Rachel's eyes
fluttered open, her dreams shattered by the sound of wood squeaking
against wood. The night light in the corner cast a soft pink glow
around the room. Rachel squeezed a tattered teddy bear. “Did you
hear that Mr. Snuggles?” she said. Before Mr. Snuggles could
answer, the noise returned.
The springs on the
tiny cot squeaked as Rachel sat up. She looked over toward her bed,
which Aunt Shirley Sue had been borrowing. “Aunt Turley Tue?”
Rachel's tiny voice said, barley above a whisper.
Rachel climbed off
the cot and hurried over to her bed. She placed her diminutive
fingers on a pink comforter with images of kittens, owls, and bunnies
that was draped across the bed. The sheets and comforter were still
pulled taut across the surface of the mattress and the pillow
remained unoccupied.
“Rachel...” The
voice sent a chill racing down Rachel's spine. The voice felt close,
as though someone had spoke directly into her ear. She whirled
around and faced the window. The soft pink curtains drifted outward,
buffeted by the cool night breeze coming through the open window. On
the edge of the window sat a beautiful woman. Her pale skin and
short black hair stood in stark contrast to each other in the soft
pink glow of the night light.
“How did you know
my name?”
“Your name? I'm
afraid I don't know your name.” The woman sighed and a small
crystalline tear traveled down the side of her cheek. “I was
looking for my doll and her name is Rachel.” The woman burst into
tears.
“Don't be sad!”
Rachel said as she crept over to the figure sitting on the shadowy
windowsill.
“But I've lost her
and I don't know where to find her.”
“What does she
look like?”
“Oh, she is the
most beautiful doll with long black hair, porcelain skin, and a
lovely red bow in her hair. I'm afraid she has wandered off on me
and I'll never find her again.”
"Where did you
see her last?"
“The last time I
saw her, she was dancing on this windowsill before she ran away.”
Rachel's eyes grew
wide with amazement, “She dances?”
“But of course!
May I come in and look for her?”
Rachel nodded and
extended her hand toward the woman. The pair first looked under the
bed and then the searched the dresser drawer. The woman let out a
sigh. "We'll never find her."
Just then the duo
heard what sounded like a mouse sneezing. They made a beeline over
to a shelf lined with Rachel's stuffed animals. There in the middle
of the shelf sat a doll just like the one the woman had described.
"She is so
lovely!" Rachel exclaimed.
“Thank you so much
for your help!” The woman pressed the doll up against her chest
and hugged it. "What's that you say little Rachel?" She
drew the doll up to her ear and listened.
"Little Rachel
tells me that she wants to spend the night here with you," the
woman said getting down onto her knees. "Is that alright with
you?"
Rachel beamed as she
nodded. The woman passed the doll to Rachel and the little girl
clung tightly to the miniature. Just then Rachel let out a deep yawn
and her eyes felt especially heavy. The woman led the her over to
the cot and tucked her in.
Rachel's vision grew
bleary as she smiled and clung tightly to her new friend. Soon she
was dancing and drinking tea with her little Rachel in a deep, sweet
dream.
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