The Mall, The Mall, The Mall, The Mall!

We were still both in high school, and Jeff had his driver's license for about a year.  I think Jeff was borrowing the Wally Wagon (Dad's red station wagon) to get around.  Early on a Saturday morning, the two of us were sitting in front of the TV, a little bored.  In those days, we used to play video games all day, every day, making wagers with each other about who would win.  Jeff won every time and scored favors or cash from me at every turn.  You'd think I would've learned.  On this one Saturday morning, we weren't playing anything, so Jeff said, "You wanna go to the mall?"

"Yes!  I just need to shower, get dressed and do my make-up.  In an hour?"

"Sure."  He thumbed the remote and didn't blink an eye.

So, at the age of 15 or so, I did what all wanna-be-beautiful-teenagers-going-to-the-mall do.  I spent time on picking out my clothes; time on doing my hair so it looked perfect; time on doing my make-up.  It was nearly a two hour ordeal, and I kept peeking in on Jeff as he sat in the family room. 

"I'm almost done.  We're still going, right?"

"Yes.  Whenever you're ready."

But, and I remember this clear as day, I had a fleeting thought that maybe he was up to something.  Yet my excitement over going to the mall shooed it away.

"Ready!"  I said.

He clicked off the TV, grabbed his jacket and we were out the door.

We drove to Avery's (the "happening" grocery store in North Collins). 

"I need a can of chew..."  I waited in the car, still so excited about going to the mall.  A few minutes later he got back in the car and we were on our way.  When we were supposed to turn right toward the mall, Jeff turned left toward home.

"Where are you going?"  I asked.

"Home."

"But why, I thought we were going to the mall?"

"The mall?  Where would you have gotten such a crazy idea?"

And we went home.  I was so pissed at him until he suggested a game of Nintendo racing - promising me that he'd let me win.  We then we spent the entire day, sitting on hard-backed chairs, knee to knee, working the game controllers and laughing our asses off.

Submitted by Carrie Lynn Fazzolari