‘Baby – you know I love you, but honestly – was this really the best plan?’

Bette was following Tina along a tiny sidewalk, there was not enough room for the two of them to walk side by side, so they were having an awkward time of communicating, Tina kept having to stop to turn back when she wanted to talk to Bette. The plan she was referring to was Tina’s idea that they should go shopping at 3:00 in the afternoon, the sun was high in the sky, it was hot and humid, Bette’s hair was frizzing up and she was not impressed.

Jalaan Oberoy, the street they were walking down was famous for it’s little boutiques and stylish restaurants, a western style-haven, away from the garish tourist traps of Kuta. Beautiful as the stores were, the street itself was not really designed to deal with much human traffic, the road was narrow, with barely enough room for two cars to pass each other, while the sidewalks were barely 3 feet wide and riddled with potholes and uneven paving.

They’d been walking for about 45 minutes, they’d been into countless stores and Tina had picked up a few things, a couple of camisoles, a leather wrist band and a frosted glass platter (which Bette was dutifully carrying, wrapped up in bubble wrap and ready to be shipped home) Tina half stopped and turned around

‘I know, you’re right, there’s just a jewelery store we passed in the cab on the way from the airport, and I know it’s coming up soon, and the stuff just looked amazing – I really wanna see what’s in there’

‘God you know, the street is dead, you know why? Cos all the normal people are either hibernating in their havens of air conditioning and sitting by, or more probably sitting in their pools.’

‘Come on Bette, just this one store, I bet we can find something for you there, come on… you haven’t bought anything yet, don’t you wanna indulge in a little retail therapy?’ Tina gestured ‘onward’ with her head and Bette had no choice but to follow

‘Retail therapy is for straight girls’ Mumbled Bette

‘I heard that – and it’s bull shit!’ Tina replied over her shoulder.