Georgia danced her way into the building in such a hurry that Malee and Mary had to ran to catch up with her. Once inside, Malee eyes became widened in wonder. The security guards were always on lookout for the children from the slums so she had never been in such a huge shopping mall before in her life. She had peeped them from outside with her friends but as soon as they got closer, they will be hounded away by the security guards as if they were dogs. But she would not be turned away anymore, not with Georgia. She doubt anyone could object to the twins if even the commissioner of the police couldn’t.
It was a huge shopping mall with several floors, full of bright neon lights and people moving around with bags. The whole scene was as if in a movie and she was in it. She only stopped to wonder when Mary grabbed her hands and pulled her away from her thoughts. Georgia was seen going into a shop with glass doors, manned by two security guards. Malee wondered what can they possible selling that needed such display of force but before she could wonder more, she too was in that shop. It was a bare shop with 1 or 2 more shoppers, besides Georgia but there was more than 5 staff, including the cashier. Mary went to the counter and spoke to the cashier a few words. The cashier disappeared behind the door, only to reemerge with an another man in totally different uniform than the rest of the staff. Once he saw Mary and Georgia, he whispered to one of the staff who went to the door and whispered to the security guard.
Malee didn’t understand what was happening but Georgia noticed Malee at the entrance and called her.
“What do you think?” she asked holding a black dress that hide nothing and showed everything in both in front and back. You might as well not wear anything, Malee wanted to say but lucky for her, Mary came in to the rescue.
“Isn’t it showing too much Georgia. I am not sure master would approve of it.” said Mary.
“Pa knows nothing of the fashion.” replied Georgia, who shared her twin’s habit of not giving up till they had won. Mary knew she could say whatever she wanted but she would not win in the end again them. So she tried another tactic.
“Why not let Malee tried it out then you can see how it looks like? Both of you are of the same age and height.” suggested Mary.
“Yes. Good idea. Malee, get changed and come back.” said Georgia, handing out the dress to Malee. One of the staff directed Malee into the room with mirrors and closed the door. Malee took off her dress and changed into the black dress that she was given with much difficulty. It was tight dress that wrapped her body the way she used to wrap her fried potatos to her customers and she had to tried very hard not to tear it. Once done, she looked herself in the mirrors on the wall and wondered what would Mary and Georgia would say to it. She picked up the dress on the floor and pushed the door opened. A staff was waiting outside the room with an empty basket and took the cloth in her hands into the basket.
Malee walked towards where Mary and Georgia were looking at other clothes and found the entire shop was empty except these two. The other shoppers who were browsing when Malee went into the room to change was nowhere to be seen. A crowd was also seen outside the shop lining up. Why are they not coming in, Malee wondered.
“Goodness me. You look like a boy.” exclaimed Georgia once she saw Malee walking towards her. Malee could only smile. She had no choice but having to push the cart in sun or in rain for years had shaped her body the way it was. Compared to her friends, who were helping out with their parents in the stalls at the night market, Malee’s body was more developed, enough for her to wrestle with the older boys.
“You see Georgia. Master wouldn’t approve of it. It shows nearly your whole body and back. Turn around.” said Mary. Malee turned around to show her bared back to both of them. Malee felt like a doll at the windows.