Child's Play

Have you ever had an encounter with a scary doll? My Grandma once had a conversation with one of those sleeping Ernie dolls. She had it to entertain one of my young cousins, but late one night Ernie started snoring out of the blue, sat up and said "I feel great!!!". Grandma said "Good for you!". There is a doll at the church that I need to get rid of. She has been hanging around for years, and I'm not sure what she runs on because it definitely can't be batteries. If you move her she says "Pick me up Mommy!" Swing her around and she joyfully says "That was fun, do it again!!!" She also say "I love you..." in a super-patronizing voice. But worst of all she has a crazy giggle. Both our secretary and myself have had instances where we are doing something in the preschool room and without even being touched she starts talking and giggling. So a few months ago, I decided to get rid of her. I moved her to my office and put her in a box of other forlorn toys to give away. This was worse because for weeks I've put up with the incessant chatter right next to me. Ok, gotta get rid of her. So I took the bag of toys to my car with intentions of going to the second hand store. But because the bag is in the backseat, I keep forgetting. Makes sense, right? Last night my heart skipped a beat. It was late and I was driving home from the church. I drove over a pothole and the familiar, taunting giggle came from the backseat...for a moment, I thought someone was in my car. The whole drive home, every dip in the road, every stop, there were giggles. Reminding me that she's still around. That perhaps I'll never get rid of her. That makes me a little nervous.