The Man with One Red Shoe

 

The year was 1987.
I was working part-time at a Shoe Store. ~~ Fayva Shoes to be exact. . Kingston, NY. (Kings Mall near Carvel, Fashion Town, a pet store, Marshall’s, etc)

I was a fairly new employee there. Age 16.

One night, I was working the 5-9  evening shift. The manager asked me to do a job that she probably gave to all of her new employees ..

My assigned job was to clean all the bottom shelves of the shoe display racks.

Because I had to squat down so low to clean, my shoes felt uncomfortable. They were new and not really broken in.. Sort of stiff…

I decided to take my shoes off and I left them near the side of the cash register counter area (located at the front of the store).

I spent most of my night working diligently on my project.~~ with bare feet.

The shoes were slip-on, flat, dressy, and fake leather … They were bright RED..

This cleaning job was taking me all night.

Halfway thru the night, the phone rang ..

My manager answered it ..

I heard her say “Fayva Shoes, how can I help you ?” After a few seconds she sounded confused and said  “Ummmm, no ….who is this?”..

She hung up.

I hear her yell across the store “Colleen, I think you just got the strangest phone call ever “…..

Turns out, the person that called was a man. He asked to speak to the blonde girl ( which was me because my manager had dark hair )… When he was told that  I wasn’t  available to talk, the caller said “Well, then please tell her that I said …her feet are cute and her shoe smells good.”

I was confused … I kept cleaning ..

I was finally done working for the night. Time to go home ..

I went to put my shoes on to go home … I slipped my foot into the left shoe and then I looked around for the right shoe .. I looked all around the front counter area and then all around the entire store …

My other red shoe was missing !!!!

That man stole my shoe !!

I have no idea who the man was ….

That mystery man will always be called “The man with one red shoe”…

I was very creeped out. My boss walked me to my car that night. The store was in a strip mall with all glass facing the parking lot. I felt like one of the many cars in that lot was watching me. Years later .. I can sort of laugh about it . But, that was WEIRD.