Read the following story. If the Shoes Fit
Taylor made a quick decision shortly before the game against Readville. After putting on her uniform and lacing up her worn sneakers, it hit her how badly she wanted new basketball shoes.
"The game starts in less than an hour," Taylor's dad said, looking at his watch.
"But look at these old things!" Taylor said, lifting a foot. "I'll just run in and out of the mall. I'll be so fast!"
In the car, Taylor fidgeted at each red light, a month's worth of babysitting money in her pocket. She knew that, soon, each jump shot she took would hit nothing but net. Every leap would be higher in her brand-new shoes.
Her father waited in the car as Taylor sprinted into the mall. A beautiful, shiny pair of red basketball shoes were displayed at the front of the shoe store. She nearly ran right into them.
"Uh, size six, please!"
The clerk returned with the box and asked Taylor if she wanted to try them on. Taylor glanced at the time.
"No need!"
With those fancy sneakers under her arm, she ran back to the idling car in the parking lot. She was pumped.
Just in time, Taylor was on the bench with her teammates as their coach drew up the game plan. She opened the box and tried sliding her feet into the shoes she'd rushed to purchase, and her heart sank. Her toes were cramped. But the buzzer sounded, and Taylor ran awkwardly onto the court for the whistle.
Taylor's face showed pain as she jogged up and down the court. She played poorly. When the coach substituted her for another player, she pulled out her old shoes from beneath the bench.
Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?