Summary:

Bonnie is shopping at the local mall for Christmas gifts and realizes she's in a losing battle when getting help from overworked, underpaid sales clerks.

Hours Earlier:

"KITT, would you mind driving me to the mall? I need to buy Christmas gifts for April, Devon, Michael, and RC," Bonnie Barstow asked after closing the Trans AM's hood. "Everything is fine. I'm happy that Michael hasn't abused you this time." She winked at the AI.

KITT's dashboard lights brighter after hearing the familiar refrain. "Michael never abuses me, Bonnie. You know that," he said lightly. The computer is aware that Bonnie's joking. After more than ten years as a car and technician, they formed a close friendship, although not as close as KITT feels toward Michael. "I'll be happy to provide the transportation as long as Michael doesn't need me."

Michael Knight is standing nearby examining tools left on a table near the Trans AM. "Go ahead, Pal. You don't need my permission to do anything you want during our off-hours. We're equals, KITT. I don't own you," he responds after a moment.

"Thank you, Michael. I'll make this clear. I belong to you, and you to me. I love you." KITT said warmly, not caring that Bonnie was standing beside the car.

Bonnie moves aside, a little embarrassed at the KITT's public declaration to Michael.

Michael blushed pink, walked over to the Trans AM, and gave a loving pat on the roof. "I love you too, KITT," he said quietly. "Bonnie, don't abuse him!" Michael loudly joked as well.

Bonnie rolls her eyes. "KITT is driving me to the mall. What can go wrong?"

Little did she know those words would haunt her later on.

Presently:

The drive was routine when KITT arrived at the mall's main entrance. Traffic had been heavy but not overly so. Before arriving, the arrangements were that KITT would return to the garage after leaving Bonnie at the mall. She asked KITT to pick her up four hours later, thinking it was sufficient time for shopping.

"I'll be here in four hours," KITT said but became thoughtful. "Or would you prefer I remain and wait?" He offered as an alternative option.

"I think the lot is already full, and having you wait for me would bore you silly," Bonnie commented, looking at the parking lot.

"I'm a master of multi-tasking, Bonnie. I can find something to do while waiting. It's this way when Michael and I are on assignments. I wanted to listen to the new Christmas music on CD that Michael gave me." KITT's CD drive activates with the CD already inside (a recent upgrade Bonnie did replacing the cassette player).

"I like that, KITT. Thanks," Bonnie said appreciatively.

"Contact me when you're ready to return home, Bonnie. We'll meet here. My sensors detect an empty parking space. I better take it before it's gone." The Anamorphic Equalizer whooshes twice. He drives away after Bonnie exits from the passenger side of the Trans AM.

Bonnie walks to the entrance and goes inside. Immediately, she notes the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers. Many with small children. The high-pitched squeals of delight when they see a mall Santa make Bonnie happy. She remembers sitting on Santa's lap, telling him what toys she wanted. "I better start shopping. What to get for Michael?" Bonnie muttered before walking to a men's clothing store nearby.

When Bonnie arrived at the store, people pulled men's shirts off the rack quicker than she could take a look. Giving up on the shirts, Bonnie heads to a table with colorful polo shirts. She has an eye on one particular polo that Michael would like. Before Bonnie could pick it up, a woman grabbed it and proceeded to the cashier. At this point, she is annoyed but hasn't given up. A salesman is wearing a blue suit near folding jeans. "Excuse me, I need help, please," Bonnie asked politely.

"Sorry, Miss. I only fold the clothing. You have to talk to that guy there," he pointed toward an older man wearing a grey suit.

Unfortunately, when Bonnie reached him, other customers bombarded him with questions and demands.

"Please, one at a time," the man said, worn out.

Bonnie returned to browsing, hoping to find an alternative gift at the store. She found more polos hanging on a rack. Looking over the selection, a single one caught her eye - a salmon-colored polo that would look good with Michael's black leather jacket. This time, she managed to remove it from the rack without incident. Unfortunately, Bonnie noticed a hole near the collar. She puts it back. At this point, she gives up and leaves the store. Looking at her watch, Bonnie is dismayed that an hour has passed without a gift.

The next place Bonnie went to was a cologne kiosk. There, she wanted to buy April's favorite perfume, AVEC MOI. Finding the sample bottle, she sprays a tiny amount on her wrist and smells it. Knowing why April likes it so much, Bonnie looks for an unopened package but finds none. A saleswoman is wearing a red dress nearby, serving another customer. Waiting, Bonnie notices the lineup at the cashier is growing larger by the second. Too distracted, she didn't see the saleswoman helping a second customer. Bonnie grumbles at the lost opportunity and leaves the kiosk in disgust.

Bonnie decides a coffee break would be nice and heads to a cafe serving coffee, tea, and other drinks. Waiting almost thirty minutes for a coffee makes her even grumpier than ever. There were no seats available, which didn't help her mood.

Finishing the coffee ten minutes later, Bonnie heads to the next store, another menswear shop, to get Devon a suit jacket. There were plenty of suitable jackets she thought Devon would like. Unfortunately, there were none in his size. The salesman nearby is helping a customer. Bonnie sighs and waits her turn. The salesman is about to help Bonnie when he's called away to help with crowd control after an announcement there is a sale on shirts at fifty percent off for the next two hours.

"This is crazy!" Bonnie again mutters to herself.

More than four hours had passed, and Bonnie didn't buy any gifts.

Finally, Bonnie is fed up and leaves the store. She enters four more stores and sees lineups, rude people yelling at the salespeople and the occasional crying child.

The thought of going inside another store fills Bonnie with dread. She walks toward the main entrance and contacts KITT by cell phone. "Come pick me, please, KITT," she said, dejected.

"Right away, Bonnie," is KITT's cheerful voice. He arrives at the entrance seconds later and finds Bonnie with no bags of items. "Bonnie? I thought you were shopping?" KITT's tone changed to one of concern when he scanned her face.

"I was, but I couldn't find anyone to help me, KITT," Bonnie explains, exhausted as she sits in KITT's passenger seat. "I shouldn't have waited this long to go shopping.

"If I may suggest, Bonnie, how about we shop online? Michael and I do so most of the time, especially at Christmas. I have a way with computers and can have gifts delivered before Christmas Eve. Michael jokingly calls online shopping a sanity saver." KITT said with an invisible grin.

"Sanity saver. I like that!" Bonnie laughs.