Mall Trampling II

This was the last semester of Jerry’s undergraduate
college career. The prospects weren’t very promising
for the Philosophy major. He wasn’t sure he wanted to
teach, but he knew he didn’t want to jump right into
graduate school. He felt like a man with no direction.
One evening, as he was drinking back a Red Stripe, his
friend Sam said, You should work at Nordstrom’s.
Doing what?
Well, you know I’m going back to Dallas so they’ll need
someone to fill my position.
In the shoe department? Jerry asked in a dismissive
way. Then the feeling hit him, the exciting butterfly
feeling that made an appearance whenever he was close
to women in high heels.
He immediately agreed, called Sam’s boss, and was hired
within the week.
After several weeks he was moved to a slow shift,
where
he virtually ran the department alone. Since he had
gotten the job he tried to come up with ideas on how to
get women to step on him. The night was indeed slow, the
first few customers (a pair of flat loafers, and lady
cross trainers) had come and gone, then finally he had
his first dress shoe lady.
Can I help you? Jerry asked the 40’s something woman
holding a modest pair of brown 3 heel pumps. She was
maybe 5’3, and had dark brown hair and blue eyes. She
was somewhat plain looking, wearing a sweatshirt and
jeans.
Do you have these in 7’s?
Let me go check.
Jerry disappeared into the back room and re-entered with
a pair of size 7’s.
Here you go ma’am.
She smiled and after Jerry placed them on her feet she
walked up to the mirror to inspect.
How are they?
Well, they’re comfortable, but the heel feels a little
wobbly.
Jerry pondered for a minute then smiled to himself.
Let’s try something, he leaned down near her feet and
laying his index finger on the floor said, step on my
finger with the heel.
What? The lady asked looking at him strangely.
Trust me, it’ll give us a better idea of the heel strength.”
But won’t that hurt you?
Jerry smiled, ma’am I’ve been doing this a while now.
She hesitated but then lifted her left foot and placed
the heel onto Jerry’s finger.
Don’t be afraid, just stand like you normally would.
With that she adjusted her weight and the triangular
based heel bit into his finger tip. The pain was
excruciating, but Jerry didn’t waiver.
How does that feel? He asked.
It’s hard to say, she said.
Try standing just on your left foot and bounce.
She lifted her right foot and now Jerry’s finger felt
the
full weight of the woman’s heel. Then she began to
bounce the pain was intense.
I don’t feel any wobbliness, in fact it seems pretty
sturdy to me. Jerry said, impressed that his voice
wasn’t altered from the incredible pain he was enduring.
Yes, it seems much better now.
Then Jerry was almost surprised to hear his own voice
say, try twisting on it a little bit.
She obliged, the twisting heel was grinding Jerry’s
finger into the flat worn carpet.
Jerry started to cold sweat, he felt like screaming.
The lady continued twisting until Jerry afraid of having
his skin break and bleed, said okay you can stop, what
do you think?
She stopped twisting, but to Jerry’s chagrin she didn’t
step off his finger. She stood there examining her shoes
in the mirror.
I think I’ll take them, but may I try the other heel as
well? She asked. Jerry laid his other index finger on
the floor. Without removing her original shoe from his
left finger, she placed her right heel on Jerry’s right
index finger. The pain shot up both arms as he felt his
fingers turn to mush. She rocked back and forth from her
toe to her heel and twisted a little bit, almost as if
Jerry wasn’t there. Jerry fought back the tears of pain,
and he felt his face become as hot as fire.
Yes, I’ll take them, she said and she casually stepped
off of Jerry’s fingers. Jerry tried to conceal the deep
purple indentations that were pressed into fingers. As he
rang up her purchase, she smiled and said, Thank you for
your help, I’ll be sure to come back. It’s refreshing to
see someone as dedicated to their craft as you are. If
she only knew.

Mat11