What a Doll! Read Online Free PDF Page B

was embarrassed. A tonic for the nerves. Was it that obvious what a mess she was? Apparently, yes.
    The woman reached under the counter and pulled out a candle. “For you, Emmy,” she said. “No charge. But you must light this yourself in order for its calming properties to take effect.”
    â€œWow, thank you,” Emmy said as she reached out and took the candle. What a sweet thing for the woman to do. If, on a scale of one to ten, today had been a two, the woman had just turned it into a three. “Thank you very much.”
    â€œYou’re very welcome,” the woman said.
    Emmy liked being in the little room but realized she couldn’t stay there forever. It was time to say good-bye to the woman and go home. “Well, thanks,” she said again.
    â€œYou’re very welcome,” the woman repeated.
    Emmy turned to go, and as she approached the door, the woman said loudly and sharply, “Emmy!”
    Emmy spun around, startled. Something had really changed in the woman’s voice.
    â€œClose the door behind you,” the woman said evenly.
    â€œNo problem,” Emmy said, still a little shaken. She closed the door behind her and was suddenly back in Zim Zam, with all its playful, plastic stuff. The total opposite of what was in the other room.
    Emmy crossed the store, thinking that she’d ask Christine about the little room, and how long it had been there, and why she had never seen this little store within the store before. But Christine was busy with a customer and Emmy headed out, the door jangling behind her. Zoom, seeming freaked out, stared at her as she left.

    Even though she’d spent plenty of time at Zim Zam and in the newly discovered back room, Emmy still had a couple of hours to finish her homework before dinner. She sat at her desk and unpacked her backpack, taking out her books and notebooks, the doll, and the candle. She spread them all on her desk.
    Maybe I’ll do something nice for myself, she thought, and light the candle. A tonic to calm my nerves after my horrible day. She loved the sound of that: A tonic to calm my nerves. It sounded like magic. But she didn’t have a little holder or plate for it, and she didn’t want to get wax all over her desk. She went into Sam’s room without knocking. He didn’t seem to care.
    â€œDo you have a little plate or container?” she asked her brother. “I need something to put this on.” She showed him the candle.
    â€œWhat?” Sam asked. He was deeply involved in putting the finishing touches on a model dinosaur in a corner of his room.
    â€œA little plate or container,” Emmy said.
    â€œUm, sure. There’s a little ceramic tile I made, over there.” He pointed to his nightstand.
    â€œThat’ll do,” Emmy said. “Thanks.” She grabbed the hand-painted tile and went back into her room. But Sam followed her. Emmy spun around as Sam entered.
    â€œWhat do you want?” she asked him, a bit impatiently. She wanted to get started with the candle.
    â€œI was just wondering if I could light the candle,” he said. “Mom and Dad let me light candles on your birthday cake now because I know how to be safe with matches.”
    â€œSorry,” Emmy said. “I have to light it myself. That’s the whole idea. It’s a magic candle. But you could go downstairs and get the matches for me, though. Would you?” Sam seemed happy to be given this task and left the room. When he came back up, he handed her the matches.
    â€œThanks,” Emmy said to her brother. “You can stay here while I light it if you want.”
    â€œOkay,” Sam said, pleased.
    Emmy struck a match carefully and held it to the wick. Right away, the candle began filling the room with the now-familiar lavender scent. She and Sam stared at it for a minute, mesmerized by its steady glow, until Emmy broke the silence and told Sam that she had to start her