Chances and Changes: My Journey with Molly

After dinner, we wash our sticky hands and faces in the stream. We joke about the fish in the stream, and Linda asks if Molly has decided on whether she should go on the fishing trip with her father. Molly’s smile fades, and she says she doesn’t know. That’s why things are tense between Dad and her. Molly can’t decide whether to go or not. I smile sympathetically. I know how hard it is to make decisions.

Molly says her decision feels impossible. When Dad was her age, he used to go fishing with his dad, so now he wants to go fishing with Molly. They’d get up before sunrise, go to a secret fishing spot, and stop for ice cream on the way home. Molly says she wants to go, but her dad has to travel most of the summer for his job. He’s working in hospitals all over the state. Because of his schedule, there’s only one day that will work and it’s the same day as the orientation meeting for the school band. If Molly misses the meeting, she can’t be in the band.

Molly pauses. If she goes on the fishing trip, she’ll miss out on band all year. Her friends will be disappointed. But if Molly doesn’t go on the fishing trip, then her dad will be disappointed. She hates the thought of disappointing him. Molly’s voice trickles off.

I finish Molly’s thought: no matter what she decides, she’ll disappoint somebody. And boy, I know how that feels! I explain that I was offered a music scholarship to camp, and Gem thinks I should go. But Bea doesn’t want me to. No matter what I decide to do, I’ll let somebody down. Molly nods. We are both stuck.

Then, Linda starts to chuckle. Has she been listening to us at all?

Molly asks Linda what’s so funny. Linda says she was thinking about worms. And how much she hates them. And how last summer, Molly and Linda were on opposing teams for the Color War. Linda was on Red, and Molly was Blue. Linda got so serious about the team winning that Linda betrayed Molly, and then Molly threw worms on Linda. Molly laughs. She remembers, too. They were bitter enemies during the Color War. But forgiving is what friends do.

Molly asks if Linda is saying that whomever Molly and I disappoint will forgive us because they love us? Linda nods.

Molly turns to me. She still doesn’t know whether she’ll go on the fishing trip or not. But now all she can think about is worms! We all laugh, but a wiggly thought has wormed its way into my mind. Linda says friends forgive one another. Will Bea forgive me? I want to find out. Should I go home now? Or should I stay for the campout?