loneliness of an only child

February 2042 - Arthur Cornwall is 63, Ellie Cornwall and Richie Gaunt are 34, Morgan Cornwall is 9 (Edward Gaunt is 36, Cassiopeia is 13, Regulus and Bellatrix are 10, Sirius is 7).

Morgan is part of the largest class at Arcadia Elementary School (4 students!), but that hasn't helped her make friends. She's a serious kid who prefers to spend her time at home with her family than playing with the other kids. As far as her parents can tell, her best friends are her parents, her grandfather, and their cat Nimue.

"I just don't understand it. She's such a wonderful kid, but she's always by herself. She never talks about the other kids at school or invites any to come over," Ellie tells Richie.

"She's just serious," Richie says. "It makes it hard for her to relate to other kids her age."

"You and I are both serious, and we had friends when we was her age," Ellie tells her husband.

"We had each other," he reminds her.

It's her father's idea to invite over her cousins one Saturday. She's met her Gaunt cousins at various family get togethers, but she's never spent much time getting to know them.

"Morgan hasn't spent much time with her cousins," Richie explains to his brother, "and I think it would be good for her to spend some time with kids her own age. Her best friends are Ellie and me and our cat. A nine-year-old should have other friends besides her parents."

Edward drives his kids into the city on a cold, snowy Saturday morning.

The visit doesn't get off to a very good start. Sirius isn't interested in playing with his cousin; he goes inside and starts playing the piano.

Regulus and Bellatrix stay outside to play cops and robbers.

"Why don't you go outside and join them?" Ellie urges her daughter.

"They don't want to play with me," Morgan replies gloomily.

"Did they say that?"

"No, but they're playing with each other, they don't need me."

"They're twins, they're used to playing together, just the two of them," her mother replies, "but I'm sure they'll be happy to include you if you ask."

Bellatrix isn't too impressed when Morgan talks about all of the exciting new things she's been doing in the fourth grade.

"Big deal," she says. "Regulus and I are in the fifth grade."

Regulus isn't even paying attention to either of them.

But eventually the cousins warm to each other. "It must be lonely being an only child," Bellatrix says. "You only have two best friends, your parents, but I also have Regulus and Cassiopeia."

Eventually they get cold, and the three of them head upstairs to watch a movie.

Cassiopeia stays downstairs with the adults. She's bored being around all of the little kids. "I can't wait to go to college," she tells Ellie.

When everyone gets hungry, Ellie breaks out some of her fabulous strawberry cheesecake.

"Yum!" Sirius says.

"Did you have fun with your cousins?" Ellie asks her daughter that night over dessert.

She nods. "They're nice. I had fun playing with them."

"I'm glad. I know you feel lonely sometimes out here in the city without a lot of other kids your own age."

"It okay Mom. I have you and Dad and Grandfather and Nimue." She pauses, then asks, "But maybe I could go over to J.P.'s house sometime. He and his twin sister are in my class, and they live in Arcadia."

Morgan has never really talked about the other kids in her class, but Ellie's glad to hear that she wants to make new friends. "Sure sweetie, anytime."