Mum went in and came straight back with the fitted black jacket I’d worn for the meeting. “Thanks.” I said as I took it from her. I stood up and put it on, then looked down at myself. I know it sounds silly but I felt really grown up. I should have been thinking ‘yikes I’m wearing women’s clothes‘ but I didn’t, well… not much anyway.

Mum appeared with a glass in each hand. “You look like you’re preparing to go for an interview.” she grinned, passing me my spritzer. I took it, bashfully smiled and sat. “So, Miss Jones… what interests you about the role you’ve applied for?” Mum said in her official voice.

I played along. “Meeting people, facing new challenges and…” I couldn’t think, so gave up trying.

“The dress code?” my mother suggested as she cast her eyes over my fitted black pencil skirt, slender hairless calves and high heeled court shoes.

I just grinned and took a sip of my wine. I say wine, it’s a spritzer, and a weak one at that. “I was lying about meeting people.” I said. “I don’t think I’d live it down if any of my friends knew about this.”

“Well they needn’t know.” Mum replied. She picked up her fags and lit one. “You know… you could work for me… part time.” she suggested. “I’d pay you… and if you are going to go to college part time…” she rambled.

“Would there be a dress code?” I cautiously asked. My hand slid over my skirted lap and my mother’s eyes followed it.

“Only if you want one.” she replied.

“Don’t you need a some new clients before you start taking on staff?” I asked. “We have just lost one remember.”

“You see that’s why I think you’d be good.” Mum said. “You think of the practicalities. Plus you can answer the phone, do the filing, scan and print… and you tell me when I’m embarking on some stupid endeavour like pretending I’ve got a personal assistant.”

“But you didn’t listen.” I smugly stated.

“Well next time, I will.” she said. She sipped her wine, smiled at me and said that it’s at least something to think about. “You did say you might get a little shop job or something, when you start college.” she added. “A little office job might be right up your street.”

“Or just down the stairs if its here.” I grinned. We soon finished our glasses and went indoors.

Mum made us a cup of tea and I slumped on arm chair in the sitting room. I removed my heels and stretched my toes into the deep carpet. “You finally took them off then.” mum said when she entered.

“I’m finally indoors.” I smiled, wiggling my toes and arching my feet.

“You did well to keep them on as long as you did.” Mum said as she sat. “Most women kick them off at every opportunity.”

“Well I did take my heels out and give my toes a wiggle every now and then.” I said.

“I noticed. Anyone would think you’d been wearing them for years.”

I looked at the high heeled court shoes I’d worn all day. “I guess they do look harder to walk in than they actually are.” I said. “And I quite liked being a bit taller.” I added.

“Ah so that’s why you kept them on.” Mum replied. I smiled and said I kept them on because we’ve been outside all evening. “You should have said… you could have worn these instead.” she said, kicking out a pair of her flats from beneath the coffee table.

“Ah it’s OK.” I said. “I guess I felt ‘in character’ with my heels.” I explained as I looked at the flat black ballerina style pumps. “But I guess I’d have felt the same in those.” I added as I noticed the little bow on the front and the shimmering satin fabric.

“Try them if you want.” mum said, shoving them closer to me with a stockinged foot.

I slid my feet into them and stood up. “These are comfy.” I said.

“That’s why everyone wears them.” Mum replied. “And they fit in a handbag.”

“Ah!” I said, “So they wear heels to the office and these when they get there?” Mum nodded. “And there was me thinking they wear heels all day long.”

“Well some do… if they can stand them all day long… like you.”

“I think I prefer these now.” I said as I admired the dainty little black slippers on my feet.

“You’ll have to get some.” mum said. “Although I’ll warn you… it’s a slippery slope… once you start buying shoes you’ll never stop.”