Mad as Hares
You, Molly, you havent changed a bit! Still barking mad! What’s the point in getting tangled up in other peoples problems, eh? Havent you enough of your own? Isnt it all quite enough already?!
Natalie stormed around the lounge, angrily emptying the shopping bag of the treats she’d brought for her sister. Never bought herself anything. Always saving for someone else! And for what, exactly?! Wouldnt say a word if you asked. No kids of her own, no future lined up! Shed been married once, but that marriagehasty, pointlesscrumbled before it had even really begun. Barely a week after her husband left, Molly dragged yet another stray cat into the house and seemed to settle, perhaps comforted by the knowledge that her sister now wouldnt let her out of her sight.
And that sorry husband of hers, he packed his things while Molly was out at work and made himself scarce. He even made off with Mollys gold earrings, the ones their gran had left her in her will. Wouldve been safer with Natalie, thats for sure!
Why are you blinking at me? Cat got your tongue? Blessed fool! Come on, try these on! Might not have got the size right.
The bright jumpers and new skirt Natalie had picked clearly didnt suit Mollys taste. Shed never been a fan of loud colours or weird patterns. Natalie, meanwhile, loved that kind of thing. Today, she wore a blindingly neon skirt with a leopard print topthe absolute height of fashion, or so she reckoned.
Look at that! You almost look like a normal person! Natalie frowned, seeing her sister tug awkwardly at the hem of the too-short jumper. Dont fidget! Suits you just fine! Maybe youll catch a bloke now, before youre too old. About time, Molly, isnt it? I wont be around forever Wholl look after you when Im gone?
Natalies tone softened. Molly recognised it at once and hugged her sister, burying her face in her broad bosom.
Oh, love, Natalie sighed, stroking Mollys streaks of silver hair. Daft as a brush, but I do love you, you know.
I know
So, come on then! What have you got yourself into this time?
Molly looked up and smiled. Robust, outspoken Natalie was the dearest person in her life. Since their mum had died when Molly was just thirteen, Natalie, twenty and barely more than a girl herself, had taken her in, giving up university and getting a job so they could survive. Dad had left when Molly was a baby and never looked back. Mum had been strong, managed everything and looked after their hearts as much as their heads, but her heart finally gave out under the weight of too many hurts.
So Natalie took responsibility for Molly.
But Molly had never really caused trouble. Shed never been rebellious, never landed in any real scrapes. At most, shed rescue another waif of a cat or decide to run errands for the old lady from across the landing, sometimes forgetting that schoolwork and chores at home couldnt just be skipped.
Mollys heart was always warmer, kinder than Natalies, and Natalie knew it.
Takes after mum shed sigh whenever Molly told her about finding homes for stray kittens. Mum always suffered for folk and animals both. Just Molly, there’s only so much heart to go round. It’s not bottomless, you know. You look after yourself, right? What would I do without you?
Not cope at all! Molly would grin, those clear blue eyes just like their mumssoft as early spring skies. Looking into them, youd feel you could take on life. There was joy and love and everything youd ever need for the soul, right there.
Natalie scolded her often, of course. She worried about her. She knew the world chewed up people like Mollyfolk whod give the shirts off their backs without a second thought, seek out the good when there was precious little of it, and never even look for a middle groundnot that there ever was one, anyway. Somehow, it was the likes of Molly who kept the balance, for there was always enough evil in the world but never quite enough kindness to go round.
When Molly came to Natalie, aged eighteen, all clear-eyed and lovely, and announced she was in love, Natalies heart clenched.
Shell give all of herself, every last bit. But to whom?! A worthy soul?
Turned out, no.
Paul never sat right with Natalie. Too slick, shifty, looked at Molly like she was a packet of chocolate buttonssalivating, but not daring to open it. Natalie soon worked out why: he wanted his new wife entirely under his thumb.
It took time for Natalie to realise how he treated Molly. Hed forbidden Molly from inviting anyone over. At first, Natalie, surprised, didnt press mattersmaybe they just wanted space as a young couple. She tried to understand.
