Lunch turned out to be fast food.
Gloria glared at her sister across the table, imagining the label 'cheapskate' on the wavy-haired blond's forehead.
"What?" Second Sis asked innocently.
"Fast food?"
"Yeah," Second Sis said nonchalantly, "I've got to save my money."
Gloria's jaw dropped.
"To buy you something special for your birthday," Carrie added. She grinned teasingly. "You thought I was a cheapskate, didn't you?"
"Yeah," Gloria admitted softly. Feeling a tiny shred of guilt, and only a tiny shred, she removed the 'cheapskate' label that she had mentally attached to her sister earlier.
Second Sis leaned forward and patted her on the head. With the same hand she had used to feed herself fries! Oily, salty fries! Ewww!!!
After they had finished lunch, Second Sis got them each an ice cream cone. As they walked along one of the many corridors of Miss Megamall, Carrie asked, "Should we get you clothes? Or shoes?"
"We always go shopping for those whenever we're out," Gloria said, "I think I've got enough clothes for now. And shoes will be a waste if I outgrow them. Let's look at books for a change."
"Books!?" Carrie blurted.
"I'm Gloria, not Annie," the younger sister reminded her, "Annie would want clothes and shoes and bags. Gloria wants books."
"Oh yeah," Second Sis agreed. She sighed. "Looks like some things do have to change, huh?"
Yes, things had changed. At that moment, they were spending time in a bookstore instead of keeping up with fashion. Gloria wondered if Second Sis had ever set foot in a bookstore before this. Still, she had to admire her sister's patience. Not once had Carrie complained as the younger girl flipped through book after book. Well, that was because Second Sis was not beside her.
Where was that wavy-haired blond sister of hers anyway? She must be somewhere within the bookstore, that much Gloria was certain of.
Gloria searched between the many bookshelves of the store but did not find Second Sis anywhere. It was when she ventured into the lounge area at the center of the shop that she found Carrie seated on a couch. Next to her sat a rather good-looking boy - smooth-faced, fair-skinned, spiky haired.
Figures.
They were chatting softly and happily, not at all interested in the books around them. Maybe that boy had a little sister buried among the books between the shelves somewhere.
Oh well, more time for her to hunt for books.
In the end, Carrie bought her three books - two novels and a book on grammar. It was a great day to take full advantage of Second Sis' generosity.
Gloria strolled happily past other stores of the mall with her sister by her side. "Where to next?"
"Hmm... oh." Second Sis was distracted. She had been glancing behind her shoulder.
No comments:
Post a Comment