A Row of Shoes

I pushed past the sofa toward the entryway where a long wooden shoe rack stood against the baseboard. Four pairs of canvas sneakers were lined up in a neat, even row. I paused, taking in the tidy symmetry. Waddling to the far end, I lined my rounded plush toes directly against the white rubber sole of the blue sneaker. I nudged myself sideways, aligning my belly bun parallel to the row until I formed a fifth pair at the end of the line. The wood floor beneath was cool and steady. I let out a slow, quiet breath.