Banished To Earth Book One (15)

63

“Yeah we pretty much need everything a girl wears.” Chase quickly inserted.

“Dear,” she glanced over at Pry, her eyes narrow and questioning, “you only have the shirt?”

“Yes. It’s my first. You like it?”

“Your first? Really?” She eyed Chase as she spoke.

“Yes. I have never worn clothes, never needed them, until now.” Pry interjected.

“Until now?”

“I lost my drape, but Chase ….”

“Yeah, we had a fire,” Chase interjected. “She loves to talk. Pry, this nice lady doesn’t need to know our life story.”

“But it is a good story, an old story.”

“Ma’am, she needs bras, panties, dresses, shoes.” Chase’s face was red again.

Meryl glanced over at Pry, saw nothing but innocent delight in her face.

“Okay. Dear, what’s your cup size?”

“Cup, I have never needed a cup.”

A wistful smile brightened Meryle’s face, “You will missy, I promise. You will. Yer’ new here aren’t ya’. Got a odd accent. Live ‘round here? English don’t sound like your firs’language .”

…’is it your’s lady…’ Chase thought but dared not say. “I am from here, but she’s..”

“From very far away,” Pry answered.

“Uh-huh. You say you got nuthin’ under that shirt?”

“He made me wear it. But I am quite comfortable without it. Not at all cold.”

Myrle pressed her lips together. Chase could tell she was formulating another question.

“You know what. I think we can figure this out, really appreciate the help though.” With that, he ushered Pry away from Meryle. 

64

   “Did I say something wrong?”

“No Pry, you did fine. But we need to avoid nosy people.”

“Her nose was too big?”

“Yeah, it kinda was.”

“It looked small to me.”

“Too many questions and I don’t have any good answers.”

 She shrugged as Chase rushed past the lingerie aisle and made their way toward the dresses.  

    Chase grunted. “Petite. You're really, petite.” He glanced down at her, maybe we should go to the little girls' department.”

  “I am not a child.”

 “But you are …”

 A giggle followed by the swishing of cloth snagged his attention and jerked his head around. “Who’s there!” he demanded.

   “I’m so sorry.”   

  His shoulders drooped as a sigh escaped his clenched body.

  “Nikkie, get out of that dress rack.”

  Pry spun around and found herself staring down at a pretty young woman squatting near a strangely animated tree of dresses, a few feet to her right.

  Chase blushed, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” 

“Yell,” The pretty young woman replied, “don’t worry you didn’t. Nikkie, listen to Mommie, get out from under those dresses. You’re bothering these nice people.”

An adorable little girl, about seven years old, popped out of a curtain of clothes. A tousled mop of black curls bounced atop a plump angel- faced child dressed in pink corduroy overalls and bright green sneakers.

  “Look, Mommie, she's almost as small as me.”

  Pry dropped to her knees. “Now I’m just as small as you,” her face beamed with delight.

 

65

    “I’m Nikkie Moran,” the tot proudly announced and this is my Mommie, Beth, not supposed to call her that. But that’s okay. I don’t want to anyway.”

    Chase eyed the neatly dressed young mother, “Ah, Ya know my wife’s wardrobe really needs a lady’s touch, which I hain’t got.”

   Beth smiled sweetly, pressing her lips together as if she were pinching off words. Chase could tell she was in full agreement.

   “So…” Beth began. Her wariness was obvious.

“I’m sorry, my name is Chase. Chase Gillette, and this is my wife Pry.”

  “Dear,” Beth stood and turned toward Pry. “So, you’re not a lady?” Chase could tell Beth was half -teasing and feeling them out.

  “I am Crychee.”

   “Oh, sounds native American. But you don’t look, so sorry that came off so racist.”

 “I’m from a distant…”

Chase quickly intervened. “Place, a very distant, faraway place. Come on, Pry.”

  She started to rise, but Nikkie grabbed her hand. “Mommie, I like her.”

  Now Beth was blushing. “Nikkie! You can’t just grab people. So sorry.”

   “Oh no, I like Nikkie too.” Pry was still kneeling.

    “Tell you what,” Chase said, “you and Nikki can help Pry pick out clothes,” he bit his lip, “she needs everything, and I’ll just sit by the dressing room and try really hard not to look too pervy.”

  “What’s pervy Mommie?”

Beth rolled her eyes at Chase. “Okay. We can do that.”

 “Great and you pick out something for yourself and Nikkie if you like.”

“You don’t have to…” Her features clouded. “Well…Things have been tight lately.”

  “Daddy’s in a big house.”

 

66

   “Oh, okay…nuff said. Sorry.” Chase scanned the area for a chair and was happy to notice one not too far away in the shoe department. “Now remember what I said about, you know.”

  “Boys and men,” Pry said, still holding Nikkie’s hand.

 “Oh, you get hit on a lot.”

“No one hits me, Beth.” Pry’s words were hard as nails and twice as sharp.

 Beth sucked in a quick, deep breath. “Good for you, sweetie, good for you.” A nervous