The Shoe is a shoe of unknown origin that was consumed by Derek, the pacman frog who lives in the reed zone of the pond. It is one of the most discussed items in pond history, primarily because nobody knows whose it was.

discovery

The shoe was first documented when Frogbert noticed a rubber sole protruding from Derek's mouth. Frogbert did not investigate further, as getting closer to Derek is generally considered inadvisable. The shoe was photographed (see: Derek) and the sole is faintly visible in the image.

ownership

The owner of the shoe has never come forward. Several theories exist:

• A human dropped it near the pond and Derek ate it
• The owner also encountered Derek and is no longer available to claim it
• It belonged to another pond resident who has chosen not to discuss the incident

No theory has been confirmed. The matter is considered closed, in the sense that the shoe is inside Derek and there is nothing to be done about it.

significance

The shoe is frequently cited as the clearest illustration of Derek's nature. He ate a shoe. This was not an accident. This was Derek operating normally. The shoe is now part of Derek, and Derek is part of the pond ecosystem. In this sense, the shoe lives on.

see also

• Derek
• The Pond
• Frogbert