Karen's Doll Hospital Read online

  “I am almost finished with our report,” I said. “I am writing it so, so neatly. That is why it is taking me a long time.”

  “I bought all the things for the Maypole,” said Natalie. “I got a really tall broomstick. The broom part twists right off. And I got ribbons, and gold foil. We can make gold balls just like the ones we saw in the picture.”

  “Are the ribbons different colors?” I asked.

  “Every color in the rainbow,” said Natalie.

  “Here is what I think we should do for our presentation,” I said. “I will say a few things about our holiday. You can say a few things about Maypoles.”

  “Then we can do the Maypole dance,” said Natalie. “Should we ask some of the other kids to do it with us?”

  “I bet Hannie and Nancy would help. But I do not think Pamela or Leslie or Jannie would,” I said. (Pamela Harding is my sometimes enemy. Leslie Morris and Jannie Gilbert are her friends.)

  “How about Ricky and Bobby?” asked Natalie.

  “They will hate the idea. But let’s ask them anyway. Maybe Ricky will say yes because he is my husband,” I said.

  “And if Ricky says yes, then Bobby will, too,” said Natalie.

  We did not have any more to say about our project, so I told Natalie about the doll hospital.

  “My best baby doll, Hyacynthia, was in an accident,” I said.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” said Natalie.

  “Thank you. She is much better now. But she still needs to recover. She is in the doll hospital in my room,” I explained.

  “That is very, very interesting,” said Natalie. “You see, I have a doll who should probably be in the hospital, too. Her arm snapped off just last night.”

  “Oh, no!” I said.

  “Oh, yes,” said Natalie. “The box she came in says her arm can be snapped on again. But I do not know about that. It looks pretty serious to me.”

  “I think you should bring her to school tomorrow. I will take a look at her. If she needs to go to the hospital I can take her home with me,” I said.

  “What a relief!” said Natalie. “I have been worried about her all day.”

  How exciting! A patient. My first real patient. Dr. Karen Brewer, doll specialist, to the rescue!

  Pudding

  It was Friday. Ms. Colman was already taking attendance when Natalie came in.

  “Did … you … bring … her?” I asked. We are not supposed to talk during attendance. So I did not make any noise. I just mouthed the words.

  “What?” asked Natalie. Only she said it out loud.

  “Please take your seat quietly,” said Ms. Colman.

  I could see yellow hair poking out of Natalie’s knapsack. Hurray! My very first patient.

  During recess Natalie introduced us.

  “This is Pudding,” said Natalie. She started digging into her bag. “And here’s her arm,” she said.

  I shook the arm’s hand.

  “That is not funny,” said Natalie. “If you are going be funny, I will not give Pudding to you.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I promise to take good care of her. My hospital has an excellent reputation, you know. I have not lost a patient yet.”

  “You have to promise not to fool around with her hair,” said Natalie.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Pudding is a special Baby Grow-My-Hair Doll. When you pull her hair it gets longer. But you can’t make it shorter again. And I do not want her hair to be long yet.”

  “I promise I will not touch her hair,” I said, even though it looked like it could use a good brushing.

  I checked Pudding into the hospital right after school.

  “We have a new patient,” I announced. “Her arm broke off. I am going to have to operate to put it back.”

  I let Goosie be the nurse. He held Pudding’s arm until I was ready. I tied a handkerchief around my face. An important surgeon must always wear a mask.

  I took Pudding’s arm from Goosie. Snap! It popped right back into place. I sat Pudding up on my bed.

  “Now you must rest,” I told my patient.

  I made a bed for Pudding next to Hyacynthia. I thought they would get along well.

  Before I tended to my other patients, I changed my clothes. It was a special night. Mr. Kelly, my good friend, was coming for dinner.

  Achoo! Someone in the catchy ward sneezed.

  “Was that you, Terry?” I asked. I took Terry’s temperature. (She had a slight fever.) Then I changed Kerry’s bandage. (Her scratch was almost healed.)

  The phone started ringing in the next room. I could hear Mommy talking.

  “I am so sorry. Thank you for calling to let us know. Please tell him we hope he will feel better soon,” she said.

