Sunday 3 June 2012

Storytelling Sunday - Kicking up my heels

My little god-d,aughter was two in May and I asked my niece what I might be able to buy her for her present.  'Dressing Up shoes' she suggested without hestitation.  Little Sophie has reached the 'tottering around in Mummy's high heels' stage.  I found these Disney shoes in their own little carry case and they've been a great hit!

They gave me the inspiration for the story I will be telling this month.  About how my love for wearing my mum's shoes not only almost caused a fire and but also made my mum swear that she would never return to the island of Guernsey. 
We had gone to Guernsey as our first foray overseas, a long sea journey where my mum first discovered that she suffered from sea-sickness.  So Guernsey didn't get off to the best of starts.  We were staying in a bed and breakfast boarding house and were given a 2nd floor room.  Every evening after mum and dad had got me and my sister ready to go out for our evening meal, mum would get herself washed and dressed and while I was waiting I would parade around in her high heels.  Turns out, the floorboards weren't soundproofed and the people below us complained about the noise I would be making every evening.  This was the final nail in Guernsey's  coffin.  Mum said she would never return to a place where the people were so intolerant to little children.  And she never did.
But the shoe incident which got me into a great deal of trouble and nearly caused a fire happened much closer to home, actually it happened in our home to be accurate.  Mum had got fed up with me ruining her shoes as my dancing had become more boisterous and she thought I could either end up with a broken ankle or break one of the heels.  So dancing in stilettos was banned.  And we all know what happens when you tell a mischievous child not to do something don't we?  That's all they want to do.  So when mum got a new pair of shoes that were shiny and pretty and lovely,  I couldn't resist.  She went upstairs for something and I quietly took the box into the dining room and shut the door.  Removed the shoes from where they were nestling in their tissue paper and slipped them onto my feet.  Give or take about 6 shoe sizes, they fitted perfectly.  I tottered around, turning this way and that.  In my imagination, I was a contestant in Miss World.  I had my national costume on and I was ready to strut my stuff on the catwalk and do an amazing twirl in front of my imaginary audience.  The thing with brand new shoes is that the soles are very shiny.  Shiny and slippery.  I did my twirl, I lost my balance, my leg went up in the air and one of my mum's newest shoes, that she had not yet worn herself, flew off my foot - and into the flames of the fire.  I naturally burst into tears, screamed out loud - mum rushed into the room and was horrified to see me with one of her shoes on my left foot and even more horrified to see the other one melting nicely in the fire.  I was in big trouble.  More trouble than Guernsey had ever been in.  And I don't remember ever wearing my mum's shoes ever again.

24 comments:

Amy said...

Oooh, you naughty little girl!
Just out of interest, what would the National Costume be?

Abi said...

He he this really made me chuckle. I can imagine the expression of both you and. Your mum as your shoe ended up in the flames xxx

Jo.C said...

I bet you didn't - I wish that carry case had been around when D was little she would have loved it and it would have kept her quiet for hours.
Brilliant story.

Alison said...

Brilliant story Deb!..can just imagine both your faces...and how fabulous is that Disney shoe set?!!!
Alison xx

WendyB said...

OMG fabulous story but I bet you were in so much trouble.

scrappyjacky said...

I can just imagine the trouble!! DD2 always loved wearing high heels....and for some reason called them 'dee dee darlings'!!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous story Deb, you must remind me to tell you the story about the budgie and the fire!

Sian said...

Oh, my goodness what a cracking (or should that be crackling?) story?! Funny and awful all at once..the best kind of story.

The carry case is perfect - that is a present that'll probably be remembered for the rest of her life!

Thanks for the smile today Deb Hope you are having a good weekend

Maria Ontiveros said...

Laughing out loud! Your story is so well told - it captures the mischievousness of little girls perfectly (their imagination) and humorously. When Clara was little, I picked up a pair of her shoes to put them on her. She shook her head and went and grabbed a pair of my dress shoes. She held them up and said simple "Shoooes." As if I didn't get the idea of what shoes should be!
Rinda

Lou said...

lol Deb, you naughty girl you lol!! great story and so well told x

Gem's Crafts said...

What a brilliant story, and oh you made me giggle!

Lynn said...

What a great story - I remember tottering around it my mums gold dinner dance shoes she wore once a year! I don't ever wear heels so my children had to make do with plastic dress up ones.

Missus Wookie said...

Oh dear - poor shoes! Princess had a similar set of dress up high heels which were indeed a hit with all the small girls who came to play. Lovely story :)

Unknown said...

I'm not surprised that you never wore your mums shoes again. What a shock you would have had!!! But it did make me giggle :-) I can picture the shoe flying through the air in slow motion ...

Beverly said...

Love the story and the way you told it....well done! Do you wear stilletos now? :)

Jennifer Grace said...

Oh dear, I can imagine you got into a lot of trouble for that! At least you didn't try to rescue it from the fire though. Poor Gurnsey, I'm sure not everyone there would have minded your antics!

My daughter has these shoes too, and loves them. When her friends come round they all fight over the pink pair though! x

humel said...

Did you ever get pocket money again after that?!

The Tomboy has never been that interested in my shoes - but then, I'm a size 9 so she wouldn't be able to walk in them at all!

Susanne said...

The gift of shoes is just perfect. Hopefully being closer to the right size they'll keep her out of trouble.

furrypig said...

what a brilliant story about your mum's shoes I can just imagine it as you told it so well

Anonymous said...

Oh dear - I can just picture it. No wonder you never wore any of your Mum's shoes again. :)

Becky said...

What a wonderful picture you have painted with this story - I can just imagine it! :)

Cheri said...

Sounds perfect for a scene from a movie. I can only imagine how mortified you were and how angry your Mum was!

Irene said...

Great storytelling. I could almost smell the burning shoe and see your mother's face. What a thing to happen.
Your story reminded me that my elder daughter used to 'clack' around in my shoes. Happy days.

Ginger said...

I laughed at the visual I got from this wonderful story! Thanks Debs for making me laugh :)