12.04.15

Freedom Writing journal

Zebra gumboots

Once upon a time I had a pair of zebra gumboots...in fact I still have a pair of zebra gumboots but they have quite a story to tell!

They were bought from the good old  'Warehouse - where everyone gets a bargain' and bargain they were, I thought, for I bought a second pair (spotty ones) but that's another story.

These zebra gumboots have been my defense against bee stings when I've raided my hive; my feet tucked safely inside. No green grass stains have ever spoiled my clean-soled feet after mowing the lawns as the zebra gumboots have walked in grass stains for me. I've never had to worry about mud squelching between my toes after a heavy downpour as I've hurried outside to feed the chooks; the boots have born the muddy brunt for me. Huddled in my down jacket watching Sam, Ben and Rachel play soccer, I've had warm dry toes - because: you've guessed it: my zebra gumboots are hugging my feet tight and dry. In fact I'd say they were closer to my feet than a Dulux paint coat on the light house we always see advertised on TV.

Then we got Tess. 

Now, don't get me wrong I love Tess but she has created a few upsets in our house and one of the first issues I had to deal with was her endless energy poured out on my zebra gumboots. How she loved these. Day after day I would retrieve a  soggy gumboot from the front lawn; sometimes even out of a hole she'd tried to dig to bury it in. Out one of them would come, looking ever so dirty and bedraggled.

Slowly she worked the black clasps off the side, until even the strap holding the clasps lay strewn across the lawn.

Final insult however was kept for  the left foot when one day it was slit open from top to toe. The pink inner lining was shredded as far as her teeth could wrench the pieces out and it was abandoned on the front door step.

I've lovingly taped the left boot together with tape. I still wear them and each night I store them high up on a shelf, away from Tessie's teeth. I'm not sure however they'll be up to the formidable tasks facing them this winter of keeping my feet dry at soccer games, so it may be time to head back to the Warehouse for another pair of zebra gumboots. (I wonder if they'll still be a bargain?)

What have you had that's been destroyed by one of your household pets?