In 1999 Cindy and her equally bright daughter Shelly set their minds on inventing: a doll. The idea came for one that could talk to someone, obviously a child, and the idea of a walkie-talkie came to mind. At this time they were living in Fresno, having moved from Long Beach. For two years they tried to have a prototype made, but they had no engineering experience. They commissioned an engineering report and learned that their idea was practical. They set up a web site with sound effects, graphics and a story board explaining how the doll works. More importantly, they received a patent for the technology that sets the doll, Hide-N-Seek Hayley, apart from the rest of the doll world.

The soft, 15-inch doll comes with a hand-held radio device that offers clues to her whereabouts. Depending on how far away the child is, the walkie-talkie will tell one whether she is getting warmer or colder in their search.

An agent from a toy company came out to their house and became excited about the prospects of selling the doll. But it was more than a year before Hayley would appear on store shelves. Toys-R-Us had the first option and sold out of them by Christmas of 2005. This year other companies can buy the doll.

Cindy and her daughter Shelly are besieged by requests for a boy doll, but their representative said that a boy doll would not go over. He suggested something like Spider Man or Batman. The plan is to make some ethnic dolls and the possibilities seem endless-which makes the two ladies very happy. The success came at a good time, as Cindy's husband George had just undergone simultaneous replacement of his liver and kidney.

I was in Fresno for an October 2005 surprise birthday party for Cindy and Becky. When they walked in they were greeted vociferously by about twenty or more people: children, cousins, great grand-children, grand-children, two husbands, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brother and a sister, and yours truly. As per custom when I come out there, we played croquet all day. I observed that the two girls are still vicious as ever in play and give the men a good run for their money. I thought to myself: all these people brought together by just two little girls!

The End