When my parents and I lived in Dearborn, Michigan, my father, Bill Johnson, traveled extensively with his business. Every time he returned from a business trip, dad brought some small treasure, usually a doll.

Upon returning from a business trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dad proudly presented me with a very unique doll, complete with a “special feature.” Of course, I immediately adopted her as my “favorite doll.” After playing with “Susie” for about an hour, I set her on the sofa in the living room, instructing her to sit there and behave until I returned.

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. Since Uncle Bob Gruner, mother’s brother, was in the neighborhood he stopped by for a visit. Dad invited Uncle Bob to have a seat in the living room, and directed him to sit next to “Susie.” Dad took his place on the sofa, ensuring that “Susie” was between Uncle Bob and himself.

After about five minutes of small talk and a couple of good jokes, Dad distracted Uncle Bob by pointing out some special point of interest. Seizing the moment, dad slowly slipped his hand to the button, located on the back of “Susie.” The polite doll promptly introduced herself. “Hello, my name is Susie! I know a nursery rhyme! Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go!”

Uncle Bob looked at “Susie” in utter disbelief. Not missing a beat, “Susie” proceeded to inform anyone within listening distance, “I can sing, too!” As she broke out into her rendition of “Rock-a-bye Baby,” Uncle Bob, looked incredulously at the doll, his eyes springing out of their sockets; you know, just like the eyeballs in one of those old cartoons. As if repelled by an invisible force, Uncle Bob backed away from “Susie” (he definitely didn’t want to turn his back on her) and started making a hasty retreat. As he was about to run through the front door, he heard a sound that alerted him to the fact that he’d been had.

With tears streaming down his face dad was laughing so hard, his face was beet red. The look on Uncle Bob’s face ran the gamut of feelings from shear fright, to extreme relief (thank goodness I’m not crazy after all), and finally to this means payback.

Dad had unceremoniously introduced my “talking doll” to Uncle Bob. “Susie” had a record located inside a metal box. By pushing the button on her back the recording started. It only took Uncle Bob a couple of years to totally forgive dad for his prank.

However, it was such a pity. Uncle Bob, who was quite visibly shaken, never heard the “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” part!