| Beth was wearing her brand new Bass Weejuns to school for the first time. She decided her old loafers had reached the end. To tell the truth, she was becoming a little more sensitive to how she looked, especially around the boys. Today she was wearing a pleated brown plaid skirt, white blouse, and beige cardigan. The sweater matched her cable knit knee high socks. Her new antique brown penny loafers were the crowning touch. Being new they were a little stiff and a little snug, but they'd loosen up as they got broken in. It was 1962, a beautiful spring day, and summer vacation was very close. Beth was enjoying a joint sorority/fraternity outing with her friends, talking and exchanging the latest news, with boys becoming the latest topic. Her friend Amanda actually made out with Tony (from the hottest fraternity) last week. Several fraternities and sororities at their university had chosen this quiet county park to have a peaceful cookout social event. Today Amanda wanted to swing, just like a grade school girl, Beth thought, but she went along and climbed into the swing next to Amanda. One of their sorority sisters, Ann, came up with Barbara as they started swinging and offered to push Beth. Barbara started pushing Amanda. Amanda was wearing her navy jumper with nylons and fairly new navy flats with little leather bows on the front. Ann had a print dress, nylons and very worn penny loafers. There had been rain the previous week and the ground was somewhat wet, especially in the depression that always forms under each swing. It was probably a deep puddle until the water soaked in. Now it was a little soft but not too muddy. Beth didn't want to get her new shoes muddy on their first day! As she went higher and higher, she heard Ann mentioning her shiny shoes. Barbara had very well worn saddle shoes, her legacy from last year's freshman cheer leading squad. The squad had to look good, so worn, scuffed shoes were replaced. Barbara wore those old saddle shoes everywhere: at school with skirts and dresses, at home with jeans or shorts. The white leather was heavily grayed now, the navy saddle and back scuffed as well. Some of the white leather showed red stains from encounters with mud. Beth remembered one Saturday when the four of them played on the banks of a small stream and everyone got muddy up to their knees. Beth's old loafers, Ann's and Amanda's Keds, and Barbara's saddles ended up caked with mud, inside and out. They had found a mucky, sticky spot and they took turns shoving each other into the mud, laughing as first one, then the other, sank up to their ankles in the stuff. It was so sticky that your shoe got pulled off when you tried to pull out of it. Of course Beth's loafers were no match. But the stuff even sucked Barbara's saddle shoe off. No one expected those to pull off, with their sturdy laces. Barbara was the last one whose shoe was sucked off. Her white socks were only muddy above her shoes. Beth promptly pounced on the hapless saddle shoe, pressing it into the mud, and then kicking it out like a football. Before Barbara could get her shoe back it was filled with mud inside and out and had been stomped any number of times as the others did unto the saddle show what they all had done to the other shoes. Her sock was also thoroughly muddied up too from running around chasing after her shoe. Then everyone's focus turned on Barbara's remaining saddle shoe. For some reason she thought it was important to keep that shoe on and her remaining sock dry and clean. For an equally silly reason the others thought it was just as important that the remaining saddle shoe be pulled off and given equal treatment. Barbara's arms were held as the three marched her across the wet ground, each one timing their steps so they could step on the back of Barbara's saddle shoe. In just a couple of tries the shoe was pulled off her heel. Now all they had to do was kick at the back of the shoe and it was soon kicked off her foot. Soon it had been trampled in the mud too, and both socks matched. Barbara was no worse than any of the others; they all had lost their shoes in the mud and had them trampled. It's just that Barbara expected her saddle shoes to be immune. Beth looked at her shiny new loafers as she swung back and forth and imagined wearing these shoes that day. How the others would have pounced on them and not given up until even the penny slot was filled with mud!! Beth tingled a little inside, thinking there must be a little sadist in her to get a thrill out of mucking up a new pair of shoes, though it was just a fantasy. She had not been paying any attention to Ann and Barbara's conversation about her new loafers and Amanda's very nice shoes. Then she felt something touch the back of her foot as she pulled her legs behind her on the backward swing cycle. It felt like someone had grabbed the back of her loafer. The next swing she knew Ann was trying to grab her loafer. It wasn't easy, they fit tight and she was moving so fast it was tricky. Ann