Slippers

“I must leave it behind. To walk barefoot into the elements. That pain I would endure for freedom. I looked back at the shoe forlornly. The Crimson J stitched onto the top of the velvet vessel."

I looked left and right. The cafeteria was empty. Strange, Mrs. Marlowe usually prowls the kitchen like a nightfeeder at this hour, sticking her fat hands into little jars.

If she really were not there, then all the better. But if her bowels had stirred an hour early and she happened to walk by just as I made my way through, well then there would be questions. My mind started to drift to the questions that might pop out of her mouth: “Hello, how are you deary?”, “Oh, I don’t normally see you here at this time, what are you doing?”, “You’re trying to escape aren’t you?”.

I shook myself out of it. “That path leads nowhere.” I muttered. I clenched my robe tight around me and made the plunge. Look ahead. Don’t look around. They’ll suspect you if you look around. Look natural.

The cafeteria suddenly looked immense. The ceiling now appeared vaulted above me. The plastic chairs heaped on tables became tall stalks of corn hiding predators. But there was only the soft pitter patter of my slippers on linoleum.

I was halfway there when I heard her approaching. The plump steps of Mrs. Marlowe seeking her midnight gravy.

I picked up my pace. She was yet far away. I could easily make it across the cafeteria. But the worst imaginable occurred. It was as if one of my legs grew lighter. And my foot began to feel cool stick of floor. I stopped and looked down. My left slipper was missing. I frantically darted my eyes about the room. Where did it go!

I turned around and I saw it. Right in the middle of the cafeteria. Back nearly a quarter of the full distance. To traverse such distance would increase my total journey by 50%. Not to mention the time and energy spent to duck down, pluck the slipper from the ground and secure it onto my treacherous left foot. And every second I could hear the plodding advance of Mrs. Marlowe, god damn her.

I must leave it behind. To walk barefoot into the elements. That pain I would endure for freedom. I looked back at the shoe forlornly. The Crimson J stitched onto the top of the velvet vessel. The last time I would ever see it. And I moved to leave it behind. I could almost hear the soft flatulence she released with each step she took. I had to go.

As I turned away my eyes widened. The shoe bore part of my initials. J! Were there others in the building with similar shoes? Jill had pink fuzzy slippers that send me into sneezing fits whenever she walks by. What about Joe! No, no… He had moccasins. No there was none but I whose slippers exuded such taste and bore the letter J.

Mrs. Marlowe would see the trace of my exodus and sound the alarm. If that slipper were to be found, all would be lost.

I fixed my eyes upon it and retraced my steps. My heart thumped, its pace accelerating. The footsteps of Mrs. Marlowe grew closer. She had made her way down the stairs. there was barely a minute before she would make it to the cafeteria. But in ten long strides I had made my way back. I could do it.

In one smooth motion I dipped down to pick up the slipper and stood. It was now firmly in my grasp, the path forward was clear. But wait. Should I don my prize to expedite my retreat or leave it in my grasp and leave? The donning would be one more quick motion. Oh gods. I tried to recall instances where I had made walks with and without my slippers. What was the differential? Well there was a time when I had to make haste to the privy…

The sound of footsteps was almost upon me. I had to act.

I ducked down to put the slipper on and at the same time made a step towards leaving. My foot came up too high and the slipper missed it and flew out of my hand. My raised foot reached back to try to catch it but the momentum of my step caused me to lose balance and with a slap I fell to the floor panting.

“Oh John, are you alright!?” Mrs. Marlowe waddled over to me and helped me up, “You going out for one of your nightly strolls again?”

I patted the dust off my clothes and mumbled, “Well first I must find my slipper…”

She began to scan the room and rushed off in one direction. I guess she is good to have around sometimes. And she came back with my slipper, “I found it, just in the corner… You know Joe just bought some slippers that look just like this…