He passed through the door and headed to the right, toward the tailor’s shop. As he rounded the curve of the corridor, he began to see soft light spilling into the hallway. The tailor must already be there, which pleased him. He wasn’t in the mood to wait.
He lengthened his stride as he passed by the windows of the main exercise room in the center of the floor. It was a sizable room, filled with machines for working different body parts. He frowned at the idea of it all. He didn’t enjoy spending time working out, and he really didn’t appreciate the fact that any being who walked by could look in and see him doing it.
The name ‘Entertainment Floor’ was slightly misleading. Only about half of the stores contained any kind of entertainment, either electronic games, old fashioned games or areas for visiting. The remainder of the stores were for selling products the beings needed for everyday life, like clothing or beauty aids. Some stores sold a few books, while others sold items to help beings relax. The most popular store was the sweet store, although purchases there were heavily monitored to prevent any being from consuming too much over a pre-determined time period.
Dan reached the tailor’s shop and pushed the glass door open. Out of politeness, he brushed on a smile as the elderly male behind the desk lifted his head.
“Head Councilmember! So good to see you this morning!” The tailor rose from his chair and hobbled toward the back of the store. “I have your pants ready. One moment, please.”
Dan walked forward a few paces to stand in front of the chest-high desk. “Thank you for meeting me so early,” he called to the tailor as he disappeared from sight.
The tailor appeared again, holding a folded pair of brown pants. “Absolutely. I know how difficult it is for you to get away from your duties during the day.”
The tailor stepped behind the desk to complete the sale. He extended his hand, indicating the small scanner. “That will be sixty credits, please.”
Dan raised his eyebrows at the price. It had been a while since he had gotten his pants lengthened. The cost was most of his allotment of seventy-five credits, which every being in the Construct received each week. “When did it go up? I don’t remember it being so high.” Not that it mattered much, he rarely used his credits and should have more than enough.
“Oh, it was after the last Age Change Day.” The tailor chuckled and waggled a finger at him. “You haven’t been in here in a while.”
Amused by the tailor’s gentle scolding, Dan replied, “Of course.” He waved the back of his right hand under the scanner so it could read the small chip imbedded in his skin. It beeped twice and flashed red.
Dan scowled at the machine.
The tailor scrambled to reset the system. “Let’s try that again.”
Dan waved his hand again. It gave the same response.
“One moment, sir.” The tailor pulled up his rickety chair and sat in front of a small computer. He pressed the screen a few times. “Sir, it looks like you’re short on credits.”
“Really?” Dan was puzzled. “How can that be? I rarely use them.”
“Well, sir, you’re short by a mere four credits. I’m willing to allow you to take the pants and you can pay the remainder on Monday.”
The idea of being indebted to another being left a bad taste in Dan’s mouth. “I’m not comfortable with that.”
“I know, sir, but you told me when you placed your order last week, you wanted them for Age Change Day. Is that not correct?”
“Well, yes, but that’s not the only reason….”
“It’s fine, sir. I trust you.”
“No.” Dan was firm. “I’ll come back for them next week. I am the Head Councilmember, I need to set a good example. I neither expect favors, nor do I accept them.”
The tailor smiled and seemed to relax. “Of course, sir. Shall we meet again on Monday? Same time?”
“Yes. That sounds good.”
He turned to leave but the missing credits nagged at him. After a couple of steps, he turned back. “Can you tell me where my credits were used? I really don’t remember.”
“Oh, yes sir. Just a moment.”
Dan leaned on the desk again while the tailor tapped on the computer screen.
“Oh!” The tailor’s eyebrows raised his surprise. “Has some being been sick?”
Dan inhaled as suspicion grew in his mind. A growl from deep inside his throat rumbled as he exhaled. “Why?”
“There have been… let’s see….” The tailor moved his finger down the screen. “It seems there have been more than ten purchases at the pharmacy in the last four weeks alone. If you want, I can look back farther and….”
“No, thank you.” Dan abruptly turned for the door and marched away from the tailor. He knew exactly who had spent his credits and who had put him in such an awkward position.
“See you Monday, sir!” the tailor called after him.
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