As Emily browsed through the aisles, she began to loose interest. All of the costumes looked very realistic, but none of them were really unique. It was the same famous people and characters that everyone dressed up as for Halloween. She needed something really different if she was going to impress the other kids at the costume party.
Emily was about to give up hope when she reached the end of the Sci-Fi aisle. The walls were littered with different accessories, and most of them looked old or defective. Looking at the prices she realized she had reached the discount area of the store. But hidden among the rubble she saw something that looked out of place. It looked like the bodysuit for a French maid. She didn't recognize the face. It must have been from some obscure show or an actress she didn't know. But she didn't understand why a maid would be in the sci-fi section.
"Can I help you?"
Emily nearly jumped as the old man's voice suprised her. She turned around and was startled to find the old man she had tripped over before standing behind her.
"Um, no thanks. Just looking, " she said reflexively. She started to leave, but curiosity got the better of her. "I think that maid bodysuit is in the wrong aisle."
"Oh, " said the old man with some confusion. He reached down and pulled it out from underneath a pile of junk. "No, this is definitely Sci-Fi. It's a robot maid."
The old man held it up for inspection. Now free from its entrapment Emily could see that the skin had a metallic sheen, and she could see ball joints at the elbows and shoulders. She reached out and touched it. The skin was cool to the touch, hard like metal.
"What is this from? I don't remember seeing anything like this in movies or TV," said Emily.
"I don't expect you would. This unit is special. Custom made for a buyer. They never picked it up, though. A shame such a nice unit ended up in the discount bin," said the old man sadly.
His eyes suddenly lit up as he looked closely at Emily, a smile spreading across his face.
"Say, you wouldn't like to purchase this, would you? I'll give you a good discount. I mean, you did find the thing, after all," said the old man.
Emily was tempted. She doubted anyone else would have something so unique. But a custom order was just beyond her budget.
"I'll let you have it for ten dollars," said the old man.
Emily's jaw dropped. The average bodysuit could run up to 400, and a custom job began around 1000.
"I can't. I appreciate your generosity, but that price is too low. I would feel like I was cheating you," said Emily.
"Pish posh, " said the old man. "If you don't buy it, it will probably end up on the trash heap. Ten dollars is better than nothing, and would save my old aching back the pain of dragging it out back. You would be doing me a favor. So what do you say?"
Now it was Emily's turn to smile broadly. She stuck out her hand to the old man.
"Sir, you got a deal," she said happily.