Shoes

May 16, 2044- Monday

Rise steps off the school bus with his feet in a blur. He rushes to the library. The first five minutes before the bell rings will give him time to print his handouts for his presentation. There will not be enough time to get his track bag into the locker until after the first period. Heading down the hallway, he enters the cozy library. Many armchairs surround the room. A plethora of books sit on shelves. The old and new books blend well in the large room. He sits at the computer and hits print on his files. Two minutes till class starts. He hits log off. He rushes out the door and into the graphics design class with twenty pamphlets in hand. The weight of the paper was heavy in his hand and his mind. Orange, dark blue, and beige colors combined with the slide prepared for his presentation. The bell rings as he enters the door of his graphic design class. Finding his way to his chair. The other students are all noisier than usual. They talk to one another, turning around in their chairs to talk about the upcoming presentations that day.

“Alright, students settle down,” says Miss Lenny, tying her curly hair in a messy bun.

The students’ conversations dwindle until the classroom is silent.

“Alright, presentations will begin with a random generator. As the computer draws your name, you will come up and give your presentation,” says Miss Lenny.

The digital board displays the rainbow names of the students in the class filing through them fast. Finally, it settles on Rise Prongs in purple color. Rise rises to the front of the class. All presentations were turned in to the teacher earlier. He gives his introductory pitch; the quiver in his voice evens out as he continues to talk. The confidence in his voice resounds in his voice as he hands out his pamphlets one each to his classmates. At the front of the classroom, Rise begins presenting his presentation with the slides with the ads he created on the computer. He speaks on the rates of homelessness and the need for more aid to people in these circumstances. He ends in time to show the website design on the last slide. Going on the website he shows the features it would have., They have created this with a neat feature app that allows web designs.

The classroom claps as Rise takes his seat. Another name is generated from the front board; the class continues presentations.

At lunch, Kevin talks excitedly rushing over his words.

“Slow down Ortiz. What?” asks Rise.

“I said, I was able to get a seat on the bus to see you at semi-state.,” says Kevin.

“Oh that’s awesome!” exclaims Rise gulping water.

They set down the trays on the lunch table. They set down their bags beside them. beside pens in his bag so he can look over history notes with Rise. The history final is in two days. So they started to study together during spare moments there.

Large index cards lay between Kevin and Rise.

“Modern history: What was the sickness that began in the East and spread throughout the world in late 2019 to early 2020?” asks Kevin

“Covid-19,” says Rise.

They go through a few index cards while continuing to eat their lunch.

By practicing the questions and answers Kevin and Rise are so wrapped up in studying that the final bell from lunch comes as a surprise. The emptying of tables had not come into their view. Kevin picks up his cards and shoves them into his bag; Rise waits as Kevin gathers his items and they head toward history class.

The class is given time to study alone or with a partner. Kevin and Rise studied together the practice study they had begun in the lunchroom. It is a relaxing time in history class, Rise takes out his study guide and highlighter. He highlights keywords when the flashcards remind him of important information. Also, he jots down his hints on the side with a pencil. The classroom is reminded to study for the exam to come and the bell rings for the next class Mr. Benz.

At the track, the students who will compete in the semi-state are practicing. Locker rooms are very quiet. Rise changes into his practice clothes. The outfit includes loose shorts and a shirt of stormy gray color.

Coach Duke blows the whistle for the runners to come together. They gather at the start line.

The track feels like a firm cloud below his feet as he runs on the black surface. With each footstep, he feels weightlessness in his heart. The earth moves beside him. Rise is but a cloud among the sky of a track. Drifting in circles around the track as the clouds go around the earth. The time at the track flies by as Rise puts one foot in front of the other, and the wind rushes at his sides. His mouth intakes the air in even breaths. Like fingers, the wind currents comb through his hair strands. The feeling of the air on his scalp relaxes his muscles all over his body. The feelings and sensations repeat for the entirety of the practice. His muscles tire by the end of practice with a burning feeling at the end.

“Great practice, everyone,” says Coach Duke.

Rise walks to the pickup. His Ma beams at him.

“Rise, I got a surprise for you. We'll be going to the running store,” says Ma.

“You mean for shoes?” asks Rise.

“Yes, new race shoes!” exclaims Ma putting the car in reverse.

They exit the parking lot of the track.

In town, they drive to the south exit. They head into the next town over. The blue pickup truck merges into the larger road which is full of traffic. Cars pass on the left and right of them. The vibration of the road reverberated throughout the trucks inside.

The car peeled into the parking lot of the strip mall. The many shops shine in the sunlight. Rise opens the door and heads to the running shoe store.

“How do those feel?” asks his Ma.

Rise paces around the store saying, “They feel good.”

The new pair of shoes are an aqua blue color with gray accents. He grabs the pair in his hands as he heads to the checkout counter.

With the bag secure in the car. They return to town and their home. It is late evening. There is little time to study for his classes, but Rise needs to eat. The grumbling in his stomach is bothering his insides.

They reach the white two-story house.

“Hi Pa,” says Rise.

“How’re the shoes Rise?” says his Pa.

“They are great,” says Rise, lifting the plastic bag.

Rise puts his shoes onto his bed. He unlocked the orange box pulling back at the paper wrapping. He stares at his new shoes. He feels the urge to go out and run on a track or dirt road near him.

“Come eat, Rise!” yells Ma.

“Coming,” says Rise.

In the light of the sunset, Rise ties his new spiked race shoes. He thinks to break them out for a jog on the dirt road. He stands. Feeling the weight of his body. There are small adjustments in his body to keep him in a balanced pose like a crane in a river. He leans slightly forward and propels himself into a jog.

The spikes grab onto the dirt. He relaxes himself to enjoy the feeling of his new shoes. After twenty minutes he returns to his home. The lights in the living room are turned off. His mother and father must have gone to bed already.

Rise makes as little noise as possible to shower before bed.

As he heads into his room one of his jackets makes a shadow in the corner of his room in the shape of a person. Rise jumps back. He stares hard into the space until he realizes what it is.

The men and women black cross his mind. As he pulls his covers his heartbeat takes a minute to go back to normal. Each shadow in his room has to be looked at a second time before he can close his eyes with confidence.