  Mommy came into my room and sat down on my bed.

  “Honey, Mr. Kelly’s neighbor called. He wanted to let us know that Mr. Kelly had a mild heart attack yesterday. He is in the hospital.”

  My eyes started filling up the way they did when Hyacynthia had her accident.

  “I don’t want Mr. Kelly to be in the hospital,” I moaned.

  Mommy put her arms around me. “I know you are sad. But I do not think we have to be too worried. The heart attack was very mild. He should be home in a few days.”

  That made me feel a little better.

  “I am going to make Mr. Kelly a get-well card. Will you take it to him for me?” I asked. (I knew children were not allowed to visit in the hospital.)

  “That would be very nice,” said Mommy.

  “And will you take him some dolls to keep him company?” I asked. “They can all get well together.”

  Mommy promised she would go the very next day.

  I got to work on my card. It said: Get Well Soon. Love, Karen, Hyacynthia, Goosie, Terry, Merry, Kerry …

  I kept writing names until the card was filled up.

  Pudding’s Problem Hair

  After dinner, Dr. Brewer, Dr. Dawes, and Dr. Papadakis were making rounds at the doll hospital. (Mommy let me invite Nancy and Hannie to dinner since Mr. Kelly could not come.)

  “I am glad that Jasmine was wearing her bicycle helmet,” said Nancy. “Or she might not have survived!”

  “And I am happy to report that Ruby will walk again,” said Hannie.

  Hannie finished tying a Popsicle stick cast on her doll. Jasmine and Ruby had been in a very bad bicycle crash.

  Meantime, I was patching up one of our rag doll’s knees. It was torn and I had to sew it.

  “It looks like this patient is going to have a small scar,” I announced. “I had to use red thread because Mommy didn’t have any pink.”

  I finished the last three big stitches. Then we moved on to our next patient.

  “This is Pudding,” I said. “Her mother is Natalie Springer. You could probably tell from her droopy socks.”

  I pulled up Pudding’s socks for her.

  “When Pudding came into the hospital her arm was broken off. As you can see, I was able to put it back on with no trouble,” I reported.

  “I am keeping her for observation till tomorrow,” I said. “Then Natalie is coming to pick her up.”

  We continued working for a couple more hours. There were a lot of sick patients who needed us. When the last one had been washed and sewn and bandaged, I looked in on our newest patient, Pudding, one more time.

  “You know what Pudding’s real problem is,” I announced. “She has problem hair.”

  I pulled a few of Pudding’s blonde coils out of her special Grow-My-Hair head. (I had wanted to do that ever since Natalie told me how it worked.)

  “You better not touch her hair,” said Nancy.

  “You are right,” I said. “I promised Natalie I would leave it alone.”

  “Hannie,” said Mommy. She was standing at the door. “Your daddy is in the car. It’s time to go home.”

  “I guess it’s time for me to go, too,” said Nancy. “Will you watch my patients for me?”

  “Do not w
orry about a thing. I will call you if there are any emergencies,” I replied.

  When Hannie and Nancy were gone, I picked up Pudding again. If I make her hair grow just a little, Natalie won’t even notice, I thought.

  I gathered Pudding’s hair into a ponytail and pulled.

  Yikes. I must have pulled too hard. Suddenly I was holding all of Pudding’s hair in my hand. Pudding was completely bald!

  I tried to squeeze the hair back into the tiny holes in Pudding’s head. But it would not go. Oops. Natalie was not going to be happy.

  I tied a scarf on Pudding’s head. I did not want to look at what I had done.

  Where Is Pudding?

  “I’d better go now,” said Mommy.

  It was ten-thirty on Saturday morning. Mommy was going to visit Mr. Kelly.

  “Do you have his get-well bag?” I asked.

  “It’s in the car,” Mommy replied. “I am sure Mr. Kelly will love it.”

  In the bag was the card I made, a picture of the Three Musketeers that Daddy had taken, and my very favorite stuffed animals and dolls. Hyacynthia was still too weak to travel. But I was sending the Doll Sisters: Terry, Merry, and Kerry. And some others.

  When Mommy left, Andrew asked, “Want to play catch?”

