Clowns- a short story

Part two

He got off the train after four stops and rushed up the almost identical, still perpetually broken, escalators. He came out into the chilly though sunny air and shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. The walk to Party City took Jaxson about five minutes. He walked purposely slow, dragging his Nike sneakers slightly on the pavement. He stopped at an intersection and sighed, putting his head in his hands. "Why did I agree to this bullshit," he murmured. When the light turned green, Jaxson crossed the street  and then the crowded parking lot teeming with last minute Halloween shoppers.
He opened the door and went into the store. The floor was covered with discarded costumes, either too big or too small, and confetti for parties. Most of the hangers were empty or just missing.  All that was left in the aisle were flimsy ghost sheets, a witch's hat, a clown's nose, and by some miracle, a full clown suit. Jaxson quivered and his eyes got wide. He gingerly picked up the hanger, as if he was handling a snake, checked the price, pulled out his wallet, checked his money, and then walked back to the cash register. Manning the register was a small, thin man with a thin little beard and beady black eyes. Over the place where the man's nose would've been was a red clown's nose. Clown costumes had been on huge selling roll that year. Jaxson had seen an advertisement for them that morning on the way to the school bus. Jaxson gingerly put the suit on the counter.
"Um, excuse me sir," Jaxson said quietly, "I want to buy this clown suit please. How much money is it?"
¨What's wrong kid? You seem a little shaky¨
"Yeah. I hate clowns. My friend is making me" Jaxson's head drooped slightly, his eyes were trained at the floor and he started chewing his lower lip.
"It's fine that you are. I'm scared of 'em too. Don't worry about the clown suit"
"Err... Thanks?"
The empathetic moment over, shopkeeper gestured at Jaxson to leave the store. He stuffed the costume into his bag as soon as possible and walked back to the metro. He got off three stops later and walked three blocks to Amos's house. Amos's house was in the middle of a small suburban neighborhood. His house was middle sized with two floors plus a basement. He stopped for a moment on the sidewalk  and  glanced back with longing in his eyes. Then Jaxson walked up to the red painted door and pressed the plug-like bell. The faint sound of chimes was heard outside in the blustery October air then a soft pattering of feet on the carpeted  stairs.  A loud click, and the door opened to reveal a young girl, Amos's sister Caroline. Caroline was 13 and had hazel eyes, light brown skin and dark brown hair like her brother. She stared at him before saying, "Hi Jaxson. Amos told me you were comin'."
"Yeah. Can I come in?" She moved aside.
"He's downstairs."
"Thanks."
Jaxson walked into the house and opened the door that Caroline showed him. A dark staircase led down to a padded carpet covered basement with a TV, Xbox, and a dusty treadmill. Amos reclined in one of the easy chairs in front of the bright TV playing Grand Theft Auto. The chair swiveled around to face Jaxson. Jaxson grinned lazily.
"'Sup, Jaxi boy. Good of you to come around. You got the clown suit, scaredy cat?"
"Yeah."
The friends spent the rest of the afternoon playing video games, interrupted only by Amos's parents who had come to say hi to Jaxson. Too soon, it started getting dark out.
Amos turned off the Xbox and said, "Time to get scaring Jaxi."
"Fine" His voice got slightly high pitched at the end the word.