Sharon and Cynthia ~ A Chance Encounter

I returned to my car the same way I went to the nail spa for three reasons:

One, I was emboldened by my walk through the gauntlet of people: no problems, no issues, and lots of pretty outfits to look at while I was walking.  Plus, the more I'm seen, the more I'm recognised as a crossdresser, the more civilians will get used to us and be comfortable around us.

Two, I had new nails to show off.

And three, I know how to find my car this way.  If I went down, I'd be uncertain what level I was on and probably spend more time wandering around the parking garage, looking dumb.

I wanted to shop a bit, but Sharon had called while I was getting my nails done, and I knew I had to hustle so I wouldn't keep her waiting.  So I headed back, past the shops, up the escalator, through the throngs, and out to the parking garage.  I crossed the bridge over the street below and started down the stairs.

As I approached the stairs I saw an elderly lady with an aluminum cane in one hand and a couple of very large shopping bags in the other.  I noticed that the most prominent bag was from Victoria's Secret.  I also noticed she was wearing flip-flop with about an inch thick rubber sole.

As I got closer, a small group of teens was walking up the stairs.  One girl said "can I help you with that?"  The lady said no.  As I walked past, I asked if I could help her as well.  Once again, she said no.  I walked ahead, but looked back.

As I got to the next level, I saw she had managed to get to the landing above.  I called up, "Please let me help you with those bags" and she said "if you want to...."

So I walked back up one landing and picked up the Victoria's Secret and other bag and started walking slowly down.  Now I also noticed she was using a cane and holding a lit cigarette.  The bags were both bulky and heavy.

She looked at me and said "where are you going?"  I was about to say "level two" but realised she meant "where are you going all dressed up?" so I said "out to dinner with a friend and then to a girls' night out."  She said "you look wonderful" and "it's great that you're going out with the ladies."

We chatted a bit more, mostly about where we were going within the lot.  I walked all the way down with her and she said "I hear honking ~ that must be for me" and I left her there.  I went back up the stairs and had an uneventful drive to the Reston Town Centre.  I parked and walked through more large crowds and finally got to meet Sharon Rose, who was standing outside the restaurant.

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