Just get the bag and get outta here.
Just get the bag and get outta here.
Just get the bag and get outta here.

*****

Sometimes the inner demon is not the hardest to beat, because one forgets what the initial intent is anyway.

Today's morning was supposed to start off as a beautiful day. I could sing U2's A Beautiful Day a million times just to keep the upbeat mood alive throughout the day. Then my bag strap - from my less-than-a-year-old metallic green tote - gave way before I reach my office. Since I refused to go home with a red plastic bag full of stuff, The Colleague offered to accompany me to town to shop for a new bag

I've decided to head to Far East Plaza directly. No detours. No distractions.

"Shopping in Singapore is so unexciting," I lamented to The Colleague. I was sure the mental coaxing helped. If only there was a period guarantee.

Now it wasn't a deliberate choice of mine to get the bus to stop behind Ngee Ann City. The Colleague has a Takashimaya shopping voucher to spend and so I suggested us taking a look at her stuff before searching for my replacement bag. My wandering legs took me to the shoe shelves of Anne Klein. Without much thought, I very casually slipped on one half of a black patent wedge on display. And I held my breath. It simply meant the shoes has found its place - my feet.


Now, I've gotta explain myself. I don't buy shoes like it's not a daily affair. (Ask aJ!) If you insist, the last time I went googoo gaga over a three-inch stiletto was on 17 October last year! Now put four months of no-new-shoes and a 50% sale, I didn't need much consideration to make this pair of beauties under 'I NEED THIS' list.

I digress. Anyway the display piece was a size 7-half - somewhat too big for me. Just as I put on the other half, a Caucasian lady was whispering to the salesgirl and pointed to my foot.

"You could have this pair," I slipped the wedges off from my foot, "they're 7 and half."

"Aren't you having them?" she looked surprised that I'm giving up the beauties to her.

I was sure being gracious is the way to go, "Nah, they're a tad too big for me."

I turned around to ask for a size 7 only to find out that the display pair was the last pair! No way. I made sure the salesgirl called every outlet that exists on this island and wah lah! - Isetan Scotts. Double-checking the price tag, I made sure I was seeing the right thing - $125 price tag printed on sticker with 50% hand-written on it.

Me: So Isetan Scotts is offering 50% off too?

Salesgirl: Yap.

I thought life couldn't get any better. Perhaps it's just my luck - it turned out that Isetan Scotts has the wedges in size 6-half (another display piece) and 8. Blardy hell... I shooked my head in disbelief and tucked my size 7 feet into the size 6-half black patent wedges. I didn't care. I love it. I want it. I'll get it.

Me: It'll expand.

Salesgirl: Yes.

Me: Or I could get size 8 and have them altered? If we can alter clothes, leather shoes can be altered too, no?

Salesgirl (looking worried): Erm, no Mdm. I don't think so.

Me: Oh.

So I settled with size 6-half. It'll expand. I grabbed the pen and was about to sign the credit card invoice...

Me: Erm... Shouldn't it be 50% off?

Cashier: Yes. This is after 50%.

She walked to the shoe counter and did a check.

Cashier: Yes Mdm. It's $125 after 50%.

-swallows saliva-

The Colleague looked at me and I returned her look.

-pregnant pause-

Fark... And I put the blue ink down.

I officially own a $125 Anne Klein Maylin Black Patent Leather Peeptoe Wedges - half size smaller than my feet - from the display shelf. If only there was confetti falling from the sky, it would complete my day. I cannot stop wondering if this is my day or just my luck.