We give as we get, because that's how the world keeps turning.: seanan

We give as we get, because that's how the world keeps turning.

I asked Mom if we could go by the mall tonight after I got off work. "Sure," she said. "What for?" I told her there was a store I'd heard about called "Justice," and that they might have Monster High dolls. Mom, who is endlessly tolerant in some ways, thought this was a fine idea, and away we went.

Now, for the last month or so, we've been haunting the usual stores looking for the new beach assortment, the ghoulishly-named "Skull Shores." There are five dolls in the assortment, four of which have been released (the fifth, Draculaura, will be joining the set in the next wave of releases. This keeps you coming back to the shelves, even when you think you're done). We hadn't been able to find any of them.

We reached the mall, parked, and made our way to the Justice...where I immediately found all four currently available Skull Shores dolls, AND several Toralei dolls (the werecat I recently had wonderful people hunt for in Australia). I gleefully grabbed one of each of the Skull Shores dolls and, after a moment's consideration, snagged a Toralei as well. I wanted to compare her paint to the Australian version of the same doll.

Now, Mom and I go to Toys R Us a lot. I mean a lot. So we've come to know the people who work there pretty well, and one of them, M., also buys Monster High, for his little girl. Her favorite is Abbey Bominable, who is damn hard to find, and the reason that her father has also been awaiting Skull Shores anxiously. After a little more consideration, we grabbed a second Abbey. I paid for my toys (40% off the whole store!), and we decamped for the Toys R Us.

We took Abbey and Toralei inside, Abbey for M., Toralei to show the manager, since he's had people asking for her. M. was on lunch, and the manager said we might be able to find him outside. We went looking. Upon finding him, I thrust Abbey at him, going "Look!" He was very excited, since, well. Hell hath no nagging like a little girl in want of a specific toy. I explained that I hadn't found her inside, but we'd grabbed a second in case he needed her. He stared, and said (without handing back the doll—I think I would've lost fingers) that he had no cash on him. I affirmed that I knew where he worked.

Happiest. Dad. EVER.

I showed him the Toralei, so he'd know what she looked like. He asked, excited, whether they had another of her, too...so I handed him the Toralei. Dude, I have mine, and I am happy to play toy mule for actual small children. Tomorrow, I shall return to Toys R Us to get reimbursed for toys, and tonight, when he returns home, M. shall be a hero.

Karma is important. Pass it along.

triskelmoon

November 18 2011, 06:13:48 UTC 5 years ago

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I have 2 Monster High Dolls so far and am getting grabby hands for Toralei... I also heard they are going to have build your own monster kits? With a *DRAGON* doll. *COVET*

seanan_mcguire

November 18 2011, 15:14:56 UTC 5 years ago

A dragon and a bee and lots of other bits!

Toralei is totally worth it. She's gorgeous.

spectralbovine

November 18 2011, 06:59:10 UTC 5 years ago

Bless you, toy mule.

November 18 2011, 15:15:17 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you, phantom cow.

themysteriousg

November 18 2011, 07:28:32 UTC 5 years ago

Yeah, I'm repeating a sentiment, but you are MADE of AWESOME.

November 18 2011, 15:15:23 UTC 5 years ago

rhodielady_47

November 18 2011, 07:53:04 UTC 5 years ago

"Karma is important. Pass it along."
Now that is the truest and wisest thought I've heard in a while and it's better worded than the wornout "what goes around, comes around".
:]

November 18 2011, 15:15:36 UTC 5 years ago

Well, yay.

manynames

November 18 2011, 08:08:11 UTC 5 years ago

That was kind.

Which has reminded me that I am seriously considering buying a Monster High doll for my zombie-loving child, who has recently discovered all things Barbie. Are the clothes the same size as Barbie clothes?

November 18 2011, 15:16:17 UTC 5 years ago

They are not, but they can share some clothing with the Bratz dolls. If you're getting her a Monster High doll, you're going to want Ghoulia Yelps, the zombie. She also has a comic book club fashion pack, which is adorkable.

5 years ago

cleothyla

November 18 2011, 08:11:56 UTC 5 years ago

If I had known that you were looking for them, I would have picked up some of the ones I found at Grocery Outlet up here and sent them to you. I thought I saw Draculaura in there too, but I could have been mistaken. I found them at the Grocery Outlet in Monroe. They are the ones in the Swimsuits, right?

November 18 2011, 08:21:26 UTC 5 years ago

Oops, sorry. They were the Gloom Beach dolls. Never mind. :(

moth2fic

November 18 2011, 08:20:39 UTC 5 years ago

That's such a lovely story! Well done for thinking ahead and having 'spares' available!

November 18 2011, 15:16:53 UTC 5 years ago

It seemed like the nice thing to do.

jennygriffee

November 18 2011, 08:46:47 UTC 5 years ago

Awesome. :) Someday I need to go Toralei-hunting myself.

My doll luck has been, er, lacking lately, though, so that's going to have to wait. Long story short: I splurged and made two orders (expensive, unfortunately), but the deliveries didn't arrive and the house number they reportedly went to was wrong, despite being correct in my original order. Neighbors claim they don't have it. Investigations with UPS are ongoing. Here's hoping it can get resolved one way or other, but argh. wish me luck? *half-smile*

November 18 2011, 15:17:20 UTC 5 years ago

Eeep! I hope you find your packages! That's terrible, I always worry about that. :(

ravenclawed

November 18 2011, 10:51:11 UTC 5 years ago

That was so sweet!

