The Sparkling Red Shoes

SALLY WALKED BY THE BOUTIQUE EVERY DAY ON HER WAY TO
SCHOOL. SHE DREAMED AT NIGHT, HOW SHE WOULD SOME DAY TWIRL
IN THE PAIR OF SPARKLING RED SHOES THAT SAT IN THE WINDOW ON
THE BLUE VELVET PIECE OF MATERIAL. IT WAS HER HEARTS DESIRE TO
DANCE FOR THE GROUP WHO CHOSE FOR THE ROCKETTES. THE NEW
YORK THEATER MARQUE READ, ‘AUDITIONS HELD EVERY FRIDAY, 2:00
P.M.
SALLY WAS ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY WHEN SHE NOTICED THE SMOKE
POURING INTO THE AIR. WHERE WAS IT COMING FROM? SHE
GRASPED HER CHEST, IT LOOKED LIKE THE BOUTIQUE. SHE HEARD
THE SCREAM OF THE FIRE ENGINES. SHE RACED AS

FAST AS SHE COULD. SHE STOPPED. HORRIFIED AT WHAT SHE SAW.
GRAY SMOKE SURROUNDED THE DOOR. IT WAS CREEPING LIKE A SNAKE
INTO THE WINDOW WHERE THE RED SHOES SAT. A TREMENDOUS EX
PLOSION. ITEMS FLEW, THE GLASS FROM THE WINDOW SPREAD OUT IN
FRONT OF HER. SALLY KNEW SHE HAD TO SAVE THE RED SHOES.
SHE CRAWLED OVER THE GLASS, NOT REALIZING HER KNEES HAD
BEEN CUT, BLOOD WAS STREAMING DOWN ON TO HER SOCKS. SHE
CONTINUED HER MISSION AND FINALLY REACHED THE SHOES.
SALLY CLUTCHED THEM TO HER HEART AND SUDDENLY
COLLAPSED. SHE AWOKE STILL HOLDING TIGHT TO HER, THE
PAIR OF RED SHOES. THE FIREMAN SPOKE, “GIRL, YOUR GOING TO HAVE
TO LET GO OF THE SHOES SO WE CAN FIX UP YOUR HANDS AND KNEES.”
SALLY WAS TOO WEAK TO RESPOND BUT ALLOWED HIM TO TAKE THE
SHOES.
IT WAS GRADUATION DAY, HIGH SCHOOL WAS OVER. THE KIDS
WERE ALL CHEERING. IT HAD BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME SINCE THE FIRE.
SALLY HAD ALMOST FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE INCIDENT HOWEVER,
SHE DID NOT FORGET ABOUT THE SHOES. SHE LONGED TO FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. SHE MADE IT HER GOAL TO LOCATE THEM.
EACH TIME SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY SHE WOULD QUESTION EVERY
ONE. SHE SEARCHED THE FIRE COMPANY,

TALKED TO THE HOSPITAL STAFF, WROTE LETTERS TO THOSE WHO HAD
KNOWN THE BOUTIQUE. HER SEARCH WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL THE
RED SHOES HAD COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED.

SALLY WAS GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE. NOT HAVING A LARGE
AMOUNT OF CAPITAL, DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE LOCAL THRIFT SHOP
FOR SOME OF HER NEEDS. SHE WALKED THE AISLES , GAZING SIDE TO
SIDE FOR THE BEST BARGAINS. SHE ALMOST BUMPED INTO THE TABLE
WITH A BIG SIGN EXTENDING OVER THE EDGE, STATING, CLEARANCE!
A BASKET SITTING, ON THE FLOOR ,UNDERNEATH THE TABLE CAUGHT
HER ATTENTION. A BROWN WRAPPER WITH A SPARKLING RED TOE
WAS STICKING OUT OF THE PAPER. SALLY QUICKLY PICKED UP THE
BUNDLE, RAN TO THE CASHIER AND ASKED, “CAN I OPEN THIS
PACKAGE?”

“WHY, OF COURSE. IT’S A PAIR OF RED SHOES, BUT I DON’T KNOW
WHO WOULD WEAR THEM, THEY ARE SO FULL OF SPARKLES.”
SALLY, BREATHLESSLY, SAID, “I WOULD, I KNOW ABOUT THESE
SHOES, THEY BELONG TO ME , I SAVED THEIR LIFE.AND THEY ARE
GOING TO SAVE MINE. MY AUDITION IS 2:00 P.M. THIS AFTERNOON!”