The Dearest Things in Boots

"The Dearest Thing in Boots" by Edna I. MacKenzie is a funny play set in a busy women's shoe store, where the characters' ideas about shoes mix with ideas about women and important social topics like the right to vote. The story shows different beliefs about women's roles in society through fashion and shopping. Jack Wilson works at his dad's shoe store and meets customers like Betty Moffat, who is nice but picky about shoe sizes, Miss Firmrock, who is a strong supporter of women's rights, and Mrs. Atkins, who is against it. As Jack handles the crazy demands of his customers and tries to do well at his job, funny mistakes happen because of what people think about women and their shoes. By the end, Jack learns what is most important—Betty's love, which is shown through their fun talks about shoes, revealing both the humor and serious meanings in everyday life.