Shoelaces

Since my boyhood -- since I started wearing shoes (I was in the mission, without shoes) -- people have told me that I ought to tie my shoelaces. I have pointed out that my untied shoelaces have never done me any harm. However, yesterday I finally got into a spot. I jumped into my three-wheeler and slammed the door. All the controls -- decompression, clutch, throttle, and so on -- are hand-controlled. Only the brakes are foot-controlled, and the hand-brake out of reach while driving. I had slammed the door on a shoelace -- and when I needed to brake, I was in trouble. It was with difficulty that I pulled my foot from the door to work the brake. OBSERVATION: So children, be good and tie your shoelaces ...