I’ve always liked impertinent questions. “Do You Sleep in the Nude?” by Rex Reed is the gossipy book that first lured me into becoming a biographer. I need to know.
I like surprise questions. “Are you afraid of cows?” or “How do you garnish your okra?”
And then my friend “Hermia” was asked by a Facebook stranger: “How many pairs of slippers do you own?”
A fetishist? She kicked the question around in her heart. I knew it was the most exciting thing that had happened in weeks. It was like a classic obscene phone call.
Hermia checked her closet. She had six pairs.
“Why that many?” asked the Facebook stranger.
“That’s not a lot,” said another. “I have ten.”
But what’s the right number? Do you ever go out? Do your slippers match your sweatshirt?
This kept everyone amused for days. There were no answers, but the journey – the time killing – was the point.
If you’re lucky enough to be idle, there’s much to learn, but human joys are always finite, always fleeting.
Hermia’s dog ate her favorite slippers.
Emily, I loved your piece on slippers, particularly your comment, “If you’re lucky enough to be idle, there’s much to learn, but human joys are always finite, always fleeting.”
Wonderful piece of philosophical/therapeutic advice!