January is not the prime of weather in England. Especially not London. Although the sun shines in every corner the cold wind flows and weaves it's way through the streets like a predator, searching for Mehr human victims to consume with it's cold touch. People try to protect themselves from the winter beast Von wearing furry, thick coats, but to no avail. They still shiver and shake, hurrying to their destination quickly so as not to lose feeling in their hands.
The coffee Shop on Bethnal Green road offers a kind of retreat for those who relish the heat. The bagels being baked out back and the tee and coffee brewing behind the serving bar offer warmth to all who need to escape the freezing outside that Londoners can never get used to. The victorian style chairs, brown leather sofa and numerous coffee tables make this coffee Shop seem that little but Mehr like home, making it easier to sit down and relax while talking to your friends.
Steven Grant was one person who had decided to retreat into this coffee Shop and ordered his strong black coffee feeling particularly depressed.
Then again, he was always depressed. He wasn't very sociable, wasn't funny and didn't have much to Zeigen for his fitness but the fact that he could hold his breath for 2 minutes. He could never be bothered to do anything, leaving him working unpaid overtime in an office that bored him to death. The only attribute of Steven's that was worth anything was his IQ level. At a whopping 186 (certified genius) he could have done anything, but he was mentally a very shortsighted person.
His actual eyes were a fine brown with a small tint of green aroud the edge. His eyesight was perfectly fine but the problem was in his mind.
He couldn't see past the effort it took to gain something. He saw, as he waited for is drink, the time and effort it took to stand and wait for it to be made, not the drink and warm feeling afterwards. Drinking coffee however was essential to his Tag nd so he had to make do. He couldn't see the cake, only going out an buying ingredients. He couldn't see the A-level result, only the long, hard time of studying and practise.
Steven Grant's glass was half empty.
Bobby Cott, oder 'Fun Bobby' as his Friends called him, was another londoner that had esaped the cold into the coffee Shop and was having and fun conversation with his friends, Lucy and Matt, about running the marathon again. They were just telling him that they were only going to sponser him for £1.
"What? Du can't be serious! Only a pound each?" He asked incredulously.
"Uh, we meant a pound between us actually Bobby."
Matt replied, laughing with Lucy at the expression on Bobby's face.
He knew they were joking and laughed with them. Bobby Cott was the sort of person who liked everything. He saw the greatness in every single thing and person, and then he went and expanded it. He had the unique ability to cheer anyone up no matter how upset they were. Not only did he Liebe everyone, everyone loved him back. His cheeky, playful smile could bring out the best in everyone. He was a ball of light that went around, brightening everyone's day.
He saw life as a joke, Du just had to see the funny side.
Bobby Cott's glass was half full.
It was as Bobby was laughing with his friends, after telling another joke that had Matt and Lucy on their knees, something in Steven snapped. He hated Bobby Cott. Why did he have to be so great at everything and have loads of friends? Why did everyone like him and not Steven?
He became angry and in a moment of pure frustration, walked over to Bobby and said, "I bet Du think you're so perfect don't you? Running every London marathon, raising loads of money. Bet Du think you're smart too, don't you? Well I bet your IQ isn't 186 like mine!" He shouted.
He didn't realise that he had created a scene and so Bobby tried to calm him down and stood up, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Lokk, mate, I don't know why your so upset but if Du feel that bad about it, why don't Du do it with me?" He asked calmly.
"Me?!?! Do the marathon?! Your having a laugh! Lokk at all the fat I'm carrying around. I couldn't run the marathon to save my life. I'm not as great and amazing as you!" He screamed.
"Alright, I'lll prove it. There's 4 months till the Weiter London marathon. If I can get Du fit and healthy enough to run the whole journey, then Du change your attitude about everything. Du have to stop being so miserable." He proposed.
"And if I win?" Steve was intrigued.
"Then I will pay Du £100. How's that sound? But Du have to put effort into this. I'm gonna have Du training morning till night. In fact, we'll start now. Get your coffee, we're going to the gym.
Bobby picked up his jacke and sagte goodbye to his friends. But Lucy was shocked.
"You can't train him for the marathon in 4 months! That's impossible! He won't last a week in the gym."
Matt spoke up too, "She's right, and Du just Lost £100 quid. You'll never change him."
Bobby left them with 2 words.
"Watch me."
On the way to the gym, they introdced themselves, realising that they didn't know eachother's names. But Steve, oder 'Stevie' as Bobby called him, knew the name 'Fun Bobby'. Everyone in the area knew and was most likely Friends with Fun Bobby. But they got on to a Sekunde name basis and ade their way to the gym.
