LatinosUSA

2009

Shoe frequently fantasized about Amelia and experienced her in episodes of astral projection and in tortured dreams. She was frequently with child or in the company of her husband. Stevenson’s hostility was palpable. Shoe blithely passed through these moments and travelled elsewhere. It was not until almost three years later that Shoe again made contact with Amelia, and she took the initiative. On his 37th birthday, Shoe received a home-made birthday card from Amelia. He was taken aback.

“Wishing you well on your birthday, Shoe,” it read. “You are a sweet man, whose goodness and character I never appreciated before. There have been some changes in my life. Would love to see you. Call me.” And she left her number.

Over the previous six years, Shoe had had only two relationships that might be considered serious, and the latter of them had ended more than a year before. He always felt that Amelia was his soul mate. Was he being given another chance? He could only wonder.

Shoe phoned Amelia, and after a long, far-reaching conversation, he agreed to have dinner at her home. She lived in an apartment with her two children, William, 5, and Misty, 4. Two days later, Shoe arrived at the apartment bearing gifts for the children and a hug for Amelia. Following dinner, Amelia put the children to bed and sat with Shoe on the sofa in the living room, listening to music and talking softly. They discussed the coven and Vonnie with great warmth.

“What happened with Stevenson?” asked Shoe, who had never learned to call him Jerry.

“We divorced a year ago,” replied Amelia.

“What, is he insane?” asked Shoe. He couldn’t understand how anyone could reject Amelia.

Amelia smiled and shook her head. “Jerry had a wandering eye,” she revealed.

“He’ll be back,” predicted Shoe. “After all, you’re gorgeous, in the prime of your life, and you’ve got his children.”

Amelia shook her head again. “He’s already remarried,” she said. “Got himself a trophy wife, a protege at the firm; she’s 23 years old.”

“Maybe it won’t last,” suggested Shoe.

“She’s pregnant–for the second time,» said Amelia. “He’s put our family on a shelf. I shouldn’t be surprised,» she said. “Jerry was married once before. Had two children. They’re in high school now.”

They sat in silent contemplation of Amelia’s ex-husband’s perfidy for a few moments before she said, with that old familiarity, “Would you like a glass of wine?”

Shoe smiled.

It wasn’t as if no time had passed since they were together. Shoe was still smarting from Amelia’s rejection of him six years before. Also, he was envious of her family. He always wanted children. Six months later, he got his wish when Amelia conducted a home pregnancy test in his presence and then hugged him tight when the positive result was revealed. They made plans to marry.

Amelia also became involved with the coven again. Attending the Wiccan rituals for more than a year, Amelia, Shoe, and three Wiccans from the coven they were engaged with broke away and began their own group. Amelia, reinvigorated, reborn, often officiated and led the rituals. Shoe explained to the group that his astral projection and journeys through time sometimes still got out of control, and he asked for help. It was agreed that the group would oversee and monitor his next passage.

2012

Shoe was alone in a runaway roller coaster, surmounting great peaks on the tracks and then plunging precipitously to the nether regions of the circuit. It was the same figurative roller coaster he’d found himself on many times before. The train clacked loudly as it crept up a rise and then plunged crazily into a declivity. As if on cue, there he was up ahead, Stevenson, his tormentor, standing athwart the tracks, blocking his way, awaiting the opportunity to send Shoe screaming to the bottom of the metal canyon. The train was moving maddeningly fast now and was almost upon his nemesis when the roller coaster struck Stevenson and sent him dropping into the abyss.

Shoe let out his breath; he hadn’t known he’d been holding it. Slowly, the train coasted to a halt. Out stepped Shoe, and there on the platform he found his beloved Amelia and his children. She touched his arm, and the youngest child clutched at his leg. Shoe knew he needed to search no more, for life had come full circle, and at last he had found all that he had ever sought.

Part 1: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/2026/02/01/shoe-part-1-by-bill-tope/

Part 2: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/2026/02/02/shoe-part-2-by-bill-tope/

Part 3: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/2026/02/03/shoe-part-3-by-bill-tope/