“But how do we know he put them on Dad?”

Her mother reached over and took Joanna’s little hand in hers; she knew what was going on. “I know you’re upset because you were going to buy your dad a new pair of shoes, but he is with God now, and also, we made a point of getting Dad a nice pair of shoes. It really is okay.”

But Joanna wasn’t convinced, so when they got to the funeral home that morning before the official opening time, she asked Mr. Crook about it.

Despite his surname, Crook was a kindly old gentleman, who understood how difficult it was for a child to lose a parent. He usually counseled parents not to bring children as young as Joanna to the viewing, but Joan Larson had insisted her daughter attend, and so he wasn’t surprised by the question. It was the type of thing children always asked.

“Mrs. Larson,” he said, “I wouldn’t normally do this, but I can see that Joanna is very concerned, so perhaps we should just open up the lower part of the casket for a second to reassure her.” Mr. Crook knew things like this could stay with a child for a lifetime, and since it was so simple to show her, they walked over to the casket, and he lifted the lid that covered the bottom portion.

Much to the amazement of Mr. Crook and Joan Larson, Mike’s bare feet were sticking out of the bottom of his pant legs, white as marble. Mr. Crook, clearly very embarrassed, blushed and then turned angry.

“I’m very sorry. There must be some mistake. I didn’t er—dress the body …” He closed the lid and stormed off, blathering to himself and promising to return with the shoes and socks.

Joanna began to cry at the sight of her father’s bare feet, and her mother brought her over to the chairs reserved for the family and sat her down. “Joanna, how do you know these things?

“I don’t know, Mom. I just do.”

“I guess I’m just going to have to start believing you when you tell me things like this. I’m so sorry I didn’t trust what you said, but it just sounded so … so crazy. Then again, it also sounded crazy when you told me Dad was gone, and I just kept on making breakfast.”

“It’s okay, Mom, you didn’t know. I’m just glad Dad’s feet will be warm.”

After a few minutes, Mr. Crook returned. He was visibly upset, and was stammering.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, but apparently, by some mistake, the shoes were thrown out.”