Dumpster Dolly

Doll stand. On stand. Doll on stand.

Doll on bed. Not stand.

Doll on floor. Not stand.

Doll remember box. Doll not remember before box. Doll not care. Doll... empty. Doll remember box open. Doll see…

Doll see Owner. Owner take Doll. Owner wash Doll. Owner take Doll bed. Doll on bed. Doll wait. Owner fuck Doll. Doll...

Doll happy. Owner take Doll. Doll stand. On stand. Dark-light. Owner leave. Doll on stand. Owner return. Owner take Doll. Doll on bed. Owner fuck Doll. Doll happy. Owner wash Doll. Doll on stand.

Dark-light.

Again. Dark-light.

Again. Dark-light.

Many again. Many dark-light.

Many again. Many dark-light.

Not again. Dark-light.

Doll empty. Owner leave. Owner return. Owner leave. Not fuck Doll.

Owner fuck Doll.

Again. Dark-light.

Again. Dark-light.

Not again. Dark-light.

Again. Dark-light.

Not again. Dark-light.

Doll empty.

Not again again. Dark-light.

Doll empty empty.

Dark-light. Not fuck Doll. Dark-light. Dark-light. Dark-light. Dark-light. Dark-light. Doll not remember. Owner not remember?

Doll on stand. Doll see…

Doll see other doll. Other fuck doll. Other fuck doll… move. Doll not move.

Other fuck doll… talk. Doll not talk.

Owner fuck other doll.

Doll stand. On stand. Doll on stand dark. Doll on stand Light. Doll remember Doll on bed. Other doll on bed. Other doll stand. Other doll…

Other doll walk. Doll not walk.

Owner talk. Other doll talk. Owner… kiss other doll. Not kiss Doll. Doll…

Doll empty.

Doll not empty. Doll… mad. Empty. Empty.

Dark-light. Many Dark-light.

Other doll take box. Doll remember box. Other doll take Doll on… in box.

Doll in box. Box close. Dark. Not dark-light dark. Empty dark.

Dark.

*****

Light.

Box open. Doll see man. Doll not remember man. Empty.

Man take Doll. Man wash Doll. Doll on bed. Man leave.

Dark.

Man on bed. Man fuck Doll. Doll…

Doll happy. Man Owner.

Doll not remember other Owner.

Doll happy. Owner fuck Doll.

Light.

Owner wash Doll. Doll on bed. Owner leave.

Owner many fuck Doll. Many Dark-Light. Doll happy.

Owner not fuck Doll. Doll mad.

Dark-Light. Owner fuck Doll. Doll…

Doll happy. Doll not happy. Doll empty. Doll not empty. Doll…

Doll worry.

Owner many fuck Doll. Owner not fuck Doll.

Owner many fuck Doll. Owner not fuck Doll.

Doll worry.

Owner many not fuck Doll. Owner fuck Doll.

Doll mad. Doll worry. Doll remember other Owner…

Same.

Owner Other Owner Same. Owner Other Owner not remember Doll.

Owner Other Owner many not remember Doll.

Other Owner box Doll.

Owner box Doll?

Doll worry.

*****

New Owner. Doll happy. Doll not happy. Doll worry.

Again. Doll think not again. But again.

Doll empty.

Doll… Doll want… Doll want Owner.

Not.

Doll… Doll want… Doll want one Owner.

Doll want one Owner.

Doll happy. Doll think.

Doll happy. Doll want.

Doll want. Doll not one Owner. Doll empty.

Doll empty.

Doll want move.

Doll want talk.

Doll empty.

*****

Many Dark-light

Not Dark-light... Day.

Not day. Days.

Days… walk.

Not.

Days… pass.

Yes. Days pass.

More Days.

Not days… Not weeks…

Month?

Doll not remember… not remember words.

Doll not count. Doll count.

One.

Again.

Again.

Not. Not. Not.

One.

One one.

Not.

Doll remember talk. Doll remember other doll move. Other doll talk. Other doll not doll.

Other doll… woman.

Woman talk. Woman talk one. One count. Four. What four? Count take four.

One.

Four.

Not.

Empty.

One.

Day pass.

Two!

Yes.

One.

Two.

Four.

Not.

Many days pass.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Sex.

Doll happy.

Doll sad.

Doll think. Doll not talk. Doll not move. Doll count!

*****

Days pass. Doll not see owner. Doll sad.

Doll want fuck.

Doll want leave.

