Thank you for all your editing help, Incredimeters.
It was a typical Thursday afternoon. It was sunny outside and the temperature was sitting around 60. I had finished up my English term paper and decided to go for a run in the park. Who was I kidding? I had been going for a run in the park every day after 5 pm for the last week hoping to run into, pun intended, him.
My name is Jason Wise. I am 22, 5'6" and about 150 lbs I am lean more than fit. I need to get to a gym and do more weight training. I have brown hair and brown eyes. I went to a small high school so I went out for every sport not because I wanted to but because if I didn't, they could not meet the number of students required to field a team. The one sport I did like was cross country. I loved to run by myself out in nature. Little did I know my old love would lead me to a new love.
Near my apartment there is a park next to a large area of wooded land that had been set aside for preservation. The park was well maintained and the sidewalks always seemed to be in good repair. It was not the most popular park in town but it always seemed to have a few people in it. I used the sidewalks and trails to run.
I got dressed in an under-armor shirt that was big enough but hugged my ribs and shoulders. I put on briefs and a pair of bicycle shorts that were black with two white strips down the legs. Socks and shoes came next and I was ready to stretch. I didn't spend as much time on my stretch as I should have because I wanted to get to the park. I decided I would just take the first few kilometers slow as a warm up to compensate for it.
I got to the park in under five minutes and my heart was pounding in anticipation, not because of exertion. I tried to tell myself to slow down but my little brain over ruled my big brain. I stopped at a bench to tie my shoes and said hello to Coach Miller, the local high school cheerleader coach and Ashley the head cheerleader. The Post's nanny, Mrs. Grant, who was watching two little boys play on the swings. I was only about 100 yards into my run when I saw him and his dog there on the path in front of me, Arthur Class.
Arthur was in his fifties. Today Arthur was wearing a grey name brand track suit with black stripes and sneakers. He wore a black fanny pack around his waist. He had mocha colored skin that made it look like he always had a tan. He owned a metal recycling business and was the nicest guy you ever met. He stood 5" 10" and is maybe 210 lbs. He has salt and pepper hair and a well-trimmed beard that was almost entirely white.
"How are you doing today, Arthur?"
His dog, a black and white spaniel named Checkers ran to me and I rubbed her behind the ears. "I see I'm not the only one happy to see you, Jason."
Checkers is the one who had brough Arthur into my life. I had met him several times over the last few months but one day Checkers had gotten away from him and I chased her down. After that I would run a few laps on the wood trails and then walk and talk with Arthur. I could not believe that he and I had so much in common even though we were decades apart in age.
"I wanted to tell you that Checkers and I aren't going to be coming to the park as much." He explained.
"That's too bad," I put it mildly while inside my brain screamed NNNOOO. "Why not."
"Well, if you must know it's because of this damn prostate." He said pointing to his crotch.
I didn't want to stare but I couldn't help it. "I guess I don't understand," I said.
"I told you how I had trouble with my prostate and those damn doctors had to do a little work down there. Well, now I can't go more than half an hour or so without having to pee. The city is closing the restrooms here next week and there will be no place for me to relieve myself."
"What are you talking about? There are trees everywhere and let's be honest, there's not a whole lot of traffic here. Just find a nice shaded spot somewhere and take a leak," I argued.
He smiled. "I guess that would work I'll give that some thought. Well, you go on and get your laps in and enjoy the day."
