On her way home from school a few weeks later, Molly pretends she's walking home with Anne of Green Gables. She imagines explaining to Anne everything that's changed in the world since Anne's time. Lost in thought, Molly blunders straight into Eric, the biggest, meanest boy in her year. (Oh, no!)
Eric scowls down at Molly. "What's your problem, Smelly Molly?"
"Um…"
He pokes her in the chest. "Answer me, you stinky shrimp. Why'd you walk into me?"
"I, uh…"
"You looking for more smelly stuff to play with? Well, I got something for you!"
Molly braces herself. The last time this happened, Eric poured a bucket of mud all over her. Just as she thinks it's all over, a familiar voice rings out.
"Just what do you think you're doing?"
Eric goes whiter than a ghost at the sight of Molly's brother. Tim takes the bucket Eric had intended for Molly and dumps it on Eric's head, then knocks him on his arse. Across the street, a pack of girls laughs at him.
As Molly and Tim walk home together, her greatest fear is that Tim won't be there tomorrow.