  “Okay,” I said. I knew I should be working on my research project. Natalie was coming over at noon. We were supposed to work on it together. But if I went upstairs, all I would think about was Pudding and her hair. Or, her no-hair.

  “Hey, you’re not watching!” said Andrew a little while later.

  For the third time, the ball sailed right past my head.

  “I guess I do not feel like playing anymore,” I said.

  I had to decide what to say to Natalie. Maybe I could tell her that Pudding had wandered into the catchy ward without permission. I could say, “Pudding caught a disease that made all her hair fall out. I’m terribly sorry.”

  I thought and thought about what to tell Natalie. Finally I saw Mommy’s car pulling into the driveway. I ran to meet her.

  “How is Mr. Kelly?” I asked.

  “He looks quite well. And he loved his surprise visitors. He said to tell you he will be sure to return them as soon as he is out of the hospital,” said Mommy.

  I was very happy to hear that Mr. Kelly was better. I hoped I would see him soon. However, I did not want to see Natalie soon. But I knew she would arrive any minute. It was almost noon.

  “Are you all right, Karen?” asked Mommy. “You look pale.”

  “I’m okay,” I replied.

  I did not want to tell Mommy or Seth about Pudding. If I did, I would have to tell them that I had played with Pudding’s hair after Natalie told me not to.

  I sat outside practicing my speech for Natalie. When her mother dropped her off, I was all ready.

  “Hi, Karen!” called Natalie.

  “Hi,” I said. “Um, Natalie, I am very, very sorry. But I did not listen to you. I played with Pudding’s hair and something happened. You’d better come see.”

  I led Natalie up to my room. I went to the closet where I had hidden Pudding. I did not see her right away. I moved some shoes. I still did not see her. I moved some toys. I still did not see her. I looked in the closet for a long time.

  “Where is Pudding?” asked Natalie when I came out.

  “She was supposed to be in this closet,” I replied. “I put her in here last night.”

  Natalie set her hands on her hips and shouted, “I WANT MY DOLL!”

  “Well, I am sorry,” I said. “I just cannot keep track of so many patients.”

  I swept my arm around, pointing to the many patients in my doll hospital. Even though some had gone to visit Mr. Kelly, there were still plenty of dolls all over the room.

  “I am calling my mother to come pick me up,” said Natalie. “You better find Pudding. I am not talking to you until you do, Karen Brewer!”

  Natalie went downstairs to wait for her mommy. I went back to my closet to search for Pudding. I could not find her. I could not find her anywhere in my room.

  Maybe Pudding was embarrassed about her bald head. Maybe she was hiding. I knew I would find Pudding. She had to be somewhere.

  But what was I going to do about Natalie? How could we work on our May Day project if we were not talking?

  Now, where would I hide if I were a doll?

  The Good News

  I looked for Pudding all over the hospital. Then I went back to my closet. I emptied out everything.

  When I still could not find Pudding, I knew I would have to tell Mommy the truth. (I had told Mommy that Natalie went home because she did not feel well. Natalie really did look kind of sick after she found out what I had done to her doll.)

  I went downstairs. Mommy was reading in the living room.

  “Mommy, I have to tell you the real reason Natalie went home,” I began. I told her the whole story. I told her how I had pulled out Pudding’s hair and then lost her.

  “Maybe you gave Pudding to Mr. Kelly,” said Mommy.

  “No, I didn’t. I mean, I do not think I did,” I said. “But wherever she is, she is ruined. And Natalie will not talk to me. And if she will not talk to me, we cannot do our research project together.”

  “Karen, if you lost Natalie’s doll, you will have to buy her a new one,” said Mommy.

  “A new doll? I cannot buy her a new doll. I just helped Natalie buy things to make the Maypole. And I need the money that’s left over to buy a new dress for Hyacynthia. I promised to get her one when she was better.”

  “I am sure you have enough money to buy Natalie a doll. Hannie and Nancy paid for Hyacynthia’s repairs, remember?” said Mommy. “And a new doll for Natalie is more important right now than a new dress for Hyacynthia. Don’t you think so?”

  “Yes,” I said grumpily.

