Wow. Sorry it took so long to update. I've been struggling with writer's block for the most part and a personal tragedy that I won't discuss here. Good news is that the next chapter is already done and, hopefully, will be posted soon. I apologize in advance if this chapter isn't as good.
"Why don't you just ask someone where the spooty Narxa book is?" Dag leaned against one set of shelves while I searched the other set across from him.
"Have you seen any employees wandering around?" I asked.
"No." Dag moved his arm and knocked a book onto the floor.
"Exactly." I said. "I don't like having to chase someone down. It's easier to look for it myself."
It would be easier if they didn't remodel the store three times a month.
"Why didn't you order it online?" Dag asked as we went to the next aisle.
"I tried to." I answered. "The site wouldn't take my coupon and-"
"Ooh!" Dag picked up a coffee mug molded into the shape of a T-Rex head wearing hipster glasses and a bowtie. He started looking through the other cups and giggling over whatever was written on some or how goofy the designs were.
I stood nearby, flipping through some diy magazine while I waited on him. For someone who hates the bookstore, he sure likes to look at the t-shirts, coffee mugs, and keychains here.
I got bored with the magazine and put it back. I was about to tell him I'd catch up with him later when he finally got bored as well.
We had walked through only a couple of aisles, when Daggy got distracted for the fifth time.
"Hey, look at this." He called.
"Did you find it?" I spun around.
"I told you romance was horrible." Dag smirked.
He quickly pointed to the romance section on the left side of the aisle, then to the horror section on the right side of the aisle.
I sighed. "I thought you found my book." I turned to walk away. "That's a pretty weird arrangement, though."
Dag got back on track again, going into another rant about how he was done with love.
I tried to tune some of it out since I've heard this exact same speech about a hundred and twenty-five times since Mom pulled that fishing lure out of his tail.
I don't know what's more amazing: the fact that he's still bitter over that break-up or that he remembers that rant perfectly when he couldn't remember what we had for breakfast this morning. Seriously, he asked me what we ate five minutes after breakfast was over.
After searching nearly every inch of the store, I was about to say 'forget it' and leave when I finally found what I was looking for
"Found it. Let's go." I grabbed the book, held it under my arm, and headed for the checkout line.
Dag tapped his foot rapidly, scowling at the backs of some people in front of us.
Unfortunately, this was the only line open and it was oddly crowded, even for the weekend.
While I was waiting, I flipped through the book to make sure it would be as good as the reviews led me to believe. I'd never hear the end of it if I made him stand in line for nothing.
"This is so cool!" I gushed, showing my brother a random page. "There's tons of info on every single episode plus production stills."
"Yeah. Uh-huh. That's terrific." Dag replied flatly.
"I know you hate long lines, but if you'd talk to me, it'll go by a lot faster." I closed the book.
"Is saving a few dollars worth standing in line for hours?" He questioned.
"Yes, because I'm saving about twelve dollars and I already had to come here anyway to look for a new jacket." I said. "And don't be so dramatic, it's only been eight minutes." I pulled the coupon out of my pocket while I was thinking about it.
Dag mumbled something under his breath. The only word I could make out was 'spooty'.
"You can step out of line and look at the greeting cards or something, y'know." I said. "I don't need a bodyguard."
Dag tried to walk away, but he was stopped by some guy, talking loudly on his phone, who came up behind us.
Dag couldn't turn to either side because of the display racks, so now he was seething about being stuck in line.
"Calm down. We've only got a couple more people in front of us." I stepped up as the line moved forward. "It shouldn't be too much longer."
Dag stepped up beside me. I could hear the guy behind us move up as well. At that moment, Daggy stiffened and was trembling slightly.
I've seen that look before. I glanced behind us and, sure enough, his tail was being stepped on.
"Dag. Please don't-"
He suddenly whipped around and tackled the guy. It was almost like watching the velociraptors at Paleozoic Park attacking their dinner.
I froze, glancing from my brother to the line ahead of us; I could barely hear someone call security over the guy yelling for someone to get 'the pointy weasel' off of him.
Good thing Dag didn't hear that, it really ticks him off to be called a weasel. I don't blame him, I mean, how can you not tell we're beavers?
I stood there, saying nothing though you could argue I should've. The thing is, I don't wanna get bitten and I have almost no idea of how to calm my brother down.
A security guard came and pulled Dag off the guy. At first, Daggy tried to escape, until he realized who pulled him off and gave up.
I got the guard's attention. "I'm sorry about that, my brother-" And I wound up being escorted to the mall jail with my brother before I could try to explain.
Four o'clock. We had been locked in the mall jail for an hour now. I know this is probably a crazy thought, but I'm pretty sure that we've been forgotten about.
I got tired of walking around the room and sat down on the floor with my back against the wall again.
I glanced at Daggett. An hour ago, he was stomping around and raving about how unfair it was to be locked up for defending himself.
Now, he's entertaining himself by making faces at his reflection in the two way mirror. Add that to the room being a bit too warm, my boredom and being stir-crazy...
