{"sf1_id":135492,"sf2_id":"4nA5L6Vn","title":"C.C.S.","author":"Tagenar","words":4032,"posted_at":"2010-03-31T00:20:00.000Z","tags":["Anal","Dinosaur","Fox","M/M","Musk","Oral"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/135492-c-c-s","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/4nA5L6Vn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/de/e7/dee771db-2d5c-4d16-b2f3-7c1ba22540f7","description":"","content":"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"C.C.S.\"\n\nby Tagenar\n\nCopyright 2010\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov was convinced that malls were exclusively indoor outlets for clothing stores.\u0026nbsp; Overpriced, overhyped clothing stores-the kind where the founders obviously put more thought into the logo than the inventory.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; How do they stay in business? thought the saurian as he walked with the crowd.\u0026nbsp; Where he came from, there were no such frivolous businesses.\u0026nbsp; A business existed to provide a useful product or service, not to deceive people into buying an inferior brand that is perceived as superior only by its image.\u0026nbsp; On Grov's world, your product was either good, or it wasn't.\u0026nbsp; But on this world, it seemed to be the way to do business, which fascinated Grov.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His girlfriend, Stace, walked by his side, and her friends and their boyfriends surrounded them.\u0026nbsp; They moved through the mall as one, walked into stores as one, and left as one.\u0026nbsp; A mixed group of fur with him being the only scale, and the only foreigner.\u0026nbsp; Stace was a wolf, probably attracted to him only because he was different and not very much for him personally.\u0026nbsp; He didn't mind.\u0026nbsp; Sex with a canine was even better than his friends back home had joked about.\u0026nbsp; Grov felt lucky to be accepted as an exchange student; the education after school was worth leaving everything a thousand light years behind.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The mall was actually a boring place to be.\u0026nbsp; It hadn't always been.\u0026nbsp; A few short years ago it had been full of toy stores, electronics stores, novelty shops, cool little science-themed stores he always loved.\u0026nbsp; All gone.\u0026nbsp; The lack of anything interesting meant he wandered around for hours lost in thought and nothing would distract him.\u0026nbsp; He got the feeling that the other boyfriends felt more or less the same way.\u0026nbsp; Just tagging along with their girlfriends to clothing store after clothing store after fragrance shop after scarf outlet.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Yes, they were in a scarf outlet.\u0026nbsp; Scarf.\u0026nbsp; Outlet.\u0026nbsp; Grov never thought he'd use those two words together, but here was the pinnacle of triviality.\u0026nbsp; Stace pulled nearly invisible pieces of fabric off hooks and shelves, flailed them around, threw them around her neck and looked at herself in the mirror.\u0026nbsp; The other girls compared scarves, tried them on each other, laughed, tried scarves on their boyfriends for wags.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov shook his head as he looked at himself in the mirror wearing a black scarf made of cotton mesh.\u0026nbsp; His girlfriend insisted the black went well with his rusty scales.\u0026nbsp; Grov didn't see the point in clothing period.\u0026nbsp; He wore a shirt and shorts to fit in with the locals, but in his case it was needless.\u0026nbsp; He had no visible parts to cover up, and the climate around here was so warm he wondered why anyone bothered.\u0026nbsp; Grov looked at the price tag attached to the nearly invisible piece of fabric.\u0026nbsp; He could book a trip back to his homeworld for about the same cost.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov just now realized that the entire clothing business was frivolous.\u0026nbsp; The only way it could survive was to convince everyone that it was socially unacceptable not to cover the body, even though it was already covered.\u0026nbsp; Now the big question: conspiracy, or stupidity?\u0026nbsp; He'd have to write his college thesis on that topic next year.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov side glanced at one of the other boyfriends, a spotted rat, also wearing a black scarf and looking at himself in the mirror.\u0026nbsp; He didn't know his name, but his girl was named Holly.\u0026nbsp; The rat glanced at Grov, and shook his head imperceptibly at the saurian.\u0026nbsp; Grov nodded.\u0026nbsp; Another thing that absolutely fascinated him was how much other species had in common.\u0026nbsp; Some things were universally felt, and none was more universal than the gender gap.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After another twenty minutes they left the scarf outlet and wandered around the mall as a group.\u0026nbsp; Who was leading them?\u0026nbsp; None of the girls were, and their boyfriends were just following.\u0026nbsp; Was it instinct?\u0026nbsp; Impulse?\u0026nbsp; Radio waves?