#strawbella

I was more of a toy to Strawbella than she was to me. She beat out the competition from my crazy collection of 13 Barbies and consumed half my childhood as my favourite doll.

I think it had something to do with her scented dress and strawberry-shaped purse...or maybe it was the way she came into my life. The day before my 8th (or 9th?) birthday, I spotted her in the only big toy shop in Vellore (the now extinct Nataraj...sigh) and pleaded in vain with Mum to buy it. But no, my parents had already gotten me a dress...frilly pink! God knows how I wore pink in my youth! :)...so a doll was ruled out. I tried not to cry and ruin my day, but vivid dreams of this doll with a gorgeous red dress hardly helped with the sleep.

The next day I woke up teary-eyed to the traditional birthday breakfast table of cake and flowers. But in the midst of all the hibiscus from our graden, there she sat. Strawbella.