Book One: Velvet Memories.

Chapter Six: A Tale of Toys.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, softly illuminating the room. Warm golden rays caressed walls, shelves, and the toys upon them.

In the centre of the shelf, slightly apart from the other toys, sat a doll. Beautiful, in the way that only dolls can be, with perfect rosebud lips and enchanting emerald eyes, she sat alone on her shelf, watching the sunlight fill the room.

The pale porcelain of her skin gleamed where her clothes did not cover it; hints of smooth, flawless complexion in-between layers of silk and lace and velvet. Hands loosely clasped in her lap, her gaze steady and blank, the doll looked much like any other. However, this doll was not ordinary...
This was a magical doll.

As the day wore on, the doll became more aware of thoughts. A thought would suddenly *pop* into her head, only to vanish a moment later. Then another! And another... Thoughts bursting into existence, slowly re-awakening the doll as twilight crept into the room.

"I am Velvet. A Velvet doll. I am a doll. A doll! Velvet.... doll. Sitting. Pretty. Pretty Velvet doll."

The shadows deepened, and night cast moonlight into the toy room. The doll moved slightly; a finger twitch, and blinked.
"I am...Velvet."
She carefully tested the movement of first one leg, then the other. Satisfied, she delicately slid from her shelf, and began to wander the room, curious in her newfound freedom.

She stopped to inspect small wagons and plastic soldiers, and large containers full of brightly coloured blocks. Moving past them slightly, she noticed movement, and stopped, abruptly, falling to the floor in the manner of a discarded toy, limbs loose and splayed, expression completely devoid of emotion save for the small, polite smile on those richly painted lips.

Several minutes passed. The Velvet doll dared to turn her head, ever so slightly...
To see a doll staring back at her!
Velvet gasped, and the doll gasped too, her eyes flying wide.
Velvet reached out an arm to the new doll, and the new doll reached back... until their fingers touched... against the glass.
Velvet began to giggle, a sweet, chiming giggle that floated through the room. It was only her reflection!

Moving past the mirror, Velvet grew a little lonely, for she had so wanted another doll to play with, to talk to.
She dragged her tiny feet against the fluffy carpet. Thud!
The little doll tripped, landing straight into a soft, furry pile of... Teddy.
Blushing bright red, Velvet stammered an apology. "I...I am so terribly sorry.. Really..."

Velvet carefully lifted herself up and gingerly checked for injury, shook off her bustling skirts and adjusted her satin corset. She then looked to the teddy whom she had so rudely landed upon.
The teddy stared back, his black eyes blank, his position unchanged. He had a few ragged stitches right across his chest, though Velvets' fall had knocked one or two out of place.

A hot stab of disappointment ripped through Velvets' heart, and she sat beside the teddy, leaning back against his soft fur.
"I just..." sniff "wanted someone to... talk to."
A tear rolled hotly down her cheek, making the porcelain glisten and shimmer where it went.
Somehow, it made the doll feel more alive, more animated than she had ever felt.

Tears began streaming down Velvets' cheeks, one after another, until her face shone with them. Crying out in a confused sort of anguish, the doll buried her face against the fur of the silent teddy. Long moments passed, and she quietened as the furry paw stroked her glossy brunette curls in a steady, comforting sort of way.

Furry paw?! Velvet doll looked up, and the teddy smiled down, his black eyes gleaming with affection and acceptance. Impulsively, she reached a hand up to his furred face and stroked it.
The teddy smiled and picked up the tiny doll in his arms, cuddling her to his plush frame.

They stayed that way until morning, when the magic slowly drifted into slumber. The doll moved to the side, and became stiff and unmoving, her expression blank and careless, that polite smile back in place...
Yet somehow warmer, happier than before.
The teddy slumped a little against the wall, one paw gently laid on top of the Velvet dolls' hand, waiting patiently until night worked its' enchantments again.


NB: This is a fictional story (as opposed to the others in this book, which are based on true events.)