Just for Kicks

Sneakers determine status in the hood. Clothes and jewelry do as well, but the sneaker craze begins during childhood. In grade school, for instance, a child can get by with wearing a button up and jeans that don't have a popular name brand as long as they're clean and the ensemble fits. That doesn't meet the ire of other children quite like wearing a pair of fake Nikes or Adidas. A kid with a fourth stripe (instead of three) on his sneakers will have a hard time everyday in school without fail. As a matter of fact, instead of being known by his actual name, the locals might take to calling him "Faux-didas."

In September of this past year, I went shopping with my mother who wanted to buy sneakers for her grandchildren (my nieces and nephews). Since I'm not that far removed from the period of my life where sneakers determined friendships, I took my role on this trip very seriously. Minutes into our foray through the mall, my mother decided to visit Stride Rite. I quickly intervened.

I explained to her that Stride Rite is cool for my youngest niece who's five years old, but there's no way in hell the older ones could be expected to wear anything from that store to school. Even though she raised two sneaker crazed boys, my mother almost subjected her grandchildren to some rough days at school. Although I'm way beyond the days of caring about wearing the most up to date sneakers, I still remember the sneaker code. I don't believe in it, but one person can't save thousands of children from being ridiculed...

Having grown up in the hood, Lebraun is no different in this regard. Even though he's always broke, his sneakers tend to be fresh. During the basketball season, Lebraun's sneakers were a bit worn but he went out and bought a new pair of Nikes before the season was over despite his meager finances.

These days Lebraun is in really tough shape. His aunt and uncle asked him to leave, so he's now staying on his sister's sofa in a one bedroom apartment. He's also unemployed. Weeks after I sent him to the Dean of Students to get a subsidized $60 gift card to Stop and Shop because of his dire circumstances, I checked in with Lebraun about his work situation.

Me: Did you go to that job training I told you about?
Lebraun: Nah. I couldn't make it.
Me: Why not?
Lebraun: I didn't have a ride.
Me: Come on, man. You could have asked me for a ride. This is serious! You aren't working and I know what cats do when they're struggling. You could've gotten a job out of that seminar. I explained that to you.
Lebraun: My fault, Coach, but I been applyin' to other jobs.
Me: That's good. Where have you applied?
Lebraun: I went to the mall and applied to Footlocker, Finish Line, and Olympia.