Chapter 11 - Climbing

Despite getting to bed so late the night before, Leroy woke up feeling completely rested and surprisingly, energized, so he greeted the morning sun with a happy smile and decided to get some exercise in before hitting up The Roadstead for a kitchen sink, and maybe some other household goodies.

Leroy started with a few warm-up stretches, and then added fifty push-ups and one hundred sit-ups to get his blood pumping, then he bounded down the stairs, ready for a nice jog around Proprietor's Square.  He had literally gotten to the Founders Statue, just out front of his house, when the text alert on his phone beeped.

Movers and Shakers: "Things are getting rocky so you better get climbing!  Check out the 3 Top Hitz Rock Climbing Walls, the newest additions to Movers and Shakers in Willow Creek!" Text back 0010 to stop receiving texts from Movers and Shakers

"Well why the heck not?" Leeroy said aloud.  A trip to the gym in Willow Creek hadn't necessarily been on his list of things to do today, but he was in the mood to work out and this would be the perfect opportunity to try out that rock climbing wall that the representative of Be Fit As A Fiddle Co. had told him about.

There was a kick boxing class just beginning in one of the front rooms, and Leroy debated signing up, but his curiosity about the rock climbing walls got the better of him and he went seeking them out.  A bunch of balloons and a Be Fit As A Fiddle Co. banner marked the entrance to the back patio where the new rock climbing walls had been placed, so Leroy found them in no time.  Maybe it was the time of day or the fact that a kick boxing class had just started, but Leroy had his pick of three brand new Top Hitz Rock Climbing Walls and there would be no wait time to try it out as there weren't any Sims using them or waiting in a line!  Choosing the one in the middle, programming it on the lowest setting, "Gentle Incline," Leroy attempted to start up the wall.  The climbing was a lot tougher than he had first thought it might be, and he was grateful that there hadn't been anyone around to witness a couple of his "almost falling" moments.  Rock climbing was definitely something, like the violin, that would need some practice! 

As time went on, Leroy felt even more confident that he would be able to successfully grab the next handhold and he swore that he could, quite literally FEEL the pounds dropping away from his frame...enough working out and he'd have a new physique in no time!  When the timer went off, signaling his rock climbing session had come to an end, he headed back inside and proceeded to the nearest "All In One" machine to work on building up his arm and leg strength some more.  

"Hey man...I saw you out there on the new rock climbing wall!  What'd ya think?!"  huffed a man on one of the treadmills.

"It was so much fun!  Leroy said with a smile, "Have you tried it yet?!" he asked.

"Not yet, but I will!  I hear they are planning on hosting a rock climbing competition in the future, if you're on their texting list, you'll get the notice when they start those up!"

"Yep, I'm on the list...thanks for the info!" said Leroy as he put the pin in the weights and prepared to get lifting.

Leroy was just about to sit down on the "All In One" machine when a very large, very intimidating guy approached him.
With his hands on his hips, and a very sour expression on his face, the guy spat, "Oh, so YOU think that YOU'LL be the one winning those rock climbing wall competitions in the future, do ya?!  You ain't nothing but a scrawny guy!  Me and Don...we OWN this gym!"  I'm Marcus, Marcus Flex, and don't forget it...that's who's gonna' take you down!  Noticing where Leroy had place the pin earlier, Marcus scoffed, "Have fun pumping the wussy weights!" And turning on his heels, he strutted off toward the locker room. The guy Marcus had pointed to earlier as "Don," just peered over the tops of his sunglasses at their one sided conversation, and didn't say a word...