Benton spent a few minutes driving to the store his daughter nearly gave him a heart attack on Sunday; while three thousand dollar on clothes was excessive for a fourteen year old girl. Finding out a majority of the cost was attributed to the suits she got for him, did assuage Benton’s fears of Frieda being a shopaholic on the same level as Amanda. But it did still give him worry lines when he was grocery shopping on Sunday.
Entering Awareness for the first time; Benton notices the store looks typical with most other clothing stores. Save for the usual brand name products featured in malls and most other major retail outfits; Awareness was a store that catered to were’s exclusively. While Benton was absently browsing the store, he did not notice the small mousey woman approaching him.
“May I help you?”
Benton looks around and then notices the small woman; Immediately picking up the scent of were-rat Benton stares at what he could only assume was the shop keeper.
“I’m looking for socks,” Benton answers; “Also; do you do made to measure suits?”
“Unfortunately,” the shop keeper looking disappointed; “socks are a garment we do not stock. But we do take appointments for suit measurements. Would you like to book one?”
“Yes,” Benton responds; “do you send the tailor to me or do I come here for the tailor?”
“Our tailor works in the basement,” the shop keeper answers; “but we manufacture the clothing elsewhere. The exact location I cannot divulge.” The shop keeper making the trademark ‘W’ with her fingers.
Benton noticing the shopkeeper making the sign just sighs; noticing the windows were tinted when he came in, Benton shifts into his were-panther fursona. The suit he is wearing; adjusting and stretching to suit his transformation, all the while giving the shop keeper the fright of her life.
“My daughter was here Sunday,” Benton speaking; “she got me this suit and another one. While she did do her best to get them in my size; the suits are a bit tight in certain places.”
“Sir,” the shopkeeper looking frightened; “please shift back. There is no need to cause a scene.”
“I’m not causing a scene,” Benton answers; “I know no one outside can see me. The windows are tinted just like my town car and my estate.”
Seeing the shop keeper looking genuinely afraid; Benton just shifts back from his ten foot black fur were-panther fursona. Looking normal again he waits for the shop keeper to calm down enough before speaking up again.
“Now can you help me,” Benton sighing; “I really do want some new suits.”
“Of course,” the shop keeper calming down; “please understand, while I knew you were a were; I never realized you could shift to such and imposing height.”
“You think I’m scary,” Benton grinning; “I know of a fourteen year old werewolf that is seven feet when fully shifted.”
“Believe me,” the shop keeper gasping; “you won the prize for frightening me to near death.” Taking a drink from her nearby water bottle, “now what size is your suit and where is tight for you?”
Benton takes off the suit jacket and shirt; “its tight under the arms and… in the crotch.”
The shopkeeper looks at the suit and then Benton; “you do need the tailor, the next suit size would just look ridiculous on you.” Heading to the checkout counter; the shop keeper takes out a book, “when are you available for the tailor.”
“Is there a slot available for tomorrow or Friday;” Benton asking.
“I have a slot open for Friday,” the shop keeper answers; “but is midafternoon.”
“That will do;” Benton answers all the while eyeing some of the bathrobes he sees.
“Can I get your name,” the shopkeeper asks.
“Benton Knight,” Benton answers; “these bathrobes, are they micro fiber?”
“They are,” the shopkeeper looking up; “would you like to try one on?”
“Do you have one in my size,” Benton eyeing the red robe; “and do they have a hood?”
“We might have one in your size,” the shopkeeper asks; “but why a hood?”
“No reason,” Benton thinking of his wife in the hospital wanting to leave and head home; “just thinking of my wife who likes robes with hoods.”
“The hood for a robe in your size would be a custom order,” The shopkeeper pulling out the largest robe she had; “you wouldn’t happen to know of your wife measurements now would you?”
“In or out of her fursona;” Benton asking while he tries on the robe. Enjoying the soft feel of the microfiber on his skin; Benton shifts into his fursona again to see the robe still covers him despite his height. Sensing the woman looking fearful again; Benton shifts back from his fursona.
“Sorry,” Benton apologizes; “I needed to see if it would fit me properly.”
“Your wife’s measurements and preferred color” the shop keeper asks again.
Minutes later Benton leaves awareness with his new purchases; a red microfiber robe for himself and a blue microfiber robe for his wife Amanda. Heading back into his town car; Benton notices the restaurant Grrrrrrr was across the street from awareness; Benton was half tempted to enter and check the place out. Deciding it was best to wait until after he visited his wife, Benton drives off unaware that he is being followed by Frances’s father Joseph Carter.
Arriving at the hospital a few minutes later; Benton pulls into the underground parking garage and head to his wife’s recovery room. With robe in hand; Benton arrives to see Amanda and her Doctor Tora Tachibana checking up on her.
“Is my wife feeling fit,” Benton making his presence known; noticing Amanda still in her were-panthress fursona.
“A whole lot better than yesterday,” the doctor answering.
“Can she finish her recovery at home,” Benton placing the robe on Amanda’s bed. Amanda seeing the robe; she immediately picked up the fact the Benton was planning to take her home.
“I’d rather she stay here,” Doctor Tora answering; “but if you are determined to take Amanda home, I can’t stop you. I’ll just note it in her chart that patient left hospital against medical advice.”
“Just prescribe me the medication I need,” Amanda sighing; “surely not everything you are giving me has to pumped in me through an i.v tube.”
“I’ll prescribe you some folic acid,” Doctor Tora answers; “that will help you recover from your anemia from the medicine used to beat back your hookworm infection. But you need to wait hear until I return with the prescription.” Looking at Benton; “do you have a means to hide your wife from view while you head home?”
“The windows in my town car are polarized,” Benton answers; “I’m also parked in the underground parking lot. The robe I brought should be big enough to ensure no one sees Amanda while she is in her fursona.”
“Well it looks like you have all your bases covered then,” Doctor Tora answers; “I’ll be back in a moment with your wife’s medication.”