"I don't have any money," she said. "I can't buy anything."

"I can come back later and make a delivery when you have some money," the man said. "But as long as I'm here now, we can fit you with a new pair of shoes right now. How does that sound?"

"Well…"

"I knew the second I drove up that you'd be in need of new shoes. My, look at those pretty young feet, all bare and in need of new shoes." He dropped the suitcase on the porch in front of Cindy and knelt at her feet. He opened the suitcase, which was stuffed with women's shoes in various colors.

"I really don't need…"

"Here's a pair oughta fit you." He grabbed Cindy's left foot and jammed a blue shoe onto it. He jammed one onto her other foot. "Ain't that pretty? Shows off your toes real nice, don't it? Get up now and see how they feel."

Cindy didn't know what to do. She stood up and clopped around the porch in the shoes.

"Too tight," she said. "Look, I really don't…"

"Sit right down here and we'll fit you with another pair."

With a sigh of resignation, Cindy plopped her ass back down on the porch swing and let the salesman fit her with another pair of shoes. Ironically now, she wished her mother were there to handle the situation.

"Where's your folks?" salesman shoved a larger, red pair of high heels onto her feet. "Gone to town," Cindy said.

"Expect 'em back soon?"

"Not for hours, and I don't think they'll have any money when they get back, either."

"Hmm. Ain't them shoes gorgeous, honey? I got a daughter about your age, a pretty girl just like you, and she owns a pair just like 'em."