“Let’s see if we can make it do that again,” Ahmad said eagerly, leaning forward.

The kids giggled as the shops glimmered back and forth, in and out of existence. One moment, it was the elegant clothing shop, and the next, they caught a glimpse of the woman popping a frosting-covered finger in her mouth before guiltily waving at them.

A tap on the glass startled both of them, along with a muffled “Ahem.” The young man scowled at them and pointed at a sign above his head. Words glowed on it, formed by a hundred small light bulbs like the type you might see at an old-fashioned Broadway show.

“What does that say?” Winnie said, blinking rapidly. “All I see is paisley.”

“Please mind our automated store,” Ahmad read aloud. “If you do not wish to come inside, step back and give us time to prepare for our customers.”

When Ahmad looked back at the salesman, he made a shooing motion with his hand.

“Oh, uh, sorry,” Winnie mumbled, tugging Ahmad back. “Ahmad!”

Ahmad couldn’t resist one last hand wave in the direction of the shop. The disapproving young man opened his mouth to protest, but in a moment, he was replaced with the charming pastel and jewel-laden cake stands of the sweets shop.

The woman looked up from her frosting with a smile, right as a group of customers wandered in.

“Ahmad,” Winnie said again, trying to look disapproving. “That wasn’t cool.”

Ahmad shrugged. “I stopped. That’s what he wanted, right?”

Winnie narrowed her eyes, though her lips were still twitching at the corners.

“You know that’s not what he wanted. He was a bit snooty, but so what?”

So what was right, and Ahmad knew it. But he couldn’t help himself, just like he couldn’t help himself at school when a teacher said something that brought to mind a snarky comeback or a student wrinkled their nose up at his lunch.

“I said I stopped, okay?” Ahmad insisted. “I won’t do it again. Sorry.”

Winnie looked at him hard for a long moment, and then relaxed into one of her easy smiles.

“Whatever. It’s fine. Let’s keep going.”

They turned their backs on the shop.

“Automated store, huh?” Winnie said. “That is pretty cool.”

“Thinking about it sounds really stressful,” Ahmad responded. The man didn’t look like he was ready for it to switch. Ahmad felt a guilty twinge in the pit of his stomach. “And what if someone can’t decide which shop they want right away, or they step into one without realizing they stepped into the wrong shop?”

There was a sudden pop behind them.

The kids whirled around as the newly settled clothing shop gave way once again to the bakery. The lady was carefully dusting sugar over a plate of rose-frosted cookies.

“Well, she looks happy, at least,” Winnie said. “I guess it must work for people here!”