New Shoes

There are the simple pleasures of childhood. Remember them? A lollipop from the bank drive-thru, a sticker from the doctor, or a pack of bubble gum you could call your own, because mom said you didn't have to share it with your brother or sister. New shoes are one of those pleasures.

I took the kids shoe shopping for school. I hate shoe shopping. I always have one of two problems when shopping for shoes. Either the store doesn't have the sizes I need, or the shoes cost $50. I don't have that kind of money to spend on shoes that my kids are going to outgrow in a few months! Of course, every pair of shoes the boys fall in love with are the $50 variety with flashing lights and monster truck tire treads. I was on a mission this time. I would find cheap, cool shoes for school if it killed me.

Ahhhh (the heavens sing) as we enter Sports Authority. There are piles of shoes on tables at the front the store with a huge CLEARANCE sign. I thrust my hands into the heap of Nikes, Adidas, Sketchers, and Reeboks. Bingo! I score a pair of size 11, black, blue and silver Sketchers. Phoenix sees them and is tearing his shoes off like a super hero without a phone booth. I put the shoes on him. They are a perfect fit. I barely get the straps of Velcro attached before he is off and running down the aisles of the store. He runs like a gazelle. Like a mini track star. His smile is a mile wide.

"Mama. These shoes make me fast!" He beams.

You'd have thought they were cars the way he talked about them. I expected flames to shoot from the exhaust of his heels. If I lifted the tongue of his shoes, perhaps I'd find a tricked out engine. Needless to say, we sped to the register and I happily used my credit card to pay $30 for a pair of regularly priced $50 shoes.

Once home, Phoenix raced around the house. Everything was done in lightning speed (which is saying a lot for a four-year old). Perhaps he was absorbing nitrous oxide from the electronic, fuel-enjected, high compression, V8 engine of his shoes...or maybe he was just the happiest kid in the world to have new shoes. So happy, that he went to bed wearing them that night.