The little wall girl

What follows is a heart-warming little story (a true one) that I thought I'd share with you.

When she was four years old my daughter had a passion for drawing countless little girls in pretty dresses. Here is one wearing purple and she has hair to match.....wonderful!

One day a new little girl put in an appearance. She had been carefully drawn on the newly painted wall in the hall and the style was so distinctive the artist was immediately identifiable.

My daughter knew it was wrong to draw on house walls (especially newly painted ones) and so my initial reaction was to fetch some soapy water and remove the little lady. But I didn't and somehow she survived and continued to smile up at us every time we passed. She became known as 'the little wall girl'.

Two years later came the day when the family moved house. My daughter, of course, was most distraught at having to leave the little wall girl behind at the old house but short of removing a chunk of plaster with the little lady attached to it I could see no way for her to join us in our new home.

At last the day came when all our belongings were packed and were being stacked in the big removal van. Books were heaped in the hall waiting to go and the little wall girl was just able to peep over the top of the heaps.

Heavy boxes full of household essentials were next to go and the little wall girl watched as they were carried away whilst she stayed behind.

Finally she watched as the dolls and teddy bears left for their new home.

At long last the house was completely empty and the children were sitting in the car ready to go. I did a few last minute checks and hurriedly opened each drawer in the kitchen to check that nothing had been left behind. As I removed a small scrap of greaseproof paper from one of the drawers an idea suddenly came to me.

With a quickly found pencil I carefully traced the little wall girl onto the greaseproof paper.

And now it was at last time to leave. I closed the front door of our old house and joined the rest of the family in the car and we set off for our new home.

You can imagine my daughter's joy when I handed her the scrap of paper and she saw the smiling face of her much loved little wall girl.

And where is this little lady today you might wonder. I telephoned my daughter yesterday to ask if she remembered the little drawing. I needn't have asked. Not only does she remember it but she still has the original greaseproof paper image tucked away in her scrapbook of childhood memories. Needless to say daughter was happy to email me a pic of the original image and I've used it to tell this little tale...... I do love happy endings don't you?

Until next time,
Eli

Comments

[Martha]

Eli, that is such an adorable story. I wonder what the new owners thought of the Little Wall Girl?!
I can just imagine your daughter's smile when you handed her the tracing. :o)

[Julie]

Oh how sweet. I wonder if the little wall girl still lives on the wall. I bet you daughter tells a lovely story of her picture, I would have loved to have seen her smile, that was meant to happen, you finding the greaseproof paper to redraw it.

[tree]

how wonderful that you didn't just wash it away. children's drawings are the best kind of art...ever. thank you for shareing the story. tree

[Rhondi]

What a precious story! You were a goood Mom. I don't know if I would have thought of that.

[Joy]

Oh bless. Your little blog continues to delight me. My Dad got another Blackberry Farm book as we were all so delighted that you ended our Rosy, Posy and Christopher conundrum.

[Paula]

Dear Eli,

I was so delighted and touched by this sweet story!!! What wonderful memories you and your dear daughter must have relived! You are so very clever to have thought of tracing her sweet wall doll, and what a blessing to have found that greaseproof paper in the drawer! I can imagine all of the wonderful childhood memories you have blessed your dear daughter with! Thank you for sharing this one!

Much love,
Paula

[Marqueta]

Dear Eli,

The girls and I loved the story~with a wonderful, happy ending :).

Hooray for wall girls everywhere (We have known a few)!

Love,

Marqueta

[Penny]

Oooh, how cute.

[elyse]

that is a wonderfully sweet and sentimental story. gulp.

xo

[Janine W]

thank you for reminding me it is the little things that are the most memorable and sweetest - and what a cute little drawing - does your daughter still like to draw ?

xoxox

[Redwood House]

Hi Eli
Thank goodness it was a happy ending I really was beginning to worry seeing her peeping over the boxes.
How wonderful that your daughter still has the tracing a happy ending indeed.

Hope all is well with you...
Jan

[Simone]

I am so glad that the 'little wall girl' story had an happy ending! :-)

[SweetScarlett]

I love this sweet tale, Eli.
What an amazing mum you were to recognise when there needed to be an amendment to the rule of not drawing on the walls.
My grandfather was a talented, if untrained, artist and he painted oil on canvas paintings that were just gorgeous. My siblings and I all attest our creativity to him but only one if us inheirited his ability to paint. At a very young age she could be found tucked away in her bed, painting till all hours. Mom always knew which sheets were hers . . .
xxx
Maggie