THE OLD BOOTS
By Mae Ondracek ©1/2/2002
Jake Hayseed was his name and he could feel that there was something different about him. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he often thought about what could be making him feel this special, even though people laughed when he walked by. He couldn’t help the way he walked, with his hip swaying. He had often tried to walk differently, but at 6’ 2” tall, it seemed like he just could not walk like other guys.
So he’d saunter down the walk, always chewing on a piece of grass, trying to ignore the comments thrown his way, “Hey, country boy, where you all from.” Do they call you hayseed because you are always chewing on grass?” Some even went so far as to say, “What planet are you from?”
People could be so cruel. Jake just knew that someday, somehow, he’d show them all, he’d really show them. Then they wouldn’t call him names.
Jake had been in Fortune only six months and it wasn’t fair that even the girls laughed at him and none of them would go out with him. One girl in particular had laughed and said, “In your dreams, maybe!”
Jake replied, “We’ll see about that, Miss Sally.”
He so wanted to ‘fit’ in, but no one would accept him for what he was, a tall, thin, lanky man with a pleasant looking face, dark eyes and brown wavy hair, with a walking problem.
He had finally landed a job at Mr. Kramer’s grocery store, but everyone called him ‘stock boy’. True, he could reach the higher shelves without the ladder, but he was a man, not a boy. What would change the minds of these people?
Jake finished work and was glad to have the weekend off. He walked home, not noticing anyone, as he was deep in though about how to get these people to accept him. He climbed the porch stairs and flopped down on the floor, stretching his long legs out so he could put his boots on the railing.
Jake was thinking hard as he studied his boots. A scowl crossed his forehead and he jumped to his feet. There was his problem, old worn out boots. How long had he had them, three or four years? He wasn’t sure. The heels were so run-over, it’s a wonder he could even walk in them.
Jake studied his boots and could see that they were very worn out. There were no holes in them but they were very thin in many places. How come he hadn’t noticed them before? They were just so comfortable that he had never given them a second thought.
Jake pulled the boots off and stood them in the center of the room, but over they fell. He tried again and again to stand them up, but they were just to run-over to stand up.
He straightened his shoulders and walked around the room. “Wow!” he thought, “I can walk better without those boots on.”
Jake went into the kitchen to make a sandwich, thinking, “Gee, if I could only afford a new pair of boots.”
Putting his sandwich on a plate and pouring himself a glass of milk, he walked into the front room and nearly keeled over. He set the plate and glass on the stand, rubbed his eyes, and peeked out between his fingers. Slowly he bent over and touched the brand new cowboy boots that were standing there. Yep, they were real, not a figment of his imagination. He pulled them on and walked around. Boy, did they ever feel good and a perfect fit, too. But where did they come from? No one had entered the house because with that squeaky hinge, he would have heard the door open.
Jake pulled the boots off, stood them near the old boots and said, “Well, I sure wish I knew where you guys came from?” He jumped back as he thought he had heard the old boots respond, “From me!”
His supper was totally forgotten as he picked up his old boots and said, “I sure do thank you for those new cowboy boots. Could I have a new shirt, too?” In a blink of an eye, there was a new shirt lying over the couch arm. Jake looked in disbelief and said, “You dear old boots. You are what has been giving me that special feeling. I just know things will change for the better now.”
Jake could hardly wait for Monday to arrive and he fairly skipped to work. People shook their heads and exclaimed, “Look, Jakes’ gone off his rocker.”
Mr. Kramer wanted to know why Jake was so happy and he said, “Because I’ll be marrying Sally real soon.”
Mr. Kramer couldn’t believe his ears because Sally had treated Jake worse than any of the other girls. The door flew open as Sally rush into the store, handed Mr. Kramer a list, asking him to please get the items for her. As he started getting the items together, he heard Sally laugh and say, “Well, if it isn’t our overgrown stock boy.”
Jake lowered his eyes and looked at his boots. Sally stopped laughing and Mr. Kramer fell onto a nearby chair when she said, “Jake, I was wondering, would you please take me to the dance Saturday evening?”
Jake smiled and said, “Yes, Miss Sally, I’d be honored to take you.”
Mr. Kramer couldn’t believe what he had just heard and asked Sally if she was serious about wanting Jake to take her dancing? Sally put her hand to her cheek and whispered, “Of course, I’ve really liked Jake all the time, but please do not tell anyone.”
She flashed Jake a smile, picked up the bag of groceries, and hurried out the door. Mr. Kramer said, “I’ll never understand women. I could have sworn she disliked you.”
It seemed like the week dragged on forever, punctuated by Sally popping into the store every other day, reminding Jake to not forget their date.
Every evening Jake would thank his old boots for the change in his life and as Saturday drew near, he knew he needed a new pair of slacks to go with the new cowboy boots and shirt, but he wouldn’t ask for them. When he arrived home Friday after work, there on the couch arm was a new pair of slacks. He exclaimed, “Why thank you old boots, you read my mind, didn’t you?”
Everyone was stretching their necks to see Sally’s date because she wouldn’t tell anyone whom she was coming to the dance with. Mouths flew open when she appeared, holding onto Jake’s arm, smiling sweetly up at him. Jake looked so handsome in his new outfit, that the other girls tried to cut in for a dance, but Sally would push them away. She suddenly announced, “Listen up all of you. Jake is my guy from now on and just as soon as I can find the right dress, we’re going to be married. Right Jake?”
Jake was speechless, but he managed to shake his head ‘yes’. He hadn’t even asked her to marry him, yet, but here she was, telling everyone it was so. He beamed with pride, knowing he owed it all to the old boots.
Jake had invited Sally to his apartment for Sunday dinner and as they sat making plans for the wedding, Sally said, “I want just the perfect dress, but I don’t know where to find it.”
Jake looked at his old boots as he asked Sally to explain what it would look like. She pulled a picture out of her purse, showing it to Jake, explaining, “It will have butterfly sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, and a straight skirt. There will be lace and pearls on the bodice.” Sally’s eyes shown as she told Jake she had been looking for this dress for over two years and she wouldn’t be married in anything else. So she just had to find that dress.
Monday morning Jake asked Mr. Kramer for a couple of days off work as he had business to take care of in Carleton. Mr. Kramer told him to
take all the time he needed.
The next Sunday when Sally went to Jake’s apartment, he paused at the door and told her to close her eyes. He led her into the front room and told her to open her them. Sally was speechless because there hung the dress her heart had desired. Tears over-flowed her eyes, as she caressed the material, touching the tiny pearls, and lace. “Oh, Jake, where did you ever find my dream dress?”
Jake winked at his old boots as he said, “Oh, just hanging around.”