I don’t remember where the doll came from — some aunt or other gave it to us, or maybe Nana. It’s fairly lifelike in its size and features. Enough that when we first put the doll’s box in E’s closet (far back on the top shelf), he fussed quite about about how terrifying it was to think that such a thing was lurking inside his closet.

Today, K got the doll out to practice for a shoot she did for a friend who just had her first child.

As the Boy was cleaning up his room before bed, I noticed the box on his bed and went downstairs to retrieve the doll. I tried to sneak back in without him noticing because I feared a little breakdown when he realized the doll was going back into the closet.

“Oh, are you putting the doll up?” I heard behind me.

“Yeah. Mama was using it to practice pictures with today.”

“Oh.” Pause. “That doll — I used to be so scared of it.”