I've got my sister-in-law looking for Spectra and Abbey for me for birthday/Christmas. They are not to be found here.

Are Toralei's two friends expected to be dolls soon too?

November 18 2011, 15:17:58 UTC 5 years ago

I didn't see any Abbeys at the Justice, but they had LOTS of Spectra. Is there a Justice near where you live?

Purrsephone and Meowlody are going to be a Toys R Us-exclusive two-pack.

lejays17

November 18 2011, 13:21:45 UTC 5 years ago

That's a lovely story - I'm sure that the little girl will be thinking that her dad's the best thing ever tonight!

The Abbey's are really hard to find, I've been collecting the plush dolls for myself, and thought that she would be a nice present for my neice (who shares her name), but trying to find one that won't cost a squintillion dollars with shipping to Aus has been difficult.

(Good to hear that Torelei arrived safely - she got there quick!)

November 18 2011, 15:19:01 UTC 5 years ago

Abbey seems to be weirdly hard to find in Australia; I know lots of people who are seriously looking for her, and not finding her. It's bizarre. I haven't seen her in-box in a while, but next time I do, I'll grab her and let you know. (Worst case, I have an extra Abbey. OH NO WHAT WILL I DO.)

fadedbluejeans

November 18 2011, 13:31:18 UTC 5 years ago

The little girl I was and the toy-collecting adult I am both thank you for sharing this story. You just made my day.

Augh, Monster High dolls. I don't collect them, but I think it's only a matter of time before I crack and end up with some, because they are SO CUTE.

November 18 2011, 15:19:15 UTC 5 years ago

I know! Totally adorable.

kyrielle

November 18 2011, 14:39:16 UTC 5 years ago

I have been up about a half hour and this is one of the things I read to start my morning.

And my day is off to an AWESOME start as a result, for so many reasons. Because you got the dolls you wanted. Because you helped a little girl get the dolls SHE wanted. Because you remind me that we can make all sorts of difference in the lives around us.

You rock.

November 18 2011, 15:19:26 UTC 5 years ago

You rock, too, darlin'.

rarelylynne

November 18 2011, 15:00:09 UTC 5 years ago

And this is yet another reason why you are made of awesome.

As if we needed more evidence.

November 18 2011, 15:19:33 UTC 5 years ago

:)

Hee.

firynze

November 18 2011, 15:22:42 UTC 5 years ago

My god, he is gonna have the world's happiest child, and also probably not have trouble getting her to do her chores for a MONTH.

You rock. :-D

November 18 2011, 15:29:03 UTC 5 years ago

I know, right? Buying obedience is fun!

ktsparrow

November 18 2011, 15:28:26 UTC 5 years ago

I like the theme of those dolls, but they read really anorexic to me in a way that's not creepy delicious.

November 18 2011, 15:29:26 UTC 5 years ago

They don't read anorexic to me because they're so stylized, but I can see how they would. I'm sorry they don't work for you.

Deleted comment

November 18 2011, 15:38:32 UTC 5 years ago

Erm.

Thank you? I think?

*is nervous now*

November 18 2011, 19:47:33 UTC 5 years ago

I like heroism. :)

vettecat

November 18 2011, 17:24:51 UTC 5 years ago

So cool!

November 18 2011, 19:47:40 UTC 5 years ago

I was happy.

You Rock

filkpiper

November 18 2011, 17:36:34 UTC 5 years ago

As mentioned, you are made of awesomesause.

Re: You Rock

November 18 2011, 19:47:46 UTC 5 years ago

Yay. :)

newroticgirl

November 18 2011, 17:55:33 UTC 5 years ago

Add another YOU ROCK on the pile!! This makes me want to hug. (The first person I encounter is gonna be really surprised...) :D

November 18 2011, 19:47:55 UTC 5 years ago

Yay surprise hugging!

yellowblackhaze

November 20 2011, 06:01:36 UTC 5 years ago

See, you can wait for another doll, but that little girl, she just can't, and you did a great thing by not making her and Dad is now a hero and the best Dad ever! We've just been watching the Monster High cartoons and I can't believe how mean Toralei is.

November 21 2011, 16:55:10 UTC 5 years ago

Exactly. Kids don't wait well.

Toralei is horrid in the cartoons, isn't she? I ignore that for my dolls at home, I've not the time for that sort of unpleasantness on my shelves.

February 18 2012, 17:00:26 UTC 5 years ago

Hey, no problem! And good luck on your quest for doll stuff, I know it can be never ending.

kamui_atsuko

September 15 2012, 03:45:37 UTC 4 years ago Edited: September 15 2012, 03:49:02 UTC

Ah~! I would love to see your current collection of Monster High dolls! I bought four just the other day (Ghouls Rule Frankie Stein, Snow Bite Draculaura, C.A. Cupid, and Roller Maze Ghoulia Yelps) ♥

September 15 2012, 16:21:13 UTC 4 years ago

I have all the dolls except for original B&W Frankie; they don't all fit in a single shot, so I have no pictures right now!

But that is a super-cute arrangement.

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