Dangerous Dolly

She was a special girl, a “don't tempt me, ‘cause I’ll do it” girl.

An “I’m always down to do things” girl.

No one could mess with her,

to her life was anything but a bore.

She painted her nails with blood red polish,

ready to demolish,

anything in the way of her carefully planned schedule.

She would walk around with her head held high,

and she’d smile and wave at those who passed by,

yet she would never let anyone near,

and they all had that clear.

She was unlike the rest,

never settled for less,

was never in distress.

She stood up against men who had charming smiles and bad manners,

and would never fall for pretty boys and their enchanters.

She knew how to handle a gun,

even thought it was fun.

The town knew her as Dangerous Dolly.

Dangerous Dolly had waves in her brunette hair, the kind that takes over and dizzies you.

And her eyes were hazel like honey.

And the boys in the town ran outside just to see her walk by,

and all the men she’d reject had egos that’d cry.

But Dangerous Dolly only had eyes for one.

Every morning she would walk to the bridge,

and stand there and look at the water below.

She would let her guard down all at once,

She felt empty

ever since the love of her life had jumped.

It was summer of 29’ when Lucy Lowell tenderly kissed Dangerous Dolly on the lips,

hidden beneath the trees and tulips.

The grass had been green and the sun scorching hot,

and Lucy touched Dolly in ways that she knew she should not.

Summer went like this, with them hiding,

pretending to be law-abiding,

sitting on the church pews on Sundays,

walking into town to get sundaes.

If anyone had been paying attention,

they’d have noticed the smiles and glances,

the tension.

They’d have seen all the love between pretty Lucy and the rebellious dangerous Dolly.

Then winter 29’ hit,

and the Lowell's business declined.

Raymond Lowell had to make a decision as his business went down.

So he packed up his bags and left to Chicago.

His wife Estelle would cry every day like a river

where she could’ve drowned her whole family.

There was Lucy,

and Stacy, and the four year old Beau,

Trying their hardest to stay afloat.

Estelle had to work for the first time,

and Lucy knew she was next in line.

She missed her dad dearly, felt abandoned by him.

and from this deep fears and insecurities stemmed.

The last time Dangerous Dolly had seen Lucy Lowell,

they had been by the riverbank,

and Lucy had mentioned she’d wish she could swim with the fish,

be a mermaid instead,

and then a quiet tear she shed.

Then they kissed on the cheeks,

and said “see you again”

and they each went their separate ways.

In two days it happened, it was all over the news.

The papers all read “Lucy Lowell now is dead, and it looks like she jumped.”

So now dangerous dolly always wondered around,

Smiling at everyone in the town.

But when she was alone Dangerous Dolly would think of young Lucy Lowell,

and her pretty blonde curls,

and the love that they shared in this town made of gossip, hypocrisy, and God-fearing Clowns.