“Cool,” was all Jason said
as he focused on the road. His mind was a buzz with questions, but it hadn’t
taken him long to learn not ask what he didn’t have to know. If Jean-Claude
wanted to go to the Mall, he was more than happy to drive him.
Jason pulled up to the valet parking
that the Mall offered during Christmas rush. There was only an hour until
closing, even with the extended Holiday hours. The crowd was beginning
to thin out. Jean-Claude, making every effort to fit in, opened the car
door and stepped out, shooting Jason a less than happy look when the little
wolf jumped out of seat, swinging onto the pavement. Giving his best “I’m
sorry” grin, he fell in behind the Master of St. Louis.
Because of the recent press interviews
the human population had come to know the face of the Master. But for some
reason, Jean-Claude’s presence didn’t registered on the hurried shoppers.
Only the most sensitive would feel the glamour radiating from his body.
Jean-Claude walked purposely to the
information kiosk, quickly browsing the information presented, he decided
on a route. Unfortunately Jason was not so focused. An over priced toy
store caught his attention, a cross between FAO Schwartz and The Sharper
Image. Like the student he appeared to be, Jason almost ran to the really
cool gadget he’d spied from across the courtyard. It seemed to be either
a vibrating back massager chair or a mechanical bull with a built in pin
ball machine. A universal remote was built into the other armrest. The
possibilities left him shuddering.
Jean-Claude sighed, sounding like any
parent of an unruly teen. “Jason.” Jason stop and looked at his boss, “But,
please, can I have it, please, come on, please Jean-Claude, I never ask
for anything, its so cool, please, it’s all I want, come on, its so cool,
look at it….” Before he could finish his plea to the vampire, a voice boomed
out over the crowd. “HEY JASON. What are you doing here.”
A group of college students was closing
in. Apparently two couples on a date. Like most college students they were
dressed carelessly in jeans and T-shirts. To accommodate the weather, they
had jackets and scarves. The two boys had the average good looks of the
overfed mid-west. One girl’s dyed blonde hair was over curled and styled
with too much gel. The smell was over powering. The second girl dropped
behind. She stared at Jason as they approached. Her soft voice traveled
over the shouts of the others. “Hello, Jason, it’s been a long time.” Her
voice held pain and a question.
