An hour later and both of them were at work. Magnolia Promenade was particularly busy this morning and business this week at Pack's Clothing had been brisk.
Barbara had a lot of stocktaking to do at the shop. Business was busy the other day and she went over that day's receipts with her part-time shop assistant.
"I see we sold one of those expensive evening dresses yesterday...and a set of those French silk basques as well." said Barbara.
"Yes...I remember that. It was a man who bought them." said the assistant.
"For his wife?"
"Well, that's what he said but he knew a lot about women's fashions, looked nervous, kept making a big point about they were for his wife and her size was, conveniently, exactly the same as his."
"I'm sure that's just coincidence and, besides, the money we made from that sale will keep us going for a while." Barbara chuckled to herself: Her assistant had an overactive imagination. However, there was a lot of restocking to be done this morning.
Her stocktaking was interrupted by a youth who had entered the shop and made a straight line for her. The youth looked like they had just come from a basketball match as they were wearing the gear for it. They also had a baseball cap on their head.
"Say, lady, do you work here?" the youth said.
"I'm the owner of the shop" Barbara replied.
"Yo, my lucky day!"
"How can I help you?"
"It's like this..." began the youth. "I've got to go to some swanky do and I need something smart, you know? Something a bit more formal than this" they said, tugging at their basketball top.
"Like a Tuxedo or smart suit?" replied Barbara.
"No...worse. I gots to wear a dress!" said the youth. "I know I look a bit like a guy because I don't do girly stuff but I'm actually a girl."
"Oh I hope I haven't offended you!" said Barbara.
"Don't sweat it, lady. I get that all the time and it don't bother me. But what does bother me is having to choose a dress to wear. I ain't worn one or a skirt since I was eight!"
"Well, you've come to the right place...so what kind of event are you going to?"
"An awards ceremony. I'm in a pop group and we're up for the award for best new act."
"A pop group? Wow. Which one, I may have your records?"
"Karaoke Legends...it's a kind of American and Japanese pop singing group...Karaoke is a Japanese word meaning..."
"Oh my gosh! I've heard of you! I even saw you at the Spice Festival a couple of months ago...you guys are terrific!"
The youth shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "Yeah, I think so too. I'm Darling Walsh."
"You're our first celebrity! OK, a pop awards ceremony...I'm sure we have something suitable in stock that would be just right for you. And not just a dress either...we've got shoes, accessories, whatever you need to make the evening more special, Miss Walsh. Erm, can I call you 'Miss'?"
"You can call me Darling, sweet cheeks!" said the youth, flirtatiously. She saw someone enter the shop and she gave her a wave. The newcomer, another woman, walked over to them.
"Hey there Aya!" said Darling. "How's it going?"
"Could be better...I'm on probation right now" replied the woman.
"That's wild! Listen, we hit it off at the Kitten Club a couple of weeks ago and I was thinking..." continued Darling.
"Listen, Darling, you're too young for me...call me in a couple of years." Aya interrupted Darling and put up a definite barrier between her and the flirtatious teen. Barbara just stood there, saying absolutely nothing.
"How about we look at some outfits, Darling?" she eventually said after an awkward silence.
"Sure...it's got to look like something for a happening awards show but not anything that's gonna make me look freaky. I don't wanna compete with Miko either; she'll wear a tiny mini skirt but I don't want anything that skimpy! Just make me look like a lady but don't go over the top. Am I making sense?"
"Just about" said Barbara, processing all that information in her head. But as she was about to show Darling the young, formal section the young singer's attention was diverted again.
"Wow...look who's just walked in; Lulu Strang." said Darling, nodding towards a petite redheaded girl who had just entered the shop.
"Who's she?" asked Barbara.
"Only the second most unpopular girl at Buckingham High. I dunno, I think she's kinda cute. Hey, Lulu! Over here! You're looking good, girl."
"Darling? What are you doing here? I didn't think this was your kind of place" replied Lulu.
"Normally no, but I gots this swanky do on and I gotta have some kind of frock to wear."
"This is my first time in here...I heard it's a swinging place" replied Lulu, enthusiastically.
"Yeah, it's pretty good in here...I only got here a little while ago. Are you coming to our next gig? I can get you a free ticket"
"Oh wow! That would be fab!" gushed Lulu.
Barbara was getting frustrated at being kept waiting whilst Darling Walsh stopped to chat to everyone in the store.
The banter continued for another couple of minutes before Darling snapped out of it and turned her attention back to Barbara.
"Yeah, sorry there...I get carried away sometimes. So, where were we? Oh yeah, so you got a lot of frocks for me to look at, right?"
"Yes...if you'd like to step over here...we have..."
