"Hmm. What measurements am I looking for?" Rodger asked at one point, trying to help with spotting possible garments.

  Bella said "I take a women's size six in the waist, but I need them for tall, because I'm six four."

"In a pinch, we could get two of the same material with the right waist, and use one for cloth to extend the legs of the other," he mused out loud while scanning the racks and/or shelves for size 6 jeans.

  Bella half smiled, and said "Mom used to say she thought I'd take after Dad-E in height, and be a freaking skyscraper.  Looks like I will!"

"I've seen stores for especially tall men. But offhand I can't recall any that cater to the unusually tall woman," Rodger commented, half to himself. But than, he hadn't especially had reason to, given the height of the women in his family, both before and after marriage.

  Bella nodded, and said "There's not exactly a lot of people built like I am.  Darn it."

"It's one of the hazards of being different," Rodger agreed, looking closer at a pair of purple slacks. No, it wasn't the right waist, the tag said 9 rather than 6.

  Bella modeled a couple pairs of pants. One that fit her waist (but made capris) and one that fit her leg length, which left the waist trying to fall down off her butt.

Rodger let Brenda give her opinions of them first. The one could be worn as summer shorts, perhaps, or lengthened with additional cloth if they found a match, as he saw it. And the other could be taken in or worn as very baggy pants with a belt. Did young ladies ever wear suspenders after about 2nd grade? He didn't think so, but wasn't sure.

  Brenda said "I think you need to learn to sew, Bella.  So that you can make your own clothes, and not have to buy them.  Nothing off the rack is going to fit you correctly due to your build and height."

  Bella nodded, and said "Yeah, but neither DadE or DadD know how to sew."

"That's what libraries are for. Go to one and read few books on the subject, get materials and practice what you read. Parents are hardly the only source for an education and life skills," Rodger stated. Why, oh why had the public schools stopped teaching home ec, he wondered in the privacy (?) of his thoughts.

  Brenda blinked, and poked Rodger in the ribs a little, then said "Sewing machines DO take a little practice to run."

  Bella nodded, and said "I'll look into one, maybe Meg will get me one, since she has money now."

>>from Gysbourne Manor
Jeff and company soon arrived just outside of the mall.

"OK guys..let's go get Ozzy's Ipod dealt with.'

  Jack glanced around, and said quietly "Yeah, just keep an eye out for the cops, since I'm wanted and all."

Chuck looked over at Icepick curiously, then glanced down at the ipod in his hand, "That's not Ozzy's. That's Iris'." He said, "I know. I borrowed it just before finals to record the teachers' review sessions on so that I could have complete notes. It was working fine then."

"And what about sewing before there were sewing machines?" Rodger retorted. "Needles, thread, scissors, and maybe a thimble?"

  Bella said "See?  There are no home economics classes in school anymore.  They're not on the Proficiency Exams, so they got cut from the curricula."

"Quite a sore point, that, between teachers and administration Bella. Many of us would rather have old-fashioned electives, arts, choir, etc. than this emphasis on standardized testing and big-name sports."

In reply to Chuck Edwards (msg #43):

Jeff subtly whispered in Chuck's ear.

  Bella shrugged, and said "I don't know what the teachers think about it, just that the schools all dropped the Home Ec courses before I was born."

"Before they were born, too," Rodger said dryly, indicating John and Harold with a gesture. "Powers or not, politics rolls on unimpeded by common sense."

  Bella nodded, and said "I abhor politics.  They cause a lot of trouble."

Chuck's eyes widened, "OOOOOOooooh!" he agreed, looking shiftily around. He grinned.

"What's home economics, daddy?" Harold asked quietly. "Is that like real estate?"

"No, not that kind of economics. Home ec classes used to teach kids how to do basic, fundamental tasks in and around their home. How to clean things, make simple repairs, fix their clothes, cook for themselves, and the like." he explained.

  Bella nodded, and said "Well, Mom taught me how to cook."