Lucy (Part 2)

“I. Camie.” A tiny chirp spoke out from behind the two stuffed animals. Her forehead poked out.

Lucy didn’t know what to think. The voice was so cute, but at the same time, it was hard to believe, like a fantasy. Her mind was still all over the place from the confusion before. The blood rushing to her face, her throat throbbing from the yelling, the exhaustion as everything started to settle, all of it made everything fuzzy and dreamlike. Suddenly, her head began to feel too heavy for her shoulders. Lucy stood there, blankly, and turned towards Albert with a look of disbelief, who stayed at the door, in the background and warily away from her. He trusted Lucy enough to not harm Camie, but he was on guard over Lucy’s temper towards him.

Fortunately for him, Lucy’s focus was not on Albert, but on Camie.

Her hand moved, as if it were on strings, and beckoned for Camie to come out of hiding. “Hey Camie,” coaxed Lucy, “I’m Lucy. Do you want to come out?”

The forehead that was visible, shrunk back into hiding. Camie didn’t speak a word.

Lucy, undeterred, moved ever so slightly towards her. “Are you afraid of me?” she asked, gently.

“Nh n.” Camie grunted a no in response. The stuffed animals moved, indicating that the doll was shaking her head in response. Suddenly, one of the stuffed animals toppled over, revealing a doll that could easily be mistaken as a very small child. Everything about it seemed life-like, from the silky hair to the dainty fingertips.

Suddenly embarrassed, Cami darted behind the remaining stuffed animal. Half-hidden, she peeked at Lucy.

“It’s okay, Camie,” said Lucy as she stayed in her spot. “I won’t hurt you. Please come out.”

Camie stood still, in conflict with her current emotions and her past emotions about Lucy. Lucy was supposed to be the person that took time away from Camie’s break. Camie was supposed to hate her for that, but when she looked at her now, up close, Camie felt like she could eagerly run into Lucy’s open arms. That made it awkward for Camie. It was only a few moments ago that she was throwing a tantrum because of this person. To change her stance so suddenly, it didn’t feel right. Maybe following through would be better.

Conflicted between getting to know Lucy better and staying to her initial disposition, Camie managed to take a small step towards Lucy. The other stuffed animal fell over, and Camie could now be fully seen by Lucy.

“Camie,” Lucy said with a welcoming smile on her face. “You look very cute. It fits your name well too.”

“Thank. You.” Camie managed to squeeze out those words, though they were barely audible.

In the end, a simple compliment had convinced Camie to fall for Lucy. She was, however, now ashamed by her previous performance, for she was mad at Lucy and threw a tantrum before properly meeting her. She couldn’t look at her face and shut her eyes.

“Camie.” Lucy suddenly repeated after a while.

Camie looked towards her in response. “Huh?” She blinked a few times in surprise.

“Haha, nothing,” said Lucy with a smile. “You finally looked at me again.”

If dolls could blush, Camie would be doing that at the moment. Lucy was certainly a nice person. Kind too.

“Hey,” Lucy’s words snapped Camie out of her thoughts. “You can come closer, Camie. Let’s have some fun!”

“Okay…” Camie slowly accepted her offer and trotted over towards Lucy. Her cloth shoes made light thuds as she walked. As soon as Camie neared Lucy, she suddenly couldn’t feel her feet on the ground. Her legs swung aimlessly as Lucy couldn’t resist the urge to pick her up and embrace her.

“Wah!” It was surprising and scary at first, but when Camie realized that Lucy was able to hold her safely, the experience became the most enjoyable.

“Do you not like it?” Lucy asked as she lifted Camie up high.

Camie giggled. “Hehe. No. Camie loves it!” She spread her arms wide as if she were to fly. “Hahaha!”

Lucy smiled, seeing how Camie finally loosened up. After a few swings and circles, she brought Camie to her chest in an embrace.

“So, Camie,” said Lucy after Camie began to settle down. The two seemed to melt together in their huddle. “What do you think about me?”

“Mmm,” Camie, who was holding Lucy close, started to reply. She hid her face under the folds of Lucy’s clothes. The wool cardigan felt soft and comforting to the touch. “Camie is sorry,” she finally disclosed.

Lucy was surprised by her answer. “What? Why? Is there anything for Camie to be sorry for?” she asked before turning over to Albert, who had moved to the counter after Lucy and Camie had calmed down. Albert had no clue why Camie was apologizing, so he shrugged at her.

“Camie…,” she paused, trying to find the right words. “Camie was mad because when Lucy came over earlier, there was less break time for Camie to move around. That’s why Camie threw a tantrum after lunch.”

