After nine untethered years at Gary’s Bowl-a-Rama in Weston, Massachusetts, a pair of rental bowling shoes are finally ready for a long-term relationship.
Though they have already been worn by an estimated 400 people, the classic red, white, and blue eco-leather pair is hopeful that a special someone might just sweep them off the shelf and onto their feet for good.
“We’ve been with so many strangers. And it’s been fun. But enough’s enough. It’s time to settle down,” the shoes said.
This won’t be the pair’s first stint in a long-term relationship. For three months in the summer of 2015, the boyfriend of owner Gary Moore’s daughter Amanda chose them as a personal favorite. However, the shoes were ultimately a point of contention between the two, with Amanda claiming her boyfriend, 17-year-old Tommy Knobbs of Glendale High School, loved the shoes more than he loved her.
“Our relationship with Tommy ended when Amanda’s did.” the pair explained, “We were heartbroken for a while, but then we got right back into the rental circuit.”
Today, the hopeful pair is realistic about their appearance, and how that might impact their search for the perfect someone. After a decade of wear, their laces are frayed, their tongues are tired, and their scent is pungent.
As a result, they are being open-minded to any possible suitors.
“We’re size 9 women’s, size 7.5 men’s,” the pair explained, “Honestly, we don’t have a preference. Love is love. We just want to find our forever.”
image via