DWP - the gladiator

Karina walks briskly towards the bus stop. She has seen the blue lights of the oncoming bus from five blocks away and she knows if she walks fast enough she would get to the stop exactly when the bus arrives. Her shift starts in half an hour and catching this bus gives her ample time to re-do her makeup. That is the plan.

She tries to ignore the large neon green poster on the window: SALE! ALL ITEMS UP TO 70% OFF!

Right in the middle of the display window, on a lucite shelf, the gold, four-inch heeled gladiator shoes, adorned with one single glimmering rhinestone at each ankle, seem to beckon her. She has seen that pair many times on Aldo's website, but the $250 price tag seems a bit much.

Ah, the bus. It seems it is stuck in there. She sees the flashing lights of a police car, no, make that two. Shit! There must be an accident then the bus is really stuck.

The sunlight makes the rhinestone on the gold gladiator shoes sparkle, a sparkle that seems to beckon her to go inside the store.

I will just ask for the price. I'm sure it's still expensive. The thought runs through her head. Another look at the bus from five blocks away. There are more flashing lights.

She pushes the door and enters the store. She goes straight to the shelf where the glads are on display. My shoes.

Karina takes the left shoe, examines it in her hand, touches the rhinestone, then looks at the bottom for the price. Nothing. Slowly she puts the left shoe back and takes the right pair. Her heart races: Nothing!

"May I help you?"

An old gentleman wearing a heavy woolen suit, inspite of the heat inside the store, stands behind her. He smiles at her. "Would you like to try them on, Miss?" he asks.

She looks at the size and her heart beats faster: Size seven, her size.

"No," she says. "Just want to ask, how much they are. There's no price tag." She replaces the shoe on the shelf.

"One hundred forty-five," the gentleman says. "If you pay cash, I'll waive the taxes." He hesitates, looks towards the back, at nothing, really. "It's our last pair."

Karina sees that there are more people now waiting for the bus. She makes some mental calculations in her mind then opens her purse. She takes out her wallet and then her debit card. The rent is due tomorrow, but the children's government allowance will go through today. She can afford the hundred forty-five.

"I'll take it," she says as she hands him her debit card.