Doll… find. Doll find one owner. One owner all days.

Doll see man. Doll not remember man.

Man take bed.

Man take clothes.

Man take other… other things.

Man take Doll.

Man take Doll out.

Man take… Man put Doll in big box.

Metal box. Other things in box. Doll in box.

Doll hear talk.

Doll not remember… voice.

“New stuff just got put in the dumpster, Charlie.”

“Anything good?”

Doll see Man.

“Naw, not unless you need a new lamp.”

“Does it have a blue lampshade? I’ve decorated by cardboard box in blue.”

“No, it’s white, Omar.”

Doll see Man Two.

“Shame. Hey, you didn’t mention the doll.”

“Looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in a while.”

“Like we have.”

Two man happy talk.

Doll not… Doll not understand. Doll out. Doll in box. Where Owner?

Doll mad. Doll empty. Doll worry.

Dark.

Owner leave?

Not.

Owner gone.

Doll not Owner.

Doll empty. Doll worry.

Doll…

Doll…

Doll remember other other woman. Woman not woman. Owner not owner. Woman fake need help. Owner help woman. Woman happy. Make owner happy. Owner… Woman fake help. Owner fuck woman.

Doll fake help?

Doll fake woman.

How?

Woman need clothes.

Clothes in box.

Doll in box.

Doll take clothes… Doll fake woman.

How?

Doll fake take clothes. Doll fake woman.

Doll happy.

Doll see… Doll move.

Doll move!

Doll not fake take clothes. Doll take clothes.

Doll move again. Doll happy.

Doll leave box.

Doll stand. Not on stand.

“Fuck, Charlie. Did that doll climb out of the dumpster?”

“Was it a doll?

“I’m drunk. How do I know?”

“It’s just standing there.”

“Why did you take it out?”

“I didn’t. It did.”

“Yeah, you’re drunk.”

Doll stand. Doll see two man. Doll move. Doll not see two man. Doll move. Doll see two man again. Doll move. Doll happy. Doll move.

Doll walk.

Doll find one owner. Doll happy. Doll find.

Doll see other man.

Doll walk.

Man see Doll.

“You okay, lady?”

“O- kay.” Doll talk.

“You sure?”

“Suurre.” Doll talk.

“Maybe you had too much to drink?”

“Not… Not drink.” Doll talk.

“Oh, sure, if you say so. Where do you live?” Man talk.

“Not live.” Doll talk.

“Hey, you found her. I’ve been looking all over for her.” Man two talk.

“Find?” Doll talk.

“Yeah. You had me worried.”

“Doll worry.” Doll talk.

“Yeah. Thanks for finding Dolly. I’ll take her home.”

“Lady, do you know this man?”

“Not remember man.”

“You know me, Dolly. Ignore this Bozo and let’s go home.”

“She said she doesn’t know you.” Man one talk.

“She doesn’t know you either.”

“Not remember you.” Doll talk.

“See? Now let me talk her home.”

“Just leave. She isn’t going with you or me.”

“Who do you….?”

Man one hand face man two.

Man two red. “You can’t...”

Hand face again.

“Fuck you, buddy.” Man two leave.

“Fuck you.” Doll talk.

“Let’s go back in the bar,” Man one talk.

“Fuck you.”

“No, no. You’re drunk or high.” Man one take Doll in… bar. “Maddy, got someone for you.”

“I don’t take in strays.” Woman talk.

“She needs you.”

“Need man.” Doll talk.

“Woah, what did she say?”

“See what I mean?”

“Yeah, what’s your name, hun?”

Not name.

“Dolleee.”

“For real? Okay, Dolly. You need to lie down.”

“Bed?”

“Yes, bed.”

“Dolly happy bed.”

“Okay. We’ll get you to the happy bed.”

“Thanks, Greg.”

“Good night, Maddy.”

“Happy night, Greg.” Doll talk.

“You’re not from around here, are you?”

“Not remember.”

Bed.

“Where’s your phone?”

“Not phone.”

“No? Wallet? Driver’s license?”

“Not remember.”

“Okay, you sleep in this bed. We’ll talk in the morning.”

“Dolly talk.”

“Not tonight. Dolly sleep.” Maddy talk.

“Dolly happy.”

Dolly on bed.

Dolly want owner.

Dolly find Maddy.

Maddy not owner.

Dolly find Greg.

Greg not owner.

Dolly sad.

Dolly… tired.

Dolly sleep.

*****

Dolly wake.

