<br><br> <center>*A few more hours, and another week gone.
 Our youth is slipping away. 
―John Osborne, Look Back in Anger*
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![Cindy Sad.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRA4sshMAomPsgvMQWApMHFVBKSJQhU2m7hEWswdUDyKe/Cindy%20Sad.png)
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<br><br>I try to avoid confrontations. Don't get me wrong, I prefer honesty and getting things out in the open, but when things become too direct, I tend to shrink back and go silent.

Some people see this as disagreeing or even being defiant, but it's not like that. I tend to be shy when people come up close and I find it hard to open up.

It took a lot of courage for me to come looking for Cindy and approach her directly but even so,  the job's only half-done―she wants me to explain two embarrassing incidents with Lori and I have no idea if she will believe me.

<br><br>As I said, we're half-way there. We're at least jogging together on the Bruce trail and it's taking all my energy just to keep up with her. But I know as soon as we get back to the entrance she's going to demand an accounting from me and I'm not sure I can give one.

She's leading the way and jogs so effortlessly she's hardly broken a sweat while I'm winded and lagging behind her. Thankfully, the end is in sight and as we round a bend in the trail we end up at the park entrance.

"Good run, Callum," she smiles as she takes a drink from her water bottle. I collapse onto a nearby bench, exhausted and still trying to catch my breath.

"Where do you want to have this conversation?" she asks, as if it's my idea in the first place.

"How about back at my place?" I gasp.

She shakes her head. "Tell you what, let's get a takeout coffee and talk in the car."

I nod and we walk back to our cars and I lead the way to *Timmies*.

<br><br> She waits in her car as I go through the drive-thru. Fortunately, Elaine's not on shift and I don't have to answer any questions.

I walk back to her Santa Fe and she clicks open the passenger door for me.

"Let's start with the midnight drag race," she says matter of factly, "I can't believe you'd do such a thing."

I lean back in the seat and close my eyes trying to put my thoughts into words that would make some sense.

"It was stupid, I admit and impulsive too. I told you the vaccine caused this weird reaction and it not only affected my appearance but my psychology as well."

<br><br>She sighs, "So, you're telling me it activated some rare gene in you that made your body clock run backwards."

I know it sounds lame and improbable but it really did happen. It was more like time itself ran backwards for me. I not only looked like my younger self but began acting that way too."

"You must have been a real handful when you were younger."

"You don't know the half of it. I was a real rebel without a cause, just smouldering with anger and Jake calling me out in the parking lot poured gasoline on that flame."

<br><br>She looked away momentarily, as if deep in thought, and silently sipped her coffee. Finally, she looked at me directly.

"I get that part―reverting back to your rebellious youth, but how did your tongue end up in Lori's mouth?"

"Hey!" I protested, "it wasn't like that."

"How was it then?"

"I was taken by surprise. As we neared the finish line she said to keep going to the rendezvous point. We ended up at Rattlesnake Point where I assumed we'd meet up with Jake. Instead she said, 'to the victor go the spoils,' and gave me all the prize money she was holding."

"I was shocked and then she said, 'that's the victory and here's the spoils,' and kissed me. I swear I didn't see that coming and I stopped her immediately."

<br><br>"Really?" she smiled sweetly. "Let me see if I understand this. You, in your youthful state, acted on impulse in racing Jake, but suddenly recovered your maturity when Lori kissed you?"

"I know that sounds lame but it's the honest truth. I drove her back to *Timmies* and that was that."

She looks at me slyly, "but that wasn't that, was it Callum? How many times did she visit your house?"

"Honestly Cindy, just that one time you happened to show up."

She puts on an innocent, little girl voice, "You mean when she came out wearing your clothes and carrying hers?"

<br><br>I felt I was drowning. It was hard to catch my breath. The conversation wasn't going well and I began to sense I lost her.

It was at that point a righteous anger kicked in. It surprised me and I know it surprised her because her eyes grew huge.

"Look, you want to know what happened? I came home in the rain after being rejected by you and saw Lori sheltering on my verandah. Her lips were turning blue and she was shivering. She came to apologize to me, so yes, I took her in and got her a change of clothes and gave her a warm drink. Her clothes were soaked and I was afraid she'd suffer from hypothermia."

"Even if that were true, did you have to kiss her goodbye?"

"She kissed me―I didn't initiate that. You must have seen that."

"I saw her dressed in your clothes and carrying hers―what was I supposed to think?"

<br><br>I took a deep breath and opened the car door.

 "You asked for an explanation and I gave it. I can't make you believe me―I wish I could, but only you can do that. Thanks for the jog today."

I shut the door behind me and got in my Viper and drove home.

I wasn't angry, just sad. And much as I wanted, I didn't look back.



<br><br> <center>To be continued…</center>

<br><center>© 2022, John J Geddes. All rights reserved</center>

<br><center>[Photo](https://wallhere.com/en/wallpaper/1683623)</center>
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