shoping is a pain but there are skulls. 44112

They pulled up in front of the mall and Sam shook her head wondering just how anyone found something in a place that large. Guessing by the names on the outside of it there was a loot of different stores in the build, but it still looked a bit like a mess from the outside. She couldn’t help but wonder just what she was in for with this event. What a confusing few days it had been. At least school would be starting soon and that should see things settle in to a more normal routine, she hoped. It was nice to be here but it was a lot to take in. It was hard to get used to the fact that she didn’t need to worry about being in a place she wasn’t permitted or deal with people who were sure she was going to infect them by looking at them. Grant said. “We will just take you to three stores and the food court. I know it is a lot to take in, but it is going to be a bit easier on you to be with us then with others from school these first few times. And yes it is likely they will talk you into hang out with them. You are not going to be able to hide as much at White Wands as you did at East. Shopping and hang at the mall is expected for teens here, so it is best you see just what a mall is when we are here as we will understand better why it is scary.” First up we are going to get Sam’s phone, and we will also see about getting a new computer. We will need another one with all the papers you all have. Then we need to go to a pet store. After that it clothing then we will show her the stationary department and then after lunch you can visit the book store and pick out two books each. Last stop as I know it will be a long one. Yes there is a store in there that only sales books.” Sam smiled and looked a bit more eager to go in. “I that that would help. Now let’s do this.” Laughing a bit they got out of the car and started in. Olivia made sure she was next to Samantha as she knew that Sam would be reluctant to say she needed to rest, or if the crowds were too much. She tried to hide it when she was troubled, not wanting to cause them to slow down or change plans. However they need to know what she couldn’t take and she did as well. There were going to be a lot of ne challenges for her where the restrictions that she had lived under for the sixteen years of her life were gone. All of them had to adjust, but it would be hardest on Sam as the others had been able to get by with more and cheat the rules, but she hadn’t. The Adsons had turned her eyes gray and there was no hiding it. One reason she found it hard to look at people as she had heard so often that her eyes were cursed and should be hidden. That they just caused trouble, which they often had as so many found them frightening. She looked at her daughter and smiled, trying to reassure her. It had been nice to hear her speak up for herself last night. If only she hadn’t felt the need to apologize for doing so. “Relax it will be fine, it shouldn’t be too crowded but if the noise is too much say so and we can go to a different place to shop. I think you will enjoy have clothes that fit you for a change. The first time is the hardest, but it won’t be long until you are asking us to drop you off, or taking the bus here. I know you will have it worked out how to get to the library by this time next week.” Sam smiled a bit. “It is silly but I can’t help watching for the security guard to jump out and tell me I am out of bounds and had better leave if I don’t want to be detained.” Olivia nodded. “The more you do things you were not allowed to the more the fear will recede. Of course it might make it bit hard to get back into the role should you ever go back east.” Samantha said. “I am sure it would come back fairly soon one I saw the signs and guards. I just hope I can adjust to the lack of them. It is strange to be entering a store that doesn’t look ready to cave in.” She was shaking a bit as she walked in the door then had to stop and look around amazed at the windows and the people. It was so odd and there was so much. Yet as no one noticed her some of the tension left her and she was able to move a few steps in, it was hard to know where to look, but she was able to follow the others. “I think I could spend a day just looking at the windows. I am still confused as to how you could know where to start. There are so many stores here how do you know what one you want?” Olivia said. “It is hard to know, mostly you just have to explore a lot of them and see what one has the items you want. There are a lot of shops that sale different styles of the same thing, and then as you walk you will find items you didn’t know you wanted. That is just how it works. This time though we are not going to do too much exploring, but if you want to look closer at something just say so, we are not in a hurry. We are heading to Mel’s Gadgets first. It took a bit of hunting, but it proved to have the best selection and reasonable prices. Some stores will charge double of others, which is another reason you need to visit a few unless you have looked up prices online.” Sam nodded. “I can see that. Just what? They put up displays of underwear? Does that mean that is all that store sales? Really? Why, just how could there be that many different kinds that there is a store just for it?” Will was clearly trying not to laugh. Olivia coughed. “Well some like to go a bit fancy even with there undergarments and so yes the have a store devoted to them, and different styles. The store