Phoenix Child

  ~ John Lennon

   

  Crossing my arms, I glared at the salesman. Gavin ate it up, hanging on every word and being sold on the most expensive toys the salesman could come up with. Personally, I questioned whether they were the best.

  Thirty minutes ago Gavin brought me into this electronics store, because I "needed" a laptop, and a smart phone. The man helping us took one look at Gavin and smiled. When Gavin said he wanted only the best and items that could work all over the world, the man practically drooled.

  "Gavin is going to take you shopping today," Anali warned me after we practiced yoga that morning. "I'm leaving for Harbin Hot Springs in an hour. I'm going to a yoga retreat this weekend. Gavin had planned to take you shopping anyway, but now that you're living here, he's going to go crazy."

  "But I don't need anything."

  "I know you don't see it that way, but remember that Gavin grew up never wanting for anything. He feels guilty that he wasn't here for you for the past nine years. He wants to make it up to you. He wants to make sure you have everything you could ever want, or need." I started to protest, but Anali held up her hand, her brown eyes begging me to understand. "Please, Sapphire, let your uncle do this for you. Yes, we will be traveling soon, and we won't have room for tons of stuff, but let Gavin buy things for you now, let him spoil you. Gavin is a very loving man, and he expresses that love in many different ways. One of those ways is by taking care of the people he loves."

  "Love isn't something you win, it's something you must grow and nurture every day. Love can grow and become strong enough to handle anything life throws at you, or it can wither and die due to neglect. Some gestures will be grand: huge life-changing moments. Most are going to be small simple things: remembering to say thank you, kisses goodnight, making a favorite meal, or a single flower picked on the way home. This is true for all kinds of love. Remember, my darling, to nurture the love you have in your life. Never take love for granted."

  "Okay, I'll go shopping with him, and let him buy things for me. But I won't let him go crazy!" My stomach fluttered with excitement and nervousness.

  Anali hugged me. I froze for a moment at the joyful spontaneous act, then softened and hugged her back. "Thank you, Sapphire, it will mean so much to him. Don't forget he wants to get you things you truly want. Speak up if you have an opinion."

  I stood in the store, watching Gavin and the smarmy salesman go over the merits of the top three most expensive computers. Knowing nothing about pixels, megabytes, and hard drives, I was bored out of my mind. Turning, I randomly began looking through the DVDs.

  "Sapphire, I think this is the one," Gavin said, his face lit up with happiness, as the salesman held up a laptop.

  "Shiny," I said trying to soak up a little of Gavin's enthusiasm.

  "What color do you want?" Gavin asked pointing to the screen of the laptop.

  Walking closer, I could see there were pictures of six laptops all the same except for the color. I wanted the silver until I saw a dark black-purple. "That one, please."

  "Oh, a very nice choice," The man cooed. Yuck!

  "What color do you think Kayin would like?"

  "Oh, you're getting two?" The man trembled in excitement. Yuck again!

  "The lime-green one,” Bright colors looked wonderful against his dark skin, and Kayin always wore bright colors.

  "Okay," Gavin said. "Now we need cameras and cell phones."

  "No, problem, in fact we have several of each that are proprietary to these machines, and come in the same colors." The man ushered us to where the cameras and phones were on display. "You must be very excited to get all these cutting-edge items."

  I wanted to glare at the salesman, but remembering Anali's and my mom's words, I held it in. "My uncle is very generous; I don't know that I need all of this."

  "It's not always about need," Gavin chanted. I had a feeling I'd hear that a lot today.

  "You'll also want covers for everything, to protect them from being scratched and broken."

  Taking a breath I took a chance, my stomach fluttering nervously. "Gavin, could we go to Japan Town to get mine?"

  "Sure," Gavin beamed. "Maybe I should let Kayin pick out his own covers too? I'll ask him on Monday when I see him."

  "Okay. Well, let's go ring everything up, and I'll activate the cell phones," the salesman said, his plastic smile never fading.

  This time I hunted through the music selection while Gavin filled out paperwork and paid.

  "Why don't you pick out some CDs?" Gavin suggested while waiting for what's-his-name to set up the phones.

  "No, thanks, with all the traveling we're going to do I don't need to have the extra stuff."

  "You can always buy music and movies on iTunes," the salesman suggested. "That way you can download directly onto her computer and iPhone without the clutter. We sell gift cards for it." He added pointing to the rack next to the register.

  Gavin grinned at me and plucked two cards from the rack. I wasn't sure that I needed a hundred dollars’ worth of music, but kept my mouth shut. I couldn't imagine being able to spend money as freely as Gavin did. Even Melanie, who loves to shop, was careful not to go overboard, and stayed within her budget.

  "Let's go," Gavin called, holding out a bag to me. "We'll go to Japan Town first, then have lunch and see what else we need."

  "It sounds like fun," I answered honestly. I loved anime and the cute gothic Japanese clothes and accessories.