Shawping
Paul checked the date on his watch again, even though he just checked it a minute ago. It was still October, no matter how many times he checked, so why was there Christmas decorations up already? He sighed as he walked past the gaudy shop windows and scowled at the shopping centre's speaker system that was cranking out the Christmas carols at obnoxiously loud volumes.
He stopped in front of "Carol's Christmas Bonanza!" and stared in amazement at the front window. The dancing Santa would come up to his chest, and was surrounded by smaller singing Mrs Clauses. There were nodding reindeer and elves and huge presents and tinsel and shiny snowflakes and trees and -
He forced himself to look away from the jumbled monstrosity in front of him before it was too late. The sensory overload experienced from that shop had caused Paul to start shivering uncontrollably. He wrapped his arms around his chest and walked briskly in the direction of away. He knew there was a reason he avoided shopping centres, but he was hoping that he would be safe at this time of year. It seemed, however, that the shops were preparing for Christmas earlier than ever and assaulting their customers with awful puns about the season.
He glanced at a jewellery shop window's banner ("Try keeping our christmas savings under wraps!") and groaned, resigning to the fact that he would have to face the decorations. He was about to step into a corny gift shop when he noticed a small shop with no decorations on it and a simple display in the window. With a sigh of relief for avoiding the inevitable for the moment, Paul walked into the shop and proceeded to look for a birthday present (his original purpose for entering this hell-hole). He looked at the bright green moose that was behind the counter until he heard a voice from behind him.
"I'm sorry, but Henry's not for sale." Said a short woman as she carried a box behind the counter, touching Henry absently after she put down the box. Paul looked at Henry, confused before turning his attention back to the woman. "Is there anything I can help you with?" She asked politely. Paul looked sheepish, scratching his head with embarrassment.
"Ah, well, I wanted to buy a birthday present and-"
"This shop was the first one that didn't have christmas stuff plastered all over it?" The woman interrupted him, laughing a his expression "Yeah, I've had a few customers today for that reason." She motioned at the shop's contents cheerfully. "Well take your time; there's no rush." Paul smiled his thanks and wandered about.
-----
An hour and a few interesting conversations later, Paul (reluctantly) left the small shop and returned to the annoyance of the shopping centre. He made it outside in one piece, enjoying the fresh air and relative peace when he noticed the man sitting at a small table near him. He was raising money for a charity, the Salvation Army or Legacy type things, and looked rather sad. Paul held the small bag containing his purchase in his teeth and rummaged in his pockets, extracting about ten dollars worth of change. He walked over to him and placed the money in the small wooden box on the table, all the coins making more noise than Paul had hoped.
He was about about to walk off when the man grabbed his arm. Paul looked down and the hand (missing its little finger and half of its ring finger) briefly before focusing on the man's look of gratitude. He murmured a thanks, much to Paul's embarrassment, before letting him go and letting Paul make his way back to his vehicle. Casting a look back at the large building he just escaped, he made a promise to avoid that place as much as possible.
He stopped in front of "Carol's Christmas Bonanza!" and stared in amazement at the front window. The dancing Santa would come up to his chest, and was surrounded by smaller singing Mrs Clauses. There were nodding reindeer and elves and huge presents and tinsel and shiny snowflakes and trees and -
He forced himself to look away from the jumbled monstrosity in front of him before it was too late. The sensory overload experienced from that shop had caused Paul to start shivering uncontrollably. He wrapped his arms around his chest and walked briskly in the direction of away. He knew there was a reason he avoided shopping centres, but he was hoping that he would be safe at this time of year. It seemed, however, that the shops were preparing for Christmas earlier than ever and assaulting their customers with awful puns about the season.
He glanced at a jewellery shop window's banner ("Try keeping our christmas savings under wraps!") and groaned, resigning to the fact that he would have to face the decorations. He was about to step into a corny gift shop when he noticed a small shop with no decorations on it and a simple display in the window. With a sigh of relief for avoiding the inevitable for the moment, Paul walked into the shop and proceeded to look for a birthday present (his original purpose for entering this hell-hole). He looked at the bright green moose that was behind the counter until he heard a voice from behind him.
"I'm sorry, but Henry's not for sale." Said a short woman as she carried a box behind the counter, touching Henry absently after she put down the box. Paul looked at Henry, confused before turning his attention back to the woman. "Is there anything I can help you with?" She asked politely. Paul looked sheepish, scratching his head with embarrassment.
"Ah, well, I wanted to buy a birthday present and-"
"This shop was the first one that didn't have christmas stuff plastered all over it?" The woman interrupted him, laughing a his expression "Yeah, I've had a few customers today for that reason." She motioned at the shop's contents cheerfully. "Well take your time; there's no rush." Paul smiled his thanks and wandered about.
-----
An hour and a few interesting conversations later, Paul (reluctantly) left the small shop and returned to the annoyance of the shopping centre. He made it outside in one piece, enjoying the fresh air and relative peace when he noticed the man sitting at a small table near him. He was raising money for a charity, the Salvation Army or Legacy type things, and looked rather sad. Paul held the small bag containing his purchase in his teeth and rummaged in his pockets, extracting about ten dollars worth of change. He walked over to him and placed the money in the small wooden box on the table, all the coins making more noise than Paul had hoped.
He was about about to walk off when the man grabbed his arm. Paul looked down and the hand (missing its little finger and half of its ring finger) briefly before focusing on the man's look of gratitude. He murmured a thanks, much to Paul's embarrassment, before letting him go and letting Paul make his way back to his vehicle. Casting a look back at the large building he just escaped, he made a promise to avoid that place as much as possible.