My Girlfriends Jealous Ex – Part 3

Author – Jay

Harry hid his shoeless feet under his desk as he began explaining.
“Bradley asked if I had ever been arrested, before offering me the opportunity of sitting in a cell. He insisted on checking all the images on my camera, before allowing me to leave, he took me to a cell which was out of use. It had a sign on the door. DO NOT USE, SECURITY CAMERA BROKEN.
I was OK with it, the door would be open and I told him I could use the opportunity to phone Katie. But he insisted on taking my phone too, he couldn’t allow me to be left unattended with it near other prisoners.
He took my camera and phone leaving me in the unlocked cell, he’d left your boots in the cell. I got bored waiting, I hope you didn’t mind but I kicked off my shoes and tried on your boots.”
I asked Harry if he still had them as they are now lost.
Harry blushed, shaking his head telling me if he had them he would not have walked across town in his socked feet.
“Bradley returned and seen me wearing your boots, he ordered I take them off as he picked up my Brogues. I felt embarrassed, obeying his authority, like some kid being punished. As he picked them up I asked for my shoes which he was still holding.
He shook his head telling me he would return them with my phone and camera. I wanted to leave, he told me he would fetch my stuff first, he left taking my shoes and your boots with him. He then slammed the door shut locking me inside shoeless. It was weird knowing I could not leave, I knew how you must have felt getting locked inside your cell. I kinda like the thought of us both being locked up in there, it would only be for a few minutes, or so I thought!” He said.
I asked Harry again about my boots. He looked at his socked feet, “I’ve not seen your boots or my shoes since then.”
Harry began explaining that he’d spent the whole night inside the cell.
“I had expected Bradley to return immediately with my camera, phone and my shoes. But he didn’t, I began banging on the cell door, kicking it with my socked feet but nobody came, I eventually fell asleep. It was only an hour ago that the door opened, the officer was shocked to find me inside, nobody had bothered to check the cell because of the out of use sign on the door. He only opened it so a workman could repair the camera, or I would still be locked inside. They could not find my camera, phone or shoes. Bradley had failed to start his shift, he had gone sick, the custody officer was very apologetic telling me he could do nothing but let me leave in my socks. I came straight here, worried I would be in trouble with the boss.”
He lifted his right foot, his black sock had faded to grey on the soul were he had walked shoeless.
I tried phoning Katie again, she eventually answered. She was sheepish on the phone, she wasn’t happy that I’d missed our dinner date because I had been locked up last night. She told me not to ring her again, we were finished as a couple.
I angrily hung up, how did she know I’d been locked up last night if Harry hadn’t contacted her.
I suspect Bradley has not only took my boots but my girlfriend too!

Selling my trainers

Author – Will

Forced to sell my trainers – Some nights out go well and some you wish you had stayed at home – this was one of those. Met a few mates in town had a few beers and a very pleasant evening. It was time to split up and head home and as I was heading for the bus station to head home a group of lads coming in the opposite direction bumped into me and jostled me then ran off. I thought no more of it till I looked down and noticed my watch was missing and on checking so was my wallet and phone. 8 miles from home and no cash. The bus fare was £12 and I did not have it or any means of getting in touch with anyone to help me out. All I had was my Adidas Sambas (UK size 9) my white socks my shirt and my jeans – that’s it try and sell my trainers. I knew there was a risk that someone would run off with them but what else can I do. The first group of lads I approached thought I was mad and were not interested but shortly afterwards another group of lads showed more interest. One lad said wrong size for me mate but I’ll give you a fiver for that shirt, I took it off reluctantly and as good as his word he gave me the fiver. His mate not wanting to miss out on a bargain offered me three quid for my belt and without too much thought I unthreaded it from my jeans and the job was done. Still my trainers to sell to pay for the bus fare and with eight pounds in my pocket I was getting there. Perhaps if I took them off someone would be more likely to buy them, I was going to be in my socks anyway it might as well be now, My trainers came off leaving me in the street in my white socks, selling the belt had not been a good idea my jeans were not very tight fitting and my white boxers were more on show than I liked. Two guys showed some interest in the trainers but they did not fit well enough for a sale sadly. One very studenty lad tried them on and and we had exchanged cash, at last I had the cash for my bus fare home. Twenty minutes later I was almost home, just a ten minute sprint through the park and I was home. A gang of lads were laughing at my half dressed state and asked where the rest my clothes were, I explained I had sold my shirt trainers and belt to get my bus fare home after having my wallet robbed in town. They thought it was very funny and one lad asked if I liked selling my stuff. No it was horrible and walking home like this is no fun either.

The Return – Part 2

Author – George

Chapter Sixteen – Kiss Goodbye to Florida

The Sheriff offered two weeks community service instead of the usual one. He told the cops it meant no jail time, their superiors need not know.

“We should not be here at all!” Shouted Trent, “I want to appeal this conviction.”

“Could take months! You won’t get bail.” Said the Sheriff.

Mitch agreed to the community service, he just wanted to get to Florida.

The Sheriff shook his head, “You must do it now or you go straight to jail, either way you can kiss goodbye to Florida!”

“Well that fucking sucks!” Shouted Trent, “We go to jail, or we don’t! But we still can’t leave! What is the fucking difference?”

“A month in jail with a conviction or two weeks redeeming yourselves,” replied the Sheriff.

“We have done nothing wrong to redeem ourselves, you’ve illegally locked us up.”

Mitch shook his head, “Will we definitely leave in two weeks?”

“Yep! Unless you break the rules like George, he has just got himself an extra week,” replied the Sheriff.

Their careers were more important than Florida, they accepted the community service. Leo, the salesman, chose to accept too, his boss wanted legal advice.

“Agree to this or two months in jail, it’s the only advice your getting,” said the Sheriff.

The two construction workers were reluctant. They had given orange sock wearing workers a rough time, for them to be wearing the socks would be humiliating, the ribbing from their co-workers would be unbearable. The Sheriff told them to make a decision before the prison bus arrives, the thought of getting on that scared them into submission. Like everyone before, nobody read the paperwork, they just signed their rights away.

The community service supervisor appeared with handcuffs and shackles.

“Is this necessary, we’ve agreed to do this community shit,” said Trent.

The supervisor told him and the others they had agreed to their punishment. The two cops, always advised their prisoners to simply follow the rules and procedures, it makes life easier for everyone. Trent reluctantly accepted he must now do as he is told.

Outside the court, waiting to board the minibus, I overheard the Sheriff talking on his cell phone.

“Got the numbers back up, more than expected. Strong guys, two are cops, I sure wish I could put them to work, the Mayor wants to reduce the departments wage bill, but the townsfolk wouldn’t be pleased having law enforcers wearing orange socks.

The cabling needs to be finished, asap, the Mayor promised voters their Internet speed would be super fast by now!”

Chapter Seventeen – No Summer Camp.

Arriving at the bunkhouse, Mitch asked for his shoes and cell phone.

“Does this look like summer camp?” Said the supervisor.

“No, Sir!” Said the cop through gritted teeth.

The supervisor took their socks. When Trent received an orange pair, he looked at me, blushed with embarrassment, realising he is now a dumb ass criminal, without shoes, wearing weird colored socks.

“You sure handled those law enforcers!” I said, sarcastically, reminding him of his cocksure attitude, earlier in the thrift store.

