Patricia and Pamela held my shoulders while Aunt Lucille rolled up my pant legs and fitted sheer nylon anklets onto my feet. I had just arrived and been announced by the maid. My lady relatives were waiting for me. I was pounced upon rather unceremoniously, parked in a chair in the study where they were congregated waiting for me, and my penance began.
Aunt Lucille opened a shoe box, folded back the tissue and lifted out a fuchsia-colored pump of slipper satin and showed it to me. It was similar to Henrietta’s purloined pumps but it had a terrifying stiletto heel that Aunt Lucille said was five inches in height. It tapered gracefully to a lift which could not have been more than a quarter of an inch across. Unlike Henrietta’s shoe, it had a high counter to which was attached an ankle strap with a delicate gold buckle. Attached to the back of the counter was a wide satin bow. Aunt Lucille slipped the terrible looking shoe onto my foot as she held my ankle with her other hand. She dropped my newly-shod foot into her lap and spoke as she encircled my ankle with the strap and secured the tiny buckle.
“Your parents have asked me to insure that you will wear these while they and your sister tour Europe this summer. You will wear them! If you take them off, I have some more with higher heels for you and still others with heels so high you won’t be able to walk at all." She lifted the other shoe from the box and fitted it onto my bare foot. I looked up imploringly at my cousins but they were gazing down at my upturned face with huge grins. They were pinning me to the chair with their hands on my shoulders. They appeared to be on the verge of laughter. I sat staring at the awful devices on my feet in disbelief.