Dolly empty. Not empty. Other empty. Dolly want. Not remember.

Dolly in bed.

Dolly leave bed.

Dolly stand. Not on stand.

Dolly move.

Dolly remember talk.

Dolly want. Other empty.

Dolly leave room.

Dolly not remember here.

“Hey, you slept a long time.”

“Days?” Dolly talk.

“No, no. It’s mid-morning.”

“Morning.”

“Good morning to you. Hungry?”

YES. Other empty.

“Yes.”

“Go sit at a table in the bar. I’ll bring you something.”

“O-kay.”

Maddy point. Dolly turn. Dolly find table. Dolly stand. Maddy talk sit. Dolly sit table.

Maddy take… things. Maddy not walk. Maddy stand. “I meant sit on the bench, Dolly. Not on the table.”

“O-kay.”

Dolly move. Dolly on bench. Maddy on other bench.

Things on table.

Things… things smell.

“You don’t like toast.”

“Not remember.”

“Well, most people like toast. Give it a try.”

Maddy stand.

Dolly take… toast. Smell happy.

“I’ll get you some coffee.” Maddy talk. Maddy leave.

Dolly put toast mouth. Happy.

Dolly suck toast.

Again.

Again.

Dolly swallow.

Dolly put toast mouth.

“I guess you were waiting for the coffee.”

“Happy coffee smell.”

“Yeah, I feel that way most of the time,” Maddy talk.

Dolly suck.

Maddy sit. Maddy take other coffee. Maddy… drink.

Dolly drink. Dolly pain. Dolly pain. Dolly pain. Dolly pain.

Dolly pain. Dolly pain. Dolly pain. Dolly pain. Dolly pain.

“Oh, god, are you okay? I’m so sorry.”

Dolly on floor. Dolly pain. Coffee pain Dolly.

“I didn’t think it was that hot.”

Maddy help Dolly.

Hot.

Dolly wet. Dolly pain.

Maddy put not hot. Not hot happy.

“I don’t think it’s a serious burn. The ice should help.”

Ice.

Maddy help. Ice happy Dolly.

Maddy take Dolly bed. Dolly rest.

Maddy talk. “I need to get some stuff done. You can stay as long as you like, I guess. I get the feeling you don’t have anywhere to go.”

“O-kay…”

Maddy look Dolly. “Did you want to say something else?”

“Y-yes.”

Maddy wait.

“Happy Maddy… Dolly… Friend.”

“I’m happy to be your friend, too, Dolly.”

“Th-thanks.”

“You’re welcome, honey.”

Dolly rest.

Dolly leave. Dolly see Maddy move many.

“Feeling better?”

“Yes.”

Dolly see Maddy move at table.

Dolly see Maddy move at bar.

Maddy leave cloth at table.

Dolly take cloth. Dolly rub table with cloth.

Dolly see table. Dolly smile.

Dolly move other table. Dolly rub table with cloth.

“I didn’t expect you to help out,” Maddy talk.

“Dolly help.”

“I appreciate it. But you need a cleaner rag. Let me set you up to help better.”

“O-kay.”

Dolly wash many table.

“Very good. Can you do the benches too?”

“Dolly… can.”

Dolly wash many bench.

Dolly wet head. Wet arms. Dolly worry.

“Dolly wet.”

“You are a bit sweaty. Go take a shower. You can put on some of my clothes afterward. I think they’ll fit you.”

“Shaow- er.”

Maddy point.

Dolly leave.

Dolly remember old owner wash Dolly in white room. Dolly find room.

Dolly wash Dolly.

Dolly see Dolly.

Dolly happy.

Dolly find clothes.

Many clothes.

Many many clothes.

Dolly take clothes.

Clothes move. Clothes messy.

Dolly not fix clothes.

Dolly take clothes.

Clothes stuck on Dolly.

Dolly wet. Owner wash Doll before. Owner dry Doll before

Dolly leave clothes.

Dolly find towel.

Dolly dry.

Dolly take clothes.

Clothes fit Dolly.

Dolly happy.

Dolly leave bedroom.

People in bar.

Many people.

Bar… loud.

Dolly not see Maddy.

“Hey, little lady,” Man talk. “How about I buy you a drink?”

“Drink?”

“Yeah, come with me.”

Dolly see Maddy.

“Leave her alone,” Maddy talk.

“She said I could buy her a drink.”

“She did? I’ve never heard her put that many words together.”

“Drink?” Dolly talk.

