Morning all. It looks like we are back in the 30s this morning. My sunburn from Monday is still healing but sure, why not drop us back down to frost level. Sorry, sudden temperature changes give me a bit of a migraine. I took something and it is gone but it leaves me a little grumpy anyway. So now that the pain has faded shall we see what today’s writing prompt brings forth? Timers at the ready and off we go…
I think this is an interesting set up. I will have to figure out more of the details before proceeding. Like what the secret is and if Kevin’s positin actually obligates him to tell. It could make for an interesting mental conundrum.
Wednesday, March 29th: The secret weighed heavily on his mind.
The secret weighed heavily on his mind. ‘Why did he tell me,’ Kevin wondered. Then he snorted. He knew exactly why Jake told him. ‘He needed someone to brag to.’
Kevin tried to put it out of his mind. He had been friends with Jake since they were children. ‘Although friends might be stretching the term,’ he added.
Kevin closed the locker and stood up from the bench. A few rounds in the ring would do him good today. Usually he boxed for exercise and the thrill of doing something actually physical after a long day behind a desk. Today he very much wanted to punch someone. Since Jake wasn’t available, that left the ring.
‘Thank god it’s Thursday,’ Kevin thought.
Usually he practiced outside the ring with the bags and a partner holding padded hands up for him to punch and practice hitting moving targets. He ran and he did the other training exercises too even though he never had any plans to box professionally in any capacity. However Thursdays were sparring matches between the students, arranged by the other trainers so everyone could get a better feel for what the ring was like. Knowing that they would face an opponent of comparable skill once a week caused all of them to focus and train just a little bit harder. Kevin didn’t take it as seriously as some of the others, but he enjoyed the matches.
And today it would help him burn off some steam.
Kevin met Jake because their parents were friends. The four of them grew up together and somehow ended up as adults in the same neighborhood. It made them a group and they were glad that he and Jake were the same age and got along so well. Time of course changed things. These days Jake was insufferable and Kevin avoided him when he could. It was only for the sake of their parents that Kevin didn’t cut the ties all together.
‘And now this.’
Kevin stood and left the locker room more than ready to fight something. Kevin was told Jake’s secret because Jake couldn’t keep it to himself. It was too exciting, he had to tell someone. To brag and see someone else’s reaction.
‘At least he is self-aware enough to know it is illegal,’ Kevin thought. For a while during Jake’s sharing session he wasn’t entirely certain Jake understood that. But the end he was certain Jake knew and understood what sort of position he put Kevin in.
Kevin knew he should report it. There was no way something like this could be kept secret. ‘Especially by Jake.’ Kevin knew he wouldn’t be the only one Jake told. When Jake told him, instead of shocked, scandalized envy, all he got was a reminder of legalities and the admonition to extricate himself a soon as possible.
‘He’ll want to tell someone to get a better reaction now.’
Jake walked to the ring. His trainer said things to him and he nodded, the words so many flies zipping around the room. He got into the ring, his opponent and the referee of the night joining them. There was talk of a clean fight and the basic rules for the sparring match and then the fight began. Kevin tried to let the physicality of the moment push other considerations to the side.
Ten til Midnight 