STORY: Wars of Attrition

I was already showered and dressed. To kill time, I was looking down into the alley behind my condo. There wasn't much to see. Just the dumpsters and the shadows of some old unnecessary furniture. Someone had discarded an easy chair. Snow was gathering on its back and arms, like a statue in the park.

STORY: Elliptical Machines

The sun wasn’t even a thought. It was too damn early. And it was December, pushing up heavy on Christmas, so the sun's appearance wasn’t something you could bank on, like estrangement in a marriage, for instance. I got to the gym early, before anyone else would even consider something barbaric like exercise. You have to get there early, because the gym’s in a community centre. It’s basically free. So space and machines are limited. You have to be flexible with time. I’d been going to the elliptical machine for therapy. It helped. [...]

STORY: Free Running

Jared used to invite me to come watch him jump off things in the neighborhood. We have these old mansions in Parkdale that are now halfway houses and shelters. When the city built the expressway, the neighbourhood was cut off from the lake and its old-time gazebos. Rich people have a tough time living without basic amenities, like gazebo access and a place to stroll in their white summer clothing. That’s the way our history teacher explained how Parkdale became pretty rundown. [...]