Malls, Shoes and Funny Business

Malls, Shoes and Funny Business

There was something in my shoe. It must have been there before I put it on. I certainly didn’t feel anything when I put it on, but then, the thing worked its way out, and it was getting uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, the middle of a very crowded mall is not a convenient place to stop and take off a shoe. I hobbled on, looking for a place to safely stop. Finally, a clear corner next to a jewelry store with the euthanasic name, Forever Yours.

As I leaned into the corner, shoe in hand, I glanced into the store. There was a couple at the counter being helped by a clerk. I wondered if they were looking at engagement rings, but couldn’t really see what was in that case. The couple had their backs toward me. Just as I got my shoe off, I caught a glimpse of the clerk.

I watched for a minute, because he seemed to be pulling things out of the case and laying them on the counter. The man was moving a bit, but the woman seemed to be just standing there looking at the clerk. And, the clerk looked scared.

Knowing I might be making a fool of myself, I hurried to a kiosk in the center, and shared my observations with the man running it. Me, with one shoe off and, sadly, socks that had seen better days...

But the guy called somebody, and very quickly two mall police came to investigate. They caught the pair red-handed, and then took them off to jail! I’d saved the jewelry store! I got an award too! A fifty dollar gift certificate to their store!

Unfortunately, for me, their least expensive item, was a tiny, though extremely beautiful, blue and gold flower pin, for seventy five dollars...