GEN I: Chapter 4

Twinbrook sunrise

One morning in Twinbrook Alan finished doing his morning things, and ate breakfast, he cleaned the kitchen sink and realized he had time to spare before the carpool arrived to take him to work. Alan figured it was a good time to install the new dishwasher he purchased the day before. He was thrilled that he was not going to have to wash them in the sink anymore. That was so time consuming.

At the job, he spent most of the morning working pretty hard, but also chatting with his boss. Him and Bobby seemed to get along very well. In addition to a new friend, having a good relationship with your boss has its perks. Alan got promoted today to Grunt, he is moving up on that ladder. Also while he and his boss were talking, Bobby mentioned some kind of Military Olympics being held today after Alans shift was over. Bobby told him that if he decided to stay it would be going until late evening, but his performance in his work would be increased. Alan chose to stay which caused him to be at work all day long, for 13 hours actually. When he left the olympics he went straight home and tried to read, but fell asleep after 3 pages.


The next morning he put in the shower he had also purchased at the same time as the dishwasher.

That morning was the best shower he had had, since he moved in. While washing he decided he was going to go out today. A guy gets lonely after a while, and he would like to scope out some of the Twinbrook women. 'The Red Rendezvous" sounds like a good place to do that. Before the sun was even up, he went out to grab his taxi.

When he got there Alan made some virgin white russians (aka milk) for anyone who decides to come in. After he had a cup of milk he decided to play a little Foosball to pass the time, it was early. Maybe a little to early for other people to go out, and it is a weekday, people are probably at work.

Alan played for about an hour before noticing that, still, no one else was here. It was getting a little boring playing against his self. He went an helped himself to another glass of milk that was starting to become room temperature now. After 10 minutes of just looking at the empty building Alan started to think about going home, or at least somewhere else. He quickly dismissed that thought and said out loud, "No, I like it here I'll stay."

He picked up his cell phone and called 411 to get the number of Penny. Alan invited her to come and hang out with him. She gladly accepted and told him she was happy that he called, she was a little bored at home. She came right over and they got to talking. After a little conversation and another virgin white russian for each of them they played Foosball together for a while. Soon other people started showing up. Already, so much time had passed that it was late afternoon. Alan was starting to treat this like a date, with Penny. Penny is in a relationship though, and his thoughts were torn. He kind of liked her, but did not want to take her away from someone else. Then again, it is not like she is married, just engaged. Right?










Penny and Alan talked a little more, then he asked Penny to dance. They danced well into the evening. The two were having such a good time, they lost track of the actual time. Pennys cell phone rang. When she answered she was surprised to hear her fiance's voice on the other end, a little panicky. She told him she was fine, but she would be home in 15 minutes. She said quick a goodbye to Alan telling him that she had not told her fiance' that she was leaving, and he was worried. Alan said goodbye, and stood there for a moment before leaving himself. Just as he was about to hail a taxi, he decided to jog home. He needed time to think.

As he jogged his mind raced. Things like 'Why did Penny not tell her fiance' she was leaving?' and 'Do I really like her enough to break up her relationship? What if she is happy where she is?' crossed his mind a lot. It was a long jog home, over an hour, so he had plenty of time to think things out. He chose to believe that maybe her fiance' was out when she left, and that is why he did not know she was gone. Also he had decided that he liked her more for a friend than a relationship. She wore to much make up for him, and liked to party a little to much. He did not want to be like her current fiance' and worry that she is straying because she is out all the time.

Alan arrived home.

When he went inside, Alan thought "I do not feel like I have done enough exercising". So he started to do a strength workout. Only about 10 minutes into the workout he heard the doorbell ring. He went outside to answer and saw that it was Robert and his daughter. He invited them both inside and got to know Robert a little better. They quickly became good friends, as they had a lot in common. Although Alan was not a family oriented guy like Robert, he could still relate. He wanted a few children in his future. But he had to have a woman before that could happen. Alan was beginning to think Robert was right the first time. Robert had told him that 'the pickings were slim when it came to women' when they first met.

"Well I better get going, it is bed time for my little one here" Robert said.

A little distracted by his thoughts, Alan replied "Oh, yes. I am sorry to keep you. Please feel free to come visit anytime!" With that Robert waved and left. Watching him leave, Alan decided he definitely wanted at least one child. Roberts little girl was so sweet.

The next morning, after his morning things. Robert ate breakfast and washed the dishes. He turned around and just stood for a brief time thinking about what to do. He chose to watch TV, he had not seen any sports for a while, and needed to catch up. While he was watching though, he realized he really did not want to and was pretty bored.

Just then his phone rang. Alan stood and answered. "Hey Alan, its Bobby. I was just calling to see if you wanted to hang out today? I'm going to the gym, and some company would be nice for a change." Alan told his boss that he would come and he would be there in 10. They hung up, and Alan walked out the door.

Alan came into the gym and went down the stairs to find another co-worker there as well. He said hello to Marc, who was waiting for Bobby. Alan informed him that he was too, and they talked for a few minutes. The two men found they had something in common, both were pretty handy guys.

Alan was just expressing his need to work out when they saw Bobby walk by. Both gentlemen walked up to their boss to say hello before hitting the weights. When they got up to him, Bobby laughed and said "You guys look like brothers! Are you sure you are not related?" All three men laughed then got where they wanted to be to work out.

They all pushed themselves to the limit today, it seems each of them wanted to work out until they were fatigued. So that is what they did. While doing this, Alan kept thinking he would never find the woman he was looking for here in Twinbrook. Did he need to move again? Or could he settle on just being single his whole life? Just then he noticed Marc leaving his post.

Alan stopped to make sure everything was okay with Marc. Marc said yes, he was just to tired to go on. Alan made a joke about getting wanting to get paid to workout. Marc laughed and went in to shower. Alan and Bobby were not quite done with the workout, so continued on. Alan actually changed from cardio to lifting weights to finish his workout. It was only another hour before he and his boss finished. Afterward, Bobby asked Alan if he could treat him to a quick dinner before he went home. Alan agreed and the two left the gym.

Bobby drove them to the local diner. Alan was highly impressed with his boss's car. He asked what a car like this cost, and Bobby replied "Too much!" They were both laughing as they pulled up to the diner and got out. Alan said "Maybe I can afford one when I become the boss." and smiled at Bobby. They went inside to enjoy dinner and actually saved room for desert. When you exercise as much as these two, you work up an appetite.

They left the diner and chatted for a while right outside. Mainly talking about work. During their conversation Alan deduced that his boss must be a workaholic, he was there all the time, and when he wasn't he was probably talking about it. Obviously he is also athletic, because what other kind of guy wants to spend the whole day working out? Alan and his boss have a lot more than he thought in common. Bobby said "Well I guess that is the end of the day, see you tomorrow at work?"
"Bright and early." Alan replied, and he hailed a taxi.

After Alan got home it hit him just how tired he was. Even though it was only 8 o'clock he went straight to bed. Nothing in the world could have woken him from that sleep, he slept so hard. After that workout, anyone would sleep like a baby.