Familiar Territory (Socks DIV)

“I think I recognize this, brother.”
“Me too.”
“We’re going to the washer.”
They were right. Kyle carried the basket into the kitchen, and had breakfast while the dirty clothes waited in the basket.
The snow had stopped falling by the time they went outside. The walk to the Laundromat wasn’t as long as the previous nights walk.
The boys talked as the washer filled.
“We’ve never been in the wash with so many different colored clothes before.”
The washer , moving them apart.
Slosh, slosh.
“That’s what’s different.”
Slosh, slosh.
“I just talked to the red shirt…”
Slosh, slosh.

Almost Right (Socks DIII)

The shoes were propped against the wall, toes down. Kyle had draped the boys over the shoes. The conversation carried, even though Lar was on the right shoe, Rar on the left.
“Looks like you guessed right.”
“I’m glad you were here to see it, I have so little talking company.”
The heat kicked on.
“This will dry us out.”
“We’re not very wet.”
The shoe added, “I’m not totally right, he didn’t put powder on us.”
“Close enough.”
In the morning Kyle put the brothers in a basket, atop of the tee shirt Kyle had worn the night before.

Home Safe (Socks DII)

Kyle took his phone out of his pocket, “I’m home, safe and sound.”
*
“Yea, I got snowed on a little.”
*
“I think I’ll do a little reading. I have a history test on Thursday.”
*
“Ok, bye.”
*
“Oh, wait,” Kyle recounted wearing the ring, how it made him nervous just to wear it. He took the ring out, putting it on the counter.
*
“No, I’ll never wear it again, it’s right here next to the sink.”
After hanging up, Kyle set on a kitchen chair, and took off all his footwear. He put one shoe on each side of the register.

Solitaire (Socks DI)

The shoe told Rar that she had to play games by herself, “My brother doesn’t talk.”
Kyle eventually walked up a flight of steps, strange steps. The unpainted stairs went up the outside of a building. Garbage cans were visible under the stairs through the open risers. Most of the treads creaked, one near the bottom was especially loose. The only place that was covered was the landing at the top, where Kyle stopped to unlock the door.
Kyle shook the snow from his coat before entering.
Once inside, Kyle locked the door, and hung the coat on a hook.

Guessing (Socks D)

Lar and Rar had never been out in the snow. Lar tried to ask his shoe about the snow, but he didn’t talk. Rar attempted a conversation with his shoe. She informed him that they had walked in the snow only a few times.
“I don’t mind the light snow, but I don’t like getting too wet. When we get home Kyle will put powder in us, and set us next to the heater.”
“Does he do that every time?”
“No, and I’m just guessing what he will do. I like to try to guess. It‘s a game I play.”

Light Snow (Socks CDXCIX)

“Mother…”
Kyle stopped waking. He took the ring off his finger.
“Wow, it’s only a light snow. You’ve walked in snow worse than this.”
“Who you talking to, son?”
Kyle turned. A gray haired man walked quickly toward him. The man wore a band on his head, covering his ears, and tight fitting clothes. The man’s arms were bent, his hands near his chest, pumping.
“Just myself, sir.”
The man laughed as he whizzed by, “Better watch doing that, it’s a habit that’s hard to break. I speak from experience.”
Kyle put the ring in the pocket opposite the change.

Exercise (Socks CDXCVIII)

Kyle said his good-byes. Sophie stepped outside on porch with Kyle.
“Where’s your car?”
“I walked.”
“Let me give you a ride home.”
“No thanks, I need to exercise away that pie and ice cream.”
“It’s kind of chilly.”
“I’ll be ok. It’s only about a mile. I walk as much as I can.”
More good-byes.
As Kyle walked, he softly sung to himself, jingling the ring together with the change in his pocket. He slipped the ring on his pinkie.
Now the change in his pocket rattled faster and faster, and the singing had stopped.
Snow stared to fall.

Ring Again (Socks CDXCVII)

The TV turned off. No one spoke for a minute. Nobody moved.
Kyle and Sophie went into her room, leaving the door open.
“What should I do with the ring?”
Kyle already knew the story, but had no advice.
“I wouldn’t feel right giving it back to Mr. Fillmore.”
“I don’t think he would be offended.”
“I just don’t want to hurt his feelings.”
“Give me the ring, I’ll explain the whole thing to him.”
“He’ll think we’re nuts.”
“Then have him wear it for a while.”
The plan was set. Kyle put the ring and emerald in his pocket.