The Doll People

Together, Annabelle and Tiffany form the Society for Exploration and the Location of Missing Persons, which they call “SELMP” for short. This society of two functions as a symbol of their bond: The two girls may be very different in some ways, but they are both curious and brave, and together they are determined to do what is right and find Auntie Sarah. 

The story shows that both friends believe in The Benefits of Adventure and Discovery and will rely on one another to accomplish their goals. After their rescue of Papa, for instance, they recognize that neither one would have been successful without the other. It is Annabelle who realizes that they need to follow The Captain in order to locate Papa, and it is Tiffany who carries out the rescue with Kate’s jump rope. The two girls often repeat the slogan “United for SELMP” (187). This phrase stresses the role that togetherness, trust, and interdependence play in both SELMP and their relationship. In this way, SELMP helps to convey the story’s messages about The Importance of Friendship.