wanted to see how Beth's shoes looked on her feet, plus she had a lot of fun stealing Barbara's saddle shoes and playing keep-a-way. Ann also thought it might be fun to embarrass Beth around some of the guys, especially when Beth looked so clean and crisp today. But, darn! These new shoes are so slippery, and she's moving so fast. Here she comes, not now, just a second, NOW! Ann got a good grip and could feel the shoe pull away from Beth's heel. But, she lost hold and Beth swung away with the loafer dangling from her foot. Gotchya now, Ann thought. The next return she'd have that loafer. Barbara had the same thoughts about Amanda's cute flats, and the boys. The flats were slimmer than the loafers, but weren't as tight, as they were cut lower in the scooped out fashion of the 60's. All she had to do was to give one of the shoes a good whack and it would sail off Amanda's foot. Sure enough, off flew the first shoe, so quickly it just dropped to the ground under the swing. Barbara timed well, on Amanda's return seeing she managed to grab the remaining shoe and pull it off, keeping it in her hand! Amanda was yelling for her shoes. As soon as she swung outward, Barbara kicked the shoe on the ground with her foot sending it flying off like a ball. |
| People started getting up to leave. Beth really didn't want to eat lunch; she'd filled up on the pastries. She decided to walk on the beach; she had an hour and a half. Plenty of time. She left the auditorium and took the walkway to the beach.
It felt strange to be here in November, she was used to the summer where you wore sundresses, shorts, T-shirts, sandals, swimsuits. A wooden boardwalk went down to the beach. Beth was relieved to see the tide was out. Yesterday high tide was up to the bottom of the stairs, and she would have had to change into tennis shoes. But, she didn't bring any! She did not know there would be time to walk on the beach, so she only had dress shoes. She found the beach sand firm, though a little wet from the morning's rain. About a quarter mile on she'd left the conference center and motels and the beach was deserted. Not exactly, there was someone a long way ahead. She toyed with thoughts of wading in the surf, getting her shoes wet. But, she just couldn't with these new shoes. So she walked on. She came to an area where there was marsh on the right with a creek draining out into the surf. It had cut a channel about 15 feet wide, but was only a trickle about two feet wide at the center. A rock wall 4 feet high had been built to keep the marsh from washing into the beach. The creek drained through a pipe in the middle of the wall. As Beth approached the wall, the sand slowly turned to a dark, slick muck-like substance, probably washed out of the marsh. Her shoes were sliding in it, though it wasn't deep yet, the closer she got to the stream the softer it seemed and her heels were now sinking in about an inch, so she headed out toward the surf. The sand was firmer. She stopped at the little stream and watched it flow to the ocean for a minute. She dipped the toe of one shoe into the water, which was about 8 inches deep, and kicked it up sending a spray of water. Again the thought flashed through her that she could let her shoe fly off and have to limp after it. Or maybe her shoe would fly straight up, like she'd seen Ann's do at times, and land right in that water. Maybe it would float down to the surf! What would it feel like having to return to the conference wearing only one shoe? Again, that strange tingle. No time, she took a little leap and jumped across the two-foot channel to the other side and continued on. The wind had picked up and was blowing sea foam across the beach. From time to time it drifted across her feet and legs, lightly wetting them. After a while she saw the other person coming her way. It was a woman she'd remembered from the conference. A small, petite pixie blond. As they got closer Beth saw she was also dressed for the conference. She wore a plaid wool jumper in dark reds & browns, white turtleneck, beige cable knit knee socks, and a pair of burgundy low heel shoes. These were that new brand, Aigner that were showing up everywhere. A beautiful burgundy calfskin slip-on called a monkstrap, with a cross-strap and buckle. These had a wingtip toe with perforations around the toe and sides and the cross strap. They had stacked leather heels about 1-1/2 inches high. Beth introduced herself to the woman, who was named Jane. Jane told Beth that she'd found a quiet marsh pool ahead with several beautiful egrets and herons. She walked with Beth to show her. Soon they came to the pool and it was just as Jane said. They sat on an old tree trunk that had fallen and enjoyed the view and birds. Beth pulled off one shoe to brush off the sand and see how wet it had gotten. Jane laughed and said she'd never seen anyone wearing high heels to a beach before. Beth laughed and said she'd never seen anyone wearing high fashion flats on the beach either. The leather