I wrote this for an ELA assignment and really enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy it, it's literally about a pair of boots that I always wear.
It was dark for the most part. I haven't been worn much since the pandemic started. The cool air of the garage coiled around my soles and the fur inside. There was never a sliver of light, except for when she came and slipped her feet into the opening on my head. That was always my favorite part. When the warmth from a human started to seep into every fibre of me, slowly thawing the frost I like to imagine collects on my outside.
I came up to about mid-calf on her. A little on the loose side but she seemed to like it, she found it easier to slip her phone in to rest against her leg. Everytime she stepped it wobbled a little and slipped further in. Once it hit her ankle bone-without breaking a stride-she would pick up her leg and pull the phone back up. It didn’t happen often, mainly at school or when we went on walks.
I hated school.
She didn’t walk much and when she did it would be in a hurried manner of which meant I couldn’t enjoy being used. Instead focusing on the almost painful way my sole slapped against the hard, tiled ground. Over and over and over. When we weren’t moving she was tapping her feet against the ground or bumping her heels together. After a long period of time it became annoying, can’t she sit still for at least twenty minutes?
Thankfully now we didn’t go to school as often. Instead the library or a grocery store. I liked both, because this is where she likes to gently pad across the floor as if scared of disturbing the scene with her loud steps.
The library is where her steps became longer and set down not unlike a feather dropping on water. Small sound waves created that wouldn’t carry far. A smoother motion of movement that allowed her to browse the multitudes of books on display. Occasionally one or two catch her eye and she drops down into a crouch or rises up onto her toes to reach it.
When at the store a small jump was incorporated into her step. Designed to create a satisfying slapping noise and make a fun bumping motion. She didn’t like stores because, in her opinion, the shelves were too high. There was no crouching here, only an almost painful looking stretch to reach whatever she needed. Painful for her and me, the pressure on her toes increased and it seemed as though all her weight was focused solely on one spot.
Out of all the places we’ve been together I liked Colorado. We walked down a small off road with restaurants and cute little stores. I could tell she was tired, we’d just drove for a very long time but I loved it. The cobblestones dug into my soles in the best way possible and there weren’t any loose stones or small bits of leaves or sticks to get in between the pattern in my sole.
The best part was when they finally decided on a spot to eat with the best view of the sunset and people passing by. This was during the pandemic and we sat outside of the little restaurant where they blocked off a section of the road for more tables. The faded yellow of the picnic table we had was chipping off, the sun was in her eyes (there was an umbrella but for all it did it might as well have not even been open), all in all it should’ve been miserable but the mountain in front of us made it beautiful.
Sloping peaks, snow gracefully capping the tops, and the sun’s gentle, grasping rays tried to hug the mountain and reach the people behind it. Ultimately failing but the shadow cast by its attempts was a grand grayscale recreation of the proud mountain it imitated. Up towards the peaks colours danced around and mixed with each other creating a canvas so beautiful it rivaled anything man-made.
After dinner they got back into the car and I resigned myself to sitting on the ground for another few hours. Listening to the quiet chatter of the family and feeling the swerve of the car as it traversed up the mountain side. I wish I could’ve been able to see out the window and admire the passing scenery. Steep valleys, tall and proud structures that have stood for thousands of years, elk and deer peppering the valley, weaving in and out of the prominent pine trees. Creeks burbling along speaking a language of their own, twisting around rocks, stealing branches and sticks and carrying them far, far away.
Of course there were the more adventurous stories, not as enjoyable of course.
Running through playgrounds from friends and acquaintances, jumping from rock to rock with wild abandon. Sprinting across fields in a reckless manner, tripping over hidden rocks and splashing through streams thoroughly soaking through me. Feet pushing powerfully off the ground and trying to stretch as far as they could go to go faster, faster, faster.
Tripping over myself as she attempts to play tennis in boots rather than tennis shoes. (It didn’t work very well and she has the healing scabs to prove it.) Trotting in front of her friends because, in her humble opinion, they’re too tall and she always has to walk faster than she’s used to, so now she tries to stay ahead of them.
There are sadder stories too.
Funerals attended, burials, hospital visits. The comforting fur of my insides pressing against her feet and calves is a welcome and familiar sensation that is grounding.
Fun stories.
Jumping around in the snow, yelling “Snow parkour!” to make her friends laugh. The snow falls in the top and chills my insides but it was worth the joy. Playing foursquare and shuffling around to hit the ball into someone else’s square. Sitting around fireplaces and kicking the logs around because she couldn’t find a stick. The logs readjusted to stoke the fire more and create a bigger circle of warmth to encompass everyone sitting around it. Being jokingly teased for loving to mess with the fire. Quips about arson are traded around the circle with boisterous laughter following soon after.
I’ve had a long life full of different experiences. Some I wish I hadn’t gone through (dog poop is a serious problem), some I’m glad I was there for, and a few that honestly need a category of its own. Being a pair of boots is probably one of the only shoes that experience an incredibly diverse amount of things.
Thank God I'm not a pair of flip flops.
