A Big Box of Memories Read Online Free

were on the Kellys’ front porch when Molly got there. Mrs. Kelly brought out a plate of fresh cookies.
    “I’m so sorry to hear the bad news,” she said to Molly.
    Rat’s knees, everyone knew about Molly’s problem. People felt sorry for her! Even parents.
    But it was great to have friends. Friends cared about her. Friends would help her!
    “It’s pretty late to start all over again,” said Rachel, biting into a chocolate chip cookie. “I’m glad I turned mine in early.”
    This did not feel like help to Molly. It made her feel worse.
    “We’ll think of something,” said Lisa. “There are lots of things that would be good.”
    “None as good as that diary,” said Mary Beth. “That was really cool.”
    “What’s your favorite food?” asked Jody.

    “Food doesn’t last a hundred years,” said Molly.
    “Some does,” said Jody. “Like wine and cheese. They age and get better.”
    “My grandpa had a bottle of wine that was fifty years old,” said Mary Beth.
    “I’m sorry to be so fussy,” said Molly, “but I don’t like wine or cheese. It has to be something I like.”
    The Pee Wees kept thinking. And they kept eating cookies. Then they were thirsty, and Mary Beth’s sister brought out glasses of milk. This was turning into a party. A what-in-the-world-will-Molly-do-now party. But Molly did not feel in a party mood.
    “Why don’t you just put in an old hair ribbon or something?” asked Lisa.
    “Yeah, or a pencil you used, or a notebook,” said Tracy.
    The mention of a notebook remindedMolly of her diary, and she felt like crying. She didn’t want to hear the word
notebook
for a long time.
    “You always have to be different,” said Roger, who had been riding by on his bike and had smelled the cookies.
    Molly hated those words. They were what her mom often said to her!
    “It’s okay to be different,” said Jody. “It’s just that it’s a lot of work.”
    Molly felt warm toward Jody. He knew how she felt! He knew it was okay to want something that was not ordinary.
    “Molly is creative,” said Rachel. “Like artists and writers. It takes more to please them.”
    “It’s her imagination,” said Kevin.
    Rat’s knees, her friends were talking about her as if she weren’t there! As if she were some weird person who thought she was better than anyone else. Shedidn’t. She just didn’t like to be second best.
    She looked at Roger, who never worried about things. And Sonny, who couldn’t care less what he put in the capsule. He and Tim were busy taking the chocolate chips out of their cookies, throwing them in the air, and catching them in their mouths.
    “All right,” said Jody. “I think the first thing to do is make a list of Molly’s interests. We have to think of what kind of thing she’d like to be remembered by.”
    Mary Beth got some paper and a pencil. Jody wrote the number 1 on it.
    “Do you like sports?” asked Kevin.
    Molly shook her head. She didn’t mind playing softball in the empty lot in summer, but it was definitely not her favorite thing.
    “If you liked football, you could have had my Vikings cap to put in,” he added.
    Molly did not want to be remembered in 2100 for a Vikings cap. But it was nice of Kevin to offer.
    “Thanks anyway,” she said.
    “How about a hunk of your hair?” said Kenny. “My mom has my first curl from when I was little in my baby book.”
    Molly did not think her hair was that important. What did her hair say about her? Especially if it wasn’t on her head!
    “That would be small,” said Mary Beth helpfully. “And it would last.”
    “What are your interests?” asked Jody, still waiting to write something after the number 1.
    “You like movies,” said Lisa.
    “And pets,” said Tracy.
    Jody wrote those down.
    “I mostly like to read,” said Molly. “And write. That’s why I liked the diary. It was my favorite thing to do, and it told all about me.”
    Jody wrote that down. “So reading and writing should be