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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Inspirational / Uplifting
- Published: 01/06/2021
The Doctor cleared his throat. "I'm sorry MS Appleby but Susie has cancer. It is very aggressive and we must admit her to the hospital right away."
Beth Appleby sat there stunned. She couldn't form the words, couldn't even form the thoughts. Finally she blurted. "Susie's been a little tired and hasn't had an appetite but how can it be cancer?"
The Doctor said, "I'm sorry sometimes it happens this way. But even with hospitalization Susie will be gone in less than 30 days. I'm sorry to be so blunt but I just have to let you know how sick she is."
The Doctor picked up the phone, "I'm calling the hospital, and you should take her right away to the admitting office so that they can get her in."
Beth barely nodded her head; Ten-year-old Susie was sleeping in the waiting room. A few minutes ago she was whining about being bored but now was fast asleep. Beth awakened Susie and tried to sound cheerful. "Guess What?" You don't have to go to School for a while! Doctor Bolden is going to put you in the hospital to run some tests to see just why you are so tired."
"More tests? But my arms feel like pin cushions now. And do I have to be in the hospital?" Beth assured Susie that being in the hospital would be fun and that the Doctor might even let her have some ice cream.
Hours later Susie finally got her hospital room. Her Doctor had arranged for her to have a room to herself. Even though Beth was sick with worry she wondered how she was going to pay for all of this. She had insurance but knew it would still be terribly expensive. But she told herself this would be something to worry about later. Later! How could her little girl be so sick?
Susie asked, "Mommy can I have a present?" Beth smiled, even though Susie was sick she knew how to manipulate her Mom. "What kind of present my sweet Bug?" My sweet bug was Beth's nickname for her little girl." Susie said, "A Porcelain doll." "A porcelain doll huh? OK tomorrow morning I'll go to the toy store and get you a Porcelain doll."
"No Mommy, today." "Oh honey it's so late and the store's about to close. "But Mommy please I'll sleep better." Beth nodded and said "OK but I'll have to hurry."
Beth left as quickly as she could. The traffic at this time of day would be crazy. And she wanted to get back to Susie as quickly as possible. She had only been on the road for about 5 minutes when she noticed a new store. CHRIS'S ANTIGUES It's banner read "All Welcome". She told herself that a porcelain doll at this place would cost a fortune, but something pulled her to stop at this store.
When she got there the cheery clerk greeted her. "You got here just before we close. How can I help you?" Beth said, "My little girl wants a porcelain doll."
The clerk smiled, "We got a beautiful doll just this morning." She retrieved a large box and opened it. True to her word the doll was indeed beautiful. It was obviously an old doll, but It's porcelain was flawless. Its auburn hair was thick and curly. It had sparkling brown eyes and it's mouth and cheeks were a dark beautiful red. It wore a cream colored wedding dress that was in pristine condition. "Isn't she beautiful?" Beth nodded her agreement but said, "Sadly I can't afford her." The clerk said, "You know what I'll let you have her for Ten dollars."
"Ten dollars, for such an old doll? How can you let it go so cheep?" The clerk said, "I had a doll just like this when I was a little girl. And I want your little girl to love hers just as much as I loved mine." Beth swore that she saw the dolls eyes close slowly and then open again, The clerk laughed "Oh that's the only flaw with this doll, she has sleep eyes which is rare for an old porcelain doll but they are loose and sometimes they close by themselves."
Beth purchased the doll and took it back to the hospital. When Susie opened the box she said, "Oh Mommy I love it." She hugged the doll tightly.
A few days later Beth went to the nurses station and told them that she had to go home for a couple of hours. She needed a shower and a change of clothes and to pay a few bills.
Beth rushed home, and took a quick shower. She skipped washing her hair. She told her self that the bills would wait even though they were already late.
When she got to the hospital Susie was still asleep, her doll had fallen to the floor. When Beth picked up the doll she noticed something strange. The dolls lips and cheeks were no longer red in fact the doll looked a little pale. Susie yawned and opened her eyes. Susie's face looked flushed, Beth felt her cheeks and she felt a little warm. She asked, "How does my sweet bug feel today." Susie said I feel hungry. Beth was taken aback. This was the first time in three days that Susie had any appetite. She said, "Well the Doctor said if You are hungry you can eat a little Jell-O."
Susie ate her Jell-O, very slowly. She didn't want to throw up like she had all the other times she had tried to eat. But this time it stayed down.