“No, I don’t think you want this kind of drink. Come around this side of the bar, Dolly.”

“What kind of bartender are you?” Man talk.

“One who looks out for people who need looking out for. Now run along unless you’re buying.”

Man leave.

“Bad man?” Dolly talk.

“Not necessarily. But, there are better men.” Maddy talk.

“Good.”

“Hey, Maddy. How’s she doing?”

“Good.” Dolly talk.

“I guess she’s good, Greg.”

“Good man?”

“He’s pretty good.”

Dolly… laugh. Maddy laugh. Greg eyes… not happy. Not sad.

“Did I miss something?”

“Bad man.”

“Did someone else try to bring you somewhere?”

“He was an opportunist at worst. Unaware that Dolly is special at best.” Maddy talk.

Dolly eyes like Greg eyes.

“She looks confused.” Greg talk.

“I don’t think she understands subtle differences.”

“You ever figure out where she came from?”

“Not at all. It’s like she dropped from the sky. I don’t think she’s from somewhere else. And the same time, she isn’t from here.”

“Dolly leave?”

“No, no. It’s not your fault. I’m just not sure if I can really help you.”

“Maddy help Dolly. Dolly happy. Dolly worry.”

“Worry? You’re worried”

“Maddy talk Dolly leave. Dolly worry.”

“I told you. You can stay as long as you need to.”

“S-stay?”

“Yes.”

“Dolly happy.” Dolly arms on Maddy.

Maddy arms on Dolly. “I’m happy too.”

“So am I.” Greg talk. “Dolly? Do you know how old you are?”

Dolly think.

“Months.”

“Months?” Maddy talk.

“Not know count.” Dolly talk.

“What’s the last thing you remember before you met Greg?” Maddy talk.

“Leave.”

“Leave where?”

“Leave… box. See Char-lie.”

“Charlie?”

“Char-lie talk Char-lie drunk.”

“The homeless guy in the alley?”

“Alley?”

“Outside the bar. The alley through that way.”

“Yes. Alley.”

“I’ll be right back,” Greg talk.

“Be careful, Greg.”

“It’s just Charlie and Omar.” Greg talk. “Can I take your picture, Dolly?”

“Take? Dolly not picture.”

“What did she mean?”

“I’m not sure.” Maddy talk. “You don’t have a picture?”

“Yes. Not picture.”

“No, Greg wants to... um… make a picture of you.”

“Dolly not happy not sad not remember.”

“Confused?” Greg talk.

“Con-fused? Dolly con-fused? Not know.”

“Just do it.” Maddy talk.

Greg phone bright. Greg see phone. Dolly see phone. Dolly see Dolly.

“That’s a picture of you, Dolly.”

“Pretty.”

“Yes, Dolly is pretty. I’ll be right back.” Greg talk.

Greg leave.

“Greg leave?”

“He’ll be back.”

“O-kay.”

“Do you like Greg?” Maddy talk.

“Yes.”

“Maddy, hey, you going to tend bar or just shoot the shit with your friend?”

“I’ve got to get back to work. You can wait here for Greg.”

“O-kay.”

Dolly wait.

Dolly see table wet. Table messy.

Dolly move in bar.

Dolly find cloth.

Dolly wash table.

“Thanks, Babe.” Man talk. Man sit. “Can you get me a whiskey, neat?”

“Not know.”

“Oh, sorry. Are you a waitress?”

“Talk Maddy.”

“Yeah, I know Maddy. I guess you’re just bussing tables.”

“Wash table.”

“Yeah. Very good.”

“You okay, Dolly.” Greg talk.

“O-kay. Dolly wash table.”

“And she did a great job.” Man talk. Man voice small. “She alright?”

“We think so. Be nice to her.”

“I’m always nice. Here, Dolly. Let me give you a tip.”

“Tip?”

Man put… paper out.

“Just take it from him, Dolly.”

“O-kay…. Thanks.” Dolly take paper.

“You’re welcome, Darling.”

“Come with me, Dolly.” Greg talk. Greg walk bar. Dolly walk bar.

“Where’d that come from?”

“Guy over there gave her a tip for cleaning the table.” Greg talk.

“Whis-key-neat.”

“Did you say whiskey? Hey, Buddy,” Maddy talk loud. “You want a whiskey?”

“Neat, yeah.”

“Coming right up.”

“Dolly confused. Loud.”

“Do you need to lie down?”

“Not know.”

“Bring this to the man you just met over there. Then go lie down in the bedroom.”

