Shoe Shopping(Alex, Rosealee)

Breathing in the fresh morning air, Alex glanced around the street. For a moment she forgot that she was in a strange place but was quickly reminded by a fancy motor vehicle speeding along on the road. “I sure miss seeing horses,” she muttered aloud. Stepping onto the sidewalk, she decided to take a right and see what was what.

The area was well kept and clean. Colored awnings protruded from various store fronts and wooden signs were on display announcing the name of various establishments. The people seemed friendly enough, not like the first community she had entered upon leaving the seaside. Here the patrons smiled or tipped their head at her. News seemed to travel fast as she caught bits of conversation revealing her identity and purpose. A knot of apprehension settled in her stomach like a rock “what do they want me to do?” She felt sure that all in due time she would have her answer.

Alex was stirred out of her musings by the sight of a slender well dressed woman eagerly gesturing for her to come over. Crossing the street she recognized the woman as one of those who had been gathered in Nelly’s dinning room.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Miss Milds. Come in and we’ll get you fitted for some shoes.” The woman held the door open before Alex with a smile. "Shoe for You" was meticously printed on a sign shaped like a lady's shoe.

Upon entering the shop, the girl was greeted by the aroma of leather and rubber. The smell was so strong that it was almost suffocating. “Do you mind if we leave the door open? I’m not used to smelling so many shoes in one place.”

The blond haired woman put a hand to her red lips to stifle a giggle. “Yes, Miss Milds, we can do whatever you please.” Promptly she retrieved a chair from behind the counter and used it to prop open the door. “Now what kind of shoes do you prefer? We have gym shoes, running shoes, walking shoes” she whisked Alex down an isle filled from floor to ceiling with boxes and colored leather shoes. “Over here we have stilettos, high-heels, and sandals.” They had stopped in the middle of another aisle surrounded on all sides by strange looking ‘shoes’ that reminded Alex of some kind of torture devices.

“People don’t really wear these things, do they?” Alex picked up one of the flimsy shoes and studied it before returning it to its spot.

“No heels then. What kind of shoes were you looking for, Miss Milds?”Asked the pretty woman apparently amused by Alex’s distaste of the fancy shoes.

“Please, lady, my name’s Alex and I’d like it if folks would call me that.” Again the woman stifled a giggle, a habit that was quickly becoming annoying. “As for shoes, I prefer boots, just plain old boots. Do you have those?”

The lady gestured to the back wall, “Right this way, Alex.” Alex followed the woman to the area indicated. Lining the entire back wall were every sort of boot imaginable – high boots, low boots, spiked heel and no heel, some with fur, some with shiny plastic. Alex looked over the wall carefully, her heart sinking as she neared the end.

“Don’t you like any of them?” Asked the woman with a hurt expression on her painted face. Obviously she was used to satisfying her customers.

“These don’t look like the boots I’m used to.” Glancing down the row she began pointing out various characteristics that she was looking for in the hopes that the woman could help her.

When Alex had finished her description, the shop owners face lit up with relief, “Why those are cowboy boots! Why didn’t you just say so in the first place?” Grabbing Alex by the hand she hurried to a small section on the far wall of the store. There in front of them were about twenty different pairs of western boots ranging in size and color.

“Now this is a boot,” remarked Alex as she picked up one of the selections.

After being sized, Alex finally slipped on a pair of black mid-calf leather western boots. Smiling with satisfaction she announced that these were the ones.

“Let’s find you some socks and you’ll be on your way.” Relieved at finding the right foot wear for the girl the woman left Alex sitting in a chair as she retrieved a package of white socks. “Here you go,” she said handing over the package, “you can go ahead and slip on a pair now so you can walk out of the store with proper foot cover.”

Alex gladly did as the woman directed. She smiled at the sensation of the warm socks on her cold feet. Sliding her feet into the new boots, Alex stood up feeling much more confident in her looks. “How much do I owe ya?”

“Not a single knout. You’re doing all of us a service, this is my way of repaying you,” she said as she guided Alex to the door. “You come back any time, and maybe one day you’ll walk out of here in a pair of heels.”

Alex felt guilty about not paying for the merchandise but she didn’t want to offend the lady either. Waving farewell and muttering a thank you, she left the woman smiling at the door. There was no denying that the boots felt great. Walking more comfortably now, Alex proceeded to scope out the area. Spotting a quaint little diner, Alex decided to stop in for some lunch and try to hear what was going on in town.