Steven was reluctant to go to the gym. He'd never been their before and expected loads of body builders and bulky guys running tens of miles on treadmills while others lifted extremely heavy weights. What he actually saw what quite different. Most people were on a treadmill, but going at a slow pace and only doing a few kilometres. Others lifted small weights and no-one looked they were training for world's strongest man oder woman. It was larger than he thought, with seemingly endless rows of treadmills and bike machines.
He was most relieved to find that some people here were actually a lot like him., They also jhad a bit of fat around their waist that they were trying to cut off. There was only one difference between them and Steve: they had a determined look on their face, like they really wanted to be fitter. Steve couldn't really care. He wanted to try, but at the moment the 100 quid was looking a lot better.
Bobby was feeling a lot Mehr optimistic. He wanted to start off slowly, then work it up harder to train Steve. He knew he had to take his time, but he had to be quick. He only had 4 months after all.
"Okay Stevie, your gonna start on the treadmill, doing 2 kilometres..." He began.
They carried on increasing the size of the runs as the Weiter 4 months went by. Steve had trouble at first, but began to see the rewards as time went by. He was finally getting closer to seeing the result. He could see the prize of running. He enjoyed the feeling of being able to run even further the Weiter day. He loved the sensation of seeing 20 kilometres written on the treadmill and thinking, truthfully, Easy peasy.
About a week before the marathon, he began to feel worried. It was in the coffee Shop on Bethnal Green road, that he expressed his feelings to Bobby.
"Ah, look, Stevie's getting the jitters." He joked.
Steven didn't look amused.
"Look, the way I see it is this: you're doing a good thing for yourself and others. It doesn't matter how long it takes you,because it's your first time. I'd be surprised if Du did it in under 4 hours but Du never know."
"I get that, but what if I collapse halfway through?" he asked.
"After all the training we've been doing together, Du better not!" he laughed.
Later that day, Bobby met Lucy and Matt for a drink in the local pub. As he sipped his beer, Bobby told them how he thought Steve could easily pull off a marathon in 4 hours.
"I don't get it." Matt said.
"What?" Bobby asked.
"How Du can completely change people like Steve, so that they want to d a marathon. The best part is, they don't even do it for themselves, they do it for you." He smiled.
"I don't get it." Bobby said, feeling really confused.
"Your this amazing great person, who just loves everything. People can't help but like Du too. So they will do anything to impress you." Lucy explained.
"I...never really thought about it like that." he replied.
He sagte goodbye to his Friends and went Home for the day, thinking about what they had said. Did he really have that much of an effect on people? It was crazy to think that he could change people that much, but then, thinking about it, Steve had changed a lot. He seemed to look vorwärts-, nach vorn to going to the gym now, and had become much Mehr sociable. He made some Friends at the gym and had even made some pretty funny jokes that made Bobby laugh so loud the receptionist had gegeben him a look that meant, Stop, oder I'm kicking Du out.
The week passed and it came to the Tag of the marathon. Steve looked nervous but determined - an expression he wouldn't have been caught dead in a few months Vor - although for Bobby it was just another normal run. He was positive that Syeve would make a good run like any other here. Steve himself was fairly confident that he could do well and (hopefully) not make a fool of himself.
The London marathon was about to begin! The runners lined up and 1000's of people switched on their televisions to watch this national event.
The signal went for the runners to begin and Steve started along with 1000's of other runners.
For most of the run, Steve felt fine, but nearer the end, like the last few miles, he began to feel tired. His herz was clearly telling him to slow down oder stop conpletely, but he had to keep going. Bobby had promised to go alongside him, cheering him on. Bobby had kept his pace and noticed his slowing down. They had now turned the corner on to the last straße and could see the finish line about 400 metres ahead.
Steven couldn't do it. He didn't have the strength. This was typical him. Steven Grant, not finshing because he couldn't be bothered. He felt angry at himself for not finishing. Why couldn't he do it? Why did Bobby have to do it so easily? But he knew that thinking wouldn't get him anywhere. Bobby had helped him, and it was Steven's fault he couldn't finish.
No, he would finish. He stopped and stared at the finish line and in the spur of the moment, decided to sprint. He didn't know where the energy came from, but he sprinted ahead. Bobby trailed behind, slowed with his shock. Steven Gant looked mad with his arms waving about and his mouth wide open, trying to close in as much air as possible. He closed in on the finish line, looking much like he belonged in a mental institute, and crossed it, 50 metres ahead of Bobby. He had a look of complete surprise and enormous happiness on his face. And he collapsed on the ground with exhaustion.
