There he was again, from a distance you wouldn’t notice much about the figure but the small crowd of the village children that surveyed from a distance was a giveaway as murmurs from the crowed buzzed like flies in frenzy.

“I heard that before his father left her, he’d beat his mother whilst pregnant.”

“Well rumor has it that when his father was asleep, his mother would go out to the tavern and drink to her heart’s content while committing adultery while she was carrying.”

“Some say that both parents beat him while a newborn.”

“Hog Wash! Just one look at the child and you’d know that he was an imp.”

The boy could hear the on-lookers but preferred to ignore it. He couldn’t help it if he was miscarried and was born wrong. His back was turned against the children as he continued to play with the old hand-me down dolls he received from his elders. Though ragged and showed obvious signs of age, Little Debilitas was purely happy with his old gifts, for they were the only gifts he has received throughout his whole life. Debilitas was sure that when he grew up he’d make dolls of all kind for children all over the world to play with and love as much as he loved his dolls. Something about these little creations that resembled maidens were so unique and captivating to this boy.

Debilitas was waiting for his friend today, though he deals with the teasing and musings from the other kids in the village there was one of them which made his days.

“When she gets here.” He thought.“Our dolls will go on another adventure! Oh, I wonder what will happen next.”

And if on cue, he heard the familiar shuffling of her footsteps, and he knew that she was here.

Debilitas turned around and sure enough he was greeted by the girl running past the crowd with her long blonde hair bouncing behind her.

She was carrying her favorite doll which resembled herself and what seemed to be a new one. Debilitas smiled a toothy smiled and waved at her; she smiled back and called out his name.

“Debilitas! Look what my Grandmother bought me!” Amabella exclaimed to Debilitas.

When she reached him she gave him a hug and showed off her new toy.

“It’s a new one!” She exclaimed as she held her new doll out. This doll was very extravagant, and must’ve costed more than what Debilitas family could afford.

The doll had blond hair pulled back in a ponytail with light blue-ish gray marble eyes that had much depth, complimented with a warm smile brought up by her pink lips; she had fair skin and a curvy figure that spotted a fancy medieval cream blouse with a brown skirt that went up to the middle of her thigh. Debilitas was captivated by this doll; she was the most beautiful thing that he had ever seen. Like an angel sent from the heavens.

Debilitas exclaimed in delight as he made out the words,
“Pretty! Pretty Dolly…!” his speech was garbled and unusual but Amabella didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Look! The Ogre boy and little Miss Muffet are exchanging dolls!” the kids cried out in a fit of laughter and mockery.

Amabella gave the kids a nasty look and turned to Debilitas.

“Let’s go to my house,” She said. “I’m sure we’ll be much more at peace there.”
So she took his hand and lead him towards her house.

Debilitas had a sad look on his face, how dare he make fun of him at his most happiest. So what if he played with dolls? It was all he had to play with and he didn’t mind. The other boys were busy with wooden swords and new toys their parents would buy them.

Debilitas wasn’t that fortunate, his mother was always in debt and when she had money she would waste it away drinking and paying for nightly escorts. When his mother was home she would neglect Debilitas and hit him if he did the slightest thing wrong, even a questioning look was enough to make her go ballistic. So early in the morning, Debilitas would square away all his duties for the day and go out and play as to not disturb his mother.

Debilitas was born wrong as his mother put it. Though he was but 9 years of age, he had miss grown hair and droopy facial features, his eyes had bags below them and his mouth was a bit too large for his face which revealed ill grown teeth. He had a hunch back and was questionably large for his age. Debilitas would know exactly what the other kids would say about him but whenever it was his turn to speak, his lips could not form the words.

Amabella on the other hand was a dainty girl the same age as Debilitas who had cream skin that had cute freckles on her face. Her eyes were an emerald jade and she had golden blonde hair that fell down to her shoulders. She was taught in a proper school and was very polite to everyone she spoke to. Her whole family was very wealthy and from what he heard, her family was close knit and very kind to another.

Debilitas didn’t feel jealous or vengeful towards Amabella, he felt glad that she was privileged which such nice life, and when her older siblings would pick on her and tease her, Debilitas was there to comfort her with the best of his abilities.

In all truth, Debilitas harbored a small crush on Amabella, maybe it was because she didn’t look at him like everyone else did? Perhaps it was because she resembled a doll, so perfect and loveable. Whatever the reason, someday he would show how much he loved her with a doll that was perfect in every way. Her happiness was all that mattered, and he was glad that even though he couldn’t tell her now, he got to spend his days with her.