Exercise

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.