Charon's Crossing

"No, really. I just need to pick up some things."

"Well, we have whatever you might need, everythin' from undies to dresses and shoes."

Kathryn cleared her throat. "Well, actually..."

"What size would you be? Ten? Eight?" Ada eyed Kathryn's cut-down denims. "If you're lookin' for some nice shorts, we just got some in I think you'd like."

"Actually, I'm, ah, I'm looking for men's clothes."

Ada's eyebrows soared. "Men's clothes'?"

"Yes."

In New York, that one word, "yes," delivered with such determination, would have been enough to squelch any further questions. But this wasn't New York, and Ada Truman's curiosity wasn't easily squelched.

"What on earth for?"

Kathryn ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. Go ahead, she told herself, come up with an answer for that.

"Well," she said, "well..."

"Surely you're not like me," Ada said, "preferrin' men's clothes to work around in!"

Just in the nick of time, Kathryn thought giddily, and smiled.

"That's exactly right. I mean, men's stuff is so much more—"

"Comfortable."

"Right."

"It's cut looser. Gives a person more room to move."

Kathryn offered up her best and brightest smile. "Uh huh."

"Couldn't agree more," Ada said, "though I figured that was my personal preference." She chuckled. "Because there's so much of me, you see."

"Oh, I'm sure there are lots of women who feel the same way."

"Well, you just tell me what you need and I'll get it for you."

"Jeans," Kathryn said, following on Ada's heels as the shop owner wove her way between the crowded racks towards the rear of the store. "And shorts. Cut-offs, if you have them."

"Certainly."

"Shirts, too. And shoes."

Ada paused alongside a display of Levi jeans. "Here are the men's jeans and such, but shoes... well, of course, you wouldn't want men's sizes there, would you? But I only carry men's shoes, you see, sneakers and sandals mostly. You'll find fine shoes for ladies up the street, at Allenby's."

Kathryn stared at Ada. Now what? she thought helplessly.

"Well... well, actually... the thing is..."

"Miss Ada?"

Ada made a face and looked towards the front of the shop. "Yes?"

The young salesclerk was hidden by the racks but there was no mistaking the nervous apology in her voice.