The Doll's Storybook

Stories about dolls who live in our world. Although these stories are suitable for children, they should check with their parents before reading and always be careful online. Readers are invited to donate to a charity supporting pediatric cancer treatment and research. Images shown are taken by the author or from a free image website with attribution and appreciation. The author has no connection with Götz Puppenmanufaktur, but gives them credit for the amazing dolls they produce.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Marmalade

When Mandy came home from school, she had a box with her. She put down the box to take off her coat.

Jolena went over to look at the box while Mandy hung up her coat.
Jolena looked at Mandy and gestured to the box. "What's in the box?" she asked.

Emil looked up from the book he was reading in the window. "Yes, Mandy," he said, "I have a feeling something very interesting is in the box."

"The box has holes in it," Jolena told him, "so maybe there is something alive inside. You put holes in a box if you want something inside to be able to breathe!"

Mandy nodded. "He didn't really need holes," she said, "but, like us, he pretends to breathe, so I put holes in the box. I think it makes him feel better."

As Emil came and joined the girls in the front hall, Mandy carefully opened the box. In a sweet voice, she said, "There, there, now, it's OK." She reached inside and made stroking motions with her hand.

Emil and Jolena looked inside the box. A little orange-and-white face looked back from a rumpled towel.

"It's a cat!" Jolena exclaimed.

"He has been outside the school for three days," Mandy explained. "Today I gave him some of my tuna sandwich at lunchtime. After that, he started following me around. He must really like to pretend to eat!"

"Why was he in the box," Jolena asked.
"I couldn't leave him there," Mandy said, "and I thought he wouldn't like the walk home, so my teacher gave me the box. She said that most cats don't mind being carried in boxes."
Just then, the cat jumped out of the box. He came and rubbed his side against Mandy's leg.
"I guess he's your cat now," Emil said.

"Unless he has an owner who is missing him," Jolena pointed out. "We could take him to the vet to see if he has a microchip (MY-krow-chip). That will tell us if he belongs to someone."

The cat started down the hall toward the kitchen. "I don't think a doll cat would have a microchip," Mandy said, as the dolls followed the cat down the hall, "but we can check the neighborhood lost-and-found website."

The cat looked up from the dogs' water dish, where he had been pretending to drink. "Meow," he said solemnly.

"He says that he doesn't belong to anyone," Emil told Mandy.

"How do you know?" Mandy asked.
"He's showing me pictures in my head," Emil replied. "He was given to a lady who didn't want him. She threw him into the trash. He climbed out of the trash and went to the doll school, because he had seen dolls there. He knew he was supposed to belong to a doll."
Mandy looked down at the cat.

"Meow," the cat said again.
Mandy looked at Emil.
"He says he's Mandy's cat now," Emil said. "He's showing me how you fed him. He is showing me how he followed you around. He is showing me his face, looking up at you. He says he loves Mandy."

"Is he showing you my yarn, too?" Mandy asked. "Well, I guess I have a cat now," she added. "I will have to pretend to take him to the vet to get a checkup and shots."
"You will need food and a litter box," Jolena pointed out.

"Meow," said the cat. The two girls looked at Emil.
"He wants to know if the dogs are friendly," Emil explained.

"How does he know there are dogs?" Jolena asked.
"He probably can smell them," Mandy suggested.
Emil agreed. "Especially around the water dish," he said.

Just then, the dolls heard someone coming up the front steps.
"Billy and Charlotte are back with the dogs!" Mandy cried, scooping up the cat and running back to the front door, where she put him quickly back into the box.

Mandy closed the flaps of the box firmly. "We had better explain to Charlotte and Billy about the cat," she said to Emil and Jolena. "It's important for the dogs and the cat get off on the right paw if we want them to be friends."
The door opened, and Charlotte and Billy came in from walking Pierre and Freckles. They could tell something was up.

Holding the box closed, Mandy explained to Charlotte and Billy about the cat. She explained how she found the cat at the school and how he was still there after three days. She told them how she had shared her tuna sandwich with the cat, and how the cat followed her around. She explained about the box. She explained that the cat was going to live with them now.

Meanwhile, the dogs were sniffing at the box. They could hear something moving inside. They could smell the cat. "Maybe we should put the dogs out in the backyard for now," Billy suggested picking up Freckles.

"That's a good idea," Emil said. "They need to get used to each other's smell in the house before they meet. We should feed them in separate rooms for now."

"We can explain to Pierre and Freckles that the cat is a family member," Charlotte suggested. "They will understand, I think, but it may take a few days."
After they put the dogs outside, Charlotte and Billy came back to look at the cat.

"Why do dogs and cats not get along?" Charlotte asked.
"I think," Emil said, "it's because their language is different. There are lots of things a dog does that mean one thing to the dog," he continued, "but when a cat does the same thing, it means just the opposite. Like if a dog wags his tail, it usually means he's friendly. If a cat wags his tail, it usually means he's ready to pounce. That makes for a lot of misunderstandings."