Although it had been a hard long journey, he wouldn't be getting his 100 pounds and he was knackered to the point of unconsciousness, one thing was for sure:
Steven Grant's glass was now half full.
The coffee Shop on Bethnal Green road offers a kind of retreat for those who relish the heat. The bagels being baked out back and the tee and coffee brewing behind the serving bar offer warmth to all who need to escape the freezing outside that Londoners can never get used to. The victorian style chairs, brown leather sofa and numerous coffee tables make this coffee Shop seem that little but Mehr like home, making it easier to sit down and relax while talking to your friends.
Steven Grant was one person who had decided to retreat into this coffee Shop and ordered his strong black coffee feeling particularly depressed.
Then again, he was always depressed. He wasn't very sociable, wasn't funny and didn't have much to Zeigen for his fitness but the fact that he could hold his breath for 2 minutes. He could never be bothered to do anything, leaving him working unpaid overtime in an office that bored him to death. The only attribute of Steven's that was worth anything was his IQ level. At a whopping 186 (certified genius) he could have done anything, but he was mentally a very shortsighted person.
His actual eyes were a fine brown with a small tint of green aroud the edge. His eyesight was perfectly fine but the problem was in his mind.
He couldn't see past the effort it took to gain something. He saw, as he waited for is drink, the time and effort it took to stand and wait for it to be made, not the drink and warm feeling afterwards. Drinking coffee however was essential to his Tag nd so he had to make do. He couldn't see the cake, only going out an buying ingredients. He couldn't see the A-level result, only the long, hard time of studying and practise.
Steven Grant's glass was half empty.
Bobby Cott, oder 'Fun Bobby' as his Friends called him, was another londoner that had esaped the cold into the coffee Shop and was having and fun conversation with his friends, Lucy and Matt, about running the marathon again. They were just telling him that they were only going to sponser him for £1.
"What? Du can't be serious! Only a pound each?" He asked incredulously.
"Uh, we meant a pound between us actually Bobby."
Matt replied, laughing with Lucy at the expression on Bobby's face.
He knew they were joking and laughed with them. Bobby Cott was the sort of person who liked everything. He saw the greatness in every single thing and person, and then he went and expanded it. He had the unique ability to cheer anyone up no matter how upset they were. Not only did he Liebe everyone, everyone loved him back. His cheeky, playful smile could bring out the best in everyone. He was a ball of light that went around, brightening everyone's day.
He saw life as a joke, Du just had to see the funny side.
Bobby Cott's glass was half full.
It was as Bobby was laughing with his friends, after telling another joke that had Matt and Lucy on their knees, something in Steven snapped. He hated Bobby Cott. Why did he have to be so great at everything and have loads of friends? Why did everyone like him and not Steven?
He became angry and in a moment of pure frustration, walked over to Bobby and said, "I bet Du think you're so perfect don't you? Running every London marathon, raising loads of money. Bet Du think you're smart too, don't you? Well I bet your IQ isn't 186 like mine!" He shouted.
He didn't realise that he had created a scene and so Bobby tried to calm him down and stood up, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Lokk, mate, I don't know why your so upset but if Du feel that bad about it, why don't Du do it with me?" He asked calmly.
"Me?!?! Do the marathon?! Your having a laugh! Lokk at all the fat I'm carrying around. I couldn't run the marathon to save my life. I'm not as great and amazing as you!" He screamed.
"Alright, I'lll prove it. There's 4 months till the Weiter London marathon. If I can get Du fit and healthy enough to run the whole journey, then Du change your attitude about everything. Du have to stop being so miserable." He proposed.
"And if I win?" Steve was intrigued.
"Then I will pay Du £100. How's that sound? But Du have to put effort into this. I'm gonna have Du training morning till night. In fact, we'll start now. Get your coffee, we're going to the gym.
Bobby picked up his jacke and sagte goodbye to his friends. But Lucy was shocked.
"You can't train him for the marathon in 4 months! That's impossible! He won't last a week in the gym."
Matt spoke up too, "She's right, and Du just Lost £100 quid. You'll never change him."
Bobby left them with 2 words.
"Watch me."
On the way to the gym, they introdced themselves, realising that they didn't know eachother's names. But Steve, oder 'Stevie' as Bobby called him, knew the name 'Fun Bobby'. Everyone in the area knew and was most likely Friends with Fun Bobby. But they got on to a Sekunde name basis and ade their way to the gym.
