The shoes that eat socks

The sun flooded into the room through the curtains waking Mary from her sleep.  
She turned with a groan and a stretch wondering what adventures could happen on this lovely day.  With a roll and a second stretch for good measure she made her way down the stairs for breakfast.

  “Good morning mum” said Mary with a cheerful smile.

“Morning Mary” said a sleepy mum while she tried to feed Joe. 

Mary made herself some of her favorite cereal and sat down to enjoy it while thinking about all of the brilliant adventures she could get up to on such a beautiful day.

“Would you like to go around the shops today” asked mum snapping Mary out of her day dream. 

“No” replied Mary with a scowl and a frown, why would I want to go shopping on such a lovely day she thought to herself.

“Well you need some new shoes for school.  You cannot wear your red trainers they are and falling apart and are far too small for you.” Stated mum with a scowl of her own.

What rubbish thought Mary they fit perfectly she thought in a huff as she got up from her chair and headed upstairs to get dressed. 

Mary put on her favorite pair of jeans with the red stitching detail on the pockets, with a red t-shirt and her caramel cardigan.  She brushed her curly hair carefully, she didn't like it when mum did it she was too quick and didn't undo the tugs she just brushed through them which hurt.  Once all the hair was brushed and sort of organised.  
The search was on for the least holey pair of socks.  This was where it got difficult.  All of her socks had at least one hole in them; it could be at the toe or the heel or both.  It took a while but she found 2 socks that almost matched and only had wee holes which Mary hoped wouldn't be seen by mum or anyone else.  Mary wondered down the stairs and grabbed her favorite shoes.  She picked up the left shoe.  She always but on the left shoes first as it was the most fragile one, it had a big crack in the side and possibly a hold at the front that Mary tried her best to hide.  Next it was on to the right shoe which also had a tear and a possible new hole. Darn thought Mary maybe mum is right, but these are the best shoes I’ve ever had she thought with a frown.

Just as Mary stood up, she heard mum coming out of her bedroom with Joe all ready to head into town.  Mum and Joe got down the stairs and mum put Joe into the pushchair and mum found her coat and passed Mary her jacket too.  Mary put on her jacket as mum prepared everything they would need for the day. 

Mary opened the door and slowly walked down the garden path with a sad face.  She didn't want to get new shoes.  Mum followed her and they all se off for town with Mary walking slowly behind.  It didn't matter how slowly Mary walked.  They were in town in no time and headed for the shiny shoe shop on the corner.

It was bright.  Lots of lovely new shoes lined the walls on shelves.  So many Mary couldn't decide where to look first.  Mum went over to the counter and returned with a lady to help.  The lady had a big smile and was holding a wooden device. 

“Good morning” the lady said with a cheery voice, “how are you today?  I hear you might be getting some new shoes.  My name is Emily and I’m going to find you the best pair” stated the lady joyfully.  

“First we need to find the perfect size for you” with that the lady grabbed her device and asked Mary to sit down so she could measure her feet.  

Thank goodness thought Mary, thank goodness she had made the effort to find the most hole less socks.  Mary popped her foot on the device one at a time as Emily instructed while garbling some story.  Emily then rushed off and returned with several pairs of shoes for Mary to try on.  Mum selected the first pair.  

They were very boring thought Mary, just black but they did have Velcro to tie them together.  Emily put them on Mary and let her tie them up with the Velcro, then asked her to stand up.  Mary stood up; she couldn't understand why Emily had her thumb by her big toe or why she made her bang her heel on the floor first.  “I’m just checking these shoes are the right fit for you” stated Emily almost reading Mary’s mind.  Mary hoped she couldn't, she didn't want her to know she wasn't very fond of this pair.  

“Could you walk to the back of the shop and come back to me please” Emily requested.  

Mary did as she was told.  She got back to where her mum and Emily were sitting “how did you get on? Did they fit alright?” asked mum and Emily in unison “they are fine, a bit roomy but fine” stated Mary.  

“How about we try a few more pairs to make sure we have the perfect one’s for you” Emily said with a big smile.  Mary tried on so many more shoes, some were good, some were a bit rubbish and some were just bad. 

Mary was starting to get frustrated and Joe was starting to get bored.  

Just when they had all started to give up Emily took over the last pair of shoes.  They were still black but they had pink and purple stitching on them and even a wee butterfly on the side.  They were lace up ones.  Mary didn't mind she had just learnt how to do her laces up herself, dad had shown her with a song. 

