Doll House

In the dark, still of the night, an eerie back street store stands alone. A dim light peers through the store's tiny frosted window pane. The light seems welcoming in such a cold and dismal place. There is a wooden sign that hovers directly above the store's window, which gently sways back and forth, with the calm breeze. Headlights appear at the end of the street. The light beams in closer towards the secluded store. Suddenly a screeching of a motor car comes to a halt. A well groomed man sporting a tailor-made suit that compliments his profound features; emerges from the motor vehicle, and then he slams his car door shut with an enormous force.
He forcefully enters the store to the sound of chimes clanging in harmony. There, all around him are miniature dolls that are gracefully lined upon rows of shelves. Their embroidery is carefully chosen to accentuate their delicate frames. He takes a moment to browse. Suddenly a hoarse voice echoes, which disrupts his concentration. An elderly man appears from behind the counter with a sincere grin...
"Can I help you Sir?" says the elderly man, eagerly.

"Certainly, I am searching for that something special for my darling daughter's birthday, today", replies the well-groomed man, anxiously.
"I have just the perfect doll for her" replies the elderly man, as he stretches out his quivering hand for one of the dolls.
"I'll take it!" The well groomed man says glancing at his watch.
As he steps outside, a gust of wind blows furiously. He tries his best to fight against the swirling wind but is defeated and is blown over like a tree in a hurricane. Eventually he staggers to his car and drives incompetently like a bad-tempered Turkish taxi driver, swerving from one lane to the next to reach his home.
Eventually he arrives at his destination, unscathed from his frenetic journey. He opens the front door and is instantly met by Ethel: his daughter's nanny. She greets him with delight as she always does when he arrives.
His daughter, Tamara, gallops towards him with excitement and springs into her father's embrace. He then surprises her with the birthday present; she is ecstatic with what she receives. Tamara races upstairs to her bedroom and opens the securely wrapped box. A gorgeous and life-like porcelain doll stares back at her with its very own personalised name tag, which displays the name: 'Sarah Jane'. Suddenly Ethel storms into her room and rips the doll out of Tamara's frail arms. Ethel glares down at Tamara and throws her to the floor like a rag doll. A sardonic smirk over-laps Ethel's acute face as she deliberately dismembers the doll in front of her, leaving Tamara in a flood of tears.
Later, they prepare to retire for the evening. Ethel ventures beneath the house, down to the musky basement to gather the washing from the dryer before she heads to bed. A harsh creak from the door draws her attention, which suddenly gets louder. She looks up at the door with a horrified expression on her contorted face. She lets out an agonising cry, and then, the basement door slams shut with immense finality.
Tamara is sat on the edge of her bed, with her mended doll, gently stroking Sarah Jane's golden mane of hair..."Now, there is just the three of us". Says Tamara as she gazes lovingly at her enchanting doll.
A set of headlights appear at the end of the street. The light beams in closer towards the secluded store. Suddenly a screeching of a motor car comes to a halt. A well groomed man wearing a tailor-made suit strides into the store, to chimes clanging in harmony.
"Can I help you Sir?" Asks the elderly man behind the counter.
"Yes! I am looking for a birthday present for my grandaughter", replies the well groomed man, excitedly.
"Well you have come to the right place", replies the elderly man with a grave grin, as he reaches for the nearest doll member in the queue of dolls, who displays the name tag: 'Ethel'.
MICHAELA