Stephen and Sharpies ~ Watty Awards 2012

Chapter Five

-Alec

    Those stupid, ugly, ragged, old, size ten, red Converse. I bet you that you have had those Converse since seventh grade.

   

    Sixth.

   

    I don’t know why you wore those shoes, they are so old. I’ve seen you run, walk, bike, skateboard, dance, go to prom, and eat in those shoes. You acted like they are glued to your feet. In P.E. you wear the shoes and you play basketball games in those shoes. I can’t believe the use that those shoes have come to. I’ve wondered how many times your mom has thrown the shoes in the wash. One thing that they’ve managed to do is stay is kind of clean and faded.

    Let’s see… the story that comes along with the faded red Sharpie and your Converse. So it wasn’t too long ago, maybe three months ago. I had just gotten to school and was going inside. A group of jocks ran past me, many bumping into me. I began to fall to the ground, thanks to them. One more person ran past me, fully tipping me over. No one even attempted to catch me. I fell flat on my, butt and no one noticed. As I tried to get up a slow poke runs past me, you. You stop and look down at me.

    “Do you need some help?” You don’t wait for my answer you just lend me your hand. I took it with pleasure.

    “Thanks.”

    “Yeah, anytime.” I wonder if you really meant that or if it’s just something you say out of habit.

    I nodded. You ran out through the front doors and never looked back. It took until lunch to figure out that whole incident. I went outside and found you sitting in my usual spot, barefooted.

    “Hello?”

    You turned and smiled a huge smile. “Hello!” You always seemed so happy to see me, I don’t think you even realized how happy you got when I was near.

    I sat down next to you and looked at your bare feet. “So where’s your shoes?”

    “You saw the group of guys running this morning, right?” I nod. “Well they took my shoes, tied them together and threw them over the phone line outside.” You pointed to a pair of red Converse hanging.

    I laughed quietly. “So how are you going to get them down?”

    “I’m not. The janitor said he’d get them down for me at the end of the day.” You shook your head, you were furious, it was entertaining.

    Just then the bell rang and you smiled, took my trash and left. I never got that, you always threw my trash away for me.

   

    I don’t understand it either. Maybe I thought if I did something for her…maybe it would make up for the times I couldn’t protect her.

    

    I didn’t go to my next class, but instead I went to the janitor.

    “Could you get a pair red Converse off the phone line for me?” I smiled a sweet smile and batted my eyes.

    He didn’t even look at me when he said, “End of the day.”