Doctor Gets a Visitor by E Walk

The Doctor Gets a Visitor
by: E Walk

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Chapter 13

The Shopping Experience

As we left Fremont, Jeff facilitated the conversation. Finally, the two guys in the back began to feel comfortable with each other, so Jeff let them talk about high school and things they had in common.

They got around to sports. Kenny said he swam on the high school team and also thought he might be the starting catcher on the school's baseball team this year since last year's catcher had been graduated. He said he worked very hard to get good grades.

I interrupted, "Kenny, Mrs. Tillison recommended that we go to Westroads first and then swing over to Oak View. What do you think?"

"Doctor Wilson, that probably is a good idea. I like the Von Maur store and the Penney's store at Westroads and I like the Dillards and Younkers stores at Oak View. What exactly are we looking for?"

Jeff spoke up, "All the things Drew might need to start school. He needs a completely new wardrobe, so be thinking about what he might need. He will want to fit right in when school starts this fall."

I interjected, "Drew and Kenny, I have a feeling that I am going to be seeing a lot of you two guys in the future, so I would appreciate if you could address me as something other than Doctor Wilson. That makes me feel old. You could call me Jack or hey you."

Kenny said, "My parents would skin me alive if I called you Jack. How about Doc W.?"

"At least it's better than Doctor Wilson." We all laughed.

We pulled into the Westroads parking lot. I looked at Kenny and asked, "Where do you suggest we start?"

Kenny led us to the Von Maur store, "This probably the best place to get dress clothes." He led us directly to the dress clothes area of the men's department where we were met by an attractive young woman who asked if she could help us.

Jeff answered, "We would like to find a nice dress outfit for Mr. Washington here. We're not sure what size he needs, so I guess he had better be measured."

"I'll get a tape and take some measurements," she said as she went to a counter.

Drew whispered to Jeff, "I don't really want a lady touching me like that." He looked unhappy.

Jeff said quietly, "I'll take care of it."

Jeff walked over to the young woman and explained the situation and she smiled, "Let me get my boyfriend, and he can do the measurements."

"Thanks, Meg," Jeff said.

Meg returned with a good-looking young guy, "This is Alex. He will be assisting us today. He is going to take the measurements."

Jeff turned to Kenny, "Why don't you we have Alex take your measurements also, and I'll record what he says? Is that okay with you, Alex?"

"Absolutely, sir."

While the guys were gone, I turned to Meg, "Could you show me a navy blue blazer?"

She led me to the blazers, "What size sir?"

"I think probably a size 38 Regular should do it."

She handed me a size 38 and I put it on. She looked at me, "I think a size 40 jacket would fit you much better, sir." She handed me a size 40 and sure enough it fit and felt much better.

I thought for a minute, "My dress shirts are getting a little dated. How about a light blue and a light yellow shirt in size 16-33?"

She left and returned quickly with the two shirts, "Would you like to try one on?"

"I guess I should, just to make sure," I answered and went into the dressing room. I returned and handed them to Meg. "These will do just fine."

Jeff came out of the dressing area and he asked, "Dad, what are those shirts made of?" He took one and read the label. "These are 40% polyester and 60% cotton. These will be great. I don't like to iron 100% cotton shirts."

Drew and Kenny came out of the dressing area with Alex. Jeff said, "Drew, you need a nice blazer. What color would you like? I think dark blue would be best because it is the most versatile."

Drew answered, "Blue I guess."

Alex handed the jacket that I had tried on earlier to Drew and it fit perfectly. "He'll take it and get him two shirts like Dad has. They will look good on him."

Alex went to get the shirts and came back and with 15/33 shirts. "Would like to try one on sir? I recommend that you do that, just to make sure."

Drew took one, went to the dressing room and put it on, and then returned. Jeff looked at him. "Perfect."

Drew went to change again. Kenny went up to Jeff and quietly asked, "Do you think your father would loan me the money to get a new jacket like that? The one I have is old, and it is too tight."

I heard what was said and was about to tell him I would, but Jeff held up his hand to stop me. "I'll tell you what, Mr. Hendrix, I will use my bank card to pay for anything you buy and then you will owe me big time."

