Jeff's Angel

While Mandy was getting ready for our big shopping trip, I was reading the email Jeff sent me about a rapist who had abducted two women from our local Wal-Mart. One of the women was rapped the other got away while he was attempting to rape her. The email said these attacks occurred late at night but to be aware of surroundings and to avoid going out at night alone if you are a woman. Nice. It was currently 3 PM about 95 degrees and brilliantly sunny. Mandy and I were planning on going to the an outlet mall that had the Gap, Old Navy, etc. Stores we had not been to in years.

Driving down the road, in my little black car with the crappy air conditioning Mandy decided that she really had to go to the Wal-Mart. That the outlet mall which is about a 1/2 hour drive away was just too much for her. I tried to dissuade her but, she was insistent. We pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot and I started to park in my usual spot, out in B.F.E. I slowed down and started to pull into the spot. Changed my mind and continued on. I was slowly driving past every car in the lot, looking in the cars, looking between the cars. I was looking for the rapist. Mandy asked me what I was doing and would I park the car, as it was 500 degrees in my little black car, whose air conditioning takes at least 30 minutes to penetrate the heat of the car. I explained to her about the rapist. She told me she would have my back and to please park the car.

So we went into the store. I was looking every man in that store right in the eye, you know staring them down. Like, I see you. By this time I was sure that I was going to find the rapist and take him down myself. How dare he soil my Wal-Mart in my pretty little town. I think I am going to get the neighbors together and we are going to stake out this parking lot and take this guy down. Too many Stephanie Plum novels I am thinking.

Mandy gets me to concentrate on the task at hand. Mandy really and truly hates shopping. She enters the clothing section and exclaims there is nothing here for her. I find a couple of items she is willing to try on. Then I continue to go rack to rack finding items that would fit Mandy and would possibly be appropriate and to her liking for her very first job interview. She has had jobs before but none of them had an official interview first. I bring the items to the dressing room, she directs me what to look for, I look some more. I am Mandy's personal shopper, which works for us. I don't really know what she will do when she grows up? Hopefully she is rich enough to hire someone. Or she takes me with her even as an adult.

This is the outfit that Mandy chooses, chocolate trousers, a blue button down shirt, and chocolate chucks. I take her to the interview and I am banished to the parking lot of the grocery store while she interviews. Even though I have shopping to do, I sit in the little black car in the 5000 degrees of heat with no shade. I brought along some homework reading materials. We arrived 10 minutes early and I imagine I will be stuck in the little black car for an eternity. I am however, unable to read my things. I am engrossed into watching all the people entering and exiting the store. They come in all shapes and sizes. All walks of life. So mesmerizing. With a small child I cannot remember the last time I was able to sit still and just watch life. I am not the only one in Mississippi who need a diet.

Mandy returns to the car in short order. A large stack of papers in her hand. She has the job, pending the results of a drug test. Today I will take my baby to pee in a cup in front of strangers. Mandy is so upset my this invasion of her privacy. But, so excited to have such a great job. She really and truly wanted to be a cashier at this grocery store, and she got it, yeah Mandy.

The store uniform is a white polo shirt and khaki pants, if only I listened to you people about the what to wear for the interview I wouldn't have to go and buy her more clothes. Oh and they caught the rapist without my help. Maybe Charlie needs another angel?