Chapter 2
After school Bianka waved goodbye to her friends, SMSed her mum saying that she would be home an hour late, and made her way towards the mall nearby.
In her head she replayed her conversation with Indwe:
"Make my own Angel?!"
"Yeah, why not? They only cost about four hundred rand each and you yourself told me the other day that you've got a lot of money you've been saving but don't know what to spend it on." The Xhosa girl with her dark brown skin and braided black hair had always had a very scaringly accurate memory.
"Four hundred! Are they worth it?"
"Of course, I bought one myself at the Angelic Layer's opening last week."
"I...I'll think about it."
Think about it. Please, what was there to think about, Indwe thought sitting in the back seat of her mum's car on the way home. She dug around in her bag and brought out her Angel, Molo. She ignored her mother's theatrical sigh when the doll appeared. Indwe didn't care if her mum thought Angelic Layer was for little girls nor anyone else. The toy was still very new in South Africa and, after a few tournaments and more International coverage on the toys about its popularity overseas, people would stop thinking of it as the next Barbie.
There are so many models! So much to choose from! Bianka was in the new Angelic Layer store that had opened in the mall, there was still a bright neon pink banner hanging outside the shop above the door announcing last week's opening and the store was surprisingly...empty. A few people milled around near the example presentation screen where tapes from Angelic Layer Battle tournaments in England and Japan were being shown. Bianka had stood listlessly in front of that screen almost every day she and her parents came to the mall. Which had only been twice since the opening so far. She sighed but then brightened. Today she would buy her own Battle doll and compete when she was ready! Now just to find an assistant. There! She spotted a bored looking woman in the shop uniform who was keeping a lazy eye over a couple of young boys poking and picking up Angel Eggs.
"Hello," she ventured. "Can you please help me?"
The woman suppressed a yawn and walked towards her. "Yes, how may I help you?"
"I'm considering the purchase of an Angel but I don't exactly know where to start and what I need to buy-"
The shop assistant's mouth hung slightly open. She looked extremely surprised. Then it seemed as if Rand signs were floating in front of her eyes for her face suddenly glowed, her mouth had curled up in a foxish grin and she had gently motioned Bianka towards a shelf.
"We have many models to choose from. I'll name them from least expensive to most: There are of course the original models that were first used in Japan. Then the more durable (but more expensive) models manufactured in China that are made of a rubber like hard resin unlike the Japanese models, then the wooden Angels from Germany, they're surprisingly durable and very light weight. Finally the Glass models made in England by the Japanese Head Angelic Layer designer. Now these ones are the most expensive, made from a fibre-glass like substance, they are strong, heavy weight, and of course durable, that is their parts scarcely have to be fixed or replaced."
With a sweep of her arm she indicated at the shelf of Angel Eggs behind her scattering the group of boys.
"Err..." flabbergasted, Bianka stared depressed and confused at the many models. Finally she asked the dreaded question. "Do they cost a lot? What's the average price range for the wood Angels?"
The woman, Sari was her name, looked aghast at the girl in front of her. Why, oh why did they always have to ask and make their eyes accusingly big like that as if it was her fault the dolls cost so much? Couldn't they read the price tags instead of making her say those dreaded words which left the customer mumbling incoherently at the floor saying they'll think about it and when you turn your back they slink out of the store vowing never to return.
Her shoulders sank and she said ticking them off on her fingers. "Japanese models: Four hundred, Chinese: About four hundred and fifty and Glass: About five hundred and of course Wood models: About Four hundred and fifty all depending if you're buying a starter Egg with just the basics, a novice Egg, etc ."
Bianka smiled relieved. "Thanks, I thought they would be way more expensive."
The shop assistant almost got a heart attack.