Kenny looked at Jeff and nodded. Kenny turned to Meg and asked, "Do you have another size 38 jacket?"

"Yes sir," answered Meg. She came back and handed it to Kenny. He tried it on and it looked like it was tailor-made for him.

"He'll take it," Jeff said. "He will also need two of those shirts."

Meg got them. Jeff directed, "Now people, let's go look at the ties." He took a blue shirt, a yellow shirt and one blazer and headed for the ties. Everyone followed him, "Meg, you some find some ties to go with the yellow shirts. Alex, you find some to go with the blue shirts."

They scurried away and came back with a selection. Jeff said, "Okay gentlemen, choose a tie for each shirt that you think would look good on you and I'll see if I approve."

The three of us looked through the ties in front of us and made our choices. Jeff looked at them and said, "Kenny, I like your choices. Dad, this one for the yellow shirt is going to make you looked washed out. You need something bolder. Drew, you need a tie that is more subdued for the blue shirt."

Alex and Meg just stood there shaking their heads. Drew and I came back with a different choices and Jeff said, "Much better."

"Now Meg and Alex, we need to get Drew some polyester dress slacks to go with his jacket and shirts."

"This way gentlemen," Alex said as he led us to the slacks. They had five colors to choose from.

Jeff asked, "Drew, which colors do you like?"

"I rather like the stone and the gray pants." Drew answered.

"Good choices. Kenny, how about you?"

"I think the dark brown."

"Very good. Now Dad, what about you?"

"I want the dark khaki."

Jeff handed the pants requested to each of us, and Alex directed us to the nearest dressing rooms to change. We came out of the rooms about the same time."

Alex looked at us, "They look like they were made for you guys. Jeff, are you sure you don't want to work here?"

The three us went back to change and when we came out, I saw Alex, Meg and Jeff discussing something. When we had all reassembled, Jeff announced, "Gentlemen, look around and see if you can find anything you can't live without. You have fifteen minutes. Drew, before you go, what did you decide about underwear?"

Drew looked around sheepishly, "I guess I would like some of both."

"Okay, go. You have fifteen minutes," Jeff ordered. He then turned to Meg, "Get Drew six pairs of white socks and six pairs of dark socks to match his outfits. Also, find one black and a brown braided belt for him. Alex, you get him six pair of bikini briefs in different colors, six pair of fitted Jockey boxers, and six tee shirts."

Jeff was looking around when Drew brought him a shirt and a sweater "What do you think?"

Jeff looked at them, "Do you like them?"

"Yes," Drew answered.

"I think they will look good on you, good choices."

Kenny went to Jeff next, "Jeff, can we put these on my account also."

"Absolutely, that green sweater will make your green eyes stand out."

"Dad, time's up. Did you find anything?

I handed him two shirts and two sweaters. He looked at them. He kept one shirt and the sweaters. He held the other shirt up and said, "Dad this isn't you." He put it aside.

"Okay, Meg and Alex, let's go see how much damage we have done. Remember, all of their things are coming out of different pockets so keep each person's items separate," Jeff directed.

Meg went to one register with Kenny's and my things. Alex went to another register with Drew's clothes. Fortunately, the two checkout stands were located back to back. When my clothes had been registered, I handed Meg my bankcard and she processed it.

When Drew's items were finished, I handed Mrs. Tillison's credit card to Alex. He looked at it, "Sir, I will need to call and get this authorized." He made a quick call and said, "I am sorry sir, but we have to be very careful." He processed the transaction.

Meanwhile, Meg was processing the items that Kenny had picked out. Jeff handed her his bankcard and when it cleared, Meg and Alex were busy filling sacks with the purchases.

As we were leaving, Jeff turned to the two of them and hugged them and, "You people were great. I hope that everyone we meet tonight will be so accommodating."

Meg looked at him, "You gentlemen have made our day and week. If everyone could be so decisive, it would make our job so much easier. We have also reached our sales quota for the month because of you." She hugged Jeff and kissed him on the cheek.

