A Day in the Life of a Shoe

So you want to know what it's like to be a shoe? Well, let me tell you - it

isn't easy carrying around a lot of weight...or being kicked off at the end of a long day- ouch! Or having to stand in the back of a crowded bus while being tossed about as the bus makes sharp turns and bumps up and down on a rocky road.

Nope. There are not many good things about being a shoe. Then again, I do enjoy strolling through the park on a sunny afternoon - until the stinky sweat from my person's foot starts to make me feel sick! Pee-yoo! However, I do feel special when other loafers stare at my lovely heels. It makes me blush!

Even though being a shoe is not always easy or fun, some days I feel I have the most important job in the world. One of those days was on my person, Elizabeth Eckford's, first day of high school. It was early in the morning and I had just woken up. Elizabeth was already dressed for school. Her hair was curled and I watched from the closet as she checked herself in the mirror. I knew how important this day was to her.

For months I listened in on her family's conversations on the way to church...at socials...and around the house. Elizabeth was to be among the first nine Black students to ever attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Before 1957 Black students and white students had to attend separate schools. The whole family was excited and worried. I was excited, too! After all, Elizabeth was my person!

When Elizabeth finally put me on her foot that morning, I felt the sweat from her foot on my back. She was nervous, and this time instead of getting sick, I felt the need to make her feet as comfortable as possible, hoping that might make her feel a little better. Elizabeth slipped a pair of sunglasses over her eyes and we whisked off to school.

We crossed the street to the big, brown, brick school building. There must have been at least 30 steps leading to the doorway. Blocking the door were several guardsmen wearing hard hats and armed with guns! They would not let Elizabeth into the school. I was puzzled. I thought the guards were there to open the door for students as they arrived for school. Then again, humans have their own funny way of doing things!

A large group of people had gathered around us. They were spitting at Elizabeth and calling her all kinds of mean names. I was furious! I wished she would have kicked me up into the air like she did at the end of the day and I would fling off her foot into the air and land in one of the screaming faces! But I knew that was not going to happen.

Elizabeth was calm. I bet nobody else could tell that she was nervous- but I could. I could feel her body tremble as we walked to a bus stop across the street. Boy, was I glad to get away from there! All that walking back and forth was making me dizzy and my heel was killing me! Days like that one that make me wish I were a fuzzy slipper, only to be worn around the house. What a life!

But there I was - worn out before the day had even begun. Oh, how pitiful I am to be telling you of my feelings. It was Elizabeth who sat there not knowing what to do, with tears streaming down her cheeks. What a terrible first day of school! A man sat down beside her. The man lifted her chin and said:

'Never let em' see you cry.'

The city bus finally came. A friendly white-haired lady stood and talked with us as we rode the bus. Elizabeth was so quiet she hardly even spoke back to the lady. I could tell she was ready for the day to end.

When we finally did get home Elizabeth gently took me off her feet...Ah! That felt so nice! She placed me in the closet. It was time for me to get some rest.

You know, humans really could learn a lesson from the shoe family. Shoes of all colors, shapes, designs, and sizes can come together and get along just fine.

We march together.

Stand together.

Play together.

Dance together.

And rest together.

I guess being a shoe is not so bad after all!