The Dramatic Tale Of One Woman’s Airplane Journey With A Doll
When writer Sara Nović found herself sitting on a flight next to a grown man’s doll, she probably expected to hear Rod Serling’s voice say, “Barbara, a doll that does everything even fly in middle seats on planes, a lifelike creation of plastic...” Because Sara definitely thought she was in another dimension.
Sara took a red eye early this morning and her insides filled with happiness when the middle seat next to her was empty, but a quick second later, her insides filled with an uneasiness when she realized the seat was taken up by the baby doll belonging to the man sitting by the window. The doll’s name is Barbara, and Barbara is no stowaway. Not only did she dress up for the flight (which is more than I can say for most of the slobs who fly today), but her dad also bought her a ticket with her name on it and everything. Sara live-tweeted her trip with Barbara.
Barbara (which is a great name for a doll, by the way) didn’t only make passengers wonder if they took an Ambien and drank a bottle of wine before the flight and forgot. Barbara also caused a mini drama. Pro tip: If you’re ever going to fly with your doll child and want to buy a seat for them, don’t put their name on the ticket.
Okay he bought it a ticket.
— Sara Nović (@NovicSara) September 23, 2016
Apparently the TSA was frantically trying to match the name and birthrate he provided UNTIL THEY REALIZED…
— Sara Nović (@NovicSara) September 23, 2016
Barbara’s dad may also be somehow related to the Minions, because he loves bananas.
Some updates. The man is also traveling with an entire bunch of bananas as a snack.
— Sara Nović (@NovicSara) September 23, 2016
Sara had a layover and when she got on her next flight, she found herself in the presence of the legendary Barbara again!
I'm on her right side this time. In case you need a better view. pic.twitter.com/pXnO0KSIux
— Sara Nović (@NovicSara) September 23, 2016
And Sara ended with this:
In closing, whatever the function of this doll, not judging. That she had an evil face and her own ticket I stand by as strange.
— Sara Nović (@NovicSara) September 23, 2016
Jezebel thinks that Barbara might be something called a Luk Thep, which is a supernatural doll that some believe has the spirit of a child in it. (No, I didn’t need to sleep tonight either.) They have become so popular in Thailand that one Thai airline let’s people buy a seat for their Luk Thep.
You know, if I was on Sara’s flight, I would’ve gladly switched seats with her. I probably would’ve begged her. Sitting next to someone’s doll daughter sounds like a dream to me. I wouldn’t have to get into an elbow war over the armrest. And I would have extra legroom since Barbara’s legs don’t even hang over the seat. To me, the only weird thing about Barbara is that she likes the middle seat!
And let’s be real, if I sat next to Doll Dad and Barbara, he’d probably ask a flight attendant to move them after he got creeped out from me getting morning drunk and talking his daughter’s doll ear off about last night’s RuPaul’s Drag Race and the Brangelina mess.
Pic: @NovicSara