They arrived twice a year,
on a birthday and Christmas.
A delight to open the colorful folder,
carefully cut out and dress those thin cardboard dolls,
folding small rectangles like anchors
to hold the paper clothing in place.
Designed with flowers and ribbons,
polka dots, stripes, she moved the doll back and forth,
imagining where she would go to show off her outfit.  

Prancing her doll proudly
across the living room floor crafting her destiny