryaboutanythingshesays,”saidAnneindignantly,secretlyresolvingtogiveMrs.IrvingadiscreethintastotheadvisabilityofrestrainingMaryJoe’stongue.
“Well,that’saweightoffmymind,”saidPaul.“I’mperfectlyhappynow,teacher,thankstoyou.Itwouldn’tbenicetohavesomethingwronginyourupperstory,wouldit,teacher?IsupposethereasonMaryJoeimaginesIhaveisbecauseItellherwhatIthinkaboutthingssometimes.”
“Itisaratherdangerouspractice,”admittedAnne,outofthedepthsofherownexperience.
