‘The double pom pom beanie I’ve been searching for all my life…and red too.’ Alice swiftly covered her red curls as her feet did a little happy dance.
‘Hidden in the great wonderland, AKA Fountain Gate.’ Neens looked around her like she half expected a secret trap door to open up behind the rack of block-coloured jumpers. The shelves of paisley t-shirts barricaded the entrance to the secret tunnel and would magically flip when the sunflower bag was lifted from it hook.
‘Look a sparkly one too.’ Alice chucked the second beanie at Neens who quickly pulled it down over her eyes and splogged her pink lips together.
‘It’s the latest fashion, don’t you know…saw one on the cover of Bazaar.’ Taking on a superior air, Neens stuck her hands out horizontally, arms by her side and waddled up the aisle like a cross between a fairy penguin and an Irish dancer.
Alice added the black goggle sunnies to Neen’s face. ‘Now you’re set, ready for the challenge if you choose to accept it,’ her voice croaked deeply.
Neens looked back at Alice and simultaneously bumped into the rack of socks knocking them flying. Pouncing on the confetti-coloured pile Neens announced urgently, ‘One of these pairs of unicorn socks hold the secret antidote that must be delivered to the Spanish Consulate before the sun rises over the steeple in the town square.’
Alice pulled the pink cowboy hat over her eyes and stood feet planted wide. ‘But you will be thwarted by the evil yet seductive Western Barbie.’
‘I’ll never find the right pair in time.’ Neens frantically grabbed the socks from off the floor and Alice dived into the pile as they pulled the same pair, the golden single horn twisting under their fingers.
‘Cute hats.’ They hadn’t noticed man bun boy.
Neens slowly lifted her beanie and goggles, her eyes adjusting to the sight of Jason Tribecka’s blundstones. Jason Tribecka, the elusive quiet guy that sat at the back of the bus. Jason Tribecka whose friends called him ‘Jay’. Jason Tribecka whose eyes could not quite be met with Alice’s erupting mirthful eyes and Neen’s furtive glance at her friend.
Reaching over to the mound of sale clothing, plonking an orange bucket hat on top of his man bun whilst deftly adding pair of mirrored sunnies, Jason snatched the unicorn socks from their grasp. ‘You will both be double-crossed by Orange Man, an undercover agent who knows the code to the safe in the Spanish Consulate.’
Alice and Neens leapt to their feet about to attack when the bleach-blonde, tight-jeans, bare-midriff, salesgirl approached. Her bored, chirpy voice reeled off the rote greeting,’ We have a special on today, buy two get one free.’
‘Saved by the sale,’ said Jason smugly as he headed to the counter with the antidote socks dangling from his fingers.