Flip-flops were new to me, any sandals I had tried before always had piece which secured it against the heel and an ankle strap, these were distinctly feminine. At least they weren’t the type with just a single thin strap which had to be gripped between the toes, theses thankfully had a broader strap with sheathed the end of my foot, meaning I could slip them on without having to take off my socks.

When I tried walking in them they slipped off my feet, defiantly too big but I got the hang of it after trying to keep my toes up as I walked.

I thought it was kind of funny the way the soles of the shoes, would fall and then slap to my heels as I walked depending on the angle of my feet.

I wore a smile as I waited for Colette to get ready.

(No worries. I'll just keep an eye out.)

Colette rushed through her preparations, getting her shoes, her purse, and then running to the laundry room to move the sheets into the dryer. She didn't bother with a new load, she probably wouldn't be home for a while.

It occured to her that they would probably end up with quite allot to carry, but they'd deal with that later.

Returning to living room and putting on her white hat, Colette took Jo's hand and led her outside. She locked the door and then led Jo down the path to the small town market. "We've got allot to do, but I think you'll enjoy it. Never met a girl who didn't like to shop. I know this is a rough situation, but I'll try to make the most of it, and hopefully we'll have a fun day." Colette smiled, in spite of all the problems, she was kind of glad to know that Jo would be staying with her longer.

I was impatient to get going as Colette rushed around the house getting herself ready, this was a chance for me to actually get my bearings and find out where abouts in the village I was staying. It was also a chance for me to actually see more of the village, whilst I'd been staying here as a tourist I had mostly thought to explore the valley itself neglecting the village which had offered it hospitality.
I wondered if I would be able to find the hostel I'd been staying at, if I could then I'd be able to prove my name because it would be on the register. They might even let me back into the room I'd be using for some of my stuff. The dumb policeman would have to believe me then.

I thought Colette looked pretty with a Summer hat and I liked how the sun brightened her curling brown hair but I was puzzled by the way she kept watching me. What was she thinking? Oh well, she seemed happy and enthusiastic, so for the time being, despite the awful day so far, so was I. It was good to be outside after all.

The walk to the town was pretty uneventful. It wasn't long before they were in the center of the towns market area. The town was relatively small, there was a store that specialized in local produce, a general store (largest one in town) with other foodstuffs and items ranging from cleaning products to small electronics, the gas station which housed the local mechanic, the hostel, and then there was Ines's Store.

Ines was the latest in a long line of local seamstresses. For generations her family produced most of the towns clothes. Now the town was to big for her to do it all herself, so she had compensated in an unusual fashion. Half her store now contained brand name clothes of the type you found at a department store. Apparently one of the clothing chain stores in the big city had contracted with her to act as their outlet in the small village. The rest of the store contained several samples of her work along with fabrics for the customer to choose from. Her handmade clothes were now made on order only, but she usually had them done very quickly.

Colette had never heard of such an arrangement, but it apparanly worked for Ines. Colette had actually worked in the store during the summer back when she had been going to school, before becomming a teacher. She liked Ines, the middle aged women had a warm nature. Come to think of it, Madeline, Ines's daughter was about Jo's age. Colette thought this might be an intesting day.

"We'll be going there first Jo, you need more clothes, shoes especially. Ines will get that all settled quickly." Colette pointed out the large store to her charge as she started to lead her towards the entrance.

I was mildly disappointed as we walked past the delectations, I hungered at the displays of local... and to my eyes excitingly exotic... foodstuffs all beautifully and affectionately arrayed. It all looked fresh as well, it was far more appealing than anything you might find in a supermarket. However Colette seemed to have a fixed destination in mind, so I was lead past the local produce store before the saliva building in my mouth had a chance to spill as drool.

The shop we did end up at was clothes store. I had never been particularly interested in cloth shopping but I realised this made allot of practical sense. It had probably been through luck alone that Colette had been able to outfit me appropriately today, tomorrow could have been a completely different ball game.
It felt a little disheartening to be thinking about having to think of a future in the foreign body, I wanted my own body back, but if I was ever going to achieve that goal, then I was going to have to face up to the situation. For now it seemed I was stuck this way. I was simply fortunate beyond all hopes to have someone as ingenious and kind and Colette getting me through it.

At first I didn't notice what was unusual about the clothes shop. It was on the small side perhaps, as was to be expected of available ground space in old village buildings, but the displays had all seemed as commercial as any other high street. I didn't recognise the branding, but even I could tell that the range was all branded.
That was until we ventured to the rear of the shop, where a few mannequins stood clothed apart, in garments which were of distinctly better craftsmanship and genuinely caught the eye with there bright and interesting designs. There was a definite sense of specialness about this part of the shop, I could almost feel a sense of occasion. My eyes wondered.

Colette smiled. She liked this place. She had considered going to the shoe section first, then decided that instead she would talk to Inez directly. The matronly women would be offended if she didn't greet her promptly. So she took Jo strait to the back and rapped on one of the doors which she knew lead to Inez's office.

"Mrs. Inez, its Colette, I need your with somthing. Are you there."

Mrs. Inez glanced up from her sowing machine. She disliked being interupted in the middle of working, one of the reasons she found it easier to work during the night but once she recognised Colette's voice, a young woman who once did some work for her, she no longer minded and swtiched off the device.

