Big Boy Shoes

Big Boy Shoes by Edmund Siejka She was in the living room Evening shadows slowly inching forward When I came home The look on her face said something had happened. Reluctant to say anything at first Words suddenly came out From her like torrential rain She came home early and since the house was quiet Decided to clean up Unable to find her sneakers she put mine on Not noticing they weren’t mine But belonged to our ten year old. How did this happen so fast she asked? She remembered the first time They walked to school together So close was he to her How she held his small hand Feeling his softness Knowing his innocence. When it was time for her to leave She left him at the school house door. Alone for the first time He cried Small innocent tears Bright as diamonds But like a brave soldier he walked in As she waited in front Anxiously holding her breath Watching his every move Until she could only see The tiniest sliver of his blue backpack Disappear behind those gray doors. That fall she bought him his favorite sneakers The ones covered with gold stars That made him feel special That made him believe He could run like the wind. And now he was so grown up So tall So big And she confessed She hadn’t been able to lift him Since last summer. When did this happen To her little boy? Changes that came so suddenly And changes that made his mother so sad.