Review of "Mannequin," a short story by Susan Helene Gottfried
Summary: Lynne's dad often takes her shopping with him at a high-end men's boutique. Lynne likes to sit at the feet of the mannequin in the window and dream of what he'd be like if he were real. One day, a stranger walks in. For Lynne, nothing will be the same ever again. Review: I was kind of taken off guard by this story. It's really an interesting piece. While the summary is accurate, I don't think it really captures the charm or mood of the story at all. Mannequin is told from the point of view of a young girl. While her age is never mentioned, it seems that she is on the cusp of womanhood. Obviously unhappy with her workaholic father, she imagines what it would be like if the mannequin came to life and was her real dad. Though her daydream is about a fantasy father figure, it would also seem that she is unconsciously figuring out what she would look for in a future mate. The juxtaposition of her clothing obsessed father wi...