flannels

the store

she walked around the same aisle for the fifth time. " um, miss? " a salesman asked her, she looks up, " you've been circling this area for the fifth time, and this section of clothes are for men, " he said gesturing to her. in her mind, she rolled her eyes.

" well, i say i can wear clothes from any sex, is that a crime? " nelia hoped she didn't anger the man. he looked at her one last time and left her alone for her shopping.

she took a pile of clothes- mainly flannel with different colours and went to the register. he gave her a look, what-the-actual-fuck.

" wow, a variety of clothes a guy would wear, " he said to her tapping the counter. " well there's nothing wrong is there? " she told him. he started to scan the barcode of her chosen clothes. nelia looked around and waited until he was finish.

" $350, " and she did what she always do, pay the amount and run off, her items bouncing inside the big brown paper-bag, leaving him dazed.

nelia finds herself outside of the shopping mall, she walks and to take a taxi. the queue was long, like a snake with people on their phones or just waiting and tapping on something.

the place was lively, with bright lights dangling from the ceilings and people roamed around the place. well, its close to christmas, she thought and shrugged. she saw someone running and pointing towards her, hollering, " hey! you dropped one of your man-clothes on the way! "

nelia looked everywhere except at him, and when he finally stood at the her side, he held out his arm holding her black-and-white flannel, waving it. " are you going to take it or not? " he asks her, but she still remains stubborn.

" i can take this back, it won't be yours anymore, " he says a little bit louder, but again, stubborn. " fine, then! i take it you don't want it anymore! " he shouts and slowly starts stomping to the direction of the store. " well, i didn't say anything! " she said to herself, quite loud enough for him to turn around.

he rolls his eyes and starts dragging his feet back to the taxi line. " well, i don't want to look bad in front of a customer, here you go, " he tosses her the flannel.

she glances at his name tag, robert.