The Glass Doll

    by Caitlin Peterkin

It was June 28, Marcy Aldred's eleventh birthday. She was so excited, because this was the "year of maturity," at least to her. Marcy felt that turning eleven was the step into becoming a teenager. She could not wait until her party began. It was going to be a small gathering, with just her grandmother, father, and mother. But they would still have cake and presents.

Mrs. Aldred baked a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, the most scrumptious food Marcy had ever tasted. She had about three slices of it! After cake, the family gathered in the living room for the grand opening of presents. The first present was from her mother. It was a beautiful pair of earrings, tiny little silver raindrops that, when she put them on, looked like they were dropping from her delicate earlobes. The next present was from Mr. Aldred. He gave Marcy The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis. Marcy loved to read, and she favored magical books. The last present was from Grandmother Aldred, Mr. Aldred's wrinkly old mother. Marcy loved her very much, for she thought she was the best grandparent in the whole wide world. Marcy picked up the carefully wrapped box that was covered with colorful painted rainbows and opened the sides. She slid out the heavy box and lifted up the white top. After searching through wads of tissue paper, she finally found the present. It was a beautifully made, clear-as-ice glass doll. It was the most gorgeous thing Marcy had ever seen. The way the sunlight drenched through the window and onto the delicate face made it glisten like it was covered with dewdrops. The hands were perfectly created, showing every line and crinkle in the fingers and palms. And the doll's clothing looked like she was going to a party, with a ruffly knee-length dress. This sparkly doll was Marcy's favorite present. It made her realize that she shouldn't rush to growing up and becoming a teenager. It showed her to still cherish the things she had loved as a child, like her dolls and stuffed animals that were shoved in a box under her bed. The glass doll that was held in Marcy's hands was just so beautiful she could not take her eyes off of it. In fact, she got tears in her eyes just from staring at it so long. "Oh, Grandma, it is the most wonderful present in the world!" Marcy cried to the old woman sitting in the rocking chair. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you so much!"

The glass doll was Marcy's back step into childhood. She realized that she missed playing with her baby dolls and other toys. When Marcy went to sleep that night, she glanced over at the clear lass doll standing on her dresser. And as she closed her eyes, she saw a small bright wink coming from the ice statue. Marcy went to sleep smiling.