Across the pond

Mall troubles

"I can't believe you only had three shirts Sammy" Diane said, looking at Sam in the rear view mirror. Sam will sat in the back seat with the window down the wind blowing through the car was weirdly cool for such a hot day.

Sam fiddled with the hem of his shorts "the carers never liked to go shopping with me, so I never really got a chance to go clothes shopping" he explained, looking out of his window enjoying the view.

"Ok that is like for sure child abuse. I can't imagine only having three tops" Leah said turning around from the front seat to look at Sam "if you want I can help you see what fits, you'll need a whole new wardrobe for school and I'm sure what's cool in England isn't the same here".

"Well I only have a pair of shorts and my pajama bottoms" he said, still looking out the window "awww, a poodle" he smiled, seeing a poodle on a walk.

"Mom why did I have to come to the mall?" Nick asked slumped in his seat "I was supposed to play basketball with Andrew" he pulls out his phone

"You need more socks, sunscreen and shower gel Nicky." Diane said softly as she pulled into the mall parking lot "and it's some good sibling bonding time!" She parked the car close to the entrance.

They all got out of the car and made their way into the mall. Sam had never been in a mall before. They walked passed large crowds of teens and parents trying to get their kids approval. Leah waved at someone who was presumably her friend before turning to Diane "oh mom, can we stop in Veronica's closet? I need new underwear"

"I need to go there too" Diane put her hand on Sam's back, guiding him "we need to go to a different clothes store first" they walk through the doors of a store Sam had never heard of before and walked to the boys department. "Ok let's get some new shirts for Sammy and Nicky" Diane clapped her hands softly "I know the kind of thing that Nicky likes, Sammy what do you like?"

"Um.. I like hoodies and graphic t-shirts, and button downs" Sam listed, his hands buried deep in his hoodie pockets.

Benji put his hands on his shoulders "that shirt your wearing is so small you can hulk out of it. So tight" he tightened his grip

"Benj shut it" Sam whispered

"Ok we can work with that, you look like a winter" Leah said, flipping through some button up shirts "what size are you?"

"I don't know.. I'm a what?"

"Well Sammy you look good in blue tones, winter colours" Diane said "also I think you look like a 13, but you can always go to the changing room"

"Half naked in a public changing room!" Teto popped into existence "putting something with other peoples germs on your body" another Teto screamed "someone walks in on you and throws you out of the mens section!!" A third one whaled. Benji swatted them away "Piss off Teto, the mum knows what she's on about. It'll be ok"

"Sammy?" Leah called "you ok?" She asked, already holding a few shirts and t-shirts"you kinda had a glazed over eyes thing going on"

"Uh yeah! I was just.." he took his hands out of his pockets"trying to remember what size I am"

"That's ok, well I think these would look great on you" Leah said showing Sam what she'd found. There was a baby blue button up with a darker blue star pattern, another button up that was teal, a Pokémon graphic t-shirt with snorlax on it, and another graphic t-shirt with little headphones all over it "do you like Pokémon? I just assumed most boys like it"

Sam smiled "yeah, I like Pokémon. I also like batman and video games and astronomy and dinosaurs.. sorry" he puts his hands in his pockets "rambling, yes I like them"