Chapter 8 Grandma Lu Cleans Out Her Porch

 Bandit said, "Alright, Eleanor. Tell your story, but be quick about it. I just have a feeling that Grandma Lu will be coming out here to her sun porch since it's such a nice day." Anna and Sonja said, "But what about us? We have a story to tell too. Ours was a rough one, Anna said. People didn't treat us nice at all. Sonja agreed. We had it a lot worse than she did. Look at her in her fancy dress and booties. We have never been treated nice."

Bandit shushed them. "Now you listen to me. I, for one have seen pictures of you being treated very kindly at a lady's house out in the country. Grandma Lu took you out there. I have seen her showing your pictures to people."

"Isak and Kasper said, "Yes. We were there too. Grandma Lu had a grand time putting us on the couch in the living room and then in her office there. One day we found ourselves napping on her bed and sitting in her recliner. We never knew where we would end up when we were there. Anna said, "Yes, but remember we got kicked out of that house too. The lady didn't like us and told Grandma Lu to take us home with her." Sonja said, "Yes, that was a sad day. So that's when we found us out here on the sun porch to keep you off of the nice furniture, Bandit."

Bandit let out a soft growl. "I know. I like to sit on soft furniture, but she's so particular about not getting my fur on her new furniture. Anyway, you girls were on a ship years ago. I understand you are all three lucky to be back on solid ground." 

Eleanor said, "Well, I will have you know that  I escaped but I had grave injuries. My poor head got broken when the ship crashed.

"At least you got rescued with some of the children in the big lifeboats, we were tossed overboard in the freezing water when the ship hit that big ice berg. When people came to rescue the people we were scooped up to help ease the pain and calm the children that were being rescued.  We were cast aside though because we are made of wood and not comforting to a scared child."

"Who care about your feelings? I got a hole in my head and had to go to a doll hospital for months to recover my beautiful complexion. I got a whole new wardrobe, but while I was waiting I was so ashamed of having to wear a plain cotton dress. Terrible it was, just terrible. At least now I'm beautiful once again and can show off how lovely I look."

As the door to the porch opened all talking of dog and dolls ceased. The porch was quiet. One could hear the chirping of the birds that were eating the birdseed that always was waiting for their lunch through the open windows. Buzzing of the bumble bees and the humming of the hummingbirds always made Grandma Lu smile.

"Come here you pretty little girl, said Grandma Lu as she picked up Eleanor. You are getting pretty old. I guess I'd better put you someplace where you won't get dirty. I have a china cupboard that will keep the dust from getting on your pretty dress. Carole Anne would want me to keep you beautiful for the next little girl that gets to hold you.  She loved you so much and always kept you in a box. This way people can look at you and see how pretty you are. Come along. Eleanor watched with horror as she saw the china cupboard door open and saw where her home would be for who knew how long. She was doomed to loneliness. What good was a pretty dress and booties?

Bandit laid on the floor and watched Grandma Lu carry the doll into the house. "Well, I wonder if she's going to leave you four on the furniture. Her chair is empty now, but I'd better not jump up there until I  know it's safe."

Soon he found out that he had made a good decision. Grandma Lu came out to the porch carrying a black trash bag. "Okay you guys. I think that you have served your purpose. Bandit is being a good boy and doesn't jump on the furniture anymore, so you guys are going to the flea market. Maybe someone will have a use for you. I bought you from someone that didn't like you and sold you very cheap. I only bought you to write a story about you, but I can't think of one, So I don't need you guys anymore and I need to get rid of stuff I don't like or need. There you go! Isak, Kasper, Sonja and Anna found themselves in the darkness. Once again thrown away like trash. Even Grandma Lu didn't like them, just used them as a training tool for a dog! She wouldn't even write their story!

Would someone come and get them that would actually love them or were they destined to be bullied and treated badly. The trip to the flea market was a sad and quiet one.