Jon worried that his mother was having a nervous breakdown. Seriously. She was acting very strangely. His day had been completely normal (except for all the distraction he felt thinking of the wishes he'd make when he got home) until he walked in the door after school. There stood his mother, in her usual power suit and white nike sneakers, staring aghast at his feet.
"What are you wearing?" she had bellowed at him. Nice greeting.
"What? These? I got a really good bargain on them. Do you like them?" He tried to lighten the conversation, already sensing her temperature being up.
"Those are my shoes, Jon! I've been looking all over for them." Her voice had become quite shrill, and there was a vein poking out the side of her forehead.
"Mom. You know that you never wear heels. You only like wearing sneakers." Jon spoke very slowly hoping not to make her more agitated, but he already was worrying over her mindset.
Then she just stared at him. For a full five minutes.
And it was a long five minutes.
Had she gone catatonic? What was going through her head? Jon finally couldn't take the waiting and broke the silence.
"Mom?" He spoke very softly, "Are you alright?" He took a step toward her. "Look mom, if you want my shoes, you can have them," he lifted one foot up unstrapped the ankle and slid it off, revealing his dainty painted toes and pedicured feet. After doing the same with his other foot, he stood barefoot on the floor and offered the shoes to his mother.
Jane blinked and examined the 3" Manolo pumps held before her. Jon was relieved to see even such a small reaction.
"Seriously mom, you can have them. If they make you feel better, take them. Don't worry about it, I've got plenty!" He was smiling now, trying to catch her eye. "I don't know what you want with them, though, boy's shoes would never fit you."
It was then that she looked down and realized how big the sneakers she had on were. They were easily men's size eleven, and they had a very snug fit.
