Sam
Zuko and I had slept in after our three day long trip to Republic City. Not only did we want to rest from our trip, but we hadn't really had a chance to sleep in much since this whole trafficking thing started but especially these past couple of months. We were awakened by two excited girls bounding into our room and bouncing on the bed. Zuko started, rolled over and fell out of the bed to which I giggled. Izumi crawled over to the edge of the bed and peered down at her father.
"Daddy, what you doing down dere?" I laughed aloud at her inquiry. Zuko didn't say a word but I did see two hands reach up and grab Izumi off the bed making her laugh as she disappeared over the edge.
"Some hooligan children came bounding onto my bed, waking us both out of a sound sleep and scaring me half to death. Now, who could that be?" he asked, tickling her. I crawled over to the edge of the bed and looked down at my small family. Zuko was laying on the floor on his back. He held one arm across Izumi, pinning her in place to his chest and holding both of her arms down while the other one tickled her all over.
"Ok, Daddy! It's me and Chang! IT'S ME AND CHANG!" Izumi said, still laughing but clearly running out of breath. Zuko stopped and let her breathe. She laid on her father's chest, both of them trying to catch their breaths.
"Alright, kids." Zuko said, patting her tush, "Go on and wait outside in the hallway. Sam and I have to get dressed." he said, regaining his composure. Izumi climbed off of Zuko and they both went out into the hallway. Once they were gone, I spoke.
"I think I'll have to help them today. Did you see what they were wearing?" I asked Zuko. They had found any kind of mish-mash of clothes and threw them on. There was no way we were letting them go outside looking like that.
"Yes, I did. I guess we know what would happen if we let them dress on their own at this point." Zuko chuckled.
Zuko and I dress into formal clothes. We had to dress official when going out of the palace. The girls, however, did not. I went over and helped the girls find something more suitable to wear out. It occurred to me as I helped them dress, they had never done this before - going out of the palace shopping. At least, Izumi had never been shopping before. This was going to be interesting.
Once everyone was dressed and presentable, we all walked to the steps of the palace. One of the guards saw us leaving and insisted on accompanying us. Initially we didn't think we needed it but then thought about the safety of the girls and decided to accept his offer.
"Thank you, Hersh, for prioritizing our safety." Zuko said formally. It was times like these I thought most royals would take the palanquin. I hated the palanquin and refused to use it. I would not have people carting me around here and there when I had two perfectly functional legs.
We walked through the streets and the people were in awe of seeing the royal family out and about among the people. They were also surprised to see Chang with us, not knowing who she was. They wished us well and gave us their blessings. I always appreciated our people. They are a good people and have always welcomed me with open arms, despite being distrusting of me - an outsider - at first. Before we knew it, we arrived at the shop.
"Girls, hold on a sec." I said. Zuko looked inquisitively at me. "Chang, have you ever been in a store before?" I asked and she shook her head. "Ok, since neither of you have ever been in a store, there is a certain way we expect you to conduct yourselves. Ok?"
"Yes." The girls said in unison.
"When we go in there, you will see a lot of toys and a lot of things you want to look at. It is not polite to burst into someone's store and touch everything. In fact, I don't want you touching anything without asking for our permission first. It also is not polite to run around the store that the shop owner worked so hard to make presentable. You will walk around in the store, politely. No shouting. No screaming. No running. No touching things. Two young little ladies. Got it?" I asked. I wanted to lay down the law before going in there so they know what is expected of them.
"Yes, Mommy. We will be good." Izumi said.
"Yes, Sam." Chang said, simply.
"Alright, now let's go in." I said. I opened the door and let the girls walk in. As soon as they walked in their eyes widened and they started to get VERY excited. At least, until Zuko cleared his throat and they both looked at him. He glared at them amorously, silently reminding them what they agreed to. Both of the girls immediately calmed down and started to walk around and look at everything. They didn't touch anything as instructed. They both walked with their backs straight and behaved very ladylike. I had to stifle a laugh, looking at them both being so regal. Both of the girls were silent until I realized why. "Girls, you're allowed to talk." I said, laughing. The girls looked at me and at each other and relaxed a bit. Zuko and I walked around a bit and looked at everything too when I felt a tug at my shirt tail. I looked down at Izumi.