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; They stopped in three shops that carried nothing but hats, two that carried nothing but underwear, one that specialized in high-priced vests.\u0026nbsp; \"inVesTment.\"\u0026nbsp; This last store was geared at males, but it was the girls that dragged their boyfriends inside.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Inside inVesTment, Stace tried several vests on Grov.\u0026nbsp; He thought he looked ridiculous.\u0026nbsp; What was the point of a vest?\u0026nbsp; It failed in every possible function of a coat, yet an entire store was devoted to them.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After an hour of it, Grov wanted to go home.\u0026nbsp; The longer Grov was in this mall the more he wondered if there was a such thing as a useful store these days.\u0026nbsp; Why had he come here in the first place?\u0026nbsp; He'd done this a dozen times and it was always the same, especially at this mall.\u0026nbsp; Then Grov looked away from the mirror and found Stace.\u0026nbsp; She was helping a female skunk try a vest on her semi-willing boyfriend.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Girls always complained that their boyfriends never showed them how much they care.\u0026nbsp; They never noticed that their boyfriends went with them to places they'd rather not go, doing things they couldn't care less about, all just to spend time with them.\u0026nbsp; His species didn't smile per se, but he'd gotten better at imitating the expression since he arrived at the start of high school.\u0026nbsp; He smiled now in his own way.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; They finally left inVesTment and wandered around to various other specialty shops.\u0026nbsp; The group meandered into the food court, and they sat together, boyfriends clinging to girlfriends as they pretended to participate in conversation.\u0026nbsp; Pair by pair they broke away for a bite to eat.\u0026nbsp; Grov was hungry, but first...\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Be back,\" he told Stace.\u0026nbsp; \"Bathroom.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You want me to order your usual?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, sure.\"\u0026nbsp; He reached into his pocket and handed her a few bills.\u0026nbsp; Paper currency was also a novelty for him, but over the years he'd come to take it for granted.\u0026nbsp; \"Thanks, Stace.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She nodded, tail swaying, and turned around and followed two of her friends.\u0026nbsp; Grov flash-fantasized about all the things he would do to that ass tonight, then walked out of the food court to the bathroom.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He quickly relieved himself, then stepped back out into the murmur and clicking footsteps of shoppers.\u0026nbsp; Directly in front of him was an unfamiliar storefront.\u0026nbsp; _C.C.S._ read the small sign over its door.\u0026nbsp; No even a proper sign; it looked like the letters had been salvaged from the signs of other failed shops that left the mall recently.\u0026nbsp; Grov recognized the C from Cinder (a failed underwear store), and the S from Lumens (a candle store that left the mall last year).\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The store was deserted, and a lone fox was standing behind the counter, discreetly reading a magazine.\u0026nbsp; Other than the counter, and a curtain behind him, the store was completely empty.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Puzzled, Grov glanced at the food court.\u0026nbsp; Stace was not back at the table, so she was in line still.\u0026nbsp; Grov walked across the floor, dodging traffic in both directions and stepped inside the store.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The store had no decorations on the walls, no music playing, no shelves, nothing on the countertop except the magazine; and yet the fox was wearing a dress shirt and slacks with a tie.\u0026nbsp; The kind of getup you'd expect to see store employees wear in establishments that still called them \"clerks.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Afternoon, sir,\" said the fox.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Uh, afternoon,\" Grov said, looking around for something to look at.\u0026nbsp; There was only the fox.\u0026nbsp; \"What is this place?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox smiled and his tail wagged.\u0026nbsp; \"This is the C.C.S.\u0026nbsp; Custom Condom Shop.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov blinked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Excuse the sparse setup,\" said the fox.\u0026nbsp; \"I only just opened up last week and I haven't had time to decorate or anything.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov blinked again.\u0026nbsp; He was still a mile behind the fox's train of thought.\u0026nbsp; \"Custom Condom Shop?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"That's right,\" said the fox.\u0026nbsp; \"My name is Paul, what's your name?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Grov...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Let me guess.\u0026nbsp; That's not your real name.