LITMIR.BIZ

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      “I got what I could,” she answered.

      “I’m surprised Junior didn’t wake up,” I said as I glanced down at him.

      “That’s why I was playing with him on the bus, to make him sleep,” Toya said. “I told you. I’ve thought about every aspect of my plan. I’m about to go into that designer store right over there.” Toya pointed to where she was going. I turned in the direction that she pointed.

      “Do you see the cashier standing behind the counter reading a book?”

      “Yeah, I see. She’s reading The Coldest Winter Ever,” I answered.

      “Did you read it?” Toya asked. Toya didn’t like reading nearly as much as I did. At times, especially when I’m feeling depressed, I’ll go on a reading binge to escape from my reality. The Coldest Winter was read during my last escape from my reality.

      “Yeah, I read it.”

      “I knew your ass was a closet geek.”

      “Shut up. That book was real good,” I said.

      “Really?” Toya smiled.

      “Yeah, I mean, it was good from start to end.” I was about to go on and tell her more but she cut me off.

      “You can keep her busy talking about the book, while I go in there and rob her blind.”

      “You just make sure you get me some jeans,” I said.

      “I got you.” Toya winked at me. “Now go in there so that she doesn’t think we’re together.”

      I walked into the store and pretended to be shopping for something. The salesgirl didn’t even look up at me. I could tell she was lost inside the world the author had created. At that moment, I felt bad that I was about to take advantage of her because I identified with her. I began to think that if she’s anything like me, a good book will have her in a daydreamlike state for hours. Sometimes when I read, an entire day can go by without me knowing it. I didn’t want to interrupt her reading because when I read, I hate to be interrupted. I glanced back outside toward the mall and saw Toya giving me a strange glare. I could read the expression on her face. She wanted to know why I wasn’t talking to the girl. I wanted to tell Toya to hit another store, but I knew she’d have a fit if I suggested it because the setup at this store was too perfect.

      “That was a really good book,” I mentioned to the salesgirl as I approached the counter. “They should make that book into a movie.”

      “This would be such a good movie if they made it,” said the salesgirl as she glanced up from the page.

      “Who do you think could play the roll of Winter?” I asked her. She appeared to be distracted for a moment as she looked past my shoulder toward the front door.

      “I’m sorry, I thought that lady over there with the baby needed help.”

      I turned and looked at Toya, who was reaching down for her diaper bag.

      “Are you sure she doesn’t need help? I could wait until you’re done,” I said, taking a huge gamble.

      “No, that’s okay. She’ll probably just look at a few things and leave. That’s what most of the young girls pushing a baby do.”

      “Okay, so if they turned the book into a movie, I think that girl from the television show The Parkers should play Winter.” I paused as I tried to think of the actress’s name. “You know that one that plays Kim Parker, oh, what is her name?”

      “Wait a minute, it’s coming to me,” said the salesgirl. “She has a weird name, like, Count something.” I immediately snapped my fingers.

      “Countess Vaughn. That’s her name,” I finally said.

      “I don’t know if she could pull it off,” said the salesgirl.

      “You don’t think she could play the part of Winter from the book?” I said, surprised.

      “I think you need someone who looks a little harder and rougher. I think Vivica Foxx could play the part.”

      “She’s too old,” I quickly pointed out.

      “I know, but she could probably pull it off,” the salesgirl countered. For the next half hour, the salesgirl and I discussed and debated the character and situations within the novel. I’d gotten so caught up with talking about the book with someone who’d actually read it that I forgot all about meeting back up with Toya. When I finally realized how much time had gone by, I said thank you to the salesgirl and rushed out of the store.

      “Hey, what’s your name?” she asked before I got out the door.

      “Keysha,” I said and rushed down the hall before I heard her tell me what her name was. When I caught up with Toya, she had an attitude.

      “Dang, Keysha, I just said talk to the girl about the book not have a damn study lecture on it. You’d better watch yourself with all that geek nonsense. You and that girl were talking like the people in that book were real or something.”

      I wanted to defend myself and tell Toya I really enjoyed reading and it was cool to actually talk to another reader, but she wouldn’t have understood. Toya and books just didn’t mix on any level.

      “Come on, nerd girl. Let’s hit another store.”

      “Don’t call me that,” I snapped at her.

      “All right, bookworm, don’t go and get all sensitive on me.” I wanted to scream at her for calling me names but instead I kept my mouth shut and followed her down the corridor to the next store. Toya and I hit three more stores and by that time the stroller was loaded down and Junior had awakened and was fighting to be set free from his stroller.

      “I think we should head back now,” I suggested as we approached the food court.

      “Damn, I wanted to hit at least one more store. I haven’t gotten Junior anything yet.”

      “Well, let me go to the bathroom first,” I said. We walked into the food court, and Toya took a seat at one of the tables so that she could release Junior from his stroller before he started shouting.

      * * *

      I was about to exit the bathroom but needed to wash my hands first. As I placed my hands under the warm running water, two restaurant employees walked into the restroom laughing and talking loudly.

      “Can you believe that dumb girl is down here stealing clothes with her baby?” I overheard one of them say.

      “Then she pulled out a bogus receipt talking about how she’d paid for everything.” The two girls started laughing uncontrollably. I rushed out of the bathroom and saw that three Chicago Police officers and mall security guards had handcuffed Toya to restrain her.

      “Oh, damn,” I said as I began to panic. I didn’t know what to do. I was frozen with fear. Toya was yelling at one of the officers to put Junior down before she filed a lawsuit against them. Toya caught my gaze for a minute and motioned with her head for me to come over to where she was at. I started to take a step towards her but I stopped. I suddenly wanted no part of any of the drama that was going down. To my right there was an exit. Toya must have sensed what I was thinking and so she called out my name.

      “Keysha!” she shouted at the top of her voice. As calmly as I could, I turned my back on her and walked hastily toward the exit.

      five

      My stomach was doing flips during the entire journey back home. I was nervous, afraid and confused. I placed my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands and tried to think. I wanted to cry but I didn’t. I was trying to figure out how Toya got caught. Everything was going so well. We’d moved in and out of stores without any problems. No merchandise alarms went off, and I know Toya was extra careful by making sure she was out of the sight range of the video cameras.

      When

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