Chapter 10: Supplies

Jeffrey's Dad is driving their family car an old 2001 Honda Odyssey with 7 seats. a 土 seating arrangement with a decently large trunk, cupholders on the side slide opening doors and shade protection for the center windows.

Jeffrey's Dad asks, "who's going?"

Raine excited to go to the store pipes up, "I am!"

Jeffrey says, "I'm going to."

Jeffrey's Mom decides to stay at home and prepare dinner. Although not as good a cook as their Dad, she's amazing with dessert. Dad's still making the pasta Fuzool for dinner.

The three of them get in the car and start driving to the store. The suburban driving past the suburban stop lights and streets. Looking out the window the trees and city building don't seem to be moving that fast on the highway.

Passing various exits are hospitals, outlet malls, city parks, and gas stations. The same scenery goes by, after a short drive. They drive down a hill to the store.

It's an office supply store, Staples.

"Why Staples, Dad?", Jeffrey asks his father.

"I need to get some office supplies and your sister asked for more notebooks for school."

Entering the building, the smell of carpet is quite prevalent. Various fake phone displays, computer table layouts and office chairs are placed in various aisles. The metal frames and shelves display pencils, mechanical pencils, dry erase markers, and all the office supplies one can think of.

"Is this Office Max?", Raine asks.

Although neither Jeffrey nor their dad heard her. So her question goes unanswered.

Jeffrey at this point would go to the computer and printer section and look at the various cd video games. Prison Architect, Lego Indiana Jones, and Diner Dash.

Some computers would have HP Wildcat installed so you could play Pop Cap games like Plants and Zombies, World of Poker, Texas Hold 'Em, Bejeweled, and other titles.

This time though Jeffrey ran around with his sister. Teasing her and talking about various school events and friends.

"Jackie's birthday is on January 16th and I'm invited. I need to get a birthday gift for her. We should get one of those Barbie sets or a mermaid pool". she said getting excited for her friend's birthday party.

"We're going to go to bounce on the trampolines and the jungle gym at playworks. Then we have valentine's day and we need to get Valentines cards for the whole class."

Jeffrey though about the birthdays he was invited to. He attended bowling parties, laser tag, amusement parks, airsoft, mini-golf. He shook his head.

"Birthdays were really something you looked forward to", he thought to himself.

Then the went to the notebook aisle, however since it was an office store there weren't any of the art design cover notebooks. most of them were wide or college-ruled notebooks, lined papers with 100 sheets, 200 sheets, and 300 sheet paper.

"I want that one", Raine said pointing to a colorful white baby lion cover art notebook. The colors shimmered as the light struck it. Various folder's and kid friendly designs were nearby including a folder organizer. It's price was an extra 4 dollars as well.

"Raine", Jeffrey chided.

"What's wrong with these notebooks?", Jeffrey suggested pointing to the simple and plain notebooks sitting on the shelves.

"I want this one!", Raine insisted holding the white lion notebook in her hands.

"But Raine, it costs more. Look at the price, how much does that cost?" Jeffrey asked his sister.

Raine walked to the prices.

"It costs 8 dollars!", Raine said.

"How much do these ones cost", he said pointing to the plain notebooks.

"It costs 4 dollars", Raine read the price tag.

"That means for 1 of your notebook, it cost two of these ones", Jeffrey explained.

"But these one's look nicer", Raine complained puffing up her cheeks.

"If you get this one, you can get one for you and one for mom", Jeffrey offered.

Raine struggled between choosing a fashionable notebook or getting one for her family. It was a little unfair that Jeffrey was making her pick between the two. However, life values were something taught when you were young. These type of things shape a person's personality and character.

"Now, now, let's go get that notebook. However next time look at the price before you buy something Raine.", their Dad stepped in.

"Jeffrey, don't lecture your sister. That's my job", his Dad made sure to criticize both of them so it was more fair.

"What about that notebook for Mom?", Raine asked selling her cuteness.

"I'll buy it for her", their Dad said.

"Okay", Raine was happy she got what she wanted.

"Next time you're going to have to earn it missy", their Dad trying to teach her in his own way.

Jeffrey knew why his Dad was so soft. Coming from a poor family, all the kids in school compared each other by the things they wore, the school supplies they had, their shoes, their hats, their backpacks, their everything.

So if you didn't have crayons, or nice shoes, or a cool cartoon backpack and lunchbox. They teased you for it. The school and teachers couldn't do much about it, however they tried to make everybody include each and respect each other. There were anti-bullying campaigns, so they knew what it was, but had a hard time understanding the more nuances of social ostracization.

Soon they started to place items in the steel cart. 2 gallons of Elmer's Glue, 5 bottles of clear and glitter glue, a tri-fold project board, clear packing tape, scotch tape, cardboard office boxes and more.

"Dad, I need food coloring!", Jeffrey said to his dad.

"We'll stop by Michael's on the way back", his Dad reassured him.

"I'm hungry", Raine said interrupting their conversation.

"McDonald's?", Jeffrey said to his Dad.

"I swear you and your sister are both working against me."

They went to the counter to pay for the items. The cashier scanned all of the items and placed them in plastic bags. As they started walking toward the car Jeffrey started to chase Raine as his father pushed the shopping cart.

Then opening the side door they ran inside and played who could put on the seatbelt the fastest. Jeffrey let Raine win.

"I win", she proudly announced.

"No you didn't, I did", Jeffrey said not giving his sister an inch.

"I'm faster than you slowpoke", Raine teased her older brother.

Soon the trunk of the car opened as their dad started putting their items into the car.

"Alright Alright, Dad's the slowest", they could both hear their Dad in the back.

After putting the cart alway, he sat at the front and turned on the radio.

"We'll go to Mcdonalds and get your sister a chicken nugget happy meal. you can have your hamburger happy meal before we go to Michael's and get your food coloring, foam beads, and Mason Jars. I don't want you two fighting anymore, you two are always making mischief."

"OK Dad", Jeffrey promised him.

"Yes Dad", Raine copied Jeffrey.

Soon the whole car smelled of fries and happy meals. The plastic covering of the toys were put in the car pockets as they compared who had the better toy, the girl one or the boy one.

"Mine's cooler", Raine started fighting with Jeffrey again.

This time though, Jeffrey agreed with her "Yeah, yours is cooler."

The car radio was playing a song by the black eyed peas.

♪♫♪

"I got a feeling"

"That tonight's gonna be a good night"

"That tonight's gonna be a good night"

"That tonight's gonna be a good night, good night"

[...]

"Let's paint the town" (paint the town),

"we'll shut it down" (shut it down),

"Let's burn the roof" (ooh-woo),

"and then we'll do it again"

Soon both Jeffrey and Raine were sleeping on the back seat of the car. His father bought him all the supplies, a set of 30-40 mason jars, foam bubbles, printer paper, kid scissors, glue sticks, Fake snow, glow powder, scented lemon and lavender dish soap, paint and some colored pencils.

He even got the mechanical pencil that Raine asked for. He knew if their mom saw how much they bought she was going to be upset. However seeing both of them asleep, he thought it was a worthwhile purchase to see both of them happy.

Although he did have a question of what Jeffrey was doing with all those supplies, however he knew Jeffrey was a smart kid and he trusted him. He was going to have to talk to him about his science fair project though.

It seems between the two of them Jeffrey was a bigger prodigal spender than his sister.