Some lucky laces

“While taking my afternoon power walk, I quickly regretted my choice of sneakers. I’d grabbed my old pair instead of the new ones by mistake. The soles were worn down and I knew I should switch them, but I just hadn’t felt like going back upstairs and into my closet.

“As expected, I felt every step. After just a couple of blocks, the right shoe began to slip. Glancing down, I let out a huff to see my fraying laces had come completely undone. Why did I wear

these old things? my insides groaned, my aggravation rising.

“While squatting down to retie my sneaker, I heard a voice cry out for help. I immediately turned around and saw an elderly woman crumpled on her driveway.

Quickly, I darted over, and seeing she was overheated and disoriented, I called 911. ‘Don’t worry.

I will stay with you,’ I promised, and waited until paramedics got there, holding her hand.

“After she was safely in the ambulance, just as they were about to drive off, one of the paramedics paused to thank me. ‘It’s lucky you were passing by when you did,’ the young man said.

“‘Yes,’ I nodded. Then I glanced down at my beat-up old sneakers, remembering my blunder. ‘Sometimes things are just meant to be,’ I uttered, with a grin. As I finished my walk, despite my raggedy footwear, I felt like I was walking on air.”