My goodness! What a story I have to tell you! It all started a week ago, on a day quite unlike anything extraordinary. That is, life was skipping along happily as usual at the Dolliseum.

I was in the parlour, listening to some Raymond Scott 78-rpm records on the Victrola, and playing with my dolls. We were having a tea party, in fact, and it was exactly when I was pouring a second cup of green tea that my Platypus doll came bounding into the room!

"Platypus!" I exclaimed, setting down the teapot. "I looked all over for you, but you were nowhere to be found!"

The Platypus was jumping up and down excitedly, and for a moment I thought he was cross.

"I'm sorry you weren't invited to the tea party!" I apologized. "As I said, I looked everywhere for you!"

The Platypus shook his head, indicating that was not the cause of his excited state. It dawned on me that he wanted me to follow him, so I excused myself from the party and trotted off to see what was the matter.

(If only the Platypus could talk! But, of course, he is just a doll.)

Out on the porch, we encountered Astrid. She was reclining on the porch swing, reading a book of quotes by Abraham Lincoln.

"Did you know that Lincoln actually invented the radio before Stephen Douglas?" she chirped, looking up from her book.

"Um... Aren't you getting him mixed up with Tesla?" I responded.

"Oh!" she giggled. "My brain has become jumbled up! I shouldn't swing while I'm reading!"

"Perhaps not," I agreed. At that point, the Platypus began hopping up and down, motioning for me to continue.

Upon closer inspection, she seemed to be lost in thought. Her eyes stared dreamily into the distance, seeming to focus on something intangible. Her hair was black with strands of red that glinted in the sunlight, her expression serious, and her outfit was mostly black. Sitting next to her on the bench was a pile of books with a strap tied around them. She also had a small satchel that looked as though it may contain clothes.

What should I do? Who is this new doll? Leaning down to the Platypus, I whispered a series of questions.

"Has she been here long?" He shook his head "no".

"Have you ever seen her before?" Again, he responded in the negative.

"Did you see where she came from?" Nope.

"Do you think it's safe to talk to her?" A shrug.

"Does Astrid know?" The platypus gave me a funny look, finally shaking his head "no".

"Well, let's tell her then!" I decided, and the two of us retreated to the porch.

Again we found Astrid swinging and reading. "Oh, hello Eva!" she exclaimed with a smile. "I'm reading a book about Abraham Tesla, inventor of the Gettysburg Coil!"

"Um..." I responded. The Platypus seemed to laugh for a moment. "Say, Astrid," I began. "Have you seen any strangers around lately?"

"Strangers?" she repeated. "Oh dear, I don't think so... Not since that family had a picnic in the park a couple years ago. Whyever do you ask?"

"There's a doll I've never seen before, sitting on the bench in the grove," I explained.

"Really?" Astrid exclaimed, leaping from the swing. "What's her name? Is she pretty?"

"Well," I continued. "We haven't met yet. The Platypus showed her to me, and I wasn't sure what to do."

"A new doll!" Astrid marveled, setting down her book. "We simply MUST introduce ourselves!" With that, she grabbed my hand and ran hurriedly to the grove, dragging me along behind her. Within moments we were bursting upon the scene, much to the surprise of the unknown girl on the bench.

"Hello hello!" exclaimed my friend, releasing my hand and curtseying quickly to our startled guest. "My name's Astrid, I'm very pleased to meet you!" Astrid clapsed her hands together and brought them up to her head. Resting her cheek upon them, she smiled at the new doll, awaiting a response.

"Er, hello," I stammered. "I'm Eva. Who might you be?" The Platypus jumped up and tugged on my skirt. "Oh, yes, and this is the Platypus," I grinned, motioning towards my little friend, who waved hello.

"Am... Am I sitting on your bench? I'm terribly sorry," said the new doll, as she stood and began to gather up her posessions.

"Wait, where are you going?" Astrid asked. "Don't leave! We've barely just met!"

"You're very welcome to rest in the grove," I offered. "Please, let's all sit down and chat." With that, I sat on the grass in front of the bench, and Astrid plopped down upon the bench, looking at the unknown doll and patting the seat. After a moment's hesitation, the new girl nodded and sat down again.

"Thank you for your kindness," she said quietly. "My name's Raven. Oh, please don't---"

"Ooh, books!" Astrid said as she unbuckled the strap and pulled out a volume. "Alchemical Research Volume Two? What's that?"

"Those are my textbooks," said Raven, taking them gently from Astrid's grasp. "Please be careful with them. They hold extraordinary powers."

"Textbooks?" I repeated. "Have you attended a school?"

"I was a student of the Carmichael Academy for Gifted Dolls," she responded. "Alchemy was my main field of study. I..." she stopped short, looking down.

"Pray continue?" Astrid asked softly.

"Well..." Raven continued. "I was expelled. My final project... caused a major disturbance that interfered with several of the students' projects from the Department of Dark Arts."

"Dark arts?" I asked.

"Yes, the students of black magic and witchcraft," she explained. "They... They weren't ready for the truths of science!" she said, clenching her fists. Astrid and I exchanged a worried glance. Raven looked up again. "Sorry," she apologized.

"Don't worry," I said. "So... What brings you here?"

"Rather than face the formal expulsion, I ran away," she confessed. "It still makes me sad... I didn't want to leave!"

"Where are you going?" Astrid asked.

Raven hesitated for a moment. "I don't know," she responded. "I don't have anyplace to go."

Astrid shot an excited glance to me. I knew exactly what she was thinking, and wasn't sure what to do about it. Before I could signal for her to wait, she spoke up. "If you don't have a place to stay, you can stay with us! We have plenty of room!"

"Really?" Raven asked, looking up wide-eyed at Astrid. Astrid was giddy and jumped from the bench, grabbing Raven's hand.

"Oh my!" Raven exclaimed as we trotted up the stone walkway. "I hadn't realized a house was so close!" We climbed the steps and settled in the parlour. I offered Raven some tea, which she gratefully accepted.

"Do you play any musical instruments?" Astrid asked Raven, after we had all settled upon the couches. "I play accordion and Eva plays the harpsichord."

"Yes, actually," Raven nodded. "I play violin. But..." she trailed off. "I had to leave my violin behind."

The Platypus suddenly bounded out of the room! We all exchanged quizical glances, and giggled a bit. "Do you both enjoy reading?" Raven asked.

"Oh yes!" enthused Astrid. "I read all the time!"

"We have a rather well-stocked study," I said. "There's a myriad of fascinating and obscure texts, please feel free to peruse the shelves if you like."

"Thank you very much," Raven nodded, taking another sip of tea.

Suddenly there was a clamor in the foyer! I stood up to espy the source of the clatter, only to discover the Platypus dragging an oblong black case across the floor. I picked it up, much to his relief, and returned to the parlour. "What's this?" I asked the Platypus, setting the dusty case upon my lap. Astrid and Raven leaned closer as I unlatched the lid, and we all gasped to discover a violin contained within!

"I didn't know we had a violin! Where did you get this?" I exclaimed to the Platypus, who just blushed and hopped around in little circles.

"Oh my, is this for me?" Raven asked the Platypus, who nodded and continued hopping around. "It's beautiful!"

"Ooh, can I try?" Astrid bubbled, grabbing the violin and bow from the case. Before either of us could respond, Astrid managed to produce a screeching noise quite unlike anything I've heard, and just as quickly replaced the violin in its case, blushing profusely. "Sorry," she squeeked.

Neither Raven nor I could contain our laughter, and suddenly the three of us were giggling profusely! Sitting there, laughing with my friends, I realized that Raven would be a welcome addition to our little family.