Alex shook hands with all four of us, "I hope we are here when you come back next time."

"Guys, we need to go to the car and put these purchases in the trunk before we do anything else," I announced. When we got to the car, Jeff organized the things so each person's items were in a defined area.

As soon as the trunk was closed, Jeff said, "Let's go terrorize J. C. Penney's." He led us directly to the jeans department, went up to a young man, and asked, "Could you help us sir?"

"Yeah, what do you want?" asked the young man.

"Well, I guess if that's your attitude Mr. Braxton, we will just go to the store at Oak View," Jeff said as he turned away.

"I'm sorry sir. I just had a rough encounter with my manager. He said I needed to be more polite to my customers, or I am going to be pounding the street looking for a new job," the young man said.

Jeff said, "You could practice on us. We're good subjects, but we will certainly tell you if we think you need to improve your attitude."

Kenny, Drew, and I stood there with our mouths open.

"Now, Mr. Washington here needs six pair of Levi jeans size 32 x 32. Drew do you want them with a zipper or buttons?"

"Buttons please."

Mr. Braxton asked, "Which color sir - dark blue, light blue or stone-washed?"

Drew quickly answered, "I think light blue would be best. They wouldn't look so new when I wear them."

"Got it sir," Larry Braxton answered. He left and came back with the jeans, "You might want to try a pair on sir, just to make sure they fit."

Jeff and Drew went to the dressing room area, and when they came back Drew announced, "These are fine, sir."

Jeff looked at his watch, "Okay guys, you have fifteen minutes to see if you can find anything you like."

Fifteen minutes later, I came back with a sports shirt, Kenny had two sweatshirts, and Drew had a sports shirt and a winter jacket.

Jeff put them in three separate piles and said, "Larry, Kenny will pay for these. Larry rang up the purchases and Kenny paid cash.

"Dad will pay for these as he handed my purchases for Larry to ring up. I pulled out my bankcard and paid for them. Jeff continued, "Dad will pay for these with a Penny's charge card. I handed him Mrs. Tillison's card, and he looked at it.

"Sir, I need to verify the card." He did so and he came and said, "Sorry for the inconvenience sir, and he processed the items."

As we were leaving, I saw Jeff talking to Larry and heard him say, "See what a little courtesy can do?"

As we were leaving the mall with our purchases, Kenny asked, "Can we go to Dick's Sporting Goods? They are having a big sale."

We walked in and both Drew and Kenny went to the sports team section and came back and asked, "Can we get these?"

"Of course," answered Jeff, and then he added, "We need to find a baseball glove for Drew and some sport shoes." Drew found a glove he liked. Jeff led us to the shoe department and asked, "Drew, which shoe would you like?"

Drew looked at the shoes, and he picked out a pair that was rather costly but Jeff said, "Let's see if they have your size."

The young man who was helping us measured Drew's feet. "Let me see if we have this style in your size. They did, and Drew tried them on. The young man said they were a perfect fit.

Kenny asked, "Jeff, could I get a pair of sports shoes also?"

"Yep," Jeff answered. "But you realize that you are going to be indebted to me for an entire year, don't you?"

Kenny brought the shoes he liked, handed them to the young salesperson, and asked, "Sir, do you have this in my size?"

The young man measured Kenny's feet and went to look, returning with a pair of shoes. They fit, so Jeff said, "We'll take them." Jeff turned to me and asked, "Dad, which kind would you like for running since I gave Drew your old running shoes?"

I looked around and found a pair that I liked, tried them on, and they felt really good. I nodded to Jeff and he said, "We will take them."

Jeff looked at everyone and asked, "Are you all ready to go?" We all nodded yes, but Jeff shook his head, "I don't think so. Kenny you need to take Drew and find him some swimming trunks."

They came back with a Speedo form-fitting suit and a pair of loose fitting board shorts. Jeff looked at everyone, "Now let's check out and go get something to eat."

Everyone responded quickly, and when the three purchases were processed, we went to the car. I asked, "Kenny, where do you suggest we eat."

What will Kenny decide?

To be continued...