The Red Jacket

2000

June 3, 2000
Several weeks before the end of the semester, I was informed by my almost-19 year old that he required a brightly-colored jacket for his final for the voice class - so he could sing.
The term brightly-colored jacket can be interpreted many ways.
Over the next few days I determined that it was to be, in fact, brightly-colored. Neon was the word used.
We began shopping.
This is not a trivial event because he is bigger than Fabio and as tall. His waist is in need of reduction (family failing) and he is now working on that.
We tried Big&Tall since I've been trying to get him in there for some time. He is at the upper end of what you can acquire at Sears. Has been for some time. His Dockers (40, 42) are both tight in the waist (two of them are waiting for me to match buttons) and too short (he wears hiking boots a lot).
First of all, mother has to be away from child who must rapidly pace about (he hates buying clothing) and scan for his target. He is, in these situations, a true hunter.
Being a mother, I stepped off to one side, and watched a tall leggy blond's head spin about off her shoulders. In fact, all the little darlings in the store headed in his direction. She won.
And was greeted with --- Mom.
We gave her his size (I know it - he doesn't pay attention) and what we needed. Given that, she addressed possibilities.
We found --- clothing in many shades of dull.
We did find black dress slacks - 44 - 43 - which are lovely. I found them.
We did find a black tee shirt (2XL tall) which is also lovely. I found it.
We did not find a jacket that even came close.
I found a designer-label dress shirt in some shimmery blue (bright blue) (he looks good in blue) and it was then that I discovered that the 17 1/2 33-34 sleeve length (that matches all those blue shirts he wore when he was working - with a tie no less) is--- too short! He needs one notch up!
Of course the dress shirt didn't have that size available. It was, in fact, the last of its kind.
Desperate, I bought it just in case. He could wear it open over the black tee shirt with the mock neck. I am a true gatherer.
He has dress shoes and socks - they are left from his beautiful dress suit bought for high school graduation (and worn at the Romantic Times convention).
Black, of course.
Over the next two weeks I tended to scan for things and finally, after repeated nagging, and when the end of the semester was drawing nigh, I persuaded the kid to go to the Great Mall, a massive conglomeration of outlet stores, one of which is the Burlington Coat Factory.
We arrived, after several wrong turns (it is off of the 680 freeway, not the 880), in weather hot enough to bake eggs, and hiked across the parking lot into the vast morass of corridors. We went straight for the target.
Burlington has, lots of dull-looking clothes. Lots of neutral. And some lovely suede. Chamois. But neutral.
The store has a neon blue jacket - for the young man. The very young man.
In my son's size (48 reg, - Fabio's size) there was not such a selection.
He picked out a sports jacket (dark, sophisticated, lovely) and then a black Bill Blass trench coat (stylish) and modeled these with a fedora (he has one at home).
Too cool by far.
He acquired these (after all, he was with a gatherer) and we lugged this catch to the car.
And proceeded to walk around the mall. Hunting.
Since he was not being reasonable, I was not being allowed to "shop". I got to "glance" at things that I would have loved to look over more closely. The grumbling was just too much to ignore.
So I did my own grumbling.
He wouldn't let me have coffee. (He agrees with Fabio.)
Eventually, we came upon a store with red jackets.
Not his size.
And a second store.
Ditto.
But we are closing in.
Bosinni. And a clerk he recognized from the mall he was working at (when he worked for Ritz Camera).
Conversation.
And an $800 red jacket. Designer label.
Too cool.
Way too cool.
For a one night stand.
No. No. No. I do have my limits. Even if he keeps moving them.
We find - a $300 red jacket. Lovely. Not in stock. We try a dark blue one on for size. And order the red one.
I can't believe I did that.
I had to go back a week later and retrieve said jacket on my lunch hour.
At least I can now find the mall.
He dressed for his final with care. He is growing out his thick curly hair and working out in the gym.
He was in black tee shirt and slacks - and carrying the red jacket on its padded hanger. Newly shaved with his dress shoes (wingtips).
Wow!
He would not let me take a picture.
Told me "later".
He also mentioned, just in passing, that the jacket matched (in color) one that Fabio has.
In fact, it matched the jacket Fabio was wearing at the auction in Little Rock. (Which probably cost a lot more than $300.)
He wanted to be sure that I knew this.
Uh huh!
As if I hadn't already figured that out.
Fabio also wears his red jacket with a black tank top and black pants (and black cowboy boots).
He also pointed this out to me.
Now I'm waiting to be told that my kid needs new cowboy boots.
For Houston.
I just wonder what I'm going to have to gather next!
At least he passed his final.