Chapter 5-James, preparing

 A pair of Keds had only cost James $1.39. The Bon Marche had opened at eight.  He knew because he used to mind it's schedule because of Mary.  He hated to go in and face her, considering the tension from the night before.  At the same time it was an opportunity to reinforce the notion that he simply came shopping for the things he needed and not because of his affection for Mary. Doing things in step with the way he had always done them was the best policy. Keep to the formalities of it all, still going to the store, still asking the questions he always did. Soon Mary would come to believe that what she thought was James' affection for her had been all in her mind, and others would see it too.

Carry on as usual, after all, no one could see the passions that James had in his heart. And if her kept to formalities, did nothing out of step, they would be none the wiser.

That morning, the girls at the counter were all-a-gossip about what Mary had told and they scowled at James when he entered.  Mary left tearfully to the stockroom.

Lucky for James the shoe department was run by a man.  "Off to play this morning,?" The man asked from his lower position by James' foot as he measured. 

James nodded "Squash, at the Rainer."  It felt good to say he was off to the Rainer.  It was a membership only club and while James was a guest, no one need know.  

The man went to the backroom and came back with a pair of white sneakers.  "Most of the boys at the club wear these."

White shoes.  He had never owned a pair of white shoes and they seemed bright and loud.  He could almost imagine the shame of being the only man in the room wearing loud white shoes. "Do you have them in black?"

"I do, but black looks a bit funny.  Like a man is playing sport in a dress shoe and sox. Don't want you getting chuckled at is all."  The mans word was all the authority James had. Going against his better instinct to wear white shoes would take some trusting.  "What color do you wear?"

"Last time I bought sport shoes I got beige, for the same reason I told you." The man slipped the shoes on James feet.  "I recommend a vest, seems a popular style."

James smiled cordially but now he could sense the man pushing sales on him and wondered if there was some sort of commission he was making. Maybe he was long on his white shoes and wanted to sell them!  Make another bit of extra on a vest.  What next? Shorts?  A watch? James was suddenly suspicious that he was being taken for a fool and because of it he deferred to his original instinct.

James stood and proclaimed, "I'll take the same size in black, and no vest please." 

The salesman gave a look of caution. "So long as you understand that once you wear the shoe, the sale is final, sir."