Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll by Rosanne Hawke Read Free Book Online Page B

Kels?’
    Kelsey showed her the marks on Amy Jo’s forehead, the stitches on her body, the boot, the lace, the clip. ‘And I didn’t make this shalwar qameez , Nanna. She came like this.’
    â€˜Wait a minute, Kels. I’m confused. Tell me how you got her, again.’ Nanna Rose’s voice sounded quiet and tense.
    â€˜Nanna, the story came true. A man and a girl gave her to me. It was Shakila, my friend. They must have been the ones who bought her in the bazaar. Nanna, how did you know?’
    â€˜I – I didn’t. I don’t understand—’
    â€˜Was it because we used Shakila’s name?’
    â€˜I just told you a story, that’s all, with help from you, Kels.’
    Amy Jo’s eyes were blinking and suddenly Kelsey didn’t want to ask any more questions.
    â€˜Amy Jo can hear us, Nanna, and I don’t want to upset her. Thank you for telling the story or she might not have arrived at all.’
    Nanna Rose’s face grew very pale.
    â€˜Are you okay, Mum?’ Kelsey’s dad asked.
    â€˜I think so, it’s just so strange.’ Then she smiled again. ‘But it’s also amazing.’
    When Dad shut down the laptop Kelsey took Amy Jo to her room.
    â€˜You are incredible, Amy Jo. More special than anyone in the story knew.’
    Amy Jo blinked her eyes as Kelsey hugged her tightly.
    â€˜We will have so much fun. Especially since I know you have feelings. Wait till I tell Shakila.’
    Kelsey undid Amy Jo’s plait and brushed her golden hair. Then she put Rubi’s clip back in.
    â€˜You can sleep with me every night,’ Kelsey said. ‘You’re home now.’



T hat night moonlight shone through the window as Amy Jo lay cuddled in the crook of Kelsey’s arm. It was just what she had wished for when she waited for so long on the shelf in the Teddy Bear Shop: someone to love her. Amy Jo had completed her quest at last.
    She knew now there were many people to love her, like Zebi, Rubi and the old tailor, but Kelsey was the one she was chosen for.
    Amy Jo opened her eyes and watched Kelsey breathingsoftly.Kelsey’s fair eyelashes quivered and her golden hair curled around her cheek. If Amy Jo could move she would have reached out and touched Kelsey’s face.

Abu – Dad
    accha – good
    Alhamdulillah – God be praised
    Allah – God, usually used by Muslims in Pakistan
    ao – come
    beta – son
    beti – daughter
    billie – cat
    chai – sweet milky tea
    chapatti – flat bread cooked on the stove
    charpai – a light bed with a string or rope netting; often called a string bed
    chup – quiet
    dost – friend
    gudiya – doll (pronounced goodiya)
    hathi – elephant
    janab – sir
    ji – yes (short for ji hahn ). Also used after names as respect
    Khuda – God, usually used by Christians in Pakistan
    qameez – shirt or top
    rupee – the monetary currency of Pakistan
    salaam – hello (meaning peace to you)
    salaam ji – hello dear one
    samosa – a fried pastry filled with vegetables or minced meat
    shalwar – baggy pants or trousers
    shalwar qameez – outfit of clothes with baggy long pants and long loose shirt
    shukriya – thank you
    teik hai – fine, okay
    Ummie – Mum
    wah – bravo, wow

Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll is based on stories I told my own daughter, Lenore, in Pakistan when I knew a porcelain doll was on its way to her for Christmas from her nanna. She called the doll in the story Amy Jo after Amy Jo Inniger who was her ‘big sister’ in boarding school. Lenore never guessed that the stories were about a doll intended for her and when she opened her gift from Nanna she got such a surprise and named the real doll Amy Jo too. Lenore and I can’t remember the exact stories about the doll but the concept of Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll is the same. I loved the