At long last, the shoe fits

Firefighter Ed was my older brother's cuter, nicer best friend.

But while my brother and his friends were already old enough to drink, to drive, and to drink some more, I was still wearing my hair in pigtails and clipping David Cassidy photos out of Tiger Beat magazine.

There was a vast gulf of years between us. He was more of a firestarter back then, but as long as my brother keeps up the protection payments, I am sworn to secrecy about the details of their youthful offenses.

Then, just this summer, he swept back into my life like one of those wind-whipped California wildfires.

He and his girlfriend were visiting my brother while I was there and suddenly, I was transfixed with the idea of what might have been.

Also her shoes. 

He was, if anything, even cuter than I remembered, plus he had escaped his years of juvenile delinquency without a serious prison record.  

But what really impressed me was her shoes.

They were silver and sparkly with rhinestone accents and just the right amount of heel. I'm not ashamed to tell you, I fell in love at the sight of them.

That's when she told me:  They were a gift from him, to replace a favorite pair that she'd worn out. He'd scoured the Internet for days to find the perfect pair.  Chinese Laundry, he told me. Then he guessed my shoe size just by looking. A cute firefighter who understood shoes. That he'd taken up an interest in wine as well was just lighter fluid on the coals.

That's when I knew. My instincts had been dead-on perfect by fifth grade.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" I demanded. "Did you think I was going to be 11 forever?" 

Yesterday, a shoebox-sized package arrived on my doorstep from one of those impossibly charming California wine country addresses. Inside was a perfect pair of shoes, silver and sparkly, with rhinestone accents and just the right amount of heel.  They were exactly my size.

For a moment, I panicked. My mind whipsawed between the legal and the fashion implications.

How had he done it?  Some sort of hot tub "accident"?  They are resourceful in these matters out on the west coast.  Would a package of her accessories arrive next?  Accessory? Was I going to need a lawyer? Could I even fit into her clothes?   

Then I saw the note: 

"Kelly and I decided since you liked her shoes so much, you should have a pair. Happy Birthday."

Oh. Well.  I knew that. 

Dear Ed and Kelly,

I love the shoes. It was great seeing you both.

Ahem.

Love,  Suburban

Comments

[Audubon Ron]

Did I ever mention my foot fetish?

[All Adither]

He sounds amazing. You sure he's straight?

[Chris]

Seriously? You have people like this who send you SHOES?? What did you DO in a past life to deserve this? You lucky, LUCKY lady - they are faaaaa-bulous!

[nthnglsts]

I missed your birthday AGAIN? Liz is in soooo much trouble...

[MommyTime]

These shoes are fabulous. This man? *phew* I have no words...

[foolery]

If my feet and legs looked like that I'd publish blog photos of them EVERY DAY.

Firemen exist to keep us wistful, I'm convinced.