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"No, nobody on this planet can pronounce my real name, so I go by...\"\u0026nbsp; Grov realized he'd been caught off guard, and he was spitting out anything he was asked to say.\u0026nbsp; \"Wait-\u0026nbsp; Are you serious?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul leaned on the counter.\u0026nbsp; \"I hear that a lot.\u0026nbsp; Let me explain.\u0026nbsp; I've always been taught find a niche and fill it.\u0026nbsp; And I saw there was a need for a personalized product.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov laughed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox only smiled.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You are serious!\" Grov said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You ever try to use a condom, Grov?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, a couple times...\u0026nbsp; And...\u0026nbsp; You're right.\u0026nbsp; It wasn't comfortable...\u0026nbsp; And...\u0026nbsp; Stace wants to use 'em, says it'll be cleaner.\u0026nbsp; I don't understand why, I mean she don't have to worry about me getting her pregnant so...\u0026nbsp; Why am I telling you this?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox gestured broadly.\u0026nbsp; \"The standard condom was designed to be one-style-fits-all, and it's just a tube.\u0026nbsp; Are you shaped like a tube?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The air in here felt strange.\u0026nbsp; Grov panted a little.\u0026nbsp; \"No.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Exactly!\u0026nbsp; Who is?\u0026nbsp; Who designed these things?\u0026nbsp; The idea actually came to us from another planet.\u0026nbsp; Some species who is shaped like that brought the idea to this world, and it didn't change at all.\u0026nbsp; A lot of their ideas came to this world unchanged, but why?\u0026nbsp; Look at all those clothes stores out there.\u0026nbsp; There's an infinite number of sizes and styles and fabrics of everything.\u0026nbsp; They exist for one reason: to try to reach that tiny group of people who will happen to like that size, that style, that color, that pattern, and then get 'em hooked on it.\u0026nbsp; It's mass-produced individualism.\u0026nbsp; We can have an entire store devoted to scarves of all shapes and sizes.\u0026nbsp; Condoms should be just as personal.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov blinked.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm...\u0026nbsp; I actually follow that logic.\u0026nbsp; And that scares me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul smiled and opened a waist-high door in the counter.\u0026nbsp; He gestured to the curtain behind him.\u0026nbsp; \"Would you care for a free sample?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov stared at the fox for a moment.\u0026nbsp; The fox smelled strange, this place made him feel weird, and his head said he should leave, but he figured Stace was probably still ordering.\u0026nbsp; Eh, it was free, and it was the most interesting thing he'd seen all day.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Sure, let's see what you got.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox closed the little door behind Grov, then pulled the curtain slightly aside.\u0026nbsp; Grov crouched under it and stood upright on the other side.\u0026nbsp; The curtain closed.\u0026nbsp; There was nothing here except a door, which led to a storeroom generic to all stores in the mall.\u0026nbsp; No shelves, no tables.\u0026nbsp; The carpet and walls were just as bare as the storefront.\u0026nbsp; Only a chair was against the left wall, with a towel neatly folded in its seat.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Well, where are they?\" Grov said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Where are what?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I thought you said you had as many varieties as the scarf outlet.\"\u0026nbsp; He figured the fox had to keep them behind the curtain because families walked the mall.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox stepped in front of him and smiled.\u0026nbsp; \"I said there should be as many varieties.\u0026nbsp; If they already existed I wouldn't be here.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Come again?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"This is a _custom_ fit.\u0026nbsp; I need to take your measurements.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You...\u0026nbsp; You want me to...?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'll get you a perfect fit.\"\u0026nbsp; Paul smiled warmly and reached out with a hand and placed it on Grov's chest.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov froze.\u0026nbsp; This place wasn't what he expected...but for some reason it didn't feel unusual.\u0026nbsp; The air in here.\u0026nbsp; It must be the air in here.\u0026nbsp; He was sure it was doing something to him.\u0026nbsp; Now that he was behind a curtain and alone with the fox he was sure it was Paul's scent.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul felt Grov's chest through his shirt.\u0026nbsp; His hand wandered down to his stomach.