Bowie didn’t have time to dwell on that as Kari was a force of nature when shopping. Bowie tried on four different suits that Kari had picked out when Bowie wandered around the store, finding the choices overwhelming. Going with Kari’s suggestion of the brown one when it fit the best, Bowie wasn’t surprised when he saw the price. He winced at how much that would take out of his savings, except Kari didn’t so much as blink twice as he swiped his credit card without a word.
Bowie rarely thought about money, he was careful and budgeted to make sure he had enough for his bills. What was left he split up into a savings account and his general one. It’s what he’d always done to reduce his stress. Just watching Kari roam and pick up stuff randomly without checking price tags brought with it the realization he was rich—like, mega rich.
He got the hot sweats. “I don’t need anything else. I have ties and shirts.”
Kari gave him a bright smile and continued to pick stuff up. “Yes, but it won’t harm to get a new shirt and tie to go with the suit.”
And that was how Bowie found himself back at the car with both, and a new pair of shoes that Kari had got excited over. It was impossible to say no when Kari looked so happy. Bowie never got happy over shoes.
Kari helped him pack the bags in the trunk. Expecting to get back in, he was surprised when Kari locked the car and once more took hold of his hand. Kari guided him in the direction of the toy store.
“Have you ever been to Toy World before? It’s one of my favorite places to come and toy shop.”
Were they going inside?Bowie glanced around anxiously, sure everyone was staring at him. They were grown-ups with no children, wouldn’t it be obvious why they were in there? Back were the hot sweats, accompanied by a dry mouth when he really wanted to go in and check out all the toys. He’d only ever bought his teddies and toys online.
“No one is worried about what we’re doing.” Kari kissed the side of his head, encouraging him inside. “This is about having fun, but if it gets too much, then we can leave.”
A nervous glance around proved Kari spoke the truth. People weren’t paying them any attention, and the desire to explore dominated his shyness. He squeezed Kari’s hand tightly.
“No… I want to look around.”
The reward was a smile that left Bowie with a heady sense of invincibility that he used to explore. Once he got going, Bowie admitted he got carried away when Kari got a shopping cart to put things in.
Teddies, squishies, plushies, along with Ty babies in all sizes, all held his attention. The section of cuddly toys was by far the biggest in the shop. The shelves went so high they made Bowie dizzy looking up at the top.
“How do they get those ones down from up there?”
“A stepladder,” answered Kari. “Why, is there one up there you want?”
He shook his head, glancing at the cart and what he’d already got in it. It held an array of different types, colors and sizes of Squishmallow’s and Ty babies. He was being greedy, he should stop now.
He gnawed on his bottom lip, looking longingly at the super large Ty, Nessa. Her name was so cute, as cute as her. A rainbow of colors covered its back, it had an orange tummy, a green face and a pink head. It also had navy blue antennas and six little legs poking out the front. They were so soft, and her eyes begged him to take her home with him.
Kari chuckled and reached up. “I think Nessa needs to come home with us, so you can take good care of her. What do you say, Babycakes?”
Bowie nodded solemnly. “I will Daddy, I promise.” He didn’t snatch, but it was a close call when Kari offered Nessa so he could carry her in his arms.
At the end of the aisle sat a huge purple and green dinosaur, nearly as tall as him. He immediately imagined himself rolling around on the floor with it.
“Oh, Daddy look at him!”
He clutched Nessa in one arm and reached out to stroke a hand down the arm of the dinosaur and made a little roar noise, giggling.
“He’s the mighty Roarer!” he exclaimed, doing his best not to show how sad he was to leave him behind when he could be friends with Nessa and Boo-Boo.
“Is he now?”
Bowie nodded eagerly, and Kari stroked a hand through his hair, ruffling it.
“You are irresistible, do you know that?”
Bowie wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing, so said nothing and gave Roarer a pat before walking off reluctantly.
They went to the checkout when his cart got full. Bowie wasn’t listening to those around him, he was making sure nothing got squished in the bags, while struggling to keep hold of Nessa.
“This afternoon? Yes, we can manage that sir, I just need your address.”
Bowie glanced at Kari and the woman he was talking to at the mention of needing an address. He didn’t understand why the woman wanted to know where he lived. Maybe they had too many bags to fit in the car? His attention returned to the pile, counting in his head. There were ten, would that be too many? He’d be sad if he had to leave any behind.
