Circlefield Mall: "Fountain Water"

Circlefield Mall, IL

The Music Store

“See you next time!”

With a pearly smile, Inez enthusiastically waved to the child and mother as they left through the music store’s door. She watched the child reach for her mother's free hand while the other was holding two large shopping bags. Oblivious to her, the parent and child headed to their left and disappeared into the crowd of customers.

Behind the glass wall, she stayed in the music store with acoustic guitars and sound effect keyboards on the wooden panel walls. The reflection of herself stood in her usual jeans with long fine hair down her back. But through the crystal glass, she saw the rest of Circlefield Mall: even though they hardly got any foot traffic, a trickle of people passed by the store.

Inez instinctively pulled out her phone. Its little star charm swayed in the air as she checked her notifications: nothing yet.

Disappointed, she swayed her way back to the counter where the store owner Mrs. Perez sat. Behind a computer, she articulately types on its keyboard to finish up a form or draft an email.

“How’d it go?” Mrs. Perez took a pause from her keyboard clacking to face Inez.

Inez looked up from her phone. “The lesson went alright. We mostly focused on Daisy Bell, and we’re going to work on finger placement next time.” Inez looked back to the back wall, where a small corridor led to a series of music practice rooms. She exhaled. “That kid can be so cold with me. I really don’t get it. But, she’s having fun and learning well, so I shouldn’t complain.”

“That’s reassuring to hear. That’s the mentality I had when I was teaching you. Now look at you,” Mrs. Perez eyed Inez.

Inez blushed at her mentor’s words, then she got a curious look in her eyes. “Were me and Nora your first students?"

“One of my first, I remember. Nora was a little more skilled, I think she learned at another school before me. I hope she’s doing well now.” Mrs. Perez looked to the ceiling tiles to remember Nora’s face. “You, however, were always filled with energy. You’d be practically bouncing off the walls. It amazes me that this store has lived long enough for one of my students to be working in it.”

Clicking her mouse and scanning the screen, she said, “Well, I don’t have anything else scheduled for you right now. Business has been slow and we’re close to closing for the day. You're all good to head home.”

Inez nodded triumphantly as Mrs. Perez got back to inspecting the computer screen. The screen’s blue light illuminated her round face and hooded eyes. Inez cupped her cheek with her hand and imagined the color of her skin if she sat in front of the screen. The thought made her giggle. She slowly gazed at the ceiling where Mrs. Perez saw Nora.

“Inez, you look troubled, sweetie. Something going on?” Mrs. Perez pivoted from the screen and looked perplexed at Inez.

Startled, she shook herself back to attention. “I’ve just haven’t been feeling myself today. Maybe it’s because it's starting to get colder outside. I’m more of a summer kind of girl.” It was true. Inez always reminisced about her last summer. Inez strolled to the counter and took her purse from its undershelf.

Mrs. Perez said. “Would you like to talk about it, sweetie? I can tell something is bothering you.”

A grin sneaked across Inez’s face. “I actually have plans right now. Remember that guy I was talking about? That cashier at APT 512? Well, I want to make a quick shopping visit, maybe bump into him, strike up some conversation.” Inez shifted her large bangs from her face. “I could use a new skirt.”

“Ohh, always fun to see one of your new crushes,” Mrs. Perez teased. “A young woman like yourself can have a lot fun! Now, don’t let me take too much of your time.”

Inez started rushing towards the door. “See you tomorrow!”

“And don’t forget to tell Nora ‘Hello’ for me! I’m really proud of her for going to college!” Mrs. Perez called out. For a single stride of her legs, Inez looked to Mrs. Perez, clenched her jaw, and gave her a nod.

APT 512

Something about walking through the mall made Inez more confident. Maybe it was the overhead glass ceiling cascading on her sun kissed skin, the shiny tiles that echoed with the sole of her Mary Janes, or the storefront adverts she sauntered by. She liked copying the models: their poses, their presence, their confidence. She picked up her step and glided strands of hair off her shoulders.

Seeing her reflection on the floor, she spotted a stain on her jeans: she wore them often, especially during the last few months, so she’s not surprised. It must have been from her last coffee shop date with Nora.

But Inez felt embarrassed, then annoyed, then desperate to remove it. No way was she going to throw it out like any other jean. She checked her phone again. No messages. She started checking her Picbase feed and deleted her search history.

Finally, she arrived at APT 512: the store was much less busy for a popular brand. Inez didn’t shop here often as it was filled with more statement pieces than she would usually wear. Her friends would drag her there though.

She recounted the list of conversation topics made in preparation. She fixed her posture and took a deep breath. Showtime.

Gliding past the security pedestals, she gave a passing glimpse at the cashiers: a girl from her high school she hasn’t seen since graduating, bald man who is definitely the manager based on his soured face, and then him: the cashier from APT 512.

