The Smile
By: Puneet Kumar
“You definitely have a habit of falling. Don’t you?” Anna said as she picked up the doll for the third time now. It was a pretty doll with big brown eyes and big enough for a girl to cuddle. It was a strange because every time she passed the toy aisle, the doll would be on floor. She placed it firmly back on the shelf and continued her shopping.
“Must be some kids playing games.” She thought and she shrugged off that feeling of uneasiness.
After a few more rounds the supermarket, she decided she was done shopping and headed to the cashier. She fell in line after a pudgy woman when a girl rushed passed her and tugged the woman’s hand.
“Momma, please, can I have this doll?” She said with that puppy dog look on her face. The girl was adorable, and Anna couldn’t help but smile. The girl all but squealed when her mom said yes and hugged the doll. Anna watched the heartwarming scene wishing she’d have a little girl of her own someday. But the warm feeling vanished when she looked at the doll. Its head peeked over girl’s shoulders. It stared at her and smiled.
-