The first time he saw her, she was wearing a red dress. It was hard to get a good view, as she just passed quickly by the show window of the shoe store in which he worked. It formed a pleasant memory in his mind, and he found himself thinking about her and looking out the window for a glimpse again. It did not happen often, but once in a while she passed by, apparently having business in the mall from time to time.
Then one day his heart leapt. The lady in the red dress entered the store. His store. She perused some attractive shoes and boots, then sat down, waiting for a clerk. Of course he hurried to help her before others had the chance! His heart was racing as he asked he if he could help, She pointed to some red shoes on display and he asked her size, then hurried to the back to retrieve them.
Bringing back the requested shoes, he knelt at her feet, feeling transfixed by his good luck. Without words the lady in the red dress offered her foot and he gently removed her shoe, thrilled to be able to hold her foot in his hand. Gently he placed the new red show on her right foot, then repeated the process with her left. Choosing not to rise, he remained kneeling as the lady in the red dress walked several feet up and down to try the fit, then returned. As she came back by his side, he thought he saw her smile at him. Then she place her hand on his shoulder to steady herself as she sat down.
He looked up at her, perhaps still too awed to be articulate and ask her if the shoes were to her liking. But she broke the silence and said, "Yes, these will do. Quite nice, don't you think?", extending her feet and moving her toes left and right.
"Yes, lovely, Madam," he replied, truthfully. Then bravely he said, still on his knees, "You have lovely feet." She smiled at him and petted his shoulder. "You think so?" she said, smiling.
"Yes, Ma'am, very much so." She continued smiling as he changed her shoes back to the original, all the while fearing he would never see her again. So it was then, after looking to each side, he decided to take the chance of his lifetime. He kissed her toe. Then he whispered to her, "Sorry.....I....I just couldn't help it." He was going to beg her not to report him, but then from her large and kind eyes, he could see she was not about to do so. But sadly for him, she smiled at him once more, petted his shoulder a last time, thanked him, walked to the register to pay, and was gone!
It was many more weeks before he saw her again, and more weeks after that before he had a chance to talk to her. During these weeks his longing for the lady in the red dress only grew. And he formulated a plan - a simple one, only that he would ask to take her out to lunch. But though a simple plan, all his hopes were caught up in it and he was determined nothing would stop him from begging for this privilege.
So it was a few weeks later that he spied her, stopped at the window of his shop, admiring some boots on display there. Immediate he left his post to step outside. "Hello," he said. "Nice boots, no?" She smiled. Then continuing, he said, "I am the one who helped you with the red shoes a while ago, though you probably don't remember."
"Oh, but I do. You were polite enough to kiss my toes!" she smiled broadly.
His face flushed a bit, "Yes, well, er, ah....I was hoping perhaps you would permit me the honor of taking you out to lunch today or any day you are free." He knew his eyes were full of pleading, though he also knew it was wrong to appear too needy. It seemed endless time passed while waiting apprehensively for her reply.
"Lunch?" she asked, not making her attitude clear. He wondered if she was playing with him.
"Yes," he replied. "There is a fine French restaurant just a couple blocks from here. I thought you might enjoy it, and of course I freely admit I would very much enjoy your company."