Before, she never recognized him, and Inez thought she knew everyone at the mall. Growing up and working here, she knows a little bit of gossip from every store. But, when it comes to APT 512 guy, she learned nothing from the grapevine. She figured he must’ve been from out of town. From there, he was a blank slate that she wanted to fill in in whatever way she can.

Between glances at clothes, she would stare at him from the rack. Aloof eyes were hidden by his beach wave hair. Plain graphic tee rested across wide shoulders. Chiseled jawline resting on large hands, and he seemed to be somewhere else entirely.

In the racks, she found a skirt that she would never buy for herself. Typically, it’d be something she would buy but return soon after seeing it in her closet. Taking deep breaths, she headed to the counter and approached him.

“Hi, I’m just getting this today.” She enunciated every word as she put the skirt across the counter.

“Awesome,” he said with fake enthusiasm. “Looking to get a card for in store credit? 10% off your first purchase.”

“Thank you, but I am really not interested in that, uhm.” She made a big effort to read his name tag. “Chris.”

“No problem,” he scanned her skirt’s tag and began pressing buttons on his register. Maybe she should’ve gotten more than one item cause now she was losing time with him.

“I don’t recognize you. Where are you from, by chance?” Inez injected, wondering who says “by chance” anymore.

“Oh, uhm, from Oakville. I just come to Circlefield to work.” He folded her skirt in half and then in half again.

“Oakville, that’s pretty far! I’ve never been, but I have a friend who’s going to that community college,” she grasped for common ground.

“Yeah, I know some people going there too. I would go, but I’m going to college soon. I’m moving in next week.” He put her skirt in a plastic shopping bag.

“Oh really? In state or out of state?” She ran her fingers through her fine hair.

“Out. Cash or card?”

“Oh, uh, card.” Inez fumbled her purse open to get her debit card and put it into the pin pad. “I actually have a friend going out of state too. Her name’s Nora. But she's all the way in California, much further than Missouri.”

“For sure,” he says. The pin pad chimes, and Inez removes her card. Chris’s finger overlapped Inez’s as she accepts the bag. Then, he seems to sober up. In the moment, he makes direct eye contact with her.

“Wait, how do you know I’m going to Missouri?”

The Water Fountain

Coming down from a full on sprint to a socially respectable pace, Inez reached the mall’s fountain. She took a moment to catch her breath and fan her burning blushed cheeks. In her hand was the bag from APT 512 that she slammed down to the ground.

“As if I can pull of mini skirt!” She wanted to throw the skirt into the fountain forget the whole thing ever happened.

Gallons of water were pouring out of the fountain right next to her. She got out her phone and looked up Chris’s Picbase account: at least 2 years worth of pictures that she managed to gather all she though she needed to know to have a chance with him. She read his little bio: “Chicago, IL | U of M.”

“Oakville is not even Chicago! We’re in the suburbs!” She wanted to scream. Now she wanted to chuck her phone into the fountain too. She crossed her arms over her head and groaned.

A sinking feeling made Inez slump onto the fountain’s brim. Inez looked around the mall at all the bustling people: parents bringing children, boyfriends with girlfriends, best friends matching best friends. She looked at the stain on her unwashed jeans and checked her phone one last time. No messages from her.

Looking through the glass roof, the thought of Nora washed over her. Inez’s only wish was to lean on her shoulder but doing that now would have Inez slip and capsize into the shallow fountain with all the pennies and quarters. Maybe if she was there, there’d be no point in going to APT 512 anyway.

She peered at the bag: the skirt taunting her for not handling the day better. The skirt was picked up from the bag. Its fabric seemed offensive. The stitches seemed migraine inducing. The care instructions seemed needy. If Inez put this on, nobody would take their eyes off of her.

Inez looked for a receipt in the bag to return it, but it was not there. Great. Now she was stuck with this polyester product.

Yet, Inez humored a simple but outrageous thought: What if she wore it? The color did match her skin tone, the waist complimented her hips, yet it was a silhouette she hardly tried out. She felt like her jeans were who she was: homely.

Looking around the mall, she remembered the stores that were closed down. The old petting zoo has now been replaced by a new tech store. Some of the independently owned stores got bought out by corporations. Her favorite candy store is now replaced by some insurance company office.

Gazing at the water fountain, the setting sun’s colors were dancing as jets shot in the air and disturbed the surface tension. Inez was still able to get a look at her reflection even as the water did not sit still.

Inez gathered herself and her things together. She pulled her hair back and began sauntering out of the mall. In the parking lot, she got into her car and placed her new skirt in the passenger seat. Its her’s now, afterall, since she can’t give it up but doesn’t want to bury it much longer.