Step Softly Ere You Go

<p>The woman sat at the dressing table looking down at the pair of worn pointe shoes; a small soft wooden box in her hand. She knew what she was about to do could possible destroy the girl's future as a dancer but she did not care.</p><p><br></p><p>Opening the box she extracted three shortened sewing needles and eased them into the stiff toes of the shoes one at a time. When finished she slipped a finger into shoe making sure enough of the pins protruded. Satisfied with her work she returned the shoes to the locker then slipped silently away.</p>