Chapter Seven
Shoppin' USA
Author's Note: Cool, got another chapter up! I've been on a Sims 2 streak (I created Sam and Jack's family; their married, and their aspiration is to marry of 6 children!), so my pathetic obsession with it has clouded my writing capabilities. Here it is though-enjoy!
Disclaimer: If I owned Stargate, well, it'd be a whole different then it is during this season.
Spoilers: S7 Fragile Balance
LATE AFTERNOON –SHOPPING (DANIEL)
"Soooo, where are you guys taking me?" Daniel Jackson asked the two boys in the front two seats of the car as they turned into a parking lot. Jake Mattson, as Cassie had introduced him as, was in the drivers seat; Matt Lecher, his friend, sat parallel to him in the passenger's seat. Matt turned around to look at Daniel.
"We dunno yet. We gotta see when we get inside." He told him.
"Actually, Matt, I was thinking Urban Outfitters, Pacsun, the Vans Shop, and maybe Macy's or something? I was kind of hoping you could help us out with this one, Dan. What kind of stuff do you usually wear?" Jake joined in.
"Um, well I like jeans and sweaters." Daniel replied.
"Sweaters? Are you kidding?" Matt asked as he snickered. Daniel reconsidered saying that.
"Shut up, Matt. What brands?" Jake asked.
"Actually, uh, I meant to say sweatshirts, not sweaters, Matt." Daniel said quickly. "Oh, any kind, Jake. I don't really care."
"Alright then." Jake said as he parked the car. The three boys proceeded to get out of the car, and they entered the mall.
INSIDE OUTLETDaniel was amazed as he walked into the store the guys had called "Vans." There was a large fiberglass window on the back wall of the store, which looked onto a half-pipe. There were a few skateboarders on it, and their fluid movement and dexterity impressed him.
"You skateboard at all?" Matt asked Daniel as he walked up behind him.
"Eh, no." Daniel replied.
"What! You came from Cali, didn't ya? That's like where skateboarding was invented!" Matt said with disbelief at the revelation that a California guy might not have skateboarded before.
"Yeah. I'm from a forestry area of California. I live far from the beach. There's not many places to do it back home." The two boys were interrupted by Jake's voice.
"Yo, Daniel, come over here." He shouted as Daniel walked over to where he was. Jake was holding camouflage cargo pants with assorted random zippers. He was also holding a tee shirt that had the company's logo on it, and another one that said, "Skate for Life" in bold red letters. "Do you like any of these? They're all half off."
"Uh, yeah I like them. Let me just get my size." Daniel replied as he ruffled through the clothing rack. He ended getting a hooded sweatshirt with an illustration of ape to modern day skateboarder along with the garments Jake had found. They left the shop, and headed to Macy's after they checked out.
AT THE OTHER END OF THE MALL – MANDEE'S (SAM)IT'S A STORE
"Hey Cass, how do I look?" Sam Carter said as she walked out of a small dressing room in a pair of faded jeans and a vintage styled cap shirt with a picture of a Coke bottle on it.
"Wow! I like it. Where'd you get that shirt though? I like it myself." Cassie replied as she looked up from her scavenger hunt for the right size pants.
"Over there – by the register." Sam replied as she put her other clothes back on. She added the items to her now full shopping basket stuffed with tanks, jeans, one or two designer pieces, and a mini-skirt. She had her own wallet on her, and plenty of cash she had withdrawn from her bank account ahead of time so she was able to afford just about whatever she wanted in the store. She may even have splurged a bit.
Even though her old shoes fit, she still wanted something different, and this being the most opposite store she would be likely to shop in, she would buy them here. After a test walk down an aisle, she decided on a pair of tan Ugg boots. Cassie liked them a lot too, so Sam promised her them when she returned to her normal self.
The two teenagers left the store after they had rung up a total of $263.75. It was the most Sam ever spent at one time on clothing, and decidedly, the last. She was satisfied with her new wardrobe though, and that was all that mattered. After a brief encounter with soft pretzels, they headed for home to get prepared for the next day.
LATER THAT EVENING
Everyone was gathered around the dining room table after their shopping excursions, polishing off three boxes of pizza. Sam and Daniel were fit to start school the next day, and Jake and Cassie had declared a celebration. After the two boys left though, the excitement died down a bit.
"Guys, I want you all in bed before 11:30 tonight, alright? That's Cassie's normal bedtime, so it applies to you two as well." Janet said as she looked at Sam and Daniel. Daniel nodded sleepily (his white French vanilla cappuccino was wearing off), but Sam's face took on a look of horror. Sam Carter had not voluntary gone to bed at that time since she was twenty-five years old. It was obviously hard to take in.
"C'mon Janet! It's me and Daniel; two adults. You can't treat us like we're your own kids!" she pleaded.
"Hey!" Cassie snapped at Sam's comment.
"I have no objections." Daniel bluntly said to Sam's disbelief as he sauntered up the stairs to his bedroom. Cassie followed reluctantly as Janet focused her attention on Sam.
"Sam, the General has given me permission to take care of you. You are exactly the same as any normal teenager now. You need your rest! I don't want to have to make this an order, but I will if I have too." Janet said sternly.
"Whatever. I'm not going to be able to sleep though." Sam said back with a hint of disrespect in her voice. Janet excused it though as the other woman was not her normal self.
"Fine, just as long as you try. Read one of your books, but please try to sleep." She replied as Sam trudged up the stairs angrily. Janet sighed, this was obviously going to be a lot harder than it seemed.