“I don’t like the heel.”
“It’s tiny.” Mum claimed. “Do they fit OK?”
“They’re a bit tight?”
“A bit tight or very tight?”
“A bit.”
“On the toe & heel or on the sides?”
I flexed my foot and wiggled my toes as best I could. “A bit of both I guess.”
“Hmm.” Mum said as I sat and she crouched. The shoes were removed and Mum asked. “What do you think?”
“I think I’d prefer deck shoes.”
“Did you find any?” she asked. I shook my head. “Well these will do I suppose.”
“They were a bit tight.” I claimed as I pulled my trainers back on.
“I think they’ll be OK.” Mum supposed. I browsed the toys and games whilst Mum queued for the tills.
The drive from the city back to our village takes about an hour-and-a-quarter and I spent every moment having second thoughts about saying yes to the dress. And the shoes! Although technically I didn’t say yes to those… Mum just bought them for me. When we arrived home, Mum wasted no time unpacking my dress and asked me if I wanted to try it. “Well… not really but… I guess I’ll have to.” I sheepishly reply.
“I got these too… whilst you were in that role playing shop.” she said.
“Tights!” I gulped.
“Well it was either these or white knee socks.” Mum said. “And given the time of year… I figured tights would be better.”
With help and encouragement from my mother, I was soon wearing the navy blue sailor dress, the white tights and my new shoes. The buckles were really fiddly so Mum fastened them for me, then she stood me up to have a look. “Does it feel as bad as you’d imagined?” she asked.
“It’s OK I guess.” I timidly replied. “These tights feel weird though.”
“And the shoes, do they fit better now?” Mum asked. I wiggled my toes and flexed my feet and nodded. “I had a feeling they would.” After a short silence in which my mother smiled down on me and I looked down at myself, Mum asked if I wanted to keep it on for a while, “…or are you desperate to take it off.”
“Nah I’ll keep it on for a bit… if that’s OK.” I said.
“Of course it’s OK.” Mum grinned. “Come on, let’s watch TV.”
