Sally: Umm, good... morning...? Mr. Ottomas?
Sharla: Dad, you're being indecent again! I told you I would have a friend over after school!!
Peter: Don't mind me, I just put Harvey to sleep, now I'm going back in my cave to be out of your sight.
Sharla: I'm sorry my family is so weird. Maybe we should have gone to your house to hang out.
Sally: Nah, my family is not much better either, it's fine. Plus, you guys have a pool.
Sharla: True, I love our pool. I'm glad my parents had it built last year.
Sally: I wish our school had a pool like private schools do.
Sharla: Yeah, Hal tells me the pool at Alto is like super big and it's free to use after school for pupils.
Sally: Wait... you know you could just ask Hal's dad to build us a pool, right? Like, you're dating the principal's son, maybe he would listen to you...?
Sharla: Eh, it's not that simple... I mean, if Hal went to our school too, then maybe he would listen to us, but I'm not sure he—
Sally: Have you ever asked him?
Sharla: Hal? About what?
Sally: No, I mean Mr. Capp! How do you know he would say no?
Sharla: Oh... that's... I kinda can't, yet...
Sally: Oh my Watcher, you haven't been introduced to Hal's parents yet, have you?
Sharla: It's just a bit complicated with them. I mean, they're a very different family to ours and yours — you know Mr. Capp, he's not as... open... with strangers as my dad, and they say his wife is even stricter. They have, like, really high standards for who their children should date.
Sally: And Hal thinks you wouldn't meet those standards?
Sharla: It's not Hal, I swear! It's just... we're both a little scared...
Sally: What even are you scared of? You're a good student, you're— you're very pretty, you have excellent manners, I'm sure they wouldn't find a reason to dislike you or disapprove of your relationship.
Sharla: But I'm kind of an outsider. Hal's ex girlfriend was from a family in Veronaville that the Capps have been close to for decades. They were friends with her parents. My family is... odd. They're like opposites. I'm not sure they would think it's a good fit, culturally...
Sally: What does that even mean?
Sharla: Hm... It's kind of hard to put into words. Maybe you'll understand when you get a little older.
Sally: Wow, that's a little rude, just because I'm two years younger than you, I can't understand? Do I have to start taking 11th grade history for it or what?
Sharla: I mean, yeah, some of it is actually politics, and that comes from history, so... But also, a lot of it is experience. And you've never had a boyfriend.
Sally: But that's not because— I mean— yeah, but what if... I don't even want a boyfriend?
Sharla: You don't? Isn't there anyone that you like?
Sally: I don't— I never really had a boy that I liked...
Sharla: Hmm... Maybe there is a girl you like, then? You know you can trust me, right? You know, I actually helped my best friend Daniel get together with the boy he liked, maybe I can help you too.
Sally: Daniel is gay?
Sharla: Oh yeah. I was the first person he came out to, actually. But he's known it for a long time. Now he's out to his family too, and they welcomed his boyfriend with open arms.
Sally: Hm, you see, Daniel's parents accepted his boyfriend, then why would Hal's parents not accept you?
Sharla: Oh, don't change the subject back to me now, don't leave me hanging! You have to tell me who you like now!
Sally: But I'm not even sure what my feelings are. It's confusing... So, there is a girl... One moment I feel like she's my favourite person, and then the next I get feelings of guilt and shame for even thinking that I like her...
Sharla: This is probably natural in this situation. Do you think she might be feeling the same way?
Sally: I don't know, and I'm scared to find out. I mean, she's kinda my best friend, and I don't wanna ruin it all... Plus, I don't know what our parents would say. Especially my step-mum. She's kind of old fashioned like that...