Hey everyone, welcome to Bre’s Creative Writing Corner
blog posts! These are blog posts where I share my creative writing projects and ideas.
I also have a Facebook group where I post even more of my writing projects and updates.
Right now, I’m working on a Christian retelling of Anne of Green Gables.
I know the original story already included some Christian values, but I wanted to create a version with even stronger Christian themes and messages woven throughout the story.
So, here’s the opening scene!
.png)
Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived where the Avonlea road dipped into a small hollow lined with alder bushes and flowers, with a little brook running through it. The brook began wild in the woods near the Cuthbert farm, but by the time it reached Mrs. Rachel’s house, it seemed calm and well-behaved.
as if even it knew it was passing under her watchful eye. Mrs. Rachel often sat at her window observing everything that went by, and if anything seemed unusual, she would not rest until she discovered the reason.
Unlike people who mind others’ business because they neglect their own, Mrs. Rachel managed both. She was an excellent housekeeper, active in the church, and involved in many community activities. Yet she still found plenty of time to sit at her kitchen window, knitting quilts while watching the road that everyone entering or leaving Avonlea had to travel, ensuring that little escaped her notice.
One warm afternoon in early June, Mrs. Rachel Lynde sat by her window while the sun shone brightly and the orchard below was full of pink-white blossoms and buzzing bees. Her husband, Thomas Lynde, was planting turnip seeds in the field.
Matthew Cuthbert should have been doing the same at Green Gables. Mrs. Rachel knew this because she had heard him say so at the store the evening before.
But instead, at half past three, she saw Matthew driving down the road in his buggy, wearing his best suit and a white collar. That meant he was leaving Avonlea and going some distance.
This puzzled Mrs. Rachel greatly. Matthew almost never went anywhere, and he disliked visiting or talking to strangers. The more she thought about it, the more curious she became.
Finally, she decided, “After tea, I’ll go over to Green Gables and ask Marilla where Matthew has gone. I won’t have a moment’s peace until I find out.”
Mrs. Rachel did not wait long after tea before setting out for Green Gables. Curiosity had been bothering her all afternoon, and she meant to settle the matter at once. When she arrived, she found Marilla Cuthbert in the yard.
After a few moments of polite conversation, Mrs. Rachel finally asked the question that had been on her mind.
“Where has Matthew gone this afternoon?” she said.
Marilla answered calmly, “He’s gone to the station. We’re adopting a boy from an orphan asylum. He’s coming to help us on the farm.”
Mrs. Rachel stared at her in complete surprise.
“Adopting a boy!” she exclaimed. “Well, of all the things I ever heard! You and Matthew are adopting a child!”
Marilla explained that they were getting older and needed help with the work at Green Gables. A strong, steady boy would be useful around the farm.
But Mrs. Rachel could hardly believe it. The idea seemed so sudden and unusual that she could not stop talking about it. She warned Marilla about the risks of bringing in a child they knew nothing about.
Meanwhile, Matthew reached the station to meet the boy.
But when the train arrived, and the passengers stepped off, Matthew looked around in confusion.
There was no boy waiting for him.
Instead, sitting on a bench beside a small carpetbag was a thin little girl with bright eyes and red hair. She looked up hopefully as Matthew approached, clearly expecting him.
Matthew stood there quietly, more puzzled than ever. Somehow, instead of a boy to help on the farm, he had found a little girl waiting for him.
“Hello, I’m Anne,” said the little girl brightly. “You must be the man who came to adopt me. Oh, I’m so glad to meet you! I just love this part of the country. When we were on the train, I kept thanking God for letting me come somewhere so beautiful. It made me so happy.”
She looked at Matthew carefully. “You look rather old, but please don’t take that the wrong way. I like old people. Moses was old when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Are you that old?”
Matthew didn’t answer. He simply picked up her small bag and started toward the buggy.
Anne followed beside him, still talking. “What should I call you? ‘Old man’ doesn’t sound very proper. I do love proper words. ‘Elegant’ is even better, don’t you think? But of course you wouldn’t know that, yet we’ve only just met.”
Matthew helped her climb into the buggy.
“Oh, I’m so excited to live with you,” Anne went on happily. “Do you have any children my age? Well, I’m not really a child, I’m twelve. Are there any young people where you live?”
Matthew climbed in and took the reins.
Anne looked at him thoughtfully. “You know,” she said, “you don’t talk very much.”
“You can talk, can’t you, Mr…?” Anne asked curiously.
Matthew nodded a little. “You can call me Matthew,” he said quietly.
“Oh, Matthew!” Anne exclaimed. “That’s a wonderful name. It’s the first book of the New Testament. The Gospel of Matthew. I do like Bible names; they sound so important and respectable.”
She thought for a moment. “But shouldn’t I call you something else? Maybe Father or Papa or something like that?”
“Matthew will do just fine,” he said gently.
“Oh, Matthew,” Anne said happily, “I’m quite sure we’re going to get along wonderfully.”
Without another thought, she slipped her arm through his and leaned her head against his shoulder as the buggy rolled down the quiet country road. Matthew said nothing, but a small, shy smile crept onto his face.
Matthew knew right away that this little girl was something special. But he also knew that Marilla would not be pleased about having a girl instead of the boy they had asked for. But Matthew knew God would take care of all of it in His own way.
Thank you so much for reading!
If you enjoyed this part of the story, feel free to send me a message on Facebook! I may add you to my writing FB group so you can see more of my projects and updates.
I also have other stories that are completely original and written from scratch... Here's a link to them.
.png)