FOUNDLING: NEW CLOTHES AND OLD HABITS

BY CHRISTOPHER TOILKIEN

[ part 1 ]

Mavis and Foundling were still eating when the old couple left.

Mavis walked as if to the washroom, noting the plate number of the nondescript Ford as they drove out. In the Ladies room she requested their plate searched over her radio and would call back for the result.

Mavis noted Foundling never even looked up as other kinds noisily went by, nor moved a muscle from exactly were she first sat down. Mavis had relatively little experience with children. But when visiting schools on Career days had never seen a grade schooler sit tight for thirty seconds, never mind an hours meal. "Curiouser and curiouser, she thought.

But soon the meal was over and Foundling jumped up to clean off the table and dispose of the paper and plastic. Other parents, attempting to keep an eye on their kids while balancing trays of half eaten food into the garbage commented on Mavis's obvious firm training of her daughter and wished theirs could be so well behaved.

"Were do you go to school, perfect one?" A mother asked her two dashing out into the parking lot as she dumped barely eaten food in the garbage.

"She attends the old style Middle School in the center of town as I did" Mavis replied. Foundling just looked up at her and smiled.

"And there is more to you than I dared hope" Foundling thought to herself. "Maybe we are not that much unalike after all. We are both willing to let Evans fuck our brains out for a chance to spend the rest of our lives with him. And if you are a graduate of the downtown Middle School, sexual submission will not be new to you"

Mavis led Foundling back out to her car and drove off.

From out of a motel's driveway the nondescript ford carefully dogged them as they innocently made their way to a tree hidden suburban mall specializing in teen and preteen needs. Carefully parked nearby and the forgettable retired couple followed them inside.

Foundry had never been inside an enclosed shopping male in her young life. A corner store, sure when they had a little extra to buy a pop or two. Occasionally a movie theatre, especially if one of her "Clients" had paid extra for her services. Malls in her experience were a few stores all lined up along the sidewalk, or with a small parking lot in front.

But a completely enclosed mall, never. She looked up, down and all around, almost dislocating her neck trying to see if the glass walled elevator went all the way up to the sky. Mavis just stood back and was fascinated by the little girl's obvious delight at such a common place thing as the malls four story high central atrium.

She finally dragged her into a Guess Teens shop. The shift manager seeing a female police Captain with, what she assumed was her pretty little daughter in tow. Started to maneuver towards them. And when Mavis removed her mirror sunglasses stepped up close and hugged her tight.

"Brown Bomber" it is so good to see you after all these years. The old group followed your career and applauded when you won the Olympic Gold Medal for marksmanship. We heard you joined the military and then lost trace of you"

"Betty Boop, it has been a long time. I hope you finally settled down and married that high school quarterback you chased after" Mavis retorted.

"Yes we married right after graduation and he is a successful corporate lawyer" Her old friends replied. Me, I keep myself occupied with advancing up the corporate sales ladder. And how long have you been back?"

"Not long, I have just been hired as the Police Commanders new assistant" Mavis lied to her old school chum.

"And Foundling filed that big fib away for future use. Mavis had told Foundling she had been Evan's assistant for over a year. She must be deliberately keeping a very low profile in her own home town, but why?"

"How can I help you two?"

"Well Foundling here requires completely outfitting for her new school" Mavis replied, and Foundling looked hopefully up at the raven hared Betty.

"Which School does she attend?" Mavis's old friend inquired.

"Our old Middle School of course" Mavis told her.

The head saleslady led them to a prominent corner of the store. Displayed on racks and shelves were white cotton blouse's, Gray or light blue pleated skirts, knee high or thigh high white cotton socks, short "Bolero" matching jackets and complete white tennis or gym outfits. Racks of shoes held only black Paten leathers or white tennis shoes.

"These are exclusively carried for students of our prominent Middle School" Betty indicated.

The two adult females dove into every adult female's favorite pastime. Outfitting a younger female.

When Foundling finally appeared from her final fitting in a brand new skirt and matching Bolero jacket outfit complete with Black shoes and thighhigh white lace stockings. Both older females exchanged knowing glances. Variations were then picked out and packed up for later delivery.

Foundling was almost out of her mind with all the new clothes. Hers were either second hand castoffs or at best stolen from clients absent daughter's bedrooms as they slept. Foundling had ditched her tattered underwear unbeknown to the older females. She reveled in the touch of the new cotton skirt against her naked rear.

" And how do we handle the settling up?"

"If it is OK, I will sign for them and you send the bills with them to this address" Mavis said, writing Evans's name and home address on the proffered sales slip"

"Absolutely no problem with that address" Betty replied, winking at her old friend.

As the two satisfied customers wandered further down the mall, a very nice old man accosted Betty as she was at the sales desk writing down her sale.

"Do you carry blouses in size "zero" My nieces size?" He inquired. Betty walked over to the appropriate blouse rack and missed the nice old lady writing down the information off the sales slip.

Foundling and Mavis hit an imported swim wear store were Mavis discovered Foundling could speak French, but could not swim a stroke. Then the Food Court were foundling ordered in Italian, but did not know pizza came covered in anything but cheese and pepperoni.

"This is an adult size puzzle wrapped in a preteen package," Mavis thought. Her police trained mind beginning to analyzing Foundling. And sensing little Foundling was literally almost asleep on her feet steered her back towards the car. It was about five, dinnertime, and a quiet period at the mall.

Mavis literally carried Foundling from the mall doors to the car and began seat belting her in. Suddenly she felt a sting in her left arm and slumped forward over the sleeping Foundling.