FEET

by Danna Shirley

Phobia - a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation with a compelling desire to avoid it.

            I believe it must have begun when Kristen had an ingrown toenail as a child and the podiatrist had to cut out a section of her nail to sidestep any further complications. I didn’t notice any other issues with “feet” until she had friends spending the night. Then I heard it!

            “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch my feet! Get away from me!”

What was the big deal?

            Anyone and everyone who knew Kristen knew about her foot phobia. And if someone new joined the crowd, it always came up in conversation. “Don’t get near Kristen’s feet. She’ll freak out.”

It wasn’t just for spend-the-nights either. It was sitting on the couch next to her. It was swimming. It was getting dressed. We all knew and we all steered clear of Kristen’s feet.

Then she started dating Shawn. Shawn would just begin to move his leg near her foot and she would shriek as if she’d seen a mouse. Of course he did it on purpose just for the reaction.

After five years of dating they became engaged. It was all she could do to allow someone to give her a pedicure for the wedding; and they would be sleeping together. Oh my gosh! What to do, what to do? They bought a king-size bed and Kristen told Shawn to stay on his side. After fifteen years of marriage and two children they must have worked something out. J

            This year (2013) Shawn’s grandmother turned 95and the family came in from all parts of the country to attend her birthday party. Pallets were all over the house to accommodate the sleepovers. She received a proclamation from the Lt. Governor of Arkansas and was recognized at the Ouachita Baptist University football game.

            To top off her big day she tripped over a pallet and broke her leg. Family stayed with her until she got home from the hospital. Then Shawn’s father Quincy brought her to his house for caregiving until she fully recovered.

            Kristen went to visit her one night and said, “Grandma, let me know if there’s anything I can do for you . . . anything at all!”

            Grandma answered, “Can you cut my toenails?”

            Kristen went blank. She looked at Quincy and he gave her a nonchalant nod. “Grandma, I’m so sorry but I can’t, anything but that, but I’ll take you to get a pedicure.” Kristen was devastated after telling Grandma she’d do anything and now she couldn’t do this one little thing. After all these years of knowing Kristen, how could Grandma not know about her foot phobia?

            Quincy said he’d cut Grandma’s toenails!

P.S.      If you ever meet Kristen in the future, she has instructed me to say, “She doesn’t want to ever talk about this again!”