soles were wet, and the sides showed a tiny amount. The heels showed more wetness of course. Jane slipped her shoes on and off, twirled them on her feet, dangled them, and let them slip off and fall to the sand where she massaged the bottoms of her sock covered feet over the shoes. Sand got into her shoes from being turned over on the beach and from her socks, which picked up some every time she put them down. They headed back together and came to the wall. To their surprise the tide had come much further in now. It was getting very close to the wall. As they got closer there was no way to avoid getting in the sticky muck unless they wanted to wade out into the surf. Jane laughed; said Beth's pretty new heels were going to get yucked up good. Beth said, "So are your Aigners!" Beth found she was sinking deeper and deeper into the stuff. Then one shoe was sucked off. She didn't lose balance, just reinserted her foot but it was close. She did not want to return to the conference with mucky shoes and tights. Jane was doing better as her heels and soles were wider. But they were getting pulled off by the suction too. The goo was working up the sides and toes of both girls shoes. Beth decided they had to climb up the wall. The rocks were very rough and might offer support. Jane wasn't sure. Beth went first. She found one rock sticking out more than the rest. She stepped up and managed to stand. That wasn't so bad. Then she found a second foothold. Now the top of the wall was at her waist. She gripped the top and tried to get another foothold further up. She could not see her feet now, they were close to the wall and her head was over the top. She felt with her toes, cringing each time her pretty shoes rubbed the rough stone. She knew she was damaging them, but what to do? Again that tiny thrill shot through her but she was too focused to pay it any attention. She found another hold, put her weight on the right foot only to have it slip off and slide down the rock, scraping as it went. She regained her balance tried again, and came a little higher. Then a little more until she managed to get her hands on top and pull herself up. Both shoes scraped the top of the wall as she got her feet under her to stand up. Jane approached the problem a little differently. She took her shoes off, tossed them on top the wall, and went up in her sock feet. Beth wondered, "Now why didn't I think of that?" She envied Jane's pristine shoes. Though they had a dusting of light sand all over, the leather was still shiny new. Beth examined her shoes. The toes were scuffed at the front and sides, but not as bad as she imagined. They'd never be new again, but they will polish up OK. She stood up and when Jane had her shoes on they walked along the wall. She did not know what was ahead; she just didn't want to wade ankle deep in that slimy black stuff. The wall ended in a very large mound of boulders. Marsh on one side, the muck on the other, but the mound was on the other side of the muck. Jane was afraid of the mound, she pulled her shoes off and sat on the wall. Then she jumped into the muck and sank in over her ankles. She squealed when she hit, and walked over to firmer sand at the base of the mound. Beth didn't want to get her tights muddy and was afraid sharp things might be below the surface of the muck. She started climbing down the boulders. This was not too bad, but some of the places she had to step were very narrow, and her shoes kept scraping the rocks. Several times she felt the rock grinding the back of her shoe, from the heel up. She stepped on a patch of sand only to fall through a sand covered wad of seaweed. Her foot was jammed in the hole. Jane could get close enough to see her; Beth was near the bottom of the mound. At Jane's urging, Beth pulled her foot out of the hole leaving her shoe stuck down there. Jane reached up and yanked Beth's other shoe off her foot and said "Now, come down in your tights before you break your neck." Beth did, carefully, and stood at the base of the rocks. Jane climbed up a bit, reached in the hole and started tugging on the stuck shoe. Beth could hear the chain ornament scraping the rocks and the leather making a "shhuck-shhuck" sound every time Ann pulled and pushed on the high heel shoe. Beth cringed at these sounds but felt that little thrill flash through her. Jane still had the other shoe in her hand, but tossed it down to grab with both hands and pull hard. Suddenly Beth's shoe came out of the rocks. Jane handed it to Beth who examined it for damage. The shoe was very scuffed, this time all over. The stacked heel was scraped and gouged. The toe, sides, and back were all covered with abrasions and cuts. Jane laughed, said, "You look like you lost a dear friend." She had tossed her Aigner shoes on the sand while she helped Beth. Now she slipped Beth's scuffed shoe on her mucky sock foot, then slipped Beth's other shoe on while Beth stammered "You're getting my shoes muddy!" Jane only laughed, said "You have great