I'm short

I’m short.

I’m short about five dollars. Can you help me?

I shorted the measurement, now I have to go get another 2x4.

He was three inches short of the long-jump record.

You shorted me on the material. Now I need it cut again.

Life is short.

Pain is shorter.

Short on patience

 Short on time

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I’ve always been short, the shortest one in class, the shortest one on staff, the shortest one on the team, the shortest one in choir. The shortest.

But through the years I’ve made it work. And I have spoken with other short people who have found the same secrets.

Like in basketball. I loved playing basketball in grade school. I was 4’9”, but I was good. I wasn’t ever going to be tall enough for center, but I made a mean guard. And, as you know, guards guard. That’s what they do. They guard the ball, guard the forwards, guard the center … and steal the ball. Because I was short, I played from a different perspective and spotted holes in the defense of the other team. My favorite game memory was when I stole the ball from the opponent’s forward, spun around and made a lay-up that won the game. At that moment, I knew being short could be an advantage.

Recently, I held a job at Hobby Lobby (a store created for tall people). I was short (5’2”), but I’m fairly certain my manager was at least an inch shorter. I marveled at how she managed to stock shelves, move boxes, run the conveyor, unload the trucks, and out-negotiate irritable customers (all who were taller than she). Her shortness was a fine art. She became my hero. If she could do those things, then so could I – given a few more months of practice. And I did. My most pleasant memory was when my coworkers stopped arguing with me when I went up the ladder to grab overstock. They didn’t realize that being short meant a lower center of gravity and I was probably safer up there than they were.

At times, my shortness seemed like a disability. When the neighborhood kids played red-rover or kickball I was last to be chosen. As a choir member I was always placed in the front row. Some rides at Disneyland and local fairs were off-limits to me.

And then there were the jokes …

But looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I learned self-reliance, resilience, determination, and how to be a monkey. There’s no school that can teach that, only necessity.

I have lots more short stories, but I’ll save them for the future memoir.

 

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