The two construction workers, Frank and Ross, had been arrested after leaving the diner. Their greedy boss wanted to lower their paycheck, so they quit. They hadn’t expected him to be a snake and get them arrested.

The supervisor left to collect Joel and Scott. Trent paced the bunkhouse in his newly acquired orange socks, struggling to accept he couldn’t leave town. Leo had given his location to his boss before getting arrested, Darius knew were to find his missing salesman.

“I guess you don’t like your boss? You certainly made sure he lost his shoes too,” I said.

“He used to be my co-worker, he got promoted. Likes to be called ‘the boss,’ full of his own self-importance, trying to be flash with his expensive suits and watches.

“His expensive shoes had to go too! He was going to be no different to me in court.”

Joel was surprised to see so many guys in the bunkhouse when he and Scott returned.

Scott appeared upbeat, considering he’d spent his day at school without his shoes. Later a car pulled up outside, Scott jumped from his bunk and went out to meet the driver. We couldn’t blame the kid for sneaking off with his buddy, if we lived locally, we would too. But without shoes or transport, we were going nowhere.

Chapter Eighteen – A Change Of Dress

The next morning, Leo replaced Will at the diner, Joel would be plumbing again.

Scott was greeted outside the school by his car buddy, holding a pair of white sneakers. I guess Joel would soon be wearing them.

Darius, in his designer suit, along with the cops and the two contractors got off the bus outside the construction site. The manager awaited their arrival with boots in the back of his pickup, they would be worked hard all day. Darius argued that he couldn’t work in his expensive suit, the site manager agreed, so he got back on the bus.

We both went into the thrift store, followed by the supervisor.

“He needs a change of clothes,” said the supervisor to Fred.

Darius had assumed he would be working elsewhere.

“The site manager wants you back, big strong guy like you is ideal for hard labor.”

Fred guessed Darius size and got some gray sweat pants and plain blue t-shirt from a rack. “Put these on,” he said.

Darius picked up the clothes, “I can’t wear them, they’re old and used.”

The supervisor told him to get changed.

“Where?” Asked Darius, he wasn’t happy having to strip to his shorts inside the store.

Fred picked up his suit and silk shirt, “I’ll take care of them,” he said.

“Tuck those pants into your socks,” said the supervisor.

As he did, he caught his reflection in a mirror. Yesterday he looked like a high-flying executive, today he looked like he was going shopping at Walmart, shoeless!

The supervisor took him back to the construction site, he would be able to choose his footwear, old non-designer boots.

Chapter Nineteen – Half Price Jordans.

Fred put Darius’ suit on a hanger, it had a designer label, Armani.

“Tag it at $100,” he said.

“We can’t sell his clothes!” I replied.

Fred insisted, “we have given him alternative clothing.”

I hoped not to work at the construction site, or my suit would be hanging on the rack too.

Fred introduced Josh, a delivery courier. I asked if he feared coming into town.

“Never had any issues in the few months I have been coming here,” he said, confidently, wearing a pair of Red Wing boots with his uniform.

Later, the ‘Hunt the Shoe’ guy appeared wearing his blue Asics sneakers. Fred warned that he regularly visits and always asks for discount, “Don’t give him any!”

Fred left leaving me in charge again.

Anticipating the arrival of the Air Jordans, the customer asked if I could keep them for him. He claimed to be a struggling student and Fred gives him discount.

Although untrue, I offered him discount, but first I wanted to see his sneakers.

He looked at me strangely, “You ain’t gonna throw them like that idiot yesterday?”

He took them off, they were slightly worn, but sellable. I offered him 25% discount on the Air Jordans if he donated his own sneakers. He wanted 50% as they were near new condition.

I agreed, we shook hands on the deal. He asked for his sneakers.

“You’ve just agreed to donate them!”

He pointed to his white socked feet, “I can’t leave without any shoes on my feet.”

I suggested he could hang out in the store until the Jordans arrive from the jail.

“I definitely want the Jordans, the Asics are yours when I return, I promise.”

We shook hands again, I gave him back his sneaks.

Fred returned allowing me to go to the diner for my sandwich.

Chapter Twenty – Never Assume!

Leo and I, in suits without shoes, ate lunch in the parking lot. Yesterday, Leo had been bemused at seeing me wearing orange socks, he took pleasure knowing it was some kind of punishment. Not for a moment had he anticipated becoming shoeless himself.

Within 24 hours, he’d been arrested, locked up, convicted and sentenced. Today, it was others watching him being punished, if only he had stayed on the highway yesterday.

Knowing his boss had been stripped to his underwear in the thrift s had pleased him.

I returned to the store, Fred went for his lunch, leaving me to pair the newly delivered box of shoes. Inside where the cops sneaks, Leo’s Brogues, and a pair of Versace black leather shoes. Darius certainly likes his labels, it amused me to think of him wearing a t-shirt, sweatpants and an old pair of boots. Trent’s newly purchased footwear were also in the box, my loafers and Joel’s Yeezy’s. They would be re-sold. Having to sell my shoes again would be frustrating. I decided to hide the box, with all our shoes, in the storeroom, except Trent’s sneaks, I had promised them to the student.

The student returned, wanting the Air Jordans.

“OK, give me your sneakers.”

He speedily took them off, I immediately tagged his Asics at $40 before placing them on the shelf to be sold.

“They could sell for more on Craigslist,” he said.

I informed him they were no longer his concern as I gave him the Jordans.

He questioned the $100 price tag I had put on them.

“I assumed they’d be $20 like the Yeezy’s yesterday!”

“You assumed wrong! You should have asked the price,” I replied.

“I only have 20 bucks! Can I take the Yeezy’s instead?”

Telling him they were not available, he wanted his own sneaks back.

“You donated them! They now belong to this store,” I said, “Anyway, it looks like they are about to be sold!”

The student grimaced, as he turned to see another customer wearing his Asics. He frustratingly left in his socked feet.

The other customer removed the Asics, “Too tight!” he said, putting them back on the shelf. I put Trent’s Jordans next to them.

The shoeless student returned, claiming to have no other shoes. I disbelieved him, but still offered him any pair at half price. A pair of blue Asics were the only shoes in his price range that fitted him.

He left feeling very disgruntled after purchasing his own shoes.

Chapter Twenty One – No Rest at The Weekend

The minibus pulled up outside the construction site, the guys took off their borrowed boots and threw them into the back of the managers pickup.

“Nice clothes!” Said Leo, as his boss boarded the bus wearing a t-shirt, sweatpants and orange socks.

Tension filled the air back at the bunkhouse. Trent had a swollen eye. Frank’s expensive work boots had been added to the spare boots collection. Trent had found them first; Frank demanded them, a fight erupted, Trent lost and the boots were unceremoniously removed from his feet.

I lifted the mood by telling everyone about the student buying his own shoes. They all laughed including Trent, if only he knew it was his sneaks the student had tried to buy. Scott sneaked off again in his buddy’s car.

The weekend eventually arrived, there was no rest for anyone. No school meant Scott washed windshields at the gas station, other students were putting a few dollars of gas in every hour so he had to clean their windshields again, in his socks.

Sunday meant no construction work, so Ross, Frank and Darius, painted fences. Instead of patrolling the streets, the two cops cleaned them instead with a broom. The public would have given them respect in their uniforms, but not today, wearing orange socks, the townsfolk showed nothing but contempt. Being publicly shamed, the two cops didn’t like it.

