Keeping The Staff On Their Toes

Two women in their sixties are browsing the shoe department. After some minor language-barrier problems, I bring out several pairs of our lightweight hiking boots.

That’s when the older of the two ladies takes off her shoes and socks and I see that the tips of her toes are black… and not with dirt!

She says something to her companion and the companion asks me:

Woman: “What causes that?”

In my head, I scroll down the list of possible responses: diabetes, wearing shoes that are too tight, long periods of inactivity, frostbite, and EEEWWWWW! But I settle on:

Me: “Ma’am, I’m not a doctor, but I think your friend should get that checked out by a doctor… and soon!”

She relayed that info, they both nodded and took their purchases up to the registers.

Meanwhile, I was thinking, “Why would you POSSIBLY let a condition like that just slide? And why ask a shoe salesman for a medical diagnosis?”

I’m still shaking my head over that one.