"Shane, are we really going to spend money here?" she whispered.
Previously, dates with Shane involved saving up for a long time just to go to a cheap diner or catch a movie.
Karen knew most of Shane's money went to his family, and she never complained. She even frequently brought food over to the Gallagher house.
Honestly, it was impressive how the old Shane had managed to lock down Karen, the famous "White Moonlight."
"Of course. Today, you listen to me."
Shane smiled and squeezed her hand, feeling the subtle confidence that came with financial stability (even if it was Aunt Ginger's money).
Like a couple in the honeymoon phase, they walked hand in hand, wandering aimlessly.
Passing a newsstand, Shane specifically looked for the latest issue of Sports Illustrated and flipped through it quickly.
In just a few glances, his heart sank. The 2010 World Cup champion was Brazil.
Not Spain, the "Invincible Armada" mentioned in the [World Cup Summary] he saw on Temu...
"Alright, looks like this world has its own trajectory for sports."
Shane quietly put down the magazine. He wasn't too bummed out. Just one less shortcut, not a huge deal.
He stopped worrying about it and focused on his date with Karen.
They tried on hair clips in an accessory shop, shared headphones to listen to a new album in a record store, and swayed gently to the music of a street performer...
Karen's laughter mixed with Shane's occasional teasing, filling the air with simple happiness.
For lunch, Shane took her to a nice-looking bistro and ordered the pasta and salad Karen had always wanted to try, instead of their usual cheap burger combo.
Seeing Karen's eyes light up as she ate, Shane felt the money was well spent.
Walking off the meal afterward, they passed a brightly lit lottery shop. Karen acted like she'd discovered a new continent and excitedly pulled Shane inside:
"Shane! Let's go buy some scratch-offs! If we hit the jackpot, we can buy a car right now! No, two cars!"
Karen's casual remark struck Shane like lightning!
Right! Lottery tickets! Scratch-offs!
What could be a more perfect excuse?
Winning a small prize to buy a washing machine or a water heater would be completely logical!
And in his memory, scratch-offs in the US around 2010 were already very diverse. Besides cash prizes, there were many promotional tickets where prizes included phones, household appliances, and even cars!
"Babe! You're a genius!"
Shane excitedly hugged Karen and planted a big kiss on her cheek.
They rushed into the lottery shop. Shane spent twenty dollars on ten different scratch-offs. He split them with Karen, and they leaned over the counter to scratch them.
"Ah! So close!"
"What about this one? ...Oh, thanks for playing."
" 'Better luck next time' again!"
...
The results were disappointing. Ten tickets, and not even a break-even prize.
Karen pouted. Shane felt a little let down too, but mostly relieved—not winning this time made "winning" next time seem more realistic.
Leaving the lottery shop, it was already getting late in the afternoon.
After a whole day of walking, Karen was tired.
They needed to take the train back to the South Side and walk home from the station, which would put them right at dinner time. Plus, there was a small party at the Gallagher house tonight, and Karen was coming.
"Let's go, time to head back," Shane said, putting his arm around Karen's shoulder. "See you at the party tonight."
"Mhm!" Karen leaned into him. Not winning the lottery was a bummer, but the whole day of dating had left her satisfied.
On the way to the train station, Shane noticed a large chain supermarket. On a whim, he pulled Karen inside.
"Need to buy something else?" Karen asked curiously.
"Yeah, just a small thing." Shane had a clear goal and walked straight to the electronics and communication services section.
He scanned the shelves and quickly found his target—prepaid SIM cards.
In 2010, smartphones and cheap data plans hadn't fully popularized yet. So, for many teenagers and low-income people like Shane, these "pay-as-you-go" cards that required no credit check were a common choice. Even minors could buy them.
Shane carefully looked at the different denominations and carriers, finally selecting two prepaid SIM cards with decent coverage and value. He also bought the cheapest feature phone available that supported SIM cards (as a backup and cover).
He paid in cash. The whole process was fast and anonymous.
His main purpose for the SIM cards was clear: communication.
To text and call Karen, Fiona, and the others, and to contact magazines or potential future "clients" when needed.
As for using mobile data to upload videos or manage social media accounts?
He didn't even think about it.
In this era, mobile data was not only expensive but also touchingly slow. If he tried to run his "fitness influencer" empire on mobile data, his system funds wouldn't be enough to fill the hole.
"Luckily," Shane calculated, "places like McDonald's and Starbucks have started offering free Wi-Fi."
The signal might be unstable and connecting a hassle, but at least it was free.
He could totally take his laptop and leech off their Wi-Fi.
This was one of the few "perks" of this America.
Pocketing the new SIM cards and the burner phone, Shane solved another practical problem.
Holding Karen's hand, he walked out of the supermarket and joined the growing evening crowd heading toward the train station.
On the train ride back, Karen napped on Shane's shoulder. Shane watched the streetscape fly by outside the window, already planning which appliance he should "win" on a scratch-off next.
...
While Shane was on his sweet date, the other Gallaghers were having very different experiences.
Lip had taken a side job today, going to the south of the city to fix a pipe for a well-preserved older woman.
God knows why Lip was fixing pipes in the dead of winter, but don't ask questions about the King of South Side hookups.
For Lip, this job was a piece of cake and quick cash.
He fixed the leak with practiced ease, moving efficiently and focusing intently.
The homeowner, let's call her Mrs. Brenda, wearing a silk robe, leaned against the doorframe watching Lip's profile. Her eyes held appreciation and... something else.
She poured a glass of water for Lip after he finished, her fingers "accidentally" brushing across the back of his hand.
"Phillip, you're so smart, and you have such capable hands."
Mrs. Brenda leaned in close. "Much better than my useless husband."
Lip raised an eyebrow, took the water, and said, "I'm pretty flexible in other places too..."
"Is that so? Then I'll have to take a good look."
Mrs. Brenda led Lip to the second-floor bedroom.
As for what happened next, we can only guess.
...
Debbie took Liam to Annie's house.
Annie's family was a typical South Side middle-class family—not wealthy, but more stable than the Gallaghers.
Annie's mom was home. Seeing Debbie expertly taking care of Liam, changing his diaper, and feeding him, she praised her:
"Oh, Debbie, you're such a capable little mother now!"
The praise made Debbie very happy.
She always craved recognition, craved playing a "useful" role in the family.
In Annie's living room, holding Liam and watching Annie's mom prepare ingredients the Gallaghers rarely got to eat, complex emotions rose in Debbie's heart.
There was envy for a "normal" family life, but also a mix of pride and bitterness for her efforts to maintain the "motherly role" in the Gallagher house.
Debbie was careful not to show it, just hugging Liam tighter.
And Carl?
Did Carl actually stay home and behave?
The answer is: in a sense, yes.