Post-war England must have witnessed many changes, but to a small child who had nothing to compare, the inner world of Margie was complacent. She mainly focussed on her collection of toys.
Her family had been evacuated to Sussex when war broke out, before Margie had been born. There was the time her pram had been peppered with bullets, leaving holes in the brickwork above, which hadn’t disturbed the tranquillity of this baby. It was reported that she had just looked up at the sky, without an apparent care in the world.
Her stoic nature continued through the early years as she industriously looked after her family of toys – two teddies, one called Big Ted, and the other Small Ted, not very inventive but practical and a china doll called Christine, whose eyes opened and closed with sweeping lashes, cradling china blue eyes.
Her all- time favourite was the stuffed, cloth covered doll with the stitched on celluloid face. Her name was Sylvia Flack, the name, taken from a local girl in the land army. Margie loved this doll very much. Her eyes did not have the lashes of Christine, but nevertheless seemed to impart loving thoughts. Her tiny pink mouth seemed to ask for the cuddles she got. Her hair was made from thick black wool, sewn directly onto her head. As Sylvia was frequently washed and dressed, the celluloid face soon began to show signs of wear.
A visit to the doll’s hospital was suggested. Few people could afford replacement dolls, but a new face was cheap enough. Unfortunately, the new face was not identical to the old one. At first glance, Sylvia was a stranger.
Two big tears flowed down Margie’s cheeks. Who was this? The doll’s eyes looked blankly at the opposite wall; the mouth was tight and expressionless. Margie set about changing the clothes, in the hope it would restore Sylvia’s personality. Alas, no, and Sylvia was discarded for a whole month and lavish attention was paid to Christine and the two teds. When at last she recognised the injustice and released Sylvia from her incarceration under the settee, she hugged the doll close to her. She was surprised at the warmth, as she held it against her cheek. Turning to Christine, she said, “This is Sylvia Flack who has come to play with you; she looks a little different because she’s been in hospital.”
Mickie Hewitt-Illes ( 21.4.2020)
Her family had been evacuated to Sussex when war broke out, before Margie had been born. There was the time her pram had been peppered with bullets, leaving holes in the brickwork above, which hadn’t disturbed the tranquillity of this baby. It was reported that she had just looked up at the sky, without an apparent care in the world.
Her stoic nature continued through the early years as she industriously looked after her family of toys – two teddies, one called Big Ted, and the other Small Ted, not very inventive but practical and a china doll called Christine, whose eyes opened and closed with sweeping lashes, cradling china blue eyes.
Her all- time favourite was the stuffed, cloth covered doll with the stitched on celluloid face. Her name was Sylvia Flack, the name, taken from a local girl in the land army. Margie loved this doll very much. Her eyes did not have the lashes of Christine, but nevertheless seemed to impart loving thoughts. Her tiny pink mouth seemed to ask for the cuddles she got. Her hair was made from thick black wool, sewn directly onto her head. As Sylvia was frequently washed and dressed, the celluloid face soon began to show signs of wear.
A visit to the doll’s hospital was suggested. Few people could afford replacement dolls, but a new face was cheap enough. Unfortunately, the new face was not identical to the old one. At first glance, Sylvia was a stranger.
Two big tears flowed down Margie’s cheeks. Who was this? The doll’s eyes looked blankly at the opposite wall; the mouth was tight and expressionless. Margie set about changing the clothes, in the hope it would restore Sylvia’s personality. Alas, no, and Sylvia was discarded for a whole month and lavish attention was paid to Christine and the two teds. When at last she recognised the injustice and released Sylvia from her incarceration under the settee, she hugged the doll close to her. She was surprised at the warmth, as she held it against her cheek. Turning to Christine, she said, “This is Sylvia Flack who has come to play with you; she looks a little different because she’s been in hospital.”
Mickie Hewitt-Illes ( 21.4.2020)