The Best Shoe Sales(wo)man in Town

We drift across that strange country called the United States, until we settle on a small midwestern town. Once, there were a lot of towns like this all across the US, but most have faded as people have moved away to big cities. But this town has held on, becoming something like a living memorial to a bygone age. As we get closer, we see that there is a row of business on either side of the main street. We continue to get closer, centering our attention on a shoe store. From the outside, it seems like just another shoe store, but you can already guess that is going to change, because if it didn’t, we wouldn’t be here.

Inside, there is a young woman, whose name is Fiona. She’s not having a good day, as she has been comparing the bills to the sales slips, and realizing that the bills side is larger.

She had been thrust into ownership of the store only a month earlier when her father unexpectedly died, and now it seemed like she was going to have no choice but to disobey his last wish, and close the store.

She wept, and while she was still weeping a little ball of light came through a window, moved around the room, and then settled on the table beside her.

The ball of light flared, blinding Fiona for a moment, and when she could see again, standing on the table was a figure. It was about two feet tall with a long white beard, and was wearing what appeared to be a mushroom as a hat.

In fact he looked exactly like a garden gnome, the kind of ceramic piece of “art” some people buy.

“Greetings, Lass,” it said.

“What, who are you?” Fiona stammered.

“I be a gnome, of course. I canna tell you my name, as we Fair Folk do not let go of them easily” it replied.

“I must be dreaming - or crazy!” Fiona exclaimed.

“Nay, Lass. I be real, and I be here to help ye” the gnome replied.

“Assuming I believe you, why would you help me?” Fiona asked.

“We gnomes have a soft spot for shoemakers, and your clan was always respectful back in the old country. So I want to do ye a good turn. But I see ye are still unsure, so let me show you. They say the proof is in the pudding - or in this case the selling. Ye will have many a customer, starting tomorrow. But for now, go to bed, lass, and you will see what the morning brings.” the gnome said.

Fiona found herself obeying, going upstairs, putting on her nightgown, crawling into her bed, and falling asleep in moments.

The next morning, Fiona got dressed, and went downstairs to the shop. No sooner had she flipped the sign on the door from “closed’ to “open”, a young man came in, asking for a pair of formal shoes.

“Got a job working at the Tower” He said.

The Tower was probably the biggest reason the town had held on when so many other towns had faded away. Fiona, like most of the townsfolk, had no real idea just what the company that owned and ran the Tower did, but the general feeling was one shouldn’t inquire too closely, lest the whole thing disappear like an illusion does once it is disbelieved.

Fiona went to the back, and found herself drawn to a shoebox. Unable to stop herself, she came back out with the box, and opened it in front of the young man to reveal that inside was a pair of black pumps with a 3 inch heel.

Standing back, Fiona waited for the young man to throw a fit, or at least ask if she was pulling his leg, giving those heels to try on. But he nodded, stripped off his socks, put on a pair of ankle high nylons the store gave away for people trying on such shoes, and stepped into the heels.

He walked around in the heels for a minute, and then paid for the shoes and left.

A minute later, another young man came in, looking for new shoes for his brother’s wedding, and left with a pair of strappy sandals with a 2 inch heel.

And then more men came in, and left with a pair of women’s shoes, seemingly unbothered or unaware of any issue regarding them.

Finally, it was closing time, and when Fiona went to calculate the profit she had made that day, she discovered she had made enough to pay all the bills that were due plus enough left over to guarantee she could keep the shop running for the foreseeable future.

She put the money in the safe, and then went upstairs. Waiting for her was the gnome, standing on her kitchen table.

“Well, did I deliver, or did I deliver?” the gnome asked.

“I must admit you did,” Fiona responded, “But why did they all buy high heeled shoes?”

“Well, you should know as well as anyone, women’s shoes cost more. And I wanted to maximize the money you could make today” the gnome answered.

“But they are going to get into trouble!” Fiona exclaimed.

“Did they seem troubled to you?” The gnome asked.

“Well, no,” Fiona replied, “But what will happen when they are around other people?”

“Same thing that happened to them,” The gnome said, “nobody is going to notice anything strange.”

“So what happens now?”

“Well, there be a lot of men in this town that need a bit more glamor in their footwear. You and I will see they get it.”

“As long as no one gets hurt” Fiona stated.

The gnome only grinned . . .

The next day started out the same, but by noon the men were also buying stockings of various lengths, everything from anklets all the way to full pantihose and tights.

The day after that her clients also wanted purses and accessories from her small selection of jewelry as well.

Fiona was sure she was going to run out of what the men wanted, but every time there was a request she found the ideal item waiting in the back.

*****

In the Feywild, a group of gnomes held a meeting, and the one who had visited Fiona was boasting.

“What a trick!” He shouted, “A whole town full of men in pretty shoes, who could top that”

The others applauded, but some started planning how they could do even better . . .

End.