Subject: Barbie fights back

Barbie
c/o Mattel, Inc.
El Segundo, CA 90245
December 23, 1996

Dear Santa:

Listen you fat little troll, I've been helping you out every year, playing at being the perfect Christmas present, wearing skimpy bathing suits in frigid weather, and drowning in fake tea from one too many tea parties. I hate to break it to ya Santa, but it's definitely payback time! There had better be some changes around here this Christmas, or I'm gonna call for a nationwide meltdown (and trust me, you won't want to be around to smell it).

So, here's my holiday wish list for 1997, Santa:

  1. A nice, comfy pair of sweat pants and a frumpy, oversized sweatshirt. I'm sick of looking like a hooker. How much smaller are these bathing suits gonna get? Do you have any idea what it feels like to have nylon and velcro crawling up your butt?

  2. Real underwear that can be pulled on and off. Preferably white. What bonehead at Mattel decided to cheap out and MOLD imitation underwear to my skin?!?

  3. A REAL man...maybe GI Joe. Hell, I'd take Tickle-Me Elmo over that wimped-out excuse for a boyfriend Ken.

  4. Arms that actually bend so I can push the aforementioned Ken-wimp away when I so choose.

  5. Breast reduction surgery. I don't care whose arm you have to twist, just get it done.

  6. A jogbra. To wear until I get the surgery.

  7. A new career. Pet doctor and school teacher just don't cut it. How about a systems analyst? Or better yet, an advertising account exec!

  8. A new, more 90s persona. Maybe "PMS Barbie", complete with a miniature container of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and a bag of chips; "Animal Rights Barbie", with my very own pain gun, outfitted with a fake fur coat and handcuffs; or "Stop Smoking Barbie", sporting a removable Nicotrol patch and equipped with several packs of gum.

  9. No more McDonald's endorsements. The grease is wrecking my vinyl.

  10. Mattel stock options. It's been 37 years-I think I deserve it.

Ok, Santa, that's it. Considering my valuable contribution to society, I don't think these requests are out of line. If you disagree, then you can find yourself a new bimbo doll for next Christmas. It's that simple.

Yours truly,
Barbie