TOPSY & TURVY

Topsy and Turvy were attached doll sisters who lived in a dusty corner of a wooden shelf down in the cottage basement. Long since abandoned by children who were now grown-ups, the dolls spent long lonely hours staring out the window at the lake and wistfully recalling days gone past.

When Topsy stood, her long beautiful blue gown adorned with roses covered up Turvy. When Turvy was upright, her garish and patched skirt covered up Topsy. The two loved each other though and equally took turns staring out the window into the world.

They were surrounded by random books: books running the gantlet from grade school to college years and beyond. To help pass the time they read to each other passages from mysteries, love stories, classics, poetry books, encyclopedias, cook books, camp journals, and many more.

One afternoon on Topsy’s watch she spotted a dusty leather book called, “Spells For All That You Wish For”. Curious, she leafed through the tome until she stopped at an entry that was titled, “Bringing Dolls to Life”.

Turvy was taking a nap at the time but woke suddenly when Topsy gave a shout of glee. Together they made a plan to chant the spell under the first full moon. After about three long weeks the moon finally rose over the lake like a giant white ceramic dish, casting its sparkling wavering trail over the water and streaming in through the basement window.

Over and over both dolls chanted:
Release our dreams into the sky, spirits, and listen to our appeal
In the night and the light of the full full moon we desire to be real
We thank you for your guidance, spirits, and before you we both kneel

Exhausted and disappointed they finally collapsed in a heap of colored crocheted wool and fell asleep.

The next morning they awoke on the floor, sprang to their feet and stared at each other in stunned silence.

Topsy broke the impass by jumping up and down, hugging Turvy, and tearfully crying out in glee, “We are real! We are real!”

Turvy however broke into another kind of tears.

Topsy, realizing her beloved sister’s fears, put her arms around her and whispered, “All is well Turvy. I will protect you. We will have great adventures together, just you see.”

(to be continued)