Week 6: Not My First Rodeo

[kimschlotwrites]

“Welcome to your new home,” announced Arlin.

“New?  We’re in the same box,” Geovanni was quick to point out.

Arlin sighed.  He was used to Geovanni being difficult, but he was annoyed that his big proclamation was suffering.  “Yes, we are in the same box. But the box is in a different place.”

All the others tried to jump up to get a better view of the new surroundings.

“What happened to Gloria?” Fatima asked, looking concerned.

“Dear,” Lisbet touch Fatima’s arm.  “You know what happened.”

“No,” Fatima insisted, shaking her head.  “Gloria gave me all her health worries, but she hadn’t taken me out of the box for at least a month.  She was getting better.”

“She wasn’t getting better,” Lisbet said, gently.  “She was accepting it was her time to go.”

“That’s not possible.”

“It’s true,” Nilsa spoke up.  “Remember, she gave me her worries about family.  She worried how her family would go on without her.  Would they resent her for being ready to die?”

“So, where are we now?” Fatima asked.  “And where is Diego?”

“Gloria passed us on to her daughter, Heather,” Arlin explained.  “Heather only has one worry for the night. How is she supposed to live without her mom?  Diego is carrying it for her so she can sleep.”

“What a horrible burden for Diego to carry overnight!”

Geovanni shrugged.  “It’s not like he hasn’t done it before.”

“According to legend, Guatemalan children tell one worry to each doll at night when they go to bed at night.  They place the dolls under their pillow, and in the morning the dolls have taken their worries away.”

 

--From the "instructions" in a box of Worry Dolls.

Comments

[bsgsix]

This brought back such a tangible memory for me - I had these, from my birth father. I received new ones all the time (which is kind of ironic that he gave them to me, if you read my entry this week...). But still, I remember, and it's really a GREAT take on the prompt to write from their perspective - and to have Diego carry that burden. This is interesting, and very well-written. Geovanni's shrug was the exact perfect response, too. I really enjoyed this.

[kimschlotwrites]

Thank you!

I’ve read about the Worry Dolls a few years ago. My therapist gave me a little box of them last week after I was telling her that I was having trouble sleeping sometimes because of worries or anxiety.

[adoptedwriter]

I enjoyed this! Spanish-teacher-approved! ¡Fantástico!

[kimschlotwrites]

Thank you! My therapist gave me Worry Dolls earlier this week. I was telling her I was going to look up popular Guatemalan names and name them. I haven’t used them yet, but they were inspirational. lol

[jenwithapen]

=~~~(

I'm a white person, lucky enough to be born in the United States of America. I tell... well, pretty much everyone I know, and have since I was old enough to realize (so... about seven! =P) what a freakin' lottery win it is to be born here. I can't imagine living as a woman in Central America, in Africa, even some places in middle Europe for God's sakes!

Poor babicitos. To experience worries so profound they have to tell them to their dolls for solace. It's just too unfair.

Thank you for teaching me this!

[kimschlotwrites]

You’re welcome!

When I first read about Worry Dolls I didn’t realize they were made for children. It is so sad that they have worries that are making them lose sleep!

[bleodswean]

Oh! Such a lyrical metaphor for these worry dolls. Nicely done!

[kimschlotwrites]

Thank you!

[onecheapdate]

Aw, this was sweet and sad. A touching little story. Thank you for writing it.

[kimschlotwrites]

Thank you. (And you’re welcome!)

[bewize]

This was incredibly sad. Hit a little too close to home.

[kimschlotwrites]

I’m sorry!

[bellatrixe]

This was a really emotional read. Wonderful job <3

[kimschlotwrites]

Thank you!

[murielle]

Decades ago one of the instructor/directors gave me a tiny set of worry dolls at the end of a run of her play. I didn't know what they were at first and had fun learning about them. My favorite part was naming them, and trying to remember all their names.

Thank you for reminding me of this sweet memory.

Lovely, if sad, look at the dolls' worries.

Brava!

[kimschlotwrites]

Thank you!

I don’t know if you read my other replies, but my therapist gave me the dolls last week, and I told her I was going to look up popular Guatamalen names to name them.

[murielle]

Oh, I didn't know that! That is so cool! (I was so far behind with my reading last night, and trying to catch-up that I honestly didn't read many of the other comments at all--my loss!)

[fausts_dream]

This is a really cool concept and you handled it very well.

[kimschlotwrites]

Thank you!

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Ah! This is interesting to know and thank you for introducing me to these worry dolls. What a unique take on the prompt! Well done.

[kimschlotwrites]

Thank you!

[kehlen.livejournal.com]

I know parents sometimes make their children talk about their worries to their toys, not the adults (with adults listening in), but this is an interesting and probably very useful tradition that takes this to the next level.

[kimschlotwrites]

It’s sad to think of children having such worries that it keeps them awake. Hopefully these help!

[tonithegreat]

Aww! Trouble dolls! I wonder if I still have any. I used to just play with mine. I felt bad about giving them worries. This was a great fit for the prompt!