Summer schmucks

      August 26, 1983 at Starcourt mall.

15:16

In the afternoon of summer break two teenagers stood in front of the tall building looking around for something to do. Families accompagnied their children for a healthy dose of school shopping to prepare the start of the new year. Mothers could be seen happily choosing various textbooks and eye-straining pens to show to their enthusiastic kids,or gloomily buying what they would like to show off to their classmates. It was almost festive, how each shop would advertise ostensibly those pen vending machines or the brightly colored stickers with the signature unicorn, what with the bustling of people and the wail of parents.

Mike,the lankier of the two, considered walking in the direction of a supermarket.

''I'm bored. Mom went looking for something and didn't even give us some money.''

His friend immediatly gave him a big watermelon smile at that. Rummaging around in the back pockets of his jacket he grabbed something that seemed big enough to hold in his palm : it was a small pouch that jingled. Dustin shook the small purse in emphasis. Gling gling. Mike gaped at him.

''Look Mike, I managed to convince my mom to sew some extra pockets and ta-dah ! We now have extra inventory to carry around. I figured it would be easier to shop around like this.''

Mike declared ''Great, but what are we going to do ?''

Dusting held the tip of his cap as if to salute him, turned around and pointed directly at the big sign of the full supermarket illuminated by pink and blue neon lights.

''We could go there and get all the stuff we want ! There's that new action figure of that She-Ra Swiftwing unicorn that would totally look rad for the new campaign ! Will said-'' Mike just cut him off ''-but my mom is going to come back until we buy it !''''Then we'll get her something too ! I swear I have enough for like, jewellery or whatever.''

He nodded repeatedly while advancing towards Mike, who was frowning,unsure wether they would get in trouble. He faced the ground, closed his eyes, and tried to manage the buzzing in his head. After a few minutes of debating, he came to a decision. ''Okay let's go, but we need to be fast.'' Dustin ran past him.

  August 26, 1983 at the supermarket, clothing aisle.

15:42

At the female section, the clothes seemed to be closing in on them. The two boys were back to back, like a traffic circle, each facing the circulating people peering at the articles that peeked their interest. Mostly teenage girls. Some were just looking while others would comment on the last trending style of the season, complaining that it was their best or worst season yet. Chatter stirred the room with a certain want for the ostentacious too. A couple of girls passed by them. Classmates, most likely, they were giggling when they glanced in their direction. A moment that would surely turn into gossip, Mike and Dustin started to realize. The latter raised two fists up to his shoulders and let out a heavy huff of air, determined to reach their goal : find a gift for Mike's mom so she won't get too mad at them.

''Dude, getting that figurine just had to be too easy. I mean what are we even looking for ?'' complained Mike.