Trouble for a red haired lady?
By Kandase
@Kandae11 (53677)
May 31, 2018 1:22pm CST
One day during the summer I was giving my sister a helping hand in her tourist gift shop and boutique - my Caribbean dolls were on display there. A tourist who looked kind of unhappy walked in followed by a local guy. The tourist went straight to the dolls and after looking at them carefully, he selected one of the Caucasian looking ones.
I should explain that my dolls are different shades - from dark to light, representative of the many nationalities that make up the Caribbean people.
So after selecting the doll, he asked me if I could change the hair color to red. I told him sure, but it would cost him a bit more. He agreed and I told him the doll would be ready in an hour. He gave me a deposit and as he was leaving asked me to add a dozen or so hat pins to the package.
I couldn't help wondering aloud "hat pins - where would I find those? ". Then the local guy who had entered the store with him and was still looking around, said he probably wanted them to stick in the doll. He said he had met the tourist outside on the street and was asked where voodoo dolls could be found and he suggested our shop!
Needless to say, I was upset with the guy and told him that my dolls were not voodoo dolls and he should have pointed the tourist to the craft market which was about two blocks away. That is what I did when the tourist returned, and I gave him back his deposit. I told him that he might find voodoo dolls in the craft market - but not in this shop.
What would you have done in my situation? - take the U.S. $60 which was the overall cost - or return his deposit? Even though I don't believe that sticking a pin in a doll which looks like someone would bring harm to that someone - I prefer not to be a part of such doings. I couldn't help thinking about the red haired lady and wondering if she knew there was a hater out there who wished her the worst.
39 people like this
37 responses
@RasmaSandra (73603)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 May 18
Strangest thing I ever heard. You were right to send him away. I don't say I believe in voodoo but hey, you never know and I would not want to be part of it also. Besides you make collectible dolls as you said so it was just right to point that out. What a strange man to call your dolls what they are not. Some people!
7 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
31 May 18
If it hadn't worked: the man would have asked for a refund.
If it had worked: you would have felt guilty about it.
Well, you did the best you could have done.
5 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
31 May 18
No way, she never would have sold them as Voodoo dolls dear @sabtraversa ! That is the point why she really deserves the appreciation!
2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
31 May 18
@AKRao24 Exactly, she did what I believe was best.
Also because that customer might have brought more voodoo seekers to the shop.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79909)
• United States
31 May 18
I would have done exactly what you did
6 people like this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
31 May 18
That is interesting but creepy at the same time. Why would anyone want to buy a voodoo doll?
4 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
31 May 18
I am really shocked...this is not about the money...it is about the attitude...how people can be so harsh? I sincerely pray the Almighty to show them the proper way in his life! I sincerely appreciste your gesture which means your thoughts and soul! Possibly I would have done the same thing what you did! Thanks!
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
31 May 18
I have a feeling that a former girlfriend or wife had red hair.
I would have done as you did. I would not want anything I made involved in voodoo. I have confidence that God would provide when I followed his ways.
2 people like this
@CookieMonster46 (13447)
• United States
31 May 18
I might have sold it because what they do with it is out of our hands. I have not seen a voodoo doll, but maybe he was a bit off.
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
31 May 18
I would have taken the money as I really don't care what a customer does with a purchase. After I get the money it belongs to them. I don't believe in voodoo but I remember out of frustration with one of my co-workers who was mean to me, I resorted to sticking pins and tacks into a teddy bear I had and displayed it on my computer just to make her uneasy. She left me alone after that.
3 people like this
@Kandae11 (53677)
•
2 Jun 18
@YrNemo There are cases like that - past and present. Sometimes you don't know the true mind of the person you are sleeping next to. There was a case some years ago where a very educated man - I think a university lecturer, is alleged to have hired an assassin to kill his wife. When the killer confessed, he said the husband told him what time the wife would be at home alone - and he gave him a key to the house.
1 person likes this
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
31 May 18
I have made jokes about someone having a voodoo doll of me in the past, when I had a series of clumsy accidents.
I don't believe it to be true but if it is or isn't, I wouldn't want to have any part of that just in case. It kinda just seems creepy!
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
3 Jun 18
I understand why you didn't want to pass on your doll as a voodoo doll ..
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (53677)
•
2 Jun 18
Thank you. I feel some credit should go to @Maluse for this post. I happened to mention on a discussion of hers that there are times when I don't know what to write. And she suggested writing about odd moments experienced with colleagues, neighbors, family etc. - well I decided to write about this tourist who visited our shop with evil intentions on his mind.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (53677)
•
3 Jun 18
Sorry - money won't make me go against my principles. If I didn't know - fine. But I would never knowingly sell something I made to someone to be used for evil purposes - even if it doesn't work - that's just me. I guess I will never become a millionaire and that's fine with me too.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
5 Jun 18
@Kandae11 You have your right to do as you feel comfortable with. We can preach to you what we would have done, the truth is however, we were not in that position and as such, do not really have a right to enforce our beliefs down on you - all the best through, from what it seems, you have something good going for you there.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
5 Jun 18
@Kandae11 I'm so glad man - It's an individual crossroads which we all have when our livelihood depend on it. I'm just thrilled however everything worked out for you in this regard
1 person likes this