Chapter 2
Oh, My Candy Heart!
Just then, the dolls heard a rush of footsteps coming up the stairs. Not wanting to be
found out, the dolls all dropped into various positions on the floor in case the door should be
opened. Mrs. Gruelle's concerned voice rang in the dolls' ears with "Do you think she will be
alright, doctor?" and in reply came a very serious, very upset voice, "I cannot say for sure,
ma'am. I only wish I knew what she came down with this morning. Her symptoms are very flu-
like, but it seems to me to be a mutation of the disease…". The voices flew up the stairs, past
the nursery. Raggedy Ann tumbled over towards Andy. "Did you hear that? Marcella's sick!"
she exclaimed and nearly fell into sobs. Andy picked her up in a tight embrace and choking back
his own shock and tears, said "There must be something we can do to help her feel better!".
The dolls all hung their heads in sorrow and thought. Of course, there must be
something they could do, but what could that be? Not a one of them knew. Ann finally lifted
her raggedy head and broke away from Andy's arms, announcing "I have an idea.". Andy and
the other dolls looked at her in a sort of wonder. "And what would that be, Ann?" they all
asked, Andy in the lead. "Well, you all remember those times Marcella would give us sugar
water and tell us about all the things it could cure? Didn't that make us feel better?" Ann lifted
her palms up and shrugged, gesticulating her suggestion. The French Doll made a move as if to
speak and then furrowed her beautifully handcrafted features in brief thought. "Well, it
certainly made us feel happier. But, oh, how awful it was to have the liquid stick to our insides!"
she exclaimed. Andy turned to the French Doll and gestured towards Ann as he answered
somewhat excitedly, "But don't you think Ann is on to something here? I mean, something that
makes you feel happy is usually a good thing. I've heard before that happiness is the best
medicine!". This very nearly made Ann giggle before she put a hand on Andy's shoulder and
said, "Andy, I think you mean that laughter is the best medicine." with a little grin. "Oh" he
shrugged, "Well, laughter often comes with happiness, that's for sure.".
"For sure." echoed the other dolls. "Well, I know I felt better when I first came here!"
grinned the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees. Raggedy Ann carefully approached the door and
slowly pulled it open to peek around the corner and see if anyone was in sight as she said
"Maybe we could sneak into Marcella's bedroom and find out what might make her feel better
by listening to her.". Everyone agreed to this, and soon they were scaling the stairs up to her
room. The dolls made it just before they heard more footsteps coming up the stairs and once
again dropped motionless to the floor, this time, in Marcella's bedroom, right by her bed.
Fortunately for them, Marcella had been asleep and had not heard the noise of their scramble
to find spots near her bedside.
This time, Marcella's father entered the room with the doctor. "I just… If something
happens, I don't know what we'll… Oh…" Mr. Gruelle was talking very hurriedly and scratching
his hung head. On his face was a more distraught look than any other man could ever produce.
The doctor, meanwhile, scooted the dolls to one side and set down his medical bag. He
reached into it and soon produced a thermometer. At the loud noise of clanging instruments
and ruffling from the bag, Marcella slowly began to stir. She rolled an arm off the side of the
bed and groaned something about the room being too hot to bear. Marcella then made a move
to pull down her blanket, but was stopped when the doctor gently took up her hand and said,
"Marcella, you should keep your blanket on. If you don't, the cold will only worsen your
condition. Now, say 'ah'." before sticking the thermometer in her mouth.
Marcella dreaded this treatment as much as she did the way she felt. She wanted to be
in the nursery or outside playing with her dolls, but the doctor had said she must not be
allowed to play until she was cured. Mr. Gruelle wanted to sweep up his daughter in his arms
and just take away all of her troubles, but he knew that that would be impossible, especially
with the doctor preventing every move towards Marcella, saying that her illness was fairly
contagious. The doctor then pulled the thermometer out of Marcella's mouth and read it aloud
to himself. "Oh my…" he said, "She's burning up…Her temperature is a hundred and three
degrees! Quickly, we must get her a drink of water and some syrup!" as he quickly put away the
thermometer and, taking the bag, left again with Mr. Gruelle in a hurry.
Hearing their footsteps disappear downstairs, the dolls began to stir, forgetting for once
that Marcella was watching. "Hello there, dollies!" Marcella grinned, for she thought that she
was dreaming, now. Immediately, the dolls all startled and dropped to the ground again. "Oh,
don't be afraid! We're friends, right?" giggled Marcella from her bed. She was glad to be having
such a nice dream, away from the harshness of real life. Raggedy Ann looked around slowly
and quietly said to the other dolls, "I think Marcella thinks she is dreaming, and she wants to
talk to us!", so they all got back up and each happily addressed Marcella and asked how she
was feeling.
"Oh, simply terrible!" exclaimed she, "My whole body has been aching all day and I'm
extremely hot and tired.". Ann and Andy made their way up onto the pillow beside her head,
for you know, dolls cannot get sick, and said "That's too bad, Marcella! Is there anything you
would like us to do for you?". With a small, painful groan, but a slight smile upon her face,
Marcella turned on her side to fully face Raggedy Ann and Andy, and replied, "Just you all being
here to talk to me, to help me pass the time is all I want.". Her smile was warm, but her words
did nothing to calm the nerves of the dolls. It was then that the first, tiny, but significant crack
appeared in Raggedy Ann's and Raggedy Andy's candy hearts.