a thoughtful web.
Good ideas and conversation. No ads, no tracking.   Login or Take a Tour!
comment by mk
mk  ·  4636 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Point of the Tamagotchi was to Watch Things Die
When Furbies first came out, I had a plan to keep one in the closet, continuously listening to religious talk radio. I had this dream that I could make Preacher Furby, and then expose other Furbies to him. If everything went as planned, Preacher Furby could convert atheist Furbies into Preacher Furbies.

I was disappointed to find that they weren't nearly as impressionable and interactive as suggested.





lessismore  ·  4636 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Wow!! Furbies!! Another blast from the past. Luckily this time around, I have no sad memories to relive from it. I made quite a few friends during that Christmas. I was managing a retail store at the time and the desperation from some of the parents/grandparents/uncles/aunts were almost palpable. I had folks offering me upwards of $500 if I could somehow manage to get them one. A lot of these customers were very much regulars and had brought their little angels into our store previously. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell them that I could I can get them one because of the extreme demand and shortage at the time. I only promised that I would put aside one for them if I we were to receive any. I must have had like 50 people on the list the week leading up to Christmas. We received a shipment of 52 of them 4 days before Christmas and made everyone on the list very happy.

So we had two extra and I put one aside for myself and someone on the staff bought the other one for his niece. Fast forward to 5:15PM Christmas eve, the store had already closed and I was just about to have my assistant manager ring up my Furby. We heard a knock at the door and it was Mr. McCloud, quite possibly our favorite customer. Needless to say, he was looking for a Furby. I ended up selling him that Furby and ended up giving my nephews a Nintendo 64 instead.

The following week, a lot of these customers brought in the recipients of these Furbies to personally thank us. Needless to say, the staff and I were very moved by the whole experience. It was a great start to what would be a banner year of business for us.

caio  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  
    "Well, Sam, time to wrap up. You can close the store. Did you get your furby?"

    "Sure did, boss. 'Twas a good night, wasn't it?"

    "It sure was, Sam. Well, see ya."

    "See ya."

    And as all the lights inside were dimming and the snow outside the store was pilling up, a diminute figure, a prune of a person, came knocking on the window.

    "Why, it's old McCloud!", said Sam as he opened the door, "I'm sorry, sir, but we're closing. What are you doing here on christmas eve, anyway?"

    "Closing? Oh, shut. Well, that's what you get for leaving everything to the last minute. I was a looking for a very particular trinket, but it was sold out in every single shop."

    "What were you looking for?"

    "Oh, you probably don't have it either. It's one of those litte furry pets with the big ears..."

    "A furby?"

    "That's the one. I don't suppose you have it, do you?"

    "Well..."

    Nobody would judge poor old Sam for not giving Mr. McCloud the little pet toy he was saving for his nephews. Nobody. But that's the thing with the holiday spirit: you just wanna make people fell good.

    "Well, Mr. McCloud, you came in just in time. We have but one of those left. I'll get it for you."

    "You do? That's marvelous!"

    And so, trying to figure out the little gremlin -- "He's just like that one in the movie, isn't he?" --, Mr. McCloud headed off the store, but not before asking Sam:

    "How was it tonight, Sam? Did you have a good night?"

    "We sure did, sir. We sure did. Merry Christmas."

    "Merry Christmas, Sam."

    THE END

caio  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
thenewgreen  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
caio, you win the award for the most Christmas spirit of anybody I know... except my wife. My wife is like a 5 year old when someone mentions Christmas.

Did you write that? Very nice.

caio  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Yes, I did. Thank you.

I like to think of it more as a "hubski spirit". ;)

thenewgreen  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Alright, my wife may tie you in Christmas spirit, but you take the cake in regards to Hubski spirit!
thenewgreen  ·  4636 days ago  ·  link  ·  
You have the mind of a diabolical genius. I envision you twisting your mustache and laughing a great, "muahahahaha" as your army of religious Ferbies do your bidding.