Little Wooden Sisters

I walked over to the low bookshelf where Lisa keeps her painted nesting dolls. The largest wooden figure had her top half turned slightly askew, leaving her floral apron mismatched. Kneeling down so my knee joints gave a quiet click, I cupped the smooth varnished cylinder in both palms. With a patient twist, I eased the two halves apart with a soft wooden pop. Nestled inside the hollow cedar belly was a smaller painted sister, beaming with rosy cheeks. I gently set the little doll onto the shelf and twisted the outer doll back until her red poppies aligned perfectly. Standing them side by side in the warm lamplight made the quiet room feel peaceful.