The first stop was home and then to the store. In the car, Alice explained the situation to Denise, Karen, Katie and Daisy. When Daisy asked to see the amulet, her mother drew it out carefully and showed it to her daughter.
"It really doesn't look any different. Are you sure what Doctor Mezzner said is correct?" Daisy as in an voice that only a young child could manage. One that suggested an air of authority.
Tucking the amulet back into her shirt, she smiled at her youngest and then reassured her of what the doctor had said was true.
The conversation then changed to Stephanie and whether people would react in a negative or positive way to Alice having another daughter. This was mostly Karen and Denise's concern. After a bit, they eventually reached the store and snow was slowly starting to fall from the sky.
Inside, Alice collected a cart and slowly started to collect supplies to last them. Mostly batteries, candles, a child proof lighter, various food items were added to the cart. Also purchased was a new comforter, sheet set and a child's bed for Stephanie.
Afterward the group made their way toward the mall for dinner. By then the snow storm had picked up and a ten minute journey turned into a twenty minute trip. At the mall, Denise and Karen disappeared saying they had some items to purchase and would catch up later.
Alice, needing to purchase something as well, said to their disappearing backs, "Meet us in the food court in half an hour."
Then it happened. Daisy, Katie and Stephanie begged to be allowed into a toy store and after a bit, their mother relented. As she was walking in, two men holding hands accidentally bumped into her. Apologizing to her, she took no real notice of it and entered the store after her daughters.
In the store they had a row when Katie had at first begged and then threw a temper tantrum to get something. Their next stop was a bit of shopping at a adult clothing store for Alice. After that she lead Daisy and Stephanie followed by a sulking Katie to the local food court.
Outside the food court, Alice took Katie aside and said, "Behave yourselves or I won't buy you a kids meal from the restaurant." Entering they met up with Denise and Karen.
After dinner at the burger restaurant MacDogals, Alice began the long slow drive home.
As Alice drove home, noting that the snow storm had intensified, she heard Karen asked from the backseat, "Mom, do you think I could see the Amulet of Zulo again?"
Trying to concentrate on the road and keep the vehicle from sliding off the road, Alice reached under shirt with some difficulty, pulled the amulet out and passed it back to her daughter, who right away gasped at what she had just been handed.
"Mom," Karen said with a quiver in her voice. "This isn't the Amulet of Zulo."
Alice nearly drove off the road as she glanced at the object handed back to her. It had the same shape and size, but instead of familiar image printed on the front of it, there now was printed the words Made In Quantico, Virginia. The amulet had somehow been stolen.