Let Me Tell You About the Time I Thought My House Was Haunted But It Was Just a Renegade Fisher-Price Toy

Internet, let me regale you with the story of the haunted puppy: I seriously thought I needed to call the Ghostbusters, y'all. I was terrified until I realized the source of my distress was a short circuit in one of my daughter's toys..

I purchased a  Fisher-Price 'Laugh and Learn' Puppy for my daughter, Dolores, a few months ago. It's a fun little interactive toy that teaches children lessons through jaunty tunes and giggles. It's adorable. It sings this song about friendship that seriously made me cry the first time I heard it (the lyrics begin with "It's fun to hear you laugh and sing, learning as you play;" I LOST IT before the puppy could even get to the chorus), but that's neither here nor there.

The 'giggle puppy,' as I refer to him, is a valued member of the family because he keeps Dodo occupied while I do chores, etc. This service alone renders him worth his weight in gold and precious gems. Dodo loves her giggle puppy. She squeals with delight every time he sings. It is painfully adorable--see the photo evidence.

Anyway, something went haywire in ol' Giggles McPuppy Monday night that scared the ever-loving beejeesus out of me.

It was the middle of the night, and I had gotten up to use the restroom. Everyone in the house was asleep. As I sat on the porcelain throne, I heard laughter OUT OF NOWHERE. Laughter isn't something you want to hear any time your pants are around your ankles, let alone in a dark house at like 2am.

I heard the giggle again. And again. I was TERRIFIED. I heard a giggle followed by an emphatic "YAY!" and I knew it was the giggle puppy... but he was in the playpen, and Dolly was fast asleep in her crib. WHAT IN THE HOLY WATER WAS GOING ON?

I cautiously made my way into the nursery. I may or may not have seriously entertained the thought that some ghost/demon/poltergeist had possessed my child's toy. Where are Jason and Grant when you need them? Honestly. I was creeped out beyond belief.

I retrieved the giggle puppy who was still stuck in 'Super Creeper Midnight Giggle' mode and brought it back to our room. I was able to turn the toy off using its hidden control panel.  I went back to sleep, relieved that source of our distress was a short circuit in the toy.

But here's the thing-- I turned the toy back on yesterday after Dolores pitched a DEFCON ZERO fit when she wasn't allowed to play with her buddy. I turned the giggle puppy back on, fully expecting it to continue its previous malfunction... but it didn't. And it hasn't since.

I'm thinking that it was a fluke thing... or at least that's what I'm telling myself. If it happens again, look for our family on a new episode of Ghost Hunters or whatever because I am a superstitious 'fraidy cat. The only thing I've learned from the 'Laugh & Learn Puppy' is to watch my back and anticipate night terrors. Check the random Youtube video I found below to see giggle pups in action.

Final Score-- Giggle Puppy: 1, Meg: 0