"That's like people who speak different languages," Mandy said, "or have different customs or different religions." Then she looked up at Emil. "We just found out today that Emil can talk to animals," she added.

"How do you do that?" Billy asked Emil.
"I don't know," Emil replied. "I just found out that I can. I've seen pictures in my head from the dogs, but it didn't mean anything to me until now. It was just stuff like their food and the ball, or wanting to go out. The cat had important things to say."
"I think it's your special gift," Jolena said. "We all have some kind of special gift," she added, "but you found out yours very fast!"
Veronika and Mariah came down the stairs to see what was going on. Mandy went through the story again, including that they had just learned that Emil can understand animals."

"I need to get some cat food and cat litter," Mandy said. "Can some of you look after the cat until I get back?"
"Sure," said Veronika, who was waiting for a turn to pet the cat.
"We all will," Mariah added. "It's nice to have a cat."

Mandy left the cat with the other dolls and used one of the bicycles that had a basket to ride to the store to get some cat food and cat litter. She had a cat to look after now!

Mandy came home with the cat food and the cat litter. She put the litter box in the laundry room, where they could keep the cat for a few days. They put a folded-up blanket on the floor and put down food and water, in case the cat wanted to pretend to need those things.
"He will need a name," Emil said, looking at Mandy.

Mandy thought for a few moments. "I think he looks like what I see when I open a jar of marmalade," she said, "and he's very sweet. I think I'll call him Marmalade."

The girls looked at Emil, who looked at Marmalade. Then he looked up. "He likes it," he said. "Of course, it could be because he's still pretending to be hungry."

"Well, Marmalade," Mandy said to the cat, "go pretend to eat your dinner. Now you never have to pretend to be hungry again!"

"Meow," Marmalade replied.

Cast--
Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni
Mandy: Götz Happy Kidz Katie 2015
Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen
Charlotte: Götz Happy Kidz Anna in Paris
Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, "Chosen" from My Doll Best Friend
Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily at London
Emil: Götz Happy Kidz Emilia
Marmalade: Purrrfect Cats, all man-made fiber.

Image on Mariah's shirt used with permission with thanks, from Free To Be Kids, where human-size shirts with this image are available.

You can follow The Doll's Storybook here.

Do you have questions or comments for us? Would you like to order an autographed copy of one of our books? You can email us at thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.

"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.

Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook and More Classic Tales Untold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are available from BookBaby and other booksellers worldwide, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Author's page on Amazon.

Royalties (net proceeds) go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don't get free shipping elsewhere, buy from Book Baby. Half of the price goes to charity (specific information available upon request). Autographed copies of all three books are available from the author. (Multiple books to the same address have a discount on shipping.) To inquire, email thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

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Friday, October 4, 2019

Welcome, Emil!

Billy and Veronika brought a letter to the other dolls, who were busy in the living room.

"We have a letter from Emil!" Billy exclaimed. As the other dolls gathered around, Billy began to read.

"Dear Veronika and Cast of The Doll's Storybook," he read.
"I am so happy to read that you have chosen me to be the new boy doll for your stories. I will try very hard to do a good job."
"I'm sure he will," said Jolena." All the dolls nodded.

"Please tell Billy my name is said like eh-MEEL," Billy continued, "and thank him for asking. I get called a lot of funny things when other dolls don't know." Billy looked up from the letter and tried the new name, "Emil."

The other dolls all tried to think of how many different ways you could say Emil.

Then Billy continued reading. "Please tell Jolena my favorite food is...." Billy paused. "KWIT-chee?" Billy asked and looked at Jolena, puzzled.

Jolena looked at the letter where Billy was pointing.
Then she laughed. "That's quiche," she said, saying it like KEESH. Then she looked up. "I know how to make that. It's sort of a pie with eggs and cheese. I have several good recipes. I'll make my favorite."

Charlotte nodded. "The word is French. You don't say French words the way the letters sound in English."

"Quiche is a French recipe," Jolena added. "All my French recipes have unusual spellings, or maybe they're usual for French, I guess."

Billy continued to read, "I enjoy pretending to eat pretty much anything, though, so tell her not to go to any trouble."

"Forget that," Jolena said. "This is the kind of trouble I like!"

Billy looked back at the letter. "Mariah asked what kind of books I like to read," he read. "Please tell her I like to read lots of things but I especially like stories about real children."
"I like stories like that, too," Mariah said.

Then Billy went on. "I am excited to tell you," he read, "that I can hear music with my special hearing aids. Please tell Charlotte my favorite song is 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm,' because I like all the animal sounds in it. I can only hear these animal sounds for real with my hearing aids."

"I have a book of fun songs," Charlotte told them, looking up from the letter. "I'm pretty sure this song is in there."

