Ch10- Argyle and Plaid

The place was an incredible sight. Behind an unassuming storefront there lay one of the biggest rooms David had been in, aside from the food court at the mall, but he hadn’t stayed long enough to take any of that in. Rows upon rows of clothing hung with crude paper signs labeling them as men’s or women’s wear, bins littered the floor and, upon closer inspection, held all sorts of human undergarments, including some strange cup-shaped garments, socks, jewelry in small cardboard boxes and shoes. People sifted through the many different clothes and boxes, some with quiet determination and some with a curious sort of intent; others gathered in groups and would comment and laugh loudly every time they pulled another strangely colored piece of fabric from it’s place on a hanger or hiding spot in a box.

“What is this place?” It was certainly very different from the mall. David observed the people around him as they snatched items like they’d found buried treasure and then stuffed the things into plastic bags before taking their bounty up to the desk at the front, probably to pay.

“It’s called the Op-Shop; it’s a thrift store I found about a year ago. This place has some of the best clothes you’ll find anywhere and the price can’t be beat either! Every now and then they do a special called ‘$1 Bag Day’; everything you can fit into a plastic bag for just a dollar, it’s genius!” Greg responded cheerfully. His mood had lightened considerably and he now looked like a kid in a candy shop. “I told you I was going to help you. You need a new wardrobe before anything else can happen and I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and say you don’t have any money?”

David looked at him with what Greg could only take as a no, though behind his eyes there was a dawning understanding of something quite unique, as if he were starting to make a slue of connections.

“Alright then, lets get started. What do you think, Cat-boy? Are you more of an argyle or plaid kind of guy?”



The late August sun shone down on Mr. Todd’s hunched figure as he worked on his garden throughout the afternoon. Tori lazed on the grass beside him, clearly there only for moral support as the man tenderly stood up and then bent down to try and heave a bag of fertilizer from a wheelbarrow. Standing up with his load, something audibly cracked and he dropped the bag to press a hand to his back. Tori looked up inquisitively at the elderly man.

“Ah! No worries old boy, I guess I’m just not as young as our boy, eh?” he said to the cat as he wiped a gloved hand across his sweating forehead.

“Mr. Todd?”

Turning to see who the voice belonged to, Mr. Todd’s tired face lit up to see Rachel Burns standing, somewhat awkwardly, in his front yard. “Rachel! How are you feeling? Your father said you’d been a bit under the weather lately,” he replied, making sure to not let on what he and Mr. Burns had been talking about.

“I’m doing well, thanks. Um… is David inside?” she asked in a shy voice.

“David? Oh, no. He and your friend Greg left a couple of hours ago. Nice boy, that friend of yours is; I didn’t even know David had made friends yet!” Mr. Todd replied as he tried to bend down to pick up the fertilizer again. A squint of pain doused that idea and he instead walk gingerly to a near-by lawn chair.

“Oh, I see,” she said, sounding a little deflated. Noting Mr. Todd’s recent actions, she continued, “Mr. Todd? Would you like some help in the garden today? I’m free for the rest of the afternoon.”

“Ah, that would be lovely dear, thank you! I just need to get that fertilizer spread before it rains tomorrow. At least, that’s what the radio told me,” he said in a cheery manner, handing her a pair of gardening gloves. She accepted them and began dragging the heavy bag closer to the flowerbed.

“What did you want David for today, if you don’t mind my asking?” Rachel almost knocked the bag over when Mr. Todd’s questions startled her. Why did she want to talk to the boy? Oh, how to explain such an embarrassing situation for her…

“Um… I, uh, haven’t been here in a while so I, uh, just really stopped by to say hi. That’s all, really.” Mr. Todd raised an eyebrow, recognizing the nervous tone of her voice. Tory meowed loudly as if calling her bluff. Rachel, however, didn’t add anything further and instead began spreading the pungent smelling soil around the flowerbed.

“So, when do you leave us for the university?” Mr. Todd asked, purposely changing the subject.

“Oh, only about a week! I arrive next Monday for orientation,” she responded cheerfully. To be honest she hadn’t thought about college much at all these past few weeks. Was it already only a week away?

“Will you be staying on campus?”

“Oh, no. It’s mostly a commuter school and since I live so close there isn’t any point in paying for housing. Though, my dad has hinted at the idea of getting a car for myself, instead of taking the bus all the time.”

“Ah, I forget that you got your license a while back. Though I’m glad to hear that you won’t be leaving us for good, even though you’re an adult now,” Mr. Todd said with a caring smile. He had, after all, watched Rachel grow up and seeing her off to college was a humbling moment. Where had the time gone?

