As I grew up, everything that shaped me turned into a liability, because almost none of those qualities were considered girly. Being smart wasn’t girly, majoring in engineering wasn’t girly and loving sports wasn’t girly. I liked billiards and Texas Hold’em poker, and they were both male dominant games. I never liked how heels hurt my feet. I was headstrong, I had opinions on matters.

After establishing myself in my career, love finally found me— I wasn’t searching for it, but I was awestruck. He treasured everything I was.

My wedding day finally arrived, and this meant I’d need to spend some time with my mother. Expectations would snappily be laid upon me as an added accessory. She walked into my room at the very moment I was doing up the laces on my high-tops. She sighed in an over-the-top peacock display of annoyance. I knew what that meant.

“Mother, I wore a dress. Be happy I decided to do that…” My attention was unwaveringly focused on my bright pink shoes.

The words fell upon her willfully deafened ears. I would’ve been surprised if it wasn’t so darn predictable.

“Jody look at these.” Mom pointed her wishful finger to the kitten heels on the bed.

I knew what she was getting at because her definition of femininity had been force fed to me for the entirety of my childhood. I wasn’t about to be a prisoner to it again, not on my wedding day.

“Never going to happen.” I was finally gifted a soapbox moment. A hard but nevertheless necessary process in the continued development of my freestanding, I-am-who-I-am woman. I couldn’t waste it.

She by and by left the room nettled, a clear win for womankind.

 

I got married wearing my shoes. Till this day I wear my husband’s plaid flannel shirts and boxers. And the best news? He loves me for all that I am. Which will always be the heelless, self-assured, pink-high-top-wearing woman.

    0 0 votes
    Post Rating
    14 Comments
    Oldest
    Newest Most Voted
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    1 year ago

    I believe Emily would get married in her high tops too. She, like me, avoids heels like the plague, they don’t go well with back and hip problems anyway. I have to admire your protagonist for sticking to her guns. Well done, a fun story to read.

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    1 year ago

    Melissa, your story made me smile. I’m happy that your protagonist found someone who could accept her for who she was. I agree with Carrie, I am glad she didn’t give in to her mother’s demands. This was a fun story to read!

    Margarida Brei
    Margarida Brei(@margarida-brei)
    1 year ago

    Bravo to the female who fights to be herself! Well done Melissa.

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    1 year ago

    Good for her for standing her ground! If you can’t choose what you wear on your wedding day, when can you? I loved your protagonist even though I’m the exact opposite of her! It’s only since I retired that I’ve worn flat shoes although the high heels still come out on special occasions! I found the relationship between mother and daughter in your story fascinating, Melissa. Although I feel sure it is… Read more »

    Christer Norrlof
    Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
    1 year ago

    This is a great description of a woman with integrity, Melissa. She knows what she wants and won’t back down because her mother has another opinion. Your protagonist is lucky to have found a husband who agrees with her and even lends her his shirts.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    1 year ago

    Wow! Melissa! I love it! This is the exact me. You have me smiling all from the start until the end. I am happy that your protagonist stands up for who she is. What a relief, doing what makes her happy. Nice read.

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    1 year ago

    I’m a no-heels woman, and I would LOVE to have a pair of pink high tops! I put high heels in the torture category along with corsets, green-dyed dresses and bound feet. I’m not sure what kitten heels are – are they high, low medium? The name sounds like something a man would think up for his cute little woman. ????

    Recent Comments

    14
    0
    Selected Authors may submit comments (5 Credits)x
    ()
    x
    Scroll to Top

    Sharing a Post

    Why do my friends need to SignIn to read the post I shared?

    Actually, this is a voting security feature. During public voting, only club members can read posts submitted for that contest. Since anyone reading the story is able to vote (click the Like button), we reserve these capabilities to members who SignIn. Before we implemented this security feature, people were voting multiple times and making the public voting process unfair and out of balance. To fix this, our staff finally decided to allow only members who SignIn to read the stories. Membership is free and easy, and ensures our club is safe, secure, and family-friendly!