The Last Page

"The Dolls Adventures in England"

 I decided to change the ending in my first children's book "The Dolls Adventures in England" since it seemed too sad to end on a note of disappointment and loss. So I hit upon the idea of surprise and unexpected elation instead. The premise of the story is that three dolls take a trip to England to surprise their friends: Mr. Brown, Mrs. Stone and Mr. Graves. Each time they try to visit and surprise each friend, they find that they are not at home. As soon as I printed a mock layout, I realized that the end must contain some levity and turning the surprise upon the dolls themselves seemed like a perfect way to conclude their adventures in England. For what child (or adult for that matter) would like to experience disappointment at their failed attempts at surprising their friends?

As we will not be back to visit England until the Spring, I decided to photograph the final image here in Los Angeles. Luckily, there is an Episcopalian church right up the street from where I live made of stone that was built in 1889. The Church of the Angles, which was "patterned after Holmbury St Mary's Church, near Dorking, Surrey, England", was a perfect place to set the final scene. I could see the dolls standing in front the small side door which could easily pass as a place they would have stayed in England. 

The cobble stone, gravel and small wooden door with an iron hinge worked well with the rest of the images that were indeed photographed on location in Norwich, England. I employed some friends of mine to play the part of Mr. Brown, Mrs. Stone and Mr. Graves respectively. I had very distinct ideas of what they would wear and each friend did not disappoint when they came dressed up like the characters in the book.

Little did we know that the very hour and day which I had designated as a time to meet at the church, was going to be the exact time a wedding would be held at the church! We did see a white vintage Rolls Royce outside the church and knew that we had very little time to take the shot on the other side of the building. We quietly walked up to the door, took our places and set the cake and dolls up quickly as to not disturb the ceremony. Of course, as soon as we began shooting, the bells began to ring signaling the bride and groom had just been married. Nervously we stood there and luckily I got the shot before the ill-fated moment, when Mrs. Stone knocked jokingly upon the door.

The Vicar swung open the door and asked us if we were with the wedding party! What could we say with dolls, and cake and a camera? Indeed an awkward moment was at hand, one that none of us will soon forget! No we said, we were just doing a photo shoot and quickly packed up the cake and dolls, and hurried down to the street where we waived to the bride and groom as they sped away in their Rolls.This couldn't have been a more appropriate ending to this photographic adventure I started a year ago. I  hope that the very element of surprise and unexpected elation that we experienced making this final image is felt in the final page of my very first children books.

Here's to a New Year filled with many happy and unexpected endings!

Julie Pavlowski Green

December 28, 2013