The local mall was only a thirty-minute walk from my house, but Calvin was so amazed by everything he made us stop every other minute. As we would walk, he would become fascinated by even the smallest of things. Like a stoplight or a bus stop. He was confused why people were both sitting there waiting, but it made sense to him when the light changed, or a bus showed up. He was like a child; seeing the world for the first time. He would always be pointing at something and asking what it was.

"Is this the place?" Calvin asked as we approached a building.

The mall was big, but over the years, people stopped coming. Most of the store spaces were empty. The mall was great when it started a decade ago, but it started to decline.

"Yeah," I said as I steered him towards JcPenny's. Normally, I never shopped here since it was too expensive, but there was a sale going on and I figured why not. We'll get cheaper shoes here.

We enter the store and its nearly deserted. Perhaps many people didn't know about the sale going on, because usually when there were it would be packed. Calvin was still holding my hand as I led him over to the shoes.

"See anything you like?" I asked as I gestured around us.

Calvin looked around and his eyes fell on the shoes in front of him. "What are these?"

"Those are sneakers," I tell him as I picked up the display. "They're for running and playing sports."

"They are hideous," he stated with distaste.

I laughed, but I agreed with him. I reached over to the opposite side of the isle. "How about a pair of boots? It's getting colder and these will keep your feet warm."

Calvin looked over the pairs and touched a pair of brown leather boots. "These ones will do."

I nodded and then led him to sit down on a chair before reaching into my purse and tossing him a pair of socks. "Put these on and I'll size your feet."

"What?"he questioned as he tugged the socks on.

I sighed and grabbed the shoe sizer that was lying on the floor nearby. "You put your foot in this and it tells you what size shoe you are." I bend down and put his foot on the metal. After sliding a few rods, I push myself off the floor and go to get him a pair of size nines. There was only one of his size left and I took the box back and handed them to him. "Try these on."

Calvin did as I said and shoved his feet in the shoes. He had a hard time figuring out how to lace them, but I instructed him on how to do it right. After a few attempts of tying the knot, Calvin was walking around the shoe section trying them out.

"I like these," he said as he looked down at his feet with a smile. "My father owned a pair of boots, but they weren't nice like these ones."

"What was your father's name?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Charlie,"he told me. "He was the head of our family farm. I was next in line to takeover...but that didn't happen."

"I'm sorry," I tell him.

"That's alright. My little brother probably took over. He was better at farming than me," he told me. "Where to next?"

I paid for Calvin's shoes at the register in the shoe department, and then tossed the empty box in a nearby trashcan along with the flip flops. Those would not have been missed. I led Calvin to the men's section of the store to look at the clothes.

"What's your favorite color?" I asked him as he stared down a mannequin.

"Blue," he said as he glanced at me before returning his gaze to the hunk of plastic in front of him. "This thing is shaped like me, but it isn't like me. What is it?"

"It's nothing to be afraid of," I tell him as I steer him away from the mannequin to a rack of clothes. "Go through these shirts here and grab what you like and what looks like will fit you. Grab either a medium or large if you aren't sure.I'm going to go get the measuring tape that's kept near the pants. Will you be okay if I'm gone for a few minutes?"

Calvin nodded slowly. "Yes, I think I will be okay. I won't move from this spot."

"Okay," I say as I start to walk towards the pants. Before I turned the corner, I turned and took one last glance to make sure he was still there. Calvin was still looking at me with uncertainty on his face. I gave him a small smile before turning the corner.

The pants weren't that far from where we were, but I felt uneasy about leaving Calvin alone. I knew it would be quicker if I just rush over to get the measuring tape and then be back in a minute.

The measuring tape was laying neatly on a hook on the wall. I snatched it and started to walk back to Calvin, but when I was about to turn the corner, I heard voices.

"So, you want to take me out some time?" asked a familiar voice. I turned the corner and nearly gagged at what I was seeing. Mia and her group of mindless robots were hanging all over Calvin. Calvin, who looked completely uncomfortable, stood there with Mia clutching to his arm and purring in his ear. "Come on, I'll show you a good time. What's your name?"

"Calvin," he stated as he cleared his throat. "Please go. I'm here with someone."

"Don't act like that,Cal," Mia purred as she trailed her hand down his chest. Okay, now I was going to throw up.

I cleared my throat, catching their attention. "Do either one of you skanks have any bleach to pour in my eyes at this unholy sight?"

"Mind your own business. God, even on the weekend I have to see a dumb bitch like you," Mia groaned as she squeezed on Calvin's arm. Calvin's eyes darted from Mia to me, pleading for help.

"Awe, and I thought we were having a moment," I say, mocking her.

"Leave," Mia ordered through clenched teeth.

"What? You really think I'm going to listen to the town bicycle?" I ask with a smirk as I held my ground.

"Town bicycle? How dare you say that to me. Who do you think you are?" Mia spat back.

"Well, at the moment, I'm a concerned citizen," I say as I tilt my head to the side in amusement. "You see, when I see the poster child for abortions hitting up some poor guy in a public place, I get concerned for his safety. As you said, and I quote, 'I'll show you a good time' puts me a little on edge. Are you planning on spreading your STD's?"

