11/30/14
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Iris pulled into the mall parking lot and cruised up and down the aisles looking for an open space. It was less than a week until Christmas and she still hadn’t made a dent in her shopping list. She tried to remember what had kept her occupied until this late, but her mind drew a blank. Oh well, there was no help for it now but to deal with the crowds as she tried to make up for lost time.
She saw a car pulling out of a space at the head of the aisle so she quickly rolled up to be near it. But just as the exiting car cleared its spot a minivan came zipping around the corner and aimed straight for the space. The other driver stopped abruptly when she saw Iris waiting; however, it looked as if she was thinking of pulling in anyway.
Iris watched as the other driver leaned forward and stared a moment, then her face flushed and she raised her hand and gestured for Iris to take the space. She then backed her minivan out of the aisle and sped to another part of the parking lot. Iris thought to herself as she pulled into the space. That was weird, people don’t usually act polite this time of year. I wonder what got into her.
A short time later in the department store, she was sorting through a rack of blouses when her attention was drawn by a conversation taking place on the other side of a large display. The two ladies didn’t realize they were being eavesdropped, so they didn’t take care to talk softly. Iris was astonished by what she heard.
“It’s like they appeared overnight,” said the first voice.
“I know. It’s so scary. Why isn’t the government doing anything?” said the second.
“Maybe it’s happening to them too. Who knows. But what I want to know is if they’re dangerous.”
“Yeah. How are we supposed to treat them? What if we accidentally do something wrong? Will they then do it to us too?”
“Oh, God, I hope not! I’d hate to think of that happening to me.”
“You said it. Wait, shh. I think we’re being overheard.”
The two ladies moved to another section of the store and left Iris puzzling about what they meant. Not seeing any blouses she liked she next went to the toy section. Her niece had been dropping hints about the new Snow Queen doll that had just come out.
She found the display table where the dolls had been. It wasn’t hard to miss because of all the signs with pictures from the recent Snow Queen movie. But the table was empty. A sales clerk happened by so Iris asked if there were any more dolls left. The clerk looked at her a moment before answering.
“We’re sold out. All we have left is one with a damaged box. Would you like that one?”
Iris nodded, so the clerk went behind the counter and rummaged through empty cartons until she found the doll. Just as the clerk re-appeared another customer rushed up, saw the Snow Queen package and grabbed it from the clerk’s hand.
“I’ll take that,” the pushy shopper said.
“I was getting it for another customer,” the clerk replied.
The customer sneered and was about to respond when she turned around and saw Iris.
“Oh!” she said. “I, uh, I’m sorry. Here, you take it.” She then pushed the doll at Iris and rushed away.
“Thank you,” said Iris. But since the pushy shopper was already gone, she directed her appreciation to the clerk. Again she thought to herself about how unusual today’s interactions were seeming.
Iris headed toward the checkout counters but found long lines at each. Oh, great! She thought to herself as she chose the furthest open line. This’ll take a half-hour at least. But less than a minute later she saw a store employee walk behind the counter of a closed register in the next lane. Eyeing her eagerly, Iris hoped she was about to open another check-out. Oh, good; she was.
As soon as the cashier switched on her light, Iris stepped quickly toward that counter. But before she got there Iris was bumped sharply by another customer. “Ow,” she cried out.
The other shopper, who had also been rushing to the new cashier, turned around with a red, glaring expression. She immediately stepped back and apologized though; then motioned for Iris to go first.
Iris finished rubbing her side, said she was okay, and thanked the other shopper. She then put her package on the counter and waited.
The cashier picked up the Snow Queen box and turned it round and round several times. Finally she said, “There’s no tag on this so I’ll have to call for a price check. I hope you don’t mind waiting …” Her voice dropped off as she looked up at Iris.
“Sure, that’s no problem,” said Iris. “But I think the display said $34.99.”
“Oh, okay,” said the cashier. “I can do that.”
“Actually, maybe you’d better check. It might have been $39.99, now that I think about it.”
“No, if you’re happy with $34.99, I’ll give it to you at that price.” The cashier then rang up the sale for the stated amount, and processed it with the credit card Iris offered.
Happy with her purchase, Iris picked up the bag and headed toward the doors. This was turning out to be a most unusual shopping trip. Everyone was acting polite despite the crowds and chaos. She wondered if it had anything to do with what those two ladies had been talking about earlier. What could they have meant? What was the danger?
Near the mall entrances in the main concourse was a small kiosk selling necklaces. Iris stopped to check them out. Perhaps she could get one for her sister. Seeing a silver braid she lifted it off its hook and held it to her neck. She moved to look at it in the nearby mirror.
Iris didn’t notice as the necklace fell from her hand and landed on the floor. Her gaze had been arrested by her reflection. Her face and hair, and indeed all the rest of her, looked normal; all except for one small detail. Sticking up from near the back of her head was what looked like a thin stalk, and on the top of it, staring back at her, was a large eye.
Iris grew dizzy. Was she hallucinating? She reached up with one hand toward the top of her head. But as her fingers slowly approached the thing, it leaned away to avoid her touch. Her hand flinched back involuntarily and she turned pale.
Iris ran for the doors, then out to her car. She had to get home. She couldn’t be seen like this. She had to ask someone. But who? Who could tell her what this was? Should she go to the hospital? No. Go home first, then think what to do.
As she sped along she saw many others. People walking down the sidewalk, people driving cars, people entering and exiting stores. People who, like her, had an extra eye on a stalk sticking up from the backs of their heads.
What was this?! How could it happen? When did it happen? Why couldn’t she remember anything before leaving to go shopping this morning?
At last she arrived home. She didn’t care that she knocked over the garbage can as the car screeched into the driveway. She ran inside and called for her husband. She rushed to the kitchen, then froze. Her husband was standing rigid, staring at her with glassy eyes, and speaking in a halting, monotone voice.
“Welcome back … Darling,” he said. “Did you … have a nice time? That’s good.”
She slowly backed away. But she had no idea where she could go or what she could do.
Her husband spoke again. “If you are … ready … it is almost time to go.”
“Go where?” she asked, barely above a whisper.
“Home,” he answered. “Our shopping here … is done. We have … obtained … what we came for. Now it is time … to go home.”
Iris fainted. Her final thought was — Where will I be when I wake up?
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