"Thanks. Yes, I run when I get a chance. Lately, I've been lazy." I added, "Karen, we have to talk."
"Can't it wait until after you shop?"
I lacked the courage to push the issue. "Yes. We'll shop and you'll see how much fun store-hopping is."
I picked out my purchases with hardly a look and proceeded to the junior miss department to shop for this intriguing young lady. While Karen expressed no preferences, her ever-telling eyes displayed wonderment at the variety of choices. It was like taking a hermit to a fiesta.
"I don't have money," she said. I would have been less surprised if she produced a top-of-the-line American Express card but if the hired help made all the purchases for you why would you need cash or plastic?
"Pick out anything you like, it's on me," I said, then added, "until my card maxes out." Once again I'd over shot her level common-folk understanding. It took prodding and encouragement but she began to peruse teenage items as if seeing them for the first time. Her taste in style was poor but she had a good eye for matching colors.
"Do regular girls really wear these?" she asked, holding up a pair of baggy jeans. "Why would you buy something frayed or with holes in it?"
It was early and the store was barely open so there were few customers. "Let's have coffee and cocoa and sit and watch what regular girls are wearing these days," I said. "We'll take notes of what's in style and buy it."
She looked troubled. "They might not like some of this stuff," she said.
"Who?"
"Mrs. Doberchek, Sister Rose, the others. My father especially. He likes it when I look nice."
"Bull corn! The only one who matters is you. If you like it, we'll buy it. You're a teenager, almost. You're supposed to be difficult. It's your roll at almost thirteen to give adults a hard time."
It was Saturday and the mall filled with shoppers. Many were young people dressed in a wide variety of sometimes bizarre attire. We laughed together, pretending some private joke as we reviewed the style parade before us. Karen hid her face at some, as she giggled and wailed how embarrassed she'd be to wear such things, and in some cases, bare so much skin. She was shocked at tattoos and piercings. Paul telephoned while we were seated there and gave us a positive update but we cut him short saying we didn't have time to talk! We returned to shopping and settled on two pairs of jeans and three nearly up to date tops.