The door flew open then and Annie stood in the doorway. "There's a fight in the dormitory," she said, her voice little more than a whisper.
"Where's David?" Mama Becky asked.
"In the fields. With the boys," Annie said.
"I'd better get over there then." Mama Becky bent down to look Molly in the eye. "You stay here and don't touch anything while I'm gone." She kissed Molly on the forehead and then hurried out the door with Quiet Annie.
After the door closed, Molly stared at the rolling pin and pile of dough. Mama Becky had said not to touch anything while she was gone. Did she think Molly was such a baby that she would create a mess if left alone for a few minutes? Molly would show her.
At first the dough began to flatten as it had for Mama Becky. Molly cried out with triumph. She was doing it all by herself! Then the door banged open, startling Molly. The rolling pin flew out of her hands and into the air.
Ugly Phyllis turned around in time to see the rolling pin flying at her head. She dropped the bushel of apples to floor, but still couldn't duck in time. The rolling pin struck her in the forehead, knocking her backwards onto some of the apples.
Molly sat at the counter for a moment, paralyzed by fear. Then she scurried over to a cupboard and climbed inside to hide. When Mama Becky saw what she'd done she would be in so much trouble. She would probably get a spanking. All because Ugly Phyllis had opened the door at the wrong time.
Molly crouched in the cupboard, sobbing to herself for a long time. At last the door opened and she heard Mama Becky cry out, "What happened? Molly? Where are you?"
"That stupid little brat hit me with a rolling pin," Ugly Phyllis said. "She waited until I opened the door and then she threw it at me because I wouldn't let her carry the apples."
"I'm sure it was an accident-"
"That child is a monster! You should let me give her a whipping. That's what she deserves." Ugly Phyllis grunted and then added, "Look at this mess. We lost a good quarter bushel of apples thanks to her."
"It will be fine, Phyllis. Do you need any water?"
"I don't want anything from you. When you find that brat, send her over to me and I'll make sure she gets what she deserves." The door slammed shut. Molly trembled within the cupboard, trying not to make a sound as she sobbed.
To her horror, the cupboard door opened and Mama Becky knelt there, her face red. "Molly, you've been a very bad girl. You could have hurt Phyllis very badly. What do you have to say for yourself?"