-punches head for super extended case of writers block-

Doll

Gladys led Lola to the second floor of her house. She opened the door to an extra bedroom and showed Lola inside.

"This is a bedroom for when my grandkids come over to stay the night," said Gladys

"This is really nice," commented Lola

The room was painted a sky blue. It was furnished with a bunk bed, a dresser, and a toy trunk. On the bed there were stuffed animals galore. There was one that caught Lola's attention. She leaned over the bed and reached for it.

"It's Edna…" said Lola, "I can't believe she's still here."

"Yes, I found her upstairs in the attic,"

Edna was a stuffed rabbit doll. She was brown, with yarn for hair and she wore a purple dress. The doll has had its share of wear and tear; one of her eyes was hanging on a thread and parts of her hair were cut. There were also stains on the dress and a rip on one of her feet.

"Grandpa Milton gave this to me,"

"You remember?"

"I remember him…but, it was so long ago…"

One day, in the age when Lola was learning to walk and talk; the extended family came to visit her family. Most have not seen her since she was born. They came bearing gifts for her; Toys and other things she may need. They were all cheerful to see her.

One of the visitors was a very respectable member of the family, and one of the oldest. He had a mess of silver hair on his head and his fur was a pale brown color. His eyes were a silverfish-blue color and his smile was warm and friendly. He came up to his son and embraced him.

"Good to see you son," said Milton

"Hi dad," said Larry

"Hey, who's that pulling on my leg…" he said looking down and saw the young Brendan holding up his arms. Milton leaned over and picked him up.

"Hi there little man."

"Hi Grandpa!" said Brendan

"How are you?"

"Good,"

"Ok…Grandpa's going to set you down because my strength isn't what it used to be. Hey, I got something for you…" Milton then pulled out a baseball and gave it to Brendan

"Gee, thanks Grandpa!" said Brendan running off to play with his new toy

Then from the other room, Gladys came in carrying Lola. She was talking with other women in the family. Basically telling them how smart and energetic her little Lola was. She then noticed Milton there.

"Hello," she greeted him

"Hello my dear," he answered

"Lola, this is your Grandfather Milton," she said to Lola

She then gave her to him. Lola didn't say a word; she just looked at him timidly.

"Hey there little princess…" he said tickling her tummy

She giggled.

"N-no!" she uttered

He hugged her tightly. The family laughed at the display.

"I heard you were learning to walk," he said

She nodded

"Well, let's see what you got," he set her down on the ground

"Grandpa Milton, she was just taking her first steps…" said Gladys, "she can't…"

"Nonsense…" he cut her off

Milton took a few steps back and waited for Lola to come to him.

"Go on, Lola, go to Grandpa Milton," said Larry

Lola looked from her parents, then to her grandfather. She took one step, then another. Slowly but surely, she was walking towards him.

"Almost there…" encouraged Milton

At the last step, she stumbled, but Milton caught her in time.

"There's a good girl," he assured her

"That was wonderful, Lola," said Gladys cheerfully

Lola smiled and chuckled happily.

"Job well done," said Milton

"Yay!" said Lola

"And for doing such a great job, I have a present for you,"

He held out a stuffed rabbit doll.

"This is Edna," said Milton

"En-na?" uttered Lola

"Yes, Edna,"

"Say 'thank you' to Grandpa," said Larry

"Th-an yooo..." said Lola

"You're very welcome,"

He set her down on the ground. She started to play with her new toy. Gladys was about to pick her up but Milton stopped her.

"Don't carry her too much. You have to let her go on her own," said Milton

"But, she could get hurt if she tries to walk," said Gladys

"That's how they learn,"

"Well…I guess…" she hesitantly agreed

After watching Lola and Brendan play with their new gifts, Milton remembered someone that was missing from the picture.

"Where's Katie?" he asked

"She's in her room," answered Gladys

"Why? Did she do something wrong?

"No, she just never came out of her room this morning,"

"Is she alright?"