\u0026nbsp; He was smiling.\u0026nbsp; The scent in the store was getting stronger.\u0026nbsp; It made thinking difficult.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I've never met a saurian before,\" said the fox.\u0026nbsp; \"I always wondered...\u0026nbsp; What race are you?\u0026nbsp; Forgive me, but I can't tell.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'm a...\u0026nbsp; I'm a...\u0026nbsp; uh...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul was pulling his shorts down.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'm ... You'd call me a... a Trex...\u0026nbsp; I think.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Mmmm,\" moaned the fox as he reached under Grov's shirt and felt the bare scales.\u0026nbsp; \"T-rex.\u0026nbsp; And the word is borrowed from another language.\u0026nbsp; We don't' have a word for your kind here.\u0026nbsp; I've never met one before, and I am dying to know your dimensions.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul was feeling his slit at the same time he felt his chest.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah...\u0026nbsp; uh, sure...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov poked out of his slit.\u0026nbsp; At first sight of it the fox held it and rubbed the tip.\u0026nbsp; It slid out even further.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You exercise?\" said the fox as he rubbed.\u0026nbsp; \"You look like you do.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Uh...\u0026nbsp; No...actually, no. \u0026nbsp;My kind is just...just like this.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Ah, so it's not just a rumor.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox had his whole hand over it, stroking it gently back and forth.\u0026nbsp; His other hand had wandered from the chest down to the stomach, and was now reaching around and feeling his rear.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"And this is beautiful,\" said the fox.\u0026nbsp; He gave Grov's member a few squeezes, making sure it was completely hard.\u0026nbsp; \"I can tell you need what I'm selling.\u0026nbsp; Condoms aren't designed to fit over ridges like this.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov barely understood what the fox was talking about his scent was so strong by now.\u0026nbsp; Paul knelt down, opened his muzzle and took the whole thing in one long gulp.\u0026nbsp; Grov gasped and his hips thrust a little.\u0026nbsp; The fox smiled with a full muzzle, closed his eyes and suckled like a puppy.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul turned his head clockwise, counterclockwise, working his tongue over and around the whole length and girth.\u0026nbsp; He purposefully slipped it between every ridge, every nook, felt every vein.\u0026nbsp; Grov couldn't help it; he held the fox by the back of the head and stroked his ears.\u0026nbsp; The fox felt Grov's rear, even giving his tail a feel and a squeeze.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A few minutes later, the fox opened his mouth, unhooked himself from Grov and stood up.\u0026nbsp; Grov stood there, panting and moaning, looking at the fox in total surprise.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I have your measurements,\" said Paul.\u0026nbsp; \"And I gotta say, you're my most interesting client yet!\u0026nbsp; Everything about saurians is rock solid.\u0026nbsp; Your body, your tail.\u0026nbsp; No fluff, no give, just RR\" Paul smacked his fists together, grinning.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov stood there, hard on still sticking out.\u0026nbsp; \"What did you...?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"There's a chair over there, and a towel.\u0026nbsp; Wait there, I'll only be a few minutes.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox turned around, opened the door and disappeared.\u0026nbsp; He shut the door and locked it behind him.\u0026nbsp; Grov remained standing, hard on raging to the open air.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A minute later the air in the room cleared a little, and his brain could string two thoughts together in a row.\u0026nbsp; He looked where Paul had gestured and took a step.\u0026nbsp; His legs caught, and he remembered his shorts were down by his ankles.\u0026nbsp; He pulled them up over his hard on.\u0026nbsp; The shorts did not cover it, just held it in place against his stomach.\u0026nbsp; His legs now free, he walked to the chair, picked up the towel and sat down.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He wiped his member of the saliva.\u0026nbsp; He was tempted to finish, but the air was clearing fast and the hard on was fading with it.\u0026nbsp; He had time to think.\u0026nbsp; Time to question whether or not that just happened.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It reminded him of when doctors gave little children shots.\u0026nbsp; They talked to the kids while they're doing it to distract them from the pain.\u0026nbsp; Paul had done that to him.\u0026nbsp; Gotten him talking to get his mind off what he was doing...\u0026nbsp; Which was...