Chapter 3: Shopping Trip

"Mel.. Did you finish editing my pages?" Charlie asked as he walked into the living room.

Mel awoke with a start. She had been trapped in her dream. Oddly enough the last thing she remembered in her dream was Coraline's new doll staring at her. The button eyes seeming to burn into her as if she were being watched.

"What? Oh yeah. They're printed and in the folder." Mel snapped, not enjoying being woken up in that manner.

Charlie backed away from her.

"I'll go get ready and we can get going to submit the catalogue. Maybe bring Coraline along to get some uniforms for her new school?"

Mel nodded and sat up slowly, stopping Charlie from leaving the room so that he could help her put her neck brace back on. Sure she could have done it herself but when Charlie or Coraline did it they managed to achieve the tightness easier that was needed to support her neck. Plus she always got her hair caught in it which was annoying. After adjusting the neck brace one final time she walked over to the bottom of the stairs to call up to Coraline.

"Coraline! Let's go! We're going to get you some uniforms!"

Mel heard a groan come from upstairs followed by frustrated stomping down the stairs. Coraline appeared with an unamused look on her face and her doll tucked under her arm. The ice cold stare of the black button eyes gave Mel the creeps.

"Mom I don't want to wear stupid uniforms. I want to explore."

Mel rolled her eyes.

"We are getting you the uniforms Coraline Jones… No ifs ands or buts about it. How about we live the doll at home?"

Coraline rolled her eyes and stomped her foot rather dramatically.

"If you are forcing me outside, mini-me is coming too."

Mel wasn't about to argue with her. She just turned on her heel to grab the keys and go start the car. Charlie nudged Coraline out the door and locked it behind them. After climbing in the car Coraline began to spout off about a parallel world where her "other mother" who looked identical to Mel cooked chicken and wanted to play in the mud. It wasn't until she mentioned buttons for eyes that Mel felt that déjà vu feeling again.

"Coraline you just dreamt you ate all the chicken."

Coraline just rolled her eyes and held her doll up so it could look out the window. Mel pulled into the parking lot of their publisher and sent Charlie to go do the dirty work. He didn't want to go because he was nervous and thought Mel would be better at it but she just gave him one of her famous looks and he quickly got out of the car to go inside.

Coraline and Mel were completely silent on the way to the clothing store. Mel had tried to talk to her on and off, but Coraline just brushed her off and talked to the doll instead. When they pulled into the parking lot, Coraline immediately ran inside and headed to the back where the gloves were. Mel rolled her eyes and went inside to the section with children's school uniforms. She gave a content sigh as she saw there was a good selection and low and behold they were on sale. Coraline's size was relatively easy to find and Mel quickly began picking out various dresses, pants, and shirts. Coraline rolled passed her standing on a stool, showing off a pair of really expensive gloves.

"Put them back right now!" Mel glared at Coraline.

After a short argument over the gloves and Mel telling Coraline that if she didn't like her decision her "other mother" could buy her clothing the pair checked out and left. Mel checked her cellphone to see if her husband was ready to be picked up, but there were no missed calls so she decided to head home to make Coraline some lunch.

When they got home however they realized that there was nothing to eat. Coraline was still very angry about their argument and gave major attitude to Mel about the gloves and Mel offering to get her something special for lunch. Coraline stormed away in a huff, the doll secured in her grasp. Mel looking hurt, picked up the keys and left for the grocery store.