A story about a shoe shine boy working for a shoemaker xo
Jimmy walked into the shoemaker's hub and soaked in the leathery
smell of sole. "What is it you want son?" he asked. A question brow
went up "You need a job?" The boy nodded. Mr. Mangione stared at the scruff of a boy and recalled himself at the same round about age. "Apron on the hook, grab a broom. Mark your manners and we'll get along just fine." Over by the rack were polished shoes
waiting like tin soldiers in a row. The scent of shoe polish
sang to him and suddenly the boy was right at home again.
"Son, what did you before you came here?" "Theatre
patrons longed to polish their shoes before the long walk
home after the movies. I was a shoe shine boy" The bell tinkled and
a fine looking gentlemen stooped to enter the small establishment.
He wore a felt hat and a lob sided smile that spelled trouble. .
"Mr. Cottolione, what can I do for you?" The boy gave a furtive
glance then went to the shelf and retrieved a pair of shiny shoes.
"I was able to save the sole" the shoemaker piped proudly. .
The boy whispered "Only God can do that" then he gave the man
a tentative smile.
At the end of the day the tired shoemaker yawned "Son, I can guarantee
those shoes will get more sleep then he tonight. Honesty makes a great
bed companion." He then paid the boy his due and closed shop..
Reminded me of the shoe repair shop on the corner, block from our house. The gruff old proprietor always had something nice to say to me when I came to the door with shoes my mother sent me to him with.
"What's the matter? Born in a barn?" He was referring to the rickety old double door that faced the street and let in the bitter cold of winter and the heat of summer when they swung open and were not immediately closed. I venture it was something he said very often. But I always shined my own shoes and was proud of it. At one point, my mother even worked in a shoe factory during our teenage years.
Rosetta was born in 1909 as the youngest of ten children. The family had more laughter than money and neighbors would knock on their door to ask, "Can we come in and laugh, too?"
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