A different store

Maria was about to just walk into Carla’s anyway, ignoring Lauren’s protests, when she saw another store; one that she thought would humiliate Lauren completely.

“You know something, Lauren?” Maria asked. “You are absolutely right. Why should I take you into Carla’s Photos –“

“Oh, thank goodness! Thank you, Ms. Maria!” Lauren sighed in relief.

“You didn’t let me finish.” Maria stated, “Why should I take you into Carla’s Photos, when that is the store I should be taking you to?”

Maria turned the stroller around to the entrance to another store. There was a large crowd of parents with their children; from infants to toddlers. Lauren couldn’t see what the store was called, but she knew that it couldn’t be good.

She was proved right when a store employee, wearing a fake plastic smile and the stupidest looking uniform Lauren had ever seen, stepped out to greet the guests.

“Welcome all Peng-Winners and Special Tundra Pals,” the employee said – in a tone the made it sound like she was excited, but anyone could tell she was clearly saying 'I took four years of acting class for THIS?!’ – as she grabbed a rope that was attached to a cloth covering the store’s name, “to the grand opening of Beaky the Penguin's Play Land and Fun Store!”

She then pulled on the rope, taking off the curtain and revealing the store’s name. The children and some of the adults cheered loudly. Lauren, on the other hand, was sitting there in horror.

Beaky the Penguin was one of those annoying kids show hosts; one of those actors in a cheap looking costume that spoke in a low, dumb, yet overly cheerful voice. The show would basically try to teach kids life lessons – like brush your teeth, share with others, blah, blah, blah – through annoying songs. Many people despised him, but kids loved him; well, kids from ages zero to five.

Lauren had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing this show when babysitting her landlord’s granddaughter one night in return for not having to pay that months rent, and was ecstatic to see that she had come back home early; Lauren couldn’t take anymore of the avian nuisance!

Now here she was in the middle of the mall, diapered and in a stroller, watching kids practically stampede into a store that was centered around this freak. Lauren looked up at Maria with wide, pleading eyes, shaking her head.

“Sorry, Lauren. You had your chance.” Maria said with a laugh, pushing the stroller towards the entrance of the store.