Where're The Shoes?

Off it went. The alarm clock sounded on the dot at 6:15am in the morning.

Oh... what at nice morning. Still dark, cool and breezy. A nice morning to continue sleeping, that is. Yet, it was not to be. I have to be the responsible parent and wake up from my cozy bed and wake my son up to get him ready for his first day being Primary 6 student.

As he bathed, I made him hot a cup of hot Milo and took out his favourite pineapple-jam biscuits to dunk into his drink while he watches his morning cartoon before he heads out to take the morning bus at 6:50am.

All was fine. His bags packed, hankie in his pocket, money for his meals given and it was time to leave the home.

"Ayah... where are my shoes?" he asked while searching around the front door.

"Oh, your Mommy said she put it in the cabinet outside," I said casually "check it there."

"I have, but I don't see it anywhere," he said almost desperate sounding "I'm going to miss my bus!"

I looked around while praying hard in my heart that nobody actually took my son's brand new schools shoes from the unlocked cabinet outside. l had to wake Wifey up even though she was not feeling too well still.

"What?! That can't be! I placed it in the cabinet outside!" She said frantically and confirmed there was no new school shoes after checking the cabinet.

"OK, OK... where is the old pair? Just let him wear that for today" I suggested.

"I threw that away already..." Wifey said looking at me blank. "Somebody stole it?"

"Awww...." my son sighed almost shocked with his eyes and mouth wide open.

"No way," I said "no way you would put a new pair of shoes outside... People can take it just like his bike!" I rationalised. "You must have forgotten you put it somewhere else. Let's look for it around the house."

So all 3 of us searched for that white pair of Fila school shoes I bought for him a few weeks ago. We were getting desperate until Wifey found it under her SoHo table after she recalled hard.

What a relief... for all 3 of us!

"Ah... Ehm, how do I tie a knot?" My son retorted a question.

"What?!" I exclaimed and calmed myself down as I knew he always had Velcro-type shoes throughout his school-going life. This year is different as there was none for his foot size.

I had to teach him there and then at the front door, with the bus almost arriving. He was quick to know how it was done and off he finally went off... in time before his 7:00 am bus that came on the dot. Phew!

Like a zombie, Wifey went back to the bedroom and slept, while I resumed my morning ritual... gym workout! Yes!

Everything is back on schedule now. Ahhh... morning tranquility once again.

What an adrenaline rush! The gym workout I mean.