Joel replaced faucets, the homeowner gave him plastic sacks to wear over his socked feet, to keep his feet dry.

Chapter Twenty Two – The Good Samaritan

I had spent the last week in the thrift store, I was beginning to get bored. Josh arrived, it was late afternoon.

“You’re late today!” I said.

He said his truck had engine problems. He collected some parcels and left, rushing to get home.

Evening arrived and Scott had gone off with his buddy again. Frank claimed more workers would be leaving overnight, covertly!

Headlights appeared outside; Deputy Wiley entered the bunkhouse with Josh.

“You can sleep here tonight,” he said.

Josh’s truck had broken down again and no tow truck till morning had left him stranded on the highway. Like a good Samaritan, Wiley offered him a safe place to sleep for the night.

“I’ll need to take your boots and cell phone.” Said Wiley promising to return them first thing tomorrow. Josh looked unsure.

Ross warned him to get the hell out of here. I told him to trust Wiley, he’s a good guy.

Wiley explained, no shoes or cell phones allowed in the bunkhouse, he couldn’t risk compromising security.

“I’m already in trouble with the Sheriff for arresting a certain person,” he said, scanning the room looking for Scott, “Where is he?”

Nobody replied.

He assured Josh his shoes and cell phone will be safe in the trunk of his patrol car. Josh hesitantly removed Red Wing boots and gave them to Wiley, along with his cell phone. Wiley left promising to return, first thing.

“It was only a matter of time getting you here!” I said jokingly to Josh, as he stood uncomfortably in his gray socked feet.

“At least I ain’t wearing those ugly socks!” He replied, laughing.

Headlights reappeared outside; Scott had returned wearing fresh clothes, white socks and white Air Force Ones sneakers. He looked at Josh in his gray socks, Trent explained.

“So, Wiley took your boots and cell phone!” said Scott inquisitively.

He then realised he had left his orange socks in his buddy’s car, but they were the least of his worries as Deputy Wiley returned.

“You’re coming with me, Scott!” He said taking him out to his car.

Chapter Twenty Three – Unexpected Box

Next morning, Josh waited anxiously for the return of Wiley with his boots. The minibus arrived; the supervisor had orders to take him to the Sheriff’s office.

I returned for another day at the thrift store, it was another quiet morning.

I spent lunchtime talking with Leo, outside the diner. The afternoon was uneventful until a deputy arrived with an unexpected box. Inside were two pairs of sneakers and a pair of boots. I didn’t recognise a pair of gray Air Max sneakers, but I guessed the Air Force One sneaks belonged to Scott. I was disappointed to see a pair of Red Wing boots! Wiley had betrayed Josh, he must have become another asset for the construction site.

At the bunkhouse, Scott was back in his orange socks, he had spent last night in jail, along with his college buddy, Evan. He’d been arrested for helping Scott leave the bunkhouse. I looked at Josh, he shrugged his shoulders in disbelieve, he too now wore orange socks on his feet. He had been arrested at the Sheriffs office for abandoning his truck on the highway.

I apologised for allowing him to trust Deputy Wiley but he claimed to have not seen him all day.

Chapter Twenty Four – An Officer Down

Ross confirmed more workers had left overnight. Josh was an ideal replacement.

Headlights appeared outside. No ride for Scott, his driving buddy was now shoeless next to him.

The Sheriff, Wiley and another Deputy entered the bunkhouse. I glared at Wiley for deceiving Josh. The Sheriff said another person will be joining us, but they had no prisoner. Then the other Deputy pushed Wiley forward. His nameplate, badge and equipment belt were missing

“Wiley no longer works for the Sheriffs Office and has agreed to stay here for a while,” said the Sheriff, ordering his former Deputy to take off his boots.

Wiley sat on a bench and pulled off his calf length black leather boots. The other Deputy took the boots before whispering to the Sheriff, they both stared at Wiley.

“Remove the uniform!” demanded the Sheriff telling him he no longer deserved to wear it.

Wiley gestured frustratingly with his hands before stripping off his dark brown pants and khaki shirt leaving him standing in plain black shorts and calf length black socks.

The Deputy picked up Wiley’s uniform with a childish grin on face as the Sheriff told his nearly naked former employee that replacement clothing would be sought tomorrow. He also thanked him for reducing the employee count and wage costs within the department.

They left leaving Wiley to wrap himself in a blanket.

“Care to tell us what just happened?” said Trent.

Wiley drank coffee as he explained, he had been reported for theft. His patrol car had been searched and boots and cell phone belonging to Josh where found, apparently reported as stolen. He got suspended immediately and taken in for questioning.”

“Explaining the situation should have resolved it, surely?” I said.

“My face doesn’t fit around here, I’m an outsider, don’t live in the county. I refuse to follow the Sheriffs policy of targeting young men and arresting them.” He said.

“There was no need to strip you and put you in here with us,” said Joel.

“The judge wanted revenge for arresting his grandson last night, aswell as Scott,” he said, looking at Evan then Scott. “So they made the theft charges stick. I would either be charged with theft and have no prospect of ever getting another job in law enforcement or I volunteer to spend a month here without any conviction. They got what they wanted.”

“You put their kids in here, so they put you here too. That sucks!” Said Mitch.

Trent asked Wiley how the Sheriff knew about the boots and cell phones in his trunk. Wiley stared at Scott, “Somebody told their father whilst in jail last night.”

Everyone stared at Scott and Evan, it was their fault a decent Deputy had lost his job and having the indignity of being stripped to his underwear.

“Perhaps we should strip them, see how they like it?” Said Josh.

With a look of horror, both Scott and Evan ran outside as fast as their socked feet could carry them. Everyone laughed.

Chapter Twenty Five – Pretty Cool

Wiley had permission to get clothes from the thrift store. He grabbed a black tee with ‘Iron Maiden’ printed across the chest and some blue jeans. He looked pretty cool until the supervisor demanded his black socks. The cool look was destroyed as he tucked his jeans into the orange socks and returned to the bus in handcuffs.

I opened the box and put unrealistic price tags on all the footwear.

A benefit of being shoeless in a thrift store is trying out the merchandise, especially shoes. Josh’s Red Wing boots were huge, too big for my feet. Evans Airmax sneaks were typical average Nikes that at been on a typical teenagers feet, they didn’t smell too good. For once I pitied Scott for having to share a cell with Evans stinking feet. I took them out the back.

The last pair out of the box were the white Air Force Ones. I put them on, wearing them felt good, especially because they were Scott’s, he’d worn my Chucks so I would wear his Nikes. I placed the shoes on a shelf, their owners unaware they would never see them again.

Chapter Twenty Six – The Deputy

The Deputy from last night arrived with a box, containing a worn pair of black combat boots. I guessed they where his boots as I recognised Wileys leather boots on his feet.

“Shouldn’t those boots you’re wearing be in this box?” I said as I tagged the black combat boots.

The deputy told me to mind my business.

“Wiley got stripped to his underwear because he allegedly stole some footwear, now your stealing his. I’m sure the Sheriff would be pleased to take another officer off his payroll and get another desperately needed worker for the construction site.”

“Nobody cares!” He said.

“Somebody cared enough to arrest Wiley! What makes you so special?”

I suggested he gives up the boots before I report him. He looked frustrated, his ego wouldn’t allow him to do it but he also couldn’t risk the consequences.