"That's it," Mia growls as she lunged forward with her hand in the air, ready to strike me. Calvin though, the gentleman he is, grabbed Mia around the waist and spun her back around to her friends. "What the hell, Cal?"

Calvin walked over besides me and grabbed my hand. Never have I seen Mia looked shocked, but let me tell you it was perfect. She looked absolutely dumbfounded that Calvin was beside me, and the fact that he was holding my hand made her face even more priceless.

"My name is Calvin, and you'll do your best to remember it," he told her firmly.

"You're with that loser?" Mia asked as she pointed to me. "Why?"

"She gave my life meaning again. A sort of purpose, so to say," Calvin said as he looked down at me with a smile, and I blushed a bit.

"But she's ugly," Mia said as if were her last option to getting Calvin to come with her. "I mean look at her."

I looked down at myself and I thought I looked cute. My outfit was on point, my hair was tamed for the most part, and sure I wasn't as skinny as Mia, but what can I say. I like food.

"I think she looks adorable," he said with a smirk as he gave my hand a squeeze. "You on the other hand look..."

"Beautiful?" Mia suggested with a seductive smile. "Sophisticated? Sexy?"

"Ill," he says, and I let out a laugh. "Look at you. I can see your rib cage. Is that considered attractive these days? Malnutrition? Is famine spreading like wild fire around here? And don't get me started on your face."

Mia was red in the face and she looked like she was about to blow. "Let's go girls," Mia said as she stormed off in the opposite direction of us towards the exit. When they were gone, I turned to Calvin.

"Where did you learn to insult people like that?" I asked in amazement.

"There were girls like that back then who couldn't take no for an answer. I had to learn how to defend myself," he said as he gave me a smile, and the he looked at the direction Mia had run off too. "So, that's the infamous Mia. What's her last name?"

"Cater," I tell him, and a flash of familiarity swept across is eyes. "You know that family?"

"Yeah. They were horrible people back then too," he said as he went back to the clothes and held up a blue button-down shirt. "I was looking at this one before those monsters attacked."

"Okay. A formal shirt is a good start. What about casual shirts?" I ask as I hold on to it for him.

"That is casual," he stated. "I wore shirts like these all the time."

"Yes, but that was almost two centuries ago" I tell him with a soft smile. "Are you comfortable in the shirt you are wearing?"

"Yes," he nodded as he felt the shirt with his hand.

"Let's get you some more flannels then. Its fall and that's flannel season," I say as I lead him over a few racks.

"They added a new season?" Calvin asked in confusion. "Is it between fall and winter?"

"It's an expression," I tell him. "Like it's raining cats and dogs."

"Oh, okay," he asked as he started to shift through the rack full of flannels.

After Calvin went to the back to try on the clothes, I got to wait outside of the entrance and wait until he came out. He first stepped outwearing a pair of black skinny jeans and one of the flannels. The pants were fine, but the flannel wasn't. The seams looked like they were about to burst, and his navel was showing. That's how we learned he wore a large.

After Calvin's little modeling show, I helped him carry his clothes up to the front register. As we were walking, we walked past the woman's section, Calvin stopped. Something had caught his attention.

"Rose, look," Calvin said as he started to walk into the lady's section and stopped in front of a rack, but I couldn't see what he was looking at.

"You want a dress?" I asked as I attempted to look over his shoulder.

"What? No. For you," he says as he holds up a dress.

The dress was white with red roses all over it. It was about knee length, and it puffed out a little towards the bottom. In the middle of it was a white satin ribbon that went around the waist. It was beautiful.

"Try it on," Calvin exclaimed as he handed it to me and somehow shifted all the things I was carrying into his arms.

"What? Why?" I asked as I eyed the dress in my hands.

"Because I tried on clothes for you, so you owe me," he stated with a smug smile.

"Is this revenge because I made you try on those hideous baggy pants?" I chuckle as I remember him walking out with a frown on his face.

"Not really," he shrugged. "I thought this dress would suit you and I'm wondering if I'm right."

"Do I have to?" I sigh as I looked down at the dress.

"Yes,"he nodded with a smile on his face. I groan as I walk dramatically to the dressing room. Calvin stopped just outside of the doorway, giving me a grin as I walked into the changing room.

After I lock the door and hung up the dress, I strip down to my underwear. The dress that Calvin had handed me was my size and I wondered how he knew. Probably just a lucky guess. I zipped the dress up and looked at myself in the mirror.

I looked weird. Dresses were never my thing and I only owned one, and it was my funeral dress. With a sigh, I unlocked the door and made my way back to Calvin, so he could laugh in my face.

The moment I reached Calvin, I cleared my throat and he looked up. His jaw dropped to the floor.

"Wow," he said as he walked over to me and grabbed my hands, then held them out. "You look beautiful."

"I thought I was adorable?" I joked as I recalled what had happened only a half hour ago.

"You should get that dress," he stated as he looked me up and down. "You look great."

"You think so?"I asked as I weighed the options of this dress. "Well, it is on sale."

"That's my girl," he says as he reached and stuck both of his hands on the side of my head, shaking them to mess up my hair.

"No," I groan as I try to flatten my hair. "Why would you do that? Jerk." I turnaround and head back to the changing room with Calvin laughing behind me.