(no subject)

McKenzie's
-----Snip-----
Katrina tapped on Zack's shoulder as he lay on his knees,
weeping. He jumped and turned to her with tears in his eyes. He
sniffled. "Can I help you?"
Katrina licked her lips. "You okay? What's wrong?"
Zack pointed to the smoking McDonald's. he said nothing.
Nodding, Katrina said, "Don't worry, I'll be cleaning it up in
no time."
Zack wiped his eyes and stood. "Can I help you?" he repeated.
"Yes, I need help finding a good gift," she answered.
-----End Snip-----
Zack blinked away the last few drops of evidence and smiled as
warmly as possible. "Did you have something in mind, Miss . . .
Swete, is it?"
Katrina frowned. "Not really. Just something of a going away
present for someone special."
Zack smiled conspiratorily. "Is this special friend a romantic
interest?"
Katrina blushed a little. "Yes. He is."
Zack tapped his chin as he thought for a moment. "Perhaps a
nice shirt would be the way to go."
Katrina grimaced. "Well, he's leaving for a while and I wanted
to get him something really special. Something a little more than a
shirt."
Zack nodded. "Hmmm. Perhaps a suit would do."
Katrina's eyes lit up. "Yes! A suit would be perfect!" Then
she looked at his battered, scratched chrome suit and bit her
lip. "Is there a sales person that can show me the suits?"
Zack caught her look, and straightened his sleeve self-
consciously. "Er, well, I'm that sales person. I know my appearance
isn't the greatest, but you must admit a lot has happened around here
lately. I'm happy I still have one arm for each sleeve!"
Katrina nodded, still obviously not pleased that she would be
relying on Zack's fashion sense.
Zack led her toward the back of the store, where the men's
department was being rearranged. He found one of the non-damaged
racks and pulled out a crimson doublebreasted blazer with matching
trousers. "Here's a spiffy number. And wash and wear, too!"
Katrina bit her tongue to keep from laughing. It was hideous.
Zack recognized her silence, and hastily returned the suit. "Of
course, I need to know a little about your friend before I can give
advice worth hearing, right?"
Katrina was about to answer when something caught her eye. A
suit was displayed on a mannequin inside a glass display case.
Lights around the top of the case shone down on the suit, giving it
an almost astral look. The cut was conservatively cut, but drew out
the mannequin's form nicely. She pointed to the suit and asked, "How
much is that one?"
Zack looked up at the suit. "You have excellent taste! That's
from our premiere line of men's suit. The material is a hybrid
polymer-synthocotton - holds creases well without wrinkling
unintentionally, and feels like silk. There's not a better suit on
the market."
Katrina gaped at it. "Is that the only one?"
"Oh, no. We have several more in the back. We have several
different colors available, and a good selection of sizes. If you're
willing to share your friend's identity with me, I'm certain
CashHolly has his measurements on file. We can have the suit
tailored for him in five minutes."
Katrina paused for a moment, then decided that she had nothing
to hide. "It's Captain Niples."
Zack's eyes widened. "Really! That's wonderful! I've heard a
lot of good things about him." He turned and looked up. "CashHolly?"
CashHolly's monitor lowered from a slot in the ceiling. "What
can I do for you, Zack?"
"Do you have Captain Niples' measurements on file? This lady
would like to purchase a suit for him."
CashHolly scowled. "Hmm. I'm fairly certain I have them around
here somewhere. Hold on."
The face ducked down below the bottom lip of the monitor and
sounds of large piles of miscellaneous things could be heard. Zack
looked over at Katrina. Fortunately, she was engrossed in examining
the suit.
Finally CashHolly returned. "Got them right here, Zack."
Zack nodded slowly. "Thanks, CashHolly. I'll let you know if I
need anything else. Thanks again."
CashHolly disappeared into the ceiling, and Zack smiled at
Katrina. "Captain Niples' measurements are available. Have you
decided on a color?"
Katrina turned away from the display. "That color looks
wonderful. Can I get it?"
Zack studied the rich brown with beige pinstripes. "I'm certain
we can find one for you. I'll see to it. You are free to look
around the store while the tailoring is done, or if you like we have
a waiting room with coffee and danishes."
Katrina smiled. "Oh, I'll just look around."
Zack smiled. "Marvelous. I'll let you know as soon as it's
ready. Would you like it gift-wrapped?"
Katrina nodded. "Oh, that would be wonderful. Thanks!"
Zack headed for the back. "CashHolly, I need a Brown #7 Algassi
suit tailored with Captain Niples' measurements, then gift-wrapped."
CashHolly appeared again. "In work, Zack. It'll be out in just
a minute."
Then the serv-o-mat rolled out of the back with a big box
wrapped in navy-blue wrapping paper with a sky-blue ribbon. "That'll
do it."
Zack took the box. "Thanks." He turned and looked for Katrina,
finding her in the Hallmark section of the store. "Here you are,
Miss Swete. How do you wish to pay for this?"
Katrina dug in her pocket and pulled out a credit card. "With
this, please."
CashHolly's monitor dropped from the ceiling again. "I'm afraid
there are insufficient funds on that card."
Katrina blushed. "Oh, then what about this one?"
CashHolly squinted at the card. "I'm sorry, but that one is
also insufficient."
Katrina pulled out two more, but CashHolly merely shook his
head. "I'm sorry, but you're still a bit short."
Zack stepped in. "What if we give her fifteen percent off? I'm
sure she qualifies for our support staff discount."
CashHolly frowned. "'Support staff discount'? I've never heard
of such a-"
Zack's glare cut him off. "Oh, THAT Support Staff Discount.
Well, it would be close, but with the discount she can just swing it."
Zack turned back to Katrina. "Will that work for you, Miss
Swete?"
Katrina bit her lip, but then thought of Niples and
nodded. "Yes. That will do nicely."
CashHolly scanned the cards and Katrina returned them to her
pocket. She also had enough left to purchase a nice card, and then
she departed. Zack and CashHolly watched her go.
Once the doors closed, CashHolly looked down at him. "You know,
that 'discount' cost you your entire sales commission. Your wife is
going to kill you."
Zack smiled. "No she won't. Not when I tell her why." He
looked up at CashHolly. Some things are more important than money."
~Zack Richards - darn nice guy~
OOC: Katrina, if I played you wrong, I apologize. Just seemed like
there should have been a story about the purchase and the cost.