Robert the Doll

With Halloween only a few days away, I am inclined to write about something creepy. This really strange story begins in Key West, Florida in 1900. Robert “Gene” Ottowas born in October of that year to wealthy parents. Since couple were well-to-do, they employed a number of Caribbean servants who they mistreated. When Robert was 4 he was given a doll by his Bahamian nanny who was later fired for practicing Black Magic in the back yard. Can’t say I blame them. Well, the doll was 3 feet all and was supposed to be the child’s double. In my opinion, the doll looks more like a mini Chris Brown but I digress. It was made of straw and supposedly the hair on it’s head was Robert’s own. The doll has a head full of hair so she must have scalped the child, but I digress again. The child was immediately taken with the doll. Running around town in matching sailor suits, the 2 were inseparable. He declared that the doll’s name was Robert and to call him Eugene from now on. The doll even had it’s own place at the table.

Finally it came to pass that there was something very strange about the doll. I would never have guessed. The boy could be seen talking to it and a reply could be heard in what sounded like Robert using a different voice. Anytime something would go awry the boy would give the same response “Robert did it.” On many occasions, the parents would find the boy clutching the his blankets in terror with the furniture overturned and the doll standing at the foot of his bed. The Otto’s claimed to have heard the doll laugh on occasion and also seen it run about the house. Finally, the doll was put in the attic. Personally, I would have burned it, but that’s just me. The doll was locked away in the attic for years whereI’m guessing life went on as before.

Eventually, Mr. Otto died leaving the house to his son Gene. He and his wife Anne moved into the spacious house where there would be plenty of room for his art studio. One day while digging through the attic, he discovered the long forgotten Robert. The hold was as strong as ever and Gene gave him Robert his own room in the turret. I’m sort of jealous of Robert. I always wanted a turret room myself.  Anyways, the wife hated the evil doll looking so when her husband was gone she put him back in the attic. When he came home he was in a panic that the doll was not in his usual place and retrieved him from the attic. Apparently the doll told Gene he was displeased with his wife and the accomodations. Gene made it clear to his wife that Robert didn’t like that attic and needed his own room so he could see out of the window and he was put back in the turret room. School children were too scared to walk by the house because they said Robert the doll would give them the evil eye and mock them as they walked by. Eventually Gene himself got tired of the dolls misdoings and put him back in the attic.

Finally Gene died in the early 70′s leaving Anne alone in the house with the doll. Awkward. She immediately sold the house and left Robert in a trunk in the attic where the new owners found him. Robert’s new owner was a 10 year old girl. The girl placed the doll amongst the rest of her dolls. She swears to this day the doll ran around the room, terrorizing her and tried to kill her while she slept. Needless to say, the family got rid of the doll and it is now housed here. The doll’s hair is now graying like an old man and psychics say his soul is dying. It’s eerie no matter which way you slice it.

Today he sits in a glass case still wearing his sailor suit and clutching his stuffed lion, a doll for a doll. If you happen to visit him and want to take a picture, please be sure to ask him first. He will respond with a tilt of his little head. If you just snap the pic without his premission he will curse you and anybody that happens to be with you, at least that’s what I hear