The Playmate

Dory looked around at the sun-dappled back yard and sighed. It was late summer and school would be starting soon. To 5-year-old Dory, that was a fate worse than death almost. Not only would she have to leave her mommy for the very first time ever but also she would have to leave her best and only friend.

She looked over to where Marissa was sitting on the blue blanket that she had spread under the old apple tree for their tea party and tried to smile. Marissa was mad still that Dory was leaving her in a few weeks. Mommy and Daddy said to tell her that she would be home to play with her every day. Dory wondered why her parents looked at each other and smiled every time she talked about Marissa. Then like most 5 year olds, she brushed it off and went to play with her friend.

She still had to keep herself from laughing sometimes at Marissa’s funny way of talking and her mommy never made her change her clothes. Boy, Dory wished her mommy was like that. She always made Dory take a bath and change her clothes a zillion times a day. Marissa wanted to go into the woods and run away so that Dory didn’t have to leave her but Dory was scared. She sat down on the blanket and sighing once again started to pour the tea for her friend, changing the subject to dolls and books she had read.

April looked out of the window and shook her head with a slight smile. Dory was at it again. Maybe once she started school she would finally give up on her imaginary playmate. She shivered as Dory got up and walked towards the woods on the side of the house singing, and swinging her hand just as if someone was walking beside her holding it. She brushed off the sudden chill laughing at herself and went to prepare dinner.