Knotting the Laces

Down from the key ring I slid, dropping softly onto the wooden shoe bench! Right beside me sat a high-top canvas sneaker with a pair of thick, white braided laces. One lace was looped into an open bow, just begging to be rearranged. I grabbed one tip with both arms, heaved, and threaded it straight through the center eyelet! Pull, wiggle, tug! I wound my bendy legs around the crossed lace to pull it tight, but whoops—the opposite loop flipped over, trapping my left ankle in a loose little knot! Instead of untying it, I bent double, tugged the loose aglet, and turned the whole tangle into a sturdy, bouncy hammock right across the tongue.