Molly knew Sherlock had a bad day. Actually, he usually had bad times as he easily got bored and wasn't a populer person among the kids, but this time it was a really bad one.
He shouted „dumb babies" at a couple of youngsters int he sandpit then kicked off a little girl's sandcastle. When Molly tried to invite him for a playground-adventure, he just grunted something about being bored of the world and disapperared.
Molly found him at the top of a tree. She sighed but she climbed.
'You're always horrible but today you outdid yourself. So come on, tell me what's wrong.' She begun when she sat next to him at last.
Sherlock thought for a minute before answering.
'I miss John.'
'Who is he?' Molly couldn't recall any John at their age who would have liked Sherlock.
'He was my friend. Actually, my only one.'
'What happened to him?'
'Nothing. We moved off. He stayed. Kind of ordinary, I suppose.'
'Yeah, these things happen. But why don't you contact him if you miss him? You can write or phone him anytime. I know it's ordinary but quite useful.'
'I can't do it.' Sherlock sounded so miserable that Molly wanted to hug him. 'The last time we met... well, I hurt him. Very much. I said terrible things. I wanted him to hate and forget me so as not to miss me. I thought I could protect him from suffering. I know that ordinary people suffer when they lost a friend. I just wanted to avoid it. Maybe it wasn't my best idea. And now I am suffering. Maybe I am ordinary, too.'
'No, you're not ordinary. You're a complete idiot!' Molly snapped. Sherlock stared at her so sheepishly what she couldn't imagine about him. 'This is not how friendship works. Maybe he's angry but if you apologize, he'll forgive you. Friends care about each other even if they are far away. I'm sure that he misses you, too, Sherlock.' She sighed. 'Oh, boys, sometimes you are incredibly stupid.'
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes. A couple of very-very long minutes.
'Tell me something about John.'
'Why?' Molly could hear the suspicion in Sherlock's voice.
'I am curious.'
'Okay.' Sherlock concentated so hard that he puckered his brows. 'Apparently, you would like him. He is the kind type. You know, sometimes a bit simple but he wouldn't hit a girl. Never. Oh, and he loves jam. And tea. And he has got funny jumpers.'
Molly chuckled.
'I love jam, too. He must be very nice.'
'Yeah, you wouldn't have thought it, would you? I mean… that I can get on well with someone nice.' Sherlock smirked.
'So I don't count then.' Molly sounded so hurt that it caught even Sherlock's attention.
'What? Oh, wait… I've known John since I can remember and sometimes he still surprises me. I've known you for a couple of days so you can imagine how surprising you are. Maybe it's because you are a girl.'
'Thank you.' Molly said sharply.
Silence fell on them. Molly was peeved, Sherlock was thinking.
Finally, the boy broke the silence.
'So you say he'll forgive me.'
'Yes.'
'Even if I said terrible things.'
'Yes.'
'Even if I live far away from him now.'
'Yes.'
'Even if I've got a new friend.'
'Ye… what?'
'You know it's… you.' He stated to gabble. 'I thought about what you said. This friendship-thing. You care about me because you're here. I know that you're afraid of climbing tall trees.'
'But how…?'
'Never mind, it was elementary.' He waved impatiently. 'I just wanted to ask: are you sure about that he won't be angry because now I've got a new friend? Another one, beside him.'
Molly started to laugh so hard that she almost fell off the tree.
'What did I say wrong?' Sherlock asked vaguely.
'Nothing… it's just… nothing. He won't be mad at you.' She smiled.
'Good to hear it. Now, we should leave this tree, maybe.'
'Why? Actually, I can feel quite comfortable here.'
