Bright Red Sneakers

by Jean Robison

In my 7-year-old mind, it is a very good idea: wearing my brand-new sneakers for the Brownie troop’s photo shoot. My bright red Keds with the white stub toe will look very impressive with the tannish-brown knee-length dress, black knee socks, and black beanie. When I show up for the shoot, I am surprised that every other Brownie is wearing brown or black shoes to match the uniform, and I think to myself how boring everyone’s shoes look compared to mine. Time to line up, stand tall, don’t smile, put my feet together – this is serious; we need to look good.

            When the photo arrives in the mail, I’m surprised how much I stand out.  I am the smallest member in the group. I am always the smallest kid in any group activity, until middle school when I sprout to my full height of 5’2”.  I have a short, messy mop of blonde hair and a serious little face with circles underneath my eyes, as usual. My arms are down by my sides as I gaze straight at the camera. But for some reason, my dress is skewed and my belt is off-center, circling below my waist, making the dress look disheveled. I wonder why no one else’s dress is skewed.

But I stand out with my sneakers, the only spot of red. Am I embarrassed? No! I see everyone else as having a lack of imagination. As I grow older, I continue to be fashion forward. One of my classic looks is posing profile in a leopard-print mini-dress, bright, rainbow-striped knee socks, and chunky, tan, platform shoes -- worn to church. 

I’ll always have a tender spot for the girl who wore her own kind of footwear to the shoot, believing a splash of color was just what the picture needed.