Chapter 20 The Doll

• While opening presents on Christmas morning, I watch as my mother walks over to the tree and picks up a large package with a big shiny purple bow on it. She turns around with a mischievous smile on her face before looking me in the eye and stating, “This one is for you. I saved the best for last.” Feeling extremely excited, I thrust my hands out to reach for it. When she places it in my palms, I notice that it is much heavier than I expected for such a small package. With a funny look on her face, she steps back and sits on the couch to the right of me and stares at me till I unwrap it, saying, “Hurry, I want to see if you really like it.” Hesitating, I watch her eyes bug out when I decide to milk it for all it is worth, till she screams at me in excitement, “Hurry.” Placing the package between my legs for leverage, I find the seam of the tape and slowly pull it bit by bit until the paper starts to peel off the box. Once it uncovers the name “Marybelle” I instantly know what this is and carefully open the rest of the gift. Glancing over at my mother before opening the small box, I see that she has a glint in her eyes and is clasping her hands together as she almost boils over in anticipation. The minute I open the lid and look inside, I get a little freaked out. Because the doll lying in between the pillows of plastic, looks just like me. Matter of fact, it could be my twin. Surely, my mother must have sent them or uploaded a photo of me as a child to the site. Otherwise, the likeness is uncanny. I would say maybe even eerie. PPicking it up from inside the box, I carefully hold it up so my mother can see me inspecting it. “Well, do you like it?” My mom asks before standing up and walking over to where I am in Dad’s old easy chair. I nod not as enthusiastically as I probably should have because then suddenly, she places her hand on my shoulder and asks, “Are you sure?” Starting to frown, she continues after sighing and says, “I can get you something else instead. Just name it.” “No, mom it is perfect. Just how did they get it to look exactly like me? Did you send them a pic or something?” Gazing up into her eyes, she smirks and then answers after a few seconds, “No. That was the weird thing. When I looked it up online like my friend Betty told me to, it was the first one in the product line and it called to me. As you can see it looks just like you. Betty had told me that their dolls were lifelike and at first I didn’t believe her, till I saw the pictures in person.” Taking her hand and holding it, I ask softly, “Is that why you bought it?” “Yes. She is just too perfect.” Staring at the doll in my hands with its pretty little bows and curly blonde hair, I start to feel strange like she is watching me. For a split second when I look back at my mom, I feel a presence and out of the corner of my eye, I see her move just a bit. AAs I start to freak out, I place her back in the box and that’s when my mother says, “She even talks if you press the button on her hand.” Thinking to myself that this keeps getting weirder by the minute, I must touch her hand accidently, because sure enough, she says, “I am Marybelle your best friend.” The minute she says it, we both glance at each other and then down at the doll in the box, so I quickly make sure to shut the top on it securely. My mom glances back at me before asking, “So, where are you going to put it?” “Oh, I haven’t even thought that far ahead yet. I am still hungover from Christmas Eve and later on today, I have to finish my midterm project before I go back to college tomorrow. If I don’t turn it in before the end of the year, I am finished. I will fail and then be forced to quit.” My voice trails off because I start getting depressed just by thinking about it. “Well, do let me know what happens next. I will definitely worry about you till you get it fixed.” The sadness in her eyes threatens to spill out over her cheeks when I watch as a tear forms in the corner of one of her eyes and then it disappears just as quick as it came. “Mom don’t worry. I will.” I lean over and grasp her hand again with mine before saying it. Getting a sudden urge to hug her, I raise my arms and wrap them around hers. Holding her for a bit longer than usual, she murmurs something as I rest my head on her shoulder. IIt feels wonderful to be home and I am glad that I could at least spend this little amount of time with her before having to return to college and finish my studies. Hearing her whisper, I raise my head and ask, “What did you just say?” As I cock my head and look at her expectantly as I wait for an answer. “Oh. I just have missed you so much and holding you close. You have no idea how lonely it gets here with your father gone. Since he has passed everything seems pointless except for when you are around.” Her words really hit home because she sounds so down and depressed that I begin to worry about her. Hesitating for a moment, I look down at my hands and then back to her face before asking, “Mom, you don’t get so depressed that one of these days when I come home, you won’t be here do you?” My voice trails off as the thought had crossed my mind countless times before, but I never have expressed it to her. “No. Heaven forbids. I will always be here for you whenever you show up. You know that you will always be welcome whether rain or shine just as long as you bring me some chocolate with you?” A wicked smile forms on her lips before she starts to laugh. Shaking my head because I know that she is just hiding the pain of loneliness, I lean forward and give her a hug again before kissing her cheek and saying, “I had better go grab a shower and then get my stuff done before I have to leave tomorrow. I just wish that I didn’t have to leave so soon. Christmas break has never been so short before.” Standing up, I stretch and then yawn before walking to my bedroom. I find some clothes, and then make my way to the bathroom. Once I grab a towel from the linen closet, I turn on the shower and take off my clothes before stepping in and relaxing under the hot, steamy water that cascades down my entire body from my head to my toes. I murmur softly, “Ahh. Feels so good, I could stand here for hours.” Closing my eyes, I stand under the water for quite a while until I feel someone enter and look around to see no one there.