The Boots in the Glass Cabinet

The outdoor shop displayed its most expensive work boots in a glass cabinet. Anton stopped in front of them every time he passed. He worked in a garden centre and imagined that serious boots would make him look more experienced among the older staff.

When his current pair wore out, he finally asked to try them. They looked impressive, but they were heavy and stiff. The assistant asked about his usual tasks. Anton described watering plants, moving bags and spending long hours on the covered shop floor rather than walking over rough ground.

She brought a simpler pair that suited the workplace requirements he showed her. They were less dramatic and more comfortable. Anton walked around the shop in both pairs. He realised that he had been choosing footwear for a picture of himself, not for the feet that carried him through a shift. He bought the simpler pair after checking the fit again.

At work, the oldest employee noticed the new boots and asked whether they were comfortable. That was the entire conversation. Later, Anton helped a customer choose a plant for a dark hallway instead of selling the brightest flower nearby. Asking where something would be used, he discovered, was useful on either side of the counter.