A Tale of Two Carnies

33 - The Shopping Trip

On Saturday, I kept my promise to Cozbi to take her to a local shopping mall. Unlike most of the dreary, December days, this one turned out spectacular. A cloudless, blue sky welcomed us when we got up in the morning. The crisp air invigorated us instead of freezing us, and when I closed my eyes and turned toward the sun, it painted my face with warmth.

The Beast remained faithful and only let me sit once during the past month during a freezing morning that killed the old battery. After I installed a new one, it started right up and purred like a kitten.

The pretty day and anticipation of doing something special energized Cozbi. She made herself up and painted her nails red. Sitting beside me during the drive to the mall, I noticed her taking in the scenery. Little things captured her interest like a young boy trying to walk three big dogs and having trouble controlling them.

She laughed at that scene, and a rosy hue crept into her cheeks.

Instead of carrying a purse, Cozbi brought along a folio containing her sketch pad and colored pencils. She told me how determined she was to do some drawings and how she needed the emotional outlet.

We hadn't eaten breakfast, so our first stop was the food court. Cozbi wasted no time pulling out her pad to start drawing. While she did so, I bought us egg sandwiches and coffee.

Her forehead remained creased in concentration on her artwork when I set breakfast in front of her. I asked, "Can I see?"

"In a minute." She kept drawing, her hand a blur of motion as she worked her magic. A few minutes later, I worried her egg sandwich would get cold. She finished and turned her pad for me to see.

A few tables away from ours, a young mother sat. An infant lay in a stroller by her side. Cozbi sketched the mother bending over the sleeping infant, pulling a blanket up to the baby's chin. The expression on the mother's face was one of pure adoration.

As usual, her artwork amazed me. "Wow, that's really beautiful!"

Carefully, she detached the sketch from her pad. "I'm going to give this to her."

"That's generous of you, but please eat your sandwich first."

"Later, I think they're getting ready to leave." She stood and walked to the young mother.

I couldn't hear the words they exchanged, but when Cozbi showed her sketch, the mother's eyes widened. She took the sketch from Cozbi and held it to her chest, smiling. Her reaction made Cozbi smile in return. I wished I was as talented as Cozbi to capture in a drawing the joy in both ladies' expressions.

Sitting there, observing the scene, I considered the paradox of Cozbi Miraslova. I knew her mostly as aloof, walled-off, quiet, and secretive. Being able to sketch transformed her into a lively, outgoing, kind, and giving soul. I supposed that was the magic of having a creative outlet and being able to engage in one's passion. It made a person more open and attentive to the world around them. I felt the same way being able to work on and fix mechanical things. A job well-done provided me with satisfaction I couldn't put into words.

I wished I could find a way to fix Cozbi. Although I regarded her only as an estranged friend, we shared a lot of history. I couldn't help hoping she would find happiness.

She returned, sat, and picked up her breakfast sandwich.

I cleared my throat. "I'll get you another one. Yours has to be cold."

She took a bite. "No, it's fine, and the coffee is cool enough now to drink."

Afterwards, we visited the department stores anchoring the two ends of the mall and picked out winter coats for the both of us. I carried the bulky packages as we strolled along, taking in the stores' holiday displays, all the colors, and window shopping.