There was no other option for Kate but to take Mona Lisa home with her.
Kate had to do something first. She grabbed Lisa by the hand and told her, "We are going shopping!"
The mall was on the way home. Her parents wouldn't mind as she got home first anyway.
"It will be fun. I promise," she told Mona Lisa.
She nearly had to drag her in, as Lisa was hesitant about shopping. She did not understand what a mall was, and at first objected to going. However, it just took a few glances around and Mona Lisa became addicted. She loved to shop. She became interested in the stores, like any typical 21st century woman. She fingered the rows of necklaces hanging in the jewelry area of the department store. She tried on hats. She sampled makeup and perfume, and modeled everything from high heels to sneakers for Kate.
Kate handed her hangers of dresses and jeans. Mona Lisa was a great model for the clothes. She beamed as she tried on a glittery dress and then was amazed at all the pockets on the cargo pants. "You are right, the mall is fun," she told Kate.
When they walked past the children's section, Mona Lisa stopped and stared at all the rows of clothes. She had to look at all the clothes there, as well, imagining her children in the clothing. "I have two boys, Piero and Andrea," she reminded Kate. "Piero is 10, and little Andrea is just 4. Andrea was just a baby when Leonardo started painting me."
Kate decided to introduce her to rock music. She pulled her small portable music player from her pocket. Mona Lisa looked confused. "There's music in there," she told Lisa. She didn't seem to believe it at first, and was hesitant about using earphones. But, it was worth it seeing the grin on her face when she heard the music coming out of the tiny player.
"Leonardo liked to sing when he painted me," She noted.
"Really?" said Kate.
"Yes, he was a great singer," said Lisa with a smile. "He would sing as he painted. It seemed that painting made him happy."
"You have so many new things in your world," Mona Lisa said, as she went through the songs on Kate's music player.
"Let's see what else I can show you," Kate grabbed her hand again and they went to another store.
Mona Lisa had begun to relax. She had seemed so formal earlier. But, now she was drinking soda and wearing sneakers and just being a normal person.
She stopped at a row of picture frames in an aisle. "I can't believe that I was in a frame like one of these for so long," she said, touching a silver frame, and examining it closely.