Albert felt chills up his spine, as he realized that he was going to be in for a scolding and lecture. Lucy’s stare shook him to the core. “I’ll deal with you later” was what she seemed to be mouthing at him.

“I’ll go make some tea…,” offered Albert, trying to escape Lucy’s stare as well as her wrath.

“Do what you want.” Her response was short, but the message behind it was crisp and clear. Have a taste of freedom while you can.

Albert scurried off to boil the water and gather the leaves and tea set while Lucy redirected her attention to Camie.

“Awww, It’s me who should be sorry Camie. I didn’t know.” Lucy comforted Camie while patting her head. “You can move around now, so you don’t need to throw a tantrum. I’m sure it was Albert’s fault anyways.”

Right on point. Albert felt like he had been hit. Camie popped her head up. “It was!” her reply confirmed Lucy’s intuition. “Albert closed the shop so Camie can move! But Albert broke the promise.”

“I see…,” Lucy’s voice seemed to loom over Albert. “It’s fine now Camie. You have me around. I have more time than the busy Albert. You can come over to my place anytime!”

Camie liked the idea. It was a new place. “Okay! Where is Lucy’s place?”

“It’s the flower shop across the street! It’s very close, you can see it from here!”

“Flowers?” Camie remembered how her name was also a flower. “Camie’s name is also a flower!”

“Is that so?” Lucy asked. “Which flower is it?”

“Camellia!” Camie was now talking to Lucy excitedly. “Albert gave that name to me!”

“Oh, how nice.” commented Lucy. “Do you like staying here with Albert?”

Camie took a while to ponder the question. “Camie doesn’t know yet.”

“Really?” Lucy raised an eyebrow, worrying for Camie as well as mentally marking down points on her view of Albert.

“Camie doesn’t know yet,” Camie continued. “Because it’s only been yesterday that Camie could move again. But when Camie couldn’t move, Albert took good care of Camie.”

Lucy looked over to Albert, who was busy arranging the cups and plates. She smiled. There could be some hope in him after all. He may be a hard headed worker, but there is a small chance he might be able to care for Camie. Even though he was, in fact, invested in his work at the moment.

She turned her attention back to Camie. Her small body was cuddled into her arms. Such a frail child, yet bright and optimistic. To think that someone like this, a doll that moves. speaks, and thinks for itself, could exist. Lucy was surprised that she easily accepted this fact, but that barely matters anymore. Camie’s innocent disposition made Lucy want to care for her. In addition, Albert’s way of work probably didn’t provide Camie with the attention she required.

“Your tea.” Clinking could be heard, as Albert set down a set of china in front of Lucy.

Lucy took the tea and stared at Albert, assessing whether or not he can and will change to fit Camie’s needs.

“What?” Albert noticed her stares. “Do I have something on my face?”

“Nothing,” she said before taking a sip from her cup. Then she quipped, “other than the eye bags from lack of sleep.”

“Hey!” Tea sloshed around his cup and onto his hand. “Was that really necessary?”

Lucy held a smug smile on her face before she turned in and broke into a laugh. “Hahaha, sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

Camie, seeing Lucy laugh, in turn giggled along. “Hehehe.”

Albert stared at the pair laughing. Camie seemed to have no problem opening up to people, and Lucy always liked little kids and animals. It seemed that the combination allowed the two of them to get along with each other rather easily.

“Albert!” It was Lucy, swinging Camie and lifting her up high again. Camie giggled and shrieked at every peak. “Can I bring her over to my house? I want to keep her.”

“No.” Albert’s response was quick.

“Huh? Why not?” Lucy asked Albert as she brought Camie back into a hug.

“Because I feel like she was given to me, and I now have the responsibility to look after her.”

“A stickler for work as always,” scoffed Lucy. She squeezed Camie tight, away from Albert. Lucy stuck her tongue out at Albert. “Lighten up, or else Camie will act like an old man.”

“Are you calling me old?”

“You certainly act like one.”

“If you mean responsible and hardworking, you and I both know the reason.” The tension between the two began to rise. Camie clung onto Lucy a bit more and looked up at her face. Her eyes were harsh and sharp, but her lip trembled. It was as if she was trying to change Albert, but she was too scared to fight him.

Indeed, she was scared to fight Albert. Being mad at him was one thing, but fighting him was another level. It was like suddenly changing from walking the shallow end of the shore to wading at the center of the lake. If she went too far, there would be no footing for her.

“Yeah,” Lucy softly replied. “I know.”

She looked down at Camie, who met her gaze. Camie’s eyes glistened with curiosity, but also worry. She didn’t quite understand what the two were talking about, but she could feel that something wasn’t right. Influenced by the mood, Camie began trembling. Lucy’s eyes were now soft and sorrowful. Now Camie was the one with quivering lips.

