Trip the Runner - Andrew Rolston Page 0,3
shirt just a bit tighter before joining his son at the table. He settled into his chair with a heavy sigh and reached for the carafe of juice. His eyes landed on the paunch growing at his son’s waistline as he did so.
“So,” Bob began as he had so many mornings before, “Trip. Why don’t you go out for a run today?”
Trip rolled his eyes. “Dad, I know you want me to start training again.”
Bob waited for the second half of that statement, but his son was already grabbing at the strips of bacon that had arrived at the table. Trip’s mother joined them and he noticed she made no move to eat anything – just sipped her coffee.
Bob shook his head and tried again. “What’s so terrible about you getting back into your regimen? I see no problem with it. What else have you got going on today?”
“Actually,” Trip countered, mouth full and chomping as he spoke, “I’m injured. I have a bad wrist.”
The mention of an injury made Trip’s mother clutch at her chest and reach out for his shoulder. “Poor darling! Do you need some ice?”
He nodded, eyes downcast to express the delicacy of the situation. His mother jumped out of her chair to make an ice pack while his father crossed his arms and glared at the son who had once been the source of all his pride.
“Since when do you run with your wrist?”
Trip shrugged. “Can’t work out with an injury, Dad.” He reached for more bacon, but his father pulled the plate away. “Hey! Come on, I need the protein.”
“You need lean protein,” his dad corrected, pointing at Trip’s protruding stomach which was pressed up against the table. “This stuff is what’s getting you out of shape. Now go for a jog and then you’re coming to work with me.”
“Hey!” Trip hit the table with his fist. “I’m a grown ass man. You can’t tell me what to do.”
“A grown ass man?” Trip’s father scoffed and pointed his finger at his son. The finger shook from the tension in his hand. “A grown ass man doesn’t sit on the couch all day watching films of himself over and over. That’s what kids do. You wanna be a man? Act like one.”
“Oh, actually, dear,” Florence interrupted as she reappeared, putting a hand on her husband’s shoulder, “Trip and I need to go shopping today. He really needs new pajamas. His are paper thin.” She looked to Trip and nodded to encourage him. “Isn’t that right, Trip?”
“Yeah, Dad.” Trip stood and took two more pieces of bacon from the plate still being held away from the table by his father. “Your son is sleeping in pajamas that are so old the seams are unraveling. What kind of situation is that for the offspring of the town’s most successful business mogul?”
“Nothing’s stopping you from being successful yourself, Trip.”
“Dad, I have some big plans.”
“Really, Trip? Like what?”
“What're the two things people love more than anything?”
“Money and sex?”
“No. Gross.”
“Gross?”
“Kids don't wanna hear their parents talkin bout sex.”
“You're not a kid,” his father pointed out. “You're a grown man deep into your adulthood.”
“Never mind, Dad. You know, I don't even want to tell you my big plan anyways. You're sucha snake n the grass that I know you'll go steal my idea.”
“Don't worry, Trip. I'm not going to steal your idea.”
“You might when you hear how good of an idea it is.”
“I promise I'll not steal your idea.”
“The two things people like most in life are?”
“Just tell me, Trip. I don't want to find myself saying something else that will gross you out.”
“The first thing people love more than anything's clothes.”
“Clothes? Really? You think people love clothes more than their own children?”
“Well, Dad, lookin at the way you dress and the way you treat me, I think it goes without saying that you're not too fond of either.”
“I'm fond of you, Trip. I'm just not fond of your ideas and plans for life.”
“What's wrong with being a clothing designer?”
“Really Trip?”
“You're always trying to crush my damn dreams, Dad.”
“I'm not trying to crush your dreams. I'm just concerned. What's going to set you apart from all the other clothing designers?”
“This is the same crap you said when I went out for the Olympics. You asked me what was gonna set me apart from the other runners. Guess what, Dad? I succeeded then and, by damn, I will succeed again.”
“If you are doing something like clothing design you need a niche. You