“They’re uncomfortable anyway.” He said, trying to save face as he took them off.

He placed them on the counter before taking the combat boots. I stopped him.

“They’re my boots!” He said.

“They were in the donation box, so they now belong to the store.”

He looked at the tag, “50 bucks!” He shouted out.

He went to take them again.

“A deputy stealing from a thrift store, I’m sure the Sheriff would have you stripped of that uniform and you would be wearing orange socks before the day is out!”

A customer entered, not wanting to be seen in his socked feet wearing his uniform, he quickly pulled out 5 tens, grabbed his boots and hid behind some stock to put them on. In his haste to leave he had forgotten to remove the tag.

Chapter Twenty Seven – The Password

Back at the bunkhouse everyone looked tired, especially those who’d been working at the construction site. Scott layed on his bunk looking miserable. Evan said he’d been paraded around college in his orange socks and made an example of for helping Scott. We’ve both been ignored ever since. Their friends obviously didn’t want to become shoeless too!

Joel and I sat outside, Josh joined us.

“Those work boots they gave us are uncomfortable, unlike my Red Wings! Can’t wait to get them back on my feet.” He said.

I explained about the shoes in thrift store, “You won’t be getting your boots back!”

He was already feeling pretty miserable but selling his boots had really made him pissed. After Joel went back inside, Josh said he had an idea.

The next day Fred left me in charge, again. Josh had given me the password to login to the office computer. Fred always got him to print address labels for shipped items.

I printed a label with Josh’s home address. In the desk drawer I found plastic shipping bags. I selected the largest, his Red Wing boots were too big to go in one bag, I would have to ship them separately. I printed another label. I then placed the sealed packages in the shipping cart. An hour later they were collected, the new courier asked about his predecessor. I told him Josh had been arrested for being nosy. He took the hint, took the parcels containing Josh’s boots and left.

Later, Josh was pleased to discover his plan had worked and wanted to tell the others. I advised against it.

“If Scott finds out, word will get back. The password will be changed and I’ll be going to jail.” I said.

I decided my loafers would be next to make their way home.

Chapter Twenty Eight – Last Day

Joel had been installing the Sheriffs new bathroom but hadn’t completed it before we were due to leave. Unsurprisingly, we had an extra day to work. It was best not to argue and getting ourselves another week here!

So the next day I said goodbye to everyone and for the last time I entered the thrift store. The day passed quickly and uneventful. At 5pm I met Joel, the two cops and Leo at the jail.

The guard demanded our orange socks, nobody hesitated to take them off, we stood barefoot awaiting our property. Our cell phones were dead. Mitch asked for his shoes and car key. He and Trent were furious to discover their footwear had been sold.

“You cannot sell my fucking shoes!” Shouted Trent.

Leo looked at his barefeet, he wasn’t pleased to lose his leather Brogues but just wanted to leave and asked for his car key.

“You will need to return no earlier than tomorrow to collect your vehicles from the car pound but you must leave town immediately.” Said the guard issuing everyone with a bus ticket.

Trent got angry, “You’ve sold our shoes, you won’t return our car and your kicking us out of town barefoot on a bus!”

“Yep!” Said the guard, offering a jail cell to anyone who doesn’t comply with the order.

A rowdy group of skaters disembarked a bus under the watchful eye of a Deputy. “Where’s your shoes dude?” Shouted one of them as he jumped on his board, laughing.

Our bus pulled out of the station and for the first time in two weeks we left the town. Trent decided to book a motel in the next town only to realise his wallet, along with Mitch’s were still in the Tahoe in the car pound.

“You not got emergency cash in your sock?” I said sarcastically looking at his barefeet.

“Just great, now we’re going to spend the night barefoot and homeless in a strange town.” Said Mitch.

“How are we going to get back to get the car pound without shoes or money?” Said Trent.

Leo got off at the next town, he would pay for his cab once he arrives home. The cops were unsure what to do, Joel took pity on them and offered to put them up for the night.

Chapter Twenty Nine – Another ride back.

It was good to wake up in my own bed and not have to wear orange socks. Knowing I still had to return to the town for my car made me anxious. I deliberately put on my old pair of black Vans, if I got arrested again, my shoes were too trashed to be worth selling. I arrived at Joel’s small apartment. The two cops were eating breakfast wearing nothing but towels around their waists. Joel had made them strip, their dirty clothes cleaned overnight.

“You both get nice and cosy in the guest bedroom?” I said jokingly.

Trent blushed as he finished his coffee. Joel retrieved their clothes from the drier, they went to get dressed as I called Will and asked for a ride to the car pound.

He refused meaning we would have to take a bus. My anxiety increased knowing we would have to walk from the bus station to the car pound.

The two cops appeared, clean but barefooted. Joel gave them each a pair of socks to wear, he had no spare shoes to loan them. He wore his old white Adidas Gazelles.

Fortunately for the cops, the bus station was only a few blocks from Joel’s apartment, but it did mean another embarrassing sock walk in another town. I could have spared their blushes, along with my loafers I had shipped their sneakers to my home address, but I would enjoy watching the arrogant cop suffer another sock walk. I had also procured other sneaks including Joel’s Yeezy’s, stealing my sneakers in high school and then getting me detained in orange socks will take some forgiving before he sees them again.

With nervous anticipation, the four of us boarded the bus for our return journey back to the small town.

The Return – Part 1

Author – George

Here is the follow up to my original story, Orange Socks from January.

It is quite long, so I have once again split it into chapters for easy reading.

It is too large to send in full so I’ve had to split it into two parts.

Enjoy!

THE RETURN – Part 1

Chapter One – Where have you been?

“Dude! Where have you been?” asked Joel as I got into his truck at the bus station.

He laughed discovering I been forced to wear orange socks for the last week.

“Where you kidnapped and enslaved without shoes?”

It had felt that way, but my explanation of getting arrested, spending a weekend in jail, then community service, was typical of any young guys first brush with the law.

“They target young guys, especially those wearing new kicks!” I said.

Joel couldn’t believe I had been detained for speeding.

“Any excuse and you’ll be stripped of your shoes and thrown in a cell.”

“You sure found out the hard way! Cannot wait to tell Will!” he said, mischievously.

“He already knows!”

“Man! This just gets better! Mr Goody two-shoes got arrested too? Or is that now Mr Goody no-shoes? Oh man that’s dope!”

He wished he could have seen the look on Will’s face, when he was arrested.

“Damn! I miss all the fun!” he said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

“Can you give me a ride, tomorrow? Get my car!” I asked.

“And the rest of your stuff?” He said, looking at my bare feet.

I did not tell him some college kid had my shoes on his feet, I had suffered enough humiliation.

“Sure, can do!” He said.

Chapter Two – The Return

Wearing my suit to collect my car would hopefully not draw any unwanted attention and my black leather loafers would remain firmly on my feet until I return home.

Joel arrived wearing sweatpants, white socks and his expensive black Yeezy Boost’s. I suggested he should go home and change.

“I’m giving you a ride, not attending court!” He said, looking at my suit.

The decal on his pickup displayed ‘Joel 24/7 Plumber’, I explained about Derek being targeted for his electrical skills.

“Wearing those sneaks and driving this truck will be like bees around honey with the local law enforcers.” I said.

“Just like the gals!” He said boosting his ego.

“No! That would be flies around shit!” I said bringing it back down.

We both laughed loudly as we started our journey.

