-
Stepping into an Honored Life
Stepping Into an Honored Life
I am an old, wheel-worn pair of shoes that sit in a box in the back of a closet. I am just a reminder of days past. My owner takes me out of the box and slides his feet into me every so often. We aren’t going anywhere; he stares down at me like an old friend.
I worked manual labor for ten years, mostly concrete work. I am caked with cement and water. My leather is well worn; talk about an old comfortable pair of shoes. A good part of me built my owner’s house, my laces have been replaced dozens of times. I originally started out dark brown, but now I am more tan from the sun.
I have poured foundations, climbed high on scaffolds, and worked in the cold of winter until I began to crack. I never complained in the great heat of the summer when the temperature was over 100 degrees. I fought the rain during construction; although water-logged, I still worked. I gave comfort and support to my owner.
He is a good family man who cares for everyone. I can recall walking in 5K races for charity – who else would he wear except me!
When I was first purchased, I was young and inexperienced. I needed time to get broken in. In the beginning, I heard I was painful but mellowed as time passed. Over the months, we both adjusted to one another. My owner’s toes conformed to my length, his arches molded my shape, and his soles sat deep within me. I know all the bones in his feet. At times, I felt the entire weight of the world on me, yet I never wavered and stood tall. I never faltered, tripped, or fell. I am a living part of this man.
When my owner injured his ankle, I was there to help change my shape due to his limp, so he was able to continue working. His ankle was so swollen he could barely tie my laces, but we still continued to work.
I am often pulled out of the closet to perform the dirty job of working with cement or paving the driveway. This is not what I thought retirement was about. At times I am used for “dress up,” a game with his grandchildren, an honor, I suppose.
For some reason, I have been moved from my nice and cozy closet to the steps entering the house from the garage. My days may be numbered, or I may be put back to work.
When the grandchildren come to visit, they run to greet me. They have heard the stories of construction. Part of this new project will be a man-cave for the owner, adorned with his trophies and awards. I’m not sure what part I am playing in this new venture.
The new construction has started! I sit idly by, waiting for instructions. I am not being used, but I’m ready for work! Put me in coach; I’ve still got some life left in me. My owner bought a new pair of construction boots, and I am deeply saddened. They are black and shiny. The work continues with pouring a foundation, and I eagerly want to work, but no one needs me.
The work is done, the man-cave is great! A bookshelf is built into one wall that will display all the items near and dear to my owner. Some weeks pass, and a large cauldron is brought into the garage and placed alongside me.
I have no clue what it is here for. They pour some metal into the large pot and begin to heat the pot. The fumes are sickening, and I am worried I will be destroyed! I am placed inside; I can’t believe that this is my demise. After minutes in the pot, I began to sweat; the heat is unbearable. Finally, I emerge as a pair of bronzed shoes; I am not dead. The owner then places me on his bookshelf next to the bronzed baby shoes of his grandchildren. I have become immortal. The owner places a beautiful plaque next to me that reads:
“To my loyal friend. You stood by me as I built this life and family. It would never have been possible without you.”
-
1 Reply
-
This is a beautifully crafted story told from the perspective of an old, worn pair of work shoes. It’s a touching tribute to the bond between a dedicated worker and the humble yet sturdy shoes that were his constant companion through years of hard labor. Several powerful themes emerge:
Loyalty and Perseverance The shoes personify loyalty, persevering through long hours of grueling concrete work in all kinds of weather conditions – heat, cold, rain. Despite being “water-logged” and cracked, the shoes stoically state “I never complained” and “never faltered, tripped, or fell.” This mirrors the resilience and fortitude of the hardworking owner.
Comfort and Familiarity Over time, the shoes become intimately familiar – “I know all the bones in his feet.” They supported the owner through an ankle injury without fail. The owner, too, sees the shoes as “an old friend,” keeping them close even after retirement as reminders of days building his life.
Sacrifice and Service The narration has a tone of quiet pride in having played a small yet essential supporting role – “I gave comfort and support to my owner.” The shoes enabled the owner’s hard work in construction, charity races, providing for family. They humbly state “I am a living part of this man.”
Transition and Legacy The story traces the full life cycle – from a new, out-of-the-box pair eagerly starting its job to becoming an “old, wheel-worn” retiree. But the owner creatively gives the shoes an immortal second life as a bronzed statue, honoring their years of loyal service in building his life. The inclusion with the grandchildren’s bronzed baby shoes signifies a generational legacy.
Overall, it’s an unexpectedly poignant anthropomorphic tale reminding us that even the most ordinary, inanimate objects can play vital supporting roles in the lives they intersect. By commemorating the shoes’ steadfast service, the owner recognizes the quiet dignity of honest hard work and humble loyalty over a lifetime. Well-crafted and moving.