65 New Doll and Mrs Tarbot
As Nana and the Little Red Haired Girl got back to the Pumphouse from their latest outing, Nana looked and was exhausted and the Little Red Haired Girl was unusually quiet.
“Are you O.K. little one?” cried Heart “you are very quiet?”
“I’m ok thank you” she answered politely but didn’t look convinced.
“Is Body awake?” she asked.
“Yes I am” Body replied “but I am feeling very weak.”
“Can you stop whining just for once in your life?” asked Brain “it’s very tiring and boring.”
“Stop Brain” the Little Red Haired Girl stated with a newfound bravery and resolve.
“Oooh” called Spirit “you got brave little one, unless it’s all the fresh air,”
“What’s on your mind child?” sighed Soul.
“Well I promised I wouldn’t tell till we are all here and if Body is awake, I can say it now.”
“Promised who?” asked Brain “did you meet someone? You never said Nana?”
“Ssh Brain” sighed Soul “and let the child speak, give her chance.”
“I thought you spoke with the Fairies?” Nana questioned “that’s what you told me.”
“I did, it wasn’t a lie Nana. I don’t tell lies don’t be cross.”
“I’m not Fluff, tell us.”
“There was someone else there as well.”
“Who child?” asked Soul.
“I think she said her name was Mrs Tarbot and she gave me a new Dolly. Look… see” as she retrieved from the pocket on her grubby dress a very shabby doll. “She said I was to give it to Spirit and that Spirit would know what to do with it.” She held it tightly. “But it’s mine and I don’t want to.”
“Let me look honey” as Body held out its hand.
Body took one look and Brain thought it knew what it was. It was made from some sort of dried grasses into a very rough shape of a body with arms and legs and a head. There was a little piece of large woven fabric, out of scale with the doll, pinned to it like clothing, and it had a cotton sewn in thread used to form eyes and lips on the head. There was even hair, red fluffy hair on the head and if eyes weren’t mistaken it was real hair not dislike her own. The bobbin pins held the clothes in place, in specific places like where the heart would be and the shoulders. There were several pins in the dolls head too holding the hair in place. Body said nothing, but held it out and upright for all in the Pumphouse to see.
Spirit became very troubled and dark and almost blended in with the darkness around it.
“Can I have it back now?” the Little Red Haired Girl asked.
“No” said Nana.
“But why? Mrs Tarot said I could have it.”
“Did you say Tarot?” called Spirit.
“Yes but it’s mine Nana, I want her back.”
“No” Nana gave her one of her freezing looks and the Little Red Haired girl became sullen and quiet. “She’s dirty and her clothes also need washing. How about I take her away, clean her up and get her some new clothes. Would that make you happy?”
“Yes please Nana, would you do that for her?”
“Yes of course, it may take a little time as she is very dirty. Will you be a good girl and wait for her to come back with me next I come and visit you?”
“As long as she gets to feel and look proper I will wait.”
And with that Nana left with the doll as fast as she could and was gone.
“Tell me about Mrs Tarot child?” asked Heart.
“Well she said I had to show you my doll when we were all together. She said Spirit would know what to do, but Nana has decided to wash her and taken her away.”
“Did she say anything else?” sighed Soul.
“Yes, she said she didn’t know when or who, but that Spirit might, and that I had a lot of light like a torch, and that I would always be a part of three. I told her I was 6 and already at school and she laughed.”
“So she was friendly then?” asked Heart.
“Oh yes. So I asked her to help us find a way out but she said she was not from round here so couldn’t help with that.”
“And did you like her? Did she make you feel O.K.?”
“Yes. She said I would be happy and have a daughter of my own one day, just one girl that would be very special to me. I think that’s all she said, but Nana called me back in her cross voice so I had to run back to Nana. I don’t like it when Nana gets cross. It makes me sad.”
“So you were able to speak properly with this Mrs Tarot?” Brain asked.
“Yes, why wouldn’t I? I know Mummy says not to speak to strangers but she was so friendly.”
“Where did she go? Did you see what direction she walked in? Did you ask why she was in the forest?” Brain fired the questions.
“No I didn’t get chance like I said Nana called me in her cross voice. I had to go.”
“Well that’s useful information then” scoffed Brain.
“Enough!” cried Heart “enough of your unkind sarcasm dripping from Body’s lips Brain. You are so unkind.”
Brain momentarily synapsed to Salvador Dali, a painting it had once seen, but decided not to pursue it. Instead out of the lack of facts being imparted it decided to shut down.
The Little Red Haired Girl lay down and curled against Body. “Was I wrong to speak to Mrs Tarot” she asked.
“No child” sighed Soul “it was an opportunity and at least it proved you are capable of speaking to people outside this Pumphouse and outside of Body. You did well to tell us about it.”
“Secrets, pockets have secrets” she whispered as she fell asleep.
“She’s dreaming again” cried Heart “it’s such a pity she is stuck in here with us. A child should be free, free to discover and explore outside.”
“I am more concerned about that doll” called Spirit “at least she is safe in here.”
“There must be a purpose to it all” sighed Soul “we must try to look for it.”
“Correct. There is a purpose. But you must ask to see it.” Big voice spoke.
“How?” called Spirit.
“Prayer” the voice replied.
© 2025 Jennifer Harris. Free And Alive 555
