A Gift From Grandpa

A GIFT FROM GRANDPA

         Jenny got into the car. "We still have to pick up Amy's birthday present. I don't know what to give her, she's growing up so fast" She's seven already, can you believe it?"

         "Way ahead of you," Gary said. "If you want to know what she wants, ask her! I asked and I went to the toy store on my way here. Mission accomplished." He pointed in the back with his thumb. A box nicely gift wrapped lay on the back seat. "She said she wanted Sparkle Barbie. So I got her that."

         "A Barbie?"

         "Something wrong with that?"

         "I don't know I think the whole Barbie thing sends wrong messages to little girls."

         "What do you mean sends messages?"

         "Such as, you have to look a certain way and have all the right clothes and a boy friend to be okay."

         "A boy friend? She's seven, for gosh sakes."

         "Well, it starts young. By second grade the little girls are already concerned about the right clothes and wanting to fit in. Little girls can be very nasty to the one who doesn't have the right shoes!"

         "So you think Barbie causes that?"

         "It's part of the whole indoctrination. Barbie has everything money can buy. There's a boy doll called Ken who's supposed to be her boy friend. "

         Gary turned the car and waited his turn to exit the parking lot. "A boy doll?"

         "And he has a lot of clothes too and a car and everything."

         "This can run into money."

         "And there's the way this doll looks, she's got a downright anorexic body. Maybe one woman in ten thousand is shaped like that. Do we want little girls to think they're defective unless they look like that?"

         "So you're saying Barbie is a bad example? I could take it back but I did sort of promise her."

         "Then give it to her. Grandpa can't break a promise! But give her something else too. Something every woman from seven to ninety seven wants."

         "What?"

         "A rose. A rose from someone who loves her."


Winner 11/3/06

ID: 896794   (Rated: 13+) Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  Enter your story of 300 words or less. Note new starting time! by arakun the twisted raccoon