The gift that keeps on giving....

This post requires a bit of a back story, so bear with me....

Two weeks ago, my daughter asked me to take her and a friend to the Goodwill because they were on the hunt for clothing to make costumes for a party they were attending.  I obliged, and found myself wandering around the store while they scoured the racks of clothing.  I was deep in thought while looking at books when I felt someone staring at me.  I turned around, and that's when our eyes met.  Sitting on the shelf before me, in all her porcelain glory, was a doll.  I laughed out load, and said to the doll:  "Wow, you're a little creepy!"  She didn't answer back or anything, but with a face that made her look like the offspring of Ronald Reagan and Punky Brewster, she captivated me.  I quickly scooped her up, searched all over her for a maker or name, and found nothing.  Excited by my find, I scurried over to Katzya, stood behind her real quiet like and then shouted:  "Look what I found!"  Katzya spun around and exclaimed: "Oh God Mom!"  She quickly recoiled and nervously said:  "Please say you aren't buying that?  Haven't you seen the movies?!  That doll could be a portal to hell or something crazy like that!"  I looked at the doll's price tag.  $5.99?!  I just couldn't justify spending that much money on  a doll while I was on a budget.  So, I put her back on the shelf, snapped a quick picture of her to post on Facebook, and assumed that was the last time I would see her...

Flash forward to this past Tuesday, it was my birthday and April Fool's Day.  The Reluctant Farmer called me as soon as I got out of work, and asked me if I'd been on Facebook.  Confused, I told her no.

She excitedly exclaimed:  "Guess who asked to be my friend on Facebook?!  Little Emily!"

I said:  "Who?"

She said slower, and in a tone that suggested I should know exactly who she was talking about:  "Littttle Emmily?!"

I was starting to get annoyed now.  I racked my brain and still came up with the same conclusion.  I knew no one named Little Emily.  I abruptly asked:  "Are you speaking in code?  I don't get it.  Who is Little Emily, and what would make you think that I know this person?!"

She quickly said:  "Little Emily is that doll from the Goodwill!"

I shouted in the phone, "Are you serious?!"  and promptly hung the phone up while she was still talking.

I hit the Facebook button on my phone and there was a friend request from Little Emily, my doll from the Goodwill.  Her profile picture is taken outside, which suggests that someone freed her from her Goodwill bondage.  According to Little Emily's Facebook page we work at the same place, live in the same town, were born in the same city, and share the same birthday just two years apart.  I laughed at the joke, shared it with my Facebook friends, many of whom were very excited that she might approve their friend requests, and decided to tell her hello.  I didn't really expect her answer back, but she did.  Actually, she talks a lot for a doll, and she is quite active too.  Just yesterday, she posted pictures of herself at the park 2 streets away from house, swinging, climbing trees and sliding down the slide.  All the while Little Emily makes it quite clear her goal in life is to "find her Emily Browning."

I'm not sure which one of my friends is the genius behind this prank, but I have to say it has kept me laughing all week long and has sure made this birthday one to remember.  Heck, the more I think about it, maybe the only person behind this prank is a nine-inch tall, piece of porcelain that goes by the name Little Emily.  At this point I'm willing to entertain any and all possibilities...