“Little Dolly,” Rabbit growled, and my eyes snapped to his. When I glanced down, the bulge in his pants increased in size. My eyes widened. Rabbit hissed, thrust his hands through his hair and stumbled backward.
He turned away, his hands fisted at his sides. He stopped at the wall and let his forehead drop to the brick. I heard his heavy breathing, heard him whisper “Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock” under his breath.
I didn’t move, glued to the spot. Rabbit stepped back and, without looking at me, stormed from the room.
I watched him go. My heart sank, until Rabbit came back with a box in his hands. He placed the box on the bed.
He paused, eyes closed, and sucked in deep breaths. Then his eyes opened and fixed straight on me. I couldn’t speak, wondering what was wrong, what was in the box . . .
“Presents . . . for you.” His voice broke on the last word, but he stepped aside and gestured with his hand for me to take a look.
I stared at him harder, and I saw whatever was bothering him filter away as he gazed upon me. I smiled when his shoulders relaxed and he gestured again to the box.
“More presents?” I asked, anticipation filling my bones. “But I already had my tea party, my gun and my blade!” I gave him a small smile. “You spoil me.”
“You deserve to be spoiled,” he said immediately.
Shaking my head, I said, “Silly Rabbit.”
I walked to the box, my heart beating fast as I opened the box. When I saw what was inside, I stumbled back, shock zipping through me like a bolt of electricity. I snapped my eyes to Rabbit. “My favorite things . . .” I whispered.
A sweet lightness bubbled inside me. It bubbled and bubbled until a giggle erupted from my mouth. I launched forward, opening the box completely. I reached inside and felt something cold . . . hard. I pulled, and a familiar face appeared.
“Alice!” I said, amazed. I studied my old china-faced doll.
“All that’s left is her head and a few strands of her hair. Her face is cracked, and I couldn’t find her body, but I thought you would like to see your old friend nonetheless.”
I held up Alice’s head by the few strands of yellow hair that remained. And I smiled. I smiled so wide I feared my face would crack. “I love her . . .” I whispered as I stared at my very favorite toy. “She may be broken and parts missing, but I love her all the same.”
Rabbit made a small sound. When I looked up, he seemed sad. It made me sad too. Keeping Alice’s hair gripped in my hand, her cracked head hanging by my side, I stepped toward Rabbit and looked into his silver eyes. “It’s okay, Rabbit. Alice may be damaged, but I love her all the same.” I smiled. “I’ll take good care of her from now on.”
Rabbit nodded, but I thought he still looked sad. “There’s something else in there,” he said, tilting his head toward the box.
I rushed to the box, Alice’s head in hand. I looked inside and— “No,” I exclaimed, my pulse kicking into a sprint. I laid Alice down on the bed, as gentle as can be, and lifted the next surprise from the box. When the pink plastic was in my hands, I felt so ridiculously happy.
“My boombox,” I said, staring at the loveheart stickers covering the speakers. “Rabbit . . .”
“Open it up,” he said. His arms were crossed over his chest as he observed me.
I pressed the eject button . . . and inside was a cassette. I pulled it out. “No-o-o,” I said quietly, slowly. I looked at Rabbit, who had moved in front of me. He slid his fingers along a strip of white that ran across the cassette. It had writing along the front.
“Dolly’s Mix Tape,” he said, his fingers tracing the letters. I couldn’t read them all.
“My mix tape?” Suddenly, I felt my heart get heavy. I closed my eyes. The image of a pretty woman with blond hair and a kind smile filled my mind. She had a cup in her hand, drinking tea—“Earl Grey,” she whispered. “Nothing else will do.”
Then we were dancing. Dancing, hand in hand, to the songs on this tape . . . dancing to one song in particular.
Opening my eyes, I scrambled to insert the tape and press play. That song . . . the one that had played in my head, my favorite song to dance to, emerged from the speakers.
“Rabbit,” I cooed as he stepped back and sat on the edge of the bed. I moved past him and placed the boombox on the nightstand. Taking Alice by the hair, I held her tightly. In my other hand I gathered the side of my nightgown, and I let the music fill my ears. Closing my eyes, I began to twirl. My lips stretched into a smile and I sang the words. Releasing my nightgown, I put my hand in the air and opened my eyes. I held Alice out in front of me and spun her around by the sides of her face.