Everyone ready for some shopping?

Valerie: All set. Peter's watching the boys, Katie, and Robbie. He told me Mike has work for the boys' company.

Lauren: Ready.

Daphne: Shopping is my middle name.

(We open in the parking lot next to Stainton's Department Store. Rosemarie pulls up, and all four women tumble out.)

Valerie: This was a great idea, Em, taking a day off to go shopping together.

Emma: Better with you girls than the boys and the kids. Katie keeps trying to peek...and Mike's worse.

Lauren: And I'm tired of Mick trying to wait on me hand and foot.

Emma: He's in "won't let you do anything" mode already?

Lauren: Yes, and he's driving me crazy.

Valerie: Well, don't worry. You can do whatever you want with us. You can eat whatever you want, too. I'm buying.

Lauren: Val, I may make you wish you hadn't said that.

Emma: Well, why don't we head on in? Stainton's has early hours during the Christmas season. We'll start here, move down Main Street, then maybe end up at the mall.

Valerie: (Sighs) I hate that the mall is taking so much of the department stores' business. I mean, look at this! (They enter the massive, elaborate main room of Stainton's, which looks more like a movie palace than a clothing store.) Malls don't look like palaces, and they don't have a powder room the size of a small country or tea rooms upstairs or their own organs.

Daphne: That's all the fun stuff. They can't take away the fun stuff.

Emma: (Nods) They always do organ recitals at Christmas, and that huge light show in the main lobby.

Valerie: (Points to a group of people gathered around something flashing) There it is! (The lights are dropped from a huge, 50-foot-tall ceiling and depict various Christmas characters. A fountain sprays water in time to the organ music playing)

Emma: Isn't that amazing?

Daphne: It sure is.

Emma: Ok ladies, where shall we begin? Clothes shopping for the guys? Mike always needs new ties.

Valerie: Peter needs clothes for school.

Emma: Robbie needs tons and tons of clothes, too. He grows out of them so fast!

Valerie: So do Jordan and Austin. I can't believe how tall Jordan's getting!

Lauren: *Nods* Mick's already a bean pole. Takes after his daddy.

Emma: I have the feeling Robbie will be, too. Takes after HIS daddy.

Valerie: (They stop in the men's clothing department) I'm glad I asked for Peter's size before I left. (She admires several simple, conservative broadcloth shirts) I think it's driving him crazy that he can't wear bright colors and his beads to school, but it is a good-paying job, and he seems to like the kids.

Emma: (Holds up a shirt) I know what size to buy for Mike - the smallest size on the rack.

Lauren: *Chuckles* I don't have it that easy any more. Micky's been bordering on mediums thanks to the architecture.

Valerie: Peter's a large. Always has been. He works out and does yoga.

Daphne: How do you think I feel, shopping in the young men's department?

(Emma and Valerie burst into laughter.)

Emma: Well, you can shop for your boy and ours at the same time.

Lauren: *Chuckles* You win, Daph.

Emma: (Holds up some ties) Mike is so HARD to shop for! He says he never really wants anything. It's worse than shopping for my father and my stepfather.

Valerie: Peter's easy. He's spends November and December dropping obvious hints.

Emma: (Puts the ties on her arm and sighs) You're lucky. I have to pry Mike's Christmas wish list out of him with a crowbar.

*Lauren unravels a VERY long piece of paper.*

Daphne: *Eyes widen* Oh my...

Emma: Oh good grief.

Lauren: Meet Micky's wish list.

Valerie: Don't tell me. That's just the first page of Micky's Christmas list.

Lauren: Yes.

Emma: I hope you don't plan on getting all of that for him.

Valerie: What did he ask for this year, world domination?

Lauren: It's number one.

Daphne: *Leans over to look at the list* Wow, it really IS number one!

Valerie: Don't give it to him.

Lauren: *Smiles* This is all there is to Mick's list. There are real things on here that he wants, mixed in with things that he obviously can't have.

Valerie: Now I'm glad Peter just gives hints.

Emma: (She holds out the ties and a yellow shirt) I know it's not the most creative gift, but I can't think of anything else here for him.

Valerie: (Holds out some shirts and slacks) These will be some nice work outfits for him.

Emma: Does Micky have clothes somewhere on that list, Lauren?

Lauren: Somewhere. I know I saw some.

Emma: (Holds up a pile of much smaller clothes) I have stuff for Robbie, too. Let's go do the girls and then move on to the real fun - the toys.

Valerie: Before it gets too busy. We need to hit their music and electronics section, too.

Emma: That'll take care of Mick.

Lauren: For the most part, yes.

Valerie: (As they pay for their orders) Don't you just love stores at this time of year? (Sweeps her arms around the festively bedecked store) They always do such a gorgeous job decorating!

Daphne: They sure do!

Emma: Even with the crowds, I love shopping at Christmas. Most people are usually in good moods if you go early enough.

Valerie: Peter and I never shop after the middle of the month. We know how the stores can get, especially at the big malls.