does sale bed wear as well, if that helps. Still it is a bit odd just what you can find in the stores.” Sam shook her and Will had to smile as the next store was a Goth themed store and was displaying a skull and bone necklace as well as a lot of dark clothing. Sam might actually like some of the clothes in the store, but it wasn’t one they were planning on entering. It was not a permitted look out east and so likely it would be a bit too much, but joking about the necklaces shouldn’t cause to much alarm, and might let her forget the other store. “Say sis how about a new necklace? Can’t you see Mary should you have that on? She would faint.” Samantha and Alice both looked Alice just shook her head, but Sam moved a bit closer to window. “I don’t think she would ever get close enough to me to see it. However I think that shirt there would work. See that one, with just a bit of glitter on the end of the bones? Did you know that really was used on pirate ships? I can’t believe that they get away with it. Just even a hint of those shirts and you would be fined back east. It is so strange to see them selling it, a few of those have symbols on them that are said to belong to insurrectionist movements, and then others are claimed by gangs. That one skull there looks a lot like the Lawsters’ tag. If you want to set them foaming just thing what Greag would do. He was so proud to pledge to them, and had to say how it proved he was pure. Can’t you just see him about the time he saw you or I with that on?” Will said. “There is nothing in that store that would be permitted in a store out east. We can go in if you want I bet they will have a shirt in your size.” Sam said. “I don’t think that I could wear it, for all it is fun to think of. Maybe once I am not looking over my shoulder for the cops. I just had to get a closer look.” Grant said. “Nothing wrong with looking and if any of you want to go into one of the stores we are passing say so. After all we are here to shop. Just know that we are ending with the book store, that is the only one that you don’t get to go in early.” They nodded and walked on past a jewelry store and arrived at Mel’s. “Yes you can go look at the gadgets and see if you can agree on a new desktop. Sam the phones are back here.” Sam nodded and walked with him to the phones. It wasn’t long until a clerk came over to them smiling. “I trust your phones are working? Or did one get dropped down a well after all?” Grant laughed. “So far they are fine and none have been lost yet. I do expect it to be coming. I am here to get that other one I told you I would likely need.” The clerk said. “So you are the missing daughter then. Glad you made it out here. So do you know what you want?” Samantha blushed. “No, sir. This will be my first phone so I don’t want anything to complicated, but I do want to be able to send pictures and my brother insists I have to be able to send texts. Does that help? Oh and it needs to be able to take a fall and jostling as I will be out riding and so no doubt will drop it a few times. I really don’t know a thing about them.” He nodded and said. “All right that gives us three choices.” Smiling he set three phones on the counter. “Look them over and see what you think you would like the best. They are all going to hold up to rough use, and will be easy to learn. The middle one has the better camera but they will all take good pictures. So see what you feel the best to you. go on, pick them up and try typing out a text.” Sam looked at her dad then moved over and picked up the first phone clearly a bit nervous about it. The clerk just nodded at her. After a bit she set it down and tried the next one, but it was to heavy. The third one she nodded a bit. “This is the one, I can hold it better then the others.” The clerk nodded. “Good now then what colors do you like?” Sam blinked. “Yes I know, but it relates.” Sam said. “Black and green.” He nodded. “I will be back in a bit with your phone and we can get it set up. you will need one of those cases there as well. They will make it easier to carry if you don’t have it in your back pack.” He headed to the back and she went to look at the cases he had pointed at. It didn’t take her long to find a black one with skulls on it. Grant laughed as she took it off the rack. “Yes you have to get it, and that is the first picture you take with you phone. Roger needs to see it. I do wonder if Will won’t find he needs a new case for his phone as well.” The clerk was back and smiled. “That is a good chose it will show your phone off well.” He produced a black and green checked phone and smiled. “The pattern is this companies trade mark, but give me a bit and I will make it better.” With a wink he produced a bag of jeweled symbols and took out a skull and pressed it into an indention on the bottom of the phone. “There now you will know your phone even should some one have the same pattern as each of these is deferent. And with that in place we can turn this on and get it set up. The phones won’t turn on without a symbol, it is supposedly an antitheft thing. It is a government requirement. Some say they are trackers, but I can promise you that these are not.” He showed her how to turn the phone on and talked her though the registration questions. “Now then shall we set up your phone book and text everyone so they have your number? We can just steel the numbers from your Dad’s phone, as I know he has a list of family, as I made it.” Sam nodded and so he got it set up. “Now then