Bookends
By Shotzette and Missy

All Prices Are Final
By Missy


Laverne Kosnowski dug into the pile of half-priced sweaters before her. "'C'mon blue, " she chanted. "C'moonnnn blue!" She thrust her fist into the pile and let out an 'ahah!' at the top of her lungs. Grinning, she held out the wished-for sweater. "There's Len's present! How're you doing, Shirl?"

Beside Laverne, a gigantic pile of dresses began to shift. In a moment, Shirley bobbed up out of the pile, holding a pair of silk gloves in her mouth. She spat them into her hand. "Took care of Caitlyn," she declared.

"I don't think she's gonna need those in San Francisco, Shirl," Laverene said, wheeling their cart to the next display. She couldn't help but grin - she just adored the sight of a black Friday morning. The Pfister Department store was loaded with customers, and they were just two of the more active shoppers on the floor at the moment.

"A lady should never be without her white gloves."

Laverne shuddered as she pulled out a tee-shirt emblazoned across the front with a Nike logo. "You sound like your mom there, Shirl."

"My mother was always sensible," Shirley insisted, looking over a packaged teapot and tea cup set.

"She ended her days trying to audition to replace Vanna on Wheel!" Laverne replied.

"Until she became colorful," Shirley insisted. She placed the teapot in her cart. "Speaking of sensible, how are Fabrizio and Elizabeth doing?"

"Frankie and Liz're fine. He's got a job at the Hickory Farms, and Liz is working at the Hot Topic. The house isn't too bad." Laverne's expression turned sneaky - it looked okay on the outside, but on the inside it was a pigsty - and that said something, considering what an ex-slob that she had always been. Shirley didn't notice it. "They're still crazy about each other." Laverne winced to remember HOW crazy.

Shirley rolled her cart along beside Laverne. "At least they're gainfully employed. Caitlyn's been worried about the economy lately - it's much harder for her since she's become a freelancer."

"Yeah, Andy's glad that they still need him at the station. " Sometimes being young could be helpful; Andy held his ratings, thus he was valuable. How's Marianne doing?"

"Skye didn't tell you? She's been seeing Rocco on and off. He might move to New York to be with her."

Laverne shook her head. "I don't get the two of them." She yanked a bedsheet out of the hands of a rapaciously-thrilled woman who had been fondling it.

"No one does, Laverne." She leaned against the carriage. "Six weeks on the road. Boy, and I thought my travelleing days were over!" Carmine had gotten a co-starring role in a touring company for Fiddler on the Roof, and Shirley was accompanying him as a good luck charm.

"Aww, you're gonna have fun, Shirl," Laverne insisted. "Just like me and Len."

"Hawaii," she swooned. "I still don't believe Skye and Brandon are taking you!"

"I dunno why they wanna spend their fifth anniversary with their parents," she replied.

"Well, Rhonda IS paying for everything." Shirley grabbed two packages of candy canes. "Oof, I'm bushed. Let's hit the Cinnabon for some coffee and a couple of rolls...Laverne!"

Laverne was holding up a ridiculously obscene nightgown. "Waddya think? Too much?"

"Is that what pleases Leonard -" she held up a defensive hand. "Wait, I don't want to know."

Laverne grinned. "Aww, c'mon Shirl - you don't wanna know..."

"Not even one disgusting detail..." A sly look crossed her face. "But I've always wanted to know - does he bite his hand when he..."

"SHIRL!"

"It's an honest question!"

Laverne let out a bellow of laughter. It was funny how they could still gossip and tease the way they always had when they were teenagers. Shirley felt a great wave of joy as they walked to the register together. Some things never would change.


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