Your comments are most appreciated -- if you like this story, please let me know you're reading! alien_ov@yahoo.com === AN EVENING RITUAL Mom was going out one night and wanted to wear open toed sandals. "But my toenail polish is all chipped so I want you to touch them up for me." Mom had been wearing the same stinky dress shoes for eleven hours, and I knew her feet stank just as much. I tried to talk my way out of it but I knew there was no escaping it once Mom told me to do something. "Now go get my pedicure supplies and my sandals - you know the ones - and hurry up because I also want a foot rub." I did as I was told and went upstairs to get Mom's deep red toenail polish and her strappy leather sandals. Ugh, even Mom's sandals were smelly, even though she hadn't worn them in days. Her toe imprints were visible as dark grey imprints in the cushioned sandal insoles, and when I held them up to read the writing stamped on each insole (Size 11), I wrinkled my nose at the residual foot odor. As soon as I re-entered the living room, Mom kicked off her pumps and stretched and pointed her sweaty bare feet. "Phew," giggled my 16 year old sister. "God, your feet really stink!" "Oh, be quiet, " answered Mom, "or else I'll make YOU get over here and rub them instead of him." "No thank you, " smiled my sister, folding her hands in her lap and faking an angelic smile. "I'll just sit here and read my magazine." I knew it was no use questioning why *I* was the one who always ended up slaving over Mom's sweaty, tired, middle-aged feet. I knew the answer, actually -- one of Mom's friends at work had a son about my age, and she had started forcing him to take care of her feet as a way to keep him out of trouble and his behavior in line. Even though I had been pretty well behaved, Mom liked the idea so much that ever since then, my social life has mostly consisted of giving her foot massages and pedicures. And in case I haven't made it clear, Mom has STINKY FEET. She has very strong foot odor even when she wears flip flops. When she wears her worn old tennis shoes, it's absolute torture being close to her feet. Mom is well aware of this and wields the power of her sweaty feet over me every chance she gets. If I'm watching TV or playing a video game, Mom thinks nothing of getting my attention by waving her dirty, sweaty toes in my face. If I complain or protest, Mom says that's disrespectful and gives me some "attitude adjustment" - which usually means I have to stand or kneel in the corner with my face buried in one of Mom's smelliest dirty old sneakers until she thinks I've learned my lesson. Or she'll have me lay on my back and rests her sweaty sock-covered feet on my face while she watches a movie. Tonight, Mom is in a pretty good mood and so I only have to massage each of her large, stinky feet for about 20 minutes before she has me touch up her toenail polish. Of course, sitting on the floor with Mom's wide, sweaty feet in my lap, there's not much I can do to escape the smell. As I dutifully massage her arches and toes, she happily reads her magazine, occassionally smiling and sighing in appreciation of the foot massage. Every so often she stretches and flexes her toes, sometimes "accidentally" brushing her foot against my face so I get subjected to plenty of the sweaty smell. After she is satisfied with her foot massage, I spend about five minutes touching up her pedicure. Mom gets a full-blown salon pedicure every week or so, but says that she wants me to take classes so I can take over all her pedicure needs myself. "Plus, " she is quick to add, "that way I wouldn't have to feel embarrased if I want a pedicure at the end of the day and my feet are all sweaty and smelly." After I've blown on the toenail polish to help it dry, Mom has me help her on with her strappy sandals. Before she leaves for the evening, she gives me a short list of chores and warns me to obey my sister while she is gone. "I should be home about ten," she concludes, "and I would appreciate it if you wait up for me. I'll probably be doing a lot of walking around tonight, and I think it would be nice if you rub my feet for me when I get home."