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DAVID TRINIDAD Playing with Dolls Every weekend morning, I’d sneak downstairs to play with my sisters’ Barbie dolls. They had all of them: Barbie, Ken, Allan, Midge, Skipper and Skooter. They even had the little freckled boy, Ricky (“Skipper’s Friend”), and Francie, “Barbie’s ‘MOD’ern cousin.” Quietly, I’d set the dolls in front of their wardrobe cases, take the dolls’ clothes off miniature plastic hangers, and play until my father woke up. There were several Barbies— blonde ponytail, black bubble, brunette flip—all with the same pointed tits, which (odd for a boy) didn’t interest me as much as the dresses and accessories. I’d finger each glove and hat and necklace and high heel, then put them on the dolls. Then I’d invent elaborate stories. A “creative” boy, I could entertain myself for hours. I liked to play secretly like that, though I often got caught. All my father’s tirades (“Boys don’t play with Barbies! It isn’t normal!”) faded as I slipped Barbie’s perfect figure into her stunning ice blue and sea green satin and tulle formal gown. All her outfits had names like “Fab Fashion,” “Doll’s Dream” and “Golden Evening”; Ken’s were called “Play Ball!,” “Tennis Pro,” “Campus Hero” and “Fountain Boy,” which came with two tiny sodas and spoons. Model boy that he was, Ken hunted, fished, hit home runs. Barbie’s world revolved around garden parties, dances, play and movie dates. A girl with bracelets and scarves and sunglasses and fur stoles . . . “Boys don’t play with dolls!” My parents were arguing in the living room. “All boys do.” As always, my mother defended me. “All sissies!” snarled my father. “He’s a creative boy,” my mother responded. I stuffed all the dresses and dolls and shoes back into the black cases that said “Barbie’s Wonderful World” in swirling pink letters and clasped them shut. My sisters, awake now, wanted to play with me. “I can’t play,” I said. “Dad’s upset.” All day, he stayed upset. Finally, my mother came upstairs and said: “You’re a boy, David. Forget about Barbies. Stop playing with dolls.” LOVE AND SEX ...

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