Writing Assignment #3

Quest for the perfect pairs of boots

This week a quest of mine finally came to an end. This quest was my search to find the perfect pair of boots. Black, leather, knee-high, rounded-toe, low heel, hard sole, size ten (or size 41 while in Italy) - these were the necessary qualities if my criteria of perfection were to be satisfied. This quest had begun five years ago when my former pair of perfect boots was compelled to retire due to an extensive amount of usage and their failing status of fashion. Ever since then, my longing and hunt for a new pair was an ongoing journey, expedition, or “quest” to find my new pair of perfect boots. At not point, during this quest did I want to settle for a pair that was less opulent and ideal than what I had conjured up in my desires; however, a lack of success often made me think I would inevitably be forced to compromise or completely forego my impossibly selective, but perfectly crafted image of my ideal boots. Nevertheless, all my fears of a failed quest were ended on a fateful Friday.

At approximately one in the afternoon, after a deliciously satisfying meal of Chinese food, I set out on yet another expedition that would hopefully bring my quest to its completion. The sun shone brightly as if it were my beacon of divine guidance; its rays of gold illuminated the promising shops that lined this particular street of shoppers’ hopes and dreams. And for some reason I felt more encouraged than usual. I felt the predisposed feelings of failure and incompletion dissipate, while the sense of invigorated excitement and thrilling optimism flowed throughout my entire body. I knew that there were many stores waiting for my surveying eye and the chances of a triumphant find were high than usual.

As Paige and I began walking I literally feel my euros burning a whole in wallet. We entered our first store, hoping a serious conquest of might occur. My eyes quickly scanned the merchandise waiting behind the protective glass windows. Brown, pointed-toe, high-heels, synthetic materials - I felt my heart sink. Without delay, Paige and I took our leave of that particular store, concluding that it was not here that we would find my boots. We stepped out of the store with our heads hanging a little lower than before we visited the store.

Even though our shopping ambitions had been slightly injured, we trudged forward on the street that promised us so much possibility. We went from store, to store, to store, and had no luck. Each time we left another store unsuccessful I could not help, but apologize to my shopping partner profusely that she had to endure my extremely picky nature. We had already passed half of the afternoon, searching in everyday store we passed that had any sort of shoe display. Eventually, we arrived at a store called, Blue Fly. As I stepped in I was awed by the metallic, futuristic grey walls. I could feel the clerk’s glance continuously locked on me while I browsed the selection of merchandise. Neither Paige nor I seemed to be able to find a pair of boots that would fulfill the daunting criteria I had strictly crystallized.

Then, out of nowhere that I had foreseen, a hidden nook of shelves with more boots appeared. My elation was only spurred on more when I saw them – the boots that I thought would bring it all to an end. I took them into my hands and rubbed the ravenous black leather. They had all the qualities I wanted in my perfect boots, except that they didn’t have a solid sole (which was the one criterion I was willing to compromise). But, regrettably I saw the price tag, and they cost much more than I was ready to pay on a pair that had a flawed quality (the sole). I made a mental note that I could always come back to this store if I should become weak in my quest, and choose of pair that was not ideal.

Thus, the quest continued and we forced our weary selves to finish shopping in all the shops on that street. Our eyes had glazed over into a zombie like state. The shoes and stores had blended into blur of sights and places. I no longer remembered what we had seen or could comprehend exactly what we were looking at. Eventually, we came to the end of the extensive road of shoppers’ dreams and sadly had not concluded with success. Exhausted, our bodies propelled us homeward bound so that we might relieve ourselves from one of the longest days of shopping. I consoled myself with thoughts of some day finding my, what seemed to be imaginary, perfect pair of boots. “Good things come to those who wait, right?” I told, yet questioned myself. As we neared the Campo de’ Fiori, I had vague glimmer of hope come to mind. I remembered a certain shoe store a friend had told me about. I turned to Paige with a sheepish and concerned look in my eye and proceeded to ask her if we might make one more stop. All the while thinking how we would just be adding insult to our shopping injuries. I did not expect success, but I knew that I had to give any possible option a go.

We tiredly and quickly surveyed the selection for anything that might resemble this pair of boots that I had sought out for so long. Again, I still did not see anything that could intrigue my desire to purchase. Paige seemed to be having some luck in finding a pair of boots that were to her liking. I took a seat to rest my feet that were crying out to me in desperation. Waiting patiently for my fellow shopper to test out her find, I still browsed with my eyes in order to pass the time. The next thing I knew I saw them – the boots, my boots! I could only see the toe peeking out from atop a high self that I had not seen until just then. The clerk brought them down to the ground, I slipped my foot into the first boot, and it was as if I was Cinderella sliding on her long, lost glass slipper. I had finally found my perfect pair of boots; they were black, leather, rounded at the toe, had a hard (not rubbery) sole, and were as size 41. I walked around just a little bit to make sure they were a good fit, but I already knew that my quest was finally at its end. My patience for more than five years had paid off. I had found the best pair Italian boots a shopper could ever want; at last, my waiting and efforts had been completely validated.