Years ago, there use to be a mall, that became a regular haunt.
I can still recall having many wonderful dinners at a fabulous restaurant there.
The flower shop with the little oriental sister owners. They were so much fun to deal with.
Naturally there was the infamous "dollar " store. Great deals to be had at a fraction of today's prices.
But the place dearest to me heart, was the Afro-American wig shop.
I had been in the place a time or two, and so, knowing the owner's name I decided to have a go.
Oh, sure, the mall had a security patrol, and honestly at that period in time, There is no doubt,
a crossdresser would have been shown off the property.
Malls, are always good at falling back on that "Private property" phrase, to get rid of
undesirables....and for sure, Crossdressers, we're that and then some.
*
I arrived at the mall parking, checked the rear view mirror in the car,
The lipstick....hum smack, smack almost sexy. The hair..well I'd washed it the day before,
and it was still quite a wild sight. Dark, Long and bushy, as was the style for the hippy generation.
So away I go,
stepping out onto the concrete park garage floor.
My strappy Sandals, and super long legs...this wasn't quite right, but.....
In I go to the stores of the mall, dressed in a short summer dress...
Long hair flying about, in the warm summer breeze.
*
It was quiet at that time of the day, as I looked in the window of the wig shop.
I slipped in and started to browse down a side aisle, making my way to the back of the store.
Rows and rows of strangeness. products lined the shelves, that I'd never heard of.
Then there were the wigs. Dozens of them, mostly mounted high on the walls, on shelving, but not all.
*
It should have been expected but I thought, I was blending in quite well.
A young clerk came up behind me, a startled me ...
"Can I help you?"
"Is Lidia her?" says I.
"Just a moment, I'll find her".
Next thing I saw, was a commotion at the checkout counter.
And there was Lidia, (the owner", almost pushing the youngster, out the store.
"Take you lunch brake now"
The daughter didn't know why as it was mid morning, and why was her mom,
acting so out of character.
**
"Hi, how are you...you look different today" says Lidia.
Looks like I had read the signals right and I could do business, in this shop.
"I'm looking for a new wig. As you can see this one is loosing it's looks.
It didn't take long to identify a similar one,
as I was into the long dark hair with long leggy look
in Strappy heels, in those days.
Then things got serious, and it no longer matter what I was.
Male - Female - queer - straight but kinky - it didn't matter,
this was business ....that business was money !
Now I am cheap. As are most crossdressers.
But in the end, a price was arrived at; however, lidia
wasn't through, showing me products to tame my old wig,
and give it new life.
More discounts for me. I didn't mind at all.
As my purchases were finally in a nice shopping bag,
we had a big hug,
I whisper to her
"Smile were having great fun"
Her response......
"Come back again...and be sure to tell your friends to come and see me"
****
Sadly, Walmart came to town.
they bulldozed the indoor mall to make it into their parking lot
for their super centre. What kind of store, needs 5 acres of parking space?
What I needed,was that restaurant, with the charm and great food.
The Dollar store, with the liquid eye liner for a dollar...
The oriental sisters, in their flower shop....
Lidia and her little wig shop.
