The Store

CHAPTER 1

Arania looked around smiling. The big day had finally come for her. She had been saving for almost two years. She had earned her money by watching other people's children and doing essays for college and high school kids. She had made herself very clear when she started doing that, she would happily type and print out the essay for them , but they had to do the actual writing themselves. Finally all her hard work paid off. She had found the perfect building in Kaitown, and had snapped it up after arguing the price down, in spite of the agent's attempts not to do so. It had taken only a couple days to find the place, and the location was ideal. Right next door there was a chocolate shop, which she knew would attract both kais and their ladies. She knew this from her recent friendships with some of the ladies from APEC. She also knew that, while chocolate was a wonderful gift, there are other things that they all would need, namely clothing. Since that was the type of store she wanted to have, it would work out perfectly, and save a lot of them time.

The moving men finally arrived with the furniture and various other things she had requested for the store. She intended to make the store a comfortable warm place to come to. The only thing she hadn't thought of yet was a name. She shrugged her shoulders and decided to worry about it later, the important thing right now was to get everything moved in and set up for the inventory's arrival in a few days. She smiled, and instructed the movers where to put everything, making sure the racks were set aside so she could arrange them later, and proceeded to put the doors on the eight changing rooms.

A while later she felt a small nudge at her ankle and looked down. Her cat and main companion since arriving in Kaitown was standing there.

"Rani, how long have you been working, it's dark out," Meow asked looking up at her.

Looking outside, she saw she had been working in the store all day, and had not taken a break, since it was indeed dark outside. Giving a small laugh, she picked Meow up and cuddled her. "come on, I'll lock up and we'll go grab dinner at that nice seafood place up the road from the house."

CHAPTER 2

A few days later, after working once again straight through the day with no breaks, Arania stood at the front of the store looking at all the work she had gotten done. The shelves and display areas on either side were up and ready, the racks were arranged the way she wanted them. She had gotten the walls painted two days previously, she had stayed the night at the store to ensure that had gotten done. Needless to say Meow wasn't too happy with that, but her grumbling hadn't worked on Arania. Today she had left the cat an extra dish of tuna though, so she wouldn't hear as much about it when she got home. She shook her head and focused back on what she had been doing. The walls had turned out nicely, a light maroon, and the wood shelves complemented it. The counter was in place, and only lacked a register, that was sitting at home waiting to be brought and put in place which would happen after the inventory arrived. She had decided to carry a large variety of clothes, and even some shoes and other accessories, nothing expensive there, but nice things anyway. There was one item she had in mind though she would need to talk to her friends about, but that would wait for now because it would have to be special ordered. She decided that it was still early enough to hit the furniture store to purchase the couches, coffee table and chair for the center area of the store.

The store that had what she wanted was only a block up so she decided to walk there. Looking in the window she saw the perfect table right away, it was a light colored oak and matched the shelves perfectly. She walked in and the store's manager rushed over to help her. She chose the table as well as two full length sofas and a chair, those being in a slightly darker shade than the wall.

"Would it be possible to get those delivered now, I'm only a block up." Arania asked the manager after paying for the purchases.

"Certainly Ma'am, the delivery kais will be happy to help." At that three of them appeared out of the back. One took the chair and coffee table, while the other took the first couch. She led them back to the store and instructed them to put it in the center of the store, the chair in front of the counter, and the coffee table in front of it, with the sofa to one side. They went back and returned with the other sofa within minutes, which they put opposite the first. She tipped them all nicely and thanked them before they left. She was surprised with herself a little though, she was able to look them on the eye momentarily without thudding. She laughed, remembering the first day here when she looked at one of them for a second and thudded onto the sidewalk. She shrugged lightly and locked the door as she stepped onto the sidewalk. Only two days till the inventory arrived and she would be ready for the grand opening.

Chapter 3 Grand Opening

Arania woke early that morning, smiling and a little tired. She had been working hard the past few days, since sending out the invitations to the grand opening of her store. Meow woke with her and followed her around the house as they prepared to leave. Wearing her best business dress, and Meow in her best collar, they left and arrived at the store shortly after. The windows were covered in a dark maroon cloth to prevent any peeking before she was ready to greet her customers. Today was the big day, everything was ready, and there were only a few last little adjustments she needed to make before opening the store to people. The store would be open to everyone, but the invitations were intended to bring it to the attention of certain people. She unlocked the door and walked in quickly with her cat before shutting it again.

A few hours later she flipped the sign to open, and took the curtains down opening the store to the world. Those that looked in the windows saw four mannequins, two male on the left side, two female on the right side. The mannequins look amazingly real, and looking the person realizes the males are Kai and Stan, the females both incarnations of Zev/Xev. The Males are wearing identical outfits, tuxedoes, the females are both wearing lovely evening dresses, identical except for color, one being white, one red. Walking through the door, the first thing noticed is the center area, which has two large sofas, a table between them. The table holding various magazines. At the head of the table is a comfortable armchair. To the right is the women's section, the area closest to the mannequins holding clothes for young women, ages infant to preteen, with a section for maternity towards the back. Behind the clothes on the right wall are shelves, lined with shoes, belts and other accessories. The men's section mimics the women's arrangement, minus the maternity wear. Looking to the back of the store there are eight dressing rooms, four men four women. Soft classical music plays in the background as you enter. Along the back wall is the checkout counter, and hanging above it is a large sign: "Do not see what you need for a special occasion or for any reason? Please ask, and it can be special ordered to fit you, delivery guaranteed within two weeks, no extra charge" Sitting on the counter is Meow, and standing next to her is Arania.

"Welcome to UFB"