Angeline lived in a house without toys. Her mother Vivian banned them because she believed them to be a waster of children's time. They kept youngsters from doing something useful, from learning responsibility, and from improving their mind, she sternly claimed. But 6-year-old Angeline knew about toys from her friends, and did all she could to change her mother's opinion ­ or make a single exception to the rule.

As Christmas approached, Angeline brought a magazine ad to show Vivian the gift she'd most like. It was the Just My Size Barbie doll, complete with princess gown that Angeline could wear. The girl euphorically described the fantasy play possibilities inherent in this toy. "Not in this house," was Vivian's reply.

Vivian's sister Marcy sympathized with Angeline. "I don't understand how she arrived at her current opinion, since she used to love playing with toys when she was younger," Marcy told her niece.

In violation of her sister's edict, Aunt Marcy scoured the family attic and brought to Angeline a dollhouse with furniture and little wooden people. She also brought a box containing two Beanie Babies, a deck of Old Maid cards, 10 coloring books, a carton of 64 crayons, and one special treasure. "This was your mother's Barbie doll when she was your age," Aunt Marcy said.

"Thank you so much!" and overjoyed Angeline told her Aunt as she pulled out one coloring book depicting Barbie and her family, and began to color one page. But the pleasure was short lived. After Marcy left, Vivian discovered the toys and ordered the girl to put them back in the box before coming to the kitchen to help prepare dinner. Later, the toys and stuff would be disposed, Vivian promised.

Staring at the Barbie doll, which she held on her lap, Angeline said, "Gee, I wish I could play with you, but Mom doesn't approve. I wish she was more like when she owned you." At that point, the doll appeared to strike a smile and a glow formed around its face. Angeline then heard a scream from the kitchen.

Dashing to the kitchen, Angeline saw a little girl standing near the range wearing her mother's plaid shirt, which hung to her knees, and the sleeves flopped several inches over her hands. A strap and cup from a woman's bra dangled just below the shirt, and the rest of her Mom's clothes were scattered on the floor around her. "What happened?" the girl asked. "Something wonderful," Angeline said, as she realized the girl was her mother regressed back to childhood and that she was now no taller than her daughter was. "But my clothes don't fit!" the younger Vivian whined. "Maybe you can wear something of mine," Angeline said as she walked her mother to her bedroom.

After discovering a pair of panties that were a perfect fit, Vivian eagerly pawed through Angeline's closet, giddily selecting a new wardrobe consisting of a pullover turtleneck shirt, denim pants, white socks and black shoes with ankle straps. All the while, she looked around the bedroom, her face aglow as she took full measure of how different things looked at her reduced size, and assessed all the new fun possibilities.

Spotting the box of toys, Vivian's face glowed all the more. "My Barbie doll!" Vivian giggled as she picked it up and hugged it. She then pulled out the same coloring book, dropped to the floor, sat the doll next to her, and began to apply crayon to a page. "I think Barbie'll look good in a light blue dress," Vivian giggled. "You help me?" she added.

Angeline was more than happy to help. Maybe she wouldn't get a Just My Size Barbie that Christmas. But she did get something better and even more fun ­ a Just My Size Mom!

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