By: Meredith B
New York, Grade: 4

I always loved the doll. It sat by the fireplace, in it's own little chair. Mama said it's name was Mary-Anne. It wore a pretty dress that was blue, and it had a basket on it's arm. The doll was made of china. It was beautiful. It's chair was teakwood. And even after this terrible depression, the doll sat there. The doll couldn't move, couldn't speak, but it was there. It was there for my first birthday. It was there when my brother was born. It was there when I got my dog. But now it's gone. Father had to sell it to get enough money to feed us. And he had to sell the chair, too. Now the doll will sit in somebody else's house, while somebody else's daughter arranges the pretty frills on it's dress. But I'm going to try and stop that from happening. While the doll sits in the window of the store Father sold it to, I will be earning money to buy the doll back. And I will buy the chair back, too! I will do it! Because nobody can stop me! I will! I WILL!