December 7 – Lai<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSpeaking of tea\u2026\u201d Lai Zhao, one of Molly\u2019s best friends, came up to the tree as Father Christopher stepped down. Her long shining black hair hung loose to her waist, echoing the shine of her high boots. She was dressed in her normal jeans and a large sweater. \u201cThere was really only one ornament I could think to bring here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked over at Molly as she said, \u201cI was born here in the Cove, but my parents moved when I was very young, and I didn\u2019t have any choice in the matter. By the time I was able to move back, I was in grade school, and it can be hard to make friends suddenly at that stage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh\u2026\u201d Molly\u2019s hand came up to her mouth as she saw the ornament Lai held aloft. When the grey cleared, she was watching a much younger but still stylish Lai and her own grade-school aged self, peeking over the edges of their books at each other. They were in the library at Daughter of Stars Middle School, and Molly remembered wondering if this new girl would fit in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You really were a tomboy, weren\u2019t you?<\/em> Schrodinger said, and she smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlways,\u201d she said, looking at the ratty jeans and her father\u2019s handmedown sweater her younger self was wearing. \u201cDresses were the devil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Past-Molly finally put her book down and reached out her hand to Lai. \u201cHi, I\u2019m Molly. I see you like fantasy too. Have you read the Dragonriders books yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Past-Lai took her hand. \u201cI think so? Those are the Anne McCaffrey ones, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Past-Molly nodded. \u201cMy aunt runs the bookstore in town. Want to come with me after school? We\u2019re decorating the tree, and Aunt Margie said she needed help.\u201d She cocked her head. \u201cAnd there will be tea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTea?\u201d Past-Lai perked up. \u201cLike, real tea?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, yeah.\u201d Past-Molly sounded a little offended. \u201cI don\u2019t like regular tea bags. They\u2019re too weak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAgreed,\u201d Past-Lai said. \u201cI\u2019d love to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You really do just adopt people,<\/em> Schrodinger said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI recognize kindred souls,\u201d Molly admitted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s the ornament?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Molly smiled, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were back, and Lai was hanging the delicate china tea cup that Molly had given her that Christmas. There were four of the cups that she\u2019d found: one hung on her tree, and one each had gone to her friends, the Terrible Trio, as her mother had dubbed them. The cup was painted with elegant holly leaves and edged with silver, as if kissed by the snow before it was dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat else would it be?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lai looked over at her again. \u201cI\u2019ve never not put this up on my tree, and I know the others have theirs still as well. It\u2019s a symbol of friendship that will never, ever be severed, and I treasure that more than anything. It\u2019s fitting that it goes on to this tree.\u201d She smiled. \u201cEspecially if you\u2019re doing what I think you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jade looked innocent. \u201cI\u2019m just encouraging the resumption of an old tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSometimes, those are the best.\u201d Lai stepped back into the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat did she mean?\u201d Drew asked Molly quietly. She wondered if he was seeing what she and Schrodinger were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo idea,\u201d Molly said, although that wasn\u2019t quite true. \u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019ll find out, though.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" December 7 – Lai \u201cSpeaking of tea\u2026\u201d Lai Zhao, one of Molly\u2019s best friends, came up to the tree as Father Christopher stepped down. Her long shining black hair hung loose to her waist, echoing the shine of her high boots. She was dressed in her normal jeans and a large sweater. \u201cThere was really …<\/p>\n