Another exploit.....
The Dream
As usual, I was running late for the gym. I fired up the " Beast ", my 1977 AMC Gremlin, and roared out of the apartment complex headed over to pick up Stretch. I know you're all laughing right now about my Gremlin, but I can assure you...it's quite the luxury car, complete with 8-track tape player, and an assortment of Elvis's Greatest hits to get you in the workout mode.
Stretch decided to surpise me one weekend while I was out of town and provided the finishing touches on a new paint job. Forty-two cans of gloss- black spray paint later, and it was done. Feeling it wasn't complete, he also, through his sheer artistic talent, painted bright yellow lightning bolts on each of the doors. Sometimes, artistic talent knows no bounds. Of course I added the crush velvet dash board, and Stretch had an old 45 pound dumbbell which he painted glow in the dark gold, then tack welded it on the hood as a testimony to our faith to all our Iron Brother's!
I must admit, we are the envy of everyone at our gym. Most will not ask openly, but Stretch and I can see the looks of wonder as we pull in each time. Perhaps, if the right price would be offered, we would consider selling the " Beast ", but we both feel without the " Beast ", and Elvis to get us started, our workouts would suffer greatly. So please, no offers will be accepted at this point. Stretch and I thank you!
Pulling into " The Slums "....(Stretch's pet name for his apartment complex), I saw Stretch hoping up and down with gym bag in tow. I could only hope he dropped his protein bomb before he hit the passenger seat. My nasal passages couldn't stand the idea of decaying Nitro-tech!
Yanking the door open and ploping down in the seat causing the car to shift to his side, Stretch blurted, " Bro, I have to tell you about this dream I had last night! "
Rolling my eyes, I sighed, " This isn't the same one about Bunny Spandex, the ice cream, feathers, and dill pickles again....is it? "
Stretch sounded hurt, " That could happen snapper-head, just a little more time. That's all I need, she's even looking at me now. "
" Yup, and so is Arnold Roidhead! " I shot back laughing.
" Just shut up and listen for a second! " He growled.
" Anyway, " He started again, " I dreamed I died and went to Heaven."
I had to snicker at that, causing veins to pop out on Stretches temples.
" Anyway, that Saint Peter dude met me at the Gates. Bro, that is one jacked Saint. He even knew my name. He told me everyone was waiting on me, and he took me inside."
Stretch took a breath between bites from a home-made protein bar and continued. " Bro, Heaven is a huge gym. I mean HUGE!! They have everything, dumbells that go to 300 pounds, every machine you could think of. And everyone in there is HARDCORE! All the great ones are in there Bro....Arnold, Zane, Haney, even Coleman, and everyone has their name on the back of their lifting belt."
Stretch was letting drool dribble down his chin in excitement now, " I asked that Saint Peter dude, " These guys ain't dead, are they? "
He replied in one of those church voices Bro, " No my son, they stop in from time to time to offer advice to the Disciples."
" So I'm looking around, " He continued, " And everyone is grunting, and yelling. That's all you can hear..." Push it! "..."One more rep! "..." PUSH!!! ", and chalk dust everywhere. And Bro, these guys are freak'in HUGE!!! All of them, Arnold is young again and talking crap to Coleman about he'll be back, and his carrer as Mr. O will be over! " Stretch was shaking his head in wonder.
" Bro, all at once from the far back of the gym-heaven, this dude stalks out. This guy is a freak'in monster. His arms alone had to be 24 inches cold and ripped! Chest was massive, and his lat spread looked like he could hang-glide on them. He was by far the biggest guy in Heaven. Everyone backed away from this dude! He bent over to do a 900 pound deadlift and I saw on his lifting belt the name Stretch!"
" So I look at this Saint Peter dude and ask him. " Why does that guy have my name on his belt? I may just complain to God about that Bro! "
Saint Peter looked back at me and smiled, " My son, that IS God, he just likes to think he's Stretch! "
Luckily, we were at the gym by now and I was able to bolt from the car without further damage to my acute senses. And the fear that should God decide to strike him dead at this point, he might miss and get two for one in the process. I could still hear Stretch laughing as I entered the door with him on my heels...
" Good morning Bunny." I smiled at our reigning Spandex queen of the gym.
" Hi, Ranger." She answered without looking up from her Richard Simmons book.
As I headed towards the back of the gym, I could hear Stretch once again," Hey Bunny, lemme tell you about this dream I had last night. "
Thankfully, I was by now out of ear-shot and could only make out Bunny yelling something about hating pickles, feathers making her sneeze, and passing Arnold Roidhead growling grunts and squeals about ice cream.
Ranger