Escaping the heat

It was a mistake to go outside. The sun was high and the asphalt of the parking lot was emanating heat. The only escape was to come back to the mall or any store on the left or the right of the main entrance.

Note to readers. Don't read if you don't like poor grammar, this is rough.
This is a work of adult fiction. No resemblance to reality should be inferred or expected.
Copyright… are you kidding?

I was tired. No… I was exhausted. Yes. Exhausted. Four hours back to school shopping with mom and my sis Becky.

My part was done in twenty minutes. Because I knew what I needed. And I hated it. Or them. The fact I was male and the fact I needed male things and the fact I had to shop for those male things. But I had to pretend I was ok with it. Or them.

I was sixteen and Becky was thirteen. My things were already in the trunk of mom’s car. I was with mom and Becky as a packhorse. Accompanying them from store to store. Witnessing them getting things cute and not so cute. And having no say in it. Cuz I was a boy. And cuz boys don’t understand and are dumb in all things girly.

But I wasn’t. I just had to pretend I was.

My sis was in new blue tights and a new orange skirt and mom held a lettuce green blouse against Becky.

“Let’s get an independent opinion,” mom offered.

“What do you think Kevin?” Becky asked.

“Huh?” I pretended to be caught off guard.

“Men are color-dumb,” mom said.

“Boys…” Becky muttered.

“Looks good on you,” the saleslady offered.

I had to pretend the green blouse and orange skirt with blue tights looked stunningly. As if…

I was a boy and was dumb in all things fashion related. I had to be such if I was a real boy. The saleslady said it looked good. Saleslady would say anything to sell. She was SALES-lady, not ADVICE-lady.

After the second trip to mom’s car to place Becky’s plunder in the trunk, we had a break. Mom and Becky opted for the salad. I was outnumbered and didn’t get pizza. I liked salad but it wasn’t enough to regain the strength. I was six-two and almost two hundred pounds and salad for me was less than a light snack. But it was mom and Becky’s day and I had no voice there.

Mom had coffee, I had root beer and Becky was slurping a banana smoothie. Sis had a new eco-friendly paper straw and was feeling proud about it.

Becky had already shoes, bottoms, and tops beside the school supplies of course. What else does she need?

“What next?” I asked.

“Underwear,” mom replied.

“Really?” I wondered. “You bought all new underwear for Becky’s birthday three months ago.”

“Becky needs a bra,” mom stated.

Becky didn’t. She had nipples but no tits. I glanced at her chest and she looked flat.

“You’ll not understand. You’re a boy,” mom said.

Becky giggled and blushed. I sighed.

“I’ll wait for you outside,” I offered.

“OK,” mom agreed. “It will not take more than an hour.”

“Will you need my hand afterward?” I asked. I wasn’t sure it would be only a bra. An hour is definitely too much for underwear.

“Thanks, dear, but I don’t expect it will be much,” mom replied.

We separated at the food court. Mom and Becky turned to Sear’s and I went outside.

It was a mistake to go outside. The sun was high and there was no wind. The asphalt and concrete of the parking lot were emanating heat. There was no shadow to hide. No tree and no shelter. The only escape was to come back to the mall. But I was tired of it.

I swiftly examined the seemingly blind wall. It wasn’t blind. On the left side, there was Lana’s salon. Next to it were car parts for Korean cars. On the right side of the entrance, there was Warner’s Antiques and some toy store.

I turned to Warner’s Antiques. I didn’t plan to buy anything. Just to kill time there. When I came nearer to Warner’s Antiques another store Huggles caught my attention. They had a teddy bear in their window. Just a teddy bear. ‘Toy store’ was written on the door just above the ‘We are open’ sign. There was ‘The magic of soft touch’ in fine print below that sign.

I pushed the door open and the old-fashioned bell rang. Like in the movies. I half expected the interior to be black and white like in those old movies. But, no, it was in full color.

There was a counter and a salesman behind it with the name tag ‘Harris’. Shelves were lined at walls with all imaginable stuffed animals. Bears, hares, dogs, cats, flamingos and crows, and even bees. As I said – all imaginable.

Stuffed animals especially those cute bears, puppies, and kittens always fascinated me. But I didn’t have any. Cuz I was a boy. Boys don’t play with stuffed animals. Now I was sixteen and was too old to play no matter what. I could pretend I was looking for a present. For my sis maybe. She had already some. But can it be too much cuteness in the girl’s room?

I scanned the shelf and then another. A dog similar to Pluto caught my attention. Milk chocolate brown fur with an ivory-colored belly.

“May I?” I turned to the salesman.

“Why of course!” he replied.

I took the toy in my hands and he (I just knew it was he) felt different. Not like other stuffed animals, Becky had already.

“All natural cotton wool and aspen shavings,” the salesman said.

I put the dog to my face. He smelled a new toy.

“He’s for my baby sister,” I said to the salesman.

“Your sister has to be a very lucky young lady to have such an appreciating brother,” he replied. “Try to hug the dog. Feel the warmth.”

I hugged him. I mean the dog. It felt good. I felt good.

“Yeah… I feel the warmth,” I confirmed looking up at the salesman.

I looked up. The salesman looked giant to me. I looked down. I wasn’t me anymore. I looked up again and my pigtails bobbed.

“Do you like it?” the salesman asked.

“Yes, I do, sir,” I replied like any polite little girl.

The bell rang announcing there was another visitor. I turned around and saw mommy and Becky stepping in.

“Don’t you have enough toys, Rachel?” Becky exclaimed rolling her eyes.

“He is special,” I replied.

“He?” Becky snickered. “Let me guess… Pluto?”

“No!” I retorted. “Rebecca, meet my new friend Kevin.” Then I turned to Kevin and said, “Kevin, please meet my older sis Becky. She may be annoying sometimes but all other times she’s the bestest older sis the girl could dream of.”

“Soapy phase?” Becky wondered. I stuck my tongue at her. She did the same to me.

“GIRLS!” mommy growled turning to our side and putting the plastic card in her purse.

“Ready to go?” she asked then more calmly.

“Yeah,” Becky replied.

I turned to the salesman before leaving.

“Thank you,” I said, “for everything.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Harris replied, “Kevin and Rachel.”

I waved a hand to him while exiting and he winked me back.