The Psychology of Fear

The Doll

As the students entered the room Professor Henry told them to proceed without him. He had to go run a couple of errands and that it would not take him that long. So they proceeded. My name is Travis and I am afraid of dolls. I know you are thinking that a guy should not have a doll let alone be afraid of them, but after you hear my story you just might be afraid of them too. As Travis was beginning his story Professor Henry sat in his car thinking about the big surprise he would have in store for his students.

I was coming home from school one day when my parents said that I had received a gift from my aunt. My birthday was still a week away, but I figured she just wanted to make sure I received it on time. As I excitedly opened my gift what I saw beneath the wrapping paper was not what I expected. It was an antique doll with a bow tie on it's suit. It would not have been so bad but the face on the doll was menacing. I was not really happy about the gift, but considering it was from my aunt it would be rude not to keep it. I found a place on my bedroom shelf for it and went outside to play.

Later that evening after supper I went up to my room to do my homework. Upon entering the room I noticed something strange about the doll. I was pretty sure I had placed the doll facing the door and now it appeared to be facing straight toward my bed. Not crazy about waking up to the doll's face I turned it toward the door. As I went to lay down I made sure the doll was still facing right. To my relief, it was sitting just as I had left it. 

The next morning I woke up groggy. Trying to adjust my eyes I looked around the room and to my horror the doll was looking straight at me. I could not help but feel terrified, I knew for a fact that I had the doll facing the other way. It could not have moved on it's own. Running downstairs I asked my mom if it would be alright if I called my aunt to ask her where she got the doll.

After school that day I finally got the chance to call my aunt. I asked her about the present she had sent me and she said, "Travis, I did not send you a present. I was going to surprise you by bringing you a gift on your birthday personally." As I listened to my aunt's words I wondered where on earth the present had come from and what kind of a joke it was. I did not know what to say except that  I was sorry about ruining the surprise and that I looked forward to seeing her on my birthday.

As I hung up the phone, I knew now more than ever that I wanted to get rid of the doll no matter what. While my parents were still at work I took the doll out to the trash can and hid it under a big garbage bag. As I went into the house I already felt relieved to have the doll out of the house. Later that night I was startled out of sleep by a strange noise coming from under my bed . Regardless of being scared, I looked under the bed. What caught my eye made me fall off of the bed and now I was face to face with that hideous grinning doll. How had the doll gotten back in the room? What could I do to get rid of the doll? I had to think of something and fast. As  I desperately tried to destroy the doll over the course of the next few days, I realized that I couldn't. In fact, it was quite the opposite. That night as I went into my room I noticed a note laying on my desk in childlike writing. It said, " You cannot win. I will be with you now and forever." As I comprehended the words written by the doll, I did in fact know that I could not get rid of it.

 As Travis finished his story Professor Henry walked into the room and excused the students. As they left the room Professor Henry started to laugh.