(Untitled)

[island_anne]

Anne did sometimes feel the strain of taking on so many things when there were a limited number of hours in the day, but it was no more than she would have taken on back home, and here on the island, though she wouldn't have thought so once, she had many more people willing and able to give a helping hand. Not that she thought she would be wanting

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[new_ophelia]

Sam has been watching Matthew with rapt fascination for a few minutes now, which in the world of an 18 month old is pretty much an age. Kate suspects it's the violent ripping of things out of the ground. Which seems to be allowed.

"Hey Anne," Kate finally says, nudging Sam forward. "You mind some help. I think this one is ready to try or at least just get really, really dirty."

[island_anne]

"Help is always welcome," said Anne, brushing some dirt off the carrot in her lap. Sam would likely just pull a few leaves off things, but that was all right. "Perhaps if they grow to love it when they're young, they'll be an even greater help when they get bigger."

[new_ophelia]

Kate sends Sam over to start watching Matthew. He's still not quite certain he isn't going to get in trouble for ripping up the garden and is happy to watch for a while.

"Hey," Kate says, settling in next to Anne. Sometimes (most of the time) Kate wonders how Anne does it. They're in the exact same situation and Kate can't handle half as much as Anne. She's about one percent as productive, too. "Not sure he's going to actually be helpful. At all."

[island_anne]

"Well, I can hardly expect anyone to do a fair share of the work when walking is still a reasonable challenge," said Anne, watching the boys at work. Or play. She wasn't sure they could tell the difference right now. "And how are you doing?"

[jdick]

"Pulling things outta the ground and getting covered in dirt," Joe said thoughtfully, watching Matthew. "I like to think that means he's taking after Uncle Joe."

He grinned at Anne, clearly teasing, because where Matthew was being helpful, Joe at that age would have just been destructive. "How's it going?"

[island_anne]

"You know quite well there are a number of much worse ways in which Matthew could take after you," said Anne quite cheerfully, "so if getting covered in dirt is the extent of it, I'll be quite pleased. Matthew and I are having a lovely afternoon."

[jdick]

"Yeah? You having a good afternoon, kid?" Joe asked, pausing beside Matthew to crouch down in the dirt and watch him work on the carrot. He pushed Matthew's hair back with a fond grin, then stood up again and made his way over to Anne. "You're teaching a new class this term?"

[island_anne]

"I am!" said Anne delightedly. "After all this time I finally have a literature class all my own. Oh, my students shall be quite well read when I'm through with them."

[agirlnamedchuck]

Beekeeping bonnet tucked under her arm, Chuck was passing by the gardens on her way to the bees when she saw Anne sitting in the garden. Adjusting the hat under her arm so that she could wave properly, she smiled as she saw the little red head of Anne's son bob up and down.

"Hello there!" she called with a wave, feeling quite in the mood to be neighbourly. There was rarely a time when she wasn't in the mood for it, but she enjoyed the feeling that each time was new.

[island_anne]

Matthew decided immediately that the greeting was obviously intended for him, and stood up straight to wave enthusiastically back at her.

"You look like you've been busy!" said Anne. "Or is the busy-ness yet to come?"

[agirlnamedchuck]

"Busy-ness to come," Chuck said brightly with a little nod, wiggling her fingers in another wave for Matthew's benefit.

"Staying busy is always something I try for, otherwise I'll go crazy like a bee trapped in a hive."

[island_anne]

"Although I'm not certain bees do go crazy when they're trapped in their have, do they?" said Anne. "Not that I discount the possibility for I know I would certainly go a little crazy were I trapped anywhere for any length of time."

[unit_girl]

"Hello," Jo said, smiling when she came across Anne and Matthew. "Are you teaching him gardening already?"

[island_anne]

"I'm not sure I'm so much teaching him as letting him get himself all grubby," said Anne, "but if he should learn something in the process I'll consider it a success."

[unit_girl]

"That's fun," Jo said, watching him. "It is when you're a kid anyway. Once you're grown-up people just sigh when you end up messy." Possibly that was due to the amount of time she'd spent playing in the dirt herself recently, although it was for a purpose.

[island_anne]

"One of the great tragedies of growing to adulthood," agreed Anne, "for when you're an adult there must be a purpose to your messes, and usually something to show for them. No one complains that I'm grubby when I bring in the milk."