Allegories
Allegories
Kaitlin Jones was a normal seven-year-old girl. She had lots of toys, and she played with them all. But she liked PattyDoll the best. PattyDoll enjoyed this attention very much.
“Guess what!?” exclaimed PattyDoll as she burst into the toy chest at exactly 8:45 on Tuesday night; “ Kaitlin’s mom made me a new dress today! I was so nice. Kaitlin said it was beautiful- just like me. Then we had a tea party!”
“I know. I was there,” said Teddy. He was Kaitlin’s big stuffed bear. He was also considered the ‘leader’ of the toys. He made all the executive decisions and all the other toys went to him if they had a problem or needed to talk.
“Me, too!” added Raggedy Ann. Raggedy Ann was the silent type. Most of the time. That is, except for when PattyDoll boasted like this. It really made Raggedy angry.
“So? It doesn’t matter if you were there,” PattyDoll said harshly,
“Kaitlin loves me best. She takes me with her wherever she goes. She always wants her mom to sew new clothes for me. She plays with me the most. I’m her favourite. You guys are just jealous because I’m so beautiful. All of you!” With that PattyDoll turned on her heel and stormed out of the toy chest, straight to the special doll cradle where she slept every night.
* * *
The next day, while PattyDoll was at the park with Kaitlin, the other toys had a meeting. Teddy was sitting atop a stack of books, and the rest were siting in a circle on the floor around him.
They were discussing PattyDoll.
“She makes me feel so small,” said Raggedy Ann, “I just wish she wasn’t so mean to us.”
“I know what you mean, Raggedy,” exclaimed Barbie, “This morning I asked her if she wanted to join me for my jog around the house. She just gave me a look and said, ‘why would I jog with you? You’re not as pretty as me.’ It made me so sad! I wish Kaitlin would play with me like she plays with her.” She started to cry. “I wish I was beautiful!” she sobbed.
“You are,” said Ken, “C’mon, you’re Barbie!”
“I know, but still.”
It was then that...