Read Online Rita Hayworth's Shoes by Francine LaSala - Free Book Online Page A

her neck to look under the table.
    Zoë joined her. “Those aren’t them, are they?” asked Zoë. “Because you know those aren’t red , right?” Zoë taunted, and Ava actually laughed.
    â€œI don’t get it,” said Brendan.
    â€œWhat? No.” said Amy, getting annoyed that Zoë was entertaining Ava at her expense.
    â€œWell did you?” asked Grant. “Did you buy them?”
    â€œThat’s the ridiculous part,” Amy said. “They were two hundred and fifty dollars. Used . I mean, could you imagine?” she looked around for support from the other women, but not even Jane would look at her. “You don’t think that’s just a little ridiculous?”
    â€œWhat price can you put on what you’re worth?” asked Morty, seemingly to the air.
    Amy was amazed. “That’s so weird,” she said. “That’s kind of what the saleslady said,” and she looked around for a response. She got none. “Anyway, she also said that the shoes had belonged to Rita Hayworth, like that was supposed to decide it.”
    â€œRita Hayworth,” mused Joshua. “Now that’s a name you never hear anymore. Big in my day, but—”
    â€œDad, you’re in your sixties,” said Jane. “Were you even born when Gilda came out?”
    â€œWell, in my father’s day maybe. But, oy. What a knockout she was. Hair red as fire. And the most gorgeous set of—”
    â€œPappy!”
    â€œSorry. Well… Anyway, tragic story. Tragic girl,” he shook his head. “Started out bad,” he said, draining the wine from the bottom of his glass. “Drunken horrible parents,” he said, and poured himself another. “Ended badly.”
    â€œWhat happened?” asked Amy.
    â€œDrank herself crazy,” said Clarabelle, grabbing another bottle from the table and filling her glass. “Alzheimer’s and a slow death.”
    â€œAbusive childhood. Bad marriages,” said Joshua. “Divorced five times,” he said, looking right at Grant.
    â€œAnd here I thought one was a pain in the ass,” Jane smirked.
    Grant was not amused. “Sometimes once is enough,” he chortled, and looked as though he would burst into tears at any moment. “It’s like being cut off at the waist. Every day a new struggle. I just don’t—”
    â€œOh, are you still sensitive about that? Sorry.” Jane said snidely. She collected some dirty plates from the table as Grant glared at her.
    â€œLet me help you with that,” said Brendan. She blushed and as he followed her into the kitchen.
    Zoë looked at her grandparents and then back at Amy. And then at her grandparents. And then back at Amy.
    Joshua reflected for a moment and stood. “I have to agree. Two hundred and fifty is too much for a pair of shoes,” he said, as Lauren coolly looked the other way. She stood, collected more dirty plates, and headed for the kitchen. Joshua dutifully piled up the plates in front of him and followed.
    Zoë waited for her grandparents to be out of earshot before she leaned in and said, “Except he didn’t tell you the important part.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” asked Morty.
    â€œThe legend,” said Zoë. “About the shoes?”
    â€œI don’t think I know anything about the shoes,” said Enid.
    Now they all looked to Zoë, as they often did. “Well, from what I read,” she began, and looked around.
    Clarabelle leaned over to Morty, “That child is always reading,” she nodded. “She would know.”
    â€œFrom what I read, Rita Hayworth was kind of plain and boring when she was young,” Zoë said. “A little like you, Auntie Amy.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œBut then she made a decision that would change her life. She fell in love with a pair of shoes. A very expensive pair of shoes. And, after passing them