I
There is a story why in my youth I was always wearing white socks
Many photos of me, pants leg too short, revealing white socks
I lived on a hill above the river, took many walks down, and across the bridge, to the boys club wearing white socks
So many times walking across the bridge, the wooden sidewalk boards sometimes missing, wearing white socks
Still dream about walking that bridge stepping among the broken boards, usually a nightmare, especially with white socks
Got rubbed inside the elbow to see if we were clean, before allowed into the free swim, at the boys club without white socks
Free on multiple points; free to club members, shower first, no bathing suit required, and of course, no white socks
II
A foot infection was picked up freely walking on the wet pool deck, and tiled showers, at the boys club without white socks
Not just one foot but both, needed to be soaked, cleaned, medicine applied, and then wear the white socks
Couldn't take a chance with colors running, to worsen the condition, it was weeks without swimming, wearing white socks
Walking at times was painful, the feet were so bad, isolated in the house, no exercise, medical attention, and white socks
As my healthy feet returned, I left the pool for the ball games, baseball and basketball, where it was okay to wear white socks
Athletic again, stylish almost, when my dress pants were long enough to fit better, to cover the ever present white socks
So Sherlock, free swim seemed to change your life, any regrets about dealing with the stigma of white socks?
