30. A stroll on a beautiful day

It was getting warmer outside. The best time to be out for a stroll. I wondered if it was going to be Helen's first walk. Helen's? Yes, Helen's, because this was the name of our little new doll. 

You may ask  how we have discovered this. I should explain, though it was very easy. 

While the doll was admiring her new arms, Marianne asked her about her name. 

Guess!, the new doll said and she was laughing.

Sophie?, inquired Marianne.
The doll only shook her head and spread her arms helplessly saying, No, unfortunately not.
So maybe Tosia or Nela?
No, no, we hear her, He-len. I am Helen.

***

As we walk across the meadow close to the house, we sit on the last year's dry grass, observe trees covered in fresh catkins, and I look at Helen curiously. She intrigues me. I'm sure there must be a story about her,  I meditate. Almost each doll has her own story. What has happened to her? She is so cheerful and self-confident."

***

Helen tore off a blade of dry grass and started playing with it. I am looking for Hania.Will you help me?, she asked briefly. Well, I will try, of course... And who is Hania?, inquired I in turn.

She is a little girl I have met lately. I heard her asking her Mom for a doll. I liked her and I started listening to them. At once I thought I could be this doll. Why not?..

It was in the park, where I often played with Little Fox who was my friend. He usually put me into his little snout, lifted into the air and we ran together. It was fun... 

On that day after some time the girl's Mom said to her" "It's time for us, Hania. Let's go home!",  and off they went to the bus stop. I wanted to run after them, but I couldn't do anything. I just lay under the tree next to Little Fox , while they were moving away towards the bus approaching. I looked at Little Fox. He caught me with his teeth and we ran in their direction, but they weren't at the stop. They must have got on the bus and left. We stopped. I was very sad...

In a moment Little Fox started to run again. I felt he wanted to help me. Suddenly a group of children noticed us. They shouted at us. Little Fox got scared and he changed the direction. He ran into the wood where it was safer. Slowly the surrounding around us changed, there appeared hills. All of a sudden we began to fall down a steep cliff and found ourselves on a little beach in the end. 

It was frightening. What to do? 

There Little Fox noticed you with Marianne. We walked creeping behind you until you came to your house. A few minutes later Little Fox noticed Marianne in one of the windows. She was playing on the table. My Little Fox looked at me and slowly he tossed me onto your table. Yes...

***

Suddenly I remembered the day when I walked on the beach... I was with Marianne and I saw a fox running in front of us. Really. It was a blue little fox and he carried something in his snout. He looked frightened. Soon he disappeared. I have never met him again.

 Was your Little Fox ginger as most of foxes?, I asked Helen. 

No, not at all! What an idea, replied she, He was blue, grey-blue. Only his nose nad a tip of his tail were snowy and white."

Do you think about him?

Yes, sometimes.

***

We went to the meadow again late in the afternoon. 

Helen was holding a stick in her hand and wandered through the bushes in search of new adventures.

Do you think she will find Hania?

Thank you for visiting us! Have a lovely day.