Yeah, Pat, one would think you'd know better than to purchase ANYTHING that makes a repetitive sound.

Many years ago some well-intentioned relative gave my youngest daughter a "Rap Rope". This little marvel had a battery storage chamber in the jump rope handles which powered a chip that delivered an all-too-audible rap beat along with a few squeeks and squawks. After enduring this torturous item for a few days, I gratefully discovered that it quickly decended to the lower portions of the toy hierarchy. The "Rap Rope" disappeared a short time after that.

Not long after that a late gift was given to the same daughter by some people we were visiting who lived about a two-hour drive away. It was, I thought, just a plastic horse. Oh, but it was much, much more! As we pulled out of the driveway to head homeward, my daughter put the horse through its paces. She flicked on a switch which was located where a horse's navel should be. Then, by tugging on one of the horse's legs, the horse would NEIGH a couple of times. Tug again, it would SNORT twice. Tug once more and it would make a galloping sound, CLIPPITY-CLOPPITY. All of these sounds were a bit loud. It was especially loud in the small confines of our compact car. In fact, I was quick to point out to my daughter that, although I thought the horse was totally cool, I suggested that she have it make all of its noises just one more time and then switch it off for the rest of the trip. She did just as I asked.

However, the cycle of NEIGHS, SNORTS and CLIPPITY-CLOPPITIES failed to stop. The switch had chosen that moment to malfunction. Undaunted, I examined the horse and discovered the battery compartment. Once the batteries were removed, the NEIGHS, SNORTS and CLIPPITY-CLOPPITIES would end.

No, they did not. There must have been a capacitor or something tucked away in the bowels of that horse. The NEIGHS, SNORTS and CLIPPITY-CLOPPITIES continued for the entire journey home - although they were partially muffled by the coat in which the horse was quickly wrapped.

The very moment we arrived at home, the horse was placed in the freezer for the night. Peace at last! The next morning when I checked on it, the horse was still NEIGHING, SNORTING and CLIPPITY-CLOPPING. The horse spent the next few weeks in the barn and batteries were never again allowed to be within ten feet of it.