6. The Gift

One fine day, out of the blue

I got a present from my mom.

She said they were a new thing.

She said they were popular with girls our age.

I opened the box and there she stood -

a skinny, busty doll with tiny feet

and the smallest waist I’d ever seen.

 

I'd only ever had a baby doll

that was cuddly and floppy

and smelled just right.

As I stared at the hard, plastic lady

that I held in one hand

I remember wondering,

What the hell do you do with it?