TWO RIGHT FEET story

Devan lay in bed on top of the covers. He was looking at his feet. They were both the same. A pair of sneakers waited patiently on the floor.

He had ten toes like everyone else. There were five on each foot, four little toes and one big toe on each foot. But there was a difference.

Both feet were exactly the same!

They were both right feet. Both had the big toe on the left side. And both feet pointed to the left.

That's how Devan received his nickname. 'Lefty’. It was quite strange when both feet were right feet.

Devan leaped out of bed. Then dressed for the day. His feet almost jumped into his snug sneakers. They went "AAH." His ten toes went, "AAH, so nice and comfortable.

Then he walked in a circle around the room.

Mother always bought him two pairs of shoes each time. The store clerk wondered why. They were the same size and same color each time.

Devan stared and looked at those ten toes, especially the two big ones.

He wiggled them and waggled them.

Devan lived in a round house. And he lived in a round room. So it was easy for him when his feet walked to the left. Around and around he went.

He never bumped his nose because there were no corners.

The kitchen was on the left, and the bathroom after that. This was the path he always had to follow.

"Just keep going," his dad always said. Devan did. In fact he often walked with his eyes closed.

After breakfast with mom and dad, he loaded his wagon, with cucumbers. Mother's garden had many more for the family. Devan delivered them to the neighbors.

Charging ten cents each gave him spending money. So he walked out of the house ready to start his journey.

His mom and dad pointed him just right. Then he was off. His feet took him in a 'lefty’ circle.

He learned to turn a little to the right each time. So he could end up exactly where he wanted to go.

He did this for climbing steps. Or going to the front of the house, and for going from house to house.

Like he had to do now.

Devan saw some friends and turned so he could end up beside them. It became a little game. His friends yelled, "Lefty! You're going to miss. Turn more."

He listened carefully to get it just right.

Sometimes he missed by a few feet. This time he didn't. They were good friends. And he was their special friend. In fact he was the best player on the baseball team.

When Devan hit the ball he could really run. The bases were just right. His feet were perfect for running left. Yes, he was very popular.

Today was so busy, working and walking, walking and working. Soon all the cucumbers were sold. And his pocket was full of change.

Night came quickly.

His mother and dad soon tucked him in. They were so pleased with their little boy. He wasn't different. Just special.

And his ten little toes were not different either.

Just special.

* * *

(c) Richard L. Provencher 2007

Richard & Esther Provencher invite you to read their first of three novels ‘FOOTPRINTS” now available from www.synergebooks.com. “Someone’s
Son” and “Into The Fire” will also be available soon by the same company. These books were written during the first several years while Richard was recovering from his stroke, which felled him in 1999. He is still recovering.

The link to “FOOTPRINTS” is as follows: http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_footprints.html