"Mommy, can I see that?" she asked, pointing to a komodorhino stuffed toy. Really? One of those things? I thought.
"Uh. You're sure that's what you want?" I asked Izumi.
"Yeah! That's what I rode with you and Daddy from school that day Chang was sick. It was fun and he was cute!" Cute?! She sure was her father's daughter. "Alright, if that's what you want."
"Sam, can I get that?" Chang asked, pointing at a turtleduck toy.
"But you already have one of those. Don't you want something different? If that's what you really want, then you can have it but don't you want to see if you like anything else?"
"I don't know what to get." she said. Then realization hit me. She has never done this before. She never got to actually pick out a toy. "I don't know how to tell what I like."
"Ok, well, let's walk around. When you see something that makes you happy, that is the toy for you. Ok?"
"Ok, Sam." she said. Of course, I didn't mind if she wanted another turtleduck toy. But I wanted to give her a chance to find something different. I reached down to her and she took my hand as we walked through the shop. We looked at some of the toys until she stopped and she smiled.
"Is that the one you like?" I asked. It was a green dragon toy that had fur around it's face. Green, I had learned, was Chang's favorite color.
"Yeah! I love him!" she said. I reached forward and grabbed the toy handing it to her. She hugged it to herself and smiled. Then she quickly pulled him away and looked upset.
"What's wrong, hunny?"
"But…if I get another toy…won't it hurt Gizo's feelings?" she asked. I smiled and stroked her face with the back of my fingers.
"No, Gizo won't be jealous. He'll be happy to have a new friend to keep him company when you're at school." I explained. Chang liked this explanation and she hugged him again. We both walked over to Izumi and Zuko. I looked down at Izumi, "You ready, Zoom?"
"Yeah! I'm ready! Ohh, Chang! Cool dragon!" she said. She looked at the toy and then at Chang's. "Mommy?"
"Yes, hunny?"
"May I get the dragon toy?"
"You may, but then you have to put the rhino back."
"I can't have both?"
"No, Izumi, you were both told one toy. You will have to choose."
"It'll be really neat if we both have the same toy, Izumi. Then we can play with them together!" Chang said. That sold her. She asked me to put the rhino back and she went over to the dragon toys. Izumi pointed at the blue one. It was her favorite color, so that wasn't surprising either. I picked up the toy and handed it to my daughter. I looked at Zuko and then he knelt down to the girls holding out his hand.
"Alright, girls. Since you have your toys, you have to pay for them. Here, hold out your hands." he said. He placed five gold pieces into each of their hands. Apparently he had picked up my habit of overpaying for merchandise. The girls looked confused, unsure what to do. He stood up and ushered them to the counter where the merchant stood.
"Oh, my, is this Princess Izumi?" he asked, bowing.
"Yes, she is. And this is her friend, Chang." Zuko said.
"I see you both picked out a dragon. Marvelous choice!." he said.
"Alright, girls, hand him your money." Zuko said. The girls stepped forward and held their hands out with the money. The merchant took it, looked at Zuko and I, and bowed gratefully. He knew we liked to give extra money to support our citizens.
"Good! Great job! You both have officially bought your first toy!" Zuko said, exciting the girls. "Now what do you say to the kind man?"
"Thank you!" both of the girls said enthusiastically and in unison.
"Such polite girls! You're quite welcome. You'll give those dragons a good home right?"
"Yeah! I'll play with him all da time!" Izumi said.
"He'll be my turtleduck's friend!" Chang said. The merchant's eyes showed recognition when he realized that is where the toy went since this was the shop we had come to for Chang. He smiled at them.
"Great! Well, I know I can count on you both to give them good homes. Enjoy your toys, girls!" he said. Zuko and I thanked the man for his kindness and we left the store.
"Ok, girls, let's go home so you can both play with them, alright?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah! Let's go!" they said excited getting ready to run.
"Ah-ah! Remember your manners, girls. Walk like ladies." Zuko said. They both regained their composure and walked calmly. Once we returned to the palace, they decided they wanted to play with their new toys.
"We want to play with them in my room. We don't want them to get dirty." Izumi said. Gee, I wonder how long that will last. I thought, lovingly. Fortunately, that gave Zuko and I some time alone with each other. We went out to the turtleduck garden, found a tree to sit against, enjoyed the sun on our skin and rested until we both fell asleep.
