"Go back there and try them on," I said, motioning to the changing room. Karen looked appalled. I remembered this was a first-time visit and Karen required hand-holding. "It's a dressing room designed to see if things fit. There's a curtain for privacy."
"That's okay," she said too quickly. "I'm sure the size is right." She held a top up against herself as if to demonstrate. I didn't push her. Instead I reached over and smoothed the top across her shoulders. It fit adequately but in doing so, I realized Karen wasn't wearing a bra.
"You don't wear a bra yet?"
"Sarah!" she cried in alarm, glancing around to see if we were overheard.
"You should. Your breasts are coming along nicely." She put her hands to her face and turned away. "Come on," I said, grabbing her hand. "We're going to fix that oversight." I half-dragged her to the lingerie department. I could clearly see her crimson cheeks as she looked around furtively but no one was nearby.
"Doesn't Mrs. Doberchek or someone help you with those matters?" I asked as I tried to figure out Karen's size.
"No! We don't discuss our bodies or topics like that." She was barely whispering through clenched teeth.
"I don't suppose I can talk you into trying one of these on," I muttered, tilting my head toward the dressing room.
"God, no! Please, Sarah! Don't you dare hold them up in front of me either!" I set four bras aside and turned to the underwear. "You do wear these, don't you?" I asked, holding up a package of four different colored bikini panties.
"Stop it! You're embarrassing me!"
"Well, do you?"
"Yes, but not so . . . tiny."
"Give 'em a try," I said, adding them to my growing pile.
We ate at a food court. Karen didn't appear to know what to order so I chose chicken sandwiches and coke to move things along. Karen ate with impeccable manors while hungry me wolfed it down. We followed up the meal with an ice cream and as we contentedly licked our double dip treat, I prodded Karen further.
"Isn't there anyone you can talk to about . . . stuff . . . the Birds and the Bees' garbage?"
"God, Sarah! You're awful! I don't want to have this discussion."
"When girls hit a certain age, there're things that happen to their bodies." I was trying to sound somewhat clinical.
She finally blurted out in a harsh whisper, "Yes, I'm having that monthly thing but it's none of your business!"
Stubborn Sarah pushed on. "How do you know about sex and your period and stuff like that if Mrs. Doberchek doesn't discuss it? I can believe Sister Rose is very well versed."