The Road to Someplace - Part 2

    

       Molly was in ultimate stealth mode. In this state she could sneak up on a rock if she really wanted. Kit would have no idea that she was ever there—-

       “Molly!” Marie Grace yelled from the kitchen. Molly sighed. “We have to pick your friend up from the airport!” 

      This time Molly gasped, knocking stuff over as she rushed downstairs. It was Monday. How had she forgotten? Finally her English pen pal was in the United States. 

***

       The airport was nearly empty, but Molly didn’t yet see her friend. She paced anxiously and impatiently back and forth. Marie Grace said nothing. She knew just how excited Molly was to see her Pen Pal for the first time. Just then, a doll with brownish-auburn hair appeared. 

       The doll looked around the room and, upon seeing Molly, a look of relief flooded her sky-blue eyes. They made eye contact, and both of them rushed towards each other with absolute enthusiasm. 

       “Emily!” Molly announced. 

       Emily grinned shyly. “Hi Molly,” she said, her British accent apparent. 

        “Welcome to Piney Grove! Is that all the luggage you bought?” Molly asked, pointing to Emily’s carry-on. 

        “Yes. I know it doesn’t look like much, but I’m a very organized packer, so there’s a lot more than it looks in there. I’ve plenty of clothes and such to last me the week.” 

       Molly nodded. Deep down she had hoped Emily would stay more than a week, but knew that her friend would probably be homesick by then. She introduced Marie Grace. After a polite “How-do-you-do?” from Emily, they left the airport, Molly feeling all happy and excited at once. 

       When they got to the dollhouse, they were greeted by a friendly smell in the kitchen and muffled voices coming from the tv in the living room. The pale cornflower walls and floral wallpaper made the place feel like something from an old memory—- the kind you can’t place but think about on sad days to feel comforted. Dreamlike, almost. To Emily, it felt a little more like home than it should have. Trying to push that feeling down, she asked Molly, “do you mind if I go change clothes?” Then escaped upstairs to the bathroom according to Molly’s directions. 

       The dress was her one of her favorites—- with its little cherries and  polka dot sash—- Emily almost hated to change out of it. It was rather more of a special occasion sort of dress. Or maybe a dress for when you feel a little bit like running off to the peaceful countryside. But it had been unfortunately wrinkled on the plane. Emily reminded herself to ask to iron it later as she folded it neatly and tucked it under her arm. As she pushed open the door, she nearly hit another doll, who looked at her with a confused expression. 

       “Not to be rude… but who are you?” The doll asked. 

       “I’m Emily… uh… Molly’s pen pal. I’m visiting for the week. And you are?” Emily responded, caught slightly off guard. 

       “I’m Kit,” she replied. “Well, my real name is Margaret, but that’s an awfully old-fashioned name, I think. Some names are just like that. Ruth, for example. Oh, either way, it doesn’t fit me at all.” 

        Emily, not knowing exactly what to say, nodded and said, “That’s fair.” 

        “Well, have fun this week. You probably won’t be seeing me much. I’ll probably be at the library the whole time.” 

       If Emily didn’t find herself so awkward, then perhaps she would carried on the conversation with more than a “Thank you. You have fun at the library, too.” Kit was glad, however, that Emily hadn’t said anything else. Kit didn’t feel like talking about her favorite books or her writing. And the truth was, she was a little to awkward herself…  or maybe scared was more the feeling. It didn’t matter much, because that didn’t change the fact that she hadn’t answered when Ivy asked what had happened at writing class. 

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       Heyyyyyy crazy people! I hope you enjoyed this part. I wrote more for it, but then I thought it didn’t fit the events of the rest of part 2, so that’s being saved for part 3 instead. But anyway, I’ve always thought that if Molly was modern-day, her and Emily would totally be pen pals. I’m not going to say whether she’s mine or just borrowed, though. ;) I don’t know what else to write, so here’s a picture of Kirsten:

       

       Have a great week and remember to eat your veggies! Bye!