Author's giggles: Right now I'm laughing my a** off, having read chapter 1 and 2 again and writing chapter 3. Poor Barbara, indeed - now it's not only shopping but she also will be nudged to the hairstylist.
*chuckle*
Seems she has occupied centre stage. Judith is a devil but I think Barbara enjoys it not just a little bit...
*giggle*
First, we'll take her to Sonya's Shiny Shoes.
*cackle*
.
"What? Shoe shop? Handbag? Ramon? Who is Ramon? Are you crazy, you two?" she protested loudly.
The two conspirators laughed and Barbara panicked. While Pan-Yong made himself ready to leave the shop Judith showed Barbara the sketch and explained.
"Ramon is the hair stylist in St. Ives. And before you start to have a whinge - Pan-Yong suggested just a few little changes."
Barbara looked at the sketch. Judith was right, it was just a bit more layered and fringy but all in all the same haircut she already has. She could see no sense in going to the hairstylist if he wouldn't change it.
"Then why should I go to Ramon if it's what I already have on my head?"
"Don't you like letting your hair be done?"
"No!"
"A little head massage, some Prosecco and a chittery chat?"
"No!" Barbara frowned.
Meanwhile they had left the store, Pan-Yong had locked it and the two linked arms on the left and right of Barbara.
Pan-Yong giggled. "Darling, after that shopping tour you'll love to relax at Ramon's! Now, this is going to be funny, today!"
"And you can simply close the store?" Judith wondered.
"At this time of the year I'm not opening regularly, and besides no-one will drop by." he winked. "Except you two."
"Where are we going to?" Barbara sighed. She was about to surrender. The two kidders at her side couldn't be stopped anyway.
"You love shoes? You'll love this shop."
"No, I don't love sh..."
"Naaah, whatever. Every woman loves shoes and by the way you need a special pair for that dress." Pan-Yong looked at Barbara's feet and scrunched his nose at the functional boots she was wearing.
Judith just grinned and Barbara cursed her loudly for stabbing her in the back. A little voice inside her starts to merrily try to convince her of the fun she would be having today. Wasn't it nice inside of Pan-Yong's?! And isn't this dress a dream?! Be honest, Barbara!
"Judith is doing you a favour, darling. This dream of a dress, the right pair of corresponding shoes, a new hairdo, a new hand-bag - lovely. I can see Tommy agape. When he'll first catch the sight of you - aaah, I picture it: you - coming down the stairs, Tommy - waiting at the bottom landing - agape, oh, so! agape - whatever he had been holding had been slipped onto the floor. Drama, darling, just drama." He sighed loudly. "He'll fall to his knees and propose to you in that very moment, despite of whoever is standing around him. Oh, help me, I'm nearly crying..."
Now Barbara blushed. And she didn't know if she should be angry or amused. Marriage was no option. Not yet, Barbara! Oh, shut up, Barbara!
"When is he coming up for air?" she asked Judith.
"If he's on a roll? Never!" Judith answered vehemently.
"Here we are." Pan-Yong rejoiced. "Sonya's Shiny Shoes - heaven on earth, darling."
He opened the door. Ding-a-ling went the bell, the butterfly stepped in and started to gushingly greet the shop assistant.
"Sonya, darling, nice to see you. How did you spend your days off?"
They chatted a while without minding Judith and Barbara who were looking around in the little shop.
The walls were simply stuffed with neat and identical shoe-boxes. Each with a photograph at the front and all sorted by colour.
"Now that would be easy." Judith smiled and headed for the green ones.
Barbara was not yet fully convinced. When Pan-Yong came and presented her a killer-stiletto she resigned.
"Allright. We'll stop here." she said, raising her hands in defence. "I agree that I can't wear those boots - haha!" She rolled her eyes to Pan-Yong. "And I agree that I don't have shoes matching that dress perfectly. But I won't wear something like this! I can't even walk in high heels half as high as those. Can we please be serious and look for shoes that fit Barbara?" She waves. "Hi, it's me we're choosing shoes for."
Sonya rather disappeared in the background. "I'm gonna make us some coffee."
Pan-Yong whispered audible for everyone around to Judith "Is she always that harsh?"
"I've heard it." Barbara grumbled.
"Oh, she is." Judith showed a mockingly worried expression but then went serious. "Mmmm... she's right, don't you think? We can't choose and plan and take care and in the end she's bouncing down the aforementioned stairs!"
Now even Barbara had to laugh.
Judith pushed Barbara onto a chair, Sonya put a cup of coffee into her hand and Pan-Yong knelt in front of her opening her boots. Then all three started to look out for a suitable pair of shoes for Barbara. They tried nearly every (not too high-heeled) green shoe but either the green wasn't matching or the style didn't really fit.
Resigning Pan-Yong plonked on the chair next to Barbara.
"Mission impossible." he sighed. "Sonya, luv, do you mind us looking in another store?"
Sonya shook her head. "You won't find a better store in St. Ives, you renegade, you. Say, why don't you try a black one? Barbara's no frog, is she."
They all agreed and in a minute Barbara found a pair. It was peep-toe, the heel was not too high and not too thin (and not too stumpy either), the material was some sort of silky matt black and it had a small application with some discreet Swarovski crystals. Pan-Yong cheered that he now knew what had to replace the oversized pearly applique on the dress. And so he also bought a pair of those shoes.
"He's not goin' to rip..." Barbara started unbelievingly.
"He is." Judith grinned.
"But..."
Barbara's face must have had shown her doubts about all the wasted money and the wasted shoes very clearly so Judith took her aside and whispered "They have an arrangement and Sonya knows how to deduct it. Don't worry about the costs. Pan won't put it on the price. And he will re-design the shoes, so there is no waste." Then she shook her head. "Can't you just go shopping, Barbara?"
"Judith, in my world we're not splashing money about and that's why we're not wasting things. So excuse my doubts when I think that it is a waste to buy some horribly expensive shoes just to use one of the little applications."
The two girls looked at each other seriously.
Judith nodded. "I agree. But do believe me, Pan is not wasting those shoes. Never would he. They're shoes."
Then she started to smile. And that smile was answered by a twitching in the corner of Barbara's mouth.
"But it still is fun, isn't it." Judith asked. "With the prospect of your appearance at the party always in the back of your mind..."
Barbara nodded and then both women showed a broad grin.
"But you can't let him wait that long - we'll also buy you some sexy things for tonight."
.
...
