LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 12: Cute Little Barbie

As time went on towards noon, the beatings of my chest became faster and faster because I still hadn't sold anything while my fellow sales assistants already managed to sell half of their quota. 

There's a lot of customers but the moment they saw me, they took a detour and asked my fellow sales assistant to assist them. In their eyes and expressions were telling me I was unable to provide the service they needed because I was just a newbie. I still had a lot of things to learn. 

Until 11.30am came. 

"Pssst! Pssst!" Said by a voice. 

I looked around and saw Anica, sneaking at a corner. She waved her hand to me. 

I frowned at her. "What is it?" 

"Have you sold anything already?" She asked, almost whispering because we didn't know if the manager was around and monitoring me. 

I shook my head with a worried expression. "Not yet."

"Ah? It's almost noon already. What to do?" 

"What else could it be? I can only accept the punishment." I said, kicking my foot forward on the floor like I was playing football. 

"Anica, what are you doing?" Echoed by the fierce voice behind Anica. As our sight travelled where the voice came, we saw Denice standing with a displease expression. She repeated, "I am asking you, what are you doing here? Is this your post?" 

"No--no ma'am Denice." Anica stuttered. 

"I once said it. No one is allowed to help her. Did you just take my order as a piece of s**t?"

"No ma'am. I understood it well. I will return to my post right away." Anica quickly ran off. 

Denice just looked at me, up and down, and before she left, she gave me an exulting smirk. 

That witch! I really didn't understand. How did I offend her? Why was she picking on me?

I hugged myself as it suddenly got colder around me and I almost jumped while holding my chest when I realized the Mannequin was behind me.

"Who brought him here?" I mumbled confusedly as I walked closer to him and watched him. If my memory serves me right, I remembered I put him in the store room because Denice hadn't decided yet where to display him. Either to my post where the items all belong to men like suits, ties, summer wear, shorts and shirts or at Celine's post. 

The two of us stared at each other for a long time and miraculously because as I stared into his eyes, the nervousness in my chest disappeared. I rather felt safe. 

"It's good to have you here." I whispered to him as my hand slowly raised to fondle his face. 

I looked around when suddenly, I heard a laugh of a little girl. Then she said, "Chase me. Chase me. Bleeeeh, you can't catch me."

"Sweetie, stop and come over here. Your mother must be worried about you now." Jess' voice said in a begging tone. 

"Catch me first." The little voice chuckled. 

As I went over to check, I saw Jess chasing a cute little girl with a doll in her arms. 

"Little Barbie, what are you doing?" I crinkle my eyes at her as I carefully sauntered towards her. 

Unexpectedly, the little girl with a pink flower ribbon on her head stopped and observed me perplexed. Then she crossed her arms over her chest in a proud yet imposing manner. "Sister, how did you know my name? Did we meet before?" 

What? No way? Her name was Barbie too? 

I smiled at her more brightly and crouched in front of her. "So your name is Barbie?" 

"You are right. My name is indeed Barbie. But how did you know that?" 

"I just randomly guessed." I raised my hand and caressed her head. Astonishingly, she didn't avoid my hand. "Your hair clip is beautiful like you. You became even more alike to Barbie." I glanced at the doll she was holding and coincidentally, it was also a Barbie doll. "Do you want to know why I called you Barbie?" 

The little girl nodded, "Ehhhhmmm."

I smiled. "Because you are too cute and pretty like your Barbie doll."

Little Barbie giggled with her hand covering her mouth. "I knew it."

"Little Barbie, are you intending to buy something here with your mom?" 

"Yes. We are looking for a dress for me and for my mom. We are going to attend a birthday party tonight. But I found it boring to choose what to buy so I left my mom to play."

I moved crouching closer to her and wrapped my arm around her waist. "Little Barbie, have you heard about a saying that, if a mother is beautiful her daughter is beautiful too?" 

Little Barbie turned her head and looked at me, knitting her brows. "No. Is that true?" 

"Yes. So, stop stressing your mom and making her worry. If you keep doing that, many wrinkles will appear on her face and she will become ugly. Do you want that to happen?" 

Little Barbie shook her head, frowning sadly. "No."

"So, go back to your mom with Sister Jess. I'm pretty sure, she is worried sick of not having you at her side."

I motioned my head to Jess, who was silently standing behind Barbie, to get her. 

She extended her hand to hold Barbie. "Come here Barbie. Let's go."

But little Barbie snapped Jess's hand. "I don't want to go with her. I don't like her. I want you. I want you to come with me and help me pick my dress."

Jess and I were dumbfounded. 

Jess croaked. "Just go Barbie. Help me out with that little naughty girl. Don't worry, I will take your post."

"But---" I rubbed my neck. 

"Aiya, just go. Oh if you can persuade them to buy anything, the credit is yours. Didn't you still haven't sold anything yet? So go and help me."

"But ma'am Denice, she--" 

"I will explain it to her. Don't worry."

"Alright, then." I handed my hand to little Barbie. She held it and led me back towards Jess' area. 

As we were walking, she asked looking up on me. "Sister, is your name Barbie too. I just heard the other Sister called you Barbie. Is it your real name?" 

"Yes. My name is also Barbie."

"No wonder you are also beautiful as I. It turns out we have similar names." Little Barbie grinned. She became more lively, swaying our hands together as we walked.

The little girl's sudden approach in my area was a blessing because not only I managed to sell 2 dresses for the mother and daughter, under my assistance, they also bought 2 more kid's nightdresses, 1 sexy demi short, and 2 plain blouses for the mother. 

I was too happy. Now I was saved from the punishment. 

"Sister, we are leaving. I hope we will meet again." Little Barbie said in a sad tone as I sent them out the door. 

I squatted down. I cupped her face with one of my hands and fondled my thumb on her cheek. "We will. God has a plan."

I breathed a sigh of relief and glad as the customer was no longer around and I almost jumped when I heard Denice's voice suddenly thundered behind me. 

"You are lucky today." She said, turning her back to me and walked away.