Beth tried not to read too much into this, the Doctor had said she wouldn't last long.
Three days had passed, Susie felt a little better. But still Beth didn't want to hope too much. Beth woke up to see Susie squirming in her bed. She asked, "Is everything OK honey?" "Susie said "My Doll is all tangled up in the bed sheets. Beth came over to help Susie untangle the doll. She grabbed the doll and pulled out a hunk of its hair. "Oh Susie I am so sorry but your doll's hair came out." Susie cried a little, Mom came over and stroked her daughter's almost bald head and said" "Now your doll will look more like you." Beth withdrew her hand. She could swear Susie's hair had grown an inch overnight. But this had to be her imagination.
Two days later Beth had gone down to the lunchroom. She felt guilty about leaving Susie but knew if she didn't eat more she would get sick and would not be any good for Susie. When she got back Susie was sitting up in bed acting restless and said, "Mommy I'm bored I want to go to the play room." Beth chocked back a tear. She said, "Sweet bug you know Doctor Bolden wants you to stay in bed." Susie said "But Mommy I want to play with some other Kids, Please!" Her Mom said, "Let me talk to the Nurses."
She went to the Nurses station in tears. She said, "Susie wants so bad to play with the other kids, what can I tell her?" The head nurse had an idea, "I tell you what, and we have a little boy about Susie's age down the hall. He is bored, maybe I can get him to come to Susie's room and play some checkers." Beth said, "Oh thank you, you've been so good to Susie and I."
The little boy, eight-year-old Bobby was more than happy to play with anyone even an annoying ten-year-old girl. Because we all know that boys don't like girls!
When Bobby got to Susie's room he saw the doll and groaned, "You play with dolls?"
Susie hugged her doll tightly and said, "Yes she's my friend even though her porcelain is all cracked and her hand has fallen off." Beth thought to herself 'No wonder this doll was only Ten dollars.'
Susie and Bobby played for half an hour. This was about three times longer than anyone expected Susie to play. But finally she yawned and told Bobby he had to go back to his room. Bobby reluctantly left. He said, "You know for a girl you aren’t so bad."
The next morning the Nurse came in and told Beth Doctor Bolden and his associates wanted to have a meeting with her. She swallowed hard. The time was coming quickly and she didn't want to have this conversation.
She entered the room. Doctor Bolden and three of his associates were talking and laughing. 'How can they be happy when my little girl is dying? How?' Doctor Bolden
Smiled at her and said, "Please sit down." "No I'd rather stand. "Doctor Bolden said
"We ran tests on Susie on Monday and repeated these yesterday." Beth impatiently interrupted, "And!" Doctor Bolden gave a small smile. "Susie's tests were all negative. We didn't find any cancer."
"But you said she's dying, how can this be?" Doctor Bolden said, "My three associates concurred with me on Susie's cancer diagnosis, but now the cancer is gone. As a professional I hate to say this, but all I can say is it's a miracle."
"We want to run a few more tests but if they are all negative Susie can go home on Friday." Beth walked; more like skipped to Susie's room and told her that she might get to go home as early as Friday. She tried not to sound to optimistic; she didn't want to get Susie's hopes up just to have to disappoint her.
Susie was happy but told her mom. "Mommy my dolls eyes closed and I can't get them to open again." Beth took the doll from Susie and pried the eyes open. She looked at them. The once sparkling eyes now seemed dull. Beth shook her head and told Susie, "Honey this is an old doll she is just falling apart."
The tests were still negative and Susie was released. Susie begged her Mom to take her to the Antique store. She wanted to thank them for her beautiful but crumbling doll.
Beth went to the spot where the store was, but the store was closed. In fact it was all boarded up. The sign was hanging by one hook and was faded. Beth told Susie to stay in the car. Beth went to the store next to this one and asked the clerk, "What happened to the store next door, CHRIS'S ANTIQUES?" The clerk gave her a puzzled look and said, "That store has been closed for twenty years!"
The Old Doll(Shirley Smothers)
The Doctor cleared his throat. "I'm sorry MS Appleby but Susie has cancer. It is very aggressive and we must admit her to the hospital right away."
Beth Appleby sat there stunned. She couldn't form the words, couldn't even form the thoughts. Finally she blurted. "Susie's been a little tired and hasn't had an appetite but how can it be cancer?"
