“He’ll need plenty of socks too.” His mother added in an impatient tone. The bill had more than doubled with the cost of the shoes, the pumps, the trainers, and the football boots. She cast her eyes over the small stand by the till, upon which was a variety of socks. She began grabbing a couple of each… white ankle socks, white knee socks. “I’ll get you some of these for winter,” she said as she took a few pairs of long white over-knee socks.

“I’m not wearing those Mum,” Michael stated as he watched her grab a few pairs of long white stockings.

“Well come winter you might be grateful of them.” She replied, “…and these too.” She added, taking up a pair of thick black woolly tights for good measure.

“I’m definitely not wearing those!” He puked as he noticed the tights his mother added to the ever-growing pile of clothing on the counter.

“Well, it’s up to you love… it’s better to have and not need…” She replied as her son nervously turned his face away from the thick woolly tights and over-knee socks that sat on top of his new school uniform.