Hi, I'm Pink, this is my story about how a little girl named Tasha changed my life.

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Once Upon A Shelf

author Jo Tannenbaum

illustrations Randi Matusehvitz

I was propped high up there, on my shelf, all alone, staring at the playroom door and, suddenly it burst open a whirlwind of brown hair giggles and chatter the sisters— Melaney, Stephie, and little Tasha enter the room. “Let’s play school with the dolls,” cried out Melaney, the oldest. “That’ll be fun!” shouted, Stephie and Tasha. They scurried around gathering up all the dolls—except me. There, I sat on the shelf with my painted grin. Nobody, nobody ever noticed me. I always notice them. I want to play too. 

Tasha ran in front of the shelf and pointed up at me. “I want Pink to play, too!” she cried out. My heart jumped! I could hear them setting up a pretend school. Flip! Flop! Melaney tossed some dolls in a circle on the rug. Clunk! Plunk! Stephie plopped books, pencils, and crayons on the floor. “Time for school.” Melaney called, as she whirled around, pointed at me, and blurted, “Pink can’t play school. She can’t sit up!” Tasha sulkily turned around and pushed the chalkboard into place... Screek! Screek!  There was so much rumbling that I fell off the shelf, Kerplunk! How lucky! I thought. One of the girls surely heard me. I lay there waiting, waiting and waiting.

Oh dear, I moaned to myself. In one swift motion Melaney plunked me right back on that shelf. Stacy, the new doll, stuck up her nose and snickered, ”Humph! That old pink plush is dusty, she can’t even bend her knees!” all the dolls laughed. I said, “That may be true…so what!”  Stacy and the other fancy dolls laughed again. I was so angry, I said, "You fancy dolls are mass produced, made of cold hard plastic. Your batteries may allow you to cry and speak different languages, but your hollow inside. I’m soft and cuddly, filled with lots of stuffing and a pink heart too." I felt exhausted.

It felt like forever when Stephie jumped up, “Playing school is boring. Let’s go outside.” “I wished and wished that someone would take me outside too. The sisters swooped up those snooty dolls and dashed outside. I was left on the shelf, alone again. A few moments later I heard a little voice, “I want Pink to come too.” I gasped. It was Tasha! She scrambled up a chair and stretched and stretched, but she just couldn’t reach me. I tried to wiggle forward too.

 “Hurry up Tash!” her sisters yelled. “I’m coming! I’m coming! Wait for me.” she shouted, slamming the door as she ran to catch up. “Not again.” I groaned.  Frustrated, I sank back into the shelf, scrunched up, alone, all alone, staring at that same door, smiling my same painted grin. I want a friend to love and will love me back. If I could cry, tears would roll down my cheeks.

The next day some friends came over. I just lay there on the shelf listening to everyone giggle and chatter. They all had cell phones and called their moms. My eyes got really tired and soon I fell asleep. I woke up with a jolt! Someone was squeezing and yanking my feet and legs. Oh my! What’s happening? At first I was frightened, which changed into excitement and joy when I saw a little hand, and some brown curls, it was Tasha! Oh my goodness! She really wants me.  “Pink, I finally got you.” panted Tasha, as she squeezed me. She was standing on a chair.