She Told Me To

The Doll

It's Amelia's birthday. Nothing was more important to Jane London than that. Amelia was Jane's world since her husband, Oliver, died in a wreck three years ago. She was turning four. Jane steps into a toy store and looks at the old woman at the desk. Jane was an artist. She studied people, she followed the old woman's wrinkles like rivers that made their way through limestone for years. The woman's eyes were sea blue and gave Jane the chills. She nodded and skidded to the girls aisle.

It's been almost an hour and Jane found nothing. She's sitting in the middle of the floor meditating. Jane is a Buddhist, and when she gets stressed she drops everything to meditate. "Ma'am?" She jumps up and dusts off her black skirt. She looks at the old woman and nods. "Uh.... Yes?" The woman gives her a crooked smile,and asks. "Having trouble?" Jane nods and says. "Yeah, actually I am." The woman gives a waving motion and hobbles to the back. Jane follows reluctantly and opens the creaky door. "Ah.... Perfect! Amelia will love this!" The old woman mutters out of earshot. Jane turns a corner and sees the woman grab a dusty china doll and smile again. "Here, this is the perfect toy for a little girl." Jane stops her confused. "How did you know I was shopping for a girl?" The old woman chuckles and says. "You tend to talk while you meditate. Now! You going to buy this doll or not?"

45 minutes later Jane is home and she's putting the present on Amelia's nightstand. "Oh shoot! The cake!" She whispers to herself. She runs to the kitchen and sees a perfectly baked cake on the counter. She praises her newest neighbor and goes to ice the cake. "Mommy! Mommy!" Jane drops her knife and heads to the door. "Hey princess!" She picks up Amelia and hands the babysitter $30. "Thanks again Bella."

Three hours later,
Jane scurries around placing cups, handing children cupcakes. She picks up Amelia and says. "Present time!" She sets Amelia down and hands her the box the doll is on. "Open up princess." Amelia smiles and slowly opens the present. Her smile fades as she picks up the pale doll. "HMPH!" Amelia picks the doll up and throws it on the ground, it shatters into a million pieces.