The days following were filled with workouts for Sara, running classes for the wives of foreign officials, with Ric’s local knowledge proving invaluable when he was asked to lead groups for the influx of visitors swelling the diplomatic community as the local guide fell ill.
Steele worked long days as the arrangements surrounding the Anzac 100th Anniversary celebrations tested him and his team. As well, the glare from the media, beaming coverage back to Australian shores while positive did throw a spotlight on Steele’s patch.
Ric and Sara never raised the issues which had surfaced that night. Instead, they got the intimacy they both needed through playful interactions. Sara teased Ric about his paunch belly and efforts to maintain his shape in the lead up to the race.
Ric took the teasing cheerfully and together they trained in the evenings.
The Anniversary celebrations culminated with a Gala Dinner event. Steele invited Sara to accompany him.
Thrilled as she was, Sara declined. Her decision not to join Steele was based more on her acute awareness of Ric’s sensitivities to what he perceived as a developing friendship between his good friend and her rather than any other single reason.
She knew Ric’s assumptions about her and Steele were correct but she denied her feelings, while knowing it was possible to love more than one person at the same time.
Ric and Sara attended as guests of the Charge De Affaire, sitting with
expatriates who had connections with staff members at the Embassy.
Sara
looked on at Steele’s table, wistful at what she felt was a lost
opportunity. However she knew she had a debt to Ric as he had
masterminded this entire journey for her visit to Istanbul as well as
making her dream to race a reality.
She looked over at him,
smiling as any resentment dissolved as he grabbed his stomach. Together
they laughed and joked about running with a spare tyre.
With that the band erupted into its second set, covering the danceable Talking Heads hit, 'Take Me To the River,' as Sara and Ric both got their fun on, hitting the dance floor.
Talking Heads - Take me to the River
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Running High - Chapter 18
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Good morning/evening, dear Allie-Millie!
ReplyDeleteI needed to watch that Talking Heads performance all the way through because it was very exciting and I never saw if before. I love how the soulful background singers and even members of the band were actively involved and in the spotlight much of the time.
I also enjoyed the latest chapter of your story which raises the question "Can you love two people at the same time?" Sara seems capable of it but she loves the two men, Ric and Steele, in different ways. Her feelings for Ric are based on admiration and appreciation for everything he has done to make the trip possible for her. It seems to have the baggage of obligation attached. Her attraction to Steele seems more spontaneous and intangible. It's interesting that when the band played, Sara got up and danced with Steele rather than with Ric, the man with whom she went to the Gala Dinner.
I hope your weekend is going well, dear friend Allie-Millie! See you next time!
Hey Shades,
ReplyDeleteOoopsie, thanx for that pick up - yes it is Ric so now updated. I think a Freudian slip there in wanting Sara to get her fun on with Steele :) Yes don't you think Talking Heads were one of the most under-rated bands to emerge in the mid-70's until they ceased making music around early 90's but their music is still so fresh and lively in today's musical climate although I'm just speaking from my perspective.
Well pleased you're hanging in there with this epic short story as at 14,000 words it's my first ever mini quick flick - page turner :) taking about 10 weeks to write. How would you get on with writing a standard novel at 60,000 words. Certainly one thing now I can see no problems with writers making the coin because the effort that goes into developing characters is truly epic.
That's all for now, Shades, see you! Allie-Millie
Your correction is noted, dear Allie-Millie. I was expecting Ric to fly into a jealous rage and break a champagne bottle over Steele's head on the dance floor! :)
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