I had hoped the car pound would be near the highway, but the GPS took us into town. We could see the diner ahead.

“You reckon he’s in there?” Asked Joel wanting to see Mr Goody No-Shoes wearing orange socks. He swung his truck into the parking lot.

“Didn’t expect to see you again!” said Sally as she poured coffee. Will appeared from the kitchen.

“Nice socks buddy!” Shouted Joel.

Will blushed with embarrassment. Sally asked Joel to lower his voice and be respectful, but he ignored her.

I also warned him, “You’ll be wearing orange socks too, if you don’t shut your mouth!”

“Where’s your shoes, dude?” Joel shouted.

Constantly sneering at Will, Sally asked Joel to leave.

I apologised as I took Joel outside.

“God damn it, are you deliberately trying to get us arrested?”

We eventually arrived at the car pound. I told Joel to leave town immediately as I got out of his truck. He drove off as I entered the office.

Chapter Three – Nice Shoes

“Come for my car!” I said.

Behind the counter, stood the college kid from the diner last week.

I leaned over the counter, he still had my Chucks on his feet.

“Nice shoes!”

“Thanks! A present from my Pa.” He said, smiling.

“Your father works at the jail! Correct?”

“Yep!” He replied.

“He confiscated my Chucks, exactly like those you’re wearing.”

His face reddened, confirming my suspicion, his father had taken them.

“Pure coincidence,” he said, nervously.

I wanted to rip them off his feet, but I took a deep breath, took my keys and walked out of the office. Inspecting my car, I found the empty box for my Converse All Stars in the trunk. Through sheer frustration, I stupidly made a phone call.

“I want to report a theft!”

Realising my stupidity of drawing attention to myself, I decided to leave, but a patrol car pulled into the compound.

Deputy Wiley introduced himself, the polite young officer listened to my complaint before taking my empty shoe box into the office.

Scott laughed at the accusation of stealing shoes from my car. He now claimed to have purchased the sneaks at a Foot Locker store upstate. Wiley asked to see a receipt, but the kid arrogantly told him he doesn’t need to prove anything.

Scott told Wiley to arrest me for wasting his time.

“The biggest waster around here is you!” said Wiley, obviously not liking the kid.

I drew a ‘G’ within a circle on the shoe box, explaining it was my initial, G for George, and it can be found under the tongue of each shoe.

“It stops my kid brother claiming my shoes as his.” I explained.

“Take off a shoe, Scott!” demanded Wiley.

“Wait till my Pa hears about this!” protested the kid, as he removed his right shoe.

Wiley picked it up and looked under the tongue and smiled.

“Looks like you are a thief after all!” He said, looking at a uniquely drawn ‘G’.

Scott was taken out to the patrol car in handcuffs wearing one shoe as Wiley carried the other as evidence. I hadn’t expected Scott to be arrested, I had just wanted my shoes returned, I still didn’t have them.

Deputy Wiley returned and thanked me, “Arresting that asshole has made my day. I don’t like him or his father.”

I liked Wiley, a good guy. He advised me to leave town immediately. We exited the pound, he turned left as I turned right heading straight for the highway.

Chapter Four – Unpaid Check.

Ahead, on the shoulder, the Sheriff had stopped a pickup, ‘Joel 24/7 Plumber’, on its side.

“Damn!” I shouted to myself. I pulled over, I couldn’t leave Joel behind, he was only here because of me. Wearing my suit, I hoped to influence the Sheriff into releasing my handcuffed buddy from the back of his patrol car. I greeted him politely and apologised for Joel’s behaviour in the diner earlier.

“So, you were there too?” Said the Sheriff getting out of his car.

“Yes, but I have done nothing wrong!” I replied.

“Two males in that truck, left the diner without paying,” he said grabbing my wrists.

Upon realising my error, I promised to return to the diner and pay.

“The only place you’re going son is jail!”

I stared angrily at Joel, if he hadn’t been an asshole earlier, we’d be long gone. He just lifted his cuffed wrists and shrugged his shoulders, smiled cheekily, as if it was fun. I looked at his sneakers, he won’t find it amusing when his shoes are confiscated, permanently!

A tow truck arrived and took our cars, the Sheriff took us to jail.

The guard emptied our pockets, before uncuffing us, “Take off your shoes, boys!”

I again, offered to pay, but who was I kidding, selling my shoes and doing a week of labor had more value than a few unpaid coffees!

I removed my loafers; Joel happily removed his Yeezy’s, unaware he would not be seeing them again.

We entered a cell in our socked feet. It was already occupied!

Chapter Five – Guilty

I had not expected Scott to be detained after his arrest.

“My Pa is on vacation in Cancun but his old friend, the Judge, will free me and that Deputy Wiley will soon be out of a job,” he said confidently.

“How you gonna explain wearing stolen shoes? You could have told the truth to the Deputy, but that would land your daddy in deep shit! A guard stealing prisoners property would be a serious offense!”

Looking worried, he shut up and just stared at his shoeless feet.

Joel’s first experience of getting locked up was brief as the cell door opened. I still couldn’t understand the need for being shackled hand and foot to attend court, but it got Joel excited. Scott was embarrassed, the sock walk of shame to the courthouse was usually exclusive to strangers, not a local college kid.

Joel and I received one month in jail for not paying our check, but the judge gave Joel another month for his behaviour in the diner. Joel looked at me, “Two months! ” He whispered as we sat down. His cheeky smile had disappeared.

“Why in God’s name are you here?” The Judge asked Scott.

The kid became embarrassed again, as the shoe theft charge got read out in the courtroom. He had expected his father’s friend to just dismiss the charge.

“How do you plead?” Asked the Judge.

Scott sweated, nervously. Without implicating his own father for theft, he could do nothing but plead guilty!

The judge shook his head in disbelief, unable to show favoritism to his friend’s son, he had to give Scott a month’s jail too! The kid cried as we were taken back to the holding cell.

The Sheriff offered the reduced sentence of community service. I reluctantly signed the paperwork knowing I would be forfeiting my expensive loafers.

Joel, looked relieved as he quickly signed, he had a business to run, he couldn’t afford to spend two months in jail. Scott begged the Sheriff for help.

“You pleaded guilty Scott; you have to be punished like everyone else.”

At the bunkhouse, we were unshackled and told the rules. Scott would still attend school, community service would be restricted to the weekend. The supervisor demanded our socks. Scott asked to keep his and return home for shoes to attend school. The supervisor told him he would not be going home for the next week and would be attending class shoeless, wearing orange socks. For 19 years old, the kid had surely been tearful today.

Chapter Six – What about my Nikes?

Will wasn’t surprised to see us, when he and Richard, the Brit, arrived back at the bunkhouse. He knew about the unpaid check at the diner.

After being teased earlier by Joel, Will gleefully informed him he would be leaving tomorrow.

“Enjoy wearing those socks for the next week!” He said.

Joel blushed when I said, “Make that two weeks.”

Will, laughed out loud, “I’ll be thinking about you buddy, when I’m out of here, Nikes back on my feet, heading home for a cold beer.”

Joel, laughed, “You gonna get kicked out of town, barefoot! On a bus! Getting that beer may take a while longer.”

Will looked confused, “Barefoot! What about my Nikes?”

I explained about the obligatory barefoot walk of shame.

“How do I get my trainers if I have to leave town barefoot?” asked Richard.

