Blurb

The shoes didn't fit. It was an omen.













Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Another Tribute to Valentine's Day: Clean Feet

Today, I'll take you all back to my second grade year. Think 1972-73. 

Charlie was his name. 

The love bug bit him hard. But I couldn't say the same for me.

The kid bombarded me daily with flowery weeds and a ton of love notes. They usually read: I love you. Do you love me? Yes or No. Or, will you be my girlfriend? Yes or No.  He even drew me a picture of his idea of a dream house for us and what our children would look like. 

He lived in the trailer park I lived in. Everyday after school and on weekends, he would ride his bike over to my house and pop a few wheelies. "You sure look purdy today," he would say, giving me a toothless smile. I wonder to this day if he grew his teeth in.

The poor kid was clumsy-looking and always barefoot, except when he was in school. Dirty feet grossed me out back then. And they still do today.  

No matter what Charlie did, I wasn't impressed. The poor kid didn't get it. For a whole year he tried. He even carried my books home from the bus stop. EVERYDAY!

A year later, tragedy struck his family. Rumor had it, he ended up in foster care. Poor Charlie. I never saw him again after that. I felt horrible because I never said thank you for carrying my books.

Charlie, I'm thanking you now. And hope that you're happily married, in your dream house with your three kids and a nice set of teeth. Hope you're keeping your feet clean, too.

Hugs and chocolate, all!
Shelly

8 comments:

  1. This is the kind of stuff you use in your fiction to give your characters depth. Good story.

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  2. Charlie sounds like a very sweet boy. I hope with the passage of time, life has been good to him.

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  3. Norma: Thank you.

    Alex: Me, too. What he went through was quite gruesome for a seven-year-old.

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  4. I hope Charlie found his way to some peace in his life.

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  5. Not only did Charlie have great taste, but he was a gentleman, and knew a thing or two about perseverance. I'd like to think he turned out just fine. Great story, Shelly!

    Julie

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  6. I was waiting for you to meet him after you both and grown. l imagined him with all his teeth and a pair of expensive shoes.

    It is difficult to lose a friend, shoes or no shoes.

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  7. Julie and Yvonne: I sure hope all is well with him.

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