Professor Thornton Part 2

I’ve never quite understood the “going through the motions” people in a gym. I mean if you are going to take the time to go to a gym, then you might as well workout. I was watching someone whose workout was so scripted there wasn’t the slightest bit of exertion. Whereas I was working hard on the stepper, my quadriceps were complaining bitterly and Talking Heads ‘Burning Down the House’ wafted through my headset,

‘All wet hey you might need a raincoat
Shape down Dreams walking in broad daylight
Three hundred sixty five degrees
Burning down the house’

The college fitness centre was relatively empty at 3:30 in the afternoon. There were a few members of staff and a smattering of students.

I opened my eyes and spotted Professor Thornton straight away.

He hadn’t seen me yet and I watched him with growing interest as he grabbed two 100-pound dumbbells and made his way over to the incline bench. Resting the weights on his quads he took a deep breath and used his legs to hoist the weight upwards as he leaned back into the bench. By the seventh rep I could see he was feeling the burn, he slowly lowered the weight, inhaling on the way down. Just as the dumbbells reached his chest he exhaled forcefully and exploded upwards, he kept his arms extended for a few seconds, gulping in air, obviously psyching himself out for one last rep.

Finally, he lowered the weight again, and once again exhaled with a groan and pushed upwards, muscles wavered, arms shaking. He finished the 9th rep and after controlling the weight down to his chest, let them drop with a loud “thump” onto the padded mats. He was the only one in the free-weight area, and most of the other people were glancing over at the sounds of his workout. I tell you I was very impressed, that man is closer to 40 rather than 30, but he still can push iron with the big boys.

I couldn’t stop myself from looking at his muscular, sweat covered body, his arms were pumped, filling the sleeves of his T-shirt, then taking a long gulp from my water bottle, I glanced up and found myself staring straight into his amused eyes. I quickly averted my gaze, just as he did the same.

Since our encounter in his office the other morning, I had made a point of avoiding him. As far as I was concerned, if he wanted me, then it was his turn now to do some of the running.