Cathy heard a strange noise coming from her toy box that sounded somewhat like a cough. But that was impossible. She didn’t have any toys that coughed. She had a baby doll that cried and said “Momma” and a fire truck that beeped and had a siren, which is usually thought of as a boy’s toy but Cathy just wanted and GOT a firetruck last birthday.
Uncle Tom had given the truck to her because he was a volunteer fireman in his town and loved the fact that Cathy liked fire engines too!
But there it was again! Definately a cough. So Cathy went over to her toy box and when she opened the lid Sally the doll was holding her arm in front of her face and…coughing!
Cathy was so surprised that she just stared at Sally. Then Sally said “I think it’s the dust…I must be allergic just like you!”
Cathy leaned into the toy box and as she did she started to cough herself. Yes Sally and Cathy both were allergic to the dust in the box.
Cathy lifted Sally out of the toy box and held her closely and walked out onto the porch to get some fresh air.
“Ah…that’s better!” said Sally.
Cathy finally said to Sally…”You….can….TALK….are you..alive?”
“Well only for a very short time.” said Sally sadly.
So Cathy and Sally talked about girl and doll stuff for awhile and then Cathy’s Mom said to Cathy…”Who are you talking to Cathy Dear?”
“Oh…just Sally… my dolly.”
“Oh yes…I remember when I was a little girl I had a dolly named “Susie” and we’d have the best conversations!”
“You…mean…pretend…conversations don’t you Mom?”
“Ah…well…YOU mean pretend conversations too don’t you?” asked Cathy’s Mom.
And Cathy and her Mom just looked silently at each other because everyone knows that Dolls can’t really talk. Don’t they?