My Brothers And The High-Heeled Shoes

     I was raised with three brothers, two older and one younger.  My sister was born many years later and we were mostly grown, by the time she came on the scene.  As the only girl amongst boys, I had a tendency to lean more towards being a tomboy than girly things.  As I got older, I guess my brothers, particularly Oldest Brother and Second Brother, felt the need to help me lean back the other way.

     I was eleven years old and in fifth grade.  There was a pre-teen dance coming up and I had been asked to go with a young man from my class.  Although I always thought of this as my first date, I can't really think it was a date.  In the first place, my dad drove me to his house to pick Ronnie up and at the end of the two hour dance, my dad returned to deliver us both back home, him first, of course.  But I'm getting waaaaaaaay ahead of the story, here.

     On the day of the dance, it being Saturday, my mama took me shopping for my very first pair of high heeled shoes.  How clearly I remember, they were a full one inch tall.  I thought I was gonna' stop the show.  I was sooooo proud.

     When I got home, I couldn't wait to put those shoes on and show 'em off.  I must have put on quite a display because Oldest Brother and Second Brother immediately took me in hand.  We lived in an appartment that had a long hall and Oldest Brother and Second Brother kept me there for the next four hours, learning how to walk in heels.  Thank Heavens those shoes only had one-inch heels.  I might have killed myself in them, otherwise.  Who knew that walking in heels was NOTHING like clunking around in sneakers?!?

     At the time, I couldn't care less if my brothers thought I looked like I was walking through a field, dodging cow patties.  Looking back, though, its one of my favorite memories.  That my brothers cared enough to stay with me for four long hours is amazing.  After all, they were teenagers, with buddies and girlfriends and lives of their own.  I have often wondered, though, if others brothers do the same for their sisters.

     Do you have a favorite memory from your childhood?  I surely hope you write it down for your posterity.  Until the next time, keep a hug on.

Yaya