Race Fit – Jenny 63

 

[For a quick guide go here: Quick guide.]

[Old back story is here: Story so far at 30 Nov 2020 and read more recent Jenny episodes especially this one.]

[Other back story through in-links.]

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“Good job we weren’t in Berkhamsted yesterday,” said Jenny.

“Why’s that?” asked Anna.

“Some bloke got shot,” she said. “Sounds like a gang land killing.”

“Firstly the chances of us being there at the exact same time must be pretty limited,” said Anna. “And secondly I read he was an OAP. Not some gangster.”

“Well, you know,” said Jenny. “Could be the big boss. El Mafiosa or whatever. The big Grandad.”

“Seems unlikely, doesn’t it? Didn’t have Berkhamsted down as a hot bed for street crime, but there you go. It’ll have blown over by the time we’re there,” said Anna.

“Or there’ll be revenge killings,” said Jenny.

“Quit stalling and get back on the bike,” said Anna.

Jenny did as she was told. The bike treadmill in the garage were getting some good use and Jenny was pushing herself in ways she hadn’t for some time. This wasn’t really about doing well any more, it wasn’t even about trying to get a decent time around their selected circuit, it was about being better than Peter. Far more important, far more motivating.

And of course the most motivating thing was the thought that Peter wasn’t even trying. He was still in bed upstairs, curtains drawn and sound asleep. Jenny reckoned he thought he’d beat her just because he could. The confidence of youth trumping the assurance of experience. Quite how he thought that was going to work given their respective times spent on a bike she had no idea, but he wasn’t going to achieve anything if he was just sleeping in.

Anyway, perhaps it wouldn’t even matter if they beat each other, lost, won or drew. The feeling of making the bike go fast and working out like this just made Jenny feel better and better. Work had calmed down now that she’d straightened a few accounting anomalies, she and Anna were getting on well, Anna was getting on really well with the kids, the times when Jenny felt worried or concerned for the future were growing less. Full opening may have been post-poned, Berkhamsted may have been post-poned but what had occurred in its place was fine by her.

“Have you ever wondered what it would be like if this hadn’t happened?” asked Anna.

—

“Have you ever wondered what it would be like if this hadn’t happened?” Jude asked Peter as he walked in from a ten mile bike ride.

Leaving the house early that morning he’d ensure his room still looked forbidding enough that no one would clock that he wasn’t in there any more. Already in work-out clothes he jogged the few miles round to Jude’s, helped with Astra while Jude got herself dressed and ready for the day, and then he’d got on his bike and headed out.

The early morning light was welcoming but it wasn’t so warm as to destroy you when you accelerated or tackled a hill. Overall he was very happy with they way it had gone. And the way it had gone was really quite fast.

“How do you mean?” asked Peter.

“The whole pandemic thing,” mused Jude. “What would have been different?”

“Hard to say,” said Peter. “We’d have Astra still. And hopefully each other.”

“Might have been more difficult though,” said Jude, “You studying for school and me working and…”

Peter shrugged. To be honest he didn’t, hadn’t really thought about it. It was just what it was - a string of events one after another and usually you didn’t actually think about the alternatives, you were too busy dealing with what was actually going on.

“Are you saying this was all a really good thing?”

“No - no not at all,” said Jude. “It’s just, what if it never happened?”

“We’d still be here, right?” said Peter. “I mean, you’re not thinking there’d be a way for you to…”

“I’m happy,” said Jude. “Couldn’t be happier really. Well, be nice to go out for a drink without having to book and wear a mask and worry that someone’s gonna tell you to stay at home afterwards, but, you know.”

“One thing’s for sure,” said Peter, “I wouldn’t be about to take my mum to the cleaners over this bike race.”

Jude smiled. “Reckon you’ve got it in you?”

“Already in the bag,” he smiled.

—

“One thing’s for sure,” said Jenny, “I wouldn’t be about to take Peter to the cleaners over this bike race.”

Anna smiled. “Reckon you’ve got it in you?”

“Already in the bag,” she smiled.

She lifted the paint splattered bike off the rollers and check a few maintenance items - tightening brakes, adding oil here and there. 

“Hit the road,” said Anna. “I’ll have your protein breakfast ready for when you get back.”

—

“Do you want those waffles now?” Jude asked Peter.