School

"This morning, let's talk about the wonderful qualities we look for in a friend," the teacher said to the class. "Qualities like "helpful" or "funny" or "kind" or "can keep a secret"; let's go around the room and pick two to share. Annabelle?" The others were surprised that the teacher had picked her first (typically, she was last due to everything she said and did being so scary), and they all turned to look at that pale porcelain face, the piercing eyes that never closed, and the cupid's bow of a mouth (that probably hid fangs). "Dastardly" and "dangerous", Annabelle said, and everyone shivered. "GREAT!" the teacher replied, emboldened to move on. Last night, thinking through recent problems with the dolls and the complexities they brought to and caused at playtime (especially playing school), little Cecilia thought she might just have the haunted dolls go first to get their horrible crazy out of the way. It was worth a shot.