Lucy patted her head and forced a smile. “It’s okay Camie.”

“What… What was Lucy and Albert talking about?”

“Nothing, Camie,” replied Lucy. “Nothing for you to worry about. It’s just that Albert is very busy.”

“Camie knows that Albert is busy. Camie saw him work all day during the month. Albert is amazing.”

“Yes, Albert is amazing.”

Camie rested her cheek on Lucy. “Is too much work bad?” she asked. “Camie doesn’t want Albert to work too much so there’s more time to spend with Camie.”

“Sometimes too much work is bad,” answered Lucy, hugging Camie firmly but gently. “But we all need to work. If you want someone to spend time with you, I can be the one.”

“But Lucy is going to leave soon.”

“Yes, I will have to leave soon.”

“Will Lucy come back tomorrow?”

“Of course,” answered Lucy. She looked at Albert, who nodded to indicate that he was fine with her visiting frequently. ”If there is time tomorrow, I will come.”

“Lucy.” Camie buried herself into Lucy’s arms. “Don’t leave now.”

“It’s okay, Camie,” Lucy leaned her head towards Camie, further engulfing her in a cuddle. “I won’t leave right now. We can stay like this until you feel better.”

“Mmmm, thank you Lucy.” Camie’s eyes were closed. “Camie likes Lucy. Lucy is as kind as… fm… hm… bmmm.”

Camie had dozed off before finishing the sentence. Her words faded into gibberish. Lucy continued to hold Camie as she began to fall into a deep sleep.

After cradling Camie for a while, Lucy set her down beside the two stuffed animals. She smiled at Camie and turned towards Albert.

“She must have had quite a day today,” she whispered to Albert.

Albert scratched his head. “That’s kind of expected. It was only yesterday since I found out about her being alive and all. She must have been holding in a lot of emotions and thoughts inside her the whole time she was in my care.”

“I see.” Lucy’s caring eyes fell onto Camie, who was quietly nestled in the midst of a bed of fur and cotton. If someone had seen her as she was now, they wouldn’t have known that the little doll could talk and move. Camie was motionless, as if there was no trace of life in her. Lucy knew she was still alive though because her peaceful expression was something that no artist over the course of a thousand years could possibly recreate.

The two walked towards the door. As she reached for the handle, Lucy paused.

“About the question I had before,” she began.

“Which one?”

“I was only joking.” Lucy looked a bit embarrassed. “But about keeping Camie.”

“Oh yeah?”

Lucy took a breath before proposing an offer. “How about we both look after her?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll come over whenever it’s closed and stay with Camie.”

Albert was confused. “Don’t you have work?”

“It’ll be fine. Or do you not want me to come?”

“No no. It’s fine. Please come again. Camie seems more comfortable with you.”

“Then we’re set!”

“Wait.” Albert had a worried look on his face. “What about Leo?” Back before Albert was busy, he used to hang around with Leo and Lucy. The three of them usually gathered for various occasions like celebrations as well. “Won’t he feel left out?”

“What about him? He doesn't need to know.”

“You mean keep it a secret from Leo? He’s not going to like that if he finds out.” He could imagine Leo’s reaction to it. Leo would probably be difficult to deal with.

“Then we don’t let him find out. He probably won’t be too interested in Camie anyways.’ Lucy held a finger to her lips and grinned.

“That’s true.”

The two of them laughed. It was nice to remember the past. Back before Albert took over the shop. Back when Leo would drag Albert around on his weird adventures, as well as eventually roping Lucy into the mess because she was scared of Albert getting hurt from their adventures.

“Well, then. I’ll be leaving. You need to prepare for the night customers, right?”

“Ah, yes.” Albert held the door open for her. ”Take care, Lucy.”

“Yes, thank you, I will.” Lucy stepped outside and looked back. “Please look after yourself as well, Leo and Percy are worried. My family is worried as well. Remember that we care for you like you are a part of our family. So it’s not just you.”

Albert sighed before returning to his usual weak smile that he used for Lucy. “Of course I will. I’ve got Camie to care about now too.” This time, however, his smile was a bit stronger. Having Camie there seemed to give him a reason to not push himself, so he had the confidence to back his claim.

He closed the door after they said their farewells. Outside, the sun was flirting with the edge of the mountains. Its golden light was still strong, creating a cast of light that barely bordered into the beginning of dusk. People were still in the streets, travelling home or running errands, their steps and voices blending into the ambience of the city. Lucy headed back to her shop on the other side of the wide street.

“Ah, I forgot to scold him.” She remembered halfway across the street. “Oh well.”