The Doctor said, "I'm sorry sometimes it happens this way. But even with hospitalization Susie will be gone in less than 30 days. I'm sorry to be so blunt but I just have to let you know how sick she is."
The Doctor picked up the phone, "I'm calling the hospital, and you should take her right away to the admitting office so that they can get her in."
Beth barely nodded her head; Ten-year-old Susie was sleeping in the waiting room. A few minutes ago she was whining about being bored but now was fast asleep. Beth awakened Susie and tried to sound cheerful. "Guess What?" You don't have to go to School for a while! Doctor Bolden is going to put you in the hospital to run some tests to see just why you are so tired."
"More tests? But my arms feel like pin cushions now. And do I have to be in the hospital?" Beth assured Susie that being in the hospital would be fun and that the Doctor might even let her have some ice cream.
Hours later Susie finally got her hospital room. Her Doctor had arranged for her to have a room to herself. Even though Beth was sick with worry she wondered how she was going to pay for all of this. She had insurance but knew it would still be terribly expensive. But she told herself this would be something to worry about later. Later! How could her little girl be so sick?
Susie asked, "Mommy can I have a present?" Beth smiled, even though Susie was sick she knew how to manipulate her Mom. "What kind of present my sweet Bug?" My sweet bug was Beth's nickname for her little girl." Susie said, "A Porcelain doll." "A porcelain doll huh? OK tomorrow morning I'll go to the toy store and get you a Porcelain doll."
"No Mommy, today." "Oh honey it's so late and the store's about to close. "But Mommy please I'll sleep better." Beth nodded and said "OK but I'll have to hurry."
Beth left as quickly as she could. The traffic at this time of day would be crazy. And she wanted to get back to Susie as quickly as possible. She had only been on the road for about 5 minutes when she noticed a new store. CHRIS'S ANTIGUES It's banner read "All Welcome". She told herself that a porcelain doll at this place would cost a fortune, but something pulled her to stop at this store.
When she got there the cheery clerk greeted her. "You got here just before we close. How can I help you?" Beth said, "My little girl wants a porcelain doll."
The clerk smiled, "We got a beautiful doll just this morning." She retrieved a large box and opened it. True to her word the doll was indeed beautiful. It was obviously an old doll, but It's porcelain was flawless. Its auburn hair was thick and curly. It had sparkling brown eyes and it's mouth and cheeks were a dark beautiful red. It wore a cream colored wedding dress that was in pristine condition. "Isn't she beautiful?" Beth nodded her agreement but said, "Sadly I can't afford her." The clerk said, "You know what I'll let you have her for Ten dollars."
"Ten dollars, for such an old doll? How can you let it go so cheep?" The clerk said, "I had a doll just like this when I was a little girl. And I want your little girl to love hers just as much as I loved mine." Beth swore that she saw the dolls eyes close slowly and then open again, The clerk laughed "Oh that's the only flaw with this doll, she has sleep eyes which is rare for an old porcelain doll but they are loose and sometimes they close by themselves."
Beth purchased the doll and took it back to the hospital. When Susie opened the box she said, "Oh Mommy I love it." She hugged the doll tightly.
A few days later Beth went to the nurses station and told them that she had to go home for a couple of hours. She needed a shower and a change of clothes and to pay a few bills.
Beth rushed home, and took a quick shower. She skipped washing her hair. She told her self that the bills would wait even though they were already late.
When she got to the hospital Susie was still asleep, her doll had fallen to the floor. When Beth picked up the doll she noticed something strange. The dolls lips and cheeks were no longer red in fact the doll looked a little pale. Susie yawned and opened her eyes. Susie's face looked flushed, Beth felt her cheeks and she felt a little warm. She asked, "How does my sweet bug feel today." Susie said I feel hungry. Beth was taken aback. This was the first time in three days that Susie had any appetite. She said, "Well the Doctor said if You are hungry you can eat a little Jell-O."
Susie ate her Jell-O, very slowly. She didn't want to throw up like she had all the other times she had tried to eat. But this time it stayed down.
Beth tried not to read too much into this, the Doctor had said she wouldn't last long.
Three days had passed, Susie felt a little better. But still Beth didn't want to hope too much. Beth woke up to see Susie squirming in her bed. She asked, "Is everything OK honey?" "Susie said "My Doll is all tangled up in the bed sheets. Beth came over to help Susie untangle the doll. She grabbed the doll and pulled out a hunk of its hair. "Oh Susie I am so sorry but your doll's hair came out." Susie cried a little, Mom came over and stroked her daughter's almost bald head and said" "Now your doll will look more like you." Beth withdrew her hand. She could swear Susie's hair had grown an inch overnight. But this had to be her imagination.