\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Was he just raped?\u0026nbsp; In the mall?\u0026nbsp; With families and little kids walking by?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His head was still a little fuzzy, and the only thought that would stick in his mind right now was _that was the best blowjob I've ever had...and I didn't even finish!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Time passed.\u0026nbsp; Various sounds came from the storeroom.\u0026nbsp; Small machines whirring, computers clicking.\u0026nbsp; Meanwhile his member retreated back into his slit.\u0026nbsp; He didn't quite know what he was waiting for.\u0026nbsp; Something kept him here.\u0026nbsp; Perhaps hope that Paul would do that again.\u0026nbsp; He felt only vaguely guilty getting a blowjob from someone besides Stace, but what the hell, _that_ was worth the tantrum she'd throw.\u0026nbsp; Maybe if he got these two together Paul could teach her how to suck a dick like that.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His mind was cleared up enough for him to consider that his food was getting cold and Stace and the others were probably wondering where he was.\u0026nbsp; Then the door unlocked and swung inward.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul walked in, carrying a single rolled up ring in a paw.\u0026nbsp; He was grinning ear to ear.\u0026nbsp; Grov's head started to fog up again.\u0026nbsp; Suddenly all he could think about throwing his shorts aside and letting the fox work him again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Your design is ready,\" Paul said.\u0026nbsp; \"If you like you can take it home, try it with your girlfriend and if you like it you can come back.\u0026nbsp; I have your pattern on file now so making a box's worth will take less than fifteen minutes.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov snarled and launched himself out of the chair.\u0026nbsp; His member was back out of his slit and already three-quarters hard.\u0026nbsp; He crossed the distance to the door in three strides, snatched the fox up and slammed him against the wall, sprawled out.\u0026nbsp; He panted and growled in Paul's face.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"How did I know?\" Paul said, snickering.\u0026nbsp; \"Put this on first.\u0026nbsp; Blue line up.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov had just barely the presence of mind to understand that.\u0026nbsp; He snatched the thing from Paul's hand, dropped his shorts and placed the ring on his prominent tip.\u0026nbsp; There was a thick, blue line on one side of the rolled ring.\u0026nbsp; Subconsciously he lined it up with the top middle of his shaft and rolled it down.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The condom was warm, and it slid on easier than anything he'd ever tried before.\u0026nbsp; Just the act of wrapping it up was like having sex, and Grov moaned and panted.\u0026nbsp; He waved it around, testing it.\u0026nbsp; It wasn't tight and didn't feel like his ridges were going to poke through it and split the whole thing apart.\u0026nbsp; Grov almost came right then just feeling it.\u0026nbsp; Instead of being stretched taut over his ridges, the condom conformed to them, and to each vein, every crevice, every bump in the flesh.\u0026nbsp; Normal condoms saran-wrapped it.\u0026nbsp; This was a vacuum seal!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He looked up at the fox.\u0026nbsp; Paul had removed his pants, turned around and was braced against the wall.\u0026nbsp; Grov's hard on carried him forward.\u0026nbsp; He held Paul tight around the shoulders and pushed himself under Paul's tail.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul moaned lightly, trying to keep the noise down.\u0026nbsp; Grov kept going, sinking deeper and deeper until he was hilted.\u0026nbsp; When he was in, the fog in his head took over, and Grov plowed him harder than he ever did Stace.\u0026nbsp; He wrapped his arms around the fox and used that as leverage as he thrust long and deep.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul felt the arms that held him.\u0026nbsp; Reached up and felt the neck and back of the body holding him down.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Damn...\" Paul gasped.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov thrusted a few dozen times.\u0026nbsp; Then his fingers unwrapped, and he moved a hand down to Paul's maleness.\u0026nbsp; Grov stroked it up and down, up and down while he thrust the fox fast and hard.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov felt a knot swell.\u0026nbsp; He squeezed it, fascinated.\u0026nbsp; He'd never felt a knot before, and always wanted to ask what it was like, but none of his canine friends would talk about it.\u0026nbsp; The fox reached down, grabbed his pants and held them over his member.\u0026nbsp; He finished in them.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The musk of fox scent now overwhelmed Grov's already fogged mind, and he thrust hard and deep.\u0026nbsp; His body roared and released.\u0026nbsp; Paul held onto Grov's arm as the saurian finished.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fog faded.