The Friendship Doll Read Online Free PDF Page A

intertwined with one rope,” I remember him saying once. This feeling inside me is certainly bad. What good can be intertwined with it?
    Other words I had heard from Master Tatsuhiko come to mind. Sayings like “One kind word can warm three winter months” and “Spilt water will not return to the tray.” All of it was as clear to me as a bowl of mud then, and is no clearer now.
    I turn my attention back to the girl, who is looking at me intently. My gaze in return is equally intent.

    Bunny stared at the Miss Kanagawa doll. Its eyes were as still as a steamy New York summer night. She looked into the eyes of each of the other four dolls. Nothing.
    This was so silly. They were dolls. Nothing more. Bunny’s imagination was running away with her. Perhaps she should go find Father.
    But something drew her back to the end of the table. To Miss Kanagawa. She reached out to stroke orange silk, her fingers hovering inches from the gown.
    “Oh, there you are.” It was Mary Louise Miller. “Mr. Reyburn says we must all wait in the mayor’s office.”
    Bunny dropped her arm but otherwise didn’t move.
    “Come on!” Mary Louise tugged at her sleeve.
    With a lingering backward glance, Bunny followed Mary Louise. But her thoughts were still inside the reception room. With Miss Kanagawa.
    “Ready, Bunny? Mary Louise? Let’s find the other girls.” Mr. Reyburn bustled over, gathering up the members of the Welcome Committee. It wasn’t until he lined them up that Bunny realized she was standing next to Belle. Thoughts about the doll quickly vanished. This was perfect for her plan!
    But then something jabbed her in the chest. She had the sensation of being poked by an umbrella. No, not an umbrella. Something less pointy. More like the end of a parasol.
    Absurd.
    Bunny shook herself.
    “Stand still, won’t you?” Belle said. Her voice sounded parched and thin.
    Bunny started to say something snippy in return. Then she caught sight of a perfect pearl-sized tear rolling outfrom under Belle’s eyelid and down her cheek. Belle? Crying?
    “Are you all right?” Bunny asked.
    Belle bit her lip, shaking her head no. “I’m going to make an awful mess of it,” she said. “I wish they hadn’t chosen me.”
    I wish they hadn’t chosen you, either, Bunny thought. She fingered the marble in her pocket.

    Our actions make the fragrance of our lives
.

    Bunny’s head snapped left, then right. Where had that voice come from? Oh, why hadn’t she eaten breakfast? Bunny shook her head to clear it. What was going on?
    “It’s time.” Mr. Reyburn cued the string quartet. The girls peeked out of the mayor’s office to watch the dignitaries file into the reception room. The screen had been set aside and there the dolls were, in full view of everyone. When the girls were given the signal to enter the reception room themselves, Bunny focused her gaze on the mayor, who was stepping up to the podium.

    Would you smell of plums? Or vinegar?

    Bunny glanced behind her. No one else seemed to hear anything. All eyes were intent on the mayor.
    Bunny discreetly tapped at her left ear. Where was this voice coming from? And what did it mean? She saw the mayor gesture right to the special envoy and then left to the dolls. But nothing he said was penetrating through the strange words in her head.
    The quartet launched into another piece. Bunny quietly cleared her throat, as if that would clear the puzzling thoughts.

    Well? What will you choose?

    Bunny tossed her head like an impatient horse.
    “Stand still,” Mary Louise hissed. “What on earth is wrong with you?”
    “Sorry.” Bunny gave her head one last stealthy shake.
    There, that seemed to do the trick. Now the only thing she heard was the quartet playing the first notes of the American national anthem. Bunny relaxed. Smiled. Stood a little taller. When the music quavered to a close, Mr. Sekiya, the special envoy traveling with the dolls, stepped to the podium and began to