But when Molly stopped coming round altogether, Natalie couldnt let it go. She cornered Paul in the street one day and demanded to know:
Whats going on with Molly?
What of it? Paul, barely reaching her shoulder, squinted nastily. Mind your own business!
That was when Natalie realised things were bad. Her mistake had been to leave Molly alone with him. What a misjudged thing he turned out to be.
It only took a minute to wring the door key and the truth from a squealing Paul. Natalie quietly pinned him against the wall and whispered, Hush now. Dont frighten the neighbours.
Paul didnt put up a fight. Natalie was nothing like gentle Mollyhe knew better.
The shiner Molly sported left Natalie speechless. Never imagined anyone would dare lay a finger on her Molly.
Impossible!
Why didnt you say anything?! Natalie blurted, hugging her sobbing sister.
I was scared Knew you wouldnt let him get away with it.
You were scared for him?! Natalie pulled back.
For you! sniffed Molly.
Molly never married again. She had offers, was noticed everywhere she wenttall and graceful, eyes like lakes, gentle as you please, without a mean bone in her body. Molly was as simple and clear as spring wateressential, but some folks would rather thirst than drink from the muddy well.
Natalie at first tried to nudge her towards a fresh start, but soon realised Molly was petrifiedabsolutely terrified that another Paul would come along and trample all the good left in her. That kind of trust was everything for Molly. So Natalie gave up and focused on her own life.
A classmate from schooljust as big and clumsy as Natalie herselfhad hung around all these years, and finally got to marry the girl hed pined for since they were ten.
Natalies childrenlively Sam and thoughtful, quiet Sophiewere loved by Molly as if they were her own.
Molly, have one of your own! Never mind a husband. Well help. Think about it, Natalie would coax, seeing how Molly doted on her kids.
Oh, no, Nat. Im scared
Of what, silly thing?
What if I cant be a good mum? What if I cant teach a child to face life with sense? You say I have none. How could I give it to a child? Anyway, I already have Sam and Sophie. Theyre my family. Thats enough.
Natalie realised, try as she might, shed never persuade Molly otherwise. So she convinced Molly to change jobs.
A nurserys all well and good, Moll. But somewhere your heart can do even more. Maybe a childrens home, eh? The kids there dont have anyone else.
Molly didn’t pondershe acted. Within weeks shed started at a local care home, reasoning that those without even foster families needed love the most.
How can you carve a path to happiness if no ones even shown you what love means?
And so a new chapter of Mollys life began. Page by page, name by nameboys and girls brought to goodness through her kindness. She couldnt work miracles, but she could hold their hands for those first uncertain steps. Shed help them set up in new flats, buy crockery and bedding, teach them to cook and wash. She called everyone duck or pet or chick, which at first grated, but soon even the roughest lads would just grin to hear her say:
Oi, my duck, why havent you paid your gas bill again? Theyll cut you off!
Alright, MumMoll, Ill sort it!
And whats all this muck on your jumper then? How many times? No girl likes a mucky pup! That girl of yours will be off if you dont clean up your act!
Nah, she wont! Were getting married in a month.
You kept that quiet!
Shes making your invite. Sworn me to secrecy, and here I am telling you! MumMoll, how do you do it? You always get the truth out of people.
No clue! And I dont know about this wedding of yours either, mind! Tell her were off to the orchards this weekend for cherries. If youre still set on making jam, come along. You can meet us from the bus with some buckets. And get Ben in too! Promised him cherry dumplings, but Im not lugging them all the way across town, my backs had enough.
Theyd go their separate ways, but the threads tying them together only grew strongerthe care and concern stretching across the city, shaping a patchwork family from those touched by Mollys heart.
Of course, there were those who didnt appreciate her. She got ripped off occasionally, wallet or knickknacks gone missing, but that counted for little next to those who accused Molly for her efforts.
You cant change them! They were rubbish before, still are. Why waste your time?! Worry about yourself for once!
She never took such bitterness to heart. She pitied those with only venom to spare, telling Natalie, How can they be decent when theyve never known love? You simply cant give what youve never had.
