I had a little spring in my step when I left the yoga studio. It wasn’t every day a guy got a girl’s number, and even less frequently, she gave him hers. My afternoon got even better when I saw my dad struggling on the treadmill out of the corner of my eye. The one next to him was free, so I grabbed it and began to jog.
“Hey, Dad! What are you doing here?“
“Luca! There you are,” he said in between labored breaths.
“Why didn’t you call me? I would have worked out with you instead.”
“I was hoping you’d show up, but I have to do this myself.”
That warmed my heart. I loved seeing sims take care of their physical bodies, but I loved even more seeing my dad heal and evolve. Whatever the next chapter of his life held, I knew it was going to be a better journey.
“That’s so great, Dad. I’m proud of you. But you don’t have to do it alone. Call me anytime you want to work out, and I’ll be there.”
He smiled as much as a struggling, overweight man on a treadmill could.
“Thanks, son. I really appreciate that.”
We jogged for a minute or two in silence. I altered my pace to match Dad’s heavy breaths. How long had he been at it? His shirt was already wet with sweat, so he had to have gotten at least 30 or 40 minutes in. Maybe he was more athletic in his former life because there was no way his endurance should be that high for a first timer.
“Have you heard from Less?” I asked.
“Yeah. She called this morning.”
Probably right after she called Mama.
“How do you feel about it?” I asked.
“Well…” He took a few moments to think and catch his breath. “I hope…this is right for her. Your mom… She’s worried.”
“You talked to Mama?”
“She called. Wanted to know…if I knew anything.”
I loved Mama’s first response was to call Dad. Even though we’re adults, and their custody arrangement is over, and they technically never have to speak with each other again, they’re still co-parenting. Take that, biker boy. You’ll never have all of her because some aspects of her life will always belong to Dad, no matter what.
We jogged for 30 more minutes before Dad hopped off, sounding like he’d have a heart attack or something. I didn’t know what it felt like to work against my own body like that, but I knew what it was like to push through pain.
“I’m proud of you, Dad. Keep jogging. But don’t overdo it.”
He nodded because he wasn’t able to speak, so I hugged him. We went our separate ways, or at least I tried to leave. Another girl wanting my attention intercepted me.
“Hi,” she said cheerfully. “I noticed you in the class a little while ago…”
I waited for her to finish her thought because I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to respond to that.
“You were the best one in there!”
“Oh! Heh…uhh…thanks. I love yoga. Actually…I’m gonna start teaching my own classes soon.”
“Oh yeah? That makes sense. How do I find out more about it?”
“Follow me on Social Bunny…”
i love experiencing his perspective of his parents with him. and shoutout to the finest yoga teacher in all of newcrest. how can i sign up next?
Luca says come one come all! I too had been itching to get into his perspective.