Short Stories

A Cadet's Obsession

As I pushed my shopping cart down the aisle I came upon the shoe section of Walmart.

I found one shelf filled with different brushes and another with different colours of polish. Captain Baltazar told me Kiwi polish was preferred and so i took black Kiwi polish, an applicator brush and a polishing rag, and headed for the checkout where I would meet up with my father.

My stomach growled and I reminded myself to bribe my dad into taking me to McDonald's before noon was over.

Before I made it there I passed by a section with various razors, gels, shaving creams and other things for both sexes. I searched for Aqua Velva- which I was also told is great for polishing boots. To be the best I need the best.

"Alright, that should be all!" I told myself gleefully heading to checkout. As I got there my dad could be seen sitting on a bench by the Redbox.

"I gots da stoofy!" I said. He looked up from his phone and loomed over the cart.

"Why do you need aftershave?" He asked wondering why his daughter turned out so weird.

"Because I will have the shiniest boots! Don't you worry little peach fuzz face, it was on clearance." I assured him.

"Oh yeah? As long as I ain't paying full price, I guess." He took the shopping cart to go pay and I stayed on the bench waiting for him.

"Let's go."

I grabbed the bag with my stuff and we made our way to the car. Putting my bag on the front seat I grabbed the cart from my dad who was going to put it away.

"What are you doing?" He asked as I pushed him away from the cart. "You're a designated driver, I'ma designated cart driver. A DCD."

"Yeeeeeah okay." And with that he left me to put the cart away.

When I came back I opened the passenger door hastily and scampered inside.

"It be cold man!" I complained ad I fastened my seat belt.

"Then why didn't you let me put it away?"

I gave him a look that said 'you stupid?' "Because I'm a DCD! Duh! Designated cart driveeeeeeeerrrr." I dragged out the last word.

"Oh how could I forget." He said plainly as he began driving away. I pestered him the rest of the way home like a 6 year old when in reality I'm 12.

When we got home I stumbled into my room and grabbed my boots. The race for the shiniest boots has begun.

Day1 2:46 PM

I stared down the boots in front of me as I tried to remember how this worked. Unknowingly that I lifted the cap off the polish container, I continued to stare as I brought the polish to my nose and gave it a big whiff.

"Oh yeah baby! I'm gonna be the best shoe polisher on the planet!" I shouted, pumping my fist in the air.

Everything else was a blur, and when I came to I stared in dismay at my coal black smudged hands. I washed them in my sink and went to see the boots.

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