20 - Scuffed Toes and a Thin Branch
20 –
Scuffed Toes and a Thin Branch
The thing
about that though was Lenny did not have long legs. Sure he was seven foot two
inches tall. In his stocking feet as well. Put on proper shoes and wow. Bumping
the bonce on the clouds. No his legs were short, would fit very neatly onto
someone just approaching six feet tall. The extra was not in his head that was
fairly normal. Fairly because he did have an extended chin that made his face
look long but overall his head would suit a happy go lucky six foot twoer. His
trunk, that’s where the discrepancy was located. He had a monster trunk.
Seriously long chest that made people wonder if he had a few past the normal in
ribs.
Clothes as
every tall or tallish person will tell you are at best difficult. Tall and well-proportioned
is specialist to be sure but doable. Just a bit of adjustment needed in
skinniness situations. Tall with short legs, elongated trunk and long arms is a
definite problem. All right if you are rich you simply get Threadbare Charlie
and his friend Nigel to make you up suits of fabulously trendy apparel.
Otherwise its down the superstore and hope for the best.
There you
are confronted with one of the most ridiculous situations in the clothes
department of a modern department store. Shoes. Shoes are in racks attractively
laid out to entice you to buy. Racks six feet high. Perhaps more. No problem
you think. Well wrong. Lenny will tell you that. Lenny has size fourteen feet.
Shoe sizes start biggest on the bottom shelf decreasing upwards. Lenny crawls
on hands and knees to see the bottom rack. A very serious effort. A long way
down and a long way back up. Strenuous. When he goes shoe buying he goes with
his neighbour’s daughter, Sally, when she also needs shoes. She is a smidge
under five foot and has size two feet and even on the tippiest toes it’s a
challenge to reach the top shelf. So Lenny gets her shoes and she picks his.
Sally
slightly younger than Lenny and very attractive, especially to Lenny. He really
does like her but the pictures painted in his mind, big against small, leads to
a natural reluctance. The taunts he gets are bad enough. The two of them
together as an item would likely be a torment. For both of them. He therefore
satisfies himself with just being around her. Their expeditions to buy shoes
providing an opportunity. They buy shoes and have lunch. Almost a date but not
quite.
Lenny works
and works hard. Scaffolding, that is his number. Own business, own lorry, own
plant. His height a definite benefit. Has the help of Smithy. Daniel Smith,
nice chap, touch younger who likes to lug stuff around. Could do it all day.
Fit and a sensible height. Smithy is learning. Learning the ropes or in this
case the poles. They work all over the area. Small stuff mainly for local
people and jobbing builders. Both are strong. Heavy is scaffolding. Builds you
up. Not that Lenny needed building up he is probably built up enough already.
One day they were having lunch.
“Doing
anything this weekend Lenny?”
“Off to buy
shoes with Sally.”
“Buy a lot
don’t you. Got a fetish?”
“Naw just
seem to wear them out. Walking all over I suppose.”
“But long
legs, big strides less leather wear surely.”
“Not so long
legs. Scuff me feet so wear out the toes. Look.”
“Yup that’s
a worn out toe alright.”
“New work
boots don’t you think. Might get some of a fancy colour. What d’you reckon.
Company colour?”
“Blue if
it’s to be a Company colour. Only blue will do me.”
“What size?”
“Nine.”
“Sorted
then. Two pairs blue boots. Nine and fourteen.”
Sally pops
in the door at nine Saturday.
“You ready then.
Need some new low shoes for work. Can’t wear heels walking about all day.”
“Yup let’s
hit the road.”
Out they go.
Bobby Stumpings passing shouts something but they are not sure what.
At the store
and into the shoe section. The shoes have gone. Moved over two aisles and laid
out on low racks only four feet high. Lines of them. Big on top and small down
low.
“So my
complaint had effect then.”
“What’s that
Sally?”
“I wrote
about the racking how ridiculous it was. They obviously agree. This is great.
No more hassle.”
This is bad
news for Lenny and he shows it.
“What’s up
Lenny?”
“I enjoy our
trips to the shops with lunch and all. Will miss it.”
“Don’t worry
Lenny we can still have lunch. We don’t need to go shopping for that.”
Anyway boots
and shoes purchased they are off taking the route that passes the river. There
is a commotion. A major commotion. People shouting. Women screaming. They see
Daniel half in the river trying to reach to someone in trouble. They get closer
see it’s Bobby Stumpings hanging onto a thin branch sticking out over the water
just above the weir. He is sobbing. Stranded. One broken twig away from certain
disaster. Daniel cannot reach him. There is a thick branch protruding out
towards Bobby. But too short. Daniel is at the end but his reach is two feet
too short.
He sees
Lenny. “Lenny here quick you can reach. Wait. I need to come back.” “Right.
It’s strong enough. Strong right at the end.”
Lenny does
not hesitate. Slides along. At the end he hooks one leg around the branch and
leans forward. The extra length of his trunk and his long arms and he can reach.
“Bobby reach towards me.” He grabs Bobby’s arm around the wrist. “Let go of the
branch. I’ve got you and won’t let you go.”
“I can’t.
I’m scared.”
“I promise I
won’t let you go.”
Two minutes
later Lenny and Bobby are on the bank both soaking wet. Bobby’s mum is there
sobbing. She takes Bobby wrapped in her arms and leaves.”
The crowd
drifts away leaving just Daniel, Sally and Lenny.
“Well I’m
off. See you Monday Daniel.”
On Sunday afternoon
Mrs Stumpings appears on Lenny’s doorstep with Bobby.
“Thank you
so much Lenny. He would have drowned without you. He fell in up river and could
not get to the bank. He’s a real handful. Since his Dad dies last year he has
been so difficult.”
Exactly one
year later Lenny got married. Not to Sally who just liked being friends but Mrs
Stumpings, Christine. Turned out they had much in common. They struck a chord
straight off and she was six feet two. A real bonus. Bobby calmed down and took
to liking Lenny. Lenny became the local hero and was no longer taunted. Sally
who had been left on the river bank with Daniel struck up a conversation. They
are still going out.
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