FicWad

Sonic groaned as he and his siblings were marched to the car. “Why do we have to drive an hour to go to a mall?” He whined. “We have a mall near us.”
 “Because this one is bigger.” Aleena said. “Your sister wants to go to the Disney store. The Green Hills mall is the only one close to us that has one.”
 Manic huffed. “Disney stinks.”
 “I know you’re not fond of it.” Aleena said. “But maybe you’ll find something you like in another store. You have your birthday money, you can buy whatever you want.”
 Manic nodded.
 Aleena noticed Sonia holding her one hundred and one Dalmatians toy. “Is that the one that barks?”
 “No, Mother.” Sonia said.
 “Good.” Aleena said. She noticed Sonic and Manic had their Gameboy Colors. “Boys, I don’t want you playing those the whole time.”
 “It’ll keep them quiet.” Brenden said. He opened the car door. “Boys, you know the rules.”
 “We cut the sound off while in the car.” Manic and Sonic replied. 
 “Good boys.” Brenden said.
 *
 Ten minutes into the car ride, the batteries in the Gameboys died.
 “Dad, our batteries died.” Sonic said.
 “Well, did you bring any batteries?” Brenden asked. 
 “No, we need to turn around and get ‘em.” Manic replied.
 “No, you don’t and we’re not turning around anyway.” Brenden said.
 “Then what’re we gonna do?” Sonic whined.
 “Play I spy.” Brenden replied. “Talk, play any simple game. You don’t have to be entertained with tv or video games all the time, boys.”
 “We can play the circle game.” Manic said.
 “Okay.” Sonic replied.
 Aleena looked at Brenden. “Hon?”
 “They’re quiet, aren’t they?” Brenden asked.
 Aleena sighed. “I swear, it’s like I have four kids instead of three.”
 Manic punched Sonic in the arm.
 “Ow!” Sonic cried. “Dude, the spikes on your wristbands hurt.”
 “Boys, don’t be so rough.” Aleena scolded.
 Brenden smirked. “I thought you didn’t want them to play that.”
 “As bad as I hate to say it, I’d rather them play that then hear ‘I’m bored’ or ‘are we there yet’ a thousand times.” Aleena said.

*
 Aleena and Brenden walked the triplets into the mall.
 Sonic occasionally tried to drag his parents along while Manic and Sonia looked around at the various stores.
 “So where’s the Disney store?” Sonia asked.
 The family stopped at the Mall directory kiosk.
 “Uh… bottom floor.” Aleena said. “Oh, and there’s a Warner Bros. store near it.”
 Manic looked at Aleena. “Wakko and Yakko run a store?” He asked. “You think they’re in the store today?”
 Aleena tried not to laugh. “Sweetie, they’re cartoons; they’re not real.” She replied. “The company that makes the show owns the store, so I’m sure they’ll have a lot of Animaniacs stuff.”
 “Look, there’s a train.” Sonic said, pointing to a little train ride rolling by them.
 “After we go into the store.” Aleena said as the family headed to the escalator. “Then, we’ll have lunch and you can ride the train after that.”
 Manic clung to Aleena’s leg as they got closer to the escalator.
 “What’s wrong?” Aleena asked. “It’s just a moving staircase.”
 “But what if my shoe gets caught in it?” Manic said. “It’ll pull me in.”
 Aleena furrowed her brow. “Where did you get that from?”
 “When you thought I was asleep and were watching Rescue 911.” Manic said.
 “Okay, then we can take the elevator.” Aleena replied.
 “No.” Sonia protested. “It could crash like in RoboCop.”
 Aleena looked at Brenden.
 “There isn’t a scene like that in any of the RoboCop movies.” Brenden replied.
 “But it’s in the tv show.” Sonia said.
 “The show is pretty much a kid’s show, Aleena.” Brenden said. “I can tolerate watching it with Manic, but that’s it.”
 “So what do we do?” Aleena asked.
 Brenden picked up Sonic and Manic. “This.” He said, getting on the escalator.
 Aleena picked up Sonia and got on the escalator.