Steven was reluctant to go to the gym. He'd never been their before and expected loads of body builders and bulky guys running tens of miles on treadmills while others lifted extremely heavy weights. What he actually saw what quite different. Most people were on a treadmill, but going at a slow pace and only doing a few kilometres. Others lifted small weights and no-one looked they were training for world's strongest man oder woman. It was larger than he thought, with seemingly endless rows of treadmills and bike machines.
He was most relieved to find that some people here were actually a lot like him., They also jhad a bit of fat around their waist that they were trying to cut off. There was only one difference between them and Steve: they had a determined look on their face, like they really wanted to be fitter. Steve couldn't really care. He wanted to try, but at the moment the 100 quid was looking a lot better.
Bobby was feeling a lot Mehr optimistic. He wanted to start off slowly, then work it up harder to train Steve. He knew he had to take his time, but he had to be quick. He only had 4 months after all.
"Okay Stevie, your gonna start on the treadmill, doing 2 kilometres..." He began.
They carried on increasing the size of the runs as the Weiter 4 months went by. Steve had trouble at first, but began to see the rewards as time went by. He was finally getting closer to seeing the result. He could see the prize of running. He enjoyed the feeling of being able to run even further the Weiter day. He loved the sensation of seeing 20 kilometres written on the treadmill and thinking, truthfully, Easy peasy.
About a week before the marathon, he began to feel worried. It was in the coffee Shop on Bethnal Green road, that he expressed his feelings to Bobby.
"Ah, look, Stevie's getting the jitters." He joked.
Steven didn't look amused.
"Look, the way I see it is this: you're doing a good thing for yourself and others. It doesn't matter how long it takes you,because it's your first time. I'd be surprised if Du did it in under 4 hours but Du never know."
"I get that, but what if I collapse halfway through?" he asked.
"After all the training we've been doing together, Du better not!" he laughed.
Later that day, Bobby met Lucy and Matt for a drink in the local pub. As he sipped his beer, Bobby told them how he thought Steve could easily pull off a marathon in 4 hours.
"I don't get it." Matt said.
"What?" Bobby asked.
"How Du can completely change people like Steve, so that they want to d a marathon. The best part is, they don't even do it for themselves, they do it for you." He smiled.
"I don't get it." Bobby said, feeling really confused.
"Your this amazing great person, who just loves everything. People can't help but like Du too. So they will do anything to impress you." Lucy explained.
"I...never really thought about it like that." he replied.
He sagte goodbye to his Friends and went Home for the day, thinking about what they had said. Did he really have that much of an effect on people? It was crazy to think that he could change people that much, but then, thinking about it, Steve had changed a lot. He seemed to look vorwärts-, nach vorn to going to the gym now, and had become much Mehr sociable. He made some Friends at the gym and had even made some pretty funny jokes that made Bobby laugh so loud the receptionist had gegeben him a look that meant, Stop, oder I'm kicking Du out.
The week passed and it came to the Tag of the marathon. Steve looked nervous but determined - an expression he wouldn't have been caught dead in a few months Vor - although for Bobby it was just another normal run. He was positive that Syeve would make a good run like any other here. Steve himself was fairly confident that he could do well and (hopefully) not make a fool of himself.
The London marathon was about to begin! The runners lined up and 1000's of people switched on their televisions to watch this national event.
The signal went for the runners to begin and Steve started along with 1000's of other runners.
For most of the run, Steve felt fine, but nearer the end, like the last few miles, he began to feel tired. His herz was clearly telling him to slow down oder stop conpletely, but he had to keep going. Bobby had promised to go alongside him, cheering him on. Bobby had kept his pace and noticed his slowing down. They had now turned the corner on to the last straße and could see the finish line about 400 metres ahead.
Steven couldn't do it. He didn't have the strength. This was typical him. Steven Grant, not finshing because he couldn't be bothered. He felt angry at himself for not finishing. Why couldn't he do it? Why did Bobby have to do it so easily? But he knew that thinking wouldn't get him anywhere. Bobby had helped him, and it was Steven's fault he couldn't finish.
No, he would finish. He stopped and stared at the finish line and in the spur of the moment, decided to sprint. He didn't know where the energy came from, but he sprinted ahead. Bobby trailed behind, slowed with his shock. Steven Gant looked mad with his arms waving about and his mouth wide open, trying to close in as much air as possible. He closed in on the finish line, looking much like he belonged in a mental institute, and crossed it, 50 metres ahead of Bobby. He had a look of complete surprise and enormous happiness on his face. And he collapsed on the ground with exhaustion.
Although it had been a hard long journey, he wouldn't be getting his 100 pounds and he was knackered to the point of unconsciousness, one thing was for sure:
Steven Grant's glass was now half full.
