One of the best things to do when out of town is to look around, and screw around.
But mainly, to screw around.
It was a nice afternoon in Dumaguete, and I was walking around their famed boardwalk. The sun is about to set, and these barbecue stands are setting up their wares. I can smell the fumes and the sweet smell of meat cooking briskly on the grill.
I came to a particularly crowded one, and bought myself half a dozen barbecues and sat on the breakwater wall, looking out at the sunset. There are people passing behind me since this place is also a popular area for fitness enthusiasts, so I can see people stretching and jogging.
When it was a little dark, I thought I'd head back to the hotel to catch the news. As I turned around and stepped down from the breakwater wall, I slipped on what looked like a purple running shoe. It's got a nice white sole and bright purple all over.
It was big, too, so I assumed it's a guy's shoe. It was around my size, but definitely not my taste. I even thought it was tacky.
I looked around, hoping I could find a hopping jogger who evidently lost this purple tragedy of a shoe. I walked the length of the boardwalk. When I thought I walked far enough, I walked back to where I was a few minutes ago.
No dice. I can't find the owner of the shoe.
I resigned to just leave the shoe to a barbecue stand owner, hoping they'll find a hopping jogger looking for it. I was about to go to where I bought my half-dozen bbqs when a big girl waved meekly at me.
I stopped on my tracks, and she waved again. She was wearing a white tank top and brown short shorts. She looks like a good 4 inches over my height. She's got a nice set of thighs, and one purple shoe.
I waved her shoe back, and sat to the breakwater again. She walked a little faster to my direction and sat beside me.
"I think you're looking for this."
"Yeah, I've been looking for it for hours."
"How can you lose a shoe? I think it's impossible for you to jog and not know you're missing one."
"I just finished jogging. I was eating at one of the stands and removed my shoe to let air around my foot. I guess someone kicked it away."
"Ah, well, here's your shoe, or should I bend down and check if it fits? You might be one of the evil stepsisters."
"Hahaha! No, I'm definitely Cinderella."
I smiled, went down and lifted her leg. She gave her foot, and I slipped her shoe in.
"Great! It fits perfectly."
"Told you I am Cinderella."
We shared a laugh, and talked about her city. Then I asked her, "When you waved at me, I was surprised to see that your clothes don't match your shoes. Joggers usually match their clothes with their shoes. I mean, you don't have anything else that's purple."
"Yeah I do. It's under these clothes."
Sure enough, I can see the light hue of a purple bra under her tank top.
"Yeah, I can see it now. How about under your brown shorts? Is it purple, too?"
"Why don't you find out for yourself?"
Needless to say, she went back with me to the hotel, and I took off more than just her purple shoes.
