Atkinson, Kate. "Charlene and Trudi Go Shopping".

Summary

- Charlene takes her friend Trudi to buy a present for Charlene's mother

- as they stroll in the shopping malls, they develop their fantasies about an ideal world, love and present - all against the background of WW II in a deteriorating city

- they witness a fire in haberdashery, Trudi regrets she has not bought a belt which she wanted to buy and which would be burnt now

- Charlene wishes for a baby, she repeats the word five times to have the wish fulfiled

- later Trudi asks Charlene what she bought for a present and learns it was a pair of wolfkin gloves, the fantasy wolfkin being the best thing in Charlene's opinion