I cried because I had $10 shoes

I had to buy shoes for my son. Usually, we have to buy good shoes, because of his problems walking. But these were shoes to fit over the little braces he wears on his legs a few hours a day (properly called Ankle-Foot Orthotics, or AFOs). So, his physiotherapist suggested that we buy cheap shoes from Wal-Mart, as they tend to be the ones that work best with the braces. So, I finaly find the shoe section in the massive Wal-Mart on Eglinton Avenue in Scarborough. This store is bigger than my hometown. I'm standing there, looking at the shoes, trying to find a pair that will fit the braces properly, and in the 15 minutes that I was there, no less than 5 women came through and said "Look at these prices! Who does Wal-Mart think they are, charging so much for shoes? It's a crime!" and then storm off.

There isn't a pair of kids shoes there for more than $20.00! Where are these women buying their kids' shoes? Are they making them at home? Where else can you get shoes for $10? I know, some people can't even afford $10 shoes. But each of these women was dressed in designer clothes that cost a lot more than $10, from stores that look and smell a lot nicer than Wal-Mart. At what point do you say "I can't spend $10 on my kid's shoes, because then I would come up short for the silver sequined top and matching bracelet that I saw at Le Chateau?

Maybe I just don't get it because I would look like shit in the silver sequined top from Le Chateau.