The Magic Shoes
"Hello" said the Magician. "I have a pair of shoes I want to give you. The Magic Shoes, which would take you anywhere you want to go."Gratefully, she accepted. Wow, a pair of magic shoes! It would take her anywhere she wanted!
On Saturday, she wanted to go to the moon. The shoes treaded a path up the moon's beams, and she bounced happily across the luminous surface.
On Sunday, she wanted to go under the sea. The shoes turned into flippers, and she walked the currents with the mermaids and fishes.
On Monday, she wanted to go to school. The shoes took her down a different path, deep into the forest to the old oak tree. Try as she might, she could not exit the forest. She missed school that day.
On Tuesday, she wanted to go to school. The shoes took her down an unfamiliar street, where the houses are square and squat, and the streets are old and cobbled. Try as she might, she could not find her way out. She missed school again that day.
On Wednesday, she gave up going to school. "I have a wedding dinner to attend tonight, so I might as well stay at home to doll up for it." She thought to herself. She took out all her favorite dresses, and tried them on. She tied up her hair in many fancy patterns. Come dinnertime, she found herself on a cliff overlooking the city lights. She was once again, completely lost.
On Thursday, her cousin called her up and berated her for missing the dinner. Her school called her up for missed lessons. Her parents shook their heads at how unreliable their daughter had become. She tried to take off the Magic Shoes. They refused to come off.
On Friday, she took a cab down to school. Her friends dragged her to her class. She'd missed too many lessons, she was told to go to the corner and write an apology and explanation letter. She walked out of the classroom, and went back home again.
Three years later, she met the Magician again. "Please take these shoes off," she said, "they're nothing but trouble."
"But why?" He asked, astonished. "They're a perfect pair of Magic Shoes. They could make you happier by bringing you places you could only dream of going to. They would fulfill all your wishes for you."
"Because I do not need all my wishes fulfilled."
posted by Chrome @ 2:47 PM
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