Chapter Four β Little Lottie
Note: The patchwork doll Charlotte (Lottie) is modelled after some dolls I saw when I was in Portugal. Photo (hosted on Photobucket, remove the spaces): http:/ smg. photobucket. com/ albums/ v439/ layoutsarekool/ ?action=view¤t=lottiedolls. jpg
Meanwhile the other toys were starting to leave the box for the floor. Woody was overseeing the operation like it was the sinking of the Titanic. As the toys landed one by one they all turned to look around at their new surroundings.
In the corner behind them stood a small TV on a unit, and in the opposite corner was a dresser. Slightly apart from this on the next wall was a bookcase. And then there was the bed under the window. Slinky was the first to look at the bed, and saw Jessie and Buzz there.
"Hey guys, what's the new kid like?"
From her position on the bed Jessie turned and hesitated, but Buzz shrugged. "Hard to say," he said dismissively.
"Ah." Slinky said shortly, turned his attention elsewhere as something bumped into him. To his surprise he came face to face with a little Westie dog that yapped three times at him and then did a backwards flip.
The other toys were also being surrounded. "Ah, my adoring public," swooned Rochelle with a laugh. Bullseye and Buttercup found themselves in the midst of some frolicking My Little Ponies. There were several plush teddies, Barbies galore, and plush rabbits hopping around everywhere. Mr Pricklepants was inspecting another toy hedgehog curiously while Beanie Babies swarmed around Dolly and lifted her up, making her laugh and squeal.
Woody watched the goings on with much confusion, until he was tapped on the shoulder and he turned to see a patchwork ragdoll next to him. Her hair was the colour of corn and her eyes the brightest blue, he realised, and something inside him jolted. She was dressed very plainly in a blue and white plaid dress, white socks, big blue shoes, and she wore a cute little blue bonnet with a flower on the front of it.
"Hi." She said in a friendly manner, and Woody realised he was staring.
He recovered enough to greet her. "Hi."
"Welcome to Amber's playroom." She said, with a broad grin. "I'm Charlotte. Or Lottie, for short."
"I'm Woody. And thank you for the welcome." Woody smiled.
He was interesting, she thought, sizing him up. Little Lottie, as Amber loved to refer to her, had missed the company of other ragdolls. There were many other toys in the playroom but they were all animal orientated.
But now here were toys that looked like her! When she had slipped out of the closet, she first noticed the fabric doll being carried across the room by the Beanie Babies. Her smile widened at the mere thought of another ragdoll in the room!
She'd noticed, from her position under the bed, that Amber had picked out of the box two other toys; a cowgirl βshe'd heard Amber squeal 'Bullet Babs' β and what looked to be a astronaut β she'd then heard Amber proclaim the words 'Buzz Lightyear' with glee. She was anxious to meet them, too. Amber had never had many female toys, or even space toys for that matter.
She could see a blonde doll in the middle of the floor taking up all the attention from the Barbie's, who were complimenting her hair, her clothes, pulling at her jacket, and the blonde was lapping it up like a cat with a saucer of cream.
Then she had spotted the cowboy doll watching over the others climbing out of the box Bonnie had brought over. She supposed him to be the leader of these toys. That would be nice. The playroom could use a little authority other than herself, she had often mused. She had been unofficially appointed the leader of Amber's room and that suited her fine. It had given her the power she needed, without making her into a bolshy forward toy, but at the same time it had also saved her from merely blending into the background.
Now as she greeted the cowboy leader, he introduced himself and she acknowledged him with a nod. "Nice to meet you," she said cordially.
Yes, things were going to be pretty different around here now she had some toys to actually talk to, Lottie thought, before the sound of footsteps along the corridor outside the room made her turn.
Sorry for the short chapter! I have more ideas for Woody and Lottie's converse a bit later.