"Would you stop that?" I snapped. "That's not a regular mirror."
"Eeh?" Dag looked at me. "Then what is it, miss know-it-all?"
"It's a two way mirror. They can see us, we can't see them." I replied.
"Sounds more like a one way window." Dag walked away from the mirror and flopped down on the floor across from me. "This is so boring."
"Oh, so you're bored?" I slid my jacket off and tied it around my waist. "Serves you right. You're the one who got us locked up."
"How is it my fault we're in mall jail?!" Dag shrieked.
"Oh, I don't know. It couldn't possibly have to do with the fact that you went ballistic because somebody stepped on your tail." I replied sarcastically.
"Then what was I supposed to do?" He questioned.
"Maybe handle things in a calm and rational manner." I said. "That would be a start."
He rolled his eyes. "Common sense tells anyone not to stand that close to someone. That freak needed somebody to knock common sense into him."
"Yeah. And you're the guy to do that." I replied.
"You sound like Norb." He crossed his arms, glaring at me.
"He has a point on things like this. If you had, politely, asked the guy to get off your tail, I could've gotten the book I wanted and we'd be home by now." I said. "But, no. You just had to attack the guy, didn't you?"
"I can't wait until someone steps on your tail." He muttered. "Then you'll understand."
I'd like to point out that I had someone step on my tail at Warm Subject last week and that combat boots are heavier than canvas slide-on shoes, but I'm not letting him drag me into another argument.
"This is getting us nowhere." I pulled my phone out of my pants pocket. I pressed the speed dial for Norby. I'm sure he knows what to do. After a few rings, he finally picked up.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Hi, Norby. I have a question." I paused for a moment. "Have you ever been in mall jail?"
"Oy. What has he done now?" Norb groaned. Apparently, he's been through this several times before at the least.
"Someone stepped on his tail in the bookstore." I replied.
"I know you're talking about me." Dag piped up.
"No kidding." I pulled the phone away from my mouth and gave him a look. "Anyway, what do I do?" I looked at my watch. "We've been here for a little over an hour now."
"Be patient and- never mind. We were going to the mall anyway; I'll handle it." Norb said. "Just talk to him or something to keep him oh- cue-pied." He hung up without saying goodbye.
I slid my phone into my pocket.
"Well?" Dag dropped his arms to his sides.
"He said to be patient. He'll straighten things out." I replied. "In the meantime, why don't you play a game on your phone?"
Dag pulled out his phone and hit a few buttons. He scowled and hit a few more.
"Stupid game, eeh!" He tossed his phone, causing the case to pop off and skid across the floor. "An offline game shouldn't need the spooty Internet."
"It's safe to say you learn nothing, huh?" I reached over and picked up his phone. "I just bought you this a week ago and you're gonna throw it."
To my surprise, the screen didn't have a single scratch. If I simply dropped mine on a soft pillow, it would look like a cat had used it for a scratching post. "Did you ever think about taking anger management classes?"
"I got banned from one." He took the phone from me.
"Do I want to know what happened?" I have a feeling I'm gonna regret this, but I have to know how on earth you can get kicked out of those classes.
He shook his head. "That little, paddle-eared jerk had the nerve- "
The door creaked open.
Dag jumped up and bolted for the door while I calmly followed him out.
Norb was standing outside the door alongside the security guard that last locked us up.
Before Dag could say anything, Norb slapped his hand over Dag's mouth and walked him out that way.
"Thanks bro." I replied as soon as we got out of the security office.
Treeflower, holding a bookstore bag, met us right outside the door. "Here you go. I figured you wouldn't want to go back there after what happened." She handed me the bag.
I slid the book out. "Thanks, Treeflower. This is exactly what I was here for." I said.
"Were you finished or were you going anywhere else?" Norb asked me.
After what happened, I'd really like to go home. However, I still need a new jacket.
"Well, I did have some other things to look for." I said.
"Great! Why don't you and Treeflower go shopping while I take Dag home? She can ride home with you." Norb said. "You don't mind, do you love?" He looked over to Treeflower.
She just smiled. "Of course not."
"Okay, then." I handed Norb my bookstore bag. "See ya later."
Norby gave Treeflower a kiss on the cheek, grabbed Daggy's arm, and dragged him toward the nearest exit like the place was on fire.
"He didn't want to be stuck in the shoe store all day." Treeflower explained.
I giggled while thinking, 'how bad could that be?'.
After about two hours in the shoe store watching Treeflower try to decide between a brown or a tan ankle boot and trying on nearly every shoe in the place, I'm beginning to see why Norb was so anxious to leave.
And I still haven't gotten a new jacket. I'm sure I'll be in the clothing stores for an equally long time. Maybe I should stick to online shopping.
If you're wondering how Truckee caused Dag to get booted out of anger management classes, I have no idea either. I think that's funnier if left to the imagination... unless I think of something. Warm Subject is a spoof of Hot Topic and that 'romance is horrible' thing is inspired by a weird arrangement in my nearest 'Books a Million'.