“You don’t! They will be sold in a thrift store.”

Joel, realising it also included his Yeezy’s, stopped laughing.

“They can’t sell my kicks!”

He looked seriously pissed discovering he had not only signed away his freedom but his shoes too, “I hadn’t planned on losing my Yeezy’s permanently!”

“Planned?” I shouted, I went red with anger, accusing him of intentionally getting us both arrested.

“Great friend you have!” Said Scott, laughing.

“You can shut the fuck up Scott, you dumb-ass! You could have easily told the court you had gotten my sneaks at the thrift store! You would be home right now!”

“I wouldn’t be seen dead inside a thrift store!” he replied.

“Again! You are one big dumb-ass!”

Later, Will, Joel and I sat outside the bunkhouse.

Joel explained he had been envious, “We do everything together, I wanted to share this experience too!” He admitted to deliberately wearing his expensive footwear to get himself targeted, but he hadn’t intended for me to get arrested too.

He also confessed to stealing my shoes way back in high school for fun. But I had gotten angry, so he never admitted to it and my shoes still remain in his bedroom closet, after all these years.

“Bet you wish your Yeezy’s where still in your closet!” I said.

Joel blushed with embarrassment.

Will laughed, I laughed, then Joel did too.

“Last time we were all together, we drank beer, talking about guys wearing orange socks.” Said Will.

“Would never have guessed our next time together, we would be those guys without shoes!” I said.

“Or beer!” Said Joel. We all laughed, again, playfully kicking each other with our orange socked feet.

Joel apologised for his stupidity. I accepted it. I hugged my best buddies.

Chapter Seven – The Salesman

Joel and I tucked our pants into the orange socks before getting in the minibus. Will got out at the diner for the last time. Richard’s last day would be washing windshields at the gas station. I wished him luck finding his friends and enjoy what remained of their vacation.

“It’s been an adventure!” He said, in his British accent.

Scott had gotten off the minibus and ran into the school entrance in his orange socks.

Joel, an experienced plumber running his own small business, would become a shoeless worker to someone else.

“Don’t get your feet wet!” I said, as he got off the minibus.

I was assigned to the thrift store, but it was closed. I went to the diner until it opened.

Sally had me clearing tables when a smartly dressed guy entered. The ankle length cut on his gray suit pants made his multicoloured socks quite visible.

He constantly stared at my shoeless feet. When Sally went to the kitchen I quickly spoke with him, a salesman, he had pulled off the highway for gas. Having seen Richard clean his windshield in orange socks, then both Will and I, shoeless in the diner, he had already concluded that we had not voluntarily given up our shoes.

“You guessed right! If you want to keep those fine Oxford Brogues on your feet, drink your coffee and get the hell out of here!” I said.

He quickly drank his coffee, left five bucks on the table and left.

Two construction workers, Frank and Ross, who had worked us hard laying cables the previous week, were eating breakfast. Frank said they had both quit and were leaving town today.

“They’ll probably use you again, to replace us!” Said Frank.

I looked at his feet, he wore expensive work boots.

“I’ll need your boots!” I said, jokingly!

Sally took a phone call, the thrift store had now opened. I told Will to be careful. I passed the construction guys.

“Don’t forget to leave me them boots!” I told Frank.

Chapter Eight – The Arrogant Customer

“You must be George.” Said an older guy as I entered the store.

“Call me Fred.”

He began explaining my duties when a Deputy entered carrying a box. He was talking on his two-way radio.

“Some construction workers left town last night and two more quit today, get out there and find replacements!” Said the Sheriffs voice over the radio.

Fred took the box from the Deputy and shook his head, “More footwear! As if we haven’t got enough to sell!”

The box contained my leather loafers and Joel’s Yeezy’s. Fred ordered me to tag them at $20 a pair. Fred had no clue about their value, he just wanted them sold and quickly. I frustratingly tagged my expensive loafers for 20 lousy bucks. Joel would be upset to discover his Yeezy’s being sold so cheaply. I placed them on a shelf in the shoe section, I didn’t expect them to be there for very long.

Fred said he had to visit the bank, leaving me in charge.

Kevin’s Timberlands were still displayed in the window. I put them on, wondering if the previous owner now had a new job with new boots.

As I returned them to the window, a gray Chevrolet Tahoe pulled up outside, parking in a handicapped spot. A passenger got out and entered the store.

“Sunglasses?” He asked, with a New York accent.

He and his buddy were driving down to Florida, he needed to replace his broken pair. I advised him not to park in the handicapped spot.

“I don’t need advice from a store employee. We can park where we please!” He said selecting a pair of aviator style sunglasses.

I ignored his arrogance, insisting he and his buddy leave town before getting arrested.

He removed the sunglasses, “Arrested? For what?”

“The Sheriff enjoys locking up strangers, you fit the profile, perfectly!”

“We can handle law enforcers!”

He spotted Joel’s Yeezy’s, more specifically the price tag.

“Jeez! They are a good price!” he said, kicking off his black/red Air Jordan high tops, replacing them with Joel’s sneaks. As he looked down, he noticed my feet.

“You have some weird taste in socks and where are your shoes?”

I explained they had been confiscated. He said I probably deserved it and wished he could publicly shame criminals by taking their shoes.

“If I had my shoes confiscated, I would not be wearing brightly colored socks. You criminals are so dumb!” he said.

I disliked the guy, who was he to judge? I told him I was neither a criminal or dumb.

“Yeah! Whatever! Bag these!” He said, giving me Joel’s Yeezy’s.

He put on my leather loafers. Watching him wearing my shoes, sucked!

“Nice shoes, good quality, great price.” He said taking them off and thrusting them into my chest. “Bag these too!”

He walked over to the Timberlands in the window display in his black Nike crew socks, leaving his high top Jordans on the floor. He’d had my shoes on his feet, so I put mine into his, they were still warm. I took them off and placed them on the counter along with my loafers and Joel’s Yeezy’s.

Seeing him by the window, his buddy sounded his car horn and tapped his wrist watch.

“Mitch! Stop being so god damn impatient,” he shouted.

Chapter Nine – Hunt the Shoe.

He returned to the shoe section in his socked feet, “Where’s my sneakers?”

“I put them on the counter for safe keeping, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to lose shoes around here.” I said.

Next to the register a pair blue Asics sneakers lay discarded on the floor.

“Are these 20 bucks too?” asked another customer, now wearing the arrogant customers black Air Jordans.

“Get your god damn feet out of my sneakers, you idiot!” Shouted the arrogant customer.

“There is no need to be so rude and aggressive, how could I know they belong to you?” replied the other customer.

“Take off my shoes!”

The other customer called him a dumb fuck for leaving his shoes unattended as he began removing them.

Enraged! The arrogant customer picked up one of the guy’s Asics sneakers,

“Have you ever played hunt the shoe?” He then threw the sneaker across the store, it landed near the exit.

“No, but I am a fast learner, asshole!” replied the other customer, throwing an Air Jordan towards the window and the other in the opposite direction.

Both customers squared up to each, it would have been fun to watch both guys fight in their socked feet, get arrested and lose their shoes permanently. But after I threatened to call the Sheriff, the new customer knew better, grabbed his remaining Asic sneaker, ran towards the door, found the other, and sock footed out of the store.

“That worked out well for you!” I said, sarcastically.

