The Story of the Shoes

This is the story of five sets of mismatched shoes, two sets of brothers, one state track meet, and one impressionable little boy.

There are these two sets of brothers who run on a relay team together.

Two sets of brothers = one team.

Each set of brothers bought two pairs of shoes. They then switched one shoe with their respective brother so that every boy wore one maroon and one gold shoe. They used these shoes to run fast. Very, very fast. These shoes shattered a thirty year school record, won many meets, and ran them right into a spot in the high school state track finals.

The stage was set and the shoes did not disappoint.

These shoes (not to mention the feet wearing them) ran faster then ever and earned them the fourth place medal. The brothers were very happy, their families were very proud.

After the medals were handed out the the crowds started to leave, two excited families gathered around the two sets of brothers. Hugs and congratulations were given. Grandparents shook hands and congratulated one another on a good season. After sitting on hard benches together for an entire season friends are made between people who used to be strangers. Among the well wishers was one special little boy. A little boy who just happened to be the nephew of one of these sets of brothers.

A little boy who yelled his loudest, who raced around his house pretending to be "Tat and Bup" (his names for his uncles from when he couldn't pronounce their real names and which have stuck even though he now he can). A little boy who on the morning of this track meet put on two mismatched shoes. At first his parents tried to convince him to put on the correct shoes. They were puzzled by the tears that ensued. And then they got it. He had to wear his mismatched shoes because he wanted to be like his uncles. He even gave the other mismatched pair to his sister. They were too big, but she did wear them around the house for a while.

And so he went to the track meet. With one Lightening McQueen tennis shoe and one black shoe he usually wears to church. He got some looks and some indulgent smiles. People who thought it was cute. And it was, but they didn't know the whole story.

They didn't know the story of the shoes.

And that cute little sister? She couldn't wear the mismatched shoes. But she did yell loud and she cheered hard. By the end of the day she was ready to drop. And she did...right into daddy's arms.