Priorities?

When I open the mall Customer Service desk my shift starts at 9:30, but since I have to leave home at the tail end of rush hour I build a cushion into my commute time and usually get there about 15 minutes early. I fill up the extra time by using the wifi hotspot in the center of the mall to check my email, Facebook, and all things Internet.

Today at 9:15 I was logging in when two teenage girls (who looked like they might be 15 or 16) came up to me. The conversation went like this:

TEENAGE GIRLS: "What time do the mall stores open?" 

ME: "10:00, except for the Apple store, St. Louis Bread Company, and Starbucks."

At this they looked moderately annoyed.

ME: "What are you shopping for at the mall today?" 

TG: "Homecoming dresses." 

ME:  "Cool!  Where do you go to school?" 

They seemed not to want to give me an answer, and it occurred to me that today WAS a school day. I thought about it, realized there was an off-site store nearby that might have what they were looking for, and offered to look up that store’s hours. While I was searching on my phone, one of the girls spoke up…

TG: "We ARE planning on going to school today!" 

ME: "After you get a homecoming dress?"

TG: "Yes".  

Sadly, the off-site store also opened at 10:00. I remember from my high school days how long it took to find just the right dress; I wonder if those girls WILL make it to any of their classes today.