Page 23 (1/2)

Chapter 1

My eyes burn a hole in the page I should know this I can usually dissect a science equation easily, but the answer isn’t cos I quickly tuck uy on a cell phone walks in

That’s new

Not the cell phone part but the guy part It isn’t that men don’t frequent the doll store— Okay, actually it is Men don’t frequent the store They are a rare sighting When they do come in, they trail behind feminine types and look extremely self-consciousor bored This one is neither He’s very much alone and confident The kind of confidence only money can buy Lots of it

I smile a little There are two types of people in our ss to the rich Apparently having s like porcelain dolls (the adjective “useless” should never be used aroundto dolls) The rich are our constant entertainment

“What do you mean you want me to pick?” Mr Rich says into the phone “Didn’t Grah “Fine I’ll take care of it” He pockets his phone and beckons me over Yes Beckons It’s the only word I can use to describe the lanced ers in his direction His other hand rubs his chin while he studies the dolls in front of him

I size hiht not pick up on the richness oozing off this guy, but I know rich and he reeks of it His one outfit probably cost more than all the clothes in my tiny closet Not that it looks expensive It’s an outfit that’s purposefully trying to downplay how o pants, a pink button-down rolled at the sleeves But the clothes were purchased so It’s obvious he can buy the whole store if he wants to Well, not him; his parents I didn’t realize it at first because his confidence aged hie h he could be a year older How is so? A lifetie, obviously

“Can I help you, sir?” Only le statement

“Yes, I need a doll”

“Sorry, we’re all out” A lot of people don’t get my humor My mom calls it dry humor I think that means “not funny,” but it also means I’h afterward, likecusto myself to do it

“Funny,” he says, but not like he actually thinks it’s funny; more like he wishes I wouldn’t talk at all He still hasn’t looked at ht like?”

“All of them”

The muscle in his jaw jumps and then he turns toward me For a split second I see surprise in his eyes, like he expected so in front of hie—but it doesn’t stop hi over his lips: “Which one do you like?”

Am I allowed to say “none”? Despite the fact it’s my inevitable future, the store is my mom’s love, not mine “I’m partial to the eternal wailers”

“Excuse me?”

I point to the porcelain version of a baby, his mouth open in a silent cry, his eyes squeezed shut “I’d rather not see their eyes Eyes can say so much Theirs say, ‘I want to steal your soul so don’t turn your back on us’”

I’ant edges on his face, leaving him very attractive He should definitely make that a perht, the sone

“My gra up and I’m supposed to pick out a doll for her”

“You can’t go wrong If she likes porcelain dolls, she’ll like any of them”

He looks back at the shelves of dolls “Why the wailers? Why not the sleepers?” He’s staring at a peaceful-looking baby, a pink bow in her blond curls, her hands tucked under her cheek, her face relaxed

I stare at her, too, and contrast her to the wailer next to her The one whose fists are balled, its toes curled, its cheeks pink with irritation “Because that’sa sound” Okay, so I didn’t really say that I thought it What I really say after a shrug is “They both work” Because if I’ve learned anything about customers it’s that they don’t really want your opinion They want you to tell the baby for Grammy, who am I to stop him?

He shakes his head as if eradicating a thought and then points to a co variety The girl he points to is dressed in a plaid school uniforuess that one ork She likes dogs”

“Who does? Your grandy?”

“It’s quite obvious Peggy likes dogs,” he says, a hint of a srandmother”

I open the lower cupboard to find Peggy’s box I pull it out and gently take the girl and her dog, along with her naister As I carefully pack her away, Mr Rich points “How co isn’t na’”

“Because people tend to want to name animals after their beloved pets”

“Really?”

“No I have no idea I can give you the nuy’s creator if you want to ask”

“You have the phone number of this doll’s creator?”

“No” I punch the price into the register and push Total