The new shoes were paid for with time itself.

Two women came this day, in search of an artisan to make them a pair of shoes from scratch.

Not just repair some cheaply-made shoes, but to get a proper pair of hand-crafted, custom-fit, proper shoes.

Price was no object.

The shoemaker took the measurements of the younger lady's feet.

"Two weeks." He quoted them.

"And if we work as apprentices?"

"Two years. No cost for the shoes as you will earn them."

So they paid him in time.

And it only took them an afternoon for the shoes.

But added years to the life of the old shoemaker...

Excerpt:

"Come back next week. Same time."

"And how much would it cost to watch you work?"

"No one watches me work."

"Not ever?"

"Never."

"And if you were training an apprentice, how much would that person pay you for the opportunity?"

The shoemaker coughed a laugh. "Apprentices don't just watch. They work."

"So - how much to work for you while watching you make the shoes."

The old man looked up into their eyes, his mouth curled in a smile, which vanished as he looked from one set of their eyes to the other. These women were serious. He shrugged. "This is very unusual. Apprenticeships take years; I may not have years."

Betty took the shoemaker's hands and looked deeply into his eyes. The shoemaker was not entranced, but could not look away. "What if we paid you in time itself?"

The old man's mouth dropped open - he was still looking straight into her eyes and saw the truth. "You - you'd do that for me? For me?!?"

Betty only nodded.

His old eyes glanced at Cassie, who nodded as well.

"You two are angels?"

Betty shrugged. "We've been called that, but I would just say that we are two old souls who want a Master to teach them nearly-forgotten skills."

"For two years, you have a deal. And the shoes you will earn, so there is no additional cost."

They started that afternoon, and by sunset, the shoes were completed...

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