Please, please.

Excuse me, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Why aren't safe?

Robert the Doll.

In the late 1800s, Thomas Otto and his family moved into a mansion at the corner of Eaton and Simonton streets in Key West Florida, now known as the Artist House.

The Ottos were known to be stirring with their servants, sometimes even mistreating them.

It was the treatment of one such Haitian servant that provides the twist in this story.

The woman was hired to take care of their son, Robert. One day Mrs. Otto supposedly witnessed her practicing black magic in their backyard and fired her.

Before she left, the woman gave Robert a lifelike doll which stood three feet tall, had buttoned eyes,

human hair, believed to be Roberts, and was filled with straw. Dahl that resembled

children were not unheard of during this time. But this one proved to be special. Robert named

the doll after himself, and often dressed it in his clothes. Robert the doll became his trustworthy

companion.

He took it with him on shopping trips into town, and the doll had a seat at the dinner

table, where Robert would sneak at bites of food when his parents weren't looking.

Robert would even be tucked into bed with the boy at night.

Soon after, Robert chose to be referred to by his middle name, Gene, after being

scolded by his mother. He told her that Robert was the doll's name, not his. Gene was often

heard in his toy room having conversations with Robert. Gene would say something in his childish

manner, and responses could be heard in a much lower voice. Sometimes Jean would say something in his childish manner, and responses could be heard in a much

lower voice.

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