"Ah Colette how wonderful to see you!" the middleaged woman with the beginings of silver streaks in her soft auburn hair, held out her arms for a friendly embrace. She was however, still wearing her apron, several very sharp needles were currently pinned through the fabric for conventant reach, though potentially pointed to give Colette a painful supprise.
Mrs. Inex droped her hands to withdrew from the hug for Colette's benefit, indicating the reason with a sheepish smile.

"What can I do for you my dear?"
Her curiosity was peaked by the young teenage girl floating near to Colette's movements. The green dress seemed familar, perhaps she remembered it from when her mother ran the shop.

"Mmrph!" Those needles were sharp! Hugs were supposed to be nice things. Colette gave herslef a quick shake, then resumed her normal smiley disposition. She was meeting with an old friend, and she was going to buy clothes.

"I'm glad to see you to Inez. I've got a bit of a situation. This is Jo." She indicated the girl standing behind her. "She is unexpectedly staying with me, and she hasn't got any clothes. I've been making due with some of my old stuff, but I don't have enough. I don't even have a bra in her size. We need to get at least a basic wardrobe going quickly. And you're always so good at getting people things they look good in" Colette figured a little flattery might not hurt. Inez's help would get things done faster than if she did it alone. "I was hoping that for today I could get her some shoes and basic clothes off the rack." Colette hesitated. The next request would cost some more money, and was more than strictly neccesary. But she wanted to do it. "And then I'd like to see about ordering her a couple of your hand made dresses." Expensive or not, the child would look stunning in Inez's handiwork.

Mrs. Inez brow furrowed. How could the girl have no clothes? She wondered what the relationship between the two was? They couldn't have been close family or she was pretty sure she would have known the girl already, perhaps a visiting cousin?
The worry lines around her eyes deepened as she continued to listen to Colette's plight.
"Oh my my, well we'll sort the poor dear out shall we? Why don't you go and find some clothes in the store while I take Jo's measurements for dressmaking?"
The proposal had excited Mrs. Inez. Jo was a naturally pretty sort of girl, she would probably grow into a beautiful young woman, dress idea were already forming in Mrs. Inez imagination.
"You wait here pet. I just need to get my measuring tapes."
Mrs. Inez momentarily retreated back into her office.

...

I felt awkward as Colette talked to her friend. I could hear them speaking my name and their eyes kept falling on my. Perhaps I shouldn't have been shocked when the seamstress emerged from her office and began wrapping measuring tape around my body, muttering to herself in French. I looked for Colette to try and indicate if I was supposed to be allowing this? but sadly she was gone.
I felt the skirt of my dress being lifted and immediately pushed it back down. But the seamstress slapped my hands lightly. I felt my face burn at the idea of this happening in public. At least it was the back of the shop where it was quiet.

...

"Jo. I need to lift your dress so I can take your hip measurements accurately. Don't be embarrassed." Mrs Inez gently coaxed the girl until her grip on the hem of her skirt relented.

Mrs. Inez betrayed a faint gasp of surprise.

"Jo? Do you need to use the toilet dear?"
There was a small damp spot in the middle of the girls pastel purple panties.
The girl however didn't answer her, she just looked confused and anxious.

"Just wait here please dear. I'll go find Colette."

(I was thinking of editing this post. Do you think it's abit too soon for Jo to be having another accident? It's only meant to be small but still maybe too soon.)

(works fine with me)

Colette walked around the store, grabbing a basket to fill with some of the basic dresses. Two sundresses, one blue and yellow, and red skirt with a matching red and white blouse went into the basket. She also grabbed a package of pastel panties in Jo's size, but held off on bra's until she got a precise measurement from Inez. She avoided shoes for the same reason, those would require the girl to try them on first, but she did grab a package of lace topped socks. Colette also avoided the girls shorts and pants. It wasn't that she thought it was wrong for women to wear pants, but to her girls just looked better in skirts. She was considering a green mid length dress when she saw Inez approaching her.

"Hello again Inez, you looked troubled, somthing wrong"

...

Madeline grumbled as she approached her mothers store. Normally babysitting the twins was fun, the eight year old girls were cute, friendly, cuddly, and easy to keep under control now that Madeline knew all their ticklish spots. But she'd hated getting up early. Her mother had gotten a call at five in the morning from the little girls parents, saying they needed to go into the city to see a sick relative at the hospital. And her mother had agreed that Madeline would babysit, and that no they wouldn't need to pay extra for the inconvience, without asking Madeline first. Again. She really wished her mother would stop doing that.

The twins were both bedwetters, and their parents made them wear hand stitched diapers which they bought from her mother. Diaper of the same kind that Madeline had worn herself when she'd been her size. She was pleased to note that, unlike the other times she'd helped the twins with their infantile nightware, it didn't bother her anymore.

Still she was relieved when the girls mother finally returned home. The relative was out of danger, but the father was staying with him for awhile. She'd agreed to come back that evening when the mother went to pick him up. Till then the day was free, provided her mother didn't need her help at the shop. Oh she hoped that her mother didn't need her, there was a TV special she wanted to see at three, and a book she'd been meaning to finish on her bedside table.

Madeline entered the shop through the back entrance, which connected the shop to the families home. She walked into the back section of the store, intending to go to her mothers office, when she saw a strange girl standing in the measuring area. The girl had black hair, blue eyes and was possibly the most beautiful girl the freckled redhead had ever seen.

"I've seen you before. My name's Madeline, my mom runs this place. What's your name?"