Skater Buds

My best friend in high school was always looking for ways to set himself apart from the crowd. It started by reforming his image; adding multiple piercings and being the first kid in school to get a tattoo. He was always looking for ways to stand out socially as well, erupting in class and constantly performing over-the-top antics.

One of his more subdued attempts to garner attention came in the form of his footwear. I was alarmed when he came to school one day wearing big, bulky black shoes; a total departure from his usual style. As we were walking down the hall, he suddenly started to glide away from me and I realized that he was wearing a kid skate shoe.

When I was growing up, I was what most people would consider an athletically-minded person. Not only did I play the classic American organized sports like baseball, football and basketball, but I also went to roller hockey and lacrosse camps. Needless to say, I was overly confident in my athletic abilities.

For my younger brother’s birthday one year, my parents took our family to the local roller skating rink. I forgot the inline skates that I used for roller hockey and was forced to rent an old-fashioned quad roller skate model. At first I didn’t think that the new design would impede on my skills, but I soon discovered how difficult it was to use them. I was thoroughly embarrassed when my mom was skating circles around me and I was left holding onto the railing.