Small Wonders

by t.o. crow

Granny called me through the window.

"Mama's here!" she said.

The screen door squeaked

and slapped closed behind me

as I raced inside.

High heels tapped staccato across old wood floors.

The sound stopped and in the doorway stood

a dark-haired beauty in white

beaming a lip-sticked smile of red.

My Mother

held a box wrapped in white paper

with a pretty blue ribbon binding it together.

I looked at the box in wonder.

A real, wrapped present!

What is it for? Is it mine? A surprise?

Granny smiled

As I tried to remove the ribbon

but could not because it was stuck.

Scissors were found.

There was a snip, snip sound.

Off came the top

and I inhaled the most delightful fragrance of

cardboard and new plastic!

Tissue paper crackled and rustled.

As I reached for the treasure inside,

my mouth flew wide.

"A DOLL!" I cried.

There in its paper bed,

lay a baby doll who drank

and wet!

I pulled her from the box

to investigate her magical features.

Removing her clothes exposed how she functioned

when "fed" water from her doll-sized bottle.

I have never received a gift so special

as that Tiny Tears Doll from my beautiful Mother.

Nor one that I remember more,

than on that birthday when I was four.

Much love was wrapped in that small box

along with a memory that will never be forgotten.