Page 54 of Meeting Mr. Adorkable
Lucian swallowed, as Bibi added further branches to the suit tree. This was going to cost him, and he’d be dipping into the allowance his mum insisted on depositing into his bank account each month. But this was all for Arlo, so whether it cost the earth, moon, sun, and stars, it didn’t matter.
Bibi led the way and, he followed, a chick trailing after his mother hen, not to one of the big department stores as he’d expected, but to a small place that would have been easy to walk past. As they opened the door, a thin, dapper man looked up from behind a counter.
“Hi. My friend’s attending an important function this evening and he needs something suitable to wear.”
Mr. Dapper nodded. “I’m sure we can help. How formal’s the occasion? Are you thinking a suit, or smart jacket and pants?”
Bibi quirked her head, and looked from Mr. Dapper to Lucian, and back again.
“It’s a showing at a gallery, but I think my friend would look good in a suit. Navy blue, lightweight wool. Slim fitting.” Bibi counted out the requirements on her fingers.
“Excuse me? I prefer slate gray.” He was going to be wearing and paying for it, which gave him some skin in the game. Allegedly.
The salesman and Bibi turned to look at him, both with near identical pained expressions on their faces.
“The young lady’s correct.” Mr. Dapper said. “We can certainly put something together that strikes the right note. And navy blue will be perfect. It would make the most of your coloring and your eyes. Or what I can see of them.”
Lucian pushed his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose.
They were shown into a large backroom with rail upon rail of jackets and pants in all different colors and shades.
Mr. Dapper pursed his lips as he looked Lucian up and down, before he plucked a jacket from one rail and a pair of pants from another.
“If the young lady would take a seat, you can come with me.” Mr. Dapper ushered Lucian into a changing room.
Lucian threw up a prayer of thanks he’d remembered to put on a new pair of boxers and a dark pair of socks that didn’t have any holes as Mr. Dapper ordered him to discard his well-worn jeans and the T-shirt which bore the marks of his tussle with that morning’s breakfast toast and peanut butter. The stiff, white stain near the hem was of a more dubious origin which, Lucian hoped, his face burning, wasn’t from when Arlo had needed some last-minute tension release.
”Excellent fit,” Mr. Dapper muttered, as he turned Lucian this way, then that, tugging on the pants, checking the waistband, tweaking the jacket, pulling on the sleeves.
Mr. Dapper nodded, and placed his hands on his hips, before he flung open the changing room door. Dah-da, Lucian expected him to say, as he was presented for Bibi’s inspection.
“Oh my goodness,” she gasped.
Mr. Dapper inclined his head. “Normally, I’d recommend trying on several combinations, but in this case…”
“No, that’s it. That’s absolutely perfect. Luci, you are going to be the belle of the ball!”
“It’s not a ball…” But neither Bibi nor Mr. Dapper took any notice as they exclaimed over the perfect fit, so good it might have been made for him.
“You’re going to need a shirt. You stock them, right?” Bibi looked at Mr. Dapper, who smiled.
This was something Lucian didn’t need to buy.
“I’ve got a good shirt, I don’t need—”
Bibi huffed. “l’ve seen your so-called good shirt. A gray and white pin-stripe. It makes you look like an insurance salesman.” Mr. Dapper, standing next to Bibi, shuddered.
“Pale blue, or maybe pink. The palest of pale, though,” Bibi said, looking Lucian up and down.
“The palest of blue, so pale it’s barely a hint, would work best.” Mr. Dapper beamed.
“If I’m going to be forced into buying a new shirt, a white one would be…”
Bibi’s and Mr. Dapper’s withering stares stole away the rest of Lucian’s protest. They’d defeated him and he might as well accept his fate.
“What about a necktie? Rich magenta would be a good choice,” Mr. Dapper suggested.
“If this was for a wedding, I’d agree, but I think the overall look should be a little looser and not quite so structured.”
