With a pained expression on his face the next morning, Hector left his apartment wearing Uncle Luis's shoes. His mother and father walked proudly with him, Hector arrived at the school auditorium and took his place in 5 line, Smiling and waving at him, his parents sat in the audience, “Hector Lopez ...” He walked up the long aisle onto the stage. He finished his speech and sat on a chair provided for him on the stage. They called his name again several times, and each time Hector received an honor or prize. Included were a wristwatch and w —acheck for cash. Whenever Hector stood up and walked to the podium,! he prayed that no one would notice his shoes. Finally, graduation exercises were over and Hector hurried off the stage, looking for his parents, People congratulated him on his many honors and on his speech. His school friends shook his hand 1s and they exchanged addresses. Hector found himself engaged in long good:-byes. Slowly, people began to leave the large auditorium, and Hector and his parents headed for home. Hector sat on his bed and took off Uncle Luis’s shoes. “Good-bye,” he said out loud, making a face, and dropped them 2» into the box, He sighed with relief, “No one had even mentioned the shoes,” he thought. “Man . .. I bet they didn't even notice them. Boy! Was I ever lucky . .. Nobody said a word. How about that?” he | said to himself, Reaching under the bed, he took out his sneakers and happily put them on. “Never again,” he continued, “if can 25 help it. No, sir. 'm gonna make sure I have shoes to wear!” He remembered all the things he had won at graduation. Looking at his new wristwatch, he put it on. “That's really something,” he thought. He took:out the check for cash he had received and read, “Pay to the 1. podium: part of the stage that is higher than the rest of the stage; the raised part of the stage. SHOES FOR HecToR 59| Onder of Hector Lépez... The Sum of Twenty-Five Dollars and 00/100 | sm» Cents. I can’t wait to show everybody," he said to himsell, Hector left his room and looked into the kitchen. His mother and grandmother were busily preparing more food. He heard voices and music in the living room and quickly walked in that direction. When his younger brothers and sister saw him, they jumped up and down. s “Hlere’s Hector!” Petie yelled. “Happy Graduation Day, Hector!” everyone shouted. The living room was full of people. His father was talking to Unele Luis and some neighbors. Uncle Luts called out, “There he is. Hector! ... There's my man now.” 0 “Look.” Hector’s father pointed to a table that was loaded with platters of food and a large cake. The cake had the inscription “Happy Graduation to Hector.” Behind the cake was a large card printed in bright colors: HAPPY GRADUATION DAY, HECTOR I 6 FROM ALL YOUR FAMILY ‘Mami, Papi, Abuelita, Petie, Georgie, Juanito, and Millie i 60 SHoes FoR HECTOR