“Hands are dancing hands are dancing, then criss cross, than criss cross.  One of them goes under, one of them goes over then pull through, then pull through.“

Then he made two bunny ears out of the loops with the laces and the song changed to

“Bunny ears are dancing, bunny ears are dancing, one of them goes under, one of them goes under then pull through then pull through”

And we’re done, you've tied up your own laces he said with delight.  

Mary tried on the last pair of shoes on.  Emily did all the tests, checking there was enough space at the front and making sure Mary wouldn't get blisters on her heels from the back.  Then advised her to walk back and forth again to double check. 

Mary was delighted.  These fitted beautifully, they didn't pinch her toes and didn't nip at her heels like her other ones did.  These were super; so comfortable to walk in maybe she could even run or jump in them too.  She was sure she would still be able to climb in them.  

“Can I have these ones please mum?” Mary asked her mum with hope.  

“Of course” mum said with a smile, Joe was even giggling in his pushchair.  Mary thought he liked them too.  

Emily asked if Mary would like to keep them on or if she would like to keep them all new and shiny for school?.  Mary asked for them to be popped back into the box so she could surprise her friends when she went for their first day at school together.  

With delight all round, mum paid for the shoes and they all thanked the staff at the shoe shop and headed home with big smiles on everyone's faces, but mostly Mary's she couldn't wait to show dad.

 THE END

©Joanne Hepburn 

5 things I love

for some reason I thought I would share 5 things I love,

1. Firstly obviously I love shoes, and shoes that fit properly.  It makes it so much easier to walk, run even skip and not get any dreaded blisters.  I love shoes in many variety's, sandals, trainers oh how I love trainers they are super comfortable (I have a few, OK lots of pairs).  Dress shoes for posh parties and dinners, boots.   Knee high boots with dresses, jeans, leggings all sorts I have 3 pairs black beige and grey, and they all have brilliant grips so I can even wear them in winter.  Do Slippers count as shoes?  Well they do now I love my slipper boot things too.   Flats, flat shoes you can wear anywhere, even excellent to pack and take on holiday because they take up nearly no space in your case
2. Food, I love food, I have to try and be really good because I really could eat all day.  I love sweet foods chocolate, candy, cake muffins, doughnuts so many super yummy things.  I also love savory foods like crisps nuts just as they are or salted or spiced, I love casseroles, curry, pasta, potatoes, sausages I love a lot of food I have to stop It's too much my head might burst before my tummy does.
3. I love clothes, I really do love clothes, I wish I had a bigger wardrobe but if I did it still would be crammed with things I don't wear.  You see I used to get ri of lots of things, i'd donate them to charity then a few months later wonder where a certain item was!  So I try not to do that anymore unless I can assure myself that I haven't worn said item in however many months, OK years and it really doesn't suit me or make me feel good then and only then will I let it go, but I still love it.
4. Reading, I enjoy reading, this is quite new.  At first I thought I just like reading magazines and thought it was mostly for looking at the pictures of fashion and amazing destinations for holidays.  But when I get a kindle so I could read on my lunch breaks at work I realized 30 minutes really isn't enough I want to get to the end I want to know what happens I need to find out why, how everything.  I find really brilliant writers take you into a fascination world, their world and allow your imagination to add to it with their words to prompt you to set the scene, i love it.
5. My husband and friends.  I adore my husband for many reasons but mostly because he puts up with me and my crazy ideas, the same goes for my friends.  I have been friends with most of the people closest to me for a long long time, some even since I was 3!  Anyone who knows me knows I am not a very good people person I find most people now-a-days are rude and only out for themselves.  I am sure we are all the same and we can all say the same, sometimes when things are not going right or its just a rubbish day.  But I always try to be polite and friendly to everyone just not if I'm in a bad mood.

What things do you love and why?

©Joanne Hepburn 2014

shoes with teeth!

What would you do if your shoe had teeth?

Would it be a friendly shoe? Or a big scary shoe that eats all your socks when you’re not looking.  It could be a shoe that has been decorated with teeth to make it look super scary (but doesn't really have teeth) or it could be a shoe or a boot that has maybe gotten a bit too small so although it doesn't have teeth your socks might not agree.

