Read Online Best Foot Forward by Joan Bauer - Free Book Online Page B

forget it.” She headed for the door.
    Tanner shrugged; forgetting it wasn’t hard for him. He did a half spin around like a dancer and headed for the back room.
    Why did my life suddenly feel so crushingly dull?
    Â 
    â€œI’m back, everybody! And I’m getting shoes!”
    Webster T. Cobb burst through the door, grinning wide, followed by his grandmother.
    â€œGood to see you, Webster.”
    â€œI want tie-ups!”
    â€œWe’ve got those.”
    He headed toward the children’s section; checked the tree to make sure his name was still there; grabbed a squirrel. Mattie shook my hand. “He wouldn’t come anyplace else. He said this was his shoe store.”
    Webster did a half spin like Tanner. “I’ve got awesome feet.”
    I laughed. “You sure do. Come on, let me measure you.”
    â€œI’m three feet tall exact.”
    â€œNot your height, your feet.”
    Mattie bent closer to me. “We’re going to have to go with the economy brand.”
    â€œEmployees get a discount.” I got Webster to stand still momentarily while I got his size, then found cool tie-ons from the sales rack suitable for awesome feet. I stuck the shoes on Webster. He laced them up himself slowly and ran around the store.
    â€œYou’ve got to give them a good test,” I said. “Run, march, bounce, and jump. It’s the only sure way to tell.”
    Mattie smiled. “I want to thank you for what you’re doing for my grandson.”
    â€œWebster is a special kid.”
    â€œNot him,” she said. “Tanner.”
    Tanner?
    â€œHe looks up to you.”
    Most guys do. I’m five-eleven.
    â€œHe says you know what’s what.”
    â€œHe’s a good worker.”
    â€œHe needed this job like a lifeline. I’ve been praying for that boy to get a break, and look where he is. You’re God’s agent. Do you know that?”
    Is she kidding?
    â€œOh, yes you are. I got on my knees for that boy and asked the Lord to provide. And he sent you.”
    Webster did a somersault and landed right at our feet. “I want these, Grandma! They’re the best!”
    â€œHow much are they?”
    As God’s agent, I gave her a double discount and threw in two pairs of iridescent laces. Tanner came on the floor as I was ringing them up. Webster marched up to him. “I read two whole books today.”
    â€œThat’s good, little man. You learn any new words?”
    Webster thought hard. “I don’t think so.”
    â€œI got a new word for you.” Tanner went behind the counter, got a piece of paper and a pen, and wrote out SOLE. “Sole,” he said.
    Webster wasn’t impressed. “I know that one! We say it in church.”
    â€œIt sounds like the church word; that’s spelled S-O-U-L. This one means the bottom of your shoe. That’s the sole. S-O-L-E.”
    Webster took off his new shoes and examined the bottoms. “Sole,” he said.
    Tanner did a full turn and stuck his hands out like a dancer. “And ’cause I work in a shoe store, I’m a sole man!”
    Webster did a half turn and posed. “I’m a sole man, too!”
    Mattie paid for the shoes. “We’ve got to go, honey.”
    Webster was too busy to pay attention. She marched over to him, took his hand.
    â€œNo,” he insisted. “I want to stay.”
    Mattie bent down and said something to him I couldn’t hear. Webster shook his head.
    â€œWe’ve got to go, honey. That’s just how it is.”
    Â 
    â€œWe live in a basement apartment. The mildew keeps the rent cheap. Webster’s allergic to it. He doesn’t like going back.” Tanner and I stood on the sales floor next to Harry’s memorial.
    â€œAllergies can be tough,” I said. “I had them pretty bad when I was little, but I grew out of them.” I considered my height and laughed. “I grew out