The Zip-Off

 Arthur locks his bike to a curved metal tube.

He walks through the mall towards Kathmandu.

On the way he sees Kierkegaard coming out of the Apple store.

Hello, says Kierkegaard. I've bought a new phone.

Looks like a good one, says Arthur. 

Now I just need to learn how to work it, says Kierkegaard.

What do you want it to do? asks Arthur.

Communicate with people I know, says Kierkegaard. I just need their phone numbers.

I'll send you a few, says Arthur. Who do you want? Me? Gaius? David? Vello? Belle? Angelina?

Yes, please, says Kierkegaard.

Dreams can come true! Angelina.

Arthur texts the phone numbers to Kierko's new number.

Thanks Arthur, says Kierkegaard, sitting down on a wooden bench to call Angelina.

Arthur walks off, and heads towards Kathmandu.

In Kathmandu, Katherine is trying on a Longline Down Jacket, maroon.

Don't buy it, says Arthur, coming up behind her.

Katherine turns round. Arthur! Why not?

You look like a skittle, says Arthur. 

Thank you, Arthur, says Katherine. I was thinking the same thing myself. I'll stick to a conventional length jacket. But I don't fancy having cold legs.

Buy some long johns, says Arthur. Two pairs for thirty dollars.

What an excellent idea, says Katherine. Are you here to buy something warm for New Zealand?

I'll probably get by with my old rain jacket, says Arthur.

Nonsense dear, says Katherine. Let me buy you a Lightweight Down Jacket. How about this nice red one? And some Zip Off hiking pants too. You can wear them as long pants, and when it's hot you just zip off the bottoms, and they turn into shorts. Isn't that clever?

Arthur pretends to be reluctant. She insists. So he goes to the change rooms to try on the pants.

Katherine looks at Polypro long johns. Why not? She selects a black pair and a striped pair, glacier, granite, blackberry, wine. 

How do they come up with the names for those colours? 

David would call them blue, grey, black, red.

She wonders if David has enough warm clothes for New Zealand.

Of course, he would have. She might just buy him a new pair of socks.

Her eye is caught by a display that features the Pinnacle Sock System.

An ingenious system. 

She is examining a pair of red and black Pinnacle Sock System socks when Arthur comes out of the change room. 

In the Zip-offs, zipped off.

What a fine pair of legs he has. 

If it weren't for the knee scabs.