Page 5 of Common People

‘I’ll be happy just to finish,’ chipped in black cab driver Joe with a chuckle.

‘Me too,’ said Anita. ‘I have four children, ten grandchildren, and technically I’m an OAP!’

‘It’s good to have clearly defined objectives,’ said Charlie, and clearly the city-boy vibe was strong. ‘Got to unleash maximum growth for the best returns. It’s a no-brainer, right?’

‘Jesus Christ, do you ever give it a feckin’ rest?’ said Eve pointedly, rolling her eyes. Her voice had a beautifully melodic Irish cadence, but her face was sharpened with annoyance.

‘Maybe let’s just focus on what’s ahead of us today,’ said Hope. ‘Although if you’re interested in the Clapham Half, Max, we’re all giving it a go. No pressure. It’s just a bit of fun.’

‘Umm, yeah, maybe,’ replied Max, but the thought of doing a half-marathon in ten weeks seemed ridiculously impossible. He couldn’t run for thirteen minutes, let alone for thirteen miles!

‘Any other business?’ said Hope, and then Bethan raised her hand. ‘Yes, Bethan, what is it?’

‘Are we still on for the cold plunge and sauna this weekend?’

‘Oh, right yeah, thanks for reminding me,’ said an excited Hope. ‘It’s on for this Saturday morning at nine o’clock, right here on the common. I hope you can all make it.’ Everyone nodded, and then Hope looked at Max. ‘You up for a bit of a cold plunge and a sauna, Max?’

‘Umm, yeah?’ said Max, with literally no idea what it entailed, and if it was something he could actually do. He hadheard about cold plunges, and he had been in a sauna once at a hotel in the Lake District on holiday with his parents, and his overarching thought at the time was that it was just too hot, but if everyone else was doing it, then maybe he should pop along too. I mean, how awful could it be?

Five minutes later, and everyone was up and stretching, which varied considerably from Joe, who was doing some very slow and not very deep lunges, to Charlie, who was for some reason, doing push-ups and then sit-ups, before he started doing some vigorous high-knee sprints on the spot. He was definitely all-in on going big. Max stationed himself next to Bethan, who was stretching out her calf muscles by going on her tip-toes and then back down again. This seemed more like the light stretching that Max had in mind.

‘How far are we running today?’ asked Max.

‘It’s just a gentle jog. Maybe three miles, but it’s at your own pace.’

‘Let me guess, Charlie will be off like a greyhound?’

Bethan laughed. ‘You got it in one.’

‘What about you? Hope said that you’re one of the best runners in the group.’

‘Hardly. I like to run and do it often, so I’m used to it, but I’m not fast.’

‘So, you’re saying that if Charlie is the hare, you’re the tortoise?’

‘I wouldn’t say that,’ said Bethan, giggling. ‘So, why did you decide to join the group? Everyone here’s got a story, you know. Even Charlie, as unlikely as it seems.’

‘Yeah? Umm, well,’ said Max, not feeling comfortable sharing the last eighteen months of his life, the heartbreak of losing his parents, and the devastation it had caused with a stranger just yet. ‘I’m just here to try and get in shape, that’s all.’

‘Good for you,’ replied Bethan, who was pulling one leg up behind her, and then the other, while balancing on one leg. Max did the same.

‘What about you? Do you have a story?’ he asked, and her face changed for a moment, hinting at something serious lurking beneath the surface. It was the same expression that Max was sure he had himself. Had Bethan lost someone close to her too? She said that everyone there had a story, even Charlie, so perhaps despite everyone appearing to be quite normal, they all had their own heartache? Their own versions of what he had been going through. He couldn’t imagine someone as bright and as energetic as Hope having major mental health issues, but then again, they might think the same of him.

However, before Bethan could answer, Hope called out that it was time to start running. It was the thing Max was looking forward to the least. The last time he had gone for a jog was just before the accident, and so the minute he started slowly jogging with everyone else, it immediately felt quite alien. He knew he was going to get tired, and wouldn’t be able to run for longer than ten minutes without having to stop. As soon as they began, Charlie was off ahead of everyone else with tall, long strides, and to be fair, he looked the part. Bethan set off with Eve, as they were going about the same speed, and Joe and Anita seemed to be on the same pace. Hope hung back and jogged slowly next to Max.

‘How you going, Max?’

‘It’s been quite a while since my last run. Sorry if I don’t last very long.’

‘No worries. Every journey, right?’

‘Right.’

‘And just so you know, don’t feel like you have to sign-up for the Clapham Half. It’s just something we all decided to do, youknow, to have a goal, but it’s one hundred per cent up to you. No stress.’

‘Can I think about it?’ said Max, beginning to puff. He could already feel the burn in his legs, and his heart that was probably in shock, beginning to beat rapidly.

‘Yeah, course, mate. No worries.’