Feet (2009)
1804 feet.
On average, that’s how many feet I count everyday. Depending on the time of the day, the pace of these feet change. The busiest part of my day is in between the morning rush to work, lunch time fast food, and mad dash home. During those times, I just sit back to watch the flow of feet march this way and that. Uniform in their marches, there’s not much that can be seen besides the swarm.
Outside these times though, I’m not just feet counting – I’m feet observing. The pace is more varied – a quickened step, a halted step, an impatient tapping, a pause and redirection. A mindless dash of black leather shoes completely oblivious to the path in front. A leisurely stroll of the thong oblivious to the path left behind. A skip of tiny shiny red shoes, a drag of restless sneakers accompanying his red-healed mother.
I stretch my bare toes in front of me. A killer heel nearly stabs me, as she does a quick trip over my wiggling toes. She halts, she turns, she taps, she stops, she turns agains, and walks away. I watch as she taps all the way to the next corner, wondering how uncomfortable it must be to be stuck in such an awkward position the whole day.
A worn, brown leather shoe pauses long enough to drop a coin, which rolls towards me. I wiggle my toes at him, and try to pick it up for him. I get it between my toes, and hand it up to him. Brown leather takes a step back and walks briskly away.
[TO BE CONTINUED]
