Two Left Feet / Lillian Axelson

Two Left Feet

Lillian Axelson

John has two left feet, not in the dancing sort of sense, but in the literal sense. I might’ve said it could’ve been in the dancing sense as well if I hadn’t seen him on the floor at our bosses wedding, he could put anyone to shame. I probably never even would’ve known if it weren’t for the fact I noticed his two left shoes, I just thought he was a bit of a klutz. I asked him one day during our break if there were any problems with having two left feet, maybe something to do with pressure or arthritis. John told me the only issue he has is when he’s not paying attention his feet’ll walk him right into a wall and through the first door he winds up next to. John took a sip of his coffee. “Guess it’s not so much a problem as just something that happens. Wasn’t really too noticeable when I was growing up, y’know? I’d wake up to use the bathroom and end up in my brother’s room. Maybe I’d walk into the wrong class at school. But, y’know, getting out into the big wide world sure upped the ante a bit.” “Yeah? How so?” I asked. “Last week I was so caught up in the report I was reading I walked right in on a meeting. Wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t been trying to get back to my desk.” He gave a chuckle. “Sounds like a pain.” “...I guess it’s a bit annoying to buy two pairs of shoes to get two left ones, but it’s not all bad.” John was smiling now.

I didn’t get it, how could winding up in random spots and spending extra money be a good thing. “What’s good about it?” He turned to me with a spark in his eyes. “Back in college I got all caught up reading on my way to class, wound up in the school’s dance studio. Interrupted their partner dance period. Teacher, eccentric woman, asked if I wanted to join, said her TA could be my partner. Told her ‘can’t dance ma’am, I’ve got two left feet’. She told me ‘that’s a stupid saying for people who don’t wanna give it a go’. ” “She really make you dance?” I asked. “Sure did, dragged her TA over and everything. Lucky I stuck around though because that TA and I got hitched a few years back,” John said, raising up the rings to prove the point. “Should’ve seen the look on the teacher’s face though when she found out I really do have two left feet.” I watched John fiddle with his ring, a fond look on his face. “Not all 16 bad then?” “Never bad, just a bit of an adventure sometimes.”