Pam, Pauly and Nico were the last ones to arrive for the game party. That’s because the others lived with The Writer, and The Writer’s home was where the party was being held. They took off their jackets and gave them to Veronika to hang up.
It wasn’t exactly a party; it was more like a planned play session to which they had all been invited.
Pippa was just finishing up setting up the game board. She looked up when the other dolls came into the dining room. They were going to play a game for two to three players, so some of them would have to play with a partner.
“Hi, everyone!” Pippa said, as she moved over to stand on the dog-toy bucket and the other dolls took their places."
Then Veronika explained how to play the game.
“How are things going with Maryanne?” Pippa asked. She knew that Pam had been worried about the little girl she lived with.”
“A lot better, I think,” Pam replied. “I think she’s starting to hear me, because she talks to me about things I’ve said to her.”
The other dolls could tell Pam was very pleased. They knew that Pam was one of those dolls who took her job seriously. A doll’s job is to be there for a child, listen to their worries and the things they are excited about.
A doll gives a child someone to look after, because dolls need to have their clothes changed and their hair fixed, if it’s long. Dolls teach the children they live with how to care for others.
They need to pretend to eat, so they help children learn to keep others from going hungry.
They need to go on adventures the child makes up. It helps their child learn how to solve problems, but it’s also fun.
They need to be comforted when they are sad. This helps children learn how to help others.
They need to pretend to sleep when the child does. It teaches the child the importance of getting enough rest.
“I really admire the three of you,” Pippa said to the visitors. “You live with real children and help them every day.”
“Here, we just act out the stories Mariah writes,” Pippa continued.
“And we pose for the photos Billy takes,” she added.
“You three live with real children who need you,” Pippa added.
“Pam’s job is a bigger one than mine,” Pauly put in. “Jeffy has problems sometimes, but nothing like Maryanne’s.”
Pam’s job is bigger than mine, too” Nico put in. “Frankie and his family sometimes have things they worry about, but they all have their health without special help from doctors and science. I found out that health is very important for human people.”
“Well,” Pippa exclaimed, “I think Pam should get a medal!”
“How about ‘Doll of the Year!’” Pauly suggested. “She could have her photo on the cover of a magazine or something!”
Pam wanted to roll her eyes, but they are what they call ‘fixed.’ That means they don’t move. They don’t close when she lies down. That means she can look at the stars or the clouds, but she needs a sleep mask to cover her eyes at night. She couldn’t roll her eyes, so she just rolled her head in a circle. (Dolls can do that, but children should not try it.)
“It actually is getting easier,” Pam told them.
“Maryanne has a patch she wears on her arm now,” she said. “She gets her insulin (IN-suh-lin) from that.” (Maryanne had found out right before Christmas that she has a condition called diabetes (di-a-BEET-eez). Her body doesn’t make insulin, which is needed for her to use the food she eats.)
“I first found out about it from listening to Maryanne’s parents talking to her downstairs,” Pam continued. “They were talking about how she can get the insulin she needs all the time from the patch, and if she needs more, like when she’s eating, she can tell the patch to give it to her.”
“Wow!” Pauly exclaimed. “That must have taken a room full of scientists to work that out!”
“So you found out about the patch from Maryanne’s parents?” Veronika asked.
“Well,” Pam replied, “I did, but then Maryanne came and told me all about it herself, so I heard it from her, too! I think she was excited but also worried, and she wanted to tell someone. I’m glad it was me.”
“She still has to pay attention to what she eats,” Pam explained, “and her blood has to be checked often to see how much sugar is in it.”
“You’ve learned a lot about Maryanne’s treatment,” Veronika observed.
Pam thought for a moment. “It’s what you do,” she said, “when someone you love needs you.”
The other dolls couldn’t argue with that. They were all quiet for a while, thinking about it.
“Maryanne is very happy now,” Pam said. “She has gone back to dance class, and when summer comes, she can still be on the swim team. She can swim with the patch on, and everything!”
All the other dolls were happy for Pam, who looked at Veronika. The older doll nodded to her and smiled, remembering the talk they had had. Pam had come a long way from the new doll who didn’t know how to help the child she lived with.
“Well,” Pam said, “are we going to play a game, or not?”
“Pam, I want you on my team,” Pippa exclaimed. “You’re already a winner!”
For Idgy.
Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni
Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen
Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, "Chosen" from My Doll Best Friend
Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily at London
"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.
Copyright © 2023, 2024 by Peggy Stuart
