Girl Without a Doll

Carolyn had seen them in her dreams, and sometimes in the dollar store or the resale shop. They had bouncy heads, some with pony tails, others with curls, some brunette, most with ribbons, Or rubber bands. Some had stickers on their faces some of their cheeks were marked with markers. Her mother always said maybe at Christmas, maybe on your birthday, but maybe never arrived. Carolyn had a particular doll in mind. She had seen her in her dreams, and she was glorious, with amber brown skin like hers, and blue-black curly hair, like hers. She really wanted a doll that looked like her family, a doll she would name Tamber Sweetie Face. She had the name planned out for a long time, possibly since she was three, and she was four now. She was tingly with excitement, as they arrived at the shelter, remembering that the nice lady had said if they came they would have potatoes and chicken, And two kinds of desserts, and the people would be nice, and there would be toys for the children, A doll? She had asked. The woman had smiled at her. I do not see why not she said. She had wanted one for a long time, a beautiful dark-skinned beauty with curly black hair. Tamber Sweetie Face would have a gorgeous shiny gold dress, wings on her back. A white Santa arrived, with a big tummy, laughing, and joking, pretending to like her. She knew better but she pretended, so she could get something out of his sack. A doll for the little girl, he said. She did not like it that he called her little girl. This was an insult; she knew that much. To add an even worse insult, the doll was white, with yellow hair, and a black dress. She had a weird smile, and she looked mean and unkind. Carolyn dumped the ugly white-faced doll with the red lipstick into the bushes as she walked Home behind her mother, and a strange man, who was laughing. Mom always brought home strange laughing men, when they went to shelters. A little tear wet her face as Carolyn tried to be happy that she had the mashed potatoes and chicken. She could not even be excited that Mom was bringing home a new friend, which sometimes excited her, because it meant Mom would be nice to her, and pretend to love her for a little while. She was disappointed again, but not surprised in the least, for she had always been a girl without a doll. The Poem of Reaction Poetry Contest Sponsored by Julia Ward Written: 9-28-2018