Speed Dating The Slow Way by Chris Owen

Author:Chris Owen [Owen, Chris]
Language: nld
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Speed Dating the Slow Way - 13

Rogan's was a multi-level complex of ramps and rinks to suit most bladers. It had been planned

to be even bigger, with jumps for skate boarders, and both indoor and outdoor elements, but

when the community saw how big it was getting and how much of their park it was going to take

up, they'd petitioned the city to amend the plans. There had been a large dust-up involving

private and public money, contractors, parents' groups, a loose organization of skaters and

bladers, and the city council. It had gotten messy, but the bottom line had come down to the park

being funded, managed and supported by the community. If they wanted it to be downsized; it

was going to be downsized. City property, city rules, city government being elected.

As far as Reed could tell, no one had suffered in the ten years since the park had been built. It

had gradually become the domain of the youth, and the sports enthusiasts who had been lobbying

to use the space as an exercise park had moved to trails and bike lanes. Reed assumed they were

still not happy about the lack of safety on the streets, but the youth seemed to appreciate having

the park as a designated safe place.

There were certainly there in big enough numbers.

Reed parked his car and grabbed his skates, already looking around for Jack. Just looking for

"the tall guy" wasn't going to cut it; apparently fifteen-year-old boys were getting a lot bigger

than he remembered them being when he was one himself.

He hadn't seen Jack by the time he got his skates on, so he left his shoes in a locker and took to

the pathways, staying on the primary level while he got his balance and waited for his muscle

memory to kick in. When he got up to speed and managed to take a corner without either killing

himself or slowing down, he headed up.

A girl gave him a long look and then grinned at him as he sailed on past. "Not too shabby," she

said, her braces flashing at him. They had hot pink rubber bands that matched the streaks in her

black-as-night hair. She had an eyebrow ring, too, and he thought she was probably laughing at

him.

"Hey," he called back as they passed each other again, him going up and her going down on the

ramp next to him. "Know a guy named Jack? Old, like me."

"Oh, sure!" She didn't seem surprised to be asked, and was possibly even a little relieved that

Reed had a real reason to be there. "He's up on the top, in his corner. Go easy, though, I think

someone's with him."

Reed nodded his thanks and kept skating, doubling back and forth on the winding ramps. He felt

like he was skating forever just to go up eight feet to the top, and he was grateful that he wasn't

totally out of shape. Even the small incline was making his thighs ache by the time he reached

the top.

There were fewer skaters up there, since the track simply made one wide loop and

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