Title: Who needs Vacations...
Featuring: Tom Walczak
Date: 02.20.2011
Location: Casablanca, Monaco

Frustration…

Anger…

Lost Potential…

All these thoughts wander through Walczak’s head as he sits on the bench press, head phones in his ears, and a towel over his shoulder. It is early in the morning and only a couple of other people wander around the gym, but Walczak just sits, waiting. The weights are set up, but Walczak just sits on the bench his head slung low staring at the ground.
How did he get here? This was supposed to be a career resurgence. He wasn’t supposed to lose. He trained hard, rested, and put some of his poor habits to bed. What did it get him?

Seymour Almasy…Loss

Alexandra Pierce…Loss

Why should he sit here and workout? What will it bring him? Another loss…maybe they will just give up on him, cut him loose. He would rather them cut him loose, than just march him out there to lose. He doesn’t want to be anyone’s stepping stone.

Growing up everyone is always told that if you work hard you will be rewarded. For the past month Walczak has worked harder than at any point in his career. Pushing his body to the extreme, to make himself a better athlete.

As he sits on the bench he thinks about where he is. It is five thirty in the morning on a Saturday, and he is in the gym. Two years ago he would be just getting back home, shit faced, some drunken wench in hand. Where would he rather be…

With that final thought, Walczak finally lays down on the bench and starts to push out some reps. Coming to the close of his first set, Walczak starts to break a sweat, and as he rests the bar in place he sits up and is greeted by a wide, but short body in front of him.

“Can I help you?”

“How many sets do you have remaining?”

Walczak looks at the man, who speaks grammatically perfect, albeit accented, English, and then looks around at the empty benches to the left and right of him.

“The rest of the benches are empty, I have a couple of sets left, but feel free to use any of the other benches, it’s alright with me.”

“This is my bench.”

“What do you mean?”

“I come in every Saturday morning to work on chest, and I use this bench every time. I do not feel like making any accommodations to my regiment, so if you could just finish up, I will wait.”

“Listen, I like to take my time, enjoy myself at the gym, so I don’t know when I’ll be done. While I don’t understand why you want to stand around, could you please just step away, and not stare at me.”
“If I walk away, I will not know when you finish. I will stand here, but I will look away if it makes you more comfortable.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near this bench when I’m working out, because to tell you the truth you’re kind of creeping me out. If you want you could work in, because I just don’t want to deal with this shit.”

“I cannot work in with you, because as I said I have a regiment.”

“Alright man, than just stand to the side, and I’ll let you know when I’m done.”

Walczak puts his earphones back in his ears and lies back down on the bench to continue his workout, but with each rep that he presses he can’t help but notice the short man standing beside him. Finally as he pushes out his eighth rep he rests the bar, and sits up visibly angry.

“Seriously, you have to back up away from here, because now you are screwing up my regiment.”

“We could resolve this if you would just move to another bench.”

“How the hell would that resolve anything? I was here first, this is my bench, contrary to what you believe, and me moving would just be me conceding to you, not meeting you halfway.”

“What you say is true, but by you staying here, both our workouts are stalled, and no one is accomplishing anything.”

“You know what, fuck you take your fucking bench.”

“Thank you.”

Walczak doesn’t say a word and gets up, not even wiping down the bench behind him. He moves over to the bench to the right, and starts to put the plates on the bar. His nemesis next to him adds on two more forty-five pound plates, and stares down Walczak, almost as if to say ‘Hey Look at Me’. Before going back to his bench Walczak takes a look at the man, breathing deeply in an effort to get himself psyched up. As the man lifts the bar up Walczak, walks behind the bench, and as the bar reaches its apex Walczak presses down hard, causing a look of fear to appear on the man’s face as the bar slams down on his chest. Walczak walks away as the man struggles to move the bar up, until he finally manages to push the bar to the side. As the man grabs his chest and grasps for air, Walczak continues to walk away smiling, still showing that he will not allow anyone to push him around…

__________________________________________________________


Back in his hotel Walczak sits alone, a glass of whiskey in his hand, and not the protein shake that he planned to have. Six in the morning may seem like an odd time for a drink, but for Walczak he needs it to clear his mind. He does not have any concerns about his performance, in fact his trip to the gym only reaffirmed his drive, but he just needs to step back. He realizes that he has been focused on nothing other than getting his body back into its physical peak. Outside of travel days he has trained every day, even on days he was competing. He has been so focused on clearing through the competition that he has not given his body a chance to rest.

He promised himself that he would explore Europe, on this PRIME Road Trip, but has done little exploring so far. Having never been in Casablanca, maybe it is time that Walczak takes some time for himself, and sees the wonders the city has to offer.

