My kids are really into the movie Frozen, just like so many little kids these days. One night I went shopping on Amazon on my phone to start making a wish list. I found Elsa and Anna dolls from Disney. There were single dolls and there were sets that included both sisters. The prices range from $25 for one doll to $50-$70 for two dolls or a tiny set of sculptured figurines for all five main characters (Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristof). My husband, understandably, was disgusted by the prices.
Then I remembered that someone said there were Frozen dolls at Costco for $15. I had seen them when I went week or two ago but didn't buy any since the kids were with me. Plus that was before Halloween so I definitely wasn't thinking about buying Christmas presents. There was a good chance that the dolls sold out.
Nevertheless, I thought Lil Sis and I could go check. We went to the toy aisle and I didn't see the princesses where I had seen them weeks earlier. Looking down the aisle I saw there was a display of Disney princesses. They were the "toddler" versions of the princesses with bodily proportions more accurate for very young children. Totally appropriate for Lil Sis.
There was just one Elsa doll left. No Anna dolls, but plenty of Belles, Cinderellas, and Rapunzels. I hesitated. Does Lil Sis really want this doll? Would she like something else better? Then an old couple pulled up behind me with a shopping cart. I overheard them say, "Here's some Frozen stuff! I know Frozen is on their list…"
That decided it. I snapped up the last Elsa doll and hid it in my coat. Luckily Lil Sis was looking at another toy at the time. I called to her and we went down the next aisle. I was grateful for her two-year-old lack of observation and suspicion. She didn't care that I now had a box shaped jacket.
We looked at other toys and I made the mistake of suggesting we go back to look at the dolls one last time. As she browsed I took a picture of the Elsa doll to send my husband to get his opinion on whether I should buy the big Elsa doll or the little figurines of both Anna and Elsa.
Lil Sis had been looking at toys again but turned around and caught me in the act. "Big Elsa is in your coat!" she giggled happily.
Now that I was caught, I thought I could at least get verification of whether this doll was the right choice. "Is big Elsa your favorite?" I asked. "Yes." She answered. I showed her all the other choices again but she still insisted on the big Elsa doll.
"Good." I replied feeling a little panicked. Now what?
"We can ask Santa to bring you big Elsa!" I suggested enthusiastically. "But for now I have to put her back."
Lil Sis was visibly upset. I secretly re-stuffed Elsa in my jacket and hoped that she wouldn't notice (again) even though she now knew something was up.
I led her by the hand up to the registers. I put Elsa, still under my coat, on the cashiers conveyor belt. "Hey, Elsa's under your coat!" Lil Sis said.
"No, I had to put her back." I answered.
Lil Sis responded with cries of I want big Elsa! I handed her my smartphone to soften her disappointment.
Thankfully, the cashier has evidently seen this scenario before. she saw the item under my jacket and immediately said, oh this must be a secret purchase. She only lifted a tiny flap of my coat so she could scan the doll, and wished me good luck. The guy manning the exit door was also experienced with secret purchases and was very understanding when I showed him my receipt and my jacket wrapped around a box.
Lil Sis fussed all the way to the car "I want big Elsa!" On the one hand felt terrible for making her sad. On the other hand I felt secure that I had made the right doll purchase and relieved that I had pulled off the great Elsa ploy.
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