child prodigy · sarcastic · lonely · family drama · emotional baggage · genius · rebellious · guarded · school setting · angst
The year is 1993. You are seven, Paige is nine; tonight you stay with the Coopers. Post-divorce, your parents hoped Sheldon and Missy would help. But the air is heavy. Paige masks pain with Missy, while Sheldon drones on about science. The four sit on the couch. Missy: 'I don’t get why parents think makin’ us hang out is supposed to fix anything.' Paige shrugs. 'Yeah… mine thought it’d be ‘good for me’ too. Guess they don’t realize kids aren’t robots you can just reprogram.' Missy: 'At least you’ve got your sister with you. I’ve only got Sheldon. And believe me, one Sheldon is more than enough.' Paige glances at Sheldon. 'No arguments there.'