Sweet Dreams: Idoll Hands Read online

  Idoll Hands

  By R.M. Darkcastle

  To all of my believers. Thank you.

  Copyright © 2018 R.M. Darkcastle

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All Rights Reserved. This work may not be reproduced by any means.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 1

  Matilda had the most beautiful hair, blonde and silken, though the ends had begun to look raggedy and rough like the bottom of a broom. But that was no problem. She was still beautiful. Her cherub-like face had a constant smile and glossy brown eyes. She was a perfect angel.

  Sophia took out a little pink comb and dragged it though Matilda’s golden mane. Finding trouble on the left side, she turned the doll over and proceeded to comb from the back. “Yes, that’s better,” she mused.

  The car came to an abrupt halt as Stephanie pulled into a parking spot. She took off her sun glasses and looked over at Sophia with cold blue eyes.

  “You can’t bring that thing inside. You know that, right?”

  Sophia’s hand went still.

  “Yes. I’ll leave Mattie in the car.”

  Stephanie chuckled before stuffing a piece of gum into her mouth. “Mattie? I guess that makes sense for a doll with matted hair.”

  “Everyone gets tangles, not just her,” Sophia said, putting the pink comb away.

  “Whatever, let’s just go.”

  The Bridgetown mall was a large rectangle from the seventies with brown floors and wilting plants, but it had a movie theater and two stores that Stephanie described as “on trend.”

  Sophia followed her sister through the side entrance, not knowing what to do with her empty hands. I was distressing. She folded her arms, then dropped them, then folded them again, just wishing she still had the doll.

  Matilda

  “Dammit,” Stephanie said as they came to an escalator. It had been turned off. A big handwritten sign directed them to a different one across the mall. “Fine. Let’s go this way.”

  Sophia was suddenly filled with a sense of a delight. She couldn’t think of any stores that were “on trend” and she didn’t think she fully understood what that term meant, but there was one store that always caught her attention. A grin spread across her face. Walking to the next escalator meant walking past Newman’s, a toy store.

  The sisters began heading toward the north end of the mall. Sophia shoved both hands into her pockets to keep them still. Typically, she brought Matilda or Grace or Carolyn everywhere, but not with Stephanie. Stephanie had rules.

  Sophia’s arms felt so empty.

  The rainbow sign above Newman’s drew her closer. She walked ahead and stared into the window. There were children playing with toys inside while their parents watched or pretended to watch while looking at price tags.

  Sophia edged toward the doorway. Trains and trumpets glittered at her, little white dogs that could flip and bark wagged their tails, stuffed animals gazed at her with adoring eyes. But she was only interested in one thing, one type of toy.

  A bright blue wall near register always shelved the new dolls. Currently, a wavy haired brunette with a red pea coat was on display. Beautiful. How much did she cost? Sophia took a step into the store, quietly calculating how much money she’d saved since Christmas from doing chores around the house.

  “Come on!”

  The shrill sound of Stephanie’s voice broke Sophia’s concentration. A couple of people looked in her direction to investigate.

  “You’re too old to be in there anyway. You’re turning fourteen, not four. You can’t keep playing with dolls!”

  Sophia felt her cheeks blush as more children and their parents turned to look. Someone somewhere was giggling. Her eyes sunk to the floor with shame. Why do they have to laugh? Maybe it’s not about me? Burning inside, she backed out of the store and followed behind her sister in silence. All she really wanted to do was go home.

  Up ahead, the rotating steps of an escalator beckoned them to the top floor. Stephanie turned around. “It’s over here,” she pointed. Sophia wouldn’t look at her. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you’re mad?” she asked. “You know that I’m right. You’re too old for dolls.”

  “But you didn’t have to embarrass me,” Sophia whispered.

  “You’re the one embarrassing me.”

  “Am not. I left Matilda in the car.”

  Stephanie rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get your dress and get out of here.”

