Everyone just walked by and ignored her. No one looked twice, over whelmed by her beauty liked Wendla, or her rebellion like Ilse, or kindness like Anna. She's just plain little Thea. The youngest of the girls and never given a chance. The only boy to make her look twice was Melchior Gabor; he was so handsome and brave. He stood out and didn't listen to the adults. He didn't give a whit about anything. Ahh! He was so dreamy. He only wanted Wendla. Ever since they were little he wouldn't give any of the other girls a second glance, it was always Wendla. In any game they played he would pick her first and always protect her or save her. Never Thea, it was always Wendla. She couldn't have Georg because he fancied Anna and Moritz admired Ilse boldness, even though everyone could tell he was shy and imitated. Then there were Hanschen and Ernst who were never involved with the other children, always reading. Thea found Hanschen creepy with his sly smile and Ernst was so quiet; All he ever did was read his bible. Ernst was nice but he was no Melchi Gabor. Then there was Otto who was always clinging to his mother, tugging on her skirt, holding her hand. He wasn't an independent man like Melchior. When Melchior was eight he would go to market all by himself and didn't need any help. None of the other children even did that now at the age of thirteen.
Thea longed for Melchior to look at her the way he did Wendla, to hold her to kiss her as papa did mama. She knew deep down inside, however, that it would never happen. He would never love her. She wasn't anything special. Not the smartest, the prettiest or anything out of the ordinary. She was just a plain and simple little girl.