The bell on the door jingled and the storekeeper, wisps of grey hair in ringlets framing her face, looked up. Peeking over the rims of her bifocals, she perused her newest little client while wiping her hands on the white apron which covered her gingham dress.
“How may I help you?”
Emily curtsied daintily, her little fingers holding the edges of her skirt. “I’d like a new doll, please.”
“What do you have in mind, little one? A baby doll?”
Emily looked away shyly. “No. I like grown up dolls.”
“Grown up dolls? Well, let’s see.” The storekeeper swished around the counter and pulled a doll resembling a movie star down from a shelf.
“How about this one?”
“I was thinking more like, umm, wedding people.”
“Okey dokey.”
The storekeeper moved behind the counter and opened a glass case, gently removing two dolls dressed as a bride and groom.
Emily did a little hop of excitement. “Yes! That’s what I want!”
“These are very expensive…”
Emily pulled a roll of bills out of a pocket in her skirt and held them out in the palm of her hand. The storekeeper looked at the money, which was all hundred dollar bills. Peering curiously at the child, she returned most of the money before counting out the change and handing over the wrapped dolls.
“Thank you, ma’am!”
Emily skipped to the door, the bell tinkling as she left.
Watching the little girl through the front window, the storekeeper called to the salesgirl as she untied her apron, “I don’t see that girl’s parents anywhere. I better make sure she gets home okay.”
The storekeeper followed at a distance, until Emily stopped at a well-kept townhouse. Holding the dolls carefully, the girl dug in her pocket, pulling out a key and dislodging her money at the same time. Without noticing the dropped bills, she unlocked the door and went inside.
The storekeeper moved quickly to the door, scooped up the money and rang the bell. After a few moments Emily opened the door, and, smiling widely, grabbed the storekeeper’s hand.
“Come in, we’re having a tea party!”
“Oh, no, sweetie, I only rang because you dropped your money.”
“Thank you very much, but won’t you stay for a cup of tea?”
The storekeeper looked around. “I don’t know, dear. Where are your parents?”
Emily smiled coyly. “You’ll meet them very soon, if you stay for tea.”
“Very well. I suppose I could use a cup.”
The storekeeper sat down on an upholstered bench beside a small table set up for tea, various types of dolls sitting on the chairs around her, including the new bride and groom.
Hot steam rose from the cup as Emily carefully poured the tea. “Cream and sugar?”
“Thank you, yes.”
The storekeeper watched the little girl show off her practiced art of serving tea before taking a sip.
“Mmm. You make excellent tea.”
Emily smiled and sat down next to her on the bench.
“My mother taught me how to do it, the old fashioned way.”
As she sipped the last of her tea, the storekeeper’s eyes drooped a little, and she looked at her watch, yawning. Emily, studying her, slipped quickly off the bench before her guest fell sideways across it, deeply asleep.
Several hours later, the storekeeper awoke in the dark and heard voices from another room.
The voices grew louder and when the lights came on the storekeeper saw four people sitting across from her. They were all in different costumes: A chef, a mailman, and a bride and groom, their eyes wide in silent fear. The storekeeper attempted to scream, but her mouth wouldn’t open. She looked down and saw that her arms and legs were carefully stitched to the sofa where she sat. She was immobilized, like the others.
The sound of voices singing “Happy Birthday” filled the room. After the song stopped, Emily appeared and hopped onto the storekeeper’s lap. Stroking the woman’s arm gently, she called out, “Thank you, Mummy and Daddy, for my grown up dolls!”
A chorus of two answered back, “You’re welcome, Emily!”
____________________
©2011 Autumn Humphrey
http://autumnhumphrey.wordpress.com/
Autumn Humphrey has fiction appearing at Everyday Fiction, Aurora Wolf, kill author, Apollo’s Lyre, The Legendary and other magazines. She lives in Long Beach, California and doesn’t own a single doll.
Tags: Autumn Humphrey
January 14th, 2011 at 4:20 am
…*shudders*…Great, now, not only do I have to watch out for dolls…I have to watch out for creepy little doll collecting girls…
January 14th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
Autumn, you’re a doll - a sick and twisted one! Nothing creepier than evil children. Nice job!
January 14th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
What a chilling ending. You leave just enough to make us understand without revealing too much. Very creepy, Autumn.
January 14th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Yikes! Creepy stuff, Autumn. Remind me to decline any invitation to your house for tea . . . #:-)
January 14th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Reminded me of Criminal minds episode. Excellent.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Wow - very spooky. If I have nightmares tonight, it’ll be all your fault, Autumn. Excellent story!
January 15th, 2011 at 11:30 am
This is a memorable story! .. .. Fantastic pacing.
January 26th, 2011 at 8:32 am
I shall be sending you the dry cleaning bill for my underpants.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Fantstic bit of writing.