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164 ARCh SUPPORTS—ThE FITTING Greets me in the waiting room, father with waxed, five-eyelet shoes; son, too, with spit-shine, five-eyelet shoes. This is how I was brought up. I do it to show respect. Value your feet. “Okay, un-sock those feet of yours,” he says, “let’s see the felons.” I unlace my Florsheims: moist feet emerging from their cave of leather. Father holds up arch supports. Curved knife in hand, he shakes his head as he trims just so. “Remind me. Why do I need these things?” I ask. “Weak ankles and spine,” he says. “Poor posture. Your feet are fine. Truth is, you should be more like your feet. Robust, healthy feet. Take a lesson from your feet,” he says. “Feet appreciate custom made. No Dr. Scholl’s for these feet.” 165 Slips in the inserts. Arch support like a shoe inside a shoe, leather inside leather. “Every step I take you’re going to be there,” I say. “Every step,” he says, “every step of the way.” ...

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