Old slippers

We all know the story of the favorite shoes, but what happens when your slippers get too small, old, too tatty? Lets find out.

These were not Mary’s, no these belonged to mum.

They were the first thing mum put on in the morning followed by the trusty dressing gown.  

The slippers guided her through all the chaos of the kitchen, boiling over kettles and pans. 

Tripping over empty food wrappers. 

Trudging bin bags out to the wheelie bin returning with little tufts of grass stuck in the rips of the comfiest slippers. 

Catching the mailman in the rain only to return back into the house all soggy. 

All toast crumbs that missed everyone’s plates only to end up on the carpet and get stuck in the slipper wool.

“It might be time to find some new slippers” muttered dad.

“No need, the ones I have are absolutely fine, they will last for a long time yet,” advised mum thinking out loud.

“We need to go to town anyway to pick up a few things I’m sure a wee look in the shops to see if they have any possible upgrades wouldn’t hurt,” offered dad.

“We’ll see,” shrugged mum.

It was a beautiful day, the shops were quiet as everyone seemed to be at the beach enjoying the sun or away visiting but Mary loved it so did mum, lots of space and no rushing or being pushed away from the ever growing ques round  tills.

Dog food collected for Granny’s dog buster, Hamster food picked up for Cousin Sarah’s new pet.  Some new tops for Joe, he was growing at some pace now.  New socks for dad, new school shirts for Mary without pen ink on the pockets.

Just as mum thought she was escaping undetected, there they were.   A wall filled with slippers, more than you have ever seen.  Little fluffy sandal type slippers, mule style slippers, slip-on slippers, mini boot slippers, even rubber sole bottomed slippers.

“Wow what a range,” commented dad.

“I don’t need any of these the ones I have are fine,” assured mum.

“OK, nodded dad.”

A few days went past and the rips in mum’s slippers got bigger.

A week past and the slippers were barely holding together.

2 weeks past and Mary did not know how the thread was keeping the slippers together.

Then finally after a month the slipper sole fell off from not just one, but both of mum’s slippers, left mum standing in the kitchen wondering what on earth to do now.

“Oh mum, give me two seconds,” ordered dad.

What on earth thought mum shaking her head.

“Here,” offered dad with a big smile.

“What is this?  Asked mum as she took the box.

“You’ll see,” smiled dad.

Mum took the parcel.

“They’re perfect,” smiled Mum, “how did you know?”

“I just bought the ones closest to the old pair,” replied dad with a wink and a cheeky smile.

Perfect size, perfect fit, even rubber sole so no more slips. 

“Thank you, now to see how long these last,” smiled mum.

©joannehepburn

14.05.2017