I will talk her though the texts if you want to go see what they have found sir. I want to see she knows how to use the phone and so it will be a bit. Sam do you mind come over here and sitting down as we go over it?” Sam smiled and started to the chair. “Thank you, I was just going to ask if you mind if I sat in the chair. I fear I have stood as long as I can.” Grant said. “I will go see if they have agreed on a computer yet, or have at least narrowed it down a bit.” Sam nodded and then turned to the clerk who was soon showing her how to work the phone and managing to make it less confusing then her brothers attempts had. With the clerks help she even managed to take a picture of the case and send it to Will and Rodger. Will was walking over to her when he got his. “Where did you get that case? Is there one that will fit my phone? I have to forward that to Greag!” Grant laughed. “Find yours first so you can send him a picture of both of them. They will deliver the computer on Monday and see what they can do about the internet speed as well, so get your case found so we can get everything paid for and head on to the next store, before I get talked into buying another game. Or Tom changes his mind about which camera to get again” Will had been looking and pulled a red one out with a smile. “Now this is defiantly going to make him mad. It is perfect! Remember him telling me I wasn’t allowed red as it was unfit for my class and then this is dead on for the gang tag, save it is brown not black and white.” He set it next to Sam’s case and took out his phone. Grant said. “Now that is the right type of case for you phone? It won’t do to get one that won’t fit. I am not going to buy it if you are not going to use it.” Will nodded. “I checked that and it fits fine, plus it is the hard case so it will protect my phone better then the one that came with it does.” Grant laughed. “All right take the picture then we can get them rang up.” Smiling Will took the picture just as Sam’s phone rang making her jump. “Someone want to tell me how to answer this?” The clerk was still next to her and showed her how to. “Um hello, so I take it I sent the text right?” Will said. “Star bright ringtone. That has to be Roger. I am sending him this pic as well. Maybe he needs a new phone case?” Sam said. “We are still at the mall, just paying for my phone and the case. They sale the phones charged in this store and they wouldn’t let us go until I had been shown how to use it. He said that texting from it was the best way to give everyone my number, and would help me get the hang of sending them.” There was a bit of a pause. “No that the case not the phone, I will see if one of the others will take a pic of the phone latter. Will is sending you one of his new case as well, and said that maybe you wanted a new one to.” She laughed. “Hay I passed on the shirt and necklace that was back a few stores. I still might have to get it, but not today.” She held the phone out a bit and the others heard him yelling. “You have to be kidding me. Why would they even have it on a shirt? And you want it? A red case do you know how many laws that brakes.” Sam said. “The red one is Will’s and it brakes none out here, but a few there so he will need a different one when he goes there unless there are exceptions for visitors. Yes I want the shirt but not until I can stop looking over my shoulder for cops. I think it is neat. That store had a lot of skull decorated items from what I saw, some tombstones as well. I do think it will be worth exploring in a latter visit. Looks like we are ready to head to the pet store, there is so much to look at here, I can’t believe the stores they have.” There was another pause. “All right I will talk to you latter and sorry I woke you up. I am likely going to have to send you a few more pictures. You have to see what the clothes are like, no not the skull shirt, but the ones I will be getting for school. However I will be good and not send any from the pet store to you. I hope you have a good day, even if it is getting an early start. I didn’t realize that my text would make your phone go off.” Smiling she took the phone from her ear and with a bit of fumbling made sure the call was ended. Grant shook his head. “You woke him up? That isn’t your fault. There is no reason to think a text from an unknowing number would have a ring loud enough to wake him up or to think he would still be asleep. So did he like the phone cases?” Samantha said. “I think he did, I hope I can talk him into coming here when he visits. I wonder what will upset him most, that I take the bus on my own or seeing the stores? By then I should be able to.” Olivia said. “By the time the holidays are here I am sure you will be well used to hoping on the bus and have the town all figured out. Even better will be when you take him to the stables.” Laughing a bit they head back out in to the mall and made it to the pet store. The cat food was easy, but when they reached the area for birds Sam looked around confused as the food was sorted by the type of bird and none of them had figured that out yet. Luckily there were pictures on the food and using those as a guided they were led to one that had bits of dried fruits and seeds. Seth nodded. “Phoenix. I knew it. He is just too attentive.” Grant said. “Now then we need a few stands so he can have some place other then your chair, and should have a food and water stand on one. Ah there they are, three should do. There we co, and this one