Sleight of Hand [Show 'em Who's Boss #1]

17: Amaxophobia

Mary had been given some money for Christmas, so I decided to take her shopping one day when Jakob had work. On the train and bus there Mary kept chattering happily to me. She was really excited about our shopping trip because she'd never had money of her own to spend on whatever she wanted. She could barely contain her excitement and it made me so happy to see her like that.

She spent the morning dragging me into all the little kids' shops, trying on as many outfits as she could carry in her tiny arms. She only had £20 pounds to spend but I had told her that if she saw absolutely anything she wanted then I would buy it for her. I felt the need to make up for Jakob's lack of presence. All she wanted was her big brother back but no matter how many times I told him that, he wouldn't change his ways. So instead I found myself being the big sister to Mary.

Despite the fact that I constantly reminded her that she could get whatever she wanted and I'd pay for it, she often put things back that she wanted because she didn't want to take my money. Clearly she'd been brought up well by her mother, there was no way Jakob would have taught her those manners. In the end I picked up everything Mary put back and went to the till to pay for them. She protested each time, saying that I shouldn't spend so much money on her, but I ignored her with a smile. I wanted to buy her these things. I wanted to see her face light up with a beautiful smile. She deserved to be happy.

As we were trying to find somewhere for lunch loaded up with hundreds of bags, Mary grabbed hold of my arm and made me stop walking and pointed up to the ceiling. Lots of different balloons were attached to rainbow ribbons, held by a man in a funky brightly coloured suit. He looked a bit like a clown without all the freaky makeup.

"Look at the balloons, Ebony," said Mary, still pointing at them.

"They're cool, do you want one?" I asked her. She quickly shook her head. "Don't be silly. I know you want one. Which one's your favourite?"

"I like the red elephant one. It's my favourite colour and animal!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

"Okay, we'll come back for it when we've finished shopping," I explained before leading her onwards to Pizza Hut.

As we ate lunch Mary chirped happily about every single item I'd bought for her today. She had a whole new wardrobe as well as some awesome toys. I was shocked but pleased when she chose a set of Avengers action figures over some odd looking dolls with no noses. She told me how Thor is her favourite because he has pretty hair. She also laughed and said that Loki looks a bit like Jakob. He really doesn't look like Loki though. I guess they have the same hair colour but that's as far as the similarities go.

After lunch we decided that it was my turn to have a look around the shops. I didn't plan on taking too long because Mary was getting a little tired and bored. When I tried on a couple of dresses she smiled and said that I looked like a princess but she wasn't nearly as enthusiastic as she had been. It was quite a long day for her.

I headed into one last shop, telling her it will definitely be the last one and then we'd go home. As I was browsing through a shelf of plaid shirts I realised that something was very wrong. Mary was nowhere in sight. Immediately I began to panic.

"Mary?" I yelled but she didn't run up to me, apologising for straying too far away. I ran frantically around the whole shop but couldn't find her anywhere so I left and began to run between each shop, glancing through every shop display window to look for her. It seemed hopeless though. The shopping centre was just too big. She could have been anywhere.

My mind jumped back to what my father told me about rival gang members wanting to kidnap and question me. An easy way to lure me to them would've been to take Mary. I'd do anything to save her, I'd even risk my own life for her, and that's saying something because I'm generally such a selfish person. If someone had taken her then they could easily get me to tell them anything just to save her. I don't care if it means destroying my father's business in the process. In fact, that would be brilliant.