But the worst came just when Molly felt sure shed found her path in life. She was ambushed in the street, late at night, on her way home from seeing her niece for her birthday. Hit from behind, then mercilessly beaten, as if her attackers wanted to wipe any trace of kindness from the world.
A neighbour, slightly tipsy after a long night at the pub, found her and sobered up at the sight.
Animals! How dare you! Molly, love, open your eyes! He shook her gently.
When she didnt respond, he called an ambulance at once.
Natalie and the whole family rushed to the hospital.
Will she make it?! were the only words Natalie could shout at any passing doctor.
No one answered at first. Finally, by midday, the news cameMolly would live. The doctors had done everything possible.
In that waiting room, Natalie noticed something for the first time: the corridors were filled with people, all of them crying with relief for Mollythey were the ones who called her mum. Tears of relief and prayers of thanks filled the air. It hit Natalie hard, deep to her core, just what Molly meant to so many.
Oh, my darling, Natalie whispered, stroking her sisters hand. How are we supposed to manage without you?
Molly seemed to sense all their voices. The doctors breathed easy when she finally woke and asked for her sister.
Your Natalies right here, the nurse said. As soon as youre moved, shell come in. For now, just rest.
The ones who attacked Molly were caught almost immediately. It took effort to keep the othersthose Molly had helpedfrom seeking their own revenge. The attackers reasons never came out, and, really, it didnt matter. At court, Molly simply turned her head away from them, and that small, silent gesture seemed to break something inside those men more than any sentence. Only one later sent Molly an apology letter. She read it and, despite her badly-healed wrist, wrote back, then asked Natalie to help her sell her little flat.
Why, Moll?
I need a change. I just dont want to be found.
I see, Natalie understood. Well, at least your flats centralshould get a buyer. Then well find you somewhere quieter.
But Mollys kids intervened, checking out details, running around for her. They managed to secure a two-bedroom place right in town, on a quick sale from a family moving abroad. It needed work, so they wouldnt let Molly in at first.
Hang on, MumMoll! Let us sort the place for you; youll just have to be patient a bit.
A few weeks later, Molly moved in. The childrenhers in every sense but bloodhad worked wonders on the place. There wasnt anything fancy, but the look in their eyes made Molly catch her breath at the door, saying, Ive never seen such a lovely home, not even in a palace.
She had more space now, for cats and for those she thought needed her most. Natalie argued, of course, about letting former care home kids stay while waiting for their own housing, and went all out, finding the best solicitors to speed up the process.
If Natalie lacked anything, it wasnt resolve or tenacity. Shed kick in doors to council offices when needed. Conscience, gentlemen? Kicking out orphans doesnt take brains. But Ill count every penny you spend until our lads sorted Shed name whichever child was living with Molly at the time.
No one quite feared Natalie, but no one wanted to cross her, either. She knew the right journalists, managed to pull strings, and never failed to shake up the dusty machinery of bureaucracy.
The kidseventuallygot what was theirs, moved out, and Natalie had a breather between fights, knowing it wouldnt be long before the next. She knew that people in town called them mad as hares. Didnt matter to her. What did it matter? She was only doing what had to be done. Molly helped the children, and she helped Molly. That was all there was to itfair and square.
So why overthink it? Theres work to be done.
Whats the story this time, Moll? Natalied ask, reading her sisters eyes.
A girl, Nat. No home, no family, and a little one to care for.
Wait, what little one? How old is she?
Nineteen.
I see. No husband?
No one. She’s on her own.
But she has you, Natalie smirked, eyeing Mollys latest outfit. Thoughno, that green still doesnt suit you.
Nat!
Oh, dont fuss! Well figure it out. Theres time yet.
And Mollys eyes would light up, and Natalie would sigh quietly, thanking the heavens for bringing her the one person who truly knew what love means. Because, in the end, it hardly matters what shape love takes or who brings it into your life. The point is that its there, and thats all that matters. And if that makes you mad as a hare, so be it. Whats the difference, really?
These days, I realise, doing good isn’t about being praised or understood. Most wont get it. Theyll call you batty or worse. But if loving and standing by people is madness, Id rather be mad than hard of heart. Molly taught me that. And my lifes richer for it.
