Molly was sobbing into her pillows when her phone began to ring. The number was unlisted, but she was desperate for some distraction at that moment.

"Hello, this is Molly Hooper," she said, answering it in as steady a voice as she could summon.

"Miss Hooper, I am calling you because I am willing to make an agreement with you," a man's voice said from the other end.

"Oh... a... what sort of agreement?" Molly asked, her heart beating quickly as she wondered if someone was trying to pick her up or something equally distasteful.

"I would be willing to fund the rest of your education if you would agree to be my brother's friend."

"Umm... what-what sort of friend? Like, help him with his schoolwork, or... more than a friend, because if so, then no. I'll find my own way."

"My brother has... a particular problem, Miss Hooper, and he... struggles, with social cues. He also has a tendency toward drug abuse. What I am asking of you is merely that you would occasionally call him, check in on him, you see. He and I... do not speak, you see, for he perceives that I am trying to control him. My efforts to keep him from destroying his life, you understand, are rather ill-received."

"Oh. I... I see. I think. But why me?"

"Because you need help, and because I believe you are strong enough to deal with my brother and his... temper. I will warn you, Miss Hooper, that it will not be easy. He will probably end up hating you, as he does me, and will always tell you what you're doing or thinking in the most infuriating and insulting ways."

"I could deal with that."

"I rather think you could," the voice had a smile in it.

"And... that's all you want from me? Just... be a friend?"

"Be a watcher. If you succeed in being his friend as well... you will have done something only one other person has, and that person... passed away, when my brother was very young. If you please, never mention that to him."

"Of course not."

"Then we have an agreement?"

"I guess so."

"There will be a scholarship granted to you, then, so that you are able to continue your schooling the next semester. I will arrange your first meeting with my brother for this weekend at a restaurant called Angelo's tomorrow... my brother will be helping the owner put up some shelves."

"Okay... just like that?"

"Just like that. Thank you, Miss Hooper."

"No, thank you, Mr... I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?" Molly realised that her mysterious caller had hung up on her already.

That weekend, she met Sherlock Holmes, the man who did the impossible while struggling with the simple. It was a long journey after that, as Molly fell in love with the troubled young man, and eventually he fell in love with her (although he certainly didn't know it until his forgotten sister made him say it).