The rest of the week goes by quickly. Artemis was happy when Friday finally arrived. Instead of catching the bus to go to her mother’s garage after school. Her aunt Stacy picks her up and takes her shopping for a birthday gift for her friend Kelly’s birthday, which was next weekend.

Stacy spots Artemis waiting for her as she pulls up to the front of the high school. She stops a few lengths down from the last bus in line. She flashes her headlights to grab her niece’s attention.

Artemis was looking for her aunt’s car. She was going to take her shopping to pick a gift out for her friend Kelly. She was happy that her mother said she could spend the night at Kelly’s house after the birthday party. As she is looking for her aunt’s car, she spots a set of flashing headlights and notices it was her aunt’s car.

She walks over to the car and waves to her aunt, before getting in. She puts her seat belt on, after putting her book bag in the back seat.

“How was school today, Artemis?” Stacy follows the school buses out of the driveway.

“It was alright. I only had four tests to take today.” Artemis was glad she study for all of them.

“How do you think you did on them, sweetie?” Stacy knew Artemis stayed up late last night studying for the test she took today.

“I think I did alright, Aunt Stacy.” Artemis was glad she study.

“You’re better than me, kiddo. I used to study just before I took the test, that day. Your mom, on the other hand. She would study several days before the test.” A smile appears on Stacy’s face as she thinks about what she was like in high school.

Stacy drives Artemis to the shopping mall where she works. She parks her car and grabs her purse.

“We can find something nice for your friend, Kelly.” She opens the driver's side door and gets out.

Artemis follows her aunt’s lead and walk into the store they parked in front of. The store was for teen girls and had a lot of nice things for girls her age.

Artemis wasn’t sure what teen girls like, because she just learned she was a real girl, but raised as a boy. She looks at some of the clothing and accessories and wonders what her friend would like.

“Aunt Stacy, what do teen girls like?” She hopes her aunt could help her.

“Well, some like clothes, others make-up. Is your friend Kelly wearing make-up at school?” Stacy knew Roxana wasn’t going to let Artemis wear make-up until she was a little older.

“No ma’am. Her mother won’t let her until she turns sixteen years old.” Artemis knew Kelly was turning fifteen years old, next Saturday.

“In that case, why don’t we get her some jewelry instead.” Stacy walks over to the jewelry counter to see what they had.

Artemis follows her aunt over to the counter. As they stood at the counter looking at items in the display case and hanging. Artemis spots a build-your-own bracelet like they have at her mother’s favorite Jewelry store.

“Aunt Stacy, I could get Kelly a bracelet that has the little trinkets on it like mom likes.” Artemis knew her mother liked the Pandora bracelets.

“That would be a nice gift for her. Go ahead and pick the charms out and I’ll pick the bracelet for you.” Stacy liked helping her niece.

“Okay.” Artemis looks at the different charms on display.

Artemis knew her friend Kelly spoke several languages, so she chooses the charm that represented that. She knew Kelly also like fashion and drawing. So, she picks those two out. She looks at the rest and picks two more. Altogether she had six charms that represented her friend.

“Okay, Aunt Stacy. I picked out six that represent my friend Kelly.” Artemis looks at the ones she chose and hopes Kelly likes them.

“And I found the perfect bracelet for them.” Stacy found a nice silver bracelet that looked like it was three different strands of silver interwoven
together.

Artemis looks at it and it looked perfect for Kelly. It reminded her of when Keely wore her hair in a ponytail or pigtails to school.

“That’s perfect, Aunt Stacy.” Artemis looks at the bracelet and liked how nice it looked.

Stacy pays for the charms and bracelet. Afterward, Stacy hands the purchase to Artemis.

“Here you go, kiddo.”

“Thank you, Aunt Stacy.” Artemis accepts the purchase.

“You’re welcome, sweetie. Is there anything else you would like to do?” Stacy figures they could spend some time shopping. She doesn’t get to
spend much time with her niece.

“I need some new bearing for my bicycle, aunt Stacy. The crank bearing is breaking apart.” Artemis noticed it the other afternoon when she took her bicycle out.

It was the same bicycle she rebuilt that someone had abandoned in the woods. It could have been stolen or just forgotten. She found it and rebuilt it with parts from other broken bicycles. She had replaced the bearings once from a broken bicycle.

“Sure, I think there’s a bicycle shop in this shopping center.” Stacy knew Artemis liked her bicycle. She had offered to buy her a new one, but Artemis wanted to keep the one she had.

“Do you think mom will let me use her tools?” Artemis knew her mother had a complete toolset at home.

“As long you clean and put them back where you got them from, your mother won’t mind.” Stacy knew her cousin was particular about who uses her tools.

Artemis follows her aunt until they spot a bicycle shop. The place was well stocked with brand new bicycles. Artemis stops to look at the price of one and couldn’t believe how much it cost. The store was asking six hundred dollars for a bicycle that looked like it was made from plastic, unlike her old bicycle.

A middle-aged man comes from the back of the store towards them. He was wearing a dark blue polo shirt with the name of the shop on it. He also had on a pair of black slacks and tennis shoes.

“Welcome to Tech Cycling. How can I help you, today?” Brad greets a middle-aged woman and her reddish hair daughter.

“My niece needs a bearing for a bicycle. Do you carry parts for older bicycles here?” Stacy had seen the bicycles in the shop and figure this might not be a good place to buy parts.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but the only parts we carry are for our models of bicycles.” Brad couldn’t believe someone would have an old out of date bicycle.

“It’s only a bearing for the crank. Maybe you have a bearing like it in stock?” Artemis had to use a used one.

“I’m sorry young lady, but we only carry parts for our bicycles. I don’t believe the bearings we have will work in your older bicycle.” Brad was
told not to sell any parts unless they were the bicycles they sold.

“Well, thank you for your help.” Stacy started to turn around to leave the store.

“You might want to try out one of our newer models. It’s lighter than the older bicycles and more streamlined.” Brad was going to see if he could make a sell.

“No thank you, sir. I prefer my bicycle.” Artemis didn’t want a new bicycle. She liked the one she had.

“Well, that was a bust. Is the bearing the only thing you need for your bicycle, Artemis?” Stacy looks at Artemis as she walks next to her.

“Yes ma’am.” Artemis didn’t find anything else broken or misaligned.

‘Maybe your mother might know of a place, other than a bicycle shop that might have the bearing.” Stacy knew Roxana knew a lot of suppliers.

“I didn’t think about asking mom.” Artemis looks at her aunt.

“When it comes to mechanical things, your mother is the first person I ask. She was born with a wrench in one hand and a socket and ratchet in the other hand. Let’s head home and start on dinner.”

“Okay, and thank you, Aunt Stacy.”

“Any time, kiddo.”