Short Stories to Get the Mind Going #4 - "The Price You Pay for Shoes"
Another month, another free written story for your entertainment.
This tale was the first completed when I started this project. I wrote that first line, having no plan to take it in the direction it ended up going. But when that final line came out, it was clear, this is how the story was supposed to go.
The illustrations were done by Comedian/Artist/All around great man, Etrane Martinez. His art captures this kind of child's view that was exactly what this story asked for in my opinion. Check out his whimsical perspective on Instagram Art, Instagram Personal, and Twitter,
Let's kick 2017 off right! Hope you enjoy!
The Price You Pay for Shoes
the grass feels good.
as I lay here my eyes flutter. the sun is a harsh beast. makes me appreciate the acorn that dropped here hundreds of years ago. this tree is a life saver.
well… wish it really was…
Laying there, looking up, the pain of my loss still fresh. this was my first day out wearing shoes I never should of had. Air Jordan 11 Blackout. worth around $5,500… a piece. they were a “thank you” gift for all the support I've given to my wife while she worked her ass off to make partner at her firm.
see, I used to be a shoe designer, with my concentration being sneakers. My designs were sought out by all the brands, for years, the biggest being Nike. but I hadn't come up with a new idea for quite some time. my wife, Becky, got notice she was going to be looked at for a high profile case. that’s when my passions were put on the back burner.
we have 2 kids. a son and daughter, 7 and 4 respectively. in my eyes they are the meaning of life. they are also autistic. requiring attention around the clock. queue back burner.
that’s in the past. no regrets. well besides making the call to say screw it and wear my new kicks out. that and the short cut down the path through the park I told Becky and the kids never to use.
I didn't hear them coming. assuming there were more then one, just to make myself feel better. they came behind me and bang. one smack over the back of the head and I lay there under my new timber friend. the hit was good, didn't completely go out though. I felt them flip me over, quickly discussing how they couldn't believe I had the Jordans.
they fumbled around for awhile trying to pull them off. struggling with something not expected. the strongest double knot they would ever encounter. something any parent of a mentally handicapped child is familiar with.
since it was the middle of the day they really didn't have time to battle these laces. the pain was sharp. then black…
$11,000 gone, however the feet that stayed inside them… priceless. Now I lay here, bleeding out. under a tree that has seen more time pass in the world then I could ever imagine. maybe it will get the chance to see my kids grow up…