THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING DANCE SHOES…
I received a package today, something that I could not recall ordering…a pair of bright yellow sneakers. After spending two hours online trying to figure out if I could have done that in my sleep…well, here is the rest of the story….
In 1949 (a very long time ago!), I was preparing for my very first dance…the 8th grade prom. I have no idea who I might have been wanting to dance with—probably anyone taller than my then 5’8”—but I do remember that I was going to wear my first school sewing project. Yes, sewing was taught in school along with a cooking class back then…and wood working for the girls! It was a bright yellow taffeta dress with flounces and a dainty trim between them. My dress was ready, but my little ballerinas were 
nowhere to be found.
Now…I had this adorable little 4-year-old brother, a sweet kid who was also a bit of a pain in the butt. After all, I was 14. (I referred to him several times in my book, “Ageless!”) It seems that he had hidden them somewhere in the big old Victorian house we were renting at the time. Could he find them? No. Was I happy about that? NO!
So, today when I received a mysterious package from an unknown source, I was quite puzzled. After two hours on the internet searching unsuccessfully for a clue, I started to re-package the contents to “return to sender.” Still questioning my sanity and whether I might have ordered such an item, it slowly clicked in. Brother Jeff’s email of a few days ago. “Watch for a package, long overdue. Happy Birthday.” OMG!
A pair of bright yellow sneakers now sit on my counter. No dust, mold, spider webs, or other signs of aging from being under floor boards for some 64 years! I had come close to returning them to an unknown company in New York. Instead I started giggling and told my husband about them. He then admitted that Jeff had texted him to find out my shoe size. The puzzle fell into place. And I am still shaking my head.
I wonder if he could locate a couple of old boyfriends he once conned out of quarters. He’d plant himself on the floor in front of us when we really just wanted to hold hands on the couch…alone. Remember, Jeff? A long time ago!
Yes, I was mortified but my pain-in-the butt little brother made money on it. He owes!!
So now I’ve got yellow sneakers and some great memories, but the dress is long gone…what next?!
Read Judith’s latest book…
I am the brother in my sister’s dance shoe story. Sending her yellow sneakers is the least I could do since to this day I have no recollection of hiding my sister’s dance shoes. I have pointed out, however, that our old Victorian house is now used as a home for nuns. Perhaps one of them found and made good use of some yellow dance flats.? As for boyfriend blackmailing, I’m pretty sure the boyfriend(s) came up with the idea of paying me to disappear. If I had thought of it, I would have charged much more!
Love it, Jeff! Yes, you would have charged more…I remember it all so clearly 🙂
Great story!
It’s about time he confessed…
Love your story! It reminds me a little of your penny in a shoe story. :o)