Gift
That peaceful morning, Vernon's family is occupied with their own thing. Mr Vernon busy taking phone calls, Ms Vernon in the kitchen turning the stove on while stirring soup broth. And there is 10 year old Martha, in her own room, With her favourite doll. The little girl's gaze was fixated on her porcelain doll whom she named 'Lizzie'. She raised the doll's arms up and down while playing with it and talking to it. she talked about her day, her mum's cooking and everything she had in mind.
"Look lizzie! I think I'm going to buy you some new clothes!", she exclaimed with excitement, thinking about how great Lizzie must've looked in those new clothes.
"Darling! Breakfast's ready! ", Ms Vernon yelled from downstairs, calling out her one and only daughter to join the family's breakfast. " Coming, mum..! ", Martha immediately exited her room while holding Lizzie tight to her chest and descended the stairs in a rush. Her stomach growls, can't wait for it to be filled with some good food.
••••
"Mmm this is the greatest soup I've ever tasted, mum!", Martha commented.
Ms Vernon smiled, "I'm glad you like it, honey"
"Of course I do. I think Lizzie would want some-"
Lizzie is a doll, she doesn't eat ", Mr Vernon cut her daughter off.
"But dad, lizzie told me it looked tempting and she wanted just one sip! ", Martha insisted.
Ms Vernon put her palm on top of her daughter, glanced at her with light in her brown eyes and smiled, "sweetheart, Lizzie's a doll. She doesn't talk either "
"No way! I can communicate with her through mind! You guys don't understand!", Martha exploded in a rage.
"Maybe you need to stop playing with Lizzie and join the neighbourhood boys instead", said Mr Vernon.
Slowly but surely, Martha frowned... she then stood up, still holding her baby doll tight and yelled, "I hate you, dad! You're always mean for no reason! I know you want a son and not a daughter!"
"Sweetie, watch your mouth..!" , Ms Vernon yelled as Martha stormed off of the house, slamming the front mahogany door shyt.
