The Polaroid film is on the endcap of the third isle in the section, flanked on the left by a rainbow colored display for a handheld video game, on the right by a futuristic display for the latest electric razor. A flat panel monitor shows an animated graphic illustrating the exciting new ‘triple action’ of the razor, and this draws Oliver’s attention from the film. He turns his head back to the rack of film, scans up to down, looking for a package labeled ‘600’, and hears the words, “Look, it’s the elevator man,” enter his ear.

Oliver turns toward the girl in the yellow dress, still sucking her lollipop. He looks from her to the rolls of her mother’s neck, to her mother’s bulging face, then back at the girl. He forces a smile. “Hello,” he says, and then turns back toward the film. He grasps a package, not 600, and carefully reads the syllables of each word printed on the back of the blue box. As he reads of the ‘excellent results, from birthday parties to football games’, the small brunette tugs on his jacket.

Holding up two video game cartridges, the freckled girl asks, “What should I get, ‘Mario Kart’ or ‘Pokemon’?”

“I think you’d be better off buying a stick of dynamite,” says Oliver, adding, “but if you must choose between those two, go with this one with the pretty box,” while tapping one of the cartridges before a word of protest can leave her mouth.

The child makes an exaggerated nod and says, “Thanks. I want both but mommy says I can’t.”

“She looks like a sage, your mother.”

“She’s mean.”

“Hard to imagine.”