Natural Swimmer
“Do they make you a better swimmer?” she asked, pointing out my biggest insecurity in the dim lighting under the cash register of the Hollister at which we both work. I smiled, as if I knew the question was coming, and turned away without responding. It drives me crazy when people ask me that question; it’s the only thing people ask me on the topic. Some variation of how my swimming is affected by the ‘abnormality’, as my AP Biology teacher referred to it as. With or without an answer, the person can surely see how agitated I become by the question and cease talking about it almost immediately.
It is a requirement at Hollister to wear flip flops during the Spring and Summer seasons. Because of my webbed toes, this is an obvious problem. I do it anyway, however, and attract as little attention to my feet as possible. There’s always one keen and observant coworker, though, that notices and questions me. Every time.
My mother never noticed that her toes were slightly webbed until she saw mine shortly after my birth. I know not how someone can spend their entire life oblivious to it, but my mother succeeded. When my younger sister was born, we noticed that her toes were slightly webbed too. But I had it the worst. Between the second and third toes on each foot was skin that shouldn’t be there, connecting both toes together all the way up to the toenail, where they separate into two. I have two bones, two toenails, two virtually normal toes, but the skin in between makes all the difference.
The Hollister manager walked to the cash register to help a customer. When she finished, my coworker politely pointed out to her the abnormality of my feet, and she was eager to see.
The first thing out of her mouth: “Oh my god. Do they make you swim faster?”
“Do they make you a better swimmer?” she asked, pointing out my biggest insecurity in the dim lighting under the cash register of the Hollister at which we both work. I smiled, as if I knew the question was coming, and turned away without responding. It drives me crazy when people ask me that question; it’s the only thing people ask me on the topic. Some variation of how my swimming is affected by the ‘abnormality’, as my AP Biology teacher referred to it as. With or without an answer, the person can surely see how agitated I become by the question and cease talking about it almost immediately.
It is a requirement at Hollister to wear flip flops during the Spring and Summer seasons. Because of my webbed toes, this is an obvious problem. I do it anyway, however, and attract as little attention to my feet as possible. There’s always one keen and observant coworker, though, that notices and questions me. Every time.
My mother never noticed that her toes were slightly webbed until she saw mine shortly after my birth. I know not how someone can spend their entire life oblivious to it, but my mother succeeded. When my younger sister was born, we noticed that her toes were slightly webbed too. But I had it the worst. Between the second and third toes on each foot was skin that shouldn’t be there, connecting both toes together all the way up to the toenail, where they separate into two. I have two bones, two toenails, two virtually normal toes, but the skin in between makes all the difference.
The Hollister manager walked to the cash register to help a customer. When she finished, my coworker politely pointed out to her the abnormality of my feet, and she was eager to see.
The first thing out of her mouth: “Oh my god. Do they make you swim faster?”
2 comments:
I'm not sure how much of a micro-fiction this is, it seems like more of a personal experience essay (even if it is fictional.) Even so, it's very well written, you've got some potential. I really like the repeated use of that swimming bit. By the way, I saw a kid with a similar mutation, 'cept his toes were fused at the bone and he had one freakish mega-nail at the end.
Well done! I certainly think this is appropriate for microfiction (some of the other stories take a similar approach). Certainly could be interpreted to be about more than just a kid with webbed feet! Cleverly crafted opening and closing. Nice job Erik! Very original.
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