Calvin's Shoe Store

[scamp]

"Maybe we could find Muse, she should be somewhere around there. Who knows? She would like you, like you lots. And maybe on the way, we'll find you something lucky!"

"Hey, yeah! That would be fun!" Rio said, grinning. She wondered if Muse was as entertaining and hyper as Rex. "And, maybe. Hearing you talk about your lucky clover kind of made me feel like I was missing out, you know?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I never liked school neither, always gave me ruler waps, could never sit still. I never got good grades neither."

Rio shook her head. "Now, there's one job I could never do. Teaching. Yuck!" She stuck out her tongue, wrinkling her nose again.

She laughed then and knelt down, picking up the boxes of shoes and straightening them up at least a little bit, so that the shopkeep didn't get too mad when she realized the mess they'd made.

"I think that shopkeep is going to hate us." she said in a pseudo-melancholy voice, shaking her head and sighing.

[trex]

"Hey, yeah! That would be fun! And, maybe. Hearing you talk about your lucky clover kind of made me feel like I was missing out, you know?"

Rex stood taller, a determined look on his face and he nudged Rio gently, saying, "Don't you worry, missy! I'm gonna find you something lucky if I..If I..If I..........hm, never was good at those hero lines..."

"Now, there's one job I could never do. Teaching. Yuck!"


"Yeah! Don't you think the teachers get bored too? Cuz they just sit there and yell at little kids all day...and teachers are crabby...you wanna know why?" Rex leaned in and looked around before whispering, "Cuz' they're usually old spinsters!"

Rex helped Rio clean up the mess and agreed, yes the shopkeeper was most definitely going to hate them. He picked up the box Rio had tugged out for him and opened it, peering in at the boots. He shrugged, they didn't look bad, not bad at all, he just had to see if they fit. He tugged one on, no grunting, or squeezing, it slid right on, and stayed on. He pulled on the other and let out a happy shout, grinning at Rio.

[scamp]

"Don't you worry, missy! I'm gonna find you something lucky if I..If I..If I..........hm, never was good at those hero lines..."

Rio laughed, nudging Rex back. "Right. Even if you have to travel the whole of New York... in a snow storm... in June... barefoot and with no hat just to find it!" She grinned and took a little bow, just for fun.

Oh, this was fun. She couldn't remember laughing so much in a long, long time. It was refreshing.

"Yeah! Don't you think the teachers get bored too? Cuz they just sit there and yell at little kids all day...and teachers are crabby...you wanna know why?... Cuz' they're usually old spinsters!"

Rio laughed again, shaking her head. "I think they get very, very bored and then get jealous at the trouble makers because we have fun and they can't." It all made sense to her now. She wished it would have when she had been in school. Would've saved her a whole lot of trouble.

She smiled at Rex as he helped her clean up the 'avalanche' of shoes and then grinned as he pulled on the boots that she'd wanted to show him.

"Haha! Am I good, or what?"

[trex]

"Right. Even if you have to travel the whole of New York... in a snow storm... in June... barefoot and with no hat just to find it!"

Rex nodded vigorously and clapped, laughing. "What are you from Broadway or somethin, girly?" He shook his head, thinking Rio had a great sense of humor, she wasn't some stiff.

"I think they get very, very bored and then get jealous at the trouble makers because we have fun and they can't."

Rex laughed and nodded, that made sense too. He had always been looked down upon in school, apparently class didn't matter, Rex's family had always been wealthy, but he still felt like he never fit in with any of those kids, like he was an outsider almost. He just didn't think the way they did.

"Haha! Am I good, or what?"

Rex nodded and exclaimed, "Not good, Great!" He clomped around in the boots before taking Rio's hand and twirling her around, laughing. "Well lets get these boots paid for and get outta here before we get shipped off to shoe jail!"

Rex marched up to the counter and set the new boots down, before plopping down his saved wad of cash, the shopkeeper gave them both a look of venon, took the money, and practically shoved the shoebox and change at Rex. Rex just grinned and said, "Goodbye, Ma'am!"

[scamp]

"What are you from Broadway or somethin, girly?"

Rio shook her head. "Nah, I just figure every good hero needs a sidekick to finish their sentences." She stuck her tongue out at Rex, grinning.

"Well lets get these boots paid for and get outta here before we get shipped off to shoe jail!"

Rio feigned a look of terror. "Not shoe jail! Anything but shoe jail!" she wailed, holding a hand to her forehead as though she felt faint at the very idea. "Please Rex, don't let them take me there!" she begged, her hands folded and giving him a pleading look for effect.

"Goodbye, Ma'am!"

Rio barely stifled a laugh at the look the shopkeep was giving them or the big grin Rex was giving her in return. She waved at the shopkeep merrily and grabbed Rex's hand, dragging him out the door, finally letting out the laugh she'd been holding in.