The Whispering Doll

My daughter Emily found the doll in our attic two weeks ago. She said it

whispered her name when she picked it up. I laughed. Old houses creak.

Dolls don’t talk. That night I woke up to hear Emily having a full conversation…

in her room… alone. I opened the door. She was sitting

up in bed… staring at the doll… listening. I asked who she was talking

to. Mommy, don’t be rude. She has a name.

Then the doll’s head turned… slowly… and looked straight at me. Last night Emily

wasn’t in her bed. The doll was… sitting in her place… wearing her