Doris in Dreamland
Excerpt from Show 'n' Tell
Doris wondered if her doll would travel
with her to Dreamland.
Dreamland was a special place Doris visited every night in her
dreams. In Dreamland, she was a red-and-black butterfly, a
butterfly that for a short time watched other children go about
their daily lives. In Dreamland children’s lives were as they should
be, filled with love, truth and beauty. Children did not need a doll
for pretend play in order to escape the ugly reality of their lives.
Doris loved escaping her real world ever since the day truth and
beauty were replaced with lies and ugliness. It was the day a
grownup touched her and changed her life forever. It was the day
she learned some people are not what they seem. It was the day
she learned nice looking people can be ugly on the inside. Most
importantly, it was the day she learned people sometimes touch
little girls where they shouldn’t and make them carry the ugly
secret daily. Doris fell asleep holding Barbie tightly against her
and looking at her long, blond hair.