Playing with Dolls

“Mom, have you seen my doll? I can’t find it anywhere.”

Mrs. Appelbaum sat patiently with the counselor while her daughter Sophia yelled from her bedroom on the second floor.

“Doll?” asked the counselor, giving Mrs. Appelbaum a concerned look. “I thought you said that your daughter had serious issues that needed to be addressed. Barbies and American Girls and what-have-you are pretty standard fare for girls Sophia’s age.”

Mrs. Appelbaum held up a finger, signaling for the counselor to wait a moment.

“It’s in the penalty box, remember?” Mrs. Appelbaum called up to her.

“Oh yeah!” Sophia yelled back.

“Penalty box?” the counselor asked, confused.

“Sophia, why don’t you bring the penalty box down with you. Our visitor would really like to see it.”

“Okay!” Sophia said happily.

“When her doll misbehaves, it spends time in the penalty box.” Mrs. Appelbaum explained, turning her attention back to the counselor.

“Like in ice hockey?”

“Not exactly,” Mrs. Appelbaum replied. “You’ll see.”

A moment later, there was a great galloping down the stairs and Sophia entered the room. She was carrying a box that looked disturbingly like a miniature old-school coffin.

“This is your penalty box?” the counselor asked.

“Yes, and whenever Mr. Tobias is bad, he goes in the penalty box.”

Sophia opened the small casket and proudly showed off a sackcloth doll with button eyes, eerily realistic hair, and crayon-painted features.

“Mr. Tobias is also the name of Sophia’s teacher.” Mrs. Appelbaum informed him. “And the doll’s hair was obtained from him with a pair of safety scissors during arts and crafts time.”

“Mr. Tobias is bad and must be punished.” Sophia said solemnly.

“So what do you think?” Mrs. Appelbaum inquired.

“I think I’m very glad you called me when you did,” the counselor replied.


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Words: 299
Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  and "I Write in 2019" 
Prompt: Include the line, "I can't find it anywhere."