The Chronicles Of A Princess: The Childhood Years

Bibi

Chapter Eight

July, 1984

Mattel Corp

El Segundo, California

Michael's POV

Today is the big day! We've been back and forth for a few months on how Bianca's doll will look for the initial release, and Mattel has promised that they have a prototype for her to take home.

She's very excited as we walk through the doors to her future, that's for sure. We check in at the front desk and are escorted right to the meeting moments later. The secretary knocks twice before opening the door for us. As soon as we're in, we see Jennifer Lutz, the woman who came to me with the proposal in the first place.

"Hello, hello. Please come in," she greets as we walk into the conference room. "It's good to see you two."

We take a seat and listen to pretty much the same spiel we got the last time before Jennifer brings out a little box. The cardboard is a mixture of funky colors, and the name Bibi is written in a fancy font.

"Bibi?" I ask.

"Yes. This is what the overseas consumers will get when they go into the stores. Don't worry, it will be Bianca here."

Bianca shakes her head. "No, keep it Bibi. I like that nickname."

"Are you sure, baby? That's what people will call you from now on," I tell her seriously.

She nods. "Uh-huh, I like it."

"Very well, that's decided. Now, do you want to see the actual doll?" Jennifer asks, looking pleased with herself.

Nodding again, she says, "Yes!"

Pulling the little doll out, she gasps in surprise. They dressed the doll in the same outfit she wore at Motown 25: a blue princess dress with a soft tutu-like material under the fabric of the skirt, a royal blue bedazzled short sleeve jacket, and black ballet flats. She was very adorable in this outfit, so it's a good choice. The hair is exactly to Bianca's— I mean, Bibi's—specifications. The eyes as well. For a doll, she sure looks like my baby.

"Oh, she's so pretty!" Bianca exclaims as she touches the hair.

Chuckling, I tell her, "She sure is because she looks like you."

"We've set the release date for October, just in time for the holidays," Jennifer says, pleased that Bianca is pleased.

Bianca looks up at me and asks, "What's the holidays, Daddy?"

Oh no. "Well, baby... remember the talk we had about other people's cultures?"

"Yes," she says, waiting for me to explain.

"Some people celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Christmas around your birthday."

"What do we celebrate, Daddy?" she asks so innocently.

How do I tell her that we not only don't celebrate anything but also condemn it? "We don't, baby. I'll explain it better later."

Jennifer, seeing me so uncomfortable, quickly changes the subject. "Let's talk about accessories, huh?"

Whew, just in the nick of time! We spend another hour on that before we're on our way back home. Bianca babbles on and on about how much she hopes people will love her doll. The thing is, I'm sure they will...

I just worry that maybe it's not a good thing. I mean, Bibi? Why on earth would she want to be known by anything but Bianca? Is this right? I've been struggling with this since I received the offer, and I still don't know. But when I see how happy she is... how can I say no?