returning shoes

I told this story at a party the other night, so apologies if any readers were there and heard it.

I went to Macy's and looked around in the shoe area. These days I like to wear dark functional shoes with no laces. I buy them every three years or so, and since I wear them about every day they get pretty worn out.

Macy's had many shoes on sale. I picked a pair of black ones upon the sales clerk's recommendation. I tried them on, finding them rather tight. I mentioned this tightness go the clerk, in response to which he explained that such shoes are tight and first and loosen up (which indeed jibed with my experience with a pair of shoes I had recenlty enjoyed for a good two-three year stretch). I purchased the shoes.

In he parking lot I put the shoes on. They now felt VERY tight. I grew distressed, yet I drove a ways. I pulled over near Sunset Boulevard in the Outer Sunset of San Francisco. I took off the right shoe. I discovered the shoes had inserts! Problem solved? I thought. I removed the inserts and put the shoes back on. But now the right shoe was just a bit too loose.

I thought I was stuck with these shows; perhaps I could get used to them. But I really didn't want them anymore. I've never returned a piece of clothing before. I took courage and returned to Macy's, waited nervously in line at the shoe counter, and made my case.

I explained that I really should have taken greater care and time with my decision but that I really hadn't worn the shoes for more than ten minutes and that they just weren't right for me. The very nice clerk immediately took the shoes and credited my Visa, no questions asked.

Sadly, I count this a great personal triumph over my own timdity.