I think shoes with teeth drawn on them would be super cool.  They would be brilliant for dressing up on Halloween and maybe so scare your wee brothers and sisters for a bit. but real teeth, maybe not.  I would be scared to tie up my shoe laces or even to put my foot into the shoe in case I got bitten. 

 Oh my poor socks, I should just get shoes that fit maybe without teeth, well maybe.

What would you prefer? 

©Joanne Hepburn 2014

shoe eating sock'

This could be a real problem!

Well a real problem for my mum when I was still wee anyways.  When shoes don't fit properly or when you refuse to get bigger shoes for your growing feet, your socks might pay the ultimate price!  Adults can mend them but they can and/or will only do that for so long.  When your shoes keep attacking your socks a resolution must be found before holey socks start taking over the house.

I found the issue was that the best pair of shoes ever where no-where to be found!  Also my pair were so comfortable and I had made them just right for me with the way I walked in them they adjusted to be perfect to support me.  Weather I was climbing trees or building forts or playing football or hockey the shoes had to be comfortable so I could do all that and not have sore feet.  So finding another pair quite as awesome was going to be hard to find.  

Thankfully now I don't have the same issues as I have stopped growing (or at least I hope I have) so all my shoes will fit me for a rather long time.  But back when I was growing up the same could not be said, if anything could take the fun out of being a child this could be it.

I don't think it matters if you are a wee girl or a wee boy, all children have their favourite pair of shoes that are super comfortable and super cool.  Why would anyone want to get rid of those?

Well sometimes when they start to hurt them maybe they might agree and the socks will agree too, so will the adults less to mend.  But if you think you will not grow that quickly or you could just make them fit you might end up with the dreaded blister!

Blisters hurt I know I've had a few and they just spoil the fun.  The only solution to avoid blisters is to wear some socks (with no holes) and a pair of shoes or boots that fit you properly so you can have the best adventures ever!  Even if you love to sit and read instead of climbing trees or football etc you will still be a lot happier in shoes that fit.

I didn't want to get new shoes because I hadn’t seen my shoes in any of the shoe shops anymore, meaning I couldn't just get the same ones but a little bit bigger.  This was going to be awful, or so I thought until the lovely helpful shoe ladies and gent's walked over to help me and mum.  I remember the selection being massive I had so much choice, some were cool some, erm, not so much.  It took me ages but I found not just one pair but two.  One for school, not cool, and one for climbing, running, playing and other super brilliant things I wanted to do.  This memory is the one that I keep and might be the reason I might have a few more pairs of shoes taking p some, OK a lot of apace in my hallway.

Do you have any stories and memories of shoes? I would love to know.

©Joanne Hepburn 2014

what am I doing here?

Good morning, 

Hope you are all ready to start the day just think we are so close to the weekend.

I thought I better get this idea out there just to see if I am properly crazy or if it makes just a wee bit of sense.

I have wanted to write a book for a while, not an adult friendly book but a brilliant children's book.  Kids know what happens in the world, they even try to make this world seem like fun, and if it’s not to make it that way!  How blooming brilliant, why can’t we all stay kids?

Anyway I digress, I get easily distracted.  I had this idea when I got some new shoes.  Delighted you might think lovely lady getting some cool new shoes, but after a day walking around in my new shoes getting home all tired and taking them off to put on my super cozy slippers.  What do I see?  Not just one but two wee holes in my socks where my toes are trying to escape!  You see I didn't really take the time you should to make sure they were the right fit for me and I put them on so quick I didn't give them time to "break in" as my mum would say. This was the genius idea of a children's story came from, my own silly shoes.

I remembered having a certain pair of burgundy red shoes as a child that I loved and wore everywhere.  I wore them so much they started to get a bit tired and beginning to fall apart.  I was also growing and they may have gotten tighter as my feet grew but they were the best and I certainly didn't want to get rid of them.  That was until I had to get some new shoes for school!

I didn't want to go to school.  Why would anyone want to go to school?  I wanted to play all day, well maybe not on rainy days unless I was allowed to build a fort in my bedroom or in the living room (with parents permission) but why would shoes matter?  I was trying to play and discover things my way, no need for school or new shoes. 

Anyway back to the point I had an idea to write a book and see if anyone else had experienced these issues.  I thought it might be pretty interesting to see if they did or if they had found any better ways to solve such a pressing dilemma. 

©Joanne Hepburn 2014