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

in a store window day after day on her way back and forth from her job in a factory during the height of the Great Depression, she decided she just had to have them.”
    â€œBut how could she afford—”Grant started to ask.
    â€œShe always had to give all her earnings to her father on payday, it’s true—”
    â€œSo he could drink it!” growled Enid, in disgust, and then swallowed down the rest of the wine in her glass.
    Zoë smiled. “That’s right. But this one week, she decided no . That it was her money and that she would spend it the way she wanted to. So…”
    â€œSo?” Ava wanted to know.
    â€œSo she stopped in the store and bought the shoes.”
    A collective gasp came from the group.
    â€œAnd her father?” asked Clarabelle. “What did she tell her father?”
    â€œShe pretended she got mugged,” said Zoë.
    â€œDid he believe her?” asked Amy.
    â€œOh, no,” said Zoë.
    â€œThen what?” asked Morty.
    Zoë looked around before speaking. “Then he beat her, of course.”
    Another gasp.
    â€œBut it never mattered again, because after that, everything changed,” said Zoë. “Margarita, her real name, went out in the shoes the very next day, and she met Darryl Zanuck .”
    â€œYou mean the big Hollywood producer?” asked Enid.
    â€œThe same,” said Zoë. “He offered her a role in his latest film, and she left for Hollywood two weeks later.”
    â€œI heard that story!” said Clarabelle. “I remember that!”
    â€œI don’t quite remember it like that,” said Morty, looking a little confused.
    There was a moment of silent reflection, but only a moment.
    â€œAre you going to buy the shoes, Amy?” asked Clarabelle.
    â€œThey could be the ones!” gushed Enid.
    â€œBuy the shoes, Amy!” urged Ava.
    Amy tried to make sense of it all, while trying to pull herself out of the spotlight. “I don’t think I knew any of that, Zoë. Thanks. But two hundred fifty dollars for shoes. I mean, come on .”
    â€œSome people just don’t understand the power of shoes,” Lauren said, catching the end of the conversation.
    â€œPersonally, I don’t think all that much of it,” said Zoë. “Yet I can’t scientifically rule it out.”
    Brendan returned with Joshua. Jane, looking annoyed, walked a few steps behind them.
    â€œSo who’s taking over for Heimlich?” Joshua asked.
    â€œRight now? His classes are being covered by a few of his graduate students and some other members of the department. But going forward—”
    â€œWhat about you?” Lauren asked. “Are you taking on any of them?”
    â€œMe?” Amy blushed. “Oh, no. I couldn’t possible teach his classes.”
    â€œBut don’t you have a Masters degree in English Lit?” asked Lauren.
    â€œAll she has to do is defend her dissertation at this point and then it’s PhD all the way.”
    â€œJane!” said Amy, horrified.
    â€œWell, I’m sorry, Amy. But it’s true. She downplays how far she’s gotten, and how brilliant her paper was. All she needs to do now is defend it.”
    All eyes were now on her. “I have a little, uh, stage fright.”
    â€œPerhaps if you had the shoes…” mused Clarabelle.
    â€œWhat’s that?” asked Joshua.
    â€œOh nothing, Pappy,” said Zoë. “Don’t worry about it.”

    ##

    After dinner everyone moved into the living room for coffee. Jane sat down on the couch next to Amy and tucked her feet under her as she sipped her tea. She reached out and gave Amy a gentle stroke on the arm. “How are you doing?” she asked.
    â€œI’m okay,” said Amy.
    â€œHey, I’m sorry about before. About your dissertation. I didn’t mean to throw you under the bus like that.”
    â€œI think that was the least