Amy and Jasmine Doll

By Amy Saeki-Zhai

Little Amy had a Jasmine doll.
Jasmine came when Amy had a little riddle.
“What’s wrong with my eyes and hair?”
“Other people’s are blue and yellow.”

That night, Amy watched the Disney movie Aladdin for the first time.
She loved it, and Jasmine became her favorite among all other Disney Princes.
Brave, adventurous, curious, smart, free, and beautiful.
Although people say that Amy looks more like Snow White or Mulan.
After Jasmine came, little Amy stopped asking her wonders.
She got a little tiger Raja in her heart.
One day, when she was playing in a park, people suddenly left one by one, and the police
came.

Somebody called the police, reporting that strangers were there.
Her daddy became furious toward Mama, “What kind of place is it?”
Mama shouted, “Great and terrific, the park is all ours!”
“Come on, Amy and Jasmine, are you ready for the slide?”
“I, I, Sir!” Jasmine replied and followed Amy’s rolling coaster.
Daddy was still down and mumbling around on the bench by himself.
Meanwhile, Jasmine, Mama, and I had so much fun.

“You know, this never happens; at a park in a big city, people are lining up to slide down
each time; what a gorgeous, beautiful day,” said Mama.
Jasmine and I totally agreed.

Recently, I told my friend Debi the story of my ex and his father.
Debi is much older than I am; she is a graphic designer and a good cook.
She spent hours stewing her special Indian curry by mixing many ground spices.
In the kitchen, Debi shared her similar experience in Australia with me.
Though she is from Sri Lanka, I felt that my Jasmine doll came alive.
“I think we deserve much better guys.”

“I think so. They came with their plan. We were fooled.”
Hot curry became hotter and hotter as our tiger grew.
It’s time to watch Aladdin again.

This time, I watched the live action version.
It was as gorgeous as before.
Jasmine was smart enough not to be cheated by
The cunning and calculated Prince Achmed.
The magic carpet carried me to the Gold Coast now,
The private lesson is well taken.

It’s time to clean up my little castle.
It’s a brand new start of 2024.
Come on, “Raja, are you still in my heart?”