Holiday Help

It seems as if everyone is out and about on the quest for gifts for their loved ones. I actually had a great time this weekend at Express helping all these adorable men find outfits for their girlfriends/wives. I think men shopping for clothes for their girls is the most ADORABLE thing!

They walk into my section and just stand there, looking puzzled. I smile and greet them.

“Hi, how are you? Looking for that perfect holiday outfit?”

“Yeah, uh, I’m looking for something for my girl. I don’t know what to get but I know she likes this store.”

“Great, I’m sure we can come up with something spectacular. First tell me a little about her. Like, what size does she wear?”

“Uh, I don’t know,” the tall Hispanic gentleman says under his breath. He’s embarrassed.

I twirl around showcasing my bright yellow sleeveless top with the strategically placed keyhole, bright pink form fitting pants and multicolored scarf.

“Is she my size?”

He looks at my body, then looks away. I can see the red starting to creep up into his face.

“Yeah, she’s..she’s your size. But I think she’s a little shorter.”

“Good, then she’s a size 6. Were you thinking of a dress or a pants set?”

“Um, I want some jeans.”

“Ok, I’ll show you the different colors we have and you can decide which blue is best.”

“Yeah, but it doesnt really matter as long as it fits.”

“Ok, heres a great pair. They’re dark but they’re faded at the thighs and hips, I LOVE these!”

“Yeah, those are nice,” he says and motions for his friend to come over. “You think this is good?” He asks his friend.

“I don’t know dawg. That’s your girl,” his friend responds and returns to flirt with my Panamanian co-worker.

“Let’s find a top,” I say. “Is she into prints or does she like plain tops?”

“She likes whatever. She’s really cutesy.”

“Ok, do you think this is something she’d like?” I ask while holding up a powder blue short sleeved top with an attached sash that doubles as a belt.

He eyes the top and smiles. “Yeah, she’ll really like this.”

“Medium?” I ask.

“I don’t know. I think she may be a large. Let me show you a picture of her.”

He takes out his cell phone and goes through his pictures. “Here she is,” he says and holds the phone up for me to see.”

I take a look.

“She’s cuute!” I squeal. “But uh, let me tell you something about women. It’ll be a bad idea for you to go home with a large top. Always go for the smaller size, it’ll make her feel better, even if she has to exchange it.”

He laughs. “You’re right…I was thinking the same thing. Thanks so much for your help.”

“My pleasure,” I smile and tell him my name.

An older gentleman approaches me. “My niece is over there. She needs your help.”

“Hey how are you? May I help you find the perfect holiday outfit?”

“Yeah cuz I have to go to a party and my Mom is always telling me to wear more skirts and stuff cuz I don’t have any so I have to get a skirt or a dress today, but nothing too flowery or prissy, I’m not into that.”

“Ohh, so you’re an outdoors type girl. Well, I have just the thing…”

This is so much fun. My first time in retail, too. Too bad it doesn’t pay more.