Free Calamity @ the Carwash (Parson's Cove Mysteries) by Sharon Rose Page A

difference.”
    A silence fell over the group. The women
smiled. The men looked everywhere but downwards. Old Man Lawson tried to laugh
but it sounded more like a wheeze. Flori was speechless.
    “Okay,” I said. “Let’s get organized.
We’re going to break up into groups of four. Everyone has to have a partner at
all times. There’s no way that Flori and I are going to run all over the mall
hunting for someone when it’s time to leave.”
    Flori took it from there.
    “We will all meet back here right after
lunch at 1:30. Does everyone understand?”
    It was like letting the dogs out. I’m
not sure if the ‘four to a group’ rule was followed or not. I did notice that
none of them wandered off by themselves. Flori went out to check on Mr. Koots
and to tell him where we would be waiting for him but Mr. Koots was gone.
    I followed Flori around the stores.
She’s a much more enthusiastic shopper than I am. Mostly she looks for things
for her kids or grandkids. Or, me. She gets so tired of seeing me in the same
clothes all the time.
    “You’re getting to be just like Charlie
Thompson,” she tells me constantly.
    “Well, Charlie and I like to be
comfortable,” I always tell her.
    “Why don’t you try a variety of colors,
Mabel?”
    “White and blue are colors,” I say.
    However, one store did get my attention.
    “Hey, Flori,” I said. “Let’s check this
store out.”
    Flori looked up at the sign.
    “ SpyTown – Protect Your Spyware .
What kind of store is that?”
    “I think it must sell all those little
devices that detectives use to solve crimes, Flori.”
    “And why, pray tell, would you need
anything like that?”
    “I’m just curious, that’s all. Aren’t
you?”
    Flori shook her head. I’m not sure if it
meant ‘no’ or it was done in frustration and bewilderment.
    “I’ll go and sit on the bench here,
Mabel. You go and check out your little spy store.”
    I went in with great expectations and
came out deflated. There was nothing there but computers and I imagine
everything that goes with a computer. I didn’t want to appear too dumb so when
the vulgar young man behind the counter asked if I was having problems with
spam, worms, or viruses, I politely told him that I’d never felt better in my
life. Flori asked why I’d returned so quickly and I told her that everything
was much too sophisticated for me. She smiled and said that she was glad I
recognized my limitations.
    “It takes a humble person to admit they
can’t be perfect in everything.” She said this with a very smug look on her
face.
    Perhaps, it was time to advance to the
next level and buy a computer. I mean, if I can handle a cordless phone with an
attached answering machine, surely a computer can’t be that much harder to figure
out.
    I knew Flori would be upset if I didn’t
purchase anything so when I found a store that carried animal toys, I bought
something for each cat. I knew they would stand and look at it for a brief
moment or two and then walk away, never to look again. However, it made Flori
happy.
    We had lunch in a cute little
restaurant. Flori kept looking around for some of the old folks but it was as
if they’d disappeared off the surface of the earth.
    “I’m getting a little anxious,” she
said. “We haven’t run into any of them. I hope they didn’t get into any
trouble. You know, maybe falling or something.”
    “Flori,” I said after setting my cup
down. “Trust me; those people can look after themselves. I’d be more worried
about the people here, especially the store owners. Dolly says she has to hide
everything because there are so many thieves in the seniors’ home.”
    Flori looked out and watched the hoards
of people aimlessly strolling from store to store. It was crowded because no
one wanted to stay home on a miserable rainy day.
    “I don’t know. I still feel worried. If
anyone gets into trouble we’re the ones who will get hauled up on the carpet,
you know.”
    “No,