"Yes, she was fine when I went to check on her,"

"I'll go and say hi to her,"

Milton went upstairs. He searched for Katie's room and knocked on her door.

"Katie?" asked Milton

"What?" came the voice from inside

"May I come in?"

After a moment, he saw the door knob turn and saw Katie in the doorway.

"Oh! Grandpa Milton!" she said in surprise

"Hi Katie," he said hugging her

She felt embarrassed.

"Sorry I didn't come down….I…" tried explaining Katie

"What's the matter Katie? Are you feeling ok?" asked Milton

"N-no not really…" she said looking down

"Why?"

"Cause nobody notices me. All Mom ever says is 'Lola this…' or 'Lola that…' It's driving me crazy,"

"But Katie, we all care about you. We wish you were downstairs with us,"

"Humph…"

"Come on Katie, don't be so grouchy," he said tickling her.

She giggled

"If you go downstairs, I'll give you the present that I got you,"

"A present? For me?" she said brightly

"But only if you come downstairs,"

"Ok Grandpa,"

She went ahead of him and they both went downstairs. The other family members noticed Kate and they all said hello. Milton then took something out of his jacket pocket.

"Here you go, my little queen," said Milton handing her a red jump rope

"Wow! Thank you Grandpa!" she said hugging him

She went to the yard to play with her new toy.

"Dad," said Larry, "you shouldn't have gotten the kids toys…"

"I wanted too," said Milton, "If I was going to bring Lola something, I might as well bring something for Brendan and Katie or they'll get jealous."

"Yes, but…"

"But nothing,"

A few moments later, Katie came in skipping.

"Mommy Mommy! Look at me!" she shouted

"Katie! Not now…" said Gladys returning back to her conversation, "…so Lola held on to the spoon and…"

"But Mom! Look! I can jump five times in a row!" she interrupted

"Katie, I said not now!"

"Mom!"

"Kate!"

Gladys glared at her, and that silenced Katie. Gladys turned around and faced whom she was talking too. Kate hung her head and walked away. However, she overheard her mother say:

"Why can't she be more calm and quiet like Lola?"

Katie looked over to her sister. Lola was oblivious to everyone else; in her own little world playing with Edna. She had the faintest idea what was going around her. Katie frowned at her. And with a humph she went to seek refuge in her room.

"You would spend hours and hours playing with Edna," said Gladys

"Yeah…" replied Lola

"You would never let her out of your sight; not for a moment. You loved her so much,"

Lola clutched Edna.

"And yet," said Lola

"What?"

"There was that one time…"

Lola was a little older. Just about perfected her speech and she had mastered her walking skills. She was a very active child, running, jumping and tumbling all over the place. And everywhere that Lola went, Edna was sure to go. She was her best friend in the world.

One day, Gladys was busy in the kitchen. The kids were playing in the living room. Kate was making jewelry out of neon colored clay when she observed Lola there, playing with Edna. She then concocted a little plot in her mind.

"Hey Lola…" said Kate

Lola looked up towards her sister.

"Wanna play a game?"

"OK!" said Lola cheerfully

Kate pulled Lola off the floor and tugged her upstairs. Lola did her best to keep up with Kate. She walked as fast as she could to catch up with her hasty older sibling.

Kate opened a large door and peeked inside. Since she the close was clear, she intruded in her mother's room. She searched a top the bureau.

"Whatcha doin?" asked Lola

"Getting toys,"

"But…they're mommy's toys…"

"We're only borrowing, she won't get mad…"

"Ok…"

After grabbing a few things, Kate pulled Lola into Lola's room. Kate searched through her dresser; flinging clothes out while she searched for something.

"Ah ha! Found it…"

Kate pulled out a lavender dress from the drawer.

"What are we gonna play?" asked Lola

"We're gonna play…dress-up,"

"What's that?"

"That means…I dress you up…"

Kate then threw the dress over Lola. She pulled down on it until Lola's head came through the collar. She then pulled her little arms through the sleeves. She was being anything but gentle. Kate then grabbed one of the 'borrowed' items and opened it. It was beauty powder. She took the pad and began to cover Lola's face in white powder. Lola coughed but then she had to shut her mouth when Kate put on lipstick. Kate then took a brush and put blush on Lola's cheeks.

