title: Kid Stuff: Great Toys from Our Childhood
author:  David Hoffman 
description: <!-- 1162Xr.html to 081181162X-1162Xr.html : Thu Feb 15 18:11:58 PST 2001 -->
zlib_text: Kid Stuff
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright Š 1953 by Galaxy Publishing Corporation.
  
  
  
  
  
  The first pang of nausea had passed and Jan Prentiss said, “Damn it, you’re an
  insect.”
  
  
  It was a statement of fact, not an insult, and the thing that sat on Prentiss’
  desk said, “Of course.”
  
  
  It was about a foot long, very thin, and in shape a farfetched and miniature
  caricature of a human being. Its stalky arms and legs originated in pairs from
  the upper portion of its body. The legs were longer and thicker than the arms.
  They extended the length of the body, then bent forward at the knee.
  
  
  The creature sat upon those knees and, when it did so, the stub of its fuzzy
  abdomen just cleared Prentiss’ desk.
  
  
  There was plenty of time for Prentiss to absorb these details. The object had
  no objection to being stared at. It seemed to welcome it, in fact, as though
  it were used to exciting admiration.
  
  
  “What are you?” Prentiss did not feel completely rational. Five minutes ago,
  he had been seated at his typewriter, wor