A New Friend (Socks XIV)

The boys were folded and slid into a big leather pouch.
Lar worked his way to the bottom of the pouch trying to get away, Rar kept bitching about his toe.
Down there in the dark he met Nick Cole, an intelligent, gregarious fellow with stories.
Nick claimed to have been in circulation since 1973, whatever that meant. He professed to have a value of five, and could be traded for stuff. Lately he need more and more help to get the same kind of stuff. Maybe as a result of getting older.
Lar was confused by, yet liked Nick.

Surgery (Socks XIII)

Snip.
Rar felt pain. Pain in his toe. He screamed. He couldn't sense his brother. Where was Lar?
"LAR! LAR!"
"I'm right here," Lar calmed his twin.
"What happened?"
"We've been separated."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"I want to be with you, Lar."
"I think we'll stay together."
"That hurt like hell."
Lar had felt no pain. Not physical pain.
"Mom, look at this. I cut a hole in this one. Shit."
"That can be fixed."
"He's gonna be so pissed. Shit."
"I'll take it home and do it."
"Shit."
"I have grey thread, he'll never know."
"Thanks Mom. Shit."

Vocabulary lesson (Socks XII)

"Ding-dong"
"Anybody home?"
"Come in Mom."
The twins remained on the counter as Pretty Shanks and Mom sat at the table sipping from steaming cups, talking.
Pretty cried and Mom hugged her.
The vocabulary of the Gylegreys grew. That day they learned the words counselor, affair, lawyer, and asshole.
"Why are these socks on the counter?"
"I need to cut a thread holding the toes together."
"Let me help."
Mom held Lar. Rar was blissfully held by Pretty Shanks. Ignorant of the coming events, they could feel the tug at their toes.
They didn't until then, know the word scissors.

An Argument (Socks XI)

The Gylegreys spent the night on the arm of the couch and the next day, were carried back to the well lit room. They recognized some of the browns and blacks, but none of the unvoiced greys remained. They were carried back to the couch.
“Why the hell didn’t you return those today?”
“That color is discontinued.”
“Everything’s a chore for you, isn’t it?”
“I’ll fix it.”
"Ok Suzie Homemaker, I'm going to Phil's for a beer."
The twins were placed on the counter. Gentle hands pulled them apart so that the single string conjoining their toes became slightly taut.

Fascination (Socks X)

"These are good socks, I'll exchange them tomorrow."
"Get the same color. Think you can get that right?"
Footsteps left the room, a door slammed, a car started.
The soft hands hung the twins on the arm of the couch. Lar on one side, Rar on the other while the nice lady read a book. When she curled her feet up on the couch Rar got a good look at her ankles. He named her Pretty Shanks.
While reading Pretty Shanks fell asleep, giving Rar ample time to admire her ankles, toes, heels, soles, and arches. Rar was in love.

The Insult (Socks IX)

On a warm, sunny day the rough hands shredded the paper band surrounding the brothers. The single string between their toes prevented him from completely separating them.
Holding Lar by the heel, Rar dangling, swinging in a circle, the man said, "What the hell kind of shoddy crap do you buy?"
The brothers flew across the room and landed on the nice ladies lap.
"If you're gonna buy second rate shit like that, don't bother." The deep voice spat.
Rar was pissed. The man evidently didn't know top quality. Lar ignored the man. The man evidently didn't know top quality.

Christmas (Socks VIII)

The delicate hands covered the twins in festive colored paper then put them in a soft enclosure. They felt a kinship to the enclosure. Like being safe in mother's arms.
Surrounded by the smells of mints, chocolate, and pine, music played almost constantly. Lar liked the joyful music, but Rar had heard enough the first week.
The day came when a pair of rough hands released the twins from their colored paper tomb and tossed them atop a green sweater. A pair of boxers soon covered them.
After an hour the soft hands placed the twins in the top drawer.