Emil thought it was a good idea to start with something easy, like a hoodie that was actually Lalli’s size. The moment he got down from the fake palm tree, Lalli got forcibly dragged into the closest store. Which happened to be.. hipstery (not that Emil minded), but blessedly filled with row upon row of hoodies in various colours.
“RIGHTO”, said Emil. “Let’s get down to business.”
He picked up a light blue sweater, XS size, and was about to shove it into Lalli’s hands. Except they were already clutching a similar garment. It was a size L.
“Lalli, noooo... Don’t do this…”
Emil couldn’t believe he had thought, even for a second, that it would be fun to shop with this ridiculous kid.
He held out a size S green hoodie.
“Please try this one on. Please.”
Lalli rummaged through the stack, pulled out a huge black hoodie, and held it in front of himself. Emil didn’t even check the size tag.
“You already have like, TEN black hoodies!” he protested.
Lalli kept holding it before him for several seconds before lowering it, looking confused. Emil put the green hoodie over his friend’s head in exasperation.
“Mr?” came Lalli’s muffled voice.
“What do I do with you…” Emil mumbled as he turned to look for more hoodies that might fit.
He didn’t get very far before his vision was obscured by a dark blue fabric.
“?!?”
He felt Lalli drape another hoodie over his shoulders.
“Oh. It is ON.”
There were more than 20 sweaters on the floor when they finally got thrown out of the shop.
Emil sighed. He wasn’t ready to give up just yet. It wasn’t an official bet he had going on with Tuuri, but it was the next best thing. A challenge. And he was going to prove his worth as Lalli’s keeperbest friend even if he resorted to… H&M. Because that’s where they found themselves next. They were surrounded by garish colours, embarrassing prints, cheap jewellery, even tiaras.
“Why are you holding that tiara.”
Lalli didn’t answer. Instead he went to the nearest mirror and gingerly placed the tiara upon his brow, looking for all the world like a lost princess.
“I’m not buying you a tiara.”
Lalli turned towards him, glass jewels gleaming in the glare of the lamps. He looked… utterly regal. Dammit.
“…Fine. FINE. I’ll get you that tiara, if you 1) don’t breathe a WORD of this to Tuuri, and 2) promise to try –“ he grabbed the nearest hoodie “- this thing on.”
He realized his mistake too late. The hoodie seemed to be the right size, but it was not a plain blue one as he had thought. It was a galaxy print. Well. No turning back now. Who knew, maybe Lalli would look good with a galaxy print. (IT CERTAINLY WASN’T WORSE THAN A TIARA.)
Lalli did, in fact, look good with a galaxy print sweater. Except Emil wasn’t really looking. He was busy covering his face in embarrassment. The plan had been to push Lalli into a changing room, when suddenly – he saw one of his classmates. She was about to turn her head in their direction. Emil did not only push Lalli into the changing room, but scrambled into it as well. He’d been red as a tomato ever since. He couldn’t even pinpoint the reason for that, either – was it about someone from school seeing him in H&M? Was it about being seen shopping with Lalli, who, by the way, was wearing a tiara? Or was it because Lalli by some miracle had understood he had to try the galaxy print hoodie on? It was probably all of them combined.
In the end, Emil bought him both the awful hoodie and the awful tiara – but on different checks, so Tuuri could pay for the one and never learn about the other. But at least Emil had succeeded step one of his mission! Now, to try something more elaborate, like a nice shirt or something…
“Lalli! Stay away from those t-shirts!”
