Newbie Chronicles

Marc Parent has his latest installment up.

Teaser:

"It's true you're running?" Gerry asked me one Saturday night while filling my wine glass. We were at his house with a few friends. "If you can call it that," I said. "Probably better to just say I'm getting out." He suggested we get out together some time. I asked him if he meant that in a hypothetical sense—an it's-the-thought-that-counts sort of thing that I could acknowledge and promptly forget.

"No," Gerry said. "Let's really do it sometime." "That'd be great!" I fired, nodding too fast, gulping the wine, thinking, Fat chance. "How about tomorrow?" he said. What followed was a rapid-fire dodge and grab disguised with shucksy smiles and backslaps. Me: I'm extremely slow. Gerry: So am I! Me: But I'm not kidding. Gerry: Me neither! Me: I'm like a turtle. Gerry: Smart way to start. Me: A grumpy old turtle who is no fun to run with at all. Gerry: Is morning good? Me: I only go a mile. Gerry: You're up to a mile! That's great! Me: But you do like, 10, right? Gerry: Let's do a mile! Me: And you try not to laugh at how tired I get. Gerry: Seven in the morning? Me: Nine? Gerry: Nine is the middle of the day! Me: Eight? Gerry: Eight and we'll need sunscreen! I'll swing by your house at 7:30!