Step Softly Ere You Go — H. Paul Doucette

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.

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.