"Oh, one more thing...I'm just gonna give Lulu my phone number just in case, you know..."
"Miss Walsh! Darling!" Barbara snapped but she soon regained composure. "Might I suggest that can wait? I mean, there's no rule against flirting and picking people up here but that other customer...Aya? She looks a bit put out by it all and we do have a lot of outfits to look at."
"Yeah...sorry. I don't normally act this way...I don't care for stupid dating and all that. It's just...well...you seem like the kind of lady who's 'with it', you know what I'm getting at? I mean, everyone's doing 'it' these days...you see, I had this little pink pill before coming here. Akira gave it to me...said it was the latest thing; frees your mind among other things."
"I can see that!" said Barbara. She should have guessed that Darling was stoned...she knew the signs from dilated pupils to bouts of hyperactivity. "So let's just concentrate on what we need to do."
Half an hour of going through designs, dresses and accessories produced something that Darling could cope with. It was a simple design, but well made in a black and white colour scheme with shoes and accessories to match. Darling tip toed out of the changing room, wobbling in her high heels...which weren't so high for most women but for a tomboy like Darling, they could have been the Rocky Mountains.
"Wow, this is something else!" said Darling, her voice wavering between impressed and horrified.
"You look great, if I may say so myself, but importantly: Do you feel comfortable enough wearing that? Awards ceremonies can go on a long time." replied Barbara.
"I don't think I can ever feel comfortable in these shoes but the rest is OK. I'll look pretty good standing next to Miko!"
"Well...shall I box them back up and complete the transaction for you?"
"Actually, can I wear this home? I reckon I'm gonna need practice wearing this froofy stuff!"
Barbara went to the till to ring the items up but the girl called Lulu Strang was hovering around, waiting for her turn to be served. Barbara took note as she wrote up the receipt for Darling's purchases.
"All the best with your awards night, Darling, I hope you win" said Barbara, handing over the receipt plus a bag with all her original street clothing in. "Now, Lulu, how can I help you?"
Lulu Strang outlined how much she liked the exercise outfit on the mannequin in the window because she'd been cast in the Buckingham High school musical and there was going to be long and arduous rehearsals for the dance numbers. As Lulu outlined what she wanted Barbara was wondering why this girl was so unpopular with her peers? She seemed a nice, enthusiastic girl.
After another successful sale and contented customer another teenager entered the shop as Lulu walked out. She gave Lulu a disdainful look as she passed her by. "What's she doing here?" the newcomer sniffed.
At the end of the working day, Jeremy stopped by the shop to do the accounts. "I'm famished, darling, how about going out to eat tonight?" he said to Barbara.
"Great idea...saves us cooking and washing up!" she replied.
The place they decided to go to was the Sunny Side Up Diner. It was decent and unpretentious but, more importantly, it was mid point between home and the shop.
"...so, anyway, I have no idea why this girl is so unpopular at school but there you go" said Barbara, once they had been seated.
"Teenagers, eh? I never did understand the social pecking order when I was at school" replied Jeremy.
"Neither did I...I wasn't one of the cool kids at high school either" replied Barbara.
"Wasn't that like...six months ago?" Jeremy teased.
"You! I know I'm young but....do you know, I feel old now when I'm with the current crop of high schoolers! Living in America and having my own business has forced me to grow up!"
"I'm very proud of you" Jeremy replied, raising his glass.
Other people were arriving at the diner, notably the Sneedleys. Edna noticed Jeremy and Barbara seated on the other side of the restaurant.
"Oh there's that nice young man, Mr Saint...and I see he's still with that lowbrow girl. I thought so, no engagement ring either. I worry for that boy, George: He embodies all that is good in our youth and yet his choice of companion leaves a lot to be desired. I fear he's on a slippery slope downwards....but let's be polite and encouraging, George...let's say hello to them."
George gulped. He'd been in Pack's Clothing only 2 days before and he couldn't be 100% sure if Barbara had seen him or not. If she was to mention that, then there'd be some awkward questions...
"I think we should leave them be, Edna" he said. "They're probably having a romantic dinner and don't want to be disturbed" as he said that, he steered Edna away from them. "I say, this table looks very nice..." he continued, noticing an empty table that was as far away from Jeremy and Barbara as could possibly be. "...you get nice views of the park and river from here"
"...so I'll talk things over with Action about what I can do" said Jeremy, bringing up the awkward subject of taking the fight to the Landgraabs again.
"He won't want you to risk your life" cautioned Barbara.
"I know, but bits of information will help us...that's what I can provide"
"Well, if you do get the sack then there's plenty of work at the shop for both of us!"
"I'll drink to that!" he said, and at that moment their meal had arrived at their table.
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