Dolls of Hope by Shirley Parenteau

Author:Shirley Parenteau [Parenteau, Shirley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7636-8037-4
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2015-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chiyo thought of the girls who were shopping today because they weren’t invited to meet the mayor. Should she take them all?

How could she invite Hoshi, even to add good weight to that scale? She pictured Hoshi alone in the hotel, fuming while the others visited the doll maker. Maybe Hoshi would think before being mean to someone after that.

But she couldn’t help remembering Hoshi’s father scolding her for not being a good leader. What would he say if she was the only one not invited to the doll maker’s workshop? Maybe he would say, This is not the way of a leader, making her feel less important than the smallest fish in the stream.

Chiyo didn’t want to think of that because when she did, she imagined herself in Hoshi’s place and how it must feel to have a father who demanded so much while showing no kindness.

“Well, Miss Tamura,” the mayor asked again, sounding amused but a little impatient, “is the decision difficult? Who will you take with you?”

“All the girls,” Chiyo said, hardly believing that she was including Miyamoto Hoshi. “I would like all six of us to go, please.” She drew a quick breath. “And our two teachers, too.”

“You are a young lady with a warm heart, as we already know.” The mayor nodded toward his aide. “The arrangements will be made. Will tomorrow afternoon meet your approval?”

Chiyo looked quickly at Sensei, feeling all the plans collapse. “We’ve already stayed an extra day. We are to go home to Tsuchiura in the morning.”

Sensei shook his head. “We will prolong our visit for yet another day.”

How easily plans could be changed. At home, life moved on a schedule. If you did not feed the goat on time, there would be no milk and the goat would cry. But here, it seemed that plans changed easily and no one was even surprised.

When she returned to the hotel with Emily Grace in her arms, Chiyo felt as if she floated above the tatami. Maybe that was because Emily Grace seemed to float with her. “I’m so glad you’re going home with me,” she told the doll.

She was sure she saw the sweet smile widen.

“I wonder what Hoshi will say when she learns we will all visit the doll maker. What do you think, Emily Grace?” She bent her ear to the doll’s lips. “Oh, you think she will say something nice? I hope you are right.”

As she neared the room, she heard voices. The other girls were back from their shopping. She could hardly wait to tell them her news.

Hoshi was nearest when she opened the door from the hotel hall. Chiyo saw her crumple a newly purchased kimono jacket in her hands. “Is that . . . ? It is! It’s that doll! You stole that doll!”

“No,” Chiyo began, startled. It had never occurred to her that anyone would think she had just taken Emily Grace.

Hoshi tossed the jacket to a nearby cushion, talking too fast for Chiyo to get in a word to explain.

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