I was 10. Had two mishaps that summer: stuck a locust thorn into the arch of my left foot, where it broke off. My mother managed to dig it out after several excruciating minutes. while it was still healing, I saw a friend out on the sidewalk and joined her for a conversation. She was drinking iced tea in a tall, frosty glass. I can still see the droplets of condensation glistening as it slipped from her hand and fell on my on to my right foot, cutting it up in several places. Later, I lost one of my toenails too. I never went barefoot except at the pool or beach again.
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