"When was that?" she asks.
The trouble is, Deja doesn't remember when it was. And maybe she exaggerated about it being a long time ... but she likes the look on Nikki's face.
"What was it about?" Nikki presses.
Deja is trying to think of something to say when Auntie Dee sticks her head out the door and calls, "Who wants to go to the mall?"
"We do," Nikki and Deja say together, and Nikki jumps up to run next door to her own house to get permission.
Auntie Dee has picked up her friend Phoebe, even though she just lives across the street and down some. Now they are headed for the mall.
In the back seat of the car, Nikki whispers to Deja, "How much money do you have?"
"How much do you have?" Deja replies, wondering if Nikki is getting ready to ask her for some of her money.
"Two dollars."
"Oh, I have five."
Nikki looks out the window as if she's thinking about this. Then she whispers, "Do you think your auntie will let us go to the Candy Palace?"
"I'll ask." Deja knows she has to handle this just right. Auntie is a vegetarian and only eats organic stuff. She makes Deja eat all kinds of healthy meals and snacks. Getting permission to go to the Candy Palace is going to be tricky. Nikki looks over at Deja expectantly, but Deja just stares out the window. It's better to wait.
"Don't wander off," Auntie Dee says as they go through the heavy doors at the mall entrance. That means they have to follow Auntie and Phoebe into Lily's Shoes and watch while Phoebe tries on one pair after another.
Finally, they get to leave that store and move on to the next. Phoebe's still looking for shoes. Auntie's giving her advice and looking for a new bag while she's at it. Deja can already tell this is not going to be fun. The one good thing is that they're moving in the direction of the Candy Palace. She can see the words
Candy Palace
lit up in tiny rainbow-colored lights. Who could resist wandering in there?
Auntie Dee and Phoebe are walking at a brisk pace. If Deja doesn't make her move, they're bound to pass right by the shop and all its heavenly confections. "Auntie Dee..." She puts just the right amount of whine in her voice.
"What is it?" Something has caught Auntie's eye on the other side of the walkway. She's elbowing Phoebe and they're about to cross.
"Can we go look in the Candy Palace?" Deja blurts. "Puhleeze..."
Auntie Dee sighs. She twists her mouth, thinking. Deja holds her breath. She can feel Nikki holding her breath as well. "All right. You can buy
one
thing. I mean itâ
one thing.
But you can't eat it until after you've had your dinner."
This is not exactly what Deja had in mind. She can't help but frown a little. She's just about to protest when she catches Nikki's excited smile. She knows Nikki's already thinking of the sour sugar whips and the gummy balls and the whirly suckers. Deja's mouth begins to water. She'll promise anything for the chance to go into the Candy Palace. "Okay, okay," she says with growing anticipation.
"Phoebe and I are just going to check that shoe store across the way. As soon as you get your
one thing
I want you to come directly there to meet us. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Auntie Dee."
Auntie Dee and Phoebe head to the shoe store, and Nikki and Deja turn in to the Candy Palace.
There's so much to choose from, but they have their favorites. Deja's mouth waters again at the sight of the cherry sour whips crammed in their plastic case, the sugar granules glittering under the store lights. Nikki pauses in front of a case filled with hot cinnamon suckers. Deja sees her swallow. Slowly they walk along, scanning the walls that are covered floor to ceiling with displays. While the clerk waits on a slowly deciding older lady, they scrutinize the candy-filled cases. Deja doesn't want to make her decision too hurriedly. Perhaps there's something she might like better than sour whips and hot cinnamon lollipops.
"May I help you?" the clerk finally asks. He's tall and skinny with pimples on his
The trouble is, Deja doesn't remember when it was. And maybe she exaggerated about it being a long time ... but she likes the look on Nikki's face.
"What was it about?" Nikki presses.
Deja is trying to think of something to say when Auntie Dee sticks her head out the door and calls, "Who wants to go to the mall?"
"We do," Nikki and Deja say together, and Nikki jumps up to run next door to her own house to get permission.
Auntie Dee has picked up her friend Phoebe, even though she just lives across the street and down some. Now they are headed for the mall.
In the back seat of the car, Nikki whispers to Deja, "How much money do you have?"
"How much do you have?" Deja replies, wondering if Nikki is getting ready to ask her for some of her money.
"Two dollars."
"Oh, I have five."
Nikki looks out the window as if she's thinking about this. Then she whispers, "Do you think your auntie will let us go to the Candy Palace?"
"I'll ask." Deja knows she has to handle this just right. Auntie is a vegetarian and only eats organic stuff. She makes Deja eat all kinds of healthy meals and snacks. Getting permission to go to the Candy Palace is going to be tricky. Nikki looks over at Deja expectantly, but Deja just stares out the window. It's better to wait.
"Don't wander off," Auntie Dee says as they go through the heavy doors at the mall entrance. That means they have to follow Auntie and Phoebe into Lily's Shoes and watch while Phoebe tries on one pair after another.
Finally, they get to leave that store and move on to the next. Phoebe's still looking for shoes. Auntie's giving her advice and looking for a new bag while she's at it. Deja can already tell this is not going to be fun. The one good thing is that they're moving in the direction of the Candy Palace. She can see the words
Candy Palace
lit up in tiny rainbow-colored lights. Who could resist wandering in there?
Auntie Dee and Phoebe are walking at a brisk pace. If Deja doesn't make her move, they're bound to pass right by the shop and all its heavenly confections. "Auntie Dee..." She puts just the right amount of whine in her voice.
"What is it?" Something has caught Auntie's eye on the other side of the walkway. She's elbowing Phoebe and they're about to cross.
"Can we go look in the Candy Palace?" Deja blurts. "Puhleeze..."
Auntie Dee sighs. She twists her mouth, thinking. Deja holds her breath. She can feel Nikki holding her breath as well. "All right. You can buy
one
thing. I mean itâ
one thing.
But you can't eat it until after you've had your dinner."
This is not exactly what Deja had in mind. She can't help but frown a little. She's just about to protest when she catches Nikki's excited smile. She knows Nikki's already thinking of the sour sugar whips and the gummy balls and the whirly suckers. Deja's mouth begins to water. She'll promise anything for the chance to go into the Candy Palace. "Okay, okay," she says with growing anticipation.
"Phoebe and I are just going to check that shoe store across the way. As soon as you get your
one thing
I want you to come directly there to meet us. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Auntie Dee."
Auntie Dee and Phoebe head to the shoe store, and Nikki and Deja turn in to the Candy Palace.
There's so much to choose from, but they have their favorites. Deja's mouth waters again at the sight of the cherry sour whips crammed in their plastic case, the sugar granules glittering under the store lights. Nikki pauses in front of a case filled with hot cinnamon suckers. Deja sees her swallow. Slowly they walk along, scanning the walls that are covered floor to ceiling with displays. While the clerk waits on a slowly deciding older lady, they scrutinize the candy-filled cases. Deja doesn't want to make her decision too hurriedly. Perhaps there's something she might like better than sour whips and hot cinnamon lollipops.
"May I help you?" the clerk finally asks. He's tall and skinny with pimples on his
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