Mall Madness Characters: Lily and Will ATM Setting: The Mall Content: No adult content Summary: Mall cruising with a mission Status: Complete, unless someone wants to jump in.
The mall was not super crowded at this time of day on a Wednesday. By all means, Will should have been in school and not window shopping with his mother. Yet the pair of them walked side by side with a specific mission in mind. Like Lily, Will had brown hair that was close to a dark shade in the colder months, but boasted blonde highlights when the sun became more present and lasting in the spring and summer. His hazel eyes were intent as they passed a craft store, stopping to examine the contents of the colorful window display. Lily noticed him stop and did the same. She looked at the display, then down at her son. He looked up as she lifted her hands to sign. Maybe in there?
Will frowned and returned his gaze to the window. "I don't know." He looked up at his mother so she could better read his lips. "It all seems like science and clay. Not really anything I could use."
Lily gave him a half smile. Kind of makes you miss eBay, doesn't it?
"For serious." Will shrugged and continued walking. The pair fell silent again, looking in at different displays until Will touched Lily's arm. Instead of speaking, he signed. Maybe I can find someone who's good at art to help me. I don't think we're going to find anything here. As he signed, his eyes wandered and fell on the open door of a clothing store. "Actually, hang on a sec." Lily started to go with him, but hesitated outside the door. Her son had a specific theme in mind for his room and was dead set on getting everything together himself. He would allow her to help paint and move things, but most of the work he wanted to do himself.
She watched with obvious fondness as her son approached the counter to speak to the woman behind the register. With only profiles to look at, the words Lily caught were scattered and made little sense. Her eyes trained on the sweet face of the saleswoman, wanting to make sure her son was being treated well. The woman said something before lifting her arm to type on the virtual keyboard of her Lynx system, the computerized sleeve all Avalonians owned. Whatever her report, Will seemed pleased. He even reached out a hand for a friendly handshake before returning to his mother. "Well?" Lily asked, her voice sounding muffled and slurred. She'd been deaf for nearly twenty-seven years now, but had begun working on speaking several years ago. There was progress, and she could have short conversations, but Lily was most comfortable signing.
"She's going to talk to a few people she knows. Maybe they might be able to hook me up."
Lily shook her head, a confused smile on her face. How did you know to ask her?
The smile Will wore when he shrugged was crooked. "I didn't. I just saw that necklace there..." he pointed to a silver necklace on a manequin, a fleur-de-lis on a silver chain. "That's medieval, so I figured it was worth a shot."
My smart child. She ruffled his hair, drawing an embarrassed groan from her son. Okay birthday boy. I told you we could do whatever you wanted today. So where to now?
Will grinned. "The arcade down by the food court?"