Story: Right Conduct: Caring for our possessions
The Button-Eyed Doll adapted from a story by Susan Caffery
There was a hole in the top of Vicky’s cupboard into the bookcase of the next room. If the door of the cupboard was open, Vicky could hear her parents’ talking - and around Christmas time, she listened eagerly.
“What are you getting Vicky this year, darling?” Vicky heard her father’s voice say.
“An angora jumper. There’s a beautiful blue and green one we saw that she said was cool - and some skates, because her new friend, Barbara, likes to go roller skating. Oh, and she mentioned she’d like another new doll, but I’m not sure what type yet.”
“Why get her another doll? She doesn’t take care of the ones she has,” her father said sounding slightly cross.
“What do you mean, dear?”
“Well, that big doll we bought her when she was four is just thrown into the bottom of her toy box. She left it out in the rain as well and one eye is missing and the dress is faded and torn.”
“Since when have you been rummaging around in the toy box?” asked mummy.
“I was looking at her doll’s house and remembering the Christmas we had the carpenters build it as a surprise. But she didn’t look after that very well either.”
“Oh dear,” thought Vicky. “I had better try to mend my big doll. Perhaps I could take it to the Doll’s Hospital in the village.”
“If this is the way she takes care of her dolls, she won’t be a very caring mother when she grows up, will she?” continued her father. “She isn’t looking after her things now. Her room is always untidy!”
“Which lady?” asked her dad in surprise wondering what had caused this sudden change in Vicky.
That morning at breakfast, Vicky asked her mother if she could take her big doll to the dolls’ hospital run by a lady in the village.
“She was a refugee,” replied mum. “She is a sweet old lady. She’s been there for years. She and her husband repair toys. She mends the dolls. She looks like a little doll herself with her old fashioned skirts.”
“I’ll take you, Vicky. My first appointment isn’t until ten,” said dad. “I’m glad you are now beginning to take proper care of your things.”
“Thank you, dad,” said Vicky smiling.
Vicky pulled her big doll out of the bottom of the toy box and brushed her down. She really did look sorry for herself with a torn dress and one eye missing. Vicky wrapped a small dolls blanket round her to cover her up before getting into the car with her father hoping he wouldn’t notice how bad she looked.
The Dolls’ Hospital was in a small shop which was really the front room of a small terraced house. It smelled nice – of gingerbread and sweets. In the back room Mr. Boenke repaired tricycles and bicycles and mended any broken toys. In the front, Mrs. Boenke made the dolls like new again. An old sewing machine stood in the corner where she made the dolls’ dresses.
“You’ve brought her at last,” Mrs. Boenke said mysteriously. “Oh dear, what a state she is in!”
“Yes, she has lost one button eye. And she is so dirty that I left her in the bottom of the toy box. I have plenty of other newer dolls,” said Vicky.
“Hmmm, but she’s a very good girl, isn’t she? I think she should sit on your bed, don’t you?” The old lady was holding up the doll, turning it this way and that.
“I’ll make her a new eye to match. And new hair - hers is like thatch. I will touch up her face. And make a dress edged with lace,” Mrs. Boenke almost sang the words. “Come back in a week. Goodbye,” she said suddenly to Vicky.
A week later, mummy collected the doll with Vicky.
“Yes, put her away until Christmas,” suggested Mrs. Boenke. “She will look lovely under the tree and she deserves a little attention after being left out in the garden with the squirrels and rats scratching her.”
“Oh, Mrs. Boenke, how beautiful she looks. She’s better than any new doll in the shops,” exclaimed Vicky.
“How do you know that?” said Vicky with surprise.
“She told me,” whispered the old lady with a twinkle in her eye as she wrapped up the big doll in a piece of white paper. “Have a happy Christmas.”
“A happy Christmas to you too,” waved Vicky as she left the shop. Then turning to Mummy she said. “I promise to take care of my things in future, Mummy. I won’t let my dolls be unhappy again.”
Questions:
1) How did you feel when you heard the story?
2) Did it remind you of anything in your real life?
3) Did Vicky take care of her things?
4) Do you look after your things?
5) Did Vicky decide to change her ways?
6) What name would you give the story?
Top
