Sally the Spider lived in Keetnagar. A dragonfly, a beetle, a grasshopper, a honeybee, a scorpion, a wasp, an ant, and other insects also lived there.

Sally loved to dress up. In three days, she had to go to a party at Holly the Honeybee’s house. She had bought a new pink and blue dress to wear to it.

I bought new blue shoes a few days ago, and they have pink designs on them. So, they’ll match with my new dress perfectly. I’ll wear them to the party! she thought.

She put on the dress to check if it was a perfect fit, and it was.

She thought, Why don’t I put on the shoes to check, too?

She looked for her shoes everywhere in her house but could not find them. She searched every corner carefully but still could not locate them.

She remembered the first time she had worn those shoes in Keetnagar; many others had liked them.

They had looked at them greedily and asked her, “Where did you buy them from? We want to buy them, too!”

I’m sure one of them has stolen my shoes. I must go and ask them all, thought Sally and set off.

She met Benny the Beetle on her way and asked him, “Have you taken my blue-pink shoes?”

“Why would I take your shoes?” asked Benny.

“You liked them, didn’t you? You wanted to buy similar shoes,” said Sally.

“I am red and have black spots. Those blue-pink shoes won’t suit me. I’d buy red-black shoes instead,” said Benny and went away.

Sally went to the Scully the Scorpion.

“Have you taken my shoes?” she asked him.

“How could I have taken your shoes?” asked Scully.

“Why not? You have eight limbs like me. My shoes would fit you perfectly.”

“Yes. We have the same number of limbs, indeed, but my limbs are thicker than yours. Your shoes wouldn’t fit me. Why don’t you ask Deedee the Dragonfly?”

“But Deedee only has six limbs. How could he have taken my shoes?”

“Why not? He could put on six of them and keep two aside. If one shoe came apart, he’d replace it,” said Scully.

“Oh, yes! I didn’t think of that! Now I must ask the insects with six limbs too,” said Sally, going to Deedee.

Gummy the Grasshopper was with him too. Sally asked, “Have either of you taken my new blue-pink shoes?”

“What would we do with them?” they asked.

“The other day, when I was wearing them, you both liked them a lot. You praised them,” Sally  reminded them.

“Yes, we did like them, and therefore, we praised them. But that doesn’t mean we want the same shoes. We can’t buy shoes with high heels because we don’t walk but hop. Those shoes wouldn’t be comfortable at all,” they said.

Sally was upset. Then she saw Anita the Ant walking by.

“Have you taken my blue-pink shoes to wear?” she asked her.

“Think before you speak, Sally! I’m so much tinier than you. How would your shoes fit me?” asked Anita, somewhat irritated.

“Yes, you’re right! I’m quite upset as I can’t seem to locate my shoes. That’s why I’m asking everyone. Please forgive me,” Sally said.

“No worries,” said Anita and went on her way.

Sally was wondering who else to ask about her shoes when she saw Bina the Butterfly sitting on a nearby flower.

“Have you taken my blue-pink shoes?” she asked her after gathering her courage.

“No! Why would I take your shoes? I couldn’t even wear them,” said Bina.

“But that day when I was wearing them, you said you liked them a lot.”

“Yes, they looked great on you. But those shoes don’t have laces or straps. I fly more than I walk. If I wear your shoes, they’ll just fall off whenever I fly,” said the butterfly.

By this time, Sally was sad. She’d tried so much but could not find her shoes.

There’s no point asking the Holly the Honeybee or Wincy the Wasp. They’ll say the same thing, she thought and went back home.

At home, Sally could not concentrate on anything.

Sad and depressed, she called her Aunt Sweety the Spider. Aunt Sweety loved her a lot.

“How are you, Sally?” she asked.

“Aunt Sweety! I’m so upset!”

“Why, what’s the matter?”

“There’s a party in three days, and I can’t find my blue-pink shoes which match my new dress.”

“Oh, but you’ve left those here at my place. Remember, you came to my place last week wearing them? Then when you left after four days, you wore slippers and forgot your shoes.”

“Oh, dear, Aunt Sweety! I forgot completely! I’ve been looking for them everywhere!” Sally said.

“I was so busy that I forgot to tell you, too,” said her aunt.

“No problem, I’ll come by at once to collect them. I feel so bad about forgetting my shoes because of being absent-minded and doubting my friends.”

Sally was excited once again now that her shoes had been found. She went to all her friends to apologise.