taste in shoes, too bad these are ruined, mud is the least of their problems!" Then she picked up her Aigners and ran down the beach, laughing and kicking sand with Beth's poor heels. Beth ran after her. By the time she caught up Jane had waded into the surf and was soaking her shoes, kicking water and sand. Salt water was squirting out as she walked, with loud squishing and slurping sounds. Jane was laughing, worming the high heels deep into the wet sand, then burying the toes in as deep as she could. Beth was crying, "Look what you've done to my shoes! Give them to me!" But Jane laughed, kicked one shoe off into the surf, and followed with the other shoe. Beth ran and recovered her shoes. She was mad now. Jane's shoes were virtually untouched, she decided Jane was going to have to pay for her fun. That thrill came back stronger as she imagined trashing those shiny new Aigner monkstraps. She looked at her shoes; saw that the leather was a very dark brown, with none of the shine left. The gold chain was scratched badly, and they looked like shed worn them for 10 years walking rocky, gravel roads. She remembered the glint of glee in Jane's eyes as she twisted and pulled her shoe trying to get it out of the rocks - she was having a great time with Beth's shoes! Beth slipped her heels on and walked over to Jane. She said, "I bet I can kick my shoes further than you can!" Then she kicked as hard as she could sending the right shoe flying down the beach. Jane took the challenge as Beth kicked the left shoe over to her to slip on. Jane was focused on kicking as far as she could as Beth crept up behind her. Beth reached out and just as Jane kicked the shoe she grabbed both Aigner shoes from Jane's hand and ran down the beach with them. Jane cried in anger and ran after squealing, "No, not my brand new shoes, please, don't, oh God NO, don't!" But Beth's head start allowed her to slip the shoes on. She felt that thrill stronger as she alternately ran through the surf and drug the toe of Jane's shoes through the wet sand, hard, to remove the finish. She headed for the rocks. Jane had run back to grab Beth's heels, so Beth had plenty of time to climb in the rocks with Jane's shoes on, mercilessly scraping and scuffing them on the rocks. She also waded into the muck, let the shoes get sucked off, and slid them back on making sure each was filled with the black, slimy muck. Jane was mortified when she got close enough to see. Often they who can dish it out cannot take it. She started beating Beth's shoes against the rocks, but they were pretty well done in already. She headed into the surf to soak them more. Beth followed and the two of them splashed in the surf wearing each other's shoes. Soon they called a truce, and exchanged shoes. Both figured the damage was equal. They walked back together and started laughing at how they must look. Jane stepped up to Beth and started stepping on the toes of her shoes and grinding her sandy soles into the leather. Beth did the same to Jane's shoes, each getting the other's shoes a bit more worn and scuffed. They grabbed each other and began kicking at the back of the other's shoe, trying to pull it off again. Soon each one had the other's shoe off and were trampling it, grinding into it with their heel, scraping it in the firm sand. They started laughing uncontrollably at the thought of two grown women acting like 10-year olds. Before they got back Jane pulled off her knee socks and went wading in the surf, washing her legs, feet, shoes, & socks off. Beth followed suite, only she pulled her tights off and washed them. Beth lost one shoe. Their shoes were so wet they just sank to the bottom of the water. She lost sight of one and when she went to where she thought it was it was not there! Jane waded in and helped her look, finally finding it. Jane slipped Beth's high heel on the toe of her shoe and kicked it up and onto the beach toward Beth. At the walkway from the beach was a showerhead and water faucet where they did a final rinse of their shoes and feet to wash off the salt water. Both put their shoes back on bare feet to return to the conference, leaving their hosiery hanging on the wood fence to dry out. Beth asked Jane if she was going to throw her shoes away, and was told no. Jane was going to wear these shoes with jeans and cutoffs, like a pair of old sneakers. Beth said she was going to polish hers up and wear them with jeans or chinos. They sat together at the next session and kept each other informed any time one saw some guy looking at their shoes. Both women made sure they dangled these shoes a lot, slipping them off from time to time. They even switched shoes several times before the evening break. Needless to say, they got a lot of glances! Before the conference was over Jane made Beth promise to bring these shoes and another new pair to next year's conference. She said this was a lot of fun and she'd like to do it again. Beth promised, noticing that pesky little thrill running through her again. |