Stories by Anne Knight
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Shopping for Shoes
We catch our bus and then a train to Manchester. Going down the moving
stair at Piccadilly we arrive at the tram stop. We sit and ride to
Harbour City. Here we get off and cross the road for we are going to the
Lowry Centre and the shops, especially the shoe shop.
Men’s shoes needed for my husband. Finding the right size we inspect
every shoe. Soles can’t be stuck down. He has to remove the sole in the
shoe as he has to wear arch lifts.
We both look around. The ones he likes seem stuck down - no good. I find
a pair! Oh thank goodness, the soles can be removed. We put his special
soles into the new shoes. They fit, so he buys them and we leave.
We go in and out of more shops – men’s and women’s, but more men’s than
women’s. A quick snack and a coffee. Some more looking – I need another
rest. We find a cafe and have more coffee. Sitting down my interest is
aroused. Looking through the cafe window I see a tall whitewashed
building. It has an old gable end with a figure in black that sticks out
of the house, lime washed and old, as if talking to me of its age. Near
the top of the apex are three slit windows, very narrow, near to each
other, one higher than the other two. Lower down the building are three
black windows. Never washed, never seen the light. Just black!
Behind it is a new building, taller than the whitewashed one. Clean new
bricks, it is very smart. On the roof, at the apex, is a mesh thing,
also a bit that looks as if it is a fence of steel. Another interesting
building seems to be built of Portland Stone, but I know it isn’t. More
likely the same stone as the old Co-op stores. They seemed to be like a
trade mark.
Two street lamps intertwine, a new look, but not like the New Look of
the Fifties.
Now time to leave. Making our way to the Harbour City tram stop we see
many swans swimming in the harbour. Crossing the bridge then the road
we’re just in time to catch a tram to Piccadilly, finally a train
homeward bound.
A nice day - but dull weather.