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Chapter Twenty-Two
Shopping
The next morning, as promised, Julie took the girls shopping, She drove them all to the local shopping centre and was already stressed out before she even got in the driver's seat! As Ethel was pregnant if she sat at the back it would have being way to squeezed so Julie had told Ethel to sit in the passenger seat and her sisters and Mildred were at the back. Esmerelda was at that age where she really didn't care where she sat, but Mildred and Sybil still thought sitting at the front was 'cool' so they had grumbled and now everyone was in silence as Mildred and Sybil stropped.
Pulling into the car park Julie was glad to get out the car and Mildred and Sybil soon came out of their moods as they followed Julie to the shops. Julie led them into primark, a shop Mildred liked to get clothes at, and smiled at the blondes as she looked around.
"Pick whatever you want girls, as long as it is appropriate you can have it" Julie told the girls as Sybil ran to the nearest clothes and started looking through them with a smile.
"Ooo what should I pick?" Sybil said not knowing what she should pick as there was so many clothes. Ethel walked next to her and helped her before her face turned to a look of confusion.
"What do all these numbers mean? What size are we?" Ethel asked looking over at Esmie who shrugged having no idea. Julie put her hands on Ethel's shoulders and spoke.
"It is okay, they have fitting rooms for you to try them on, we can try on different sizes until we find what fits" Julie said keeping an eye on Esmerelda out of the corner of her eye.
The older girl had walked over to a different section and currently was looking at a black skirt. Julie could tell from where she was standing how short it was.
"Esmerelda, put it back you are not getting it" Julie told her "I will be checking everything you buy and checking it is appropriate" she said to her, she would not let Esmie get anything 'revealing'.
"Julie can you help me?" Sybil asked tugging on her arm to get her attention. As Julie was distracted Ethel walked over to Esmerelda with her hand on her baby bump.
"I know what you are going to try do, you are going to try sneak some clothes in the basket so that you can go out, were telepathic remember, you can't fool me" Ethel told her sister. In fact, with her pregnancy Ethel was convinced their telepathy was stronger than ever.
"So what if I am?" Esmerelda said as she picked up a top which was crop cut and would show of her stomach.
"Esmie" Ethel said rubbing her stomach "I love my baby so much, and I can't wait to be a mummy" Ethel told her before looking at her stomach adorably until she looked back up her face turning sad. "But what I went through, I wouldn't wish it on my wish enemy, it is the worth moment of my life" Ethel told her sister and saw Esmerelda's shoulders shake. She still hated being reminded of the rape.
"I was dressed in trousers and a top, dressed appropriately, and I had magic and I couldn't stop him….if you go out dressed like a slut...I don't want something to happen to you too Esmie, please promise me you won't do anything stupid….please don't go out…..please" Ethel begged her as she rubbed her bump more. She was really worried about Esmerelda getting hurt.
Esmerelda looked at her sister then and knew she was right. Esmerelda loved her little niece or nephew too but looking at Ethel in the position she was in still made her sad, it was a constant reminder to her what had happened to her precious little sister. It was not worth the risk of her putting herself in a position where she was vulnerable. Esmerelda looked at the top she was holding and put it back on the rail.
"I promise Ethel" she told her sister who smiled in relief as Esmie put her arm around her cuddling her.
"Oh Ethie look that is the maturity section, let's go see if we can find you something" Esmerelda said leading her sister over to look at the clothes. Sybil ran over to them happily in that moment.
"LOOK" Sybil said holding up a pink top with a black cat on that looked like their familiars. "Julie said I can get it" she said happily. Said woman rushed over smiling.
"Yes Sybil but try it on first" Julie said before Ethel made a noise.
"ERRRR" Ethel said and the sisters, Julie and Mildred looked over, seeing her with a look of disgust upon her face.
"These clothes are horrible" she said looking at the bland colours and pattens.
"It is not about how they look honey, they are so you will be comfortable, once you have the baby you can have pretty clothes like your sisters, now go on you two" she said looking at Ethel and Sybil. "Take some clothes and try them" Julie told them. She realised Esmerelda was not holding anything yet.
"Come on I will help you" Julie said walking back to the section for regular clothes and helping her look through the rails.
"Why are you doing this?" Esmie asked her frustrated. Julie smiled and replied.
"Because I care and want to help Esmie" Julie said picking up a few clothes and draping them over her arms.
"You keep saying that, I still don't believe you" Esmerelda said snatching the clothes and walking into the changing rooms.
Julie was going to answer back but remembered they were in public. Luckily, Sybil emerged then wearing the cat top,
"Aww you look adorable Sybil" Mildred said truthfully. She looked beyond cute and she smiled happily.
"I really want it, can I Julie?" she asked the woman and Julie nodded with a smile.
"Of course you can but try the rest of your clothes on first" Julie told her as Sybil ran back in the fitting room to change and Julie jumped out of her skin when she heard Ethel shriek.
"I look like I am about a hundred and fifty like Miss Cackle" Ethel said horrified as she looked at herself in the mirror. Mildred could not help snorting at her comment but Julie didn't laugh.
"You will have to deal with it Ethel, are you comfortable?" she asked Ethel seriously.
"Well yes" Ethel admitted feeling free in the clothes.
"Then the clothes are doing their jobs" Julie told her with a smile as Esmerelda emerged from the changing room dressed in jeans and a plain top, not dissimilar to the ones Mildred wears.
"Wow Esmie you look amazing" Mildred told her with a smile.
Esmerelda looked in the mirror as if trying to see her beauty but then slowly smiled as she realised she really liked the clothes.
"You look beautiful honey, and I suspect more comfy?" Julie asked her and Esmie nodded.
"Great, why don't you try your other clothes on" Julie told her as she want back in the changing rooms.
They ended up shopping for hours. Sybil couldn't choose what she wanted and was trying to buy all the clothes that fit her in the shop, not looking at the price, finally Julie brought a number of outfits for all three girls and they left the shop. As they were shopping anyway, Julie allowed the girls to look at the other shops which she regretted because once Esmerelda and Ethel found Waterstones, her, Sybil and Mildred were waiting outside for half an hour and it would have being longer if Julie had not dragged them out of the shop.
As they were leaving the shopping centre, Sybil spotted a stand full of make-up and looked at it curiously.
"What is that stuff?" Sybil asked liking the colours.
"It is make-up, you know people put it on their face?" Mildred commented and Sybil nodded looking at the colours of lipstick.
"Put it down Sybil, you are way to young for make-up" Julie told her and Sybil put it down frowning, Esmie picked it up and looked at it too.
"It might make me look prettier..." she commented out loud and the sisters and Julie all looked at each other.
"Esmerelda, put it down you are not buying it!" Julie told her.
"Stop treating me like a child, everyone wears make-up!" Julie replied and the woman was annoyed she was arguing with her in public.
"Yes but you have something they don't" Julie replied and Esmie looked at.
"What is that then?" Esmerelda asked annoyed.
"You are twenty times prettier than them" Julie replied taking Esmerelda of guard and finally shutting her up, so much so she didn't say anything again on the journey home but Julie was happy. She felt she had made some progress with the eldest blonde and the shopping trip was a great success.