Once again faced with this arduous task.

Peering down, I stretch, reaching for these two serpentine vines. All hope rests in my result.

I grasp them, one in each hand, straining to remember which to cross and which to loop.

Angst, then failure, then success: finally my shoe is tied.

Ronald Chilcutt is a 44-year-old High School Special Education Math Teacher who lives in the greater Chicago area. He lives with the love of his life, their two kids and a dog. Ronald has always believed that there is a great American novel buried in him somewhere, but has not found the right shovel to dig it out.