Two hours later, Virgil sat on the couch, belly full, with the local newspaper spread out before him. Normally, the Kalvesta Bulletin was a four-page affair filled with news of local church functions and farm reports, but for the holidays, it was bulked up by advertisements from businesses both local and far. Life in the country meant that the bulk of a family's shopping was done online, but still there was the weekly exodus on Saturday morning to Dodge City, some 25 miles away, for provisions.

Virgil perused the newspaper looking for names he knew. It didn't take long. He turned his eye to the pile of thumbed through ads. Curiously, he riffled through the ads, wondering what was so important it warranted leaving home on a holiday. His attention was sharpened when he came to an ad for Hoverotts.

Peering closely at the ad, he let out a breath through his teeth. He called out to the kitchen, "Hey Grandma? Do you know what store the guys were going to?"

When there was no immediate answer, Virgil got up and poked his head through the kitchen door. "Hey, Grandma, do you know what store the guys were going to?"

Ruth looked up from the stove where she was preparing stuffing for the next day's big dinner. "Actually, they have a number of stores they want to go to. Why?"

"Friedlings has Hoverotts on sale."

"Hoverotts? What on earth are Hoverotts?"

"Oh, they're this special kind of artist's lamp. I've been trying to get my hands on one forever."

"Well, I don't know for a fact that Friedlings is on their list, but why don't you give them a call? I'm sure they'll be happy to pick one up for you."

Virgil ducked his head. He wasn't quite so sure, not after how he had yelled at John. "Um, are you sure you don't want some help, Grandma? I could cut the bread for you?"

"Thank you, but no, I'm fine. You go call your brothers. I'll be done here in a while, then we can play some Gin."

"Okay, Grandma." Virgil retreated back to the living room. He stared broodingly at the ad for the lamp, trying to decide if he wanted it enough to grovel. Sighing, he decided that he did, but he put off the necessary call, looking through the rest of the ads to see if there was anything else he wanted.

After thirty minutes, he had a list of five items including the lamp and a leather jacket. The prices were just too good to ignore, the day after Thanksgiving having the biggest sales of the year. Sighing, he went up to his room and picked up his cell phone.

Several minutes passed before he could bring himself to dial. John's eyes were hooded when he answered.

"Virgil."

"John."

"Do you hear a buzzing?"

Virgil blinked. "What? A buzzing?"

"Yeah. That's the sound of me, not taking any crap from you."

"Yeah, okay. Listen, I'm sorry. It was a long drive."

Suspicious, John cocked his head. "So this isn't Round Two?"

"No, man, it's not." Virgil rolled his eyes. "So where are you guys?"

"We're in the parking lot of Best Buys, on Horner Street in K.C."

"Why Kansas City? Couldn't you have gone to Wichita or Topeka, for God's sake?"

"Ah, well, our little brother is a military man now. He's got this whole thing mapped out like a battle campaign. If we'd gone to Topeka or Wichita, we wouldn't have been able to hit as many stores as he has lined up."

"So it's not just Best Buys?"

"Oh, no indeed. We're all three hitting Best Buys, which opens at five in the morning, then we split up. I'm scheduled for CompUSA, Tegrim's and Goldfingers, then we all meet at Lenshin's for breakfast. To hear Gordy tell it, we'll be on our way home by ten a.m."

"Ten A.M.? You won't be home until four at the earliest!" Virgil couldn't hide his disappointment.

John grinned. "Didn't Grandma tell you? We flew the ten-seat over. We'll be home by noon at the latest."

A slow smile started on Virgil's face. "You qualified?"

"You had a doubt? I qualified weeks ago. I called Dad up and he said I could fly anything in the hangar."

"But why the ten-seat? It flies like a pig."

"Yeah, but we're shopping. We need the space." John said it like it was obvious.

"So, will you pick up something for me at CompUSA?"

"Sure. What did you need?"

"They have a CAD program on sale that I want…"

"Wait a minute, let me get out the ad."

"You have the ads?"

"Sure. Okay, which one is it? The E-Trak one?"

"No, look down in the corner. See the one from Morton Industries?"

