Amber, Caroline, Lauren and Michelle in...Black Friday

[OscarD]

We managed to make it through Amber’s colossal Friendsgiving bash on Thanksgiving Day, and she was essentially in heaven getting to play hostess to her whole gang of folks.

But I noticed that the topic of conversation among all those women gathered at my house wasn’t the weather or politics or food, and it certainly wasn’t football.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that what dominated the talk at the dinner table was…

Shopping.

They cared a lot more about Black Friday than Thanksgiving.

I might have voiced a little bit of objection to that, but what was the point? So I just let them go on.

And on.

And on.

Eventually, the crowd began petering out and peace returned to our humble abode. But practically at the crack of dawn this morning, there was more frenetic activity.

I was up doing a couple of things on my computer in the office, when all of a sudden…

“Hey honey, Caroline’s here with Lauren and her friend Michelle and we’re off on an adventure!”

“An adventure? Is that what you’re calling this shopping trip?”

“I mean, it’s a road trip to an outlet mall. You don’t think that’s an adventure?”

“Not so much, actually. I think that’s probably more like a shopping trip.”

“Oh, hush. So how do I look?”

“Smashing. That makeover of yours really gave you a different look, though, huh?”

“Well, yeah. I needed it. It was like my face didn’t match my body. But it does now! Don’t you think I’m prettier?”

"I’m still getting used to it, but Amber, you were gorgeous before and you absolutely still are.’

“Good answer!”

“But now that you’ve had those people at Lauren’s salon redo your face, it seems like you’re locked into this new body, huh?”

“Yep. I’m committed! I just like myself better in this one. And I’m finally feeling like I can pass for a real girl in it, so yep!”

“Well, good for you. OK, try not to go overboard on the purchases today, all right?”

“Honey, I’m buying Christmas presents. Nothing for me. I promise!”

“Yeah, OK,” I said, not really believing her.

But just then…

“There you are! Happy Black Friday, Oscar!”

“Happy Black Friday, Miss Caroline. Boy, you’re looking kind of punk-artsy today. A nose ring? Seriously?”

“I know, right? Believe it or not, the band has our first gig tonight, so I’m just wearing what I’m gonna wear on stage. And the nose ring isn’t me, but they’re telling me I need to get used to it for when I’m on stage, so I have to wear it today.”

“You have a gig? Where at? We want to come and see you!”

“Unfortunately it’s at a private party. But if this goes well, we’ll be someplace else soon that y’all can come to.”

Just then we were joined by two other girls…

“OK, Oscar, I want you to meet Lauren, and this is Michelle.”

“Hi there. Lauren, it’s very nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you, and I should thank you for the great job your folks did at the salon with Amber this week.”

“Oh, thanks! You know, we’ve been doing Factory Girls for a while now, and they’re just so easy to work with. And Amber’s just so naturally gorgeous…”

“Oh, stop,” said Amber.

“I agree,” I said, “but I’d expect you to say that since you look just like her.”

[OscarD]

“What? No, she doesn’t!”

“Amber, she absolutely does. If you were a little older, you’d totally look just like her!”

“Oscar, you can’t say that!” scolded Caroline.

“Well, I’m not wrong. I can’t be the only one here who doesn’t see the resemblance.”

“I see it,” said Michelle.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m ignoring you and I don’t mean to.”

“Oscar,” Caroline said, “Michelle is a marketing whiz and she’s kind of volunteering to manage the band.”

“Really? Very cool.”

“It’s a bit of a vanity project. I always wanted to be in a band and now I get to overcome my total lack of musical talent to be part of one.”

“Well,” I said, “maybe they should let you be a backup singer. You can just stand off to the side and look hot. That would be easy enough for you, right?”

She laughed, and Amber gave me a scoldy look.

“So Lauren,” I said, “if Michelle is going to manage the band, what role are they gonna give you?”

“Oh, I’m the official Band Mom.”

“But you’re only the aunt, right? Of the bass player?”

“Drummer.”

“Ah, yes. Right. So what does the Band Mom do?”

“She handles wardrobe, she makes sure we have all the instruments and equipment, she’s going to make sure everybody shows up and stays out of trouble. Band Mom stuff,” said Caroline.

“Boy, they gave you all the fun jobs.”

“Oh, I don’t mind. I love those boys. They’ve been friends since grade school. And Caroline’s like a daughter now, so this is a natural thing for me to do.”

“Oscar,” said Amber, “Lauren is like literally the Factory Girls’ best friend in town. Between having the only salon that works on us and hosting parties, and you see what she’s doing for Caroline, she’s like a saint!”

“I can see that. Very cool, Lauren.”

“Well, I’ve been a big doll enthusiast my whole life, and then all of a sudden here are all these real-sized girls who can walk and talk, but they’re treated like all they are is sex objects by men and, I’m ashamed to say, most women, and I feel like somebody should be on their side.”

“And we love her for it!” said Caroline.

"Oscar, you should see what they do for the girls at Lauren’s salon. Hair, makeup, they’ll do surgery and fix us up…it’s really something.’

“Wait, that’s the whole salon?”

“Oh, no. We have a regular clientele too.”

“But how does that work? Do the real girls mix with the Factory Girls?”

“Some do. Nobody could tell when Amber came in, for example.”

“Interesting. I’m surprised you don’t get rumors and gossip and whatever.”

“Look, when you’re good at what you do, nobody cares.”

“That’s true.”

[OscarD]

“So what do you want for Christmas, Oscar?” Caroline asked.

“Are you buying me a Christmas present?”

“Of course I am. You’ve been really nice!”

“Awwww. But I really don’t need anything.”

“Oh yes he does,” said Amber. “I’ll tell you in the car, honey.”

“She probably knows better than I do. I’ll admit it.”

“Oscar, your girls are angels.”

“Thank you, Lauren. That’s really nice of you to say. And I agree.”

I noticed that Michelle was smiling at me.

“Hey,” I said, turning to her. “Have you ever done book marketing?”

“Once or twice, yeah.”

“Then maybe we could talk next week or something. I wrote a novel and I’m about to publish it, and we hired a girl who’s a social media influencer to push it on X and Instagram and whatever, but that isn’t really a full book launch. I think maybe we might need somebody who really knows how to hit the market.”

“I’d absolutely love to talk to you about that.”

“You would?”

“Of course! It sounds like a super-fun project!”

I could tell that this little conversation was stressing Amber out, but I wasn’t sure why.

“OK, great!” I said. “Amber will set it up, and of course she’s going to be involved. She’s the best right-hand man I could ever ask for.”

That seemed to placate Amber, though I noticed a disappointed look on Michelle’s face.

“OK, everybody,” said Lauren. “We don’t want to be late for the stampede!”

The girls made their way to the stairs, but Amber hung back a little.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“Do you…like her?”

“Who, Michelle? I don’t know. We said we needed somebody who could do marketing, and she does marketing. At least talking to her is a good idea, isn’t it?”

“So that’s all that was?”

“Of course! Why?”

“Nothing,” she said, as a somewhat forced smile appeared on her face. “I’ll scout her out for you and we’ll talk about it later.”

I wondered if maybe I had mistakenly started a rivalry. And if I had, what would that mean?