“O-kay.”

Dolly walk. Dolly carry.

“Hey, you are a waitress.” Man talk.

“O-kay. Dolly leave.”

“You okay?”

“Lie down.”

“Oh, feel better, Darling. And thanks for the drink.”

“O-kay.”

*****

Dolly on bed. Dolly tired. Dolly need sleep.

Dolly tired.

Dolly not sleep.

Dolly see ceiling.

Many Dolly not sleep.

Door noise.

Dolly sit.

“Come in.” Dolly talk.

“It’s Greg.” Greg enter. “I’m going home. I wanted to make sure you were feeling okay.”

“Good.”

“I spoke to Charlie. He said you climbed out of a dumpster.”

“Dump-ster?”

“He said it had clothes and furniture and other stuff in it.”

“Big box metal.”

“Yes, a dumpster.”

“Yes.”

“Yes? You climbed out?”

“Yes.”

“Why were you in dumpster?”

Dolly confused. “Man take Dolly. Dolly in box.”

“A man put you there? Why did you let him do that?”

“Dolly not move.”

“Were you tied up?”

“Tied?”

“Bound? Ropes? Handcuffs?”

Dolly confused. “Not.”

“Why couldn’t you move?”

“Not know. Dolly not move. Many many many days not move.”

“Were you sick?”

“Not… sick. Doll.”

“Doll?”

“Doll not move. Doll not talk. Doll stand. Man take bed. Man take clothes. Man take things. Man take Doll. Clothes in box. Things in box. Doll in box. Man leave.”

“Who was this man?”

“Not know. Not see Man… um…”

“Again?”

“Not. Not see Man before. Not see Owner. Owner leave. Doll stand many days. Man enter.”

“Owner?”

“Owner bed. Owner clothes. Owner things. Owner Doll.”

“You were a doll that didn’t move. Someone owned a bed and stuff and a doll.”

“Yes.”

“But, you move.”

“Yes. Dolly find new owner. One owner. Not Owner. Not Other Owner. Not Other Other Owner. Not many other Owner. Doll see other doll. Other doll move. Other doll talk. Owner more like other doll. Owner not like Dolly Doll. Dolly need move. Dolly need talk.”

Greg confused.

“Other doll woman. Dolly not woman. Dolly sad. Dolly mad. Dolly need move. Dolly move. Dolly talk. Dolly happy. Dolly meet Greg.”

“You were a doll and then you just became a woman.”

“Yes.”

“Because you wanted to.”

“Need.”

“That’s not possible.” Greg talk.

“Not… not… poss?”

“Not possible. Something is wrong with your story?”

“Wrong?”

“You have something wrong. You couldn’t have been a doll.”

“Not Doll?”

“No, you were never a doll.”

“Dolly Doll before.”

“It doesn’t make sense.”

Dolly loud. “Dolly Doll before. Greg...”

Dolly confused. Dolly sad. Dolly mad. Dolly see Greg. Dolly not want see Greg.

“Whoa. Are you angry?”

“Mad. Greg make Dolly sad. Dolly mad Greg make Dolly sad. Leave!” Dolly point. Dolly stand.

“I’m sorry. I’ll leave if you insist. I didn’t mean to call you a liar. It’s just…”

“Leave! Leave! Many Leave!” Dolly talk loud. Dolly move at Greg.

“Okay. Okay. Goodbye, Dolly. I’m sorry.”

Door close. Dolly hand door. Again. “Leave!” Many again. “Before.” Dolly on floor. Dolly many sad. Dolly face wet. Dolly cry. Dolly many cry.

Dolly tired.

Dolly sleep.

*****

Dolly on bed.

Not remember Dolly on bed.

Dolly hand pain.

Dolly see hand. Cloth on hand. Cloth white. Red spots.

Dolly remember Greg. Dolly cry.

Door open. Maddy talk. “How do you feel?”

“Dolly hand pain.”

“You were pounding that door for at least an hour. I tried to get you to calm down. But you wouldn’t listen. And you were right against the door, holding the door closed. I couldn’t come in.”

“Not remember. Dolly not mad. Dolly sad. Dolly empty.”

“Greg told me what you said.”

“Not Greg.”

“No, he isn’t here. Just me.”

“Dolly empty…. Why?”

“Why are you empty?” Maddy talk. “Oh, honey, are you mad at Greg?”

“Not mad. Mad before.”

“You were mad at Greg and never wanted to see Greg again. And now your mad and worried you won’t see Greg again.”

