Doll-mother Greta

“There she is – Doll X4378000, also known as Greta.”
The child stares in wonder at the life-like figure, while the parents stand a meter behind with a shop clerk.

"We just got her, isn't the Greta-Modell beautiful?
Rumors are, they are making other adult-like dolls for this collection as well.” Sounds from the back, as the child's eyes are fixed solely on the toy in front of them. Wondering if it can, in fact, be considered a toy?

The child’s head slowly turns, their eyes taking in the doll, which is tricky, though, because the doll is somehow placed lower than the child in a glass box. The cartonnage, even larger, was propped beside it.

"Greta is a great companion for your child or their dolls; her go-to sentences have a different kind of variety than the ones in the collection. "Hello, my child," or "Are you sure about that," or "Good night, darling," are just a few of the preset ones."

The child's parents nod as the clerk goes on; somehow, their movements seem oddly delayed.

"As you can see on the nametag, there is an integrated app." The staff’s voice hushes. "There's a rumor it works like a camera. So, doll-mother could watch while you go out, isn't that wonderful?"

The child tenses, still the parents nod, as if in a trance. Have they even said anything? The child wonders as they look at the doll's eyes. They’re different than the ones the child knows of. Black, layered, round circles inside… are turning?

Suddenly, the child is sure that the eyes of the mother-doll are watching it.
Moving to the left, up on their tiptoes, to the right, fast, slow – the mother-doll’s eyes follow.

The child shudders. "I don't want one."

No reaction.

The child turns towards its parents. "I. Don't. Want. One!"

The Dad looks at the child slowly, confusedly. "You don't want one?" His voice sounds strange, not like Daddy's.

Tears rising and shivering, the child grabs the father's leg. "I don't want a birthday present anymore. I don’t need one! We… can read a book. At home? Please?”

Silence. Daddy stares; Mommy does not even blink.

Clearing their throat, the staff member refers to the doll next to the mother doll. "This earlier type has similar functions; it can be out of your child's reach, if necessary. Though the sentences are limited, as is the rotation.”

Horror fills the child. "I DON'T WANT A DOLL!"

This silence is longer. Somehow heavier.

The child rushes to the mother, accidentally, throwing off the name tag. The clink sounds loud, shakes the whole room. The child freezes.

Then, suddenly, the parents are in front of the child. "Darling, are you okay?"

"I-I don' wan-wanna do-oll! I wanna go-go ho- HOMW!"

The parents stare at their child, then at the clerk. "We're so sorry, this usually doesn't happen. Maybe the dolls in this section are too scary. We’d better head home, but thank you.”