"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Ken nervously. "You might regret it later." "Of course I'm sure," snapped Barbie. "I haven't regretted cutting my hair, have I?" Ken let his eyes rest on the stubble that was all that was left of her luxuriant blonde mane. "But your hair will grow out again." He gestured at the piercing studio. "This seems so permanent." "Ken, my hair doesn't grow when I cut it. I'm a doll, remember? But I'm sick of being an impossible ideal of feminine beauty. I'm sick of making little girls feel inadequate because their figures and their lifestyles don't measure up to mine. It's time I took control of my own body and my own destiny. I'm going to have my nipples pierced. Now, are you coming to hold my hand or do you want to wait out here?" Ken flinched. "I'll stay out here. I've had a thing about needles ever since I was injection molded." "Fuck you!" said Barbie. "And I was going to get your name tattooed on my ass, too." She turned on the heel of her new Doc Marten's and stalked through the doorway. Inside, she signed the release form and was led into a private room at the back of the store. There was a chair just like the one in her "Barbie - Dental Hygenist" set. For a moment she imagined herself tied naked in the chair while a masked figure menaced her with an array of needles. With a shiver of anticipation she brought herself back to the present. "If you could take off your shirt and sit down, please," said the short and bubbly woman who was going to pierce her. Barbie removed her flannel shirt, sat back and closed her eyes. "First I'm going to sterilize the skin with - Oh my God!" Barbie opened her eyes at the exclamation. The piercer was staring with disbelief at her breasts. The doll looked down and saw two immense plastic protruberances, totally devoid of nipples. "Is this some kind of a joke?" asked the piercer. "You don't have any nipples to pierce." "Fuck them!" wailed Barbie. "Fuck those stupid motherfucking shits who designed me. I'd like to rip their balls off with a blunt breadknife. OK, never mind, I'm in control." She took a deep breath and reached for the belt of her Levis. "I'd like you to pierce my cunt lips instead." Poor Barbie. Andrew conway@juggling.org