Dreams of dashing around the yard get the boot
It was mid-April of 1970 and the thermometer at our Limekiln Lake home had hit a warm 50 degrees. The spring birds could be heard chattering with excitement. I could not wait to join them outdoors.
I dug around for the sneakers I had stashed under my bed late last fall. Up until now I had no use for them as boots were the only thing that had covered my feet for months.
I located the sneakers and dragged them into the living room along with my blue windbreaker.
It wasn’t until I started to get dressed that I realized that I had grown considerably since last fall.
I sat on the entryway carpet for some time, struggling to pull a shoe over my heel. But it was definitely a no go.
All I wanted to do was get outside and run around as fast as I could, but those sneakers were standing in my way.
My mother was at the kitchen sink washing out the coffee pot. I dangled the too-small footwear in front of her and said, “Look, they don’t fit!”
“Well, you’re just going to have to wear your boots then,” she replied.
My heart sank. There was nothing like the feeling you got when you were able to wear sneakers outside again. It just wasn’t going to be the same.
I tossed the sneakers against the back wall of the closet. With much disgust I pulled on my all-too-familiar heavy black boots.
When I went out to play I felt like I was weighed-down by two giant black stones. Out of utter disdain I didn’t even bother to zip or tie them. I just let them flop around my ankles.
All I wanted to do is sprint around the bare lawn as fast as my legs could carry me, but that just wasn’t going to happen. I finally gave up.
I sat on the warm flagstone porch with my chin cupped in my palms and my elbows on my knees.
The sun and warmth seemed so inviting yet I felt so disconnected from this perfect day.
Just then my mother came out and shook a rug over the edge of the porch.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“These darn boots just don’t go fast,” I answered.
I sat there a little bit longer. Then my mother came out again.
“Let’s go for a ride,” she said.
We hopped into the car and drove downtown to Kalil’s Department Store. I browsed the display of Pro Keds sneakers and chose a pair from the three-color assortment. They fit me well, with a little extra room to spare.
Once we returned home I spent the rest of the afternoon breaking them in by running crazy wind sprints all over the yard.
Mitch Lee, Adirondack native & storyteller, lives at Big Moose Lake.ltmitch3rdny@aol.com