"I am very glad that Mandy asked about my hearing aids," Billy read. "The batteries are rechargeable. All I need is an electrical outlet near the bed, because I can't see much when I take off my glasses to sleep. Someone will need to come and get me if the smoke alarm goes off during the night, but I will not need to have someone wake me up in the morning. I have an alarm clock that will shake the bed to wake me up."
"Wow!" Billy exclaimed, looking up from the letter. "An alarm clock that shakes you out of bed! What a cool invention!"

The other dolls all agreed.
"Here's how he ends his letter," said Billy, "Thank you all for choosing me," he read. "I understand from your letter that it was unanimous." Billy sounded out the word, (you-NAN-ih-mus). "That means all of you wanted me. That means a lot to me. I am excited to meet you all! Sincerely, Emil."

"We have a lot to do to get ready," Veronika said, and they did.

Billy cleaned his room and made room for Emil's clothes in the dresser and in the closet, because Emil would be sharing his room. He made sure the outlet next to the bed was easy to get to.

Jolena found her favorite recipe for quiche, and made a shopping list.

Mariah went off to the library to find books of stories about real children.

Charlotte found the music for "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" and tuned her violin, so she could learn to play it.

The dolls were busy, so the next few days passed quickly. Before they knew it, Emil was standing in the front hall. The dolls all ran to the front door to greet him.
"You look like Harry Potter!" Jolena exclaimed as soon as she saw Emil.

Emil laughed. "I get that a lot," he said, "but I don't have a scar on my forehead and I can't do magic, so you know I'm just Emil." The dolls welcomed Emil. They shook hands with him and told him their names, one after another. Emil looked at each face as he shook their hands, and repeated that doll's name. He tried to remember all six names and which face went with which name. He thought about what he already knew about each one from their letter.

Billy took Emil upstairs and showed him where to put his clothes. He showed him the drawer for his underwear and pajamas. He could hang his other clothes up in the closet.

Billy helped him plug in his hearing aid charger and his special clock. Emil pushed the clock's bed shaker under the mattress. He set the alarm on the clock for when they had to get up in the morning. Then the two boys went back downstairs.

Emil looked out at the backyard. "You have a nice place to run and play," he said, "and things to climb on, and a slide, too!" he said.

"We have a nice place to run and play," Veronika corrected him. "This is your home now, too."
Emil knew it would be fun to play outdoors here.

Billy showed Emil the bicycles in the storeroom. "Two of them are girls' bikes," he said. "The girls sometimes have to ride when they're wearing dresses, so we have two girls' bikes. I don't mind riding a girl's bike, though, when we go for bike rides together."
"I don't mind, either," Emil said. "How many dolls have bicycles, even just to share?"

"We always wear helmets when we ride," Billy pointed out. "That's why we have one helmet for each bicycle."
"That's really important," Emil agreed. "I have to be careful not to damage my glasses, and the helmet helps protect them as well as my head."
Billy explained that there was also a sled and a skateboard they could share. (The sled was Billy's Christmas present, but he had learned that it's more fun to play with the sled when you take turns.)
Mariah gave Emil the books from the library, so he could read when he wanted to. They talked about the books, and he picked out which one he wanted to read first. He thought Mariah did a good job picking out books that were interesting, and he told her so.

Charlotte played "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" on her violin, while the other dolls pretended to sing. They sat on the stairs and pretended that they were an audience of real children. They had great seats in the theater.
The dolls had fun making the animal sounds. Emil thought it was nice of Charlotte to learn the song just for him. He thought about how much more fun it was to sing it with his new family.

Billy took a photo of all the dolls sitting on the stairs, so they would have something to remember the day Emil came to live with them. He set the timer and then ran to be in the photo.

Jolena made her favorite quiche recipe and salad for supper. When it came out of the oven, she put it on the table to cool while the others got ready to set the table. Emil wanted to help set the table, too, but first he paused to enjoy the delightful smell coming from the quiche.

The dolls pretended to eat the quiche that Jolena had made. It was delicious! The salad was good, too.
By the time Emil went to bed that night, he knew he was in the right place, and it made him happy. Dolls need to have a purpose, and he had found his.
Emil and Billy talked for a while about things they found interesting, until they felt sleepy. Then Emil took off his glasses and plugged them in to recharge. He had to put the end of each earpiece into each of the two holes. Billy noticed that Emil did this without looking at the charger. He used his hands to know where to put in the plugs.

Emil put on his sleep mask, and Billy turned off the light.

The last thing Emil knew before morning came and his alarm clock started shaking his bed was that he was home! His new sisters were pretty and kind. Billy was fun and helpful. Best of all, they enjoyed sharing what they had with him.

Cast--
Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni
Mandy: Götz Happy Kidz Katie 2015
Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen
Charlotte: Götz Happy Kidz Anna in Paris
Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, "Chosen" from My Doll Best Friend
Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily at London
Emil: Götz Happy Kidz Emilia

Note to parents: Not all hearing aids can be put in glasses. Billy's hearing loss is conductive. You can find out more about hearing loss and deafness here. Although Emil can hear the thoughts of other dolls and can communicate in the same way, real children cannot. This is one place dolls have an advantage.