\u0026nbsp; Grov slowly realized where he was, and what he'd just done, but he was too exhausted to be surprised.\u0026nbsp; He pulled out.\u0026nbsp; The condom was full.\u0026nbsp; It hadn't broken.\u0026nbsp; It was still firmly in place.\u0026nbsp; Paul straightened up, reached into the room beyond the door and took out a trash can.\u0026nbsp; He held it up to Grov.\u0026nbsp; Grov took the hint, slipped the condom off and plopped it in.\u0026nbsp; Paul placed the can behind the door.\u0026nbsp; He tossed the soiled pair of \"clerk\" slacks into the room, pulled a new pair out and closed the door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Both stood there for a moment, panting.\u0026nbsp; Paul still had that professional retail clerk composure, even while his softening hard on dripped on the carpet.\u0026nbsp; He pulled his clean slacks up, straightened his shirt.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov had the presence of mind to pull his shorts up.\u0026nbsp; He looked at Paul.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'm not gay...\" \u0026nbsp;It was the only thing he could think to say.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I know,\" said Paul.\u0026nbsp; \"It's happened with every one of my clients.\u0026nbsp; I'm told my scent is very strong.\u0026nbsp; Makes people do things they wouldn't normally do.\u0026nbsp; And you know how customer service is.\u0026nbsp; People wanna try before they buy.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"How the...?\u0026nbsp; How did you do that?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul laughed.\u0026nbsp; \"My muzzle has a better memory than my brain.\u0026nbsp; I used to blow my friends, and afterwards I'd be able to draw their things in detail.\u0026nbsp; I thought of a way to use the skill.\u0026nbsp; Made a machine, hooked it up to computer art tools.\u0026nbsp; Any design I can draw, I can make.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov stood panting, his head was clearing, but not fast enough to take in all this new information.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Paul leaned back against the wall, smiling warmly.\u0026nbsp; \"So what'd you think?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov swayed a little.\u0026nbsp; He felt off balance.\u0026nbsp; \"How much?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox smiled.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Ten minutes later he walked into the food court carrying a small, unmarked plastic bag.\u0026nbsp; He found the group and sat down next to Stace.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Where the hell have you been?\" she said.\u0026nbsp; \"We've been looking for you for an hour!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Everyone in their group joined in on the question.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I was shopping,\" said Grov, gesturing to the bag.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Your food's cold,\" said Stace.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Still edible.\"\u0026nbsp; He immediately began eating.\u0026nbsp; \"I found this great store we should go to.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What store?\" said the white rat sitting across from him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov eyed him and winked.\u0026nbsp; \"A store for the boys.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Really?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Oh yeah.\u0026nbsp; I think you and Holly should go there first.\u0026nbsp; C.C.S. just around the corner.\"\u0026nbsp; Grov pointed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What do they sell?\u0026nbsp; Will I like it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You'll see.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov took a bite of his food.\u0026nbsp; It was cold, and the appeal was lost on the taste buds, but he was so hungry he didn't care.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Go now,\" he said to the rat.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Now?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Just you and her.\u0026nbsp; Go.\u0026nbsp; The store only services one customer at a time.\"\u0026nbsp; Grov thought about that fox taking the rat's measurements.\u0026nbsp; It made him laugh through his nose while he chewed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I don't get it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"We can't all go there as a group, just one couple at a time.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Why?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"'Cause that's the only way to do customer service right.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The rat shrugged, and he got up.\u0026nbsp; He walked a couple seats over and tapped Holly on the shoulder.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grov chewed and swallowed.\u0026nbsp; Too quick, he knew, but he couldn't slow down.\u0026nbsp; After he swallowed, he smiled.\u0026nbsp; A genuine, local smile.\u0026nbsp; Finally a shop in a mall that deserved to be in business.\n\n  \n  \n\n"}