[ WP ] You live in a world where walking a mile in someone else 's shoes gives you one of their skills . You work in a used shoe store .

Martin Trimsdale sat on the bench at the front of Polymath Shoes, kicking his feet back and forth underneath the seat. He was n't quite tall enough yet for his feet to reach the floor. He sat on his hands to keep from touching things he should n't be touching. 
 
 Behind the counter, his mother and father were whispering with the owner. From Martin's vantage point, the owner looked unusually short, but Martin knew why. 
 
 The three grownups did not think Martin was paying attention to their conversation. 
 
 `` Oh yes, yes, it is guaranteed. Guaranteed. 100 %. I would stake my entire business on it. These shoes belonged to Cho-an Suk himself.'' 
 
 The owner was demonstrating a pair of worn shoes, which looked rather more like milk glasses with lopsided bottoms than footwear. 
 
 `` I'm not sure about this,'' Martin's mother said. `` They say that classical music is a dying field. Maybe Martin should be a scientist or a mathematician.'' 
 
 `` I have options in other fields,'' the owner said, laying a reassuring hand on the woman's shoulder. `` Of course all the most quality options also require the modification, if that's the concern.'' 
 
 `` No,'' Martin's father said, shaking his head. `` We're fine with doing the modification. That's not the question here. We know we have to do that.'' 
 
 `` Very good,'' the owner said. `` Some parents hedge on that. If you want a prodigy, there's really no other way -- in my experience. And if you want a truly *great* prodigy -- Mr. Suk is not merely a composer. Your son will have a taste of brilliance far beyond any of my other offerings. It's a rare opportunity. The rarest.'' 
 
 Martin's parents shared a glance. `` Brilliance,'' his mother repeated, as if to herself. Then: `` are there any surgeons you recommend?'' 
 
 `` I always recommend Dr. Christov at PanLife. They're a cosmetic surgery clinic that also does the modification. One of the very few who do it for children so young -- and as you already know, doing it young is really the best way. It sets the tenor of the child's life. Having skill is only one piece of the equation -- you need the discipline to use it --'' 
 
 `` We do n't need a sales pitch,'' Martin's father said. `` Do you have a card?'' 
 
 `` Oh, yes,'' the owner said. He dug through a drawer and produced a card for Dr. Paul Christov. `` Very short recovery time,'' he said, handing the card to Martin's father. `` The boy will be ready to walk in about six weeks. If you're committed to Cho-An Suk, then I can send the molds over to Christov and he can have your son in for surgery before the end of the month.'' 
 
 Martin's father rubbed one of the the strange-looking boots, almost absentmindedly. They had a series of ghastly looking belts and braces made to keep them secure around the wearer's legs. `` Do you think he can do the full mile in these?'' he asked. 
 
 `` With painkillers, absolutely.'' 
 
 `` Permanent damage?'' Martin's mother asked. 
 
 The owner laid his hand on her shoulder again. `` That's standard. Mobility of any kind will be out of the question after the walk. If you want greatness --'' 
 
 Martin's mother nodded. 
 
 `` I can recommend some excellent wheelchairs for after his walk,'' the owner said. `` And do n't think of it as a disability -- when you see someone with the modification on the street, you do n't pity them, do you?'' 
 
 Martin's mother looked back at her husband. `` Cho-an Suk, then?'' she said. 
 
 `` Send Dr. Christov the molds,'' Martin's father told the owner. `` I want to get this done as soon as possible.'' 
 
 `` You're making an excellent choice,'' the owner said, smiling. Big white toothy teeth. 
 
 Martin kicked his feet a little harder. With one finger he traced out a line just under his kneecaps and imagined what it would be like, when he could no longer kick his feet. 
 
 
 
 

