Act Fourteen – Scene 3:
Tailored
'That young
lady was the first person to ever affect any change in my behavior, other than
Roger or Norman. She was the first person that made me want to be happy,
without giving me anything. Roger at times makes me want to smile, but I feel
that if I smile at Roger, something will go wrong, something that is suspended
in our relationship will crash down or break. I do not feel that I should smile
at Roger, the potential for misadventure in that action is too much. The
feeling of joy her actions caused me to realize just how much I do feel.'
Since that
man took Roger towards the back of the store, I've been sitting here, waiting.
Roger's brown jacket lies across my lap, and my hands are folded on top of it.
There are only a few other people in the store, so I am staring at my hands.
They are fascinating, in some basic way.
I hear a
salesclerk make a noise and turn my attention to her.
"What is
it?"
"Is there
anything I can help you with, Miss?"
"I am
waiting for someone."
"Oh," she
starts to turn away.
I consider.
Tedious
work, stand up. Hold still. Arms this way, chest out, arms that way… even
Dorothy must be more amused than I am right now. I wonder if she's all right
out there. I probably shouldn't have left her out there like that. She's bound
to be bored…
Bored?
An android?
I must be
loosing it.
"All
black?"
"Yes. It
must be in black."
"Couldn't
you even… wear a white shirt?"
That gives
me pause. "Yes, that is acceptable. Everything else must be black."
Single-minded
concentration. If a human is to understand the stipulations of 'all black' I
must be persistent. Getting Roger's tie for Heaven's Day was hard enough; an
entire outfit will be slightly harder.
"What sort
of style are you looking for?" she asks. "We have beautiful sundresses."
"Something
that looks professional."
She seems
to consider before leading me towards the west end of the store. She pulls out
a hanger. "How is this?" Dorothy inspects the garment, running her synthetic
fingers over the material of first the vest, and then the skirt.
"Do you
have a different skirt? This one is too tight."
"Oh, one
moment." I wait patiently.
The outfit
comes with a sleek jacket and a white-sleeved shirt to wear underneath the
vest. She returns with another hanger, which holds a looser skirt. This outfit
will look different on me than what I've worn before, possibly more grown up. I
wonder what Roger will say when he sees me in it.
"How is
this?"
"Perfect,"
I reply.
Why am I
bothering to buy clothing? The outfit I have is sufficient. That Angel woman
dresses like this. I do not want to be her, but the way Roger looks at her…
perhaps a little change will do me some good. "What size is it in?"
"This one
is in a size five."
"Oh, I wear
a size three."
She motions
me after her towards a small island service center. I follow, Roger's coat
still over my arm. "Let me check."
I stand
patiently waiting. She has the hangers with her on the desk near some papers
that detail the inventory of clothing and sizes. I hear Roger grumbling about
something in his fitting room, but chose to ignore it in order to see if I can
get this new outfit. I want to.
"We should
have that size… but I didn't see it on the rack."
"If it is
an inconvenience…"
"If you'd
like to order it, Miss, we can have it in by Thursday." I contemplate.
"The
gentleman I entered the store with is being fitted for a new coat. Could the
two items be picked up at the same time?"
"Yes, Henri
should have the jacket done by then, as well."
"Then I
will take this outfit."
"All
right," her voice is pleasant. I wish my voice was that pleasant, but I have
nothing to be pleasant about. Or at least I didn't, before.
She begins
to fill out several cards, outlining the size and the model and color of each
piece. "So you'll want the white shirt? It comes in black…"
"The white
one will do fine, thank you," and there it is, the pleasant tone, I have
achieved it in my own voice. I feel… joyful…
"Ok, and
the a-line skirt…" she mutters while filling out the forms. She reaches the
final page… the bill, and looks up at me. "How will you be paying?"
I retrieve
the card Norman had made for me, a 'credit card' that I was instructed by Roger
to use for any purchases I would need to make. I fish it out of the pocket in
my skirt and hand it to her.
She punches
in a few numbers and I hear Roger leave the room and come up to the island with
his own garment's card. She hands me back my 'credit card' and I put it back in
my pocket.
He comes up
behind me and makes a little cough, as though trying not to startle me. "Are
you finally ready, Roger?" I ask, stepping aside and allowing him access to the
counter.
"Yes, the
proper model has been chosen, and the measurements have been taken. What were
you up to while I was being taped?"
"Being
taped?"
He raises
his brows at that question, having forgotten I know little of this slang he
uses sometimes.
"Uh…" I
offer him his coat before turning and receiving the pick-up slips.
"You can
pick it up on Thursday," the woman smiles at me kindly and winks.
"Thank
you," I reply with a similar movement of my eye. I am glad she did not say
anything to Roger about this. I like her. "I will do so."
He takes
the coat from my arm and nods to the young woman, who seems to recognize him,
but the only change in her expression is a slight widening of her eyes. She is
very nice. Roger looks like he wishes to remain and talk to her, so I begin my
way out of the store.
"Dorothy!"
he comes chasing after me.
"Yes, Roger
Smith?"
When did
she start calling me that, again? "Why'd you start off like that? I didn't even
have my coat on," she is staring straight ahead as she steps onto the
escalator.
"You
appeared to want to speak with her in private, Roger, so I was giving you some
privacy."
Sure, you
probably heard me when I was in the fitting room. "Dorothy, I…"
She
tightens the belt around her waist and continues moving forward. It is poetry
to watch her move. I take the few steps down to stand next to her. "You what,
Roger?" her voice sounds… different.
Pleased,
almost.
"I'm sorry
I left you alone like that."
"It is all
right, Roger," and… she means it.