Matt opened the box. Inside was a pair of blue shoes. “Wow! Can I wear them now?” he asked his mom. “Yes! Happy birthday!” she replied, hugging him.
Matt wore the shoes and instantly felt an electric shock. It was as if the shoes were magical. He whooshed down the corridor, into the living room and out of the front door. Running as fast as a rocket, Matt dashed around the block three times, until the guests arrived for his birthday party. Matt smiled as he zipped around the house till it was time for cutting the cake and opening the gifts. His butterscotch cake and toffees was wonderful and delicious. All his gifts, including the remote-controlled aeroplane, were great and expensive, but there was nothing compared to his new shoes.
After the last guest had left, Matt went upstairs. Taking off his shoes, he laid them next to his bed.
“Did you have a good time, Matt?” asked mom.
“Yes! And my shoes are the best. Thanks Mom!”
Over the next couple of months, Matt wore his shoes everywhere. He wore them to cricket practice. They helped him score more runs. He wore them to play out in the rain. They helped him jump higher over puddles. He even wore them for swimming. They helped him swim faster than the others.
Then one day, the soles of Matt’s shoes ripped open. He tried to jump over a fence, but missed and fell. And then he was run-out on the first ball in cricket. It seemed the magic had leaked out from the ripped shoes.
Matt’s grandma came for a visit. Seeing his sad face, she asked what was troubling him. “The shoes I got
on my birthday ripped open and the magic leaked out,” said Matt.
“Maybe this would help!” Grandma handed Matt a box. He opened it and found a pair of green shoes.
“But they’re not like my old shoes.” Matt said.
“How do you know until you try them on?”
Matt wore the new shoes and again felt the electricity shoot into his feet. And, the feeling to run magically came back! He whooshed out of the house, but skidded to a stop seeing Mrs Brown carrying heavy grocery bags. He offered to help and zipped with the bags to her house.
Suddenly, Matt realised the true value of his magical shoes as he whooshed around to find ways to help people in distress.
