Molly

Molly
Written by J. Marie Ravenshaw

I was sitting at the window; my elbows perched on the sill. The new neighbors were moving in across the street. I just knew there had to be a little girl my age, what with the frilly dresses and stuffed animals that the movers carted into the house.

To say I was excited was an understatement. It was summer break and all my school friends lived way too far away. I sat there biding my time, waiting to catch a glimpse of her. I sat patiently right up until the last box was being toted into the house.

As the movers walked back to the truck, I sighed in disappointment and walked into the kitchen where Momma was making dinner. 

Hopping up on the stool next to the island, I plopped my elbows on the counter, cradled my face with my palms and sighed audibly.

Momma stopped what she was doing, wiped her hands on her apron, raised her brow, and smiled, “What’s the matter baby?”

“All day I sat in the window watchin’ the neighbors move in cross da’ street.”

“And…”

“And I was really hopin’ they would have a lil’ girl my age. They brought in a bunch of pretty dresses and stuf’d animals…but I din’t see no lil’ girl.”

Momma leaned over the island and tussled my hair, “I’m sorry baby. Maybe she’ll come in the next few days. Maybe we can give Chrissy a call and have her come over to keep you company. Whaddya say?”

Chrissy was my older cousin. “But momma, Chrissy says she don’t like playin’ with dollies anymore, says she’s too old for em’.”

“But it’s better than nothin’ right Anna? I can call Auntie Jeanie tonight if you want.”

“No Momma, I’ll just play with Missa. I’ll be okay.”

“Alright baby, but if you change your mind…”

“I’ll tell ya’ Momma.”


The next day I was out playin’ at the swing set with my favorite dolly, Missa. I’ve had her ever since I was a little baby. She was real worn out; her stitchin’ was comin’ all undone. Momma offered to fix her up, but I refused. I loved Missa just the way she was.

I propped her up against the pole of the swing set, “Now Missa, you sit right there while I fix us some tea. I just know you gotta be thirsty after all that playin’.”

I turned to the sandbox to gather my plastic tea-set when a little girl’s voice came from behind me, “Whatcha doin’?”

I turned around and saw a little girl my age standing there. She was wearing a real pretty white party dress and her black hair was all the way down to her waist. She had a blue bow in her hair and a matching ribbon around her neck. She was real pale with big brown eyes.

“I’m playin’ with ma’ dolly Missa. You wanna play with us?”

She glanced down at Missa, “She looks real beat up.”

“Yeah, I know it. But I love her just the same.” I brought the tea-set over to where Missa sat and started to set up. “Do you have a dolly?”

“Nope, not anymore. I lost her bout a month ago.”

“I’m real sorry bout that, don’t know what I’d do without Missa. What’s yer’ name?”

She stepped forward and sat down on the ground with us, “My name’s Molly, what’s yours?”

“I’m Anna, nice to meetcha Molly.” I said as I handed her a cup. “One lump or two?”

Her lip curled up into a beatific smile, “Two please.”

We played for the rest of the day till Momma called me in for dinner.

“Anna! Dinnertime!”

“Comin’ Momma!” I yelled. Then I turned back to address Molly, only to find that she wasn’t there. She had completely disappeared. I knitted my brow in frustration and bent down to pick up Missa, “It s’alright Missa. Maybe Molly’ll be round tomorrow.”

I sauntered into the house with Missa clutched to my side, “What’s for dinner Momma?”

“Beef roast and green beans.”

My shoulders slumped, “Again?” I whined.

Momma turned around with her hands on her hips, a big smile slowly spread cross her face, “Yeah, again baby. Waste not, want not and all that.”

She turned her back to me while she readied my plate. “So who were you talkin’ to out there baby?”

I placed Missa carefully in the chair that used to be daddy’s before he took off and plopped down in my usual chair. “I was jus’ talkin’ to Missa and Molly.”

Momma turned and walked toward me with my plate of food in one hand and a tall glass of milk in the other. She set them down on the table in front of me and crouched down so that she could look into my eyes.

A fleeting look of worry ran cross her face, “Molly? Who is Molly baby?”

I smiled at her as I shoveled a big bite of green beans into my mouth. I spoke through that mouthful, “ou eyor.”

Her eyebrows knitted, “C’mon Anna, you know better than to talk with your mouth full. Chew it up and swallow, then tell me.”

I gave her a big green toothy grin, spilling some of the veggie onto the table. Momma looked down at the mess on the table and started to laugh, her whole body shaking with it. This sent me into a belly laugh spilling even more of the chewed up green vegetable out of my mouth.

As soon as we could catch our breath, Momma wiped up the table and I said, “New neighbor is what I said. That’s da’ lil’ girl that moved in cross da’ street.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah momma, she is soooo nice. She loves playin’ with me and Missa. I can’t wait til’ tomorrow. I really hope she comes back over.”

Momma looked confused, then smiled and tussled my hair as she stood up and sat at her chair at the table, “I hope she does come back baby.”


Well she did come back the next day. Molly and I played constantly for the next two weeks. We’d play with my dollie’s and play games like hide n’ seek. She was real good at hide n’ seek. It always took me forever to find her.

Then one day, she just didn’t show up. I had never been to her house, but I really wanted to show her my new dress that my Gramma made me. So I walked up to her front door, knocked and waited patiently. A lady answered the door.

I knew it was Molly’s momma. She had the same black hair and pale white skin. She looked at me with her big, brown, red-rimmed eyes. She seemed to consider me, then said, “Well hello, can I help you?” 

Nervously, I looked down to my feet and twisted the waist ribbon around my fingers, “Can Molly come out and play?”

Her eyes widened at my question, “I-I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked, if Molly could come out n’ play.”

She covered her mouth with a shaky hand. Then she seemed to compose herself, crouching down to my level and reaching out to touch my arm she said, “Oh honey, Molly….well um…Molly’s been gone for a while now.” A stray tear ran down her cheek.

My heart dropped, “Gone? What do you mean gone?”

“Oh honey…Molly died a whole two months ago.”

The End

Word count:1245

Written for: "SCARE ME ~ A Contest Of Horrors"  Week 13- Honorable Mention
Prompt:Tell me about the little girl next door