‘New Designs – Brie’s Bikinis. On Racks Now’

Rhia looked at the display board outside the swanky store and stopped short. Her arms were aching from the weight of the shopping bags she was already carrying. She bit her lip, wondering if one more wouldn’t be too many. Should she come next week? But would the stocks last till then?

How would her thrifty husband react at the sight of the many shopping bags? Would he be upset at her for spending so much? Or would he excited that she was finally considering taking up some form of exercise? It would probably be the former. Especially since another exercise that was less expensive, and one he was likely to favour more, was brisk walking.

‘Baby, you could have chosen walking as an exercise instead. That would have been less expensive, no?’ He would cluck his tongue. You want to lose weight or you wish to show off your flab, he’d say.

She was just about to walk away when the shop assistant spotted her and smiled. Waved to her, the young, petite girl, welcomed her in. Rhia’s resolve to not spend anymore wavered. She caught sight of the display window. A wafer-thin mannequin dressed in a beautiful swimsuit – a black bodice with criss-crossing waves of various hues of blue and green across its front – caught her eye.

She spotted her favourite coffee shop and walked off in the direction of sinful indulgence. It was time for a chilled chocolate shake topped with caramel and whipped cream. Shopping was just as strenuous an activity. 

Rhia finished her meal and went back to the sports store.

Twenty minutes later, Rhia walked out with two extra bags – one with all the accessories for swimming and the other for brisk walking. Now both were equally expensive, she smirked. Real choice was not having to choose, right?