Short Story from around the WORLD: The Red and Gold Shoe part 6/7

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?"

She held out her foot, turning the ankle a bit to let them all get a good look. The shoe wasn’t a good fit. In fact it hurt a bit-but for the sensation it was causing it was well worth a pinched toe or two.

"It's beautiful pair of shoes," someone breathed.

“But there's only one !" burst out the simple-hearted Joseph before Lata could stop him. Only one? How silly! Only one shoe! Shoes always come in pairs, don't they?

“Yes, but this isn't for walking in. It’s a shoe for show,” chattered Joseph, for all this sudden success had quite gone to his little head.

"Hear that!" sneered the sweetseller's daughter. "Only one shoe and that only for show! You should know all about that, O Legless One !"

Poor Joseph's face fell, for he always felt sensitive about his sorry legs.

"It is too!" cried Lata stoutly. "It's not for walking. See?"

Slipping it off she turned it over to show them the underside still smooth and unsoiled. And inside there was a soft sole of gray felt. "It's a shoe only for show."

It certainly was, and she was not going to waste her time arguing with anyone who refused to believe the evidence of his eyes "Have you ever seen anyone walking in such shoes?" Along the dusty lanes of their shantytown? Through the slush by the water tap, and the coal dust, and the litter, and the cattle droppings? Of course they hadn't!