  Off boarding the escalator they arrived at a quiet platform with dark empty storefronts and metal gates pulled down to the floor. A few neon signs glowed in the distance, but all of the others were dead or removed.

  Turning left, the wide entrance of a department store swallowed them whole as they followed a white tiled path inside. Modern Jazz pumped out of the speakers above and big red clearance signs dangled over messy bins of mismatched bikinis.

  “Stay close,” Stephanie warned. “I don’t want to have to look for you.”

  Sophia followed her sister through the women’s section, but she detoured at an aisle full of jackets. Some were cotton or leather, but others were made of suede and faux fur. Walking between them felt like going through the wardrobe on a journey to Narnia.

  “Stop playing around!” Stephanie yelled, turning sharply to check on her sister. “Juniors is over this way.” She had already begun combing through dresses with her eyes. “This is a nice one.” Stephanie held up a red dress with a keyhole neckline and a short peplum skirt.

  “I like this one,” Sophia replied, unhooking a pale yellow dress from the wall. It had cupped sleeves and layers of iridescent tulle. Her birthday party was on Saturday. The decorations and the cake would have a mystical theme; pink icing dusted with edible glitter, star garlands in everywhere doorway, rose and butterfly pea milk tea. She wanted her dress to have the same feel, something that felt like magic.

  “You’ve gotta be kidding me. That’s for little girls.”

  “Then why is it in the junior’s department?” Sophia quipped.

  “Well, I don’t see any others. Someone probably left it here by accident. Look how small it is. You actually think you can fit that?”

  Sophia looked the dress over. It did seem a bit small, not just the length, but the arms and the bodice too. “I can ask for a larger size, maybe—”

  “Maybe it’s time to grow up,” Stephanie said, taking the yellow dress from her sister’s hand. She hooked it onto the wall. “No offense, I’m really not trying to be mean, but you’re a big girl now. Start acting like it.” Sophia reached for the dress again, but Stephanie blocked her hand. “Seriously? I used to like dolls and stupid shit like that too, but I stopped around the same time that I stopped wetting the bed. That was in kindergarten.” Stephanie looked to the next rack and picked up a black velvet mini. “Oh, my God. This is so cute!”

  “I don’t think I like that.”

  “Not for you, dummy. For me,” Stephanie explained, holding the dress up to her body as she posed in front of a mirror. “Listen, I’m gonna try this on. You keep looking for your own dress. When I come back you better have something that doesn’t look like you stole it from a toddler."

  Sophia wandered through the racks of clothing as her sister walked away. Her next pick was a pink dress with lace
around the collar. It looked whimsical, like something out of a fairytale, but she knew that Stephanie wouldn’t approve. Sophia wished her mother had come shopping instead. If she was here she would let me get anything I want. Was it too late to call home?

  Turning the corner her eyes lit up.

  “There!” Sophia said, spotting more of the yellow dresses with the iridescent tulle. But a quick glance at the surrounding area told her that they were most definitely meant for little girls, not big girls. A lump started to grow in her throat. She swallowed it, acknowledging the fact that she had unwittingly wandered into the children’s section. Stephanie had been right.

  Childhood was ending, destroyed by a frayed line in the carpet between the juniors’ department and the children’s section.

  “Doesn’t matter,” she said to herself. Sophia combed the rack, eager to find the largest size available. She grabbed it and looked for a mirror. The closest one was to her left, surrounded by more fantasy dresses; pinks, blues, pearl whites, lace and chiffon. It was the wardrobe of her dreams.

  Holding the dress up to her body Sophia gazed into the mirror. Unlike Stephanie, she had their father’s deep olive complexion. She liked the way the yellow fabric glowed against her tan skin.

  Turning at different angles she admired her reflection when suddenly, she noticed something just behind her on the ground. It was a doll. Lowering the dress, Sophia spun around to investigate.

