Tales from Falsidehill

Strawberry Shortcake

I’ve had this little scented Strawberry Shortcake doll since I was five. A girl from my school gave it to me as a birthday present, and it still smells strongly twenty-one years later. When I smell it, I go back to being five. I remember my fifth birthday so well. I had a party at the trampoline centre in Portobello. Nearly all of my friends had parties there; it was our favourite party venue when we were in primary school. The party was in three parts; the first part was a room full of trampolines with a jukebox of great cheesy music, the second part was a kind of activity room with a ball pit and different things to climb on, and the third part was all the party food at a big long table. My mum made me a birthday cake and my dad decorated it with pink and white icing and silver butterflies. I blew my candles out with my cheeks all puffed out.

I’m surprised this little doll managed to survive all these years without being thrown away like most other things. I’m so glad I kept it though. Apparently they are collectibles now but I don’t think I could ever sell mine!