Experience Needle-Time
Needle-Time is a fictional piece written to bring to life the magic that surrounds the love of carrying on the tradition of the needlearts from generation to generation. Join me for a new story each issue that will reflect the strong bond formed between Aunt Lilly and Molly through their special needle-time.
Last issue Molly and Aunt Lilly realized the importance of doing the right thing. Join us this issue as Molly learns the value of true friendship.
The Better Friend!
Molly planned her thirteenth birthday party like a pro. Aunt Lilly decided she’d host it at her house so the ten girls could giggle until the wee hours of the night if they wanted. Molly worked all afternoon decorating the favors. She designed her very own cookies, tea cups with strawberry icing, and placed them in cello bags along with hair clips, flavored lip balms and finger nail polishes in ten different shades.
When the clock chimed six o’clock, Molly perched herself on the front porch and waited for her guests to arrive. By six thirty, she had already bitten through four of her fake fingernails. “Aunt Lilly, what if none of them show up?”
“They’ll be here. They’re probably just stuck in traffic.” She hoped someone would show up soon.
Molly paced the porch. “Maybe I’m just not popular enough.”
Middle school was not Aunt Lilly’s best times, either. Girls could be so cruel. Molly was such a pretty little girl, the others were probably just jealous. Best to place her focus on something else. “Why don’t we go inside and start munching on some chips and salsa.”
Inside, they sat by the roaring fire and munched. Molly’s chin started to quiver mid crunch. Then, just as a tear rolled down her face, her ears perked like an alert cat. She apparently heard the car, too.
Molly jumped to her feet and pounced out the door. Two girls popped out of the back doors of a minivan, lugging packs on their backs.
“It’s Chellie and Suzie!” Molly leaped down three steps and ran over to them. They joined in a group hug and hurled excited shrieks into the air above them like a pack of howling wolves.
Aunt Lilly tossed out a silent thank you to the cool night air before leading the giddy trio inside.
“Do you know if the others are coming?’ Molly asked Chellie.
Chellie stopped smiling and looked down. “They said they can’t. Sabrina was having a slumber party, too, and her parents hired a magician.”
Aunt Lilly scanned Molly’s face, bracing for a serious meltdown. But instead, Molly asked them, “Sabrina didn’t invite you two?”
The girls darted their eyes to each other, then back to Molly.
“We were invited, but why would we want to go to her party when you invited us to yours?” Suzie asked.
“Yeah, you’re a better friend than she is,” Chellie added.
A smile blossomed on Molly’s face. “It’s good that Sabrina’s having her party the same night, then.”
“Really?” the two girls said together.
“Yes! Now I know exactly who my real friends are.” Molly hugged them. “Let’s eat some cake. Oh, and then we have a fun game we can play. I made it myself.”
The girls ran into the kitchen and Aunt Lilly trailed behind with a smile on her face. Her niece never ceased to amaze her. Molly was always teaching her something valuable. If only Molly was around when she were growing up. She was just the kind of friend who every little girl needed, whether they knew it or not.
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