THE Shoe Store

I was just thinking back on the days when we went to a full service shoe store.  That's like a full service gas station, only for shoe buying.  Usually a man in a suit and tie greeted you, measured your foot, brought shoe boxes from the back, and put the shoes on your feet for you.
Poll Parrot's Shoe Store had another unique experience to offer the buyer:

Myna Bird and New Shoes

Poll Parrot’s Shoe Store had its own myna bird,

He was black, in a cage, and could talk, how absurd!

He really did speak just like a human,

The sound came from his throat, his beak wasn’t movin’,

He also could whistle extremely loud,

Especially if he was drawing a crowd,

“Don’t put your fingers near the cage” the sign said,

It was fascinating to watch, how he tilted his head,

As he called out, when someone entered the door,

It was an adventure coming to shop at this store,

The shoe salesman would sit on a stool with a slant,

Put my foot in the measurer and push it down flat,

Then slide the bar to the end of my toes,

To make sure the right size was just what he chose,

Saddle oxfords, penny loafers,Buster Brown or Keds,

Or he could sell me patent leather instead,

Whatever the occasion, there’s a shoe for all,

The salesman returns shoe boxes stacked tall,

No lack of customer service at Poll Parrot’s place,

The salesman unwrapped the shoe and untied the lace,

Sitting back down on his stool with a shoehorn in hand,

He slipped the shoes on my feet and asked me to stand,

He took his big thumb and mashed my big toe,

To see if there was room in there to grow,

Then I strolled around to try them out,

Stepping in front of the floor mirror, I sashayed about,

My Mom paid the salesman and we were on our way,

A myna bird and new shoes, what a wonderful day!

Tammy Harvey 

written:   6/25/2016