My Boots

by Joseph Rodgers
(Orlando, Florida, USA)

My Boots
My boots are black with paint and caulking stains on the toes of them. They are Magnum XLR 3 or some fancy title like that. They are made for walking, sorry I couldn't resist an allusion to such a popular song. Everyone was thinking it anyway. The toes are made of pleather and I polish them occasionally. I have owned at least three or four other very similar pairs of boots. Boots similar to this pair have protected my feet against broken glass, broken toilets, vermin.
I wore my pair of Magnum boots most recently repairing horse jumps, which makes me think of a riddle. Staring at the toes of my boots, watching the caulking press into the cracks in the word. Sanding off the wood putty, painting. Watching the stuff drip off the brush in gobs and splatters along my toes. Bob always said that I was messy with a paint brush.
I dreamed of it those nights.
My last pair of boots was an identical pair of Magnum XLR 3(s) whatever, I was at the Koffin Kats show. Dad had got me tickets for my birthday. Dancing with some hot little rockabilly girl I tore the sole off of the left boot. I had the boots for two years, and they were getting worn out. I was having fun with the sole came off so I just bought another pair of the exact same boots.
When these boots wear out I'll probably buy another pair, I own tennis shoes also, but sometimes nothing is as utilitarian as boots. And sometimes between consenting adults nothing is quite as sexy as a good pair of boots.