Dada: Chapter Five

   "Target?!  Why are we going to Target?  I can see a mall just across the road."  Sam grumbled.  At least his voice was a little louder and deeper than it was at work.
   "Actually, I think that is designated as a street.  And we will be going there, after we pick up a few essentials, here.  You don't want to be seen walking around the mall the way you're looking now, do you?" I answer.
   "But why Target?" Sam spoke softly again, as if he was afraid to be here as we were walking to the entrance.
   "You are going through a growth spurt.  Best to get you something cheaper, just in case you can't wear for long.  If we got you something the fits, you could outgrow it within a few weeks.  If you got something a little big, and you've stopped growing, which I seriously doubt, it will look like you were  wearing your fa... , hand-me-downs.  You wouldn't like that.  The right thing to do,  then, is get you something that is just a little big, but inexpensive, just in case.  Don't worry, we'll get you more regular stuff, later.  Trust me, I've been through this."
   A lot, actually.  All through grade school, I was usually the tallest in class, by an inch.  Sometimes more.  By eighth grade, the other boys started to catch up, and surpass me.  By the time I started high school, at 5' 1",  I was just about the shortest boy in class.  I grew another inch by Christmas break, and an inch-and-a-half by spring break, with almost two inches over the summer.  I didn't have a real growth spurt until sophomore year.  Grew almost four inches between Halloween and Thanksgiving.  I grew so fast, that I had few options for clothes until Christmas.  I pretty much got all clothes that year. Very sad.
   I wheel him past the boys' department and head straight to men's.
   "Why are we going to men's?"  Sam whispers.
   "At the rate you've grown, I think a men's small will fit you better than a boys' large, or bigger.  You will probably get more wear-time out of it."
   I quickly get him a shirt to try on.  "By the way, what's the waist size of those pants?  I guessing a 32 or so."
  "I think it's a 28."  Sam replies.
  He's right.  That kid is skinnier than I thought.  I guess seeing him busting out of his pants made me get the wrong impression.  I get him a pair of khaki cargo shorts in a 30 and lead him to the dressing rooms.
  "I'll be right out here, picking up a few more things.  Don't leave the area."
  As he goes in, a quickly look around for a few more things for him.  Some new underwear, a pair of athletic socks, and a few pairs of slip ons, approximately the right size.  They might be too small.  I'm a stickler for this time of thing ever since junior year.  I was into sweaters at the time, and I really wanted this dark blue one.  Unfortunately, they only had it in a large.  It was too big for me, and they weren't able to order it back in a smaller size.  I had to settle for a red one, that did fit me.
   That February, my mom bought the blue sweater when it went on sale.  She thought that I was going to grow some more.  For some reason, she kept thinking I was going to be six feet tall.  Until then, I was wearing so many layers under it that I was getting sick from being so hot.  I wound up having to take my sweater off before lunch, most of the time.
  My mom was right, though.  I did grow some more.  About a quarter-of-an-inch, perhaps a half inch.  At just over 5' 9", I was still too short for it, even after I filled out.  Fortunately, it was a mild winter my senior year, so I didn't get to wear it much.  I ultimately gave it to one of my friends, Pete.  At just under 6' 2", it barely fit him.  He didn't even have to wear anything to make it look good.  I gave a $40 or $45 sweater away.  Wore it only a dozen times, at most.  I stopped wearing sweaters after that fiasco.
  "How do I look?" Sam asked as he came out of the dressing room.
  "You look great."  I was't lying.  Sure the white tee was a little loose in the chest and shoulders, but the sleeves hung in the right places.  The shorts stayed up without a belt, but didn't look tight.  They hung a little below the knee, but he would fit right in at most place without too many looks.
   "Come over here and try these on.  This will be faster than getting you actual sneakers until later.  Just so you can walk without pain."
  I had guessed right on the first pair.  About a size smaller than my own shoes.  Sam is going to be huge.
  Sam just sighed.  "I can't wait.  Are we done yet?"
  "Just about. Get back into your old clothes (Sam practically shuddered when I mentioned that) and we'll pick up one last thing, and then it's off to the mall."
   "Why can't I just wear them out?"
   "I haven't paid for them yet.  Now hurry up and get changed."
   After Sam got back into his suit, we walk straight to the personal grooming aisle.  While I have extras of most of things Sam will need (toothbrush, comb, etc.), I have to pick him up some deodorant.  I let him pick out his favorite.
   "When do we eat?  I'm getting hungry." Sam whines as we near the check-out.
  "At the mall.  There used to be a diner here, but they turned it into a Starbucks in the last few months.  I don't think it will have anything you'd like."
   A short wait at the express lane, a few quick swipes, and we are off to the mall.