March 20
A good thing that's even better done with a friend: shopping.
Ducky scanned the shelves in front of him desperately. This was definitely not his best idea.
His cell phone had died an ignominious death the previous day when Mr. Palmer had somehow managed to drop it into a Petty Officer's stomach. Even after all the bodily fluids had been wiped off, Abby had been unable to work her magic and make it function again. Palmer had been extremely apologetic and offered to purchase another one, but Ducky had not been bothered. He could do with a trip to the mall. An afternoon away from Mother was necessary anyway.
But the choice here was phenomenal. He only wanted something basic, yet all he could see being offered to him were things capable of taking photographs and videos, with Internet connections and Bluetooth. None of this made any sense to him; it was bewildering. How did young people cope with all of these options? Did they simply pick the phone that looked best, or the one all their friends had?
Tim appeared at his elbow, looking delighted by all the choice. Having heard about the cell phone in the corpse, the young agent had volunteered to assist in the search for a new one, and Ducky had gladly taken up the offer. Tim was extremely good with computers and all kinds of technology, and could easily wade through the jargon and translate it.
"Do you just want a basic one?" Tim asked. "Or do you want to splash out a bit?"
Ducky chuckled. "Just something basic, Timothy. I could not cope with anything else."
Tim nodded as he scanned through the options. "That one," he pointed, "Would probably do the job. It's got a camera in it, but you don't have to use it, and Abby and I could always show you if you wanted to learn."
Ducky nodded sagely, trusting his friend's judgment. "Then I shall buy that one," he smiled.