Credit

My sisters and I always preferred to leave our shoes behind in the house. And though this inspired mean-spirited middle aged ladies to spread rumors that my parents couldn’t afford shoes, we took pride in the toughness of our feet. As we walked over gravel and through horse manure, B would inform people that she, too, never wore shoes during her girlhood. Using this anecdote to take full credit for our tough feet, she exaggerates her role. The dna which curls my hair may be hers, but the thickness of the soles of my feet was built up, not inherited.