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“And I have told you, most of my shirts come from my dad's closet, and I cut them to fit me. All of my shorts come from goodwill, which I also cut to fit me.” I laugh.
Growing up, the kids at school always made fun of me for dressing like a boy. I never cared about the newest trends or best fashion. I loved wearing my dad’s shirts, and I didn’t give two shits that they were four sizes too big. It used to drive my mother crazy, but I didn't care.
When I turned sixteen and filled out, I discovered Youtube and taught myself how to repurpose old clothes into new styles. My nana taught me how to use her sewing machine, and my love for old clothing multiplied.
I look back over at Sasha to see her shrug her shoulders. “Next time you go, you have to take me so I can watch your magic.”
“Let’s go after work Friday. I’ve been wanting to look for some new stuff.”
After a short but enjoyable ride, we pull into the wholesale store in the middle of town, and I back the truck into a parking spot close to the front.
Sasha pulls a large cart out of the cart corral and hands it to me, then pulls out a second without me asking. I laugh at her when she looks at me and says, “What? You said it’s a lot of mouths to feed. I figured we’d need more than one cart.”
“You thought right! Alright, let's start.”
* * *
For the last few years, it has been my responsibility to do all of the shopping any time there is a large party at the clubhouse. All the ol’ ladies prepare the food (usually Maggie and Maria) and organize the whole thing. After Nana passed away, the shopping fell on me. Since I was the one that always went with her, I know exactly what to get.
I push my cart up to the butcher's station, and Buck, the butcher that has worked here for as long as I’ve been alive, greets me with a large smile. “Princess!” his loud voice booms.
I cringe at the nickname but smile back at the gray haired man. Buck was a friend of my grandpop’s. It was difficult coming to the store with Nana after my pop passed away in a motorcycle accident because he reminded me so much of him.
“Hey Buck!” I reply with a smile as he rounds the glass case and lifts me up into a bear hug.
“What can I do for ya, Princess?”
“Ringer’s getting out, so big party on Saturday. I need the works.” I eye the case in front of me.
Buck strides to the freezer behind his butcher block and pulls open the heavy door.
“Just the family or the whole gang?” he asks from inside the freezer.
“Whole gang I’m guessing!” I call over the noise of the loudspeaker.
Sasha wanders over to the cold cuts case and peruses the options. I point at the large tray of vegetables and cold cuts. She grabs one and puts it in her cart. Before she can walk away, I stop her.
“Grab all of them,” I instruct.
Sasha’s eyes bulge when she notices how many are in the case.
“That’s enough to feed a hundred people,” she exhales.
I stifle a laugh. “Exactly.”
Buck comes around the counter pulling a large cart. I laugh at Sasha’s stunned expression as she watches how much meat Buck transfers into my cart. He places two whole pigs, fifteen large racks of ribs, a case of hamburger patties, and a case of hotdogs.
“Holy fuck, Lilah. How many people come to these things?”
Buck chuckles. “First time?” he asks, looking at Sasha.
I nod at the older man. “She has the hots for my dad.”
“Lilah!” Sasha shrieks.
I laugh as I give Buck a hug, wrapping my arms around his chubby middle. He places a kiss on the top of my head.
“Thanks Buck! Will we see you and Nancy there?”
