He continuously ratted on the fact that she insisted to buy clothes for the kids there. The store never had true sales, their staff seemed miserable and disorderly. It was always packed and filled with weird people from the customers to the staff. A shop he’d gone to once or twice a month, now turned into a weekly endeavor and Simon was at his wits end.
Cherish delighted in his over the top reactions and lived for those days, “What do you mean the meat here stinks? It does not, Simon. Oh my gosh.” She laughed placing a hand over her face.
Simon chopped his hand in the air while panting because he was adamant on not shopping at Wal-Mart today, “It smells rancid and like it’s been sprayed with chemicals. If you eat that rotten food, you’re going to poison Jr.!” he exclaimed.
Lifting a hand, she rested her knuckles against her cheek with a head tilt, “Every excuse not to go inside becomes more ridiculous than the last! I’ve told you several times that if I can get a job and save up a couple of thousand, I can get my own car. Then, you can stay home with the kids and wouldn’t have to threaten your life twice a week with me.” She joked.
Although he shifted the car into park, he didn’t take the keys out of the ignition. He grimaced at building ahead of them. In a last-ditch effort, Simon unbuckled his seat belt and turned his body towards the backseat, “Please, it would be a dream not to step into the twilight zone again.” He partly joked, but seriously hated the thought of leaving the car, “Besides, everything we get here breaks within a month or less. Come on, Cherish. Think about the kids.”
She noticed how he ignored the comment she made of working and getting a car; which was something he did often. She didn’t know if he wanted her to stay at home all day with the kids or if he didn’t want her to feel obliged paying to live with him, but she knew she had to bring income into the home. Not for him, but for herself to become more independent. That was always something she never could have; her independence.
Letting it rest, Cherish tilted her head slightly to the side as she stared into those blue hues pleading with her not to go. Oh no, he wasn’t going to get off that easy. Instead she laughed out loud, “Oh come on, it’s not that bad. You’re such a drama king! We get more meat for the money and I’m able to budget more for Jasmine’s formula! You know that stuff is about five bucks more expensive at all the other shops. It’s too hot to run in and out of this sun when we have a one size fits all stop right here.” She said pointing to the massive warehouse sized store.
Simon rubbed along the side of his face and groaned, “I’ll drive you to any store, any place, anywhere but not Wal-Mart.” He said. Catching himself, he then pointed at her and narrowed his blue hues, “Except Ross and Goodwill.” He added.
Cherish faked her appalment as she pressed a hand to her chest and leaned back against the cushion, “You're so ridiculous! Don't talk about my go-to stores!”
Simon scoffed out a laugh while he ran his fingers through his hair, “Go-to stores? Now who is the ridiculous one? I’m all for saving money, trust me, but you save by buying items that last. Shopping at places that give you real sales and deals. Not stupid rollbacks and their old prices in different shops. There’s a reason that stuff gets sent to those stores, Cherish.”
Not wanting to listen, she placed her fingers in her ears and shook her head from one side to the other. Though she could hear him, she waited until he had finished before lowering her hands with a grin, “Come on before the babies get antsy! It won’t be so bad, we can be in and out. I’ll make it up to you.” She said trying to assuage him.
Simon opened his door and stepped one foot out, “How? How are you going to do that?” he asked cutting off the engine. Getting out of the car, which signified his surrender, he held his fists over his head and shook them at God. Cherish laughed a bit before she leaned over and opened one of the doors. Simon opened the trunk and pulled the double stroller out. With the stubble on his face and the casual wear, he looked far from the professional man he usually was with his soured expression. If these people didn’t care what they looked like when they shopped, why should he waste his good clothes there?
Cherish waited for Simon to grab Jr.’s car seat before she climbed over the base and pulled down her jean shorts. Shutting the door behind her, she went around to the other side and lifted Jasmine's, "Uh. Okay, how about this. Whatever meal you want, I'll make it. PLUS, you won't have to change Jr.'s morning diapers for a week. Better?" She asked with her hands on her hips.
Simon took Jasmine’s seat, locked her in with Jr. and pushed the stroller up to “weirdos paradise”. Cherish followed him through the long path towards the double doors as he cut her with a side-eye, “You have yourself a deal.” He muttered holding his hand out at his side to shake mid-step while they crossed the threshold into proverbial hell. The smell alone had put him off, along with the constant beeps, the interior, and the heat.
Taking his hand with a shake, Cherish wore a sneaky smirk on
