"Hello, my happy-go-lucky parents," Molly said as she opened the front door to her home, fully expecting to see her parents standing behind the door with their arms crossed because that's how it'd been lately.

Question

She was right.

"I wish you would just tell us what's going on," Molly's mom stood next to the couch with her arms crossed tightly in front of her chest.

"I can tell just by how you're looking at us that you're not being truthful," Molly's dad added.

Molly could never tell her parents what she was up to. "I swear I'm not up to anything."

"That's not what it looks like to us," Molly's mom said. "First, it was the lie we caught you in yesterday about having lunch with your friend, and today, we have no idea where you were all day. We called, and you never even bothered to answer your phone."

Molly shrugged. "I didn't hear my phone."

"Are you on drugs?" her father asked.

"Or worse. Selling drugs?" her mother answered.

"It’s so awesome how you see me as a great kid." Molly shook her head. She'd had enough, but her father blocked her bedroom door.

"Give us your phone," he said, holding his hand.

"What?" Molly answered. "That's not fair."

But there was no getting out of this one. Her father wasn't moving. For Molly to reach, she'd have to give up her phone.

She reluctantly handed the phone to her father. Then, she entered her bedroom.

****

"I don't know what has come over her," Molly's mom said to her father once Molly was inside her bedroom. "She'd always been such a good kid."

"I just hope it's not something serious," Molly's father said, looking down at Molly's phone.

"Do you think her phone will tell us what's happening?" Her mom reached for her wedding ring to spin, but it wasn't there. Molly's mom had lost her ring recently.

"I hope so," Molly's father said as he typed in her password.

****

Inside her bedroom, Molly made her way to her closet. Then, she pulled out the box hidden in the back corner. She shoved her hand into her jacket pocket, pulled out the wad of cash, and added it to the other money inside the box.

"Almost there," she said before placing the box inside the closet.

****

"Yes. There has been an unusual uptick in substance use, unfortunately," the counselor at Molly's school told Molly's parents the following day. "But I haven't seen any evidence that Molly is involved with any of that."

"Are you sure?" Molly's mother asked the counselor. "She's been acting rather strange lately, and then we found this."

Molly's father handed the counselor the phone.

The counselor looked at it. She read the text message—Can you bring it to the house? And I'll give you the money then?

"Oh," the counselor said. "I see your concern."

"And we were wondering if you saw anything suspicious here," Molly's father said.

"Molly is still an incredible student and kid," the counselor said before pausing. "But there was that strange incident last week when Molly acted completely out of character in one class, and then she was sleeping in the next," the counselor said. "I never thought anything of it, but now, after seeing this evidence, I wonder."

"What do we do?" Molly's mother asked, her eyes tearing up.

"Let me see what I can find out on my end, and I'll be in touch," the counselor said.

Molly's father put his arm around his wife as they stood up.

****

"Thanks for bringing it here," Molly said before handing the man one hundred dollars.

Molly tucked the small bag into her jacket pocket before shutting the front door.

Now, she just had to wait.

****

Molly's mom and dad pulled up to the house.

"Whose car is that?" Molly's dad asked as he witnessed a Mercedes peel out of his driveway.

Molly's mom buried her head in her hands. "I can't believe this is happening."

"That's it. We must confront her with what we know."

Molly's parents parked their car and then charged up the steps to the front door.

Molly's father flew open the front door. "Molly!"

"Happy Anniversary!" Molly shouted. She was standing in front of a giant sign.

"Anniversary?" Molly's dad said.

"What's today's date?" Molly's mother said, looking at her husband.

They'd been so preoccupied with worrying about Molly that they'd forgotten entirely their anniversary.

Molly pulled the tiny bag from her jacket pocket and handed it to her mom.

“Oh, Molly, I can’t,” Molly’s mom looked away. Then, she felt the baggie in her hand. When she looked at the baggie, she saw something sparkling. "My ring? You found my ring."

"The one you lost when we went to the beach last year. I saw it on Facebook, and I've been working for Mr. Johnson to give the guy an award for finding it."

"So, you're not on drugs?" Molly's father asked.

"What are you talking about?" Molly laughed. "Of course, I'm not on drugs. I've been working for Mr. Johnson at the pool to pay for the ring."

"Oh, Molly!" Molly's mother wrapped her arms around her daughter and cried happy tears this time.

Question
Use the dropdown menu to choose how the different perspectives affect the story and create suspense.
Inside her bedroom, Molly made her way to her closet. Then, she pulled out the box hidden in the back corner. She shoved her hand into her jacket pocket, pulled out the wad of cash, and added it to the other money inside the box.​​​​​​


Molly's father handed the counselor the phone. The counselor looked at it. She read the text message—Can you bring it to the house? And I'll give you the money then?

Answer 1

The different perspectives in the story create layers of suspense and emotional tension:

1. Molly's Perspective:

   • When Molly is in her bedroom, hiding the box of cash, the reader sees her actions without the full context. This creates suspense as the reader wonders what Molly is up to. Is she involved in something illegal? What does the money represent? The secrecy of her actions leaves room for speculation and concern about her wellbeing.

2. Parents' Perspective:

   • Molly's parents are filled with worry and suspicion, believing their daughter might be involved in something dangerous. Their perspective emphasizes the dramatic tension as they confront her behavior without understanding the truth. Their discovery of the text on Molly's phone adds to their fear and the reader's anticipation of a potential confrontation.

3. Counselor's Perspective:

   • The counselor's observation of Molly as a good student who has recently exhibited strange behavior adds complexity to the situation. This perspective intensifies the suspense since it raises questions about what could be affecting Molly and if her unusual actions indicate deeper issues.

4. Revealing the Truth:

   • When Molly finally reveals the truth about working for Mr. Johnson and the ring, there is a significant shift in tension. The reader has been led through a series of misunderstandings, and the eventual revelation relieves the suspense built through the parents' fears and Molly's secretive behavior.

This combination of perspectives effectively maintains suspense by layering misunderstandings, forming a complex narrative that keeps readers engaged, wondering about Molly's true activities until the final revelation.