Paper Dolls Read Online Free PDF Page B

around the world. My tiny treasures. I hum as I arrange the dolls on my only shelf. It’s my ritual at every place the circus takes me. The first doll I place is always the small wooden clown from Mexico that looks a lot like a drugstore Indian—daddy gave it to me when I was five. The second one I place is a bear from the Steiff Circus that I begged for in Germany and the third is an exquisite Bru Bebe doll that grandfather bought me for my last birthday. Next, I arrange the trinket boxes on my dresser. In a fortnight, all this will be packed away and all trace of The Fiveash Circus will vanish from New Orleans.
    The door of the carriage flings open. Audette stands there with her face like a horse and her bony hips protruding from her leotard. She places her hands on her hips with her many-ringed knuckles turned out. "Jessamine, you're meant to be practicing tomorrow's performance."
    "I'm coming in a moment." I turn away and begin humming again.
    "What are you doing with those ridiculous toys?" She steps into the carriage. With a sweep of her hand, she knocks the dolls to the floor. She crushes the Bebe doll underfoot before I can rescue it. "You’re fifteen in a month. Time to stop all this childishness of yours. Henry told me you’re refusing to attend a dinner with Mr. Baldcott. He's an important investor in the circus, and he has indicated an interest in pursuing a future with you. You have to stop pretending to be a child.”
    I refuse to allow Audette to see me cry at the sight of my ruined doll. My back stiffens as I raise my eyes to her. "I told you before I am not having anything to do with Mr. Baldcott. Not for all the tea in China."
    She sighs like a creaky piece of furniture. "We're not like regular folk. We're circus. And the assets of the circus are rapidly in decline. The captain has lost control of the ship."
    "Don't you dare speak of my grandfather like that! This circus keeps and feeds ninety people—including you, Audette."
    Audette crosses her arms tightly against my words. She’s twenty-four but acts more like a child than an adult. "When was the last time you saw your precious grandfather make any kind of decision to do with the circus? It's all been left to Henry."
    Cold malice twists in my chest. "Speaking of Henry, perhaps you should go check what's he's doing for the circus right now. Last time I saw your fiancée, he was busily entertaining sixteen-year-old showgirls in his trailer."
    Audette's horsey features droop. She storms away in the direction of my cousin’s trailer.
    I want to close the door again, but a figure shifts close, like something carried on the dark breeze. She draws a shawl close around her shoulders, despite the warmth of the night.
    "Who is that woman! C'est quoi ce cirque?" She waves a hand in the direction of Audette.
    Her accent is very French. I know just enough French to know she thinks Audette is as stupid as I do. I shrug at the woman. "Audette is always like that."
    The woman blinks and nods in acknowledgment. "I am Madame Celia. I’m here looking for work. A stall holder told me you are the granddaughter of the circus's owner. You can tell me where to find him, perhaps?"
    I shake my head. "Grandfather doesn't like to be disturbed at night."
    “Very well. I’ll return in the morning.” She takes a step away, then pauses and pulls out a pair of rag dolls from underneath her layers of clothing. I peer closely at them in the dark light. They are the new brother and sister dolls that children are crazy for—Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. The dolls look handmade, with faces that are more Parisian and haughty than comical.
    "Take these, child. They belonged to someone special to me. But she is dead, and I can't keep carrying them about. I will see her again soon enough."
    "Was she your daughter?"
    "Oui."
    "Thank you. These pair are very beautiful, as I'm sure your daughter was." I take the sibling dolls from her and place them on my shelf. Then I arrange my toys