Emma: Mike usually shops two days before Christmas.

Valerie: Don't Mick and Davy usually go together?

Lauren: Yes, they do, but Mick likes to do a couple trips by himself, too.

Daphne: Like Black Friday. Davy refuses to do that one with him.

Emma: I wouldn't go shopping on Black Friday for all the deals in Stainton's.

Valerie: Peter will go out on Black Friday. He's an early bird anyway.

Lauren: And Micky's just nuts.

Emma: Speaking of nuts... (points to the children's section...which is far busier than the clothes aisles) check that crowd out. Must be having big sales today.

Valerie: They're probably looking for the hot new toy. Jordan wants a play set for his Hot Wheels cars and more music.

Emma: Oh geez, I hope they still have the Malibu Barbie doll Katie wanted, and I have to hit the sports section for her football.

Valerie: I'm sure the twins' lists are even longer than Mick's.

Lauren: Truthfully, I wouldn't know. Mick took care of their presents.

Daphne: Wow, you lucked out.

Emma: I'm almost afraid to ask what he bought them. You doing Leah, or did he do all the kids?

Lauren: All, and I have no clue what he bought them. Part of his "let me do everything for you" binge, but I didn't complain one bit about it.

Daphne: Smart.

Emma: I'm letting Mike do Robbie. He was a boy once; he'd know better what he'd like.

(Al walks by again, once again with the red-head on his arm. They're laughing as they admire the Barbie and other fashion dolls together.)

Emma: (Points to Al) Hey, isn't that Al the Caterer?

Valerie: (Smirks) Zelda won't be happy when she finds out he seems to have another woman.

Lauren: Darn shame.

Daphne: *Thoughtful* Why ARE they in this section, anyway?

Lauren: *shrugs* Laughing at the madness that is these other crazy people shopping.

Emma: Maybe she has nieces and nephews they're shopping for, or even children of her own.

Daphne: *Nods* That's possible.

Valerie: Yeah...ouch! (Two guys, one in a leather jacket, one in a red jacket, stumble past them. They're holding a mock battle with little green army men and aren't looking where they're going) Hey you two, be careful! Have you even bought those?

Guy In Leather Jacket: Yeah, we bought them! We brought our own! We're waitin' for our girlfriends to get off work!

Guy In Red Jacket: When are they supposed to get off work?

Guy In Leather Jacket: (He looks at his watch) Twenty minutes. Wanna have our generals bombard the ladies' understuff section while we wait for our chicks to be finished with the perfume?

Guy in Red Jacket: Yeah, they need some parachutes!

Guy In Leather Jacket: Let's go! (They duck out of the toy section)

Emma: Who let those nuts loose without a net?

Valerie: I pity their girlfriends.

Emma: (She leans over, digging through the pink boxes of Barbies) I think this is the right one. (She picks out a tall, slender Barbie doll with long, pale blond hair. She has a big smile, a turquoise one-piece bathing suit, pink plastic sun glasses...and a healthy tan.)

Valerie: Wow, Em. I don't think I've ever seen a fashion doll get that tan before. I wonder which beach she goes to?

Emma: (Chuckles) Story on her is she's supposed to be a golden California beach girl. They're huge with little girls this year. (She pulls a pleated lemon-yellow pantsuit off the rack) And she'll get a new outfit, too.

Valerie: As nice as the Barbies' clothes are, there are advantages to only having boys. I won't have to step on their shoes or get them caught in the vacuum cleaner.

Emma: I'm always yelling at Katie about that...and Mom yelled at my sisters and me about it, too.

Valerie: Are you shopping for Lizzie, Daph?

Daphne: I'm going to get her stuffed animals. She really loves the ones she has.

Emma: Katie's always asking for teddy bears. Why don't we go there next?

Valerie: She's not the only ones with bears on her list, either.

Lauren: Me.

Emma: (Sees a row of white bears in velvet outfits, some in dresses, some in little suits) Oooh, aren't they cute! I want the girl! (She hugs the bear)

Valerie: (Points at Emma) And her.

Emma: Look, they even have the date on their feet! (She holds up the girl bear's foot to reveal "1975" embroidered on the bottom of her paw)

Valerie: Em, we're shopping for the families today, not ourselves.

Emma: (Frowns) But...

Valerie: Maybe you could get Mike to get her for you for Christmas.

Lauren: *Whispers to Daphne* Or one of us. *winks*

(Daphne grins and nods.)

Emma: (Reluctantly puts the bear back) Oh, all right. (Turns to Lauren) See anything you like? Maybe we could get it for you for Christmas!

Lauren: *Goes over to some brown bears that simply wear a red felt ribbon* I like these brown bears. *pick one up; there's a jingling sound* Hey... *touches the bear's tail and hears the jingling again* They have jingle bells in their tails!

Emma: I'm going to get that for Katie. I think she'll get a big kick out of it.

Valerie: And I'll get one for Jordan. He loves bears.