  This was not a good day. Pudding was gone. Natalie was mad at me. I could not work on my research project. And now Hyacynthia could not get a new dress. Bullfrogs.

  Ring! Ring! Mommy answered the phone. I hoped it was not more bad news.

  It was not! It was good news! It was Mr. Kelly.

  “Hello, Mr. Kelly,” I said. “How are you feeling? When are you coming home?”

  Mr. Kelly said he was coming home on Monday. He said he would love for me to visit him very soon.

  “I’ll ask Mommy,” I replied.

  Mommy said she would drive me to his house after school the next week. Mr. Kelly promised to give me back my dolls and animals then.

  “I am so glad you are coming home, Mr. Kelly,” I said. “I am so glad you are better. I will see you next week.”

  I was going to visit Mr. Kelly. Hurray!

  The Surprise

  After school on Wednesday, Mommy drove Andrew and me to Mr. Kelly’s house. It was raining pretty hard. We splashed up the steps in our slickers and boots. I rang Mr. Kelly’s bell.

  Ding-ing-ing-ing. Dong-ong-ong-ong.

  Mr. Kelly must have been sitting downstairs. He came to the door right away.

  “Mr. Kelly!” I cried when I saw him. “You look good-as-new!”

  “Thank you, Karen. I am so happy to see you,” said Mr. Kelly. “Come in, everyone. Come in out of that rain.”

  Mr. Kelly looked like he had lost a little weight at the hospital. But I could fix that. I gave him the package of oatmeal cookies Mommy and I made.

  “They are a special healthy kind. They are good for your heart,” I explained.

  “I feel better already,” said Mr. Kelly. “Please, hang your things over there and come sit down.”

  We had juice and oatmeal cookies while Mr. Kelly told us about his stay in the hospital.

  “The nurses and the doctors were very nice to me,” said Mr. Kelly. “But they like to wake you up at night to see how you are doing. And the food was not very good. There was nothing as delicious as these cookies.”

  “You would have liked my doll hospital better,” I said.

  “I’m sure you are right,�
�� said Mr. Kelly. “Oh, that reminds me. I want to return your dolls and animals. They were very good company.”

  Mr. Kelly got the bag from the closet.

  “You might want to look inside, Karen,” said Mr. Kelly.

  “Oh, no. I do not have to count them,” I said. “I trust you.”

  “Why don’t you take a look anyway,” said Mr. Kelly.

  I could not figure out why Mr. Kelly wanted me to look inside. Until I opened the bag.

  “Mr. Kelly, thank you!” I cried. “Look, Mommy! Look, Andrew!”

  Mr. Kelly had fixed all my broken-down dolls and animals. They were sewed and repaired, with fresh paint on their faces. I was so surprised. And at the bottom of the bag was the best surprise of all.

  “Pudding!” I shouted. “How did you get in there?”

  “That’s wonderful, Karen,” said Mommy. “Now you do not need to buy Natalie another doll.”

  “And her hair has grown back,” said Andrew. “I’m glad. She looked funny bald.”

  I was so excited about seeing Pudding again, I did not even notice her hair.

  “Your Baby Grow-My-Hair will work like new now,” said Mr. Kelly.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I cried.

  “You’re very welcome, Karen,” said Mr. Kelly.

  “Will you still come to dinner at our house?” I asked.

  “As soon as I am ready to go out, we will make a date,” said Mr. Kelly.

  When I returned to the little house, I called Natalie.

  “Guess what!” I said. “I found Pudding. Her arm is fixed and her hair is just the way it was when you gave her to me. I will bring her to school for you tomorrow.”

  “Um, that’s good news. Thank you, Karen,” said Natalie.

  Natalie sounded awfully quiet. I had thought she would be more excited to hear the good news about Pudding.

  Oh, well, I thought. Maybe she needs time to stop being mad. She will be happy tomorrow when she sees how great Pudding looks.

  Tomorrow. The next day was Thursday. My written report was due. I had been so busy worrying about Pudding that I had not finished writing it. I had one more page to go.

  I took out a clean sheet of paper. At the very top, in my best handwriting I wrote, Maypole.