It's Friday night, and Molly has nothing to do. She'd planned to see The Lion King with Regina tonight, but Regina has the flu and can't go out. Molly promised she wouldn't see the movie without her, so she curls up with a battered copy of Jane Eyre.
Molly hears Tim head out with his mates. She wonders, not for the first time, how it is that Tim has so many friends. (He even gets the bullies to like him! How does that happen?)
A knock on the bedroom door interrupts Molly's thoughts. "Yes?"
Mum pokes her head in. "Not going anywhere tonight?"
"Regina's sick."
"Well, that's a shame, but you could try to make more friends." Noticing Molly's scowl, Mum adds, "Don't make that face at me, Molly Elizabeth! Regina's a lovely girl, but the two of you could stand to have additional friends. Then you wouldn't be all alone when something happens to her."
Molly looks down at her book and says nothing.
Dad calls out to remind Mum that their film is starting and Mum kisses the top of Molly's head. "I just worry for you, darling. Think about it, would you?"
Molly's greatest fear is that she'll always be a freak.