#fenixtj

"But.. I don't KNOW em on purpose. "

"No, but a guy like you picks things up."

"Yeah.. I'm real worried about the Cootie 19"

"I thought they had a vaccine?"

"I took the shot, but a guy worries" he confides "How about you?"

"I aged out, I'm afraid."

"So far you're good... you don't make eyes at folks like Nancy"

"No one makes eyes at folks like Nancy."

"Yeah, she's got it bad" A nod and he moves on to other shops "Okay... need something for Holger, not shoes I guess"

"He seems to spend a lot of time training." Jess observes.

"So I should get him a victim? Someone to beat up? Never work, Holger doesn't know how to bully right"

"No, he needs a willing combat partner." she observes.

"Or, a weapon? Or something he could use to learn manners of the court? He's part of Ellie's court, right?"

"He is," He ponders "Well, I alread yfight him some, so does Onyx. I guess I could get a book on manners" Nose wrinkle "But not sure where"

"Book store?" matter of factly.

'Oh yeah" He moves on to one. He finds a copy of 'How to win friends and influence people' .. "Like this?"

"It looks kind of... grown uppy. Can I take a look?"

He hands it over. It is in Spanish but she can read that

She flips through....

Yeah, a bit adult for a kid

"Might be boring."

"Mmmph" A sigh "Then I got nuthin"

"Hey." Jessica blinks.

"Ok, so... he's part of her court, he needs to know how to behave but... he also has to look the part too, right?"

"So what if... I get him a -nice- outfit and you get the accessories?"

"You mean like prissy hose or something? Sure, but HE's got to wear it, not me, right?"

"No, like... a sharp suit. Tie. Shades, maybe? Like that?"

"Oh... we're gonna STRANGLE HIM.. KOOOL"

"No." patiently "Ok, maybe no tie."

"Could get a scarf, you can switch that aorund"

"But what do you think about sharp clothes? A good choice?"

"SUre.. I just get mine blodoy but he'd probably LIKE to look nice for Court" A nod

"Yeah. An extreme outfit in red or something wouldn't be the same. Even if it -were- for court."

"Yup." they clothes shop ... finding a peson with some nice suits that yes can be adjusted for kids

And not for nothing, but Holger is a big guy for his age.

Indeed, the tailor is surprised, annd offers to touch it up if it needs adjustigg when the boy tries it on for himself

Jess agrees to this, but wants the suit for Christmas morning. Adjustments can be made later. Tex should pick out the stuff to go with it; belt, tie/no-tie, etc.

Tex does... and soon the deal is made, and off they go. Tex asks "Holger's gonna be huge when he grows up, isn't he?"

"He shows every sign, yes."

"I need to toughen up" the boy says "I can't get troll big but I won't be the runt"

"Well. Eat healthy and drink lots of water, get your exercise; mental, physical, social, and emotional." she advises, and given that she herself is 8 and 1/2 feet tall....

He nods "Well, I ain't ood on the mental but.. I'll try"

She nods. "All anyone can ask."

"If I gotta eat a lot of greens I'm shovingn them past my teeth FAST... just saying"

"Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes the best way to eat something is fast."

"Like ripping a band-aid off."

"YEAH" He smiles "You're pretty smart"

"Thanks." As they continue shopping.

He gets Onxy a dragon action figure "I'll sprray paint it silver"

"He'll like that."