Last updated on April 24, 2017
They had been hidden in a box at the bottom of her wardrobe for many years.
“I bought them when I was about your age,” she said when she gently handed me the shoes.
They looked new, so clean and freshly polished. “I look at them from time to time,” my Grandma said and smiled.
“Try them on,” she insisted and so I did. They fit like they had been bought for me.
“They are beautiful,” I whispered, couldn’t take my eyes off them.
“They are yours tonight. Go out and enjoy the new shoes you thought you couldn’t afford.”
(Word count: 100)
This too is based on a real event. Years ago I came home from boarding school, and I felt sad. The class theme for Fasching (Carnival) that year had been announced. We all would dress like our parents and grandparents did in the 20’s and 30’s and we would dance the Charleston. I knew I couldn’t afford it; thought I couldn’t participate. That night my Grandma opened her wardrobe, and I got a pair of shoes and a dress that I had never seen before. I took them with me back to school.
That brings back so many memories. I could write a book.
Friday Fictioneers are held by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Every week she gives us a photograph and asks us to write a story with 100 words or less. It’s fun, give it a try.
What a beautiful story and such a precious memory… Thanks for sharing.
What a lovely story, and even more so as it was based on a real event. Good writing, Bridget. 🙂 — Suzanne
I love this story. So warm! You are lucky to have had such a loving grandmother.
What a lovely understanding grandmother.
That’s a very moving story, very well told.
Thank you
What a wonderful memory. I enjoyed reading this!
Thank you!
Very nice. You have a story to tell, maybe it’s time to write it.
I am not reading this.
Sounds like a Cinderella story in the making. Please write that book. It would make your grandmother proud.
It was not a Cinderella story at all. I was the poor farm girl in a boarding school for rich kids. But her dress and her shoes made me very popular that Fasching. As for writing a book, goodness, don’t feed my thoughts.
That is absolutely amazing.
Thank you, James
Please write that book.
You are not helping. I am already thinking about it.
I vote for the book, too.
Not helping either. 🙂
A lovely story and a wonderful memory.
We all have our boxes, some filled with shoes and others with memories. Lovely story.
So true.
aww this is lovely!
Thank you
Sweet, passing the shoes down through the generations.
Yes is is.
Granny shoes become popular in just a few sentences. Ha Ha
Nicely written and most enjoyable …
Isadora 😎
Thank you for stopping by
Your memories are so rich and full of your Grandmother’s love <3
This is such a lovely story. When I saw those shoes I did a little double take as I have a similar pair, sadly not left to me by a beloved grandmother, but purchased at a Salvation Army Shop many years ago. They are very similar to your photo although mine are brown. They are tiny shoes and do not fit me although I only take a UK 3, so these must be a UK 1 or 2. I did buy some similar to the photo. Thank you for sharing your lovely memory.
Barbara, thank you for reading and commenting.
Dear Bridget,
I’ll have to brush up on Fasching. It’s not something I’m familiar with. Lovely memory and a well written story to share it. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
“Fasching” is the carnivals time in parts of Europe. The word is used in German speaking regions, like (of course) Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
The “silly” time starts 11 minutes after 11, on November 11th and ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.
The real celebrations and parades and parties are all held in January, February and March. Nobody celebrates the “silly” season before the New Year.
There is the Italian carnival, the one in Brasil and many many more.
I am glad you liked it. Thank you, Rochelle
A wonderful memory Bridget- you could write a book filled with these memories of your grandmother.
I have read so many boring biographies, perhaps I should. 🙂
What a wonderful Grandma you had… And such a lovely memory to share.. <3
Thank you, Sue. My Grandma was a very special lady.
She sounded to be Bridget… 🙂 Its wonderful when we have such Grandmothers.. 🙂
I used to enjoy Fasching when we lived in Germany. A lovely story.
Thank you, Sandra.
What a wonderful memory and story, Bridget. <3 You could write a book.
Nice story, but the real story is better! Such a great memory.
I haven’t thought about it for many years. Funny what blogging can do. Yes, the real story and that particular evening, when my Grandma gave me a glimpse of her world, was special.
Wonderful
Such a wonderful memory.