Edwina exercised her right not to exercise. She leaned against the wall, a sour look on her face.
The noise in the gym was deafening. Grunts and shouts echoed
and caromed from the wide walls and high ceiling. The pervasive smell of sweat
and desperation made her faintly squeamish.
Edwina slipped the cell phone from her pocket and checked to
see if she had any messages. None. At least none that got through the dense
walls of this particular nightmare. She would love nothing better than to walk
out the door and head home, but she had promised Margie that she’d have lunch
with her later. It wouldn’t be feasible to go home and then come back, so she’d
just have to wait.
Her mind wandered to the first time she had beheld this
room. At first she thought group exercise would be fun. Maybe she’d make some
new friends. But, it just wasn’t for her. She was more of an intellectual than
a jock. A book could keep her happy for hours.
A shrill whistle pulled her back to the present. “Edwina,
over here,” shouted a tall man in short shorts. She sighed and walked toward
him, sneaker-clad feet dragging and squeaking as she went. Maybe gym class
would be better in first grade.