Placing his half finished glass of whiskey on the dresser, Walczak puts on a white dress shirt, and a pair of slacks, and makes his way out of the room.

Walczak makes his first contact with New Medina, and even he pause and stares in awe at the massive marketplace. While it is barely past Eight in the morning the marketplace, is a bustling hotspot, with people filling in the aisles and tents, tourists buying wares, while locals try to make a buck. Walczak makes his way into the marketplace slowly browsing each table he passes, but putting a hand up to each vendor that approaches. Walczak finally lingers at a table that showcases, scarves, and shawls, as well as other beautiful silks. As he places down a silk a vendor is there to greet him.

“That is a lovely scarf.”

“It is a nice scarf, but I am not interested.”

“I would not think it suit a man like you, but perhaps for the special someone in your life?”

“I have no special someone, I was just admiring the handiwork.”

“I find it hard to believe that a man such as yourself does not have a number of lady friends, to whom he could give the scarf as a gift.”

“My work does not lead to many lady friends, so I will be on my way.”

“Perhaps there is something else I could interest you in. I do have lovely table settings, and napkins, they would certainly brighten up your home.”

“I am sure they would, but as I said before I am not interested.”

“What about this lovely tablecloth, every time that you gaze at it you will remember your time in Casablanca.”

“You know what, I am in a good mood today, so if it will get you off my back I will take the scarf I was looking at earlier.”

“Excellent choice, that will be Thirty Euro.”

“You’re joking right, I’ll give you five for it.”

“That would not even cover my production, I will lower it to twenty five.”

“I really don’t feel like haggling, twenty and you’ve got yourself a deal.”

“Okay, I will pack it up for you.”

The vendor puts the scarf in a bag, and hands it to Walczak. As he walks further into the marketplace he can’t help but harp on the fact that he has no one to give the scarf to. Walczak is a man of little emotion, and he does not surround himself with people to make himself feel special. However, he is a man nonetheless, and being a man he would like to find that someone special. More than anything he regrets letting go of the one woman who meant more to him than any other.

__________________________________________________________


…April 15, 1991…

Walczak is browsing the aisles of his local jewelry store, hoping to pick the perfect gift for Monika. He has never been in a relationship before, and wanting to make a great first impression, he is looking to pick out the perfect gift for his new girlfriend. While, he does not have much money to speak of, he has managed to save up some money from working at the gym, and is now looking to make the most of it.

“Why hello there, is there anything I can help you with.”

“I am looking, for gift, for my girlfriend.”

“That’s so sweet. What price range are you looking at?”

“I have One Hundred and Fifty dollars.”

“You saved up quite a bit didn’t you. Well, we do have a number of lovely earrings that you could look at. May I ask what the occasion is?”

“It is her birthday. The first time I can buy gift for her.”

“How long have you guys been going out?”

“Just over month, she is my first girlfriend.”

“Aww Honey, that’s so sweet, but I think that you may be shopping in the wrong place.”

“What do you mean?”

“It may be too early in the relationship to buy jewelry. I would suggest getting some flowers and taking her to dinner. You don’t want to move to fast.”

“I see. I thank you very much for your help.”

“No problem honey, I wish you luck.”

Walczak walks out of the jewelry store, happy that the saleswoman would not try to rip him off. In Poland, jewelry signified the epitome of class, and it was the first thing that he thought of when he found out Monika’s birthday was coming up. He has no concept of how a relationship works, and only three days to figure it out.

__________________________________________________________


…April 18, 1991…

Walczak is waiting on the bottom of the stairs with a bouquet of roses in his hand. He is wearing the one suit he owns, and since he has grown quite a bit since he last wore it, it doesn’t sit well on him. The pants ride close to the shins, and he is nearly bursting out his jacket. He has a napkin in his other hand, that he uses to rub away the sweat building up on his forehead. However, as Monika makes her way down the stairs, it all goes away. She is wearing a yellow dress that sits just above her knees. Her smile, brings one to Walczak’s previously nondescript face.

“You look beautiful Monika.”

“Thank you Tom, you look great to.”

“I do not think so, but I am looking forward to this evening.”

Walczak opens the door for Monika, hoping that he doesn’t make too much of a fool of himself on this date.

__________________________________________________________


Walczak makes his way out of the market, not exactly sure where the time has gone. He has been thinking of Monika, something that he promised himself that he wouldn’t do, and whenever he thinks of her, it brings back memories he would rather forget. Pushing those thoughts out of his mind, he realizes that even though he promised himself that he would take time and explore the cities he visits, he doesn’t want to do that. He wants to become the best athlete he can, and sightseeing will bring him no closer to that goal. As he gets further from the marketplace, he no longer wants to tour the city, he wants to go work out, and get himself ready, and while it may not make his vacation enjoyable, it will make his career more profitable…
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