“Shut your god damn mouth and help me find my shoes.” He said, looking very angry. He found his right sneaker in the window display; his buddy had seen him and sounded his car horn again. I found his left sneaker, I so wanted to hide it, make him search for it in his black socks. I could call the Sheriff, get him arrested for fighting. It would certainly stop my loafers going to Florida.

Although I disliked the guy, I couldn’t be so mean.

“That will be fifty bucks for the shoes, sneaks and sunglasses.” I said. Selling my shoes to this guy, sucked!

He had left his wallet in the car, but pulled a 50 from his sock.

“Always keep emergency money in your sock,” he said, putting his Air Jordans back on his feet.

His pal sounded the car horn constantly.

“What’s going on out there?” he said, putting on the sunglasses and grabbing the bag of newly purchased shoes. He headed to the exit, I followed, just as Fred returned.

Chapter Ten – Cops Getting Arrested

Outside, the driver of the Tahoe had been handcuffed.

“What the fuck is going on Mitch?” Shouted the arrogant customer.

The driver lifted his cuffed hands and shrugged his shoulders.

“He’s going to see the judge for a parking violation.” Said the Sheriff.

“You’re making one huge mistake, Sheriff! Remove those handcuffs and we’ll forget this ever happened,” said the arrogant customer pulling out his NYPD badge and stating his name as Trent.

“Your badge holds no jurisdiction in this town, son!” Said the Sheriff.

“Stop!” Shouted Trent, he stepped between the Sheriff and his handcuffed buddy.

“Looks like you’re coming in too; obstructing an officer in his duties!”

Trent dropped the bag of shoes as the Sheriff grabbed his arm. “You cannot be fucking serious? We’re cops!”

“Then you’ll know not to resist,” said the Sheriff.

Trent was swiftly handcuffed. His buddy, Mitch, demanded to call his precinct, to resolve the situation.

The Sheriff removed cell phones from their pockets.

“Nobody is calling anyone!”

Mitch, wearing bright red Air Max sneakers, protested. His highly visible footwear would probably be replaced with highly visible socks.

The contestant in the ‘Hunt the Shoe’ competition had returned, with his Asics sneakers back on his feet. Perhaps he just might get those black/red Air Jordan high tops for 20 bucks after all!

Trent stared at me, “You were right about the Sheriff!”

The Sheriff glared at me, shaking his head, he then approached.

“You’re coming in too for breaking your community service conditions,” he said, grabbing my arm.

As he handcuffed me, I became concerned, would I be sent to prison?

The two cops and I were put in the patrol car. The Sheriff retrieved the bag of shoes from the sidewalk.

“You will regret this, Sheriff; I will ensure the Judge has your ass!” shouted Trent.

They had no clue what was coming. This ‘loudmouth’ would soon be wearing orange socks just like the rest of us dumb criminals.

Chapter Eleven – We’re Cops. Not prisoners!

Trent demanded to see the Judge immediately as a guard removed our handcuffs.

“This is fucking crazy man, no need for this shit!” Said Trent.

“Take off your shoes.” Demanded the guard.

“What! We’re going to court. Why do you want our shoes?” Asked Mitch.

“You’re inside a jail! Take a wild guess!” Said the guard.

The two cops looked at each other.

“You cannot lock us up for a parking violation! We are cops! Not prisoners!” Said Mitch.

The guard took their police badges. “Without these, you’re nobody! Give me your shoes!”

Trent demanded to speak with his lieutenant back at his precinct, claiming he was being detained illegally. The guard called for backup.

Mitch told Trent to be calm. “We’ll do as they ask, smooth it with the Judge and in a few hours we will be back on the road to Florida. But for now, we’ll just give them our shoes.”

Both cops removed their footwear.

“I expect you cops have seen many a cell door, but not from the inside!”

They both blushed with embarrassment, the door shut locking us inside.

Mitch scratched his head and looked at his shoeless feet. “One hell of a start to our vacation!”

“We should have taken a plane instead of making this a road trip.” said Trent.

Chapter Twelve – Shackled Cops

An hour later the door opened. Trent protested loudly when his feet got shackled.

“We parked in a handicapped spot; we didn’t rob a fucking bank!”

Another three prisoners came out of an adjacent cell. The two construction workers from the diner, Frank & Ross, already shackled without their boots, were protesting as loudly as Trent.

“We’ve done nothing wrong!” Shouted Frank.

Stood behind them, the salesman in his smart suit. His multicoloured socks were very noticeable on his shoeless feet.

As we shuffled to the street exit, Mitch asked where we are going. The guard informed him that we would all be walking across the street to the court building.

“Like this? Without shoes!” Protested Trent, “I’m going nowhere until I get my shoes.”

The guard opened the door and pushed him outside. He struggled with the indignity, chained in his socked feet on the public sidewalk. Being a cop, he knew about perp walks, he was being publicly humiliated, he didn’t like it.

“When this ordeal is over somebody’s sorry ass is getting a good kicking,” he said.

Chapter Thirteen – The Boss

At the crosswalk, a large SUV screeched to a halt, a guy, about 30, wearing an expensive suit, got out. He marched towards us, calling out to the salesman.

“Leo, where have you been? Why are you not answering your cell phone?”

He stopped as he noticed the salesmans multi-colored socked feet, chained at the ankles.

“What the hell!” He shouted.

The guard advised him to leave the area.

“Sorry boss, I got locked up for running a red light,” said the salesman.

The expensive suit looked at the guard, “You cannot arrest him for that!”

The Sheriff, heading to the courthouse, approached. “Is there a problem here?”

The guard explained, the Sheriff looked at the suited guy from head to foot.

“Is that your vehicle? Sir! It’s causing an obstruction on the crosswalk,” said the Sheriff, weighing up the suited guy.

“I’ll move it after I’ve spoken with my lawyer, you have illegally arrested Leo.”

The Sheriff got on his radio and asked for a Deputy to come assist.

Trent told the suit to quickly get back in his car and leave. The Sheriff took the suits cell phone, just as the Deputy arrived.

“Handcuff him,” said the Sheriff.

“You cannot be serious! Give me back my cell phone!” shouted the suit, “I have not broken any laws, you cannot detain me! I know my rights.”

The Sheriff radioed for a tow truck as he took the suits car keys. The Deputy started walking his prisoner to the jail, the Sheriff stopped him.

“He can go straight before the judge. Illegal parking and obstruction should do it!”

“You cannot be serious!” shouted the suit, again, “I have important work to do.”

The Deputy, removed a gold chain, Tag Heuer watch and wallet.

“Don’t forget his shoes?” said the salesman, enjoying his boss getting arrested.

The suit glared at the salesman before looking down at his feet.

“You ain’t taking my shoes, especially in the street.” He said.

The Deputy looked at his boss, the Sheriff, for guidance.

“Take his shoes,” said the Sheriff.

The Deputy ordered him to take them off.

“How? My shoes are laced, my hands are cuffed behind my back.”

The suit blushed, when the Deputy got down on one knee and removed them for him.

“I told you to leave, now you’re coming with me,” said the guard. Grabbing the now shoeless suit by the arm.

Chapter Fourteen – Back before the judge.

We were soon lined up before the judge. Mitch claimed that being a cop excluded him from parking zone restrictions. The Judge shook his head at the cop’s arrogance and jailed him for one month.

“That’s outrageous! You can’t imprison me for a parking violation!” He protested.

