Pop Odyssey
By Neko
Part 3
“Chris, I’m going to shoot you.” Lora
yelled. She had bought the young man for her daughter, who’s birthday
was today. She’s only had him two days and she was already getting
tired of him. Chris looked up from the mess on the floor. He could tell
she was mad at him again. She seemed to always yell at him for something.
“That was my favorite plant.” She said grabbing him by the
arm. She pulled him up. “I can’t wait till I give you away
today.” Lora said to his face. Chris just stared at her blankly.
She let go of him. “Go away so I can clean this up.” She
said shoeing him. He went and hid behind the couch and watched her.
Chris recalling waking up in the box and seeing her standing there talking
to the clerk. He wandered what was going on and he still does. She seemed
to have no romantic feelings for him. She seemed to only anoid by him.
When she was done the phone rang. She answered it. When she came back
she grabbed her coat and his collar. She held it out to him. He shook
his head in rejection from behind the couch. She reached behind the
couch and grabbed him. She pulled him out and put the collar on before
he could react. “It’s time to go see Brandi.” She
said patting him on the head. She pulled him out the door and to her
car.
They reached an apartment building and they got out. They went up a
few stories until they reached Brandi’s apartment. She knocked
on the door and waited. Chris looked around him. Soon a brunette answered
the door. “Hi, mom.” Brandi said. “Here happy birthday
baby.” Lora said handing Brandi the cord. Her mom pushed Chris
in front of her. Brandi eyed Chris. Then smiled with satisfaction.
“Mom, is he for me?” Brandi asked in disbelief. “Yeah,
you need him more than me.” Lora said. “Thank you so much.”
Brandi said hugging her mother. “You’re welcome.”
Lora said. “Come in we were just about to cut the cake.”
Brandi said leading them inside. Inside several young ladies were seated
around the table. Chris felt out of place so he set over in a corner
by himself.
They sang then Brandi cut the cake. She handed everyone a piece. She
noted that Chris seemed withdrawn from them. She took him a piece of
cake. As she handed it to him, he looked up at her. His eyes were a
glow as if she had handed him some rare treasure. She smiled and then
patted him on the head. She went back to her friends leaving Chris to
eat alone.
“What’s his name?” Brandi asked. “Chris, but
let me tell you he is a handful.” Her mother said. “Why
is that?” One of Brandi’s friends asked. “I’ve
only had him a short time but I’ve had to yell at him so many
times I can’t count them.” Lora said. “It’s
not his fault he doesn’t know how to act, we’re the ones
who erased his memory.”
Brandi said looking over at Chris, who now had icing all
over his face and hands. He looked up at them then tried to clean off
his fingers with his mouth. “I like him; he’s a very good
gift.” Brandi said not worried about the mess that he was making.
“I feel bad for giving him to you. I didn’t know he would
make such a mess. I’m sorry if he wrecks your apartment.”
Lora said.
“Don’t worry my apartment cleans up just fine.” Brandi
said. Brandi got up and took the plants to the kitchen. She brought
back a wet rag and went over to Chris. He froze in fear. She calmly
whipped the icing out of his goatee and cleaned his hands off. “It’s
getting late, we better go.” Brandi’s friend said. “Okay,
thanks for coming.” Brandi said. “We’ll see you at
work.” One said. “Okay see you.” Brandi said showing
them to the door.
“Your friends seem nice.” Lora said. “Mom, they’re
my friends so let’s leave it at that.” Brandi said sitting
down. “I just said that they were nice.” Lora said. “Yeah,
but you were getting at more.” Brandi said. “You know me
too well.” Lora said. “Come here Chris.” Brandi said.
Chris looked at her. She motioned with her finger for him to come. Chris
found himself coming to her, mainly in fear that if he didn’t
he would get yelled at again today. When he got closer he lowered his
head and waited.
“He seems so shy.” Brandi said raising his head so she could
see his eyes. “Well you have your hands full; I better go so you
can get to know each other better.” Lora said getting ready to
go. “Okay, bye.” Brandi said then gave her mom a kiss on
the cheek. As Lora got ready to go she found Chris at her side. “No,
you stay.” Lora said. Brandi wrapped her arm around the confused
young man. She held him like that until her mom was gone. And closed
the door.
Chris looked at the door then at Brandi. “You get to stay with
me.” Brandi said with a smile. Chris returned the smiled, but
only because she smiled first. “I wander what we should to now.”
Brandi said thinking out loud. She stood there a minute and thought.
“I Know we’ll go shopping the mall doesn’t close for
a few more hours and you could use some new cloths.” Brandi said
getting her coat. She grabbed Chris’ leash and headed out the
door. Chris followed her closely. She put Chris in the passenger seat
and then went around and got in herself. They quickly drove to the mall,
which was located on the central space station, the apartment was a
station all it’s own.
At the mall there were tons of people, both male and female. Chris stayed
close to Brandi even though she still had a hold of his leash. They
finally went into a shop.
Brandi was flipping through some clothes when another
young lady spoke to her. “Hi Brandi, sorry I couldn’t make
it to your party, but I had to work,” She said. “It’s
okay Kim, I understand” Brandi replied. “Who’s this?”
Kim asked pulling on Chris’ shirt. “That’s Chris,
my mom gave him to me.” Brandi said.
“I see you’re looking for some clothes for him, let me help
you” Kim said. She helped Brandi pick out a few things and then
showed them to the dressing room. “Can he dress himself?”
Kim asked. “I hope so, but I’m not sure.” Brandi said
handing the clothes to Chris. “Go change.” Brandi said pointing
to the dressing room. Chris looked at her dumbfounded. “Come on”
Brandi said taking him into the dressing room herself. She quickly helped
him change then opened the door so he could model for Kim.
After an hour Brandi had all the clothes she wanted, even a few for
herself. Kim kindly checked her out. “Chris is very nice, you’re
lucky.” Kim said. “You could get your own.” Brandi
said. “I don’ have the time or the money to take care of
one.” Kim said. “That’s a lie!” Brandi replied
walking away. Chris followed her carrying the shopping bags.
“Do you want something to eat?” Brandi asked him as he passed
the food court. Chris didn’t answer. “I guess you might
still be full of cake.” Brandi said. Brandi walked back to the
car. They put the things in back and then got in. When they got back
to her apartment they heard Brandi’s neighbor yelling. “I
wonder what’s wrong.” Brandi stated, about that time Mandy
stepped out into the hallway. She was really wet. “What happened?”
Brandi asked. “Lance took a bath, unfortunately I got one too.”
Mandy said. “Lance?” Brandi questioned. “Yeah yesterday
Kat and I went out and bought men.” Mandy said. About that time
the blonde peeked out the door.
His hair was wet and flattened to his head. Lance loosed
at the funny little man that stood there next to Brandi. He looked very
familiar to him but he couldn’t place the face. Chris shyly hid
behind Brandi. “Awe” Mandy said as Chris peeked around Brandi.
“He’s a sweetie; I love him” Brandi said rubbing his
chin. “I’m happy for you. I better get inside and finish
cleaning up Lance.” Mandy said flipping through her mail. “Okay,
see you around.” Brand said pushing Chris into her apartment.
