Chapter 9
Molly was everyone's favorite orphan. She was like as if you brought a puppy to the orphanage, and everyone loved her. Molly was in no way a beacon of sunshine, but her presence made everything a little bit better. But Molly was a very scared girl, and she got sad and hurt very easily, so Molly was never very far from her best friend Annie.
A lot of the trouble that Molly faced was caused by Pepper. Pepper would complain about Molly all the time, and she would never include her in her games. She was mean to Molly all the time, and she made Molly cry every day. Pepper's best friends were Molly's best friends, and they roomed together, so they had to be together all the time. Kate, Duffy, Tessie and July were very good friends with Molly, so Pepper had to put up with her all the time.
Molly hated working, and Miss Hannigan did not give the little girls easier jobs. Molly usually worked along with Annie, but Miss Hannigan very soon after she came made her work her own station, and Molly could not do the work.
After three days of her little weak fingers not being able to keep up, Miss Hannigan came in and yelled, "Molly you mouse! If you don't carry your weight then you will have to carry yourself to the paddle closet.!"
As Miss Hannigan grabbed Molly's ear, everyone came to her defense.
"Please don't Miss Hannigan, I will stay after and do her work for her." Annie cried
"Please she is just a baby!" Pleaded Kate.
"Shut up and let me do my job!" Miss Hannigan let them know.
But before she could drag Molly out of room, Pepper came out of nowhere and stomped on her foot and pushed her down the stairs. Everyone laughed and cheered, and Everyone was cheering for Pepper. Deep down Pepper cared for Molly enough to not want to see her get hurt.
Despite Pepper's efforts, there was nowhere for her to hide and Miss Hannigan very shortly got her hands on her. Pepper could not sit down for a week afterwards, but her punishment was so exhausting for Miss Hannigan that she gave Molly a pass.
Kate and Annie were crucial in teaching Molly to read and write along with July and Tessie. July and Tessie became very close playmates with Molly, and they were always seen sitting together and playing games that little girls play. Pepper sometimes would play cards with Molly when she didn't have anyone else to play with.
Kate was a very obedient girl, but her mischievous side included sneaking the radio so she could listen to entertainment shows and music. Kate was listening one day in her room to a broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Molly came in to listen with her. The float with Santa Claus came by and everyone on the radio started cheering.
"Here comes Santa Claus! Boys and girls listening, if you've been good to your parents this year, then he'll come down your chimney and bring you lots of presents!"
"Oh boy! Is that really true Kate! I can't wait."
Kate wanted Santa to come to the orphanage and bring them lots of presents, but he never did and she knew he never would, so she didn't want to get Molly's hopes up.
"Molly I'm so sorry. Santa Claus only comes for kids with parents, not for orphans."
Molly began to cry and she ran away to find Annie.
"Annie! Kate says that Santa isn't going to come because we are orphans! That's not fair!" She wailed.
"I'm sorry but that's what I heard. He has never brought us any presents before and I don't think he will." said Annie. "But please don't cry, it's fine, we can still have fun without Santa."
When Christmas did come, Miss Hannigan let off work early and let everyone eat for dinner corn, potatoes, gravy, and something they never got to have: pot was truly a feast. All the girls in the orphanage were alive with friendly chatter and sisterly cheer. They were in the best moods they had been in months, and nobody had a negative word to say. They had no tree and no presents, but everyone was still happy and played and had fun.
In the common room, Molly hugged Annie and told her, "Annie, you were right. We don't need Santa Claus to have fun together." Annie's amazing spirit had rubbed off on Molly once more.