Sandals, Weather

It’s not that sandals aren’t okay, M says; it’s sandals in the wintertime, below khakis and button-down shirt and tie, with socks that are not okay.

Now, I should just say that most of the time I don’t wear sandals because I think they look right. Rather, if I wear them it’s usually because it’s convenient. With occasionally biking to school, I often leave my dress shoes there, and so I wear sandals or sneakers for the ride or drive to and from–and while I never wear my sneakers all day (that would be frowned upon), I sometimes take the bold step of not switching out of my sandals.

I learned this week that M isn’t the only one who scorns this sad habit. Coincidentally immediately after confiscating a pack of gum from one attitude-prone, angst-laden preteen in my classroom, I launched my first period class into a “word choice” activity in which students were to write for five minutes about something that makes them angry.

“And you can’t write about other students,” I said.

“How about my sister?” one boy asked. “I get so mad at her.”

“No other students,” I said. (I teach his sister, his twin, in a later period–in which she would be quick to ask, “What about my brother? Can I write about him? He spit in my face this morning.”)

“Can we write about teachers?” Miss Angst glared at me. “Some teachers make me mad.”

“Only if it’s me,” I said.

“Well, okay then,” she said.

After the five minutes of writing, students paired up and selected one particularly expressive sentence to share with the class. Miss Angst was eager to offer her choice: “‘Those sandals are annoying and they’re not cutting it any more.’ Can I read the rest, too?”

I didn’t take her up on her offer, but I haven’t worn the sandals since (although I promised her I would, just for her). See, the weather’s been really rainy, and tonight I won’t sleep well because that rain is supposed to turn a bit snowy, which means it’s slightly possible that I won’t have to work a full day tomorrow.

In which case I wouldn’t even have to put on socks.