Jay's Pageant                 by: Janell Stevens

 

Chapter 3: Shopping for Kellie

Jay had purchased clothes as gifts for his mother and other girls before, but somehow the day’s events left him much more self-conscious. Past experience in shopping for his mother had convinced him that it was more difficult to build up the courage to walk into the ladies department to buy something if he loitered around beforehand, so instead of circling the department store he went straight to the shop and walked over to the nearest sympathetic looking saleslady.

"I was in the store last week with my girlfriend, Kellie, and she tried on a skirt and matching sweater that she seemed to like, but it was too expensive for her to buy for herself," he offered.

The salesclerk couldn’t possibly think that he was buying such things for himself, could she. It shouldn’t matter that Jay was about the same size as his beautiful classmate Cynthia; maybe just a bit taller, and possibly a little smaller build than his own girlfriend Kellie. And his hands and feet were somewhat small for a man.

"Kellie’s birthday is next week," he continued, "so I would like to get the outfit for her. It was over near this wall last Wednesday. I hope the displays haven’t been moved around because I am not sure if I will recognize the exact outfit." Jay thought if he appeared somewhat apathetic, the clerk would be certain that he was shopping for ‘Kellie’.

"Over in this corner, huh, I don’t believe anything has been moved since we put up the display for the new fashion season. I remember some cute sweater sets over here that she might like. If you describe your girlfriend it might help," she said while noting that Jay seemed a bit young an quite nervous to be buying clothes for a girlfriend.

"She’s about 5’ 6" or 5’ 7" and I think size 8/10, kinda busty, but not heavy. Does that sound right, I always get women’s sizes confused?"

"About your height, huh, maybe just a bit shorter? Well it’s a common size. What are the colors of her hair and eyes?"

"Cynthia’s eyes are blue and her hair is a dark blonde color, like yours, and she has fair skin but can tan in the summer."

The salesclerk noted that the name of his girlfriend had suspiciously changed during the conversation. "Your hair is a dark blonde as well," she added. "Sounds like you could be brother and sister. Tell me more about ‘her’. What colors does she like to wear? Is it for work or casual wear?"

At this point Jay seemed to lose all control, creating a completely fictitious life for his friend Kellie/Cynthia, an amalgam of the two girls and himself, unconsciously shifting his weight back and forth between his legs, just as he noticed Cynthia doing when she wore a skirt and heels.

"She likes to wear black a lot and solid colors, not many patterns or prints, usually dresses and skirts. She works as a part-time receptionist in her father’s law office and always must look attractive and professional to clients entering the office. She likes to get dressed up outside of work as well, to look a little more mature." He then realized it was his mother who’s a lawyer, and at times she would ask him to help around the office with filing or some easy paperwork over the weekend or school holidays. Kellie’s parent often kept her dressed as if she was an Amish schoolgirl. In fact, it was unclear if her parents would even let her wear his gift.

"OK, well this might be the section we’re looking for", ending up at what seemed to be the same display Jay and Kellie had visited earlier that week when a different sales clerk was in the department. "These outfits can be dressy or casual, depending on the accessories, and the skirt length is a bit short for some, but still very appropriate for the office. Also, not short enough to make her feel self conscious", the clerk added, pulling one of the hangers from the rack and holding the skirt up to her waist to demonstrate it’s length.

Jay remembered that Cynthia had a very similar outfit that was always his favorite. As he moved closer to get a better look at the garment, the saleslady instinctively held the skirt to his small frame to indicate its length as she would usually do for her customers before noting the obvious awkwardness of the situation and pulling it away. It really would fit the boy if he were so inclined, she thought, and it’s his color as well. He is far too young to be buying this for a girlfriend that works as a secretary. He can barely be in high school himself, she thought.

"The sweater itself is quite nice and can be worn separate with jeans or slacks for a casual look, or even with a contrasting skirt, like the great black leather skirts we have over there, but you wouldn’t want to have one piece dry cleaned more than the other or they soon won’t match. The waistband on the skirt provides just enough stretch for comfort, but you should accentuate the waistline by drawing it in with a belt. What do you think?"

"That sure looks like what she tried on last week. I’m almost certain," Jay said trying his best to look a bit disinterested and lost. "Do you still have her size available?"

"Right here", she indicated as she pulled the sweater set from the size ten area of the display, and again bringing it to her waist to show where the skirt would fall. "I think any young lady would really like such an outfit, especially with her colors. You are such a nice young man shopping for your girlfriend. I wish my husband were more like you, and take the time to buy me clothes as a present. He’s far too easily embarrassed by such girly things to shop in this department. He even hates to walk through the Lady’s Department with me when I’m shopping, and he will walk around the lingerie section, and never offers his opinion on when I ask what he likes", she said.

"I’ll take the outfit. Maybe your husband is just scared of giving the wrong answer. Sometimes you have to be careful even when offering a woman a compliment. To me it seems that women can be a bit more honest with each other, at least when friends are shopping together." The saleslady walked over to the register and began to remove the hanger and fold the sweater and skirt into a gift box.

"You said something about her being able to wear this set to work or just out for a date, depending on her accessories?"

"Shoes and a choice of hosiery would probably be important in dressing up or down, but that’s a bit impractical as a gift, unless you know her size," which Jay did. "I guess one of these belts would go well or you might get her some jewelry," she added. "We also have several other dressy skirt sets that are similar in style, but could make a great additional gift, since I now have a better idea about her taste."

"I think she wears a size 8Min shoes. Since it’s her birthday, I want to go all out. So let’s look at the other outfits."

Jay had to pay cash for the clothes since he didn’t even have a checking account, let alone a credit card. One hour later, the saleslady and Jay had finished picking out a second outfit for Kellie, with various matching accessories, effectively spending his entire savings from last summer in one afternoon.

"I think this tone of cream hose would go quite nicely with the first outfit," she said taking the counter display and pressing it against his smooth arm to demonstrate the final skin tone." To alleviate his discomfort, Jay essentially agreed with every suggestion that she made, including the two outfits, two pairs of mid-heeled pumps, one in black and the other in taupe, two belts, and various shades of designer pantyhose. Although convinced that Jay had no intention to get his purchases gift rapped, the saleslady gave him directions anyway as he left her department.

"Don’t lose the receipt", she said. "Your girlfriend can always return the purchases if they don’t fit. Please come back if you ever need any help picking things out again. My name is Rhonda," as she handed him her business card, Rhonda Hunter, Sales Consultant, Misses and Women’s Separates. "I’m sure you will want to get her something for Christmas in a couple months."

 

 

 

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© 2001 by Janell Stevens. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.