myself a little at the embarrassment I feel from
my own thought.
dane
1:10. I have time for
another slow lap around and a long, steamy shower to settle my energy, and
nerves.
I don’t know much about
the exhibits in the museum. Mom and Kate spent a couple of hours in it with me
when I first came out here, but I haven’t been inside since, just seemed right
to go there today. There’s a lot of space to walk around on three levels, and
something else to give focus to when we’re maybe both finding things to say, seemed
right for her. And I don’t mind it either.
It’s a good day for
being on the track. The weather’s right, barely any breeze. I decide to take a
third lap around.
It seems hard to
believe yesterday these stands were filled with thousands of people cheering me
on. I pass by the place where coach and Shay sat, and the surge of happiness
from it ripples through me, all over again.
26
shay
“Want to head out and
grab some late lunch, maybe Chinese?” Jenny asks with her back to me as she finishes
wiping down the lab table. Teaching the undergrads becomes a little consuming
with the outside help they sometimes ask for, and it makes our own studying
pressured for time. And Jenny needed to get some input today on things, which I
was more than glad to do.
“Chinese sounds great,
but I’m just going to grab some crackers from the vending machine.”
“What? I knew it. You’re
going primadonna on me and worried about weight—too many good meals.” Of course
she suspects something else.
“No.” My apprehension
to saying anything by now leaves. I didn’t want to divert her thinking, focusing
on things this morning, by talking about me. “Dane asked if I’d like to go over
to the museum at 2:00. And I said yes.”
“Cool,” she smiles past
me, walking to put away a folder in her drawer.
“Thanks.’
“You have 25 minutes. Better
go grab those crackers.” She plops down in her seat at the desk and lets out a
small moan leaning back. “ Christ , those lab chairs kill your back! Who
ever thought those stools didn’t need a back—let alone the beating your
butt takes on them!”
I look at her, fussing
in her chair, and begin to lightly laugh.
“Really, you should get
your crackers. I could see you standing now looking into the display window of
the taxidermic prairie dogs and mountain goats and your stomach being the only
sound echoing through the museum.” She makes herself start to laugh.
“Thanks for watching
out for me, to your own amusement,” I teasingly banter. “Want anything from the
machine?” I offer, headed to the door.
“Yes—yes, I do. I want
chocolate and caffeine—surprise me.”
dane
I’ve worked up a good
sweat. I stop half-way ‘round lap three and make my way across the grass to get
a shower.
“Good job out there
yesterday, Dane,” one of the football guys calls out walking past me in a
group, headed out to toss the ball around.
“Thanks.” I push open
the door to the towel room and grab a couple of towels and a travel size
shampoo and soap.
Thirty minutes before I
see her. The urgency in me is calmer, but the sight of her is probably all it
will take to rocket up again.
I undress and turn on
the water to start warming it up. As I step back nearer the bench in front of
the wall of dressing mirrors, I have to smile somewhat at how much more white
my ass cheeks appear to my legs now. You can tell it’s full on spring.
27
shay
I pick up the thin,
white sweater that I brought just in case the museum is chilly, and reach
inside the small pocket for the key ring with only two keys on it, that I
attached this morning, one for home, one for my lab, should I have needed it.
And decide to go unlock my door and get the pink fabric pouch out of my desk with
a hairbrush and personal things in it, just to go to the restroom and check
myself. . . just to be sure. . . just to. . . look. . . fresh.
As I finish smoothing
my
my own thought.
dane
1:10. I have time for
another slow lap around and a long, steamy shower to settle my energy, and
nerves.
I don’t know much about
the exhibits in the museum. Mom and Kate spent a couple of hours in it with me
when I first came out here, but I haven’t been inside since, just seemed right
to go there today. There’s a lot of space to walk around on three levels, and
something else to give focus to when we’re maybe both finding things to say, seemed
right for her. And I don’t mind it either.
It’s a good day for
being on the track. The weather’s right, barely any breeze. I decide to take a
third lap around.
It seems hard to
believe yesterday these stands were filled with thousands of people cheering me
on. I pass by the place where coach and Shay sat, and the surge of happiness
from it ripples through me, all over again.
26
shay
“Want to head out and
grab some late lunch, maybe Chinese?” Jenny asks with her back to me as she finishes
wiping down the lab table. Teaching the undergrads becomes a little consuming
with the outside help they sometimes ask for, and it makes our own studying
pressured for time. And Jenny needed to get some input today on things, which I
was more than glad to do.
“Chinese sounds great,
but I’m just going to grab some crackers from the vending machine.”
“What? I knew it. You’re
going primadonna on me and worried about weight—too many good meals.” Of course
she suspects something else.
“No.” My apprehension
to saying anything by now leaves. I didn’t want to divert her thinking, focusing
on things this morning, by talking about me. “Dane asked if I’d like to go over
to the museum at 2:00. And I said yes.”
“Cool,” she smiles past
me, walking to put away a folder in her drawer.
“Thanks.’
“You have 25 minutes. Better
go grab those crackers.” She plops down in her seat at the desk and lets out a
small moan leaning back. “ Christ , those lab chairs kill your back! Who
ever thought those stools didn’t need a back—let alone the beating your
butt takes on them!”
I look at her, fussing
in her chair, and begin to lightly laugh.
“Really, you should get
your crackers. I could see you standing now looking into the display window of
the taxidermic prairie dogs and mountain goats and your stomach being the only
sound echoing through the museum.” She makes herself start to laugh.
“Thanks for watching
out for me, to your own amusement,” I teasingly banter. “Want anything from the
machine?” I offer, headed to the door.
“Yes—yes, I do. I want
chocolate and caffeine—surprise me.”
dane
I’ve worked up a good
sweat. I stop half-way ‘round lap three and make my way across the grass to get
a shower.
“Good job out there
yesterday, Dane,” one of the football guys calls out walking past me in a
group, headed out to toss the ball around.
“Thanks.” I push open
the door to the towel room and grab a couple of towels and a travel size
shampoo and soap.
Thirty minutes before I
see her. The urgency in me is calmer, but the sight of her is probably all it
will take to rocket up again.
I undress and turn on
the water to start warming it up. As I step back nearer the bench in front of
the wall of dressing mirrors, I have to smile somewhat at how much more white
my ass cheeks appear to my legs now. You can tell it’s full on spring.
27
shay
I pick up the thin,
white sweater that I brought just in case the museum is chilly, and reach
inside the small pocket for the key ring with only two keys on it, that I
attached this morning, one for home, one for my lab, should I have needed it.
And decide to go unlock my door and get the pink fabric pouch out of my desk with
a hairbrush and personal things in it, just to go to the restroom and check
myself. . . just to be sure. . . just to. . . look. . . fresh.
As I finish smoothing
my
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