One stop back-to-school
It was the last weekend before the new school year, and the Patel-Jones household was in full back-to-school mode. The dining table – usually a place for meals and family chatter – was buried under a chaotic assortment of notebooks, half-checked supply lists, and stray sticky notes. With four kids spanning primary, intermediate, college and university, the logistics of getting everyone ready felt like planning a military operation.
Amara, the eldest at 18, was heading to university in about a month. She had big dreams of studying environmental science, and as she sat cross-legged on the couch, scrolling online through laptop options, her younger siblings buzzed around her like bees.
“Mum, I need new sports shoes!” called nine-year-old Ravi, bouncing on one foot to demonstrate the hole in his current sneakers.
“And my pencil case from last year is embarrassing,” said 11-year-old Priya, her arms crossed dramatically for emphasis. “It has unicorns on it! I’m practically a teenager now.”
Sixteen-year-old Zane, smirked from his bedroom doorway. “Don’t worry, Priya. Unicorns are timeless.” He ducked as Priya chucked a cushion at him.
Their parents, Meera and David, exchanged amused looks as they stood over the dining table with their shared master list.
“All right team,” Meera said, clapping her hands. “We’re hitting Albany Mega Centre this weekend. Everything we need is there, so let’s divide and conquer.”
Round One
The family piled into their trusty SUV bright and early on Saturday morning. The Albany Mega Centre stretched out like a shopper’s paradise, with store after store promising back-to-school deals and everything they needed for the school year.
Their first stop was Warehouse Stationery. Priya made a beeline for the shelves of trendy pencil cases while Ravi zigzagged down the aisles grabbing bright packs of markers and notebooks with dinosaurs on the cover.
“Mum! Can I get this glitter gel pen set? It’s on sale!” Priya pleaded, holding up a rainbow-hued pack. David chuckled, loading up the cart with essentials like refill pads and highlighters. “Fine, but only if you promise to use them for actual schoolwork.”
Next up was Noel Leeming. Amara spent what felt like forever choosing the perfect laptop for her university studies, weighing specs, sizes, and, of course, colours.
“This one has extended memory, Mum, so it’s super-fast,” she said, pointing at a sleek silver model.
“And expensive,” David muttered under his breath, though he gave her a nod of approval.
Meanwhile, Zane picked out noise-cancelling headphones for college. “Can’t focus in the library without these,” he said with a grin, slipping them into the cart.
Round Two
After a quick lunch at Burger King, the family tackled clothing. With three growing kids and Amara’s need for 'grown-up' university outfits, this was a marathon.
Ravi and Zane sprinted toward Hallensteins, Zane proclaiming that Ravi was too young to buy from the store he was buying from. Zane tried on jeans and T-shirts, occasionally asking his sisters for feedback. David wondered what this had to do with school but didn’t voice his internal reservations.
Amara, meanwhile, took her time in Cotton On, picking out blouses and a blazer. “First impressions matter,” she said, holding a navy jacket up to the mirror. “I’ll need this for presentations.”
Meera and David were busy managing receipts and sorting through everyone’s picks. “Do you think we need a second mortgage?” David joked, surveying the overflowing carts.
The Final Push
Sunday’s mission was all about odds and ends. Back at Albany Mega Centre, the family hit up Rebel Sport for Ravi’s sports shoes, and somehow came away with a basketball and a cricket bat too.
In The Warehouse, Priya insisted on getting a desk organiser. “A neat desk equals a neat mind,” she declared, mimicking her teacher. Zane snorted. “Your room looks like a tornado hit it.”
By mid-afternoon, the family stopped for coffee and to check their lists. “We’ve got everything, right?” Meera asked.
“I think so,” David said, scrolling through their now-crumpled master list. “Shoes, clothes, stationery, electronics, backpacks…” Ravi tugged on his mum’s sleeve. “Can I get an ice cream to celebrate?”
As they headed home, six exhausted bodies, David and Meera reflected on their shopping adventure. “Albany Mega Centre really does have everything,” Meera said, leaning back in her seat. “And it’s way easier than driving all over town,” she added.
By the time they got home, the chaos of unpacking and organising awaited, but for now, the family was content. They’d survived the great back-to-school shopping weekend, and even managed to have a little fun along the way.
David was just grateful that back to school only happened once a year!