Trent denied obstructing the Sheriff, but he too got one month. He knew not to upset the judge, but still pleaded with him, “Mitch and I will lose our jobs, if we spend time in jail.”

But the judge showed no sympathy, both cops sat down with heads in hands.

The two construction workers were accused of threatening violence to their boss before they quit. They were given two months each.

The salesman, Leo, in his haste to leave town had jumped a red light, he got a month. His boss, giving his name as Darius, told the Judge he had been driving his car less than an hour ago, before getting kidnapped and robbed by the Sheriff. He demanded the stupid charges to be dropped. The Judge gave him a month too.

“Are you out of your mind, I’ve done nothing wrong!” He shouted, “this is nothing but a kangaroo court.”

The judge gave him an extra month. The salesman smiled.

I got an extra week of community service but warned that next time it would be jail. The extra week would now have me sharing the same barefoot journey out of town with Joel.

Back in the holding cell, everyone protested.

“I need an attorney now. You’ve trialled me without legal representation in a court of law in my fucking socks!” Shouted Trent.

The salesman stood silently in his multicoloured socks, Darius, his boss, was in shock. The two contractors were angry.

Chapter Fifteen – Contract of Redemption.

I realised the heavy-handed tactics for such trivial offenses were deliberate.

Getting arrested, locked in a cell, shackled hand and foot, the ‘perp’ walk to court and then the jail sentence! All scare tactics.

Getting offered Community Service as an alternative to jail is a ‘no-brainer!’

We were groomed into signing a contract, allowing ourselves to be legally detained and put to work. A good lawyer would struggle to release us from our contract of redemption.

A clever operation to snare innocent guys, so perfect it had even caught two unsuspecting cops.

orange socks part 9

Author – jman

The bus was pulling into town. George and Russ were on their way to a skateboarding competition. They decided to get out and do some practicing. They started skating down the sidewalk and almost ran over Phil and Stuart who were sweeping the sidewalk in their orange socks without shoes. “Watch it, ” Phil said, being upset because they had just dirtied the part of the sidewalk that had just been swept.

George and Russ were arrested by the sheriff as skateboarding on the sidewalk was against the law because skateboarders could run into someone and hurt them. Phil and Stuart were smiling and laughing as the sheriff arrested the two skateboarders.
While the sheriff appeared to be angry and George and Russ, deep down inside he was happy as he was looking forward to taking their skate shoes and seeing them in town for the next two weeks with nothing but orange socks on their feet. As he took them to jail, George said, “You need to chill out. We were just skatboarding.” “You were going so fast that you could have hurt someone. We can’t have no-good punks like you acting like this in a safe and peaceful town like ours.” When they arrived at the jail, the sheriff made the two offenders take off their skate shoes revealing white socks. Their skate shoes were somewhat on the grubby side.

The two were led to court in their socked feet and appeared before the judge. Russ was kind of quiet and somewhat in tears because he had never been in trouble before. He was a good guy who sometimes did not think about what he did. George then told the judge that the judge needed to chill out. The judge advised the two that this was not the way to talk when they were in trouble. The judge replied, :”You two have been disrespectful. You have endangered the lives of people: Two weeks community service. You can now join the orange socked offenders that you almost ran over.”

George and Russ were handed over to the community service supervisor. They were taken to the room that was filled countless pairs of orange socks. They were given their socks as the supervisor said, “These are your socks of shame that you will wear while doing community service. You will wear them without shoes and with your pants tucked in them so everyone in town knows that you are a couple of no good punks. For the next two weeks you will learn humility and respect. You will not speak to anyone. You will do your tasks with a positive attitude and will give quality work or your sentence will be extended.”

George and Russ were assigned the task of washing windows for all the downtown business. They were each on opposite sides of the street. George was angry but Russ seemed quiet and was starting to cry over the whole thing. Deep down inside, he was not a bad guy. As we was washing windows, he came to the thrift store. He saw his shoes on the shelf and he went in. “No one with orange socks allowed in here!” the manager said. Russ replied, “But you have my shoes for sale.” The manager replied, “They were your shoes but you forfeited them to the town when you broke the Law. They will now be giving to some good deserving person rather than be worn by a no good punk like you.”

That night Luke, Dave, Dan, Phil, Stuart, Brent, George and Russ were all together at the bunkhouse. They each shared their stories of how then ended up wearing the orange socks. They all had done minor things that the townspeople blew out of proportion as an excuse to sentence them to community service. They realized that they were victims of a racket. Brent said that when they are done with their sentence that they should come back and do something and end the racket that was going on in this town. George, Dave and Dan and Stuart agreed. Luke, Phil and Russ thought it be best to accept what happened, get out of town, never come back and put all of this behindf them.

What will they do? What should they do?

To be continued…

The dart game pt. 2

Author – Alexander

My mate was going back to town and I thought he was going home but he took another turn. I didn’t know what he was up to now but I knew I had still about half an hour to obey him. We reached the mall and we put our bikes aside. He looked at me and said I want you to walk into the mall walk through and come back over the outside. I was reluctant about it and hesitated a little. Then he said okay I walk with you. Before I knew it he was already inside and I could only follow him. When I came in he stood by these lockers where you can put your things in you don’t need to shop. I looked at him and he just laughed and said come on let’s go for a walk. I looked for my shoes but I didn’t see them. He started walking and I followed him. I felt uncomfy because I was shoeless and thought that everybody was looking at me. Then we reached the escalator and my mate said let’s have a look up there and he stepped up. I followed him and it felt like the first step tickled my feet, that was kind of funny. We walked around the first floor and we went down again. We walked further and halfway he went into the supermarket. We walked around for several minutes and I got some strange looks from the people there but noone said anything, I think. Without buying anything we went out again and walked further to the exit. We came outside and my mate was thinking out loud if he wanted to go back through the inside or over the outside. He decided to walk over the outside. We came back to our bikes and he got up and then I asked him about my shoes and he said yeah I know where they are but the 3 hours haven’t finished yet and he started cycling away. I had to follow him again. He finally went to his home again and when we reached it the 3 hours were finished and he handed me a key. Laughing he said this is the key to your shoes. I said okay and realized I had to go back to the mall. So I went back to retrieve my shoes but I didn’t put them on because of my dirty socks and went home like that. After all I think we had a funny day….

Borrowing My Friends Shoes During a Hike

Author – Jayme

I used to have this one mate who I’d occasionally go camping with, after a sweaty day of hiking we all got changed out of our sweaty used clothes and laid them everywhere all over the tent. After getting changed, he went to go sit near the fire to rest up.

Whilst he was gone I decided I wanted to put on all his clothes, and by all clothes I mean all his clothes… Since he was a similar size to me, everything was able to fit. Feeling his warm sweaty clothes against my skin got me excited. Next, then I grabbed his warm sweaty socks and began to slide them onto my feet, before grabbing his hiking boots and placing them on my feet. They were very moulded to his feet and were still warm from the day’s hike.

On Another occasion we had to cross a creek, and me who only packed one pair of shoes drenched my Nike Free Sneakers. He had smartly packed a spare pair of Asics runners which he was able to change into, drying his hiking boots on the back of his pack.

After we made camp, I placed my shoes close to the fire to dry up close to the fire. I asked to borrow his shoes to go to the mini walk. He took his dry Asics off his feet and give them to me to wear. When I came back, he was still in his socks and I held onto his shoes for another 10 minutes before he asked for them back.