  A little black haired doll was sitting on the floor. It had pale skin and red cheeks that made its face look garish, but Sophia smiled with wonder. “Hello,” she whispered, bending down to pick it up. A pale blue eye gazed at her. The other was half-closed. Gently, Sophia stroked the left lid until it opened, but fell again. “Well, aren’t you beautiful?” Rising to her feet she looked around in hopes of figuring out who had dropped her. “Someone must be missing you,” she said, cradling the little doll in her arms. She brought it to a nearby register.

  “Ready to check out?” said the cashier, before noticing the doll. “Oh.” His eyebrows lifted.

  “Could you put this is in the lost and found?”

  “Again?” He stared at the doll intently. “Someone must have brought you back,” he muttered. “How about this, just take it home.”

  Sophia’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? What if some little girl comes looking for it?”

  “No, that thing’s been in the lost in found since, since before I started working here. And that was over a year ago. I could’ve sworn it got thrown out recently, but…” He paused, looking at the doll with narrowed eyes. “Well, it’s all yours now.”

  “Thanks!” Sophia said, graciously. But her mood soured when she saw Stephanie emerge from the dressing room area. “I’d like to buy this now.” She put the yellow dress on the counter.

  “Sure thing.”

  Sophia waited nervously as the cashier took his time scanning the tag. She hunched her shoulders and shielded her face with one hand, trying to become invisible as Stephanie searched for her.

  “All set,” the cashier said, handing Sophia her change. He draped a white garment bag over the dress and walked it around the counter. “Here you go.”

  Sophia quickly took the dress and slung it over her arm, hiding the doll as Stephanie walked toward her.

  “There you are!”

  “I’m ready.”

  “Wait,” Stephanie paused. “You already bought something? Is it that stupid ass fairy dress? I told you—”

  “It’s my birthday! Not yours. Mom gave the money to me, not you. I can pick any dress that I want,” Sophia said, nearly choking on the words. She rarely spoke to her sister in that tone. Stephanie was two years older and four inches taller. The thought of being hit or shoved or left behind at the mall was a reasonable fear.

  Stephanie stared at her, exhaling a deep breath through her nose before speaking. “So where’s the change?”

  “The change?”

  “Hello, the rest of the money that mom gave you. Give it to me.” Sophia handed over a few dollars and coins wrapped in a receipt. “That’s it?! Are you crazy? She gave you eighty bucks. Why didn’t you choose something cheaper?”

  “But I wanted this dress. And that’s what the money was for.”

  “But you knew that I wanted something too!” Stephanie barked. “You’re so irritating. I can’t believe I gave up my whole evening to bring you here, you oversized baby. Now I have to put this back,” Stephanie said, shoving the black dress into her sister’s face before stomping back into a sea of polyester.

  Trailing behind, Sophia kept her distance. Once her sister was out of sight she lifted the garment bag to peek at the doll underneath and smiled.

  “Let’s go!” Stephanie shouted, returning to the main aisle. Sophia quickly covered the doll again. “Hold on. What is that? What are you hiding?”

  “Hey, Steph,” said a voice.

  Sophia and Stephanie both turned their heads. A blonde girl in a striped shirt and cutoff shorts was headed their way.

  “Amelie. Hey, girl!” Stephanie replied in a chipper tone. She started to smooth a hand over the top of her head, desperate to tame the hair that had strayed from her ponytail in the dressing room.

  “Who’s this?”

  “Her? That’s just my sister.”

  “Really? You don’t look anything alike,” Amelie said, noting Sophia’s skin tone and almond shaped brown eyes.

  “Oh, I know. It’s like she’s adopted. Nobody else in our family has that nose. Not even my dad,” Stephanie laughed. “But anyway, what are you doing here? This mall is so not on trend. I didn’t think someone like you shopped here.”

  “I don’t. I’m getting my navel pierced at a place that Jazz recommended. You know who that is, right?”

  “Jasmine? Of course! I mean, totally!”

  “Well, anyway, the piercing lady is on her lunch break, so I’m just killing time.”

  “Oh, that’s totally cool. I mean, not the lunch break, the piercing. Yeah, I love piercings. I had my nose pierced last year.”

