Chapter Three: The Plan
Later, after the funeral service was over, I asked my mother if I could go and play with the other kids outside on the football field.
"No, Sherlock. I don't want you to get your clothes dirty." She patted me on the head.
"But mother! All the other kids' mothers let them!" I say indignantly. "John's going to be there."
"Hm... I suppose, if John's mother will let him, then you may go." She ruffled my hair. "Just be careful, alright?"
I nod and turn away then; nearly bumping into a little girl in a black dress with lace frills. "Oh. Hello, Molly."
She was avoiding eye contact; twirling the hem of her dress in her fingers. "Hello Sherlock." She said softly. "Are you going outside?"
I nod. "Yes, I am. Are you?"
"No, I don't think so. My dad says I can't get my dress all dirty. He'll be ever so cross if I do." She looked down again; shuffling her shiny black shoes on the floor. "But it looks like fun, though."
Just then, John came up behind me. "Hey Sherlock! Are you going out to the field?"
"Yes. I promised my mother I wouldn't try to get dirty."
John laughed. "But getting dirty is all part of the fun!" He noticed Molly now. "Oh! Sherlock, is this one of your friends?"
I hesitated; I didn't really consider her a friend; I just talked to her when I was bored, and when there was nothing better to do.
"Yes, yes we're friends." Molly said. She lifted her eyes only briefly from the floor to look at John. "My name's Molly."
"Well, Molly. D'you want to come outside with us?" He paused eagerly. "It'll be fun!" He paused again. "My name's John, by the way." He pointed to his sister across the room. "And that girl over there; she's my sister, Harry. She's coming outside too. I'll bet you can play with her if you want."
Molly hesitated; twirling her dress hem harder now. "I…I don't know…"
John tugged her arm. "Oh, come on. Don't be such a spoil sport." He grabbed my hand and called for Harry before dragging us out into the bright sunlight.
"Please, Mum? All the other kid's parents will let them!" I say, tugging on her sleeve.
"Please, John. I expect that kind of behaviour from your sister, but certainly not you." She yanks her arm away from me; brushing herself off. "That's the only pair of dress trousers you own. I DON'T want them soiled." She gives me a stern look. "Is that understood?"
I nod. "Yes, mum." I lean on my tiptoes to kiss her on the cheek. "Thank you."
She smiled. "You're welcome, dear." I take off then, as my mother yells: "But could you please take Harry with you?"
I stop dead in my tracks and groan. "But Mum, she'll ruin everything! She always does!"
"Now, John. I'm sure that's not the case."
I sigh. "Fine, mum." I turn away again; spotting Sherlock. I run over to him and say: "Hey, Sherlock! Are you going out to the field?"
"Yes. I promised my mother I wouldn't try to get dirty."
"But getting dirty is all part of the fun!" I say, laughing. I notice a girl standing in front of him, twirling her dress in her fingers and shuffling her shoes on the carpet. "Oh! Sherlock, is this one of your friends?"
He hesitated; giving a sideways glance at the girl.
"Yes, yes we're friends." The girl said; finally looking up to meet my eyes. They were a pretty blue. "My name's Molly."
"Well, Molly. D'you want to come outside with us?" I paused, looking from Sherlock to Molly. "It'll be fun!" I looked at Molly again. "My name's John, by the way." I turn and find Harry, then point to her. "And that girl over there; she's my sister, Harry. She's coming outside with us too. I'll bet you can play with her if you want."
Molly hesitated; twirling her dress in her fingers again. "I…I don't know…"
I tug at her arm. "Oh, come on. Don't be such a spoilsport." I grabbed Sherlock's hand and called for Harry before tugging my two new friends behind me into the bright sunlight.
