maternity shopping is NOT fun
'Lastly, we will need to have someone move the dirty pants to the back of the clothes aisle ready for when the new district manager comes next week. This time, they are not dating one of the employees, so will therefore be stricter than Jeff, which is why we need to start preparing for the visit now. That's all for today's written announcements. Anything that you would like to add, Dina?' Glenn turned away from his announcements (a piece of paper with the words NEW DISTRICT MANAGER written in caps alongside doodles of cats wearing pants) and turned to look at his assistant manager.
'Although I doubt that some of what you just said counted as a 'priority announcement', I mean seriously Glenn, no one cares about what you're getting Jerusha your anniversary, but other than that, I think that you covered everything.' Dina concluded just as everyone took the hint and started to leave the breakroom to begin their shifts for today.
'Oh wait! Amy! I need to have a quick word with you outside.' Dina blurted as everyone (including Amy) looked at her in confusion.
Amv followed Dina out into the narrow corridor that led to the staff toilets.‘What’s up?’
’Well. I need help with er ….’ Dina trailed off, her mouth unusually dry all of a sudden.
’Dina! Just get on with it! I have things to do!’ Amy was becoming frustrated as Dina continued to stutter.
’Fine! I need help maternity shopping, okay!’ Dina blurted out and then her cheeks began to darken. ’None of my clothes fit me and I need help buying new ones.’
It was only that Amy noticed how Dina’s khakis were around her midsection, and how her blue cloud 9 polo strained at her swollen abdomen.
’That was it?’ Amy began to laugh on relief. ‘I thought that you were going to say that you had finally murdered someone or something! Of course I’ll help you with maternity shopping Dina, it’s nothing to be ashamed about!’
’I guess that this baby is just growing quicker than I thought that it would.’ Dina sighed as she rubbed her stomach absentmindedly. ‘But I don’t want you to take me to wherever you get your clothes at, I’d rather look really pregnant than really tired, thanks.’
Amy smiled through gritted teeth as she tried not to be offended and began to walk away from Dina, who was quickly walking in the opposite direction, having seen a customer being pushed around in a trolley.
~
’What do you think about this one? It looks okay from the front but I feel like it looks really tight from the back.’ Dina asked Amy as she emerged from the fitting room in yet another plain maternity t-shirt.
’Er yep, it looks nice, it looks very similar to the last three though Dina, are you sure you don’t want something different?’Amy questioned as she tried to compare the previous shirts to the one that Dina was wearing.
’Nope, I already know that i like this shade of grey? Why change something good?’ Dina seemed confused at why Amy was so insistent on switching up the variety of clothing, she couldn’t understand why somebody would ever want to change something that they like.
’Alright then. It’s just that you have basically just got the same shirt that you already have, just in a larger size. I was just thinking that maybe you would want to step out of your comfort zone a bit? There is so many cute maternity clothes, at least try something on?’ Amy looked around the store and selected a blue dress with thin straps that went down to Dina’s ankles. ‘This dress will hug your bump beautifully! Oh Dina just try it on, if you don’t like it then you don’t have to buy it, but if you do like it then I will buy everything you want for the whole shopping trip!’
Amy was skeptical about her proposal but she knew that Dina hated shopping so she probably wouldn’t hit anything other than the dress.
’Fine! I’ll try it on! But only because you forced me too!’ Dina took the dress from Amy and went back inside the fitting room. ‘I want this down as peer pressure!’
~
‘Oh wow.’ Amy gawped at Dina in amazement as her friend stepped out the fitting room in the dress that Amy had picked out for her.
Amy had been right, the dress did hug Dina’s bump. And it did look beautiful. Along with her radiant skin (a benefit of being pregnant) Dina look like some sort of goddess in her gorgeous floaty dress.
’I guess that it doesn’t actually look that bad, does it?’ Dina admired herself in the mirror and let a small smile grace her lips as she lifted her hands around her stomach to frame her bump, for the first time throughout her whole pregnancy, she looked genuinely happy to be pregnant.
’Dina. You look perfect.’ Amy said to her friend as Dina continued to admire her reflection.
’I really do, don’t I? Go on then, I will allow you to buy this gorgeous maternity dress for me.’ Dina put her hand out for Amy to shake on it as Amy retired her own hand.
’ Trust me Dina, you look truly beautiful.’
’Thankyou.’ Dina smiles at Amy. ‘Now, I distinctly remember you saying that you would pay for the rest of the shopping trip, and I just remembered that I saw some designer bird toys that my birds desperately need.’ Dina smirked at Amy as they finished paying for the dress and Dina walked out into the direction of the pet shop.
’Oh no no no that it NOT what I meant! DINA!’