THE RED SHOES

 The Red Shoes

Another day begins. When Margret wakes up, it is already noon. No one will blame her, as she has already separated from her husband over 2 years. The medications for her mental illness knock her down for years. Yet she still feels O.K. now. At least she is not worried about her family’s finances too much. During the marriage, she really needed to work very hard to make ends meet. Her husband is a playboy. He quitted his job after two weeks they married. There were several things on her mind she needed to buy, so she decided to go to the shopping mall near her home. She put on a simple skirt without bra, and wore a pair of red slipper shoes just like at home. She goes.

On the street, cars are busy, rushing from place to place. Peter, a policeman in the 14 Division, is in charge of this area. He likes his job. He thinks that it is a kind of power and admire for people. Friday afternoons make him more and more miss his tender wife and one lovely daughter. He prayed to finish soon. After stopped the car in front of the mall, he walks in. It is not that busy, maybe because it is an Indian summer! “Who is that?” He thought. A big woman (mildly obese) with a cart and a pair of red shoes. He notices her and carefully watch her. She is a visible minority, and looks like a Korean or Chinese with mental illness, because she is not alert all the time. Suddenly, he recalled the hell’s fire. About two years ago, in the same mall, he saw an aboriginal woman. She dressed with a west style long skirt with her aboriginal traditional necklaces. She walked in the mall for a long time and restless. Her chubby face and sturdy body made her nervous. She felt different with others and was homeless. A man with jean and T-shirt came to her and talked to her. She looked so happy and went with the man. What a hell! Just over one month, Peter saw her again, but this time, it was her corpse. It was a brutal and bloody nasty murder. She died for long time tortured and dismembered body. Peter never forgot her cut off forelegs. He blamed himself over and over again. “Why I did not stop them at the first place! Why I did not catch it?” she died forever, but not in Peter’s mind. I will never forget 80% rate homicide women who are killed by her boyfriend, husband, common-law husband... I should do something. I will...

Margret walks in the mall. On the one hand, she thinks what she should buy, on the other hand, she watch the customers in the mall. She likes it-urban, luxury and adultery. She did not notice that someone has already spied on her and protect her on the spot. “Electronic Store” she stops. She is a regular customer here. The customer services immediately recognize her and service her. Talk and choose a Sony headphone. Peter on the other side bows to point to goods right in front of Margret. She noticed him so close to see his uniform-three national flags-one on chest-two on both shoulders. There are also three white arrows on each shoulder. He is a police sergeant. She saw his face, not a blonde. He looks at Margret sometimes. She begins to think whether or not he wants to further contact? Nevertheless she does not like to go toward to him; it is not her style. She knows her eyes are her weapons. She watches him and waits for his coming. For a while, he used polices’ secret language-nose to answer her. He refused. She did not care too much, and pulled her cart going away. Who cares about the black boots! As many people know, her ex-husband is much more handsome than him. He has overestimated himself. Yet she knows that police sergeant can earn over 100,000 dollars annual salary for sunshine list. Margret withdrew. She continues to go to General-Merchandise and get what she wanted. When she comes back, passing this store again, one employee faced her doing Eskimo kiss. She passes with a glance.

Soon she is back home. She recalls the police officer. In her simple mind, she regrets that she should dress up and wear a pair of fashion shoes and walk to him. No, No, No.” I am a religious woman. I go to church on Sundays. How I can let a police walk into me so indecently. My ex-husband is so tall and white and blue eyes. I cannot accept others’ invasion. Love in the church is so wonderful. She never forget church’s single party. They met and he invited her to dance and they were the first couple to dance in the whole party. She reveled in the perfect moment until now. No bell rings in our church. We are different. She suddenly stands up and watches the mirror. How sad it is. She is not just like before. She gained a lot of weight. After married, he quit his job and totally relied on her income. She had to work very hard to make a living. She was sick many times and is much fatter. She never goes to the party besides churches’. She is afraid of being unpopular or giggling. There are no children even though they married a couple of years ago. Her tears had already gone. She did not cry since she was a kid. God’s almighty makes her believe in Him. Yet after marrying, she lost.

Peter finished patrolling the mall. He is off and goes directly home. His lovely daughter first smiles and then kisses him. His beloved wife is cooking. He is happy today. He knows he did the right thing and let a woman become a happy lady. After long long time bloody murder shadow now has a glimpse of sunshine.