This choice: Get the new ingredients and try that • Go Back... The image of you in Umeko's body and dressed like her wandering around town keeps playing in your head. Your imagination has you completely fooling others, able to act and talk to everyone just like her. Maybe it's the fact that you can't really recall the experience you just had that's making this happen. You hope so since always before you wanted to just be you but see and be with her not be and see as her.
You need something to take your mind off turning yourself back into Umeko, and the book draws your attention. A shiver of excitement sends your hand to it and the page that told you how to get the mask off. That page now turns revealing another list and a few notes in the weird Latin - more work to try and translate. Maybe it's time for a relaxing game of shooting and blowing things up or getting with Caleb or Keith. You've ignored them lately outside of school. Of course, with your hands full polishing, what could you do besides watch DVDs and there's nothing else you want to watch since you've seen all of them twice. Perhaps you should share the discovery of this book with them?
You've almost convinced yourself when you notice that you've already written out some of the new spell with the help of the Latin dictionary left open on the desk. Your attention then folds into the rest until you have a somewhat complete, though probably rough, translation. This time you need to assemble some sort of band by combining ingredients - all new from the mask - and then inscribing them with some strange figures that look sort of oriental, not like letters nor the funny graphic patterns on each page where you place a completed item. That's how the pages seem to be released.
The ingredients prove to be quite a mystery until you start looking them up on the Internet. Amazingly, most have common names and are found in things like bug spray, fertilizers, and artist's supplies. The main item is a special solder, and you wonder if your dad has some on his workbench.
Anxious anticipation pushes you to go get these, so you check your wallet. Not much left after the last purchases for the sealant. As you walk down the hall, your gut hurts when you think about asking your dad for an advance. He's going to ask you again to take that part-time job at Salopek, the one Caleb keeps wanting you to suggest him for since you really don't want it. Unless you tell Dad you'll get some job, he's not likely to help.
Mom is a possibility although she usually refers you to your dad when he's home, which he is now that they're all back. There's Robert's stash you could borrow, without him knowing of course. He thinks it's well hidden; so if it goes missing, he's going to accuse you. Maybe you could blackmail him with one of several things he's done that your parents don't know. Yet that's a two-way street.
By this time, you find yourself in your truck headed to the shopping center on the edge of town. It's like you're on automatic with a dedicated mission and going to do this no matter what. There's a hardware-garden-crafts store there that's bound to have these things. Hopefully, you have enough money left in savings to draw out with your debit card. There goes any new DVDs or impressing a date - like you're going on one anytime soon anyway.
* * * *
Due to an almost full parking lot, you end up in a spot half-way down the line of stores. Stepping up under the overhang, the thrift store is waiting, and you fantasy about getting clothes to wear with the Umeko mask tingles your crotch causing you to veer inside. Fortunately there's no other shoppers or even any employees in sight, so you browse around the women's section passing some blouses then checking for jeans and shorts which Umeko wears a lot. It isn't until you're grasping one that you remember you don't have a clue what her size is and realize this was stupid. As you turn to retreat, there's a girl blocking your exit.
"Will! Fancy meeting you here." It's Cassie Harper from your class at Westside. "I didn't know you shopped thrift, although I don't think this section is really your style, although the styles these days seem to be crossing over, you know, the way girls don't do skirts or such much anymore, and guys are wearing tight jeans again, which I don't mind, but ... so whacha up to?"
Oh, great. Chatter Box Cassie. This will be all over school if I don't give her a good reason.
"Oh, yeah. Hi. I, ... um, was just looking for, ah, some, ah, thing for my cousin ... as a present ... she likes this, ah, style stuff."
"Wow. Your cousin's so lucky to have a great cousin like you for a cousin and shopping for clothes for her, although usually I'd expect a present to come new from a department store or somewhere like that unless it's ... Oh, sort of cash limited but still wanting something unique. Wow, yeah, Will. Any girl would be thrilled knowing how thoughtful you are."
"I, ah, no. I mean, yes. I mean it's a surprise gift. Can't let anyone know I'm doing this. And well, ah, she attends Keyserling. College-ware. Not fancy as you said nowadays, but, um, comfortable, but I don't know ..."
You try to escape indicating maybe you should look elsewhere, but she interprets it otherwise and blocks your exit.
"Oh, yeah. I understand. Girl's sizes. Very difficult, but that's what makes your attempt even more special about you. Here, let me help. What size is she, I mean is she tall, short, thin, fa.., normal, what kind or color or what's she look like? We can get her a full outfit. Lots of choices. Now this is something that I like because of my short brown hair, and ..."
She finally pauses to take a breath, and you automatically insert, "Dark hair. Black actually. Straight to mid-back."
"Height, build?"
"About my shoulder or an inch more. She's thin ... I mean slender. Does have long legs."
"So about my height?" she asks standing directly in front of you and staring up into your eyes.
"Ah, yeah."
"Thinner probably," she adds taking your hands to put on her hips pressing you closer. "Right?"
Blushing and getting warmer as she holds your hands there, you sputter, "Um, yeah. I g-guess. No offense. You're ..."
"Oh relax, Will. We both know I'm a bit pudgy," she giggles squeezing your fingers into her sides before stepping away. "Now, is she trendy or country or sophisticated or ..."
"Not country. She hates that."
"It's definitely an acquired taste," she states not letting on if she's pro or con.
"She's usually casual. I don't know what might be trendy, but her clothes always look nice like yours but maybe not quite as colorful." Your eyes bulge wishing you hadn't blundered that.
"Thanks, Will. You're sweet. Do you like this?"
She steps back to face you, and you almost comment on her own outfit which complements her complexion and curves, masking the pudginess well. Fortunately, you notice she's laid out two pair of shorts, one jeans and one plain, with an almost white, pale blue patterned blouse along side a light green and white striped, short-sleeve polo pullover.
"Um, ah, well, yeah. They both, er, all look good. Similar to stuff she's wor..."
"Will, please." she rolls her head and eyes before staring you down. "Never say 'stuff" about a woman's clothes. Only guys wear stuff." She pauses a couple moments before bursting out in laughter.
It's a good thing she does because you're so self-conscious. Instead you laugh along and begin to thank her profusely for her help.
Now, however, you realize that you have to buy something, but can't see the prices. It isn't that you want to be cheap, but there is only so much money for the ingredients that you really need. Cassie only waits a little while watching your indecision until she speaks.
"Tell you what, Will. You're such a good cousin that I can let you have all under our two-for-one special. It really ended yesterday, but I can. Gonna do it for you." Her smile is so cute that you almost forget what she just said.
"You, what. You work here?"
"Yeah. Thought you knew. By the way, there's some great sandals that would go good with these that I can throw in for just a few dollars more. Good thing about those is, unlike shoes, the size isn't as critical," she explains as you follow her to the checkout.
"Um, sure, I guess."
After emptying your wallet and taking the bag where she's folded and placed everything in, you smile graciously. "Thanks for all your help, Cassie. I really owe you. Oh, but you will keep this all quiet? From everyone, OK?"
"Sure, Will. I think that can be arranged if you'll buy me a mocha at the Flying Saucer sometime. I'm free after school the rest of week."
"Ah, sure. Of course."
"My number's on the receipt," she adds with a wink before you turn to leave.
* * * *
Damn. You feel drenched with sweat but exhilarated as you sit in your truck for a couple minutes realizing what happened and trying to stop the new image of you looking in a mirror wearing these clothes and seeing Umeko smiling back at you. You came to get supplies for the next thing in the book and need to get to that store. This was all unintentional, although there's something about the mask that's drawing you back. After all, you can't spend everything and still have your date with Cassie.
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