The Red and Gold Shoe
The Red and Gold Shoe part 6/7
That evening Lata sat with one leg neatly folded under her, while the other hung down wearing the red and gold shoe. She swung her leg back and forth so that from the corner of an eye she could see it flash out. And sometimes she held her leg stiffly out before her as she'd forgotten to swing it back. As she had hoped, she soon had a small knot of children gaping at her where she sat, though she pretended not to notice them.
"Where did you get such a grand pair of shoes?" asked one of the children in astonishment.
Lata didn't answer or even turn her head from watching the game of tipcat; but she was aware that more children were running across to join the crowd, until the sweetseller's daughter, who was then the rajah, was left perched alone on Janak Seth's feet and feeling very annoyed about it. Finally, she climbed down and pushed her way through the others to stand before Lata and Joseph.
Where did you get them? Is it real gold-all that thread?
Who gave them to you? For a while Lata enjoyed the sensation and then she and
Joseph looked at each other and smiled all over their faces, the way we do when we're very pleased about something and don't care who knows it.
"My grandmother bought them for me,,, Lata said serenely, pulling her shabby skirt straight to make sure that the other foot was well hidden from view.
"My father could buy a dozen such shoes," sniffed the sweetseller's girl.
"Perhaps," responded Lata, “but he hasn't done so yet, has he?"
