Firefly Lane

Over the next three years, the girls faithfully write each other letters. The letters are filled with silly things, like new haircuts or fashion choices, but sometimes, Tully writes about her desire to gain her mother’s approval. More than anything, Tully is herself when she writes to Kate because that is all that Kate demands from her. When Tully’s grandfather dies, Tully turns to Kate for comfort.

In the summer of 1977, the girls are about to be seniors in separate high schools. Mrs. Mularkey inspired Tully years ago to work toward becoming a journalist, and Tully and Kate promised that they would pursue this dream together. Tully goes to the ABC affiliate building to meet with Mr. Rorbach, to whom she’s written 112 letters, angling to get a job. Mr. Rorbach, impressed by Tully’s drive, tells her to continue working hard in her senior year, go to college, and keep him updated about her accomplishments; however, he also tells her he cannot hire a high school student. Feeling the weight of the disappointment, Tully returns home, assuring Gran that she will go to college, get that job, and make Gran proud. Grans says she is already proud of her; it’s her mother’s approval that Tully seeks.

Tully gets a job with the local weekly newspaper. Kate has left with her family for their annual camping trip in Canada, which Tully could not attend because of her job and her grandmother’s frail health. After writing her customary Sunday letter to Kate, Tully spends her evening alone, wondering what the Mularkeys are doing. The next morning, Tully discovers that Gran has died in her sleep. Gran’s failing health in the preceding months prompted her to talk with Tully about what to do when she died, so Tully reaches for the box where Gran said there would be something waiting for her. Inside is a note apologizing for leaving Tully alone but assuring her that her grandparents will always be with her.

At the funeral, Tully wishes that Kate and her family could be there. Part of the way through the service, Tully leaves. Outside, she sees her mother and feels a surge of joy that Cloud is there to take care of her. Cloud is intoxicated and tells Tully that she cannot take care of her. The funeral lets out, and Tully turns to watch the mourners for a moment. When she turns back to ask her mother why, Cloud is gone.

A woman from social services drives Tully to Gran’s lawyer, who explains that Gran has left everything to Tully. Her wish was that Tully sell her houses and go to college with the money, but she must live with a foster family during her senior year. She also wished for Tully to continue sending Cloud money as a way of keeping track of her. Tully excuses herself and leans on the wall outside his office. She cannot imagine living with a foster family. Her only other thought is that the Mularkeys will be home tomorrow.

Kate and her family return from their camping trip, and Kate helps unpack. When she is finished, she asks to call Tully, but it is late, and her parents don’t want to disturb Gran.

Tully watches the Mularkeys unpack. When the house goes dark, Tully throws gravel at Kate’s window. When Kate comes out, they embrace and ride their bikes to the river. Lying in their customary spots, Kate starts talking about the trip, complaining about trivial things her parents did. When Tully seems upset and says Kate doesn’t know how lucky she is, Kate asks why Tully is angry at her. Tully explains that she's just angry; she's angry at Gran, her mother, at God, and she tells Kate about her grandmother’s death. As Kate comforts her, Tully finds she can’t share how completely alone she feels, as saying it aloud will cause those feelings to crush her.

After filling in Kate about her future in foster care, Tully suggests going to a big party that is happening the following night. She believes that surrounding herself with noise and people will drown out her fear, sorrow, and loneliness. She knows that she should not push Kate to go, but she needs something drastic as a distraction. Kate knows that her parents would not approve of her attending a keg party, but she agrees because Tully promises they won’t get caught and asks, “You trust me, don’t you?” (81).

At breakfast, Kate feigns surprise when Tully knocks on the door. Tully tells the Mularkeys that Gran died, and Mrs. Mularkey immediately comforts her. Tully lies and says her mother has been in and out of her life but that she is there now and staying at the house across the street. Kate asks if she can spend the night there, feeling transparent in her lie. However, her mother does not detect this deceit and agrees. Mrs. Mularkey tells Tully that she is special and has a gift, and she comforts her by telling her that Gran is watching out for her. Kate feels envious of her mother’s kind words, wondering why her mother doesn’t say these sorts of things to her. She feels she doesn’t know how to make her mother proud or have any special gift. To cover her feelings, she changes the subject.

At the party, Tully immediately begins drinking. When she finishes her first beer, she ropes in Kate, prompting the crowd to chant Kate’s name when she at first demurs. After Kate drinks her beer, the girls dance, and Tully notices how beautiful Kate looks. Neal Stewart notices, too, and asks Kate to dance. He kisses her on the dance floor, but then someone yells “Cops!” (86). Tully grabs Kate and rushes her toward the car. When Tully throws the car in reverse, she slams into something, causing Kate’s head to hit the dashboard. Dazed, Kate realizes that they’ve hit Officer Dan’s car.

At the police station, the girls are separated. As Tully sits in an interrogation room, she is horrified at what she has done. Mrs. Mularkey arrives. She tells Tully that the police want to send her to juvenile hall, but Kate wants her to come live with them. Tully doesn’t want to believe that could be possible; it sparks too much hope. Mrs. Mularkey explains that a girl living in their house “would have to do chores and follow the rules” (89). When Tully realizes that Mrs. Mularkey is inviting her into their family, the relief she feels is “the biggest emotion she’s ever felt” (89). In the years that follow, Tully will look back at that moment when Mrs. Mularkey said, “Welcome to our family, Tully,” as one that changed her (89). During the year that she lived with them, Tully was herself; she didn’t lie, embellish, or ever feel unwanted. It was the best year of her life.

During their senior year, the girls are a package deal, referred to as “TullyandKate.” Kate lives vicariously through many of Tully’s accomplishments and social prowess. As the girls pack their bags to leave for college, Kate feels reluctant to leave her safe place. Tully gives Kate a pep talk, reminding her that they will do this together. Kate doesn’t feel as strong or courageous as Tully and others expect her to, but she smiles and fakes it, as she has been doing more often.

Kate’s parents drive them to their dorm in downtown Seattle, help them unpack, and then hug them goodbye. Kate is emotional, but Tully starts making plans for their sorority rush. When Kate expresses concern that the sororities might want Tully and not her, Tully explains that she will always be by Kate’s side, as Kate has always been by hers.

Tully is in her element at the University of Washington, and she plans to conquer it. Although she is not able to take journalism classes as a freshman, she drags Kate to the office of the managing editor of the school paper to try to secure a writing spot. As Kate predicted, they are too young, and the editor does not give them a position. Tully is upset at the rejection, but Kate pulls her out of her funk by letting Tully do her makeup for the toga party they will attend later that evening. The girls go to the fraternity house, and as soon as Tully enters, she is “on” and others are drawn to her. She drags Kate to the dance floor, but after a while, Kate is hot and goes outside. There she meets a good-looking and easy-to-talk-to boy named Brandt Hanover. Tully comes out, grabs Kate, and drags her back inside to dance. Since her rape, Tully does not trust boys, and she is very protective of Kate.

Six months after the party, Kate has continued to smile at and talk about Brandt. She suggests that she might ask him to the spring dance and that Tully should go with them on a double date. Tully tells Kate that she doesn’t have time, as she has an article to finish. Tully’s new plan is to send articles to the school newspaper until they finally publish one.

The girls head to class. Tully is enrolled in a journalism class that is typically reserved for juniors, but she wrote countless letters to get into it. The professor is Chad Wiley, a former journalism star, and Tully intends to impress him and learn everything that she can from him.