Elsie has an obsession with dolls. Alright. Obsession is a bit of a stretch, considering that she is only five years old. She does not know what "obsessed" means. I try to explain it, but she never listens. Her attention is on her dolls. I would say that I love them...but I am jealous.

Like all siblings, Elsie gets on my nerves. I love her and would never want anything awful to happen to her, but she tests my patience sometimes. I want to rip my hair out because of her. She constantly talks about her dolls and treats them like that they have souls. She is young, so I do not tell her. It did not bother me anyway - until she told me and our parents to do the same. No way. I put my foot down. I did not want to upset her. I hate to see her puppy eyes. But I did not want to play along.

Elsie and I were at our dining room table and awaiting supper. Our parents were in the kitchen and preparing it. I planned on assisting, but Mom said that they were almost done and asked me to watch my sister. I sighed and trudged to the dining room. I would not mind - if I had a normal sister.

I was about to sit when Elsie screamed, "You cannot sit there!" Her voice rang throughout the house.

Mom and Dad were startled and shifted their bodies to face us. Dad almost dropped a plate covered with food. I was the most startled. I leapt forward and almost lost my balance. I breathed hard and tugged on my dress. I pressed my hand against the wall so I would not fall. A growl escaped my throat when I noticed the doll sitting in my seat.

I frowned and pointed at Elsie's doll. "Why is your doll in my chair? Why is she even in the dining room?"

"I told you, Eliza. Her name is Ellen. Ellen wants to eat with us."

This was the first time that Elsie had a doll at the table.

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Ellen cannot eat."

Elsie grasped her fork and played with it. "Is it because she is a doll?"

"Bingo. Dolls cannot eat because they do not have to."

"But Ellen wants to eat with us. She and the other dolls are lonely when I am not with them. She begged to join us. I could not say no."

I took a few deep breaths and let them out slowly. I did not want to make my sister sob. I would never hear the end of it from our parents. Besides, I was too hungry to argue. I picked up the doll.

My sister slammed a hand on said table. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I am moving your doll so I can sit. I would like to be sitting while eating."

"You cannot do that."

I placed her doll in her lap. "Why not?"

"Ellen wants to sit there. It is her favorite spot."

"How can it be her favorite when she - and the others - have never sat at this table?"

She lowered her voice to a whisper. "You know the odd noises that you sometimes hear at night?"

I tapped my fingers on the table. "What about them?"

"I know who has been making those noises."

"Who? Do not tell me that you are behind them."

She giggled creepily. "Yep. I come out here at midnight with my dolls and host a tea party."

It took me a couple seconds to process her claim. I laid my hands flat on the wooden table with my fingers and thumbs spread out. "You have a tea party in the middle of the night."

"With my dolls. And I would not say that the middle of the night is midnight."

"Why would you have a party when you and I need our sleep?"

"I host the tea parties, thank you very much. And Mom and Dad are not bothered by them."

"Just answer my question."

She set Ellen on the table and mumbled something.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

The reason why I am jealous of the dolls is because my sister spends more time with them than with me. I like the peace and quiet that the dolls give me. I am not the center of Elsie's attention. I do what I want without the interruptions. I am all alone with my thoughts. But the issue is that...I am always alone. I never play with Elsie because she is too engrossed in those blasted dolls. She does everything with them and only notices me when I am in the way. Like what happened before supper. She insisted that Ellen sit in my seat while I ate on the floor - like a dog.

I swear that she loves them more than me.

I was on my bed with my legs crossed and my laptop in my lap. I was typing out details for the new story that I planned on starting that day. I love to write. I love tons of things. Drawing. Reading. Crafting. Playing sports. I wish that Elsie would join me. We would have fun.

There was a couple knocks on my door. I gazed up and said, "Who is it?"

"It is your one and only mom."

"You can come in."

My mom opened said door and strolled to my bed. She smiled and clasped her hands together. "You should be proud of your sister."

I carefully set my laptop on my stand. "Why? Did Elsie get her hundredth doll?"

"You know that she has over a hundred dolls, Eliza."

"That is too many dolls, Mom. A child should not have a hundred dolls. Her room is a disaster zone. The floor is covered with dolls. Dolls do not belong on the floor."

"Honey..."

"When will you and Dad stop buying dolls?"