Two days later Beth had gone down to the lunchroom. She felt guilty about leaving Susie but knew if she didn't eat more she would get sick and would not be any good for Susie. When she got back Susie was sitting up in bed acting restless and said, "Mommy I'm bored I want to go to the play room." Beth chocked back a tear. She said, "Sweet bug you know Doctor Bolden wants you to stay in bed." Susie said "But Mommy I want to play with some other Kids, Please!" Her Mom said, "Let me talk to the Nurses."
She went to the Nurses station in tears. She said, "Susie wants so bad to play with the other kids, what can I tell her?" The head nurse had an idea, "I tell you what, and we have a little boy about Susie's age down the hall. He is bored, maybe I can get him to come to Susie's room and play some checkers." Beth said, "Oh thank you, you've been so good to Susie and I."
The little boy, eight-year-old Bobby was more than happy to play with anyone even an annoying ten-year-old girl. Because we all know that boys don't like girls!
When Bobby got to Susie's room he saw the doll and groaned, "You play with dolls?"
Susie hugged her doll tightly and said, "Yes she's my friend even though her porcelain is all cracked and her hand has fallen off." Beth thought to herself 'No wonder this doll was only Ten dollars.'
Susie and Bobby played for half an hour. This was about three times longer than anyone expected Susie to play. But finally she yawned and told Bobby he had to go back to his room. Bobby reluctantly left. He said, "You know for a girl you aren’t so bad."
The next morning the Nurse came in and told Beth Doctor Bolden and his associates wanted to have a meeting with her. She swallowed hard. The time was coming quickly and she didn't want to have this conversation.
She entered the room. Doctor Bolden and three of his associates were talking and laughing. 'How can they be happy when my little girl is dying? How?' Doctor Bolden
Smiled at her and said, "Please sit down." "No I'd rather stand. "Doctor Bolden said
"We ran tests on Susie on Monday and repeated these yesterday." Beth impatiently interrupted, "And!" Doctor Bolden gave a small smile. "Susie's tests were all negative. We didn't find any cancer."
"But you said she's dying, how can this be?" Doctor Bolden said, "My three associates concurred with me on Susie's cancer diagnosis, but now the cancer is gone. As a professional I hate to say this, but all I can say is it's a miracle."
"We want to run a few more tests but if they are all negative Susie can go home on Friday." Beth walked; more like skipped to Susie's room and told her that she might get to go home as early as Friday. She tried not to sound to optimistic; she didn't want to get Susie's hopes up just to have to disappoint her.
Susie was happy but told her mom. "Mommy my dolls eyes closed and I can't get them to open again." Beth took the doll from Susie and pried the eyes open. She looked at them. The once sparkling eyes now seemed dull. Beth shook her head and told Susie, "Honey this is an old doll she is just falling apart."
The tests were still negative and Susie was released. Susie begged her Mom to take her to the Antique store. She wanted to thank them for her beautiful but crumbling doll.
Beth went to the spot where the store was, but the store was closed. In fact it was all boarded up. The sign was hanging by one hook and was faded. Beth told Susie to stay in the car. Beth went to the store next to this one and asked the clerk, "What happened to the store next door, CHRIS'S ANTIQUES?" The clerk gave her a puzzled look and said, "That store has been closed for twenty years!"
BEN BROWN
02/13/2021BEN BROWN
I'm impressed with this story. These horror adventures fill me with excitement. Well done.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
02/13/2021Thank you. I like stories with a twist. I prefer stories with an uplifting theme. I wrote an alternate version where the doll is evil. But I like this one better.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Candy
01/29/2021I've read both versions. I must say both are very good, but I enjoyed this one a bit more.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
01/30/2021Thank you for you kind words. This was the original version. I agree this is better. I like uplifting stories. Even ones with a twist.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
MAYRA
01/06/2021Oh my god! That was indeed a masterpiece.
Just loved the concept and plot. Truly inspiring with a little bit of suspense and mystery!
Keep it up, Shirley Smothers!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
01/07/2021Thank you for yout kind words. I tried making this into a dark scarry tale. But this uplifting version is much better.
COMMENTS (3)