"Alright…" said Kate, "I'm missing something…I know!"

She went to the dresser and pulled out a white ribbon. She proceeded to tie it around Lola's ears.

"Perfect!"

"I feel icky…"

"Come on, let's go…"

Kate dragged Lola out of the room. As she passed her mother's room, she spotted a pair of white heels. She went in and grabbed them. Kate then put them on Lola's feet.

"I can't walk…" said Lola

"Sure you can…" said Kate annoyed and took her to the living room where Brendan was playing with his trucks.

"Look Brendan," said Kate

Brendan looked up and saw Lola in her new make-over.

"How does she look?" asked Kate

Brendan started to laugh himself silly. Kate smirked at his response.

"She…looks…like-a like-a…dumb doll!" said Brendan between his laughter

Kate couldn't hold back any longer, she joined her brother in his precarious laughter.

"Aww look at the little dolly wolly…." taunted Kate

"I'm…not…a…doll," said Lola fighting back tears

"Look at the cute little doll!" said Kate pinching Lola's cheeks

"The doll wants to play!" said Brendan swinging Lola's arms in the air.

"Stop it!" yelled Lola

Kate and Brendan wouldn't back off. Kate saw Edna on the floor and picked her up.

"You're a big dumb doll! You're just like Edna!" said Kate waving Edna in Lola's face

"No I'm not!" yelled Lola pushing Kate's hand out of her face, dropping Edna on the ground.

"Aww…the doll is so cute when she's mad…" said Kate pinching her cheek

"Stop!" yelled Lola

Lola tried to go push Kate but she lost her balanced and fell from the perch that were the high heels. She fell; face first, into the wooden floor.

"Ow!" she cried

Kate and Brendan laughed even harder. Lola sat up and looked at them. She did what she could only do…

"Waah!" she cried "Mommy!"

Gladys rushed in from the kitchen to find out what all the commotion was about.

"What's the…Lola! What are you doing in my make-up!"

"K-kate did it!"

"I see you wearing it! Lola, you can't play with my things…"

"But…but Kate said we were playing dress-up. So she put all this gunk on my face and put me in the dress. Now they're laughing at me…"

"Kate…"

"What! I didn't do anything!" said Kate

"But you were the one that took her to mom's room…" said Brendan

"Kate!"

"Tattle-tale!" yelled Kate to Brendan

"Kate! You're in big trouble young lady…" she grabbed her by her ear and pulled her towards her room, " you stay in there and think about what you've done."

She slammed the door.

Lola looked to where she tossed Edna. She looked mad at her. But then her arms uncrossed and looked regretful. She remembered how special she was to her, how they played and how they were inseperable. She picked her up and held her tightly. Gladys came back to the living room and picked Lola up.

"Come here sweetie, let's get you cleaned up…" said Gladys

"They…called me…a…doll!" said the teary-eyed Lola

"But…you do look like a doll…a cute little doll…" she tried to comfort her

"No!"

"Come on Lola…"

"I'm not a dumb doll…"

Later that day, Larry came home from work. After dinner and putting the kids to sleep, he and Gladys were talking at the table.

"Gladys…we went through this a thousand times…"

"But Larry…I don't want to put my baby in a day care…"

"It was the same with Katie and Brendan…Gladys; you have to do it…"

"No…she's too little…"

"She's going to Day Care and that's final,"

Gladys was silent.

"Don't worry, I found a great place. It's not too far from here. It's in a private house in a cozy little neighborhood,"

She crossed her arms and looked down.

"It'll be fine. It'll be good for Lola to interact with kids her own age,"

"Fine then, she'll go…" sighed Gladys

She looked up him. Larry didn't change his serious manor, yet something in his eyes were a bit...reassuring to her.

"Who is the teacher?"

"A friendly woman named Granny…"