Flashes of Panic

Yesterday involved a birthday-present-opening session for my younger niece, and I gave her and her older sister some presents I bought for them in Japan.

I knew the girls like dressing up, so I wanted to find something pretty and dressy for them. I wound up at an import shop near the hotel with some Chinese embroidered-silk outfits. The problem was, how would I find something that fit?

Like many people in Japan, the shopkeeper had a few words of English, so I was able to explain the issue: brother’s daughters. Ages. Then I estimated heights with my hands. She thought the one in my hands would do for the older one; then she found a smaller outfit for the younger one. I crossed my fingers and put down my credit card: there would be no returns if I blew the sizing.

Yesterday, they wanted to put them on at once, and sure enough, it all fits, and a bit large, fortunately. (Better to be too large than too small.) I’m not sure they necessarily have the respect for nice clothes they’ll need to take good care of these, (I visualize grass and food stains,) but maybe their parents will keep an eye on them. I’m just pleased that I guessed their sizes more-or-less correctly.