has the water with it. I hope Mr. Bird approves of it.” They went up to the check stand. The clerk got to the bird food and raised an eyebrow. “A phoenix? Not much call for this around here. Most birds don’t like the fruit in it. Are you sure this is what you want?” Grant said. “As sure as we can be. The picture on it looks a lot like the bird that followed Sam home. As Mr. Bird seems determined to stay we want something other then cookies for him to eat. I think he will like it, he goes for the raisin cookies. If not we will know to try a different one next time. I am sure that the sassy thing will be sure we know where we went wrong.” She shrugged and rang it up. “Good luck, I hope the bird likes it. Anything else today?” Grant shook his head, and paid. When they were out of the store he said. “I am going to run this out to the car then will meet up with you outside of the Wash’s.” Olivia nodded. “See you there. We will be ready to get off our feet bit by then, so will be resting on the bench.” They parted ways and head off. When they reached the next store as glad to see the sign for the restroom, as she had just been about to ask where one was, she was not the only one to head there before sitting on the bench to wait and watch the people. It was amazing the verity there was here. So many things that would never be seen in the east. there were people with hair colors that were never found, such dyes were seen as inviting wildness and so had no place and a organized society. Yet here they clearly had no problems with it. Samantha smiled. “What would I look like with purple hair?” Will coughed. “You have to find out! And do it so it is bright when we have the vid call with Grandma. Can’t you just hear her?” Sam laughed. “She would be sure that my adsons was turning me into a monster. After all it is what she expects to happen.” Another lady said. “Just to make it better it could be that your eyes would turn purple as well. Some change some don’t, it is just one of the mystery, but yes that is why mine are lime green. It does tend to spoke some of my relatives, but as I have no color in my hair if I don’t dye it, I like to try wild colors, even with the odd effect it has on my eyes.” Sam said. “It will have to wait a bit, but I might just have to try it and find out what happens.” Olivia just shook her head. Grant said, as he walked up. “Do I want to know?” Samantha said. “Dyeing my hair. It seems that on some the eye color will reflect the hair dye. I was just saying I might have to try it and find out if mine will. Can’t you just here them, even if I don’t go with a wild color should it change my eyes.” Grant said. “Once you have the money you can find out, but I’m not going to pay for hair dye, for any of you. So ready to go find some clothes?” Sam nodded and stood up, but looked at the store uncertain. It was one thing to buy phones or pet food, but just being in the doorway of a store that sold new clothes could cause her to be arrested. Little own entering one. There was too much danger that she might dare to touch something or put it on and she had no right to. It was too much of a risk to those that feared she could harm them. The fact that she was in older clothes, generally patched, made it easier for her to be identified and avoid. Or so the rules said. It was one thing to think about it, but being here made it real. Alice said. “Come on I want to see that dress on you, the black one on the left. I think you will rock it, even though I know you won’t buy it. You have to try it on for me. Come on. Yes sis you will be trying on the clothes before you buy them. You are going to have clothes that fit right for a change.” She grabbed Sam’s hand and pulled her into the story, knowing that would be better then letting her big sister think about it. Sam had been hit harder by the restrictions back east so was going to have to be pushed to break the bigger ones. Like clothes shopping, as silly as it was. Samantha was trembling a bit as her sister led her into the store and the shocked as Alice did indeed lead her right over to the rack with the skimpy black dresses and started sorting though them. “I really don’t think.” Alice said. “I meant it I want to see it on you. This looks like the right size. Now then come on lets see if we can find a few you might really get.” With a bit of laughing and a lot of insisting Alice managed to see they each had four choices and then led Sam to the dressing room to try them on. She was down to the skimpy black dress when her phone beeped. She finished getting into it and shook her head. Just why did her sister want to see her in this? The other one was enough to cause problem and the flowered one was nice. That was enough but Alicia instead she had to try this one as well. It felt tight, she didn’t have to look in the mirror to know it was cling to her more then the other one and it had been tight enough. She picked up her phone then left the room to wait for her sister. She then looked at her phone and managed to fine the text that had made it beep, it was from her grandmother. ‘Why did you get a new phone? Just how often on you going to change numbers. Which of you is this now?’ Sam shook her head, as she was sure she had said it was her in the text she had sent. ‘Hi Grandmother. This is Samantha, and so it isn’t a changed number. Sorry I confused you. I thought I had signed the text. I am still getting used to this.’ Alice said. “I knew you would kill that dress. It is perfect for you. I wish you would get it. At least look at yourself. Hi Mom.” Sam looked up and shook her head. “The other one showed more then enough as it was. I will agree to it, but this is just to skimpy. I am not going to wear it any longer then I have to. It is not for me.” She jumped as her phone beeped again, casuing her to look back at it. Her Grandmother had texted. ‘So they did get you a phone? I am sure it will come in handy. So what wild thing are you doing today?’ Her mom said. “I am glad to hear that Sam, that dress is to old for you right now. In a few more years, then maybe. I did like the other black one though and am glad you think you can wear it. You are going need a few party clothes.” Sam said. “I don’t know that I could ever walk around in something this tight. Grandmother wants to know what I am doing. I am going to tell her that Alice is trying to talk me into buying a dress that is to tight to be seen in.” Olivia laughed. “Thank you for the warning, that way I will have some idea what she is talking about.” Sam smiled and texted back. ‘Right now we are still shopping. Alice is trying to talk me into getting a dress that is way to cling on me. I am going to go get out of it then I need to find some pants and shirts to try. What are you doing today?’ Laughing she went in to change and then had to laugh again as her mom’s phone rang. She got her close on and gathered up the dress then left the changing room. Her mom said. “Just put the two you didn’t want on the counter there, the others in the basket. Yes we are buying clothes and yes she is trying them on first. I am realized she didn’t want the dress Alice picked out. It fit her far to well, made her look to old.” Smiling a bit Sam went on out into the store. It was a bit scary but she was able to look at the clothes and find some to try on. It was hard to know what size though. Most of the clothes she had were a bit big and they often had no sizes left in them, and then sizes seemed to be different here. She decided to just take the four likeliest of the first pants and shirt she liked and get the size right then look for more. She found the pants first and turn only to find a shirt with a pirate flag on it in front of her. Smiling she went over and found the sizes she wanted. Likely it wouldn’t go into the cart but she had to try it, and take a picture of it at least. She took her finds back to the dressing room and tried them until she felt the size was right then went out to the hall hoping her mother or sister would be there shortly. And was pleased to find her Mother there check a pair of pants. “Those look good Mom. What about these? Do you think I got the size right? I am not sure, but they feel right. I like the pants but am not to sure about the shirt. However I just had to try it.” Her mom turned and laughed. “I think that they both look fine and look good together. Where did you find that shirt? Those pants are perfect for you, you might want to get two pairs of them. And I do think that shirt is fine, there is no reason you shouldn’t get it.” Sam said “I turned around after I got the pants and there it was. I just had to try it and now I am going to take a picture of my self in it and send it to Roger to see what he thinks. I had better send it to Will as well.” Oliva smiled, glad that Samantha was enjoying it. It might upset them back east, but she needed to live. “Yes, by all means send it to him, just don’t be too surprised when it gets out to the others. Will is going to pass it on.” Smiling Samantha took her phone out and took the picture then checked to make sure the skull was easy to see. As she was looking at it Alice came out. “That is perfect Samantha. You have to get that shirt, and those pants are fantastic. You better get more then one pair of them! You are going to get that shirt, if I have to sneak it into the cart! Tell me you are sending that to Rog?” Sam nodded. “I am sending it to him and will asking if they think I should get the shit. The pants I agree to, but you really think I need this shirt?” She nodded. Sam shook her head and typed out a text, hoping she was doing it right. ‘If I am lucky there is a picture attached to this. I love the pants, but am not so sure about the shirt. I was hoping you would tell me what you thought. Should I get it?’ “There now if I have it right they should get it. I am going to go change and find more to try on, but I will keep the shirt for now.” She had just got changed when will’s answer reached her. she opened the phone and red his text. ‘That was a good pic, and came though just fine. Told you that you would be fine with a phone. You just need to believe it. Yes you must get that shirt. I have to see if I can’t find one in the mens. I didn’t think to look. Tom agrees, Dad just shook his head. I haven’t found Seth so will send it to him, but face it you are out voted. It will be in the cart so you might as well put it there.’ She laughed and took the extras out as well as the pants. Seeing Alice watching she said. “These are the wrong sized ones. Not being sure what size I need I brought a few back to try. I am not putting the right one on the counter, it is in the cart. For now, I’m still not sure but Will agrees with you.” Alice nodded smiling, and watched her sis leave then went over and checked the sizes before going back into the store, planning on adding a few things to the cart. It was past time Samantha had some decent clothes, and if left on her own she was going to be far to conservative.