“Wow… Dad, you got me… a … doll.” Jake said as he stared at the small figure that lay before him. “Um, maybe they didn’t tell you yet, I’m a guy.” He looked sarcastically up at his parents from the end of the table. “I’m sorry Jake, but it was this or a cheese grater.” Mr. Parker stammered, “I wanted to get you something better, but the guy who sold this to me said she’d do anything you wanted!” He smiled hopefully. Jake simply stared bored. “Right… well, it’s late. I’m going to hit the hay.” He stood up, pushing his chair back.

Slightly disappointed, Jake climbed up the stairs and went into his room. He pulled off his shirt and slid onto his bed. What were they thinking? Some present! He’d been hoping for a car for his birthday, but no! They bought him a doll? “Dad must be on crack!” he muttered to himself. He reached over and clicked off his sidelight. He rolled back over and realized he was still holding the doll. He examined her closely. He turned her over and discovered a rose “tattoo” on her lower back. “Woooh!” He whistled sarcastically, “She’s hot.” He shook his head and laughed at himself.

As he climbed out of bed to put her in the closet he paused for a moment. He looked into her eyes for a moment. They seemed to shine in the dark. They looked so sweet and- wait a minute! She’s a frigging doll! He tossed her onto his desk and rolled back into bed onto his stomach and fell immediately into a deep sleep.

Jake Parker was a seventeen year old with hot brown hair and sexy eyes as the girls at school would say. But Jake was lazy, even though he was well built. He didn’t like to work and was moody. A.K.A. your basic teenager. For how bored he seemed all the time, Jake thought a lot. About what, only he knew, but it was deep stuff. Things he’d never tell people about. He was sure he’d scare the crap out of people if he told them what he thought about. One thing he’d for sure thought about though, was his sister, the baby. She’d died a few days after being born. She was small, perfect. She was too tiny.

But at this particular moment he wasn’t thinking, he wasn’t even dreaming. The night was still, well, almost. The doll had landed on a pile of yellow envelopes scattered across the desktop. As the moon shone in through Jake’s bedroom window and spilled across the desk to her small body, something stirred. Something seemed to wake up. Something that’d been waiting.

She rolled over, her green eyes still heavy with sleep. She blinked at the lump of Jake in the bed. She didn’t speak English, but even as she was reborn that night by the moonlight, she spoke her first English word. “Jake.” She whispered into the night. Her body fell limp and she shut her eyes and slept.

Sun slid in through the window. Jake groaned, his eyes still shut. He could hear the sound of someone moving about in his room humming. He pushed himself up and turned to face the door. “Mom,” He whined, “I’ll clean it up when I- what the…?” He looked around, his mother was no where in sight. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. His eyes moved carefully over everything. He stuck his head down on the floor and peeked nervously under the bed. As his head came up his eyes traveled over the desk. There stood the doll, examining things that lay askew on his desk. With a childish cry, Jake gasped and yes, that sent him flailing to the floor.

“Honey?”

Mrs. Parker’s voice floated questioningly up the stairs.

“You okay?”

“F-f-fine!”

Jake’s voice quavered unconvincingly. He rubbed his eyes furiously. “You are having an ADHD moment, you inhaled some chalk or marker or something. You ate something mom cooked.” He tried desperately to convince himself. He uncovered his eyes to find the doll standing at the corner staring at him worriedly. “Oh my God!” Jake cried and threw his head back.

Sliding ever so cautiously onto his hands and knees, Jake warily began to crawl towards her. She sat on the desk, her legs hanging over the edge. She smiled and watched him with amusement. Soon Jake found himself kneeling, eye-to-eye with the doll at the desk’s corner. He reached out a finger and went as if to poke her to see if she was real. Her hand flew out and rested on his. Jake jumped. She giggled.

“This has… got to be some… way advanced technology!” Jake stammered. But who was he kidding? She felt too real, her eyes were too shiny. Her chest heaved slightly when she breathed. Breathed! She breathed! Jake pulled back his finger. She leaned forward, her large tantalizing eyes taking in every detail of Jake. “Uh, hello.” He said waving slightly.

“Hana!” She replied waving back. “Hana?” Jake echoed, “What- you don’t speak English do you?” He asked laughing, “Yup! I’m on crack!” He sounded hysterical and grabbed his gut as he laughed. She didn’t laugh with him. She just watched. When he stopped expressing his amusement she pointed a small finger to him. “Jake.” She said. His eyes grew wide. “Jake.” She repeated.

Jake pushed himself up onto his elbows. Hey, if you’re on crack, may as well enjoy it! He pointed to her, “And who are you?” She frowned, and then pointed to herself. “A-a-nd who are you.” She said copying Jake’s voice. He shook his head, “No, no, no. Jake,” He pointed himself, “And you?” He said this time extending his entire hand.

“No, no, no and you.”

“NO! Your name is…”

“NO! Your name is…”

“Oh man. No. What are you called?”

“Oh man, no wha-

“No! Okay, this isn’t working!”

Jake tried one last time. “Jake,” He pointed to himself. He pointed to her and didn’t say anything. She seemingly clued in. She shrugged and shook her head smiling. She pointed to him excitedly, “Jake! Jake Jake Jake!” She then pointed once more to herself.

“What? You want me to name you?” He asked quizzically, “Okay… let me think…” He scratched his head.

“Michelle? No. Cloe? No. Yasmine? No. Dana? No, no, no. Danielle…” Jake paused at this last name. “Danielle. Yeah, it’s perfect.” He smiled. “Danielle.” “Danielle.” She copied, holding her hands to her heart. As a narrator I suppose I must explain. You see, the baby sister Jake had lost was named Danielle. He had only been 8 at the time, but it still bothered him she never had the chance to live.

Danielle stood up on the desk, and frowned looked worried. “Jake?” She asked. He looked up at her, her eyes swimming in his. He smiled. “Nothing.” He stood up. “So… my little friend… uh… this is my first time with a living doll so…. Yeah… I don’t know what to do… um… you hungry?”