I turned over in my
bed to see,
my friend, my doll
my sweet, sweet Lucy.
——————————
With only one eye. Her button black
eye had come loose and I had no
luck in finding it.
—————————
I shook out the sheets,
knelt down and peaked
under my bed. Sadness fell
a heaviness in my heart.
——————————
Lucy sat staring, her
one eye counting on me.
I let her down. It was my job,
I was her best friend.
——————————
I needed to find her lost button eye.
——————————
My ears perked. Soft voices
muted in the other room.
A particular voice with a
squashed box.
——————————
Rustliing, a dish, settling itself.
Round and round, each lip of its edge
moving up and down, a merry-go-round
with a loose anchor in the middle;
slow then quick, churning hard to find
its center.
——————————
My mom calls out, and my dad
Shh, you will wake the kids.
——————————
I heard a dish move along the wooden
table, and then a scoop – sound
gulped into someone’s hand. Absorbed
into nothing.
——————————
Lifted up high, to slide
between the other plates and
saucers stacked, crafted
by my mom’s careful eye.
——————————
Suction relased, refrigerator hum increased;
three beats, Nothing, and the door adheres again
and becomes a barely noticeable hum.
——————————
The weight of my mom and dad’s footsteps
become softer, further away as they wander;
descending the stairs, plum-tuckered.
——————————
I waited, a few seconds longer;
I needed the reliable silence; I needed to
feel the calm, and become calmer.
——————————
I lifted my covers, a heavy sigh;
lifting the down up and over.
——————————
I slid my feet over the side;
kicking my feet, propelliing me forward.
My bum slid over the edge until my feet
landed into my bunny slippers.
——————————
My slippers sunk into the new
plush carpet, soft-on-soft –
could life get any better?
——————————
My hand guided my way
into the hallway, into the bright
Christmas tree lights.
Shined into my eyes, I squinted
one eye at a time.
——————————
I looked straight ahead
my eyes narrowed –
a little red-haired doll, perched
on boxes wrapped
in silver and gold and a bow tie
looped at its center.
——————————
I walked up, eye-opened, round and bright
making sense to what I see – can it be?
——————————
I pulled her close to me, stretched
my arms back – she wore a
little black and white checkered dress,
a red petticoat and black
Mary Janes to match.
———————————
I gave her a big hug,
tucked my chin into her shoulders.
Moment-by-moment with each squeeze
I think I started to believe.
——————————
I carried her back to my bed,
even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to.
——————————
Clutching her tight, I bent one
knee eand propelled
my other foot, my body, back
into my bed, facedown.
——————————
I looked at my new little red-haired doll
cheeks high under her eyes,
eyes smiliing right into mine.
——————————
I nestled her next to Lucy.
I could tell Lucy wasn’t happy.
——————————
My little red-haired doll felt her sorrow,
shaking, sad, and scared.
Right there; the center of you
and me, our heart. I could feel
Lucy’s hurting.
——————————
My little red-haired doll
I have no name yet,
as we just met. She whipsered
to Lucy, Don’t worry.
——————————
Lucy shot her a look. Little
red-haired doll absorbed all of it.
——————————
She did not waver, she knew
what spite looked like, how it
sunk into hurt.
——————————
The next morning I slid off
my bed, walked out of my room.
Lucy in one hand and
my little red-haired doll in the other,
hanging on, palm-to-palm.
——————————
Merry Christmas! My mom and dad
cheered a happy song.
——————————
You found your new little red-haired doll!
My mom said
as she took a sideways glance at my dad.
——————————
Yes . . . I am sorry. I couldn’t help it.
——————————
Merry Christmas! We hoped that you would
find your new little red-haired doll.
——————————
I love her but . . . .I love my old doll, Lucy, just as much.
——————————
Lucy’s straight lipped face turned
into a pondering smile. Am I hearing this
right? Can this be? Can this be
what I am hearing?
——————————
I found her little black button eye.
I opened my palm, and my mom and
dad looked into my eyes.
——————————
A needle and thread should fix that quick,
my mom replied.
——————————
I sat in my chair holding
my new Little Red in my lap.
——————————
My mom tied the last knot and
Lucy opened both of her eyes, wide
right into mine.
——————————
I reached for her; my mom gently
released her to me. My beautiful
starry-eyed Lucy and Little Red.
See – Little Red nodded
to Lucy. Lucy’s eyes became
soft, shoulders relaxed;
beholden.
———————————-
I held them both tight
between my arms and my
heart – both loved by me.
——————————
This is what happens sometimes – a story comes, and schoolwork waits. A draft as always. Improvement always awaits. The lines are because this format wouldn’t leave breaks between.
Much love.