The pleasant small talk continued as Rachel worked and the afternoon waned. Not before long, some familiar voices could be heard and Mr. Todd lifted his head to see the two boys coming up the walkway, some full plastic bags in their hands.

“Oh, uh, I should probably get going. See you later Mr. Todd,” Rachel said after making the split second decision that she really didn’t want to talk to David after all. Mr. Todd was going to call after her but she quickly brushed herself off and began walking away before he could say anything. All he could do is look after her with a worried expression on his face.

Rachel’s escape plan was not foolproof, however, and Greg soon spotted her trying to flee the scene. “Rachel! We were just talking about you!” he said with a smile and an energetic wave so as to make sure she knew they had seen her. Rachel’s heart sunk, having known her cover was blown.

“No we weren’t,” David said but received a subtle elbow to the ribs as a sign to shut up from Greg.

“Oh, hi! Greg, David, I didn’t see you guys there,” she lied. The atmosphere tensed as David avoided her gaze and her face began to grow warm with embarrassment.

“Right… Uh, so this actually works out really well. David, why don’t you tell the nice lady what we talked about?” Greg proposed, shamelessly putting David on the spot. Curious, Rachel watched the strange boy but he still wouldn’t meet her eyes. Quickly growing impatient, Greg tried another jab at the kid’s ribs to emphasize his point, but David was expecting it this time and caught his elbow.

“Stop doing that,” it was a simple response but his tone was dripping with venom that suggested he would rip the kid’s arm out of its socket if he tried that again.

Greg, however, ignored the bite in his voice, “Then tell her.”

“Tell me what?” Rachel asked, becoming impatient herself. Greg glared at David and jerked his head towards Rachel to imply that he needed to start talking. Now.

“I… mmrph…”

“What?”

“Jeeze you’re stubborn! If you don’t tell her than I will and if you think this is a difficult situation now then just wait till I put my own spin on things!” Greg said.

“I’m sorry. There, happy now?!” David said, meeting Rachel’s eyes for only a moment before shooting Greg a death glare.

“Much better. See Rachel? We’re making social progress!” Greg said with a satisfied look plastered on his face.

“Oh, um… thanks, I think.

“Greg, could we talk? Um, I mean just us?” Rachel said with slight blush and a nervous glance at David

“Uh, sure I guess. See ya later, Cat-boy. This was fun, we should do it again sometime soon!” David took the hint and mumbled something that sounded like ‘don’t count on it’ before heading to Mr. Todd’s front door with the various bags in his hands. Mr. Todd was apparently already inside.

“Come on, let’s take a walk,” Rachel said once she was sure that David was out of earshot. She then proceeded to explain to Greg the events of the night they all went to the mall together, but then left separately. Well, she did edit out a few details.

“So that’s what happened, huh?”

“Yeah, that’s what happened…”

Greg silently took in the information about Rachel’s recent break-up and David’s part in it. “Look on the bright side: you can be MY girlfriend now!”

“You’re gay, Greg.”

“Good point. Well, I didn’t like that guy anyhow.”

“Greg, I know you’re trying to make me feel better but… I just feel like I’ve wronged him. Nothing actually happened, so why should Jason have to think it did? It would tear me up if I had thought that he did something like that to me, so I can only imagine how he must be feeling. I need to make this right; do you understand?” she asked.

“Rachel, I love you so I’m going to be perfectly honest with you– I think the best thing for you right now is a break from the wonderful world of men. You’re a great girl and you deserve much better than that soccer-head– ”

“Greg!”

“AND even if you two are meant to be together, which I highly doubt, but whatever, THEN you will have a clear head going into it and you guys can pick up right from where you left off.”

Rachel pondered his proposal for a few moments before responding with, “ I guess you’re right. I suppose I’ll just lay low for a bit and relax.”

“Lay low? Hun I didn’t say you had to turn into an old maid, I just said to take a break from dating! No! We should be partying! You’re about to enter the fantastical world of college and we need to celebrate!”

“Celebrate? Celebrate what? None of us are leaving the area for school,” Rachel said, slightly confused with where Greg suddenly got all this energy.

“Doesn’t matter. The party will be tomorrow night, my place. Invite the gang, sans soccer-head, and wear something real cute!”

“Should I invite David?”

“Leave the subject of Cat-boy to me, we have an agreement,” Greg said with a smile that sent shivers down Rachel’s spine. What in the world could he have meant by that?