the Sunglass Hovel

You steer Maddy out of the blinding rays of the late day sun shining through the mall roof's glass windows and into a small shop with a facade of mirrors and blue neon called 'The Sunglass Hovel'.

The interior of the store is styled similarly, with the walls mirrored and illuminated to display many varieties of protective eyewear. Teal-green neon palm trees help to brighten the shop's corners.

You see Maddy's eyes go to the lone salesclerk. You smirk at her, and check him out for yourself. He is a good-looking , square-jawed man with short, sandy hair and wire-rimmed glasses. He looks to be in his early thirties. As he finishes a transaction at the cash register, you try various sunglasses on Madeline, using her as your personal dressup doll once again.

You find a style that you think will suit your purposes. You put them on Maddy and step back to check them out. The frameless lenses are wide and are a deep brown over Maddy's eyebrows, becoming almost clear by the time they reach her cheekbones. You have her look in one of the mirrors. "You look almost like J-Lo!" you snicker to the voluptuous woman.

Both Maddy and you see the man leave the departing customer and head toward you. He looks very fit and dapper in his tailored khaki slacks and a crisp dress shirt with a a stylish tie.

"Good afternoon, ladies, how may I be of service today?" the salesman asks as he joins you at the eyewear display. You see him glance along both your conspicuous attributes.

You see Maddy looking ready to come out of her shell at the attentiveness of the attractive blond and step forward to slam the door shut. Just as she readies to speak, you say, "my friend here would like to get these sunglasses fitted for a purchase!"

He turns to Maddy, then takes off the display glasses. "They do enhance your pretty eyes," he tells Maddy as he removes them and checks the model number before he puts them back on the rack.

"We are in a bit of a hurry," you emphasize, afraid all your work would go down the drain if this man renews her self-confidence.

"Can't the lady speak for herself?" he asks, trying to be charming as he continues to make eye contact with the flushing Madeline.

You see her jaw working, in search of something to say. You intercede. "Actually, no. She's deaf-mute." You turn your head and shoot a warning glare at Madeline.

It was now the mild-mannered man, with the nametag reading 'Kent', who found himself gulping air. "I am so sorry," he says, looking at both of you. "Please accept my apologies!"

"Apologies accepted, now may we please get back to business," you say, looking perturbed.

"Oh sure. Just take a seat over there," he says, gesturing to a pair of tables wth seats on either end, "and I'll be right back to fit them!" You see him almost run behind the counter display, **** to be freed from this awkward situation. If he only knew what you had in store for him.