Monday, October 9, 2017

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE P[ROMPT - SKIP'S STORY CONTINUES...





Welcome! This week is picture prompt week. We continue with Skip's story. Scroll down for the link back to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for coming.

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“Don’t increase the weight on that, Quincy!” Vic barked. “For Crissake, all we need is an injury to your arm! This is the playoffs. We can’t afford to lose you.”
Vic Steele, the trainer, watched the men carefully, making sure to keep them fit and healthy.
While he worked out, Skip’s mind wandered back to high school. His adoptive father had invested in a set of weights. Skip had struggled with them at first.
“Nah. Forget it. You’re not cut out to be an athlete.” He had walked away, making a dismissive gesture.
That was all the motivation Skip had needed. He had readjusted the barbell and worked out, secretly, every day until he could do the maximum with no sweat.
At the stadium, as he lifted, he remembered the day he had wanted to show his dad what he’d achieved. The older man had brushed him off. Skip had grabbed his upper arm in a vise-like grip. His father had yelped in pain, then raised his gaze to his son. Skip had let go, surprised at his own strength.
“Sure, you can lift that now. How long did it take you? Months. But you’ll never do the next level.”
He’d kept working out, but had never showed off for his father again.
“Good job, Skip. Keep it up,” Vic said.

As he lifted more than he had back then, he smiled. Vic Steele and the manager, Cal Crawley, had replaced his dad when it came to Skip’s baseball career. Was it possible two men paid to run the team cared more about him than his own father? It’s a question the shortstop hesitated to ask himself, as he dreaded the answer.   

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4 comments:

  1. Wow, his dad sounds like a real dud. Perhaps he was just trying to motivate Skip but still... Great snippet! Lots of emotion in so few words. Well done!

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  2. His dad reminds me of a jerk I once knew. Fantastic post. It's easy to see what motivated him to be the best. Looking forward to more.

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  3. I just want to smack fathers like his. I'm glad he had other role models that care for him. Your characters, scenes, and dialog are always so realistic. Great story!

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  4. I’ve known of fathers like this. I always want to give them the extra special “hugs” we learn jiu jitsu class. I’m glad he found father figures. Great job!

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