Friday, December 12, 2014

FICTION: Mindy and the wish for a beautiful thing

by Emily Weinlick
PHS Press staff member


Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Mindy. She had light blonde hair and chestnut brown eyes. Her favorite color was mint blue, and she was a very sickly child. She could never leave her house in Candetville for she was too weak. All Mindy ever wanted was something… beautiful.

On Christmas Eve, Mindy looked out her bedroom window that was covered in frost, and saw three girls with blonde hair like Mindy’s, but brilliant blue eyes. Mindy opened her window slightly and listened in on their conversation. The three girls were talking about the new porcelain dolls with blonde hair and blue eyes at Mrs. Marge’s Toy Shop. Oh, how Mindy wanted one of these! These porcelain dolls sounded so… beautiful.

Mindy called her parents to her bedroom and asked them if she may have a beautiful porcelain doll like all the other girls. When her parents asked her why she wanted one she said that she had never felt that way about anything and knew she must have something beautiful forever. Alas, her parents said they couldn’t afford anything at Mrs. Marge’s Toy Shop, for they were very poor. Mindy was devastated when she heard she couldn’t have a porcelain doll, her parents then left the room silently to let her rest.

Mindy lay back down on her bed, shivering slightly. She slowly cried herself to sleep, but then she had an idea. Santa Claus! She could write a letter to Santa Claus! Slowly, she got out of bed and put on her robe. She walked over to her desk and sat down. She lit the gas lamp and started to write a letter.

Dear Santa Claus,

I know it may be a bit late, probably just 12:00 but I would like to ask for a porcelain doll. Not just any porcelain doll, I would like one with blonde hair and blue eyes. If you can’t manage this I understand. Oh, and don’t forget Mother’s ever so good ginger banana cookies, and my goat Katie’s warm milk.

Love,
Mindy

She folded the letter and creeped downstairs to the fireplace. Mindy placed the letter on the fireplace along with some extra cookies and milk and went back to bed. “Hope Mindy, just hope.” she told herself. The next day Mindy’s parents helped her out of bed and down to the kitchen table. While walking past the fireplace she saw some gifts under the tree but none that seemed to be a porcelain doll. Her parents seated her in her chair and set out breakfast. Cranberry sauce and pumpkin bread with a glass of warm goat milk, this was one of the most special meals they ever got.

When they were done Mindy got up and walked over to the Christmas tree. She sat down and waited for her parents to hand her a gift. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. Her mother ran to it and opened it quickly. “Mrs. Marge! How nice to see you! Come in now before you catch your death of cold.” Mindy’s mother said. Mrs. Marge entered with a small package, neatly wrapped in light blue paper and topped with a chestnut bow. Mrs. Marge sat down on the sofa and welcomed a warm cup of goat milk.

Slowly more guests arrived: Mr. Gandy from next door, Mrs. and Mr. Casterben, Louise and Malory the twins from down the street, and Mindy’s best friend Badger Ives. Once everyone had goat milk and blankets the present opening began. Mindy’s father was given a new plaid shirt from Mrs. Casterben, Mindy’s mother was given a beautiful new shawl from Malory, and it went back and forth until it came to Mindy’s gifts. Mindy got a pair if mittens from Badger, blue and red hair ties from Mr. Gandy, and finally the gift from Mrs. Marge.

Mindy carefully untied the bow and unwrapped the paper. Inside was a beautiful black box about the size of her hand. She opened it and inside found a bar of chocolate. Mindy thanked everyone for her gifts graciously while hiding her sadness. When all the guests had left and said goodbye, and all the goat milk drunk Mindy sat by the fire thinking. Then she spotted something in the corner of her eye.

A red box with a blue bow propped behind the sofa, she crawled over to it and lifted the tag. 

“Dear Mindy,

Merry Christmas! May you have the beautiful thing you wished for…”

Sincerely,
Mommy and Daddy

Mindy eagerly opened the package. Once the paper was of there was a box coated with leather. Labeled on it was: Mrs. Marge’s Toy Shop. Now Mindy was very excited, with her fingers crossed she opened the box and found a gorgeous porcelain doll with blonde hair and… brown eyes? Brown, why brown? Mindy’s parents walked into the room at that time. “Why chestnut eyes mommy and daddy? Why not blue?” Mindy asked.

“Mindy, your brown eyes make you more beautiful that we could imagine. This doll doesn’t need blue eyes to be beautiful and neither do you. You’re perfect they way you are and we love you.” Mindy’s father replied. This brought tears to Mindy’s eyes. She was beautiful. She hugged her doll tightly and said silently and happily.

“Thank you, mommy and daddy.”

THE END

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