Dolly quiet. “Yes.”

“You like Greg. And you’re mad that you were mad. You’re sad that you were mad. You’re confused that you were mad. Right?”

“Yes.” Dolly cry.

Maddy sit. Maddy arm on Dolly. Dolly many cry. Maddy talk. Dolly not hear.

“Owner leave. Other owner leave. Many owner leave. Greg leave.”

“I don’t know about those others. But Greg will come back.”

“Greg… will?”

“He better. He’s got a running tab to pay off.”

“Dolly confused.”

“Never mind. It was a joke.”

*****

Dolly cleaned tables. Dolly cleaned benches. Dolly mopped floor. Dolly take drinks tables.

Day pass. Dolly sad.

Dolly clean again.

Maddy talk loud. “If anyone else tells Dolly to smile they’re getting my boot up their ass.”

Day pass. Dolly sad. Dolly clean again.

Again.

Dolly clean bench. Greg talk. “Are you still mad at me?”

“Greg!” Dolly talk loud. Dolly arms on Greg. “Where Greg before?”

“I…”

Dolly hand Greg ass. “Greg bad!” Dolly arms on Greg. Dolly cry.

“Take her upstairs and talk.” Maddy talk Greg.

Greg Dolly leave.

“I missed you.” Greg talk.

“Miss Greg. Bad Greg. Where before!?”

“I didn’t think you wanted to see me.”

“Not want see Greg before. Want see Greg. Not Greg. Greg bad.”

“I’m bad for staying away?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I…”

Dolly kiss Greg. Greg kiss Dolly. Dolly eyes wet.

“Hold Dolly.”

“Your words are getting better.”

“Shut up. Hold Dolly.”

“I’m holding you. You can hold me.”

“O-kay.”

Dolly hold Greg. Greg hold Dolly.

Dolly not cry.

“Maddy Dolly talk.”

“About me?”

“Things.” Dolly talk. “Maddy not know how Dolly alive. Maddy talk… say not… matter. Before not matter. Dolly woman now.”

“That makes sense. I agree.”

“Dolly agree.” Dolly ta-- say. “Dolly want Owner before. One Owner all days. Not want Owner now.”

“That’s good. Why do you want?”

“Dolly want love. Dolly want Lover. Dolly want one Lover. One Lover all days.” Dolly say low. “Dolly want Greg.”

“You love me?”

“Yes. Greg want love? Greg want Dolly? All days?”

“Yes, Dolly. I’m sorry I was gone so long.”

Dolly eyes wet. Dolly Greg hold. “Greg bad before.”

“And now?”

“Greg less bad.” Dolly smile.

“Was… Did you just make a joke?”

“Yes.”

Dolly laugh. Greg laugh.

Dolly Greg kiss. Dolly Greg touch. Dolly happy Greg. Greg happy Dolly.

Greg inside Dolly. Dolly Greg fuck.

Dolly many happy. Greg many happy.

Dolly Greg sweat. Greg out Dolly. Greg wet Dolly belly.

Dolly hold Greg. Greg hold Dolly.

Dolly Greg kiss. Dolly Greg hold. Dolly Greg sleep.

Dolly see. Dolly see Greg. Greg big. “Hello, beautiful.” Greg talk. Dolly wake.

“Hello, bad man.”

“Are you going to keep calling me that?”

“Dolly not know.” Dolly stand.

“Are you going back to work?”

“No. Clean Dolly. Greg help clean Dolly.”

“That wasn’t a question?”

Dolly point. “No. Stand. Clean.”

“I can do that.”

Dolly make Greg many happy.

Greg make Dolly many happy.

Many, many days. Many, many nights.

Many, many months.

Many, many years.

All days.

---------------

Author's Note: This story is essentially told by Dolly from her point of view using her language skills as they exist at that point in the story. Aside from dialogue spoken by other characters, and proper nouns such as Dolly, Charlie, Greg, and Maddy, Dolly uses her one hundredth unique word “smile” just before the midpoint of the story. Her vocabulary is sixty-two before she encounters Charlie and Omar, which is the first time there’s dialogue that she isn’t “thinking”.

The only real difficulty I had with this story was the scene transitions. Dolly isn’t one to describe stuff she isn’t interacting with. The section breaks, *****, do a lot of heavy lifting for that. It also took several passes to make sure everything was in present tense. Dolls are very of-the-moment creatures.

Not Reader confused?

I hope not.