Chapter 25 - THE DOLL GOES TO SOPHIE
Poppy did not give Dolly to Sophie.
At first.
Sophie was six and wanted it.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s fragile.”
“Grandpa says toys should be played.”
Traitor child.
Poppy compromised.
Supervised.
Dolly sat with Sophie during tea parties.
No secret inside.
No responsibility.
One afternoon Sophie asked:
“Why is she burned?”
Poppy looked at me.
Her choice.
“A woman got angry and threw her into a fireplace when I was little.”
“Why?”
“She wanted to destroy something hidden inside.”
“What?”
“A tiny computer drive.”
“What was on it?”
“Grown-up evidence.”
Sophie frowned.
“Why in toy?”
“Bad hiding choice.”
I smiled.
Good.
No myth.
Then:
“Did Dolly save everybody?”
“No.”
Poppy answered immediately.
“People saved the evidence. Police investigated. Lawyers helped. A judge and jury did their jobs. Dolly was just where it was hidden.”
Perfect.
Sophie hugged the doll.
“Still brave.”
Poppy laughed.
“She’s fabric.”
“Brave fabric.”
Fine.
May you like
Children get some mythology.
As long as it does not make them responsible for it.