"Uh, $479.00 one? Yeah, I see it. Okay, I'll put it on the list."

"Thanks, John. Uh, is anyone going to Friedlings?"

"Yeah. Gordon, I think. Here…" The picture jiggled as John handed his phone to his younger brother.

"Hey, Virg! Good to see you, man!"

Virgil smiled. "Hey, squirt! I hear you guys are doing some major power shopping."

"Oh heck yeah! We're kickin' butt and takin' names."

"Well, what is it exactly that you're getting? Grandma says you took one look at the ad and practically mowed her down getting out the door."

Gordon grinned toothily. "A ToyBox 190. They're on sale for a thousand bucks."

The ToyBox was a self-contained total entertainment system the size of a doubled fist. It could hold thousands of High Definition movies and music and came pre-programmed with over 100 extreme level games. The virtual technology meant that no monitors or other screens were necessary. Virgil nodded, feeling a sudden avarice. "Don't suppose you could pick me up one?"

"Sorry, Virg. Each store is only guaranteed to have fifteen in stock, so they're only allowing one per customer. They're handing out tickets for all the best stuff before the store opens. I'm sixth in line, then Alan, then John, and already there are a couple hundred people behind us."

"But it's only ten PM!"

"I know. The guy at the front of the line got here at like six this morning."

"That's amazing. Are both John and Alan getting ToyBoxes?"

"Yup. Sorry."

"That's okay. Listen, Johnny tells me you're going to Friedlings."

"Uh-huh. You need something?"

"Yeah, see if you can score me a couple of those Hoverotts, would you?"

"Hoverotts? What the hell are those?"

"They're on page three of the ad, okay? I want two if you can get them."

"These light thingies?"

"Yes, that's them."

"You are truly weird, you know that?"

"Look who's talking." Virgil commented. "Oh, and while you're there, if you could pick me up some titanium white, I'd appreciate it. The oil, not the acrylic."

Well used to his brother's paint preferences, Gordon nodded. "Okay, anything else?"

"Is anybody doing Kale's?"

"Oddly enough, I am. You want some tighty-whities?"

"No, smart-ass. There's a leather bomber jacket on sale. Could you take a look at it? It looks pretty good in the ad, but I don't want it if it's cheap."

"Virgil, I fear you are a bit weak on the concept here… We are POWER shopping. We are not exactly taking the time to finger the goods. It's grab and run, get it?"

Virgil sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, all right. Not sure I'd trust your judgement anyway."

Gordon laughed. "Never fear, big brother. I was going to snag one of those jackets for myself. I'll get it. Anything else?"

"Who's going to Zottners?"

"Zottners? Nobody. What's there?"

Virgil sighed. "Apparently nothing."

The phone suddenly shifted, and Virgil heard muffled conversation. Suddenly, Alan was there. "Hey big brother! I'm going to Gamestop. It's right next door to Zottners. Whatcha need?"

"Are you sure, Al? It sounds like you guys are on a tight schedule."

Alan grinned cockily, "You know I'm faster than either of these geezers. I can do your shopping and still beat them to Lenshin's!"

Virgil smiled at the muffled protests in the background. "That's great. I want a couple of those blue silk ties, and get me a half dozen of the long sleeved shirts on page eight of the ad. No pink, just yellow or white, okay?"

"Size seventeen neck, right?"

"Aw, you remembered!"

Alan grinned. "Hard to forget… your neck is the same size as your head, except where it comes to a point, of course."

Virgil rocked back for a moment considering, then said, "Ah, I get it. You think I'll be beholden to you for getting the clothes and I won't thump you when you get home."

"Ha! You'd have to catch me first!"

"We'll see. You guys going to be okay there? You need me to come help?"

"Naw, we're fine. We brought a couple of heat lamps, and a coffee maker. We're really popular here in line."

"Yeah, well, I'll think of you all as I snuggle down in my nice warm soft bed."

"What was that you said? You only want pink shirts?"

"Bring home pink shirts, and you'll be eating them, kid."

Alan laughed. "Okay. See you tomorrow."

"All right, take care. Bye."