I actually wrote this story for the purpose of being able to post something here. I put it together in only twenty or so minutes so I hope you all like it. It's kinda sad, though. Tell me what you think.
Sorry is Far, Far Away
The small girl looked at her dishevelled dolly. The living room smelled of smoke. Old, tattered furniture looked like it had been blown in by a tornado, rather than pushed around during one of the familys many arguments and never pushed back . The girl was sitting behind a couch, her back turned to the argument going on behind her.
If that harlot of a girlfriend you ran off with is pregnant, then that spawn of hers is yours and Im taking my girl! Im not letting you anywhere near my baby girl!
Where do you want to go today, Jen-Jen? she asked her doll, lovingly. She made the rag doll do a little dance. The doll wore a stitched smile. She always smiled. Even when her right eye popped out, even when the neighbors dog chewed off her left arm, she always smiled. Marilyn guessed that was why she liked her so much and she would very much like to know how she did it.
Youre being irrational Jennifer! Just shut up! You do nothing but criticize everything I do!
Once Jen-Jens dance was done, Marilyn brought the doll close to hear what the doll was saying. Whats that Jen-Jen? You want to ride ponies? Marilyn asked her dolly. Marilyn rested herself on the backside of the couch and placed her dolly to do the same with the side of the wall. I love ponies, Jen-Jen. Someday, Ill teach you to love ponies, too.
Michael, when are you going to realize youre tearing this family apart! The drinking, the drugs... when are you going to think about someone besides yourself? What about Marilyn?
Marilyn picked up Jen-Jen. But there are no ponies here. So what about we play doctor? Ill be the nurse and you can be the patient. Jen-Jen smiled, always ready to play Marilyns games. It was very fortunate that she was. Nobody else in the apartment complex wouldve dared played with her. She was a scruffy looking child and her parents were, frankly, scary. Jen-Jen didnt seem to mind either of these things. Marilyn was sure that if Jen-Jen had her arm back, her doll wouldve given her a big hug. So, Jen-Jen, what do you have?
Thats it! Im sick of this family! Im sick of you!
Oh... you have a broken heart, dont you, dearie? Marilyn said. Well, I think we can fix that.
Dont you dare walk out on me, Michael! Michael? MICHAEL!
Marilyn picked up her dolly. All you need is a friend. Thats all you really need, Jen-Jen. Youll see. Youll be all better soon. Right now, you should stay in the hospital with me. And Ill watch you and feed you and take care of you until the day you decide to leave.
There was the sound of a doorknob turning. Marilyn felt like someone was watching her. She looked to her left. Hi Daddy.
Her father looked at his young daughter. He bit his upper lip and his eyebrows lowered as their eyes met. Marilyn saw her fathers hand on the doorknob. Where are you going, Daddy?
Michael stood still, his only motion the raising and lowering of his shoulders as he breathed. He could still see Jennifer crying, her face planted on the kitchen table, her tears rolling down the tablecloth. In front of her was his innocent daughter. And in her arms was the little rag doll he had given her for her first birthday. Before, it could have been enough to make him change his mind. But Michael was resolved. Im sorry, kiddo.
Where is that? Marilyn asked, not understanding.
Far, far away, Michael said simply. I love you. He looked at his daughter for a few more seconds, before he tore himself away. He opened the door and shut it behind him.
A shrieking cry rattled the house.
Marilyn held her doll close. Mommys crying because she doesnt know where Im Sorry is. Maybe we should go tell her, Marilyn said, smiling back at her dolly. We should tell her that sorry is far, far away.
As the young girl walked to the kitchen, she looked at her doll one more time. You know, Jen-Jen, Im glad I always know where you are. Youre always right with me.
And Jen-Jen looked on with her one eye and in spite of everything, smiled.
Sorry is Far, Far Away
The small girl looked at her dishevelled dolly. The living room smelled of smoke. Old, tattered furniture looked like it had been blown in by a tornado, rather than pushed around during one of the familys many arguments and never pushed back . The girl was sitting behind a couch, her back turned to the argument going on behind her.
If that harlot of a girlfriend you ran off with is pregnant, then that spawn of hers is yours and Im taking my girl! Im not letting you anywhere near my baby girl!
Where do you want to go today, Jen-Jen? she asked her doll, lovingly. She made the rag doll do a little dance. The doll wore a stitched smile. She always smiled. Even when her right eye popped out, even when the neighbors dog chewed off her left arm, she always smiled. Marilyn guessed that was why she liked her so much and she would very much like to know how she did it.
Youre being irrational Jennifer! Just shut up! You do nothing but criticize everything I do!
Once Jen-Jens dance was done, Marilyn brought the doll close to hear what the doll was saying. Whats that Jen-Jen? You want to ride ponies? Marilyn asked her dolly. Marilyn rested herself on the backside of the couch and placed her dolly to do the same with the side of the wall. I love ponies, Jen-Jen. Someday, Ill teach you to love ponies, too.
Michael, when are you going to realize youre tearing this family apart! The drinking, the drugs... when are you going to think about someone besides yourself? What about Marilyn?
Marilyn picked up Jen-Jen. But there are no ponies here. So what about we play doctor? Ill be the nurse and you can be the patient. Jen-Jen smiled, always ready to play Marilyns games. It was very fortunate that she was. Nobody else in the apartment complex wouldve dared played with her. She was a scruffy looking child and her parents were, frankly, scary. Jen-Jen didnt seem to mind either of these things. Marilyn was sure that if Jen-Jen had her arm back, her doll wouldve given her a big hug. So, Jen-Jen, what do you have?
Thats it! Im sick of this family! Im sick of you!
Oh... you have a broken heart, dont you, dearie? Marilyn said. Well, I think we can fix that.
Dont you dare walk out on me, Michael! Michael? MICHAEL!
Marilyn picked up her dolly. All you need is a friend. Thats all you really need, Jen-Jen. Youll see. Youll be all better soon. Right now, you should stay in the hospital with me. And Ill watch you and feed you and take care of you until the day you decide to leave.
There was the sound of a doorknob turning. Marilyn felt like someone was watching her. She looked to her left. Hi Daddy.
Her father looked at his young daughter. He bit his upper lip and his eyebrows lowered as their eyes met. Marilyn saw her fathers hand on the doorknob. Where are you going, Daddy?
Michael stood still, his only motion the raising and lowering of his shoulders as he breathed. He could still see Jennifer crying, her face planted on the kitchen table, her tears rolling down the tablecloth. In front of her was his innocent daughter. And in her arms was the little rag doll he had given her for her first birthday. Before, it could have been enough to make him change his mind. But Michael was resolved. Im sorry, kiddo.
Where is that? Marilyn asked, not understanding.
Far, far away, Michael said simply. I love you. He looked at his daughter for a few more seconds, before he tore himself away. He opened the door and shut it behind him.
A shrieking cry rattled the house.
Marilyn held her doll close. Mommys crying because she doesnt know where Im Sorry is. Maybe we should go tell her, Marilyn said, smiling back at her dolly. We should tell her that sorry is far, far away.
As the young girl walked to the kitchen, she looked at her doll one more time. You know, Jen-Jen, Im glad I always know where you are. Youre always right with me.
And Jen-Jen looked on with her one eye and in spite of everything, smiled.
