xxv.

barbies

. . . 

while walking past the Barbie isle on a recent trip to target, my friend and i began to discuss our childhood Barbie escapades. we exchanged awesome stories about them. we described what our childhood Barbies were like, what their names were, how we played with them. after hearing my stories, my friend told me i must have been an odd child. she was right. . .

Butterscotch was my favorite (she actually wasn't a Barbie at all, but rather a cheap Mattel competitor knock off)

the name came instinctively to me, just as a pimp might name one of his ladies. "Butterscotch", I said matter-of-factly as I held her in one hand while stroking her hair with a small pink brush with the opposite. my sister asked why. i responded as any big sister would, "Hello. Look at her hair. It's like candy." 

her hair was exaggeratedly long- down to her ankles- and smooth like horse hair (which it probably was). it was the most beautiful hair i had ever seen.

she was shorter than the other Barbies- shorter than Skipper, even - I always introduced her to the rest of the Barbie clan as a Dwarf. Butterscotch the Dwarf.

my second favorite was Rebecca. she was an exceptionally beautiful Barbie. big blue eyes, long straight blonde hair, feet arched to the point that no woman could ever actually stand on them, and impossible waist to hip ratio- what every little girl dreams of being.

i always played her as the most caring and loving member of my Barbie society. all the other Barbies were jealous of her- yet no one could speak a negative thing about her because she was so kind. also, she was the only one with a pink convertible.

i had her for about a year until i fatefully decided one day that Rebecca would be diagnosed with cancer. i cut all the hair off her head (Brit-Brit style). she was never the same. yes, she was still always very kind- but much more removed from the close knit Barbie social circle than ever before. i gave her big dark sunglasses and an array of scarves for her head. 

during Rebecca's Chemo her good friend Aladdin was always by her side. he showed her true love by being the one constant in her life during such a difficult time for Rebecca. i pressed their firm plastic hands together.

Aladdin had a permanent plastic Turban on his head. when he first moved to the small community, he did not receive a very warm welcome.

he was the only Muslim in a sea of Caucasian dolls- it must have been tough for him. at first the racism was quite  intense- but, after a while the Barbies gathered together for a town-hall-style meeting to discuss the racial tension within the community. 

by the end of it, Aladdin was in the middle of a Barbie group hug and they celebrated their newly found understanding with a Pow-Wow . . . i dont know why. 

shortly after, Aladdin and Rebecca were married. 

Butterscotch was there.

i was a strange child- but, i think i am more worldly because of it. i mean, who else touched on issues of social acceptance, disability, death, racial integration/dispute resolution while playing Barbies?

i have many more stories, including Tiffany the home-wrecker who lost her leg in a car accident. maybe i'll share that one next time . . .