Max and 99 walked into one of the CONTROL labs. They were met by the Chief. A couple boxes were on a table.
After saying their hellos, the Chief pointed to the boxes.
"These are CONTROL's newest invention—water-resistant shoe phones."
"Water-resistant shoe phones?," they both said together.
"That's right. No matter how wet they get, you will still be able to make phone calls from them."
"That's wonderful!," said 99. "Max, remember when we almost drowned in that flooded phone booth? The water ruined your shoe phone."
"That's right! And it ruined one of my best suits, too!"
"As well as one of my best dresses!"
The Chief gave each of them a box. "Here you go."
They opened the boxe, and discovered they had the reverse shoes—he had hers, she had his!
"Sorry about that, guys!," said the Chief.
They traded their shoes. Then they sat in chairs by the table and put them one.
"Oh, you may keep your same numbers. How do they feel?"
"Mine are a bit tight," said 99.
"All new shoes are a little tight," said Max.
"That's fine," said the Chief. "Now, let's test them. Come with me."
He led them to another part of the lab. On the floor was a baby pool filled with water. Towels and a couple chairs were around it.
"OK, stand in the pool."
Max started to take his shoes off.
"Keep the shoes on, Max!"
"Oh yeah! Sorry about that, Chief!"
They rolled up their pants legs and got in. The water went up to above their ankles.
"The water won't ruin these shoes, will it?," 99 asked.
"No. It's a special reinforced leather. In fact, they cost about $500 a pair."
"Wow!," said Max.
"OK, you can get out of the pool, now." They got out. "I'd like you to call each other on your phones. They're the right shoes, by the way."
They took their shoes and socks off and dried their feet with the towels. They they opened components on their right shoes to reveal the phones.
"Wow, touch tone!"
"The newest technology, Max."
He dialed 99's shoe, and it rang.
"Hello."
"Hi, 99."
"Hi, Max."
"How's everything?"
"Pretty good."
"That's fine. Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around."
"You can see me now, Max."
"He looked at her. "Oh, yeah! Well, nice seeing you again."
"You too, Max. Bye."
"Goodbye."
They hung up. Then they dried their feet some more and put their shoes and socks back on.
"Excellent," said the Chief. "Oh, I must ask that I keep your old shoes—security reasons."
"I was going to turn mine in," said Max. "They were starting to get a little run down."
"Chief, do you think it would be possible for me to get a shoe phone in sandals," asked 99. "For the summertime."
"I'll have to take that up with my superiors and let you know—budgetary concerns."
"I understand. Thanks."
"OK, that's all, for now."
They got up and left.