Josephine appeared happy when she went to school right on the next day.
“Hey Mary, thanks for the brownies! That totally brightened up my day, you know?” she laughed, and gave Mary a hug. Mary, shocked, half-patted her friend back.
“You’re alright already? What happened yesterday –”
“Oh that’s just a nasty trick those neighbours are up to, I guess that’s okay. I’m feeling a lot better already today! Alicia, I guess you would have known about what happened to Mimi through this gossipy friend of ours?”
“Umm… So I had,” Alicia replied.
Mary and Alicia looked at each other, shocked. Both of them are pretty sure that something is wrong with Josephine. However, the bright smile on her face which is exactly like the smile before the whole incident started told a completely different story.
“Aren’t you supposed to be sad or something? I mean, that was part of your good memories isn’t it?” Alicia asked.
“Oh it certainly is a tragic incident, you see? But my mum didn’t even notice that when she was home this early morning. I cleaned up all those mess on my own overnight, but that stench is still there though. You won’t want to come over in the meantime!” Josephine answered with a laugh. “Forget about all that for now anyway! Mary, your birthday is like, tomorrow isn’t it? I’ve fixed myself enough to help you celebrate your birthday!” Josephine said cheerfully.
“Well…” Mary said to herself.
“Would there be any gifts that you want, Mary?” Josephine hugged Mary and squeezed her tight. “C’mon, there must be something special that you would want this year?”
“It won’t be a surprise if you get a gift that you asked for, isn’t it?” Alicia argued with Josephine’s choice. Josephine appeared to think for a moment.
“True, I have something special of my own that I’d planned to give Mary later anyway,” Josephine smiled, thinking about that gift she’s going to give Mary. “You’re going to love it!”
“Do you want to come over later? I’m planning to get Mary something she wants at the mall later on,” Alicia suggested, trying to break the weird atmosphere stressing them.
“Sure! I would love to, I mean, after all that happened…” Josephine started. “Oh give me a minute, I think it’s time for me to down my pills!” she giggled. Then took out the pills from her schoolbag and downed them with some water.
Alicia and Mary stared at each other for a while. Of course, they’d learnt about the mental problems Josephine had gone through. It’s a wonder why Stephanie had let her go to school in her unstable conditions. Mary had then somehow feared Josephine a little. Surely someone can’t recover from the shock that quickly!
After school that day Alicia had brought Josephine to the mall nearby. It was more to window shopping as Alicia did nothing more than following Josephine around.
“What are you getting Mary, Josephine?” Alicia had asked when they were halfway done through their shopping. “You’re not thinking about giving her that doll… are you?”
“Giving that doll to Mary?!!” Josephine exclaimed. “AM I THAT TYPE OF PERSON TO YOU?”
“Oh of course not, Jo. Of course not!” Alicia replied, trying hard to calm Josephine down. “You won’t do that to your friend!” she continued.
That seemed to calm Josephine down a little. “That’s right, you’re not…” Alicia continued.
“I’m a good friend… I’ll do anything to take good care of my friends. I won’t let them get hurt, even if that means me myself getting hurt!” Josephine replied, a strange smile playing on her face as if she’s just trying to convince herself that she is what she claimed to be.
***
The next day after school, Josephine had smiled happily at Mary and handed her a wrapped package. “Happy Birthday, Mary!” she said cheerfully.
In that package, Esme’s eyes glowed bright. It smiled, knowing it’s going to have a new owner… Another person’s life to change!!!
YOU ARE READING
The Doll Maker
Teen FictionWhen Josephine, Alicia and Mary had stumbled upon a porcelain doll in a second-hand shop, they had not known that it could be so dangerous. Neither had they known that it can cause them so much fear, loss and tragic. Their friendship is barely hangi...