 *
 Sonia pointed out the glittery flooring as the family walked into the Disney store. “That’s so pretty.”
 Aleena nodded. “Yeah, but you’re missing the really cool stuff.” She replied. “Look up.”
 The triplets stood wide-eyed at the store.
 Statues of various Disney characters were along the side walls, the most impressive one was Dumbo on a moving diving board mounted over the checkout desk.
 Statues of the Aristocats perched on a piano  in one window while the other window featured the kittens painting to promote the movie’s re-release on VHS.
 On the back wall was a tiered podium of stuffed animals with a movie theater sized tv screen showing clips from several Disney films.
 A Dumbo bubble machine blew bubbles from the shelf it was on.
 Aleena nudged the triplets. “Come on, let’s look around.”
 Sonia hurried to the stuffed animal podium while Manic and Sonic slowly followed her, too mesmerized by the decorations.
 Sonia picked out a One hundred and one Dalmatians beanie baby and plushies of the Aristocats kittens in their basket before the family left the store.
*
 Manic practically dragged his family to the Warner Bros. store.  
 Outside the doors was a large statue of Bugs Bunny eating a carrot. 
 Pictures of the Looney Tunes characters and Batman lined the walls.
 Manic pointed to a small display of the Animaniacs. “Look!”
 “Indoor voice, sweetie.” Aleena said, walking Manic over to the display while the rest of the family looked at the Looney Tunes plushies.
 Manic picked up a Wakko beanie baby and an Animaniacs T-shirt.
 “That’s what you want?” Aleena asked. “You don’t want anything from the Looney Tunes?”
 Manic shook his head.
 Brenden walked Sonic and Sonia over.
 Sonia had found herself a Lola Bunny plushie while Sonic had a Space Jam Jersey and a Batman shirt. 
 Sonic picked up a Yakko beanie baby.
 Sonia picked up a Dot beanie baby. “Ooh, they have Dot!”
 “Sonia, you only have enough money for one more thing.” Brendan said.
 “You already have a Dot plushie that you bought at a yard sale.” Aleena replied.
 Sonia nodded and put Dot back.
 “Okay, boys, is that everything?” Aleena asked.
 “Yeah, Ma, I’m gonna save the rest of my money.” Manic replied.
 “Same here.” Sonic said.
 “Okay, then let’s get something to eat.” Aleena replied.
 *
 The family headed to the food court.
 “I want pizza.” Manic said.
 “Me too.” Sonia said. 
 “Eh, but I don’t like Sbarro’s.” Sonic said.
 Brenden looked at Aleena. “You want to take them to Pizza Hut?” He asked. “I wouldn’t mind getting a stuffed crust pizza.”
 “Sounds good, I like their salad bar.” Aleena replied.
 “Okay, kids, you can ride the train.” Brenden said. “Then, we’ll leave.”
 The family walked over to the queue for the train.
 Maria, Shadow, and Gerald happened to be in line.
 “Hey, I didn’t expect to bump into you all.” Maria said, smiling. “Are you all here to spend your birthday money?”
 The triplets happily showed their purchases to Maria. 
 “Aww, those are great choices.” Maria replied. “Shadow got a Space Jam jersey too. Whose number did you get, Sonic?”
 “Michael Jordan’s.” Sonic said.
 “That’s what Shadow got too.” Maria replied. “You two can be jersey twins.”
 Shadow groaned.
 “Maria, do you mind if the kids sit with you and Shadow?” Aleena asked.
 “Of course not.” Maria replied.
 Sonia squealed. “I get to sit beside Shadow.”
 Shadow’s face turned red.
 Manic and Sonic started giggling.
 Shadow crossed his arms. “If you two say a word, I’m gonna-”
 “Be in serious trouble when you get home.” Gerald said.
 Shadow sighed.
 “Boys, don’t tease them.” Aleena said.
 The triplets, Shadow, and Maria finally made it to the front and got on the train while Gerald, Aleena, and Brenden waited on a nearby bench near the fountain.
 Shadow pouted the entire train ride around the upper level of the mall while Sonia tried to hold Shadow’s hand.
 Sonic and Manic just fidgeted in their seats as they looked out the windows of their train car.
 Manic pointed to a Sam Goody. “Think Ma will let us go in there?”
 “Nah.” Sonic said. “She dragged us out last time ‘cause she said the music was in… inap….”
 “Inappropriate.” Maria said. “It wasn’t like… uh… it wasn’t for little kids.”
 Manic and Sonic nodded.
 *
 The family stood at the please wait to be seated sign. 
 Manic pointed out the jukebox. “Can I- oh, it’s out of order.”
 Finally, a Mobian sheep waitress led them back to their table, a corner booth under the “there’s always time for pizza” clock.
 Manic glanced at the salad bar. “Can I get a salad too?”
 “You mean you want a little salad with your mountain of cheese?” Brenden asked.
 Manic sighed. “Yes, it’s not that funny.”
 “Okay, but don’t get too much cheese.” Brenden said. “We’re getting garlic bread and a stuffed crust pizza.”
 “What’s that?” Sonic asked.
 “They have cheese inside the crust.” Brenden replied.
 Manic’s eyes widened. “It does? Cool!”
 *
 The family got ready to leave Pizza Hut.
 Brenden snapped his fingers. “We have to call Uncle Chuck.”
 “Let me do it.” Manic said. “Please?”
 Brenden picked up Manic. “Okay, let’s call him.” He said. “Aleena, you can take the kids outside, we’ll meet up with you in a minute.”
 Brenden put in a few coins and called Uncle Chuck. “Okay, Manic, just tell him we’re on our way home as soon as we stop at the gas station and he can let himself in the house.” He said, handing the receiver to Manic.
 “Kay.” Manic replied.
 “Hello?” Uncle Chuck asked.
 “Hey, Unc.” Manic replied. “We’re on our way home now. You can let yourself into our house if you get there before we do.”
 “Sounds good, Manic.” Uncle Chuck said. “You all be safe out there.”
 “You too, bye, Unc.” Manic replied.
 Brenden hung up the phone. “Alright, let’s go.”
*
 Brenden got back into the car.
 “What took you so long?” Sonic whined.
 Brenden handed a paper bag to Sonia. “I bought you a little something.”
 Sonia opened the bag and smiled. “Snoopy ice cream bars!” She exclaimed. She handed her brothers two of the bars each and kept the last one.
 “Thanks, Dad.” The triplets said.
 Brenden started the car. “You’re welcome.” He replied. “Okay, let’s go home.”
*
 After finishing their ice creams, the triplets fell asleep.
 “Well, it wasn’t too bad.” Aleena said. She glanced back at the triplets. “I could use a nap myself.”
 “Go ahead, I’ll wake you up when we get home.” Brenden replied.
 Aleena settled back in her seat and quickly fell asleep.