Page 26 of My Sweet Dollie, You Have to Love Me
“My name is Dollancie La’Darragh. Ambrose calls me Dollie.”
“I love that. It’s such a pretty name.”
He finally lets her go, and I tug her into me, keeping her close to my chest, our coats crackling against each other.
“My name is Chuckles. Do you want to come to a party with me, Dollancie La’Darragh?”
“No.”Say no,I will to her.
“Will there be more balloons?”
“Yes, and cake and games and all the fun stuff.”
“Like a birthday party?”
Say no,Dollie.
“Yes, that’s exactly what it is!”
“Is it Dahlia’s? Because we weren’t invited.”
“But that’s why I’m here. She felt bad not asking you to come.”
“She did?”
“So bad.”
He’s lying, I can feel it as my skin prickles.
“She asked that if I see you, I’d make sure to bring you with me.”
He’s lying, and he really wants us to believe him with his crouching body and caring, false smile.
“Oh, my gosh, Ambrose! We’ve been invited! To Dahlia’s party. She wants us there!”
I don’t believe it.
“Come on, Dollancie, Ambrose, I’ll give you a ride, but we must hurry. I’m running a little late and have lots of balloons to make for little Dahlia. Oh, she’s so excited.” Chuckles claps, jumping to his full height with excitement.
Taking a step, he encourages us with an arm wave. “Come on, Dollancie, Ambrose!”
I hate that he knows my name.
I hate that he’s using my name.
“Follow me to my car.”
Dollancie is ready to shadow his hop, skip, and jump, and I’m ready to run the other way.
But I can’t run.
Keeping Dollie close as she tries to move, I whisper, “Can we just go home? Let’s just leave. You don’t want to go to a party in your school clothes anyway.”
But, of course, the answer is no. “I want to go to the party.”
With a shrug, Dollie escapes my arms and darts towards the trees where Chuckles waits for her. They disappear together, her tiny hand wrapped in his dirty glove.
The trees blow in my vision as her sound fades away from my ears…
