WAY BACK WHEN - 'Bama Days #2

OCTOBER 3, 1984
This morning we had what could only be called "The Great Shoe and Car Fiasco!" First of all, Ben missed the school bus because he could not find his shoes. He tore the house apart looking for them, and ended up suffering the great indignity of having to wear his Sunday shoes to school. He then caught a ride with Lenny, and I thought the shoe incident was over.

Shortly thereafter, Aaron sauntered out of his room wearing Ben's shoes. I was somewhat annoyed, but duly thankful that Ben had already left, thus averting a confrontation even more unsettling than the frantic shoe hunt had been.

About the time Aaron was in the middle of his cinnamon toast, Lenny, Ben and Mike Dean arrived back at the house announcing that the car had broken down over by the shoppette. Fearful of the showdown that would occur if the shoes were discovered, I cheerfully volunteered to drive the boys to school, and tried to discreetly usher them out the back door and into my car. But alas, Ben noticed Aaron wearing his shoes. The scene which ensued is difficult to describe. Ben, in his best high pitched shriek demanded the shoes back. Aaron insisted that he had "found" the shoes in his room (having, by the way, been left there by Ben while watching Aaron's TV on the sly) and wasn't about to return them.

Pandemonium reigned for a few terrible moments, but I was able to resolve the matter by promising Aaron that if he would return the shoes, I would buy him a new pair after he got home from work. His shoes were falling apart, and I guess no one had noticed till this outbreak occurred.

I then drove the three school-bound, but very late by this time, boys over to the shoppette and let them out to see if they could start the car while I dropped Quinton off at his school. When I returned, they had managed to start the car which had only been flooded, and were finally on their way.

Wow!! What a morning.