In many classic fairy tales, children go into a forest. The metaphor for exploration of the unknown that lies inside our psyches may also be seen more literally - entering a realm previously unexplored and that may have awaiting dangers or surprising discoveries...
Recently, Patsy, the new doll by Tonner Doll Company's Effanbee, followed the example of many children before her and in her Retros cotton dress and vintage Panama hat went exploring the nearby woods filled with centenary evergreens....
But in that forest lives a wolf!
"I hear the rustling of the leaves! Who dares walk in to my green home?"
And that wolf has a sister, a younger sister. "Do we have a visitor, dear brother?"
"It's been a long time since we have had anyone! Please, let us meet you, do come out!" - says the little bear. "We will not eat you."
And so they meet! Brother Wolf is still reluctant. But Sister Bear takes the lead.
"Hello, my name is Patsy!" - Patsy says. "Patsy? We knew a Patsy long, long ago. For you see, we are very old animal dolls made of composition. We came to be in the midst of The Great Depression when Patsy reigned supreme in the world of children and dolls."
Brother adds, "Yes! We were part of a set. I, in the Little Red Riding Hood set. Sister Bear must have been the little bear in the Goldilocks' set. We sold for a dollar back then, the equivalent of eighteen today. But with time, the others got lost and we have been living here, forgotten and in peace."
"That is right. The little girl was not Patsy but Trixie. She was a clone of Patsy but children did not mind. How could they? Our creator, Freundlich Toy Company made sure that by having a storyline Trixie would be fun for play. She was much loved too."
"Do you know Trixie, Patsy?" - asks Sister Bear.
But Patsy falls silent. She has much to think about and consider on her way back home. Her journey into the forest yields realization. Will Patsy ever meet her predecessors? We shall see! It may take another journey into the woods.
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