Michael Jordan's Shoes

Mike was fond of playing basket ball. Every Saturday he goes out with his two elder brothers Larry and Ronnie to play basketball match. His elder brothers are tall and strong but Mike was average height and thin skinned boy. He wanted to grow tall like his brothers so he can play his favorite game well and score points for their team and make the team win the match.

Likewise, one Saturday Mike and his brothers went to basketball court for a local match to play opposite their rival. Mark, the tallest arrogant boy from the rival team teased Mike and called him “Hey short boy what’s up?”

When Mike turned to look at him, Mark snatched the ball with his long hands and passed it through the hoop. Mark won the match.

On the way back home, Mike felt bad that he missed the chance of making his team win. He blamed himself for the mistake. His brothers tried to convince him. But Mike was not convinced. He told them “If I was tall like you Guys, I would have surely scored the goal”

When they reached home, Mamma asked them “Did you win the match today?”

Mike replied “Nah…we lost. And it was all because of me”. Mamma was quiet. Mike asked her “Mamma do you know a way to make me grow tall?”

Meanwhile, Mamma was sprinkling salt on the potatoes. Without thinking for a moment, she said “Ah…I know how to make you grow tall...”

 She showed the salt shaker to Mike and said “This is the magic ingredient”.

Mike with a funny face looked at her and said “What!! SALT??”

Mamma, “Of course dear…Salt can do wonders. Put salt in your shoes and say a prayer every night. Before you know it you will be taller.

Mike was bewildered and slowly said to himself “How can salt in my shoes makes me tall?”

He stared out of the kitchen’s window and saw Dahlia in the garden. Dahlia bloomed in different colors like red, pink, yellow, white and purple.  It was 3 to 4 feet tall. He remembered when Mamma planted it as a baby sapling. Now how big it has grown, Mike wondered.

Mike murmured “If Mamma knows how to make Dahlia tall then she will definitely know how to make me tall”.

Mike asked Mamma “How long will it take to grow tall. Is it days or weeks or months??”

Mamma smiled and replied “Be patient and listen to what I tell you”.

That night, Mike sprinkled a pinch of salt in his shoes and said his night prayer and slept.

Mamma too said a prayer “Oh Dear God, please bless the best for my children and for Mike, let him grow tall soon, may be an inch by tomorrow”.

From the next day Mike started practicing basketball in the back yard daily. He ate the veggies and fruits which his mother gave. He followed the new routine - sprinkled salt, said a prayer and ate what Mamma gave.

Two months evaporated, when Mike checked his height. There was no improvement. He was in the same height but more disappointed. Without complaining to his mother, he continued with the routine. When his brothers called him for the basketball match Mike didn’t go with them instead he stayed home and practiced.

Another two months passed away, now Mike was eager to check his height but the result - He didn’t grow an inch. This made him unhappy. Mike slowly started to lose his hope of becoming tall. 

One day Mike sat alone on the staircase’s step. When his dad saw him and asked “Mike, what happened, why you look sad?”

Mike told that he did what Mamma asked him to do but still he didn’t grow tall. Dad said “Of course being tall makes you perform better but its Determination, Practice and Giving your best. These are the important things that make you a winner. You are already a winner, Son” Dad smiled.

After hearing the encouraging words from his dad, Mike picked up his basket ball and started to run. Dad shouted “Mike, Where are you going?”

Mike on the run replied “I am going to the court to join the match and I am late”. He disappeared out of Dad’s sight.

The match was almost over and it was tie between the teams. Mike’s team needs one point to win the game. Mike got into the match as a substitute because Henry, another player got his leg injured.

Mark saw Mike and started to tease him. Mike paid him no attention. Mike caught the ball with determination threw it into the hoop. Yes. Mike’s team won the match.

Later Mike stopped putting salt in his shoes but did not give up on being Patient or Practicing or Working Hard. All these made him to grow tall to be 6 foot 6 inches - The world famous Michael Jordan,The Basketball Super Star.