Sentimental Institution
Chapter 1
So how did this all begin? To answer this, we need to go back about a week or two, and a frustrating Saturday afternoon Christmas shopping spree for John and Helen. After a couple of hours, being dragged round countless clothes shops and shoe shops by Helen, John was beginning to get more than a little fatigued, and with the handles of the heavily laden carrier bags digging into his hand, his patience was beginning to wear thin.
"Can't we call it a day?" protested John.
"Just one more item" said Helen. "That perfume. What's it called now? I can't remember. Advertised on the telly. I'll know it when I see it." Helen led John towards the perfume department.
"Look, these bags are getting heavy!" John went on.
"I told you we should have brought the car" said Helen.
"That's not our way" said John. "Why drive when you can jaunt?"
"Okay then, just jaunt home with the shopping, and come back" said Helen.
"In the middle of a crowded department store?" said John. "Don't you want to alert the press first?"
"You're not offering me any solutions, John" said Helen. "Just five more minutes, I promise."
"Okay, but after that we go home" said John, just as they approached the perfume counter." Helen scanned the range of perfumes on the shelves for something to trigger her memory. "Why don't you just ask TIM what it's called?"
"We can't depend on TIM for everything, you know. Honestly, I think that computer's making you pain lazy!" said Helen, just as she was approached by an assistant.
"Hello, can I help you?" asked the assistant.
"I hope so" said Helen, reading the name on the assistant's badge, "Romy. There's an advertisement on television, but I can't remember the name of the perfume. It's the one with that singer. Oh, what's her name?"
"I think I know what you mean" said Romy. "It's called Mischief."
"That's it!" said Helen, as Romy went to the shelf to collect a sample of Mischief.
"Great!" said John. "Can we go home now?"
"Soon" said Helen, as Romy sprayed a little onto a sample stick and presented it to Helen. "Oh, it's a bit strong."
"I've got something else here that's not so overpowering" said Romy. "It's called Seran." Romy sprayed a little onto a sample stick and presented it to Helen. Suddenly, without warning, she sprayed John in the face with the perfume. John recoiled as the perfume stung his eyes."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Sir" said Romy. "I don't know what made me do that!"
"What do you think you're doing!" said Helen. "You could have blinded him!"
"Helen, don't exaggerate!" said John. "I'm okay! No harm done."
