They bought a shoe rack when they moved into the house. Before the kids, Mrs.Shoe and Mr.Daniel Shoe had three cubbies each. One for their work shoes, one for their sneakers, and one for their nice shoes.
When Mickey came and grew, she had to give up the top left spot where her work heels were. Which was ok, because she became a stay at home mom. They went into a nice box in the closet instead, and that was just as well.
Then Daphne came and took the middle left, where her sneakers had been. Chasing after the two children in her house slippers was enough of an exercise so it was fine that the sneakers went and joined her work heels in the closet.
The twins took the bottom two spots, where they had kept their nice going out shoes. But Daniel and Mrs.Shoe didn’t go out anymore, not with four kids and no money for a babysitter. So it really wasn’t upsetting to retire them. Besides, Daniel gave up his sneakers slot so she could put her sneakers back out. The groceries wouldn’t get themselves.
Lacey’s birth had been difficult, unplanned, and complicated. Mrs.Shoe was released after a week, Lacey after a month in the NICU. She needed full time care, so they got their groceries online now. Daniel took back his spot. Why would she need it if she only wore her house slippers? Which was fine. She could still look at them, take them out of the closet and remember when she used them.
They sold her shoes one day. When they were late on a payment for Lacey’s hospital bills. She didn’t need them. It was fine. She looked at shoes online knowing she’d never buy them.
She found, once, a pair of heels that looked exactly like a pair she’d worn back in her 20s. She hadn’t gone to college but she’d had a friend who did, and who invited her to college parties. They had gotten matching heels, black sleek ones that her friend insisted were sexy and that neither of them could walk in. They’d fallen over each other in those heels, laughing and trying to stay upright. They’d practice walking in them, in the apartment they’d shared. Even so they ended up carrying those shoes and walking home barefoot whenever they went out, laughing and swinging them at their sides. She’d met Daniel in those shoes, at a party when her friend was just about to graduate. She’d had a choice then.
They sold her shoes.
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Spring break! Too bad I’m sick bleh. I got a care package from my friend though! No return address, but it showed up at my door just like that pin from New Year’s. I know she’d never take credit for it though, she’s too humble. She even insisted she didn’t give me that super thoughtful pin. Anyways, despite my sickness I am taking a much needed break from school, and enjoying every minute that I can, I even took off work for a few days. Hope you are all doing well!
Your Faithful Scrivener, and Scout, Lorelai Harper