The Bizarre Adventures of Doctor Who

The Doll Maker Pt. 1

A young girl, about five, mischievously broke away from her nanny, and strolled alongside the cobbled streets of an English city that her family's briefly staying in before returning to their home in Ireland after her father completed a business transaction in Brussels.

When they returned to the family home in Ireland, the young girl's older brother should've arrived from the prestigious private school he attended, by then.

Oh, how she couldn't wait to see her older brother again, she hadn't seen him since he left. It'll be a few years since they saw each other last, made her wonder if he'd recognize her!

She's trying to find a gift, something that'll bring a smile to his face, something that he couldn't find at his private school, determined, she wanted to find it before they returned to Ireland.

Her nanny wouldn't be happy with her sneaking off like that, but Ethel knew she'd been looking for a long time since news broke that her older brother's returning to the family home for the holidays.

Surely, there's something in the city that she could obtain for her dear older brother, he won't return to the family home for a few years while he finishes his studies, they won't see each other until then.

Her dress shoes clacking against the cobbled stones, the ruby bow in her hair fluttering in the cold breeze, and her baby blue eyes looking into every storefront she passed, Daphne struggled as she passed a dozen storefronts, nothing jumped out at her, and she knew she'd have to find Ethel eventually.

Ethel won't be happy with her, but she knew that it was important to Daphne, surely, she won't be mad at her once she realizes when Daphne finds a gift.

With her eyes fixated on the windows, Daphne hardly paid attention to her surroundings while she passed by the stores, in a trance, when something finally caught her baby blue eyes.

Dolls.

A row of them propped in front of the large window.

As she stood in front of the window, Daphne peered inside the old shop, seeing more dolls lining the walls, and she sees that the doll maker took special requests on a plaque near the register.

Thinking it over, Daphne became excited, as she believed a custom doll of her likeness would've been a perfect gift for her older brother.

It'd be something to remind her by, when he can't visit her, and Daphne excitedly entered the store.

Dolls of various sizes propped up on shelves, but the one that interested Daphne the most's a doll that's tall as her, almost life-like, with eyes like hers.

Staring at the doll closely, Daphne felt a presence, when she turned her head, she sees the shopkeeper standing near her, his hands firmly on top of his cane with his long rickety legs hobbling as he walked.

He's a tall lanky man, thin as a rail, wore a tight black suit with the loose suit jacket draping behind his long legs, and a black top hat covering his bald head.

"Can I help you, young lady?" Daphne heard the shopkeeper asking her as she turned her attention to him.

Nodding, Daphne excitedly tells him that she wanted a custom doll made in her likeness for her older brother, something to remember her by when he couldn't come home as often as he liked.

Hearing the request, the shopkeeper with his large pointy nose slowly bobbing as he nodded, giving her a toothy grin, as his rounded black shades reflected her in them, as he said that it can be done.

Caught up in her excitement, Daphne realized she didn't bring any money with her, no way for her to pay for the doll, but the shopkeeper assured her that she didn't have to pay for the doll.