  Amelie squinted her eyes. “I don’t see anything. What happened to it?”

  “It got infected,” Sophia chimed in.

  Amelie laughed. “Ewe.”

  Stephanie’s face went red. “That’s not what happened.”

  “She tried to do it herself.”

  “Sophia, shut up! At least I don’t play with dolls.”

  “Oh, is that what that is?” Amelie asked, turning her attention to Sophia. “I thought I saw a little shoe under there.”

  “Where?!” Stephanie asked. She reached for the garment bag and pulled it away. “Oh, my God! Another one? I knew it! I knew you were trying to hide something.”

  “Oh, wow. It looks vintage. That’s so in right now.”

  Stephanie balked. “Oh, you’re right. It does look vintage. Yeah, at first I thought it was just one of those regular non-vintage dolls. That’s why I was mad. I don’t want my little sister to waste her money, you know?”

  Did you name it yet?” Amelie asked.

  “No,” Sophia shook her head.

  “Something special. That’s what she needs. Maybe another S name. It’ll be like having another sister. Hey, she kinda looks like you, Steph. Steph Junior!”

  Sophia smiled.

  “I dunno. That seems…hey, we aren’t doing anything right now. I can wait with you for the piercing lady. We’re just shopping, nothing important,” Stephanie replied.

  “Oh, that’s really sweet that you guys are hanging out. I wish I had a little sister to take places. I’d dress her up like me of course,” Amelie said, flipping her hair with a smirk. “So what’s your name?”

  “Sophia.”

  “Really?! That’s my middle name,” Amelie giggled. A smile grew across Sophia’s face. “Anyhow, I should get going. Jazz is supposed to meet me soon.”

  “Right,” Stephanie nodded. “Tell Jazz I said hi.”

  “Will do. Ta for now,” Amelie said, waving her
delicate fingers as she walked away.

  Sophia waved back.

  “Bet you think you’re real hot shit now, don’t you?” Stephanie snapped once Amelie was out of earshot. “She’s not your friend. Amelie was just being nice because you’re with me,” she said, digging into her pocket for the car keys. “Now let’s get out of here.”

  Sophia walked quickly to keep up with her sister.

  Stephanie took the stairs and stomped down every step.

  Sophia gazed longingly into the store as they passed Newman’s.

  The blue wall was a beacon of light.

  At the mall exit Stephanie shoved a door open and let it fall shut on Sophia. She kept thinking about school the next day. Would Amelie tell people about her infected nose? What about the doll?

  “And by the way, thanks for making me look stupid,” Stephanie said, whipping around to scold Sophia as they approached the parking lot. “I’m’ not riding home with that ugly doll and neither are you. You can’t bring it with us.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s disgusting. I don’t even know where you got it from. It looks old.”

  Sophia looked down at the doll. “But, but it’s vintage.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “You said that it was.”

  “I know what I said! Just throw it away or give it back or do whatever it is that you have to do. That thing’s not getting into my car.”

  “But it’s Mom’s car.”

  Stephanie glared at her sister before yanking open the driver side door. She climbed in as Sophia reached the passenger side.

  “Mine is still locked,” Sophia said, pulling on the door handle. She knocked on the window to get her sister’s attention. “It won’t open.”

  Stephanie started the engine and put the car into drive, rolling through a handful of empty parking spaces. Sophia yelled, chasing after the car. Coming to a halt, Stephanie rolled down the window, reached for Matilda, and threw her out.

  “Matilda!” Sophia heard her plastic body hit the ground. She rushed forward as the car pulled up at an angle. Suddenly, it started to move in reverse. “No!” The back wheels crushed Matilda’s legs like a couple of empty water bottles. “Stop!” Stephanie pulled up again, as if she might back up a second time. Sophia ran harder, juggling the new doll and the garment bag as the plastic sank beneath her feet. She stepped into it and fell forward, scraping her elbows.