Routine

After I finish with the art intensive part I'll be doing a short story week where I'll be writing a short story about the first idea suggested by Short Story Ideas the website. In the meantime, enjoy a story about a person and his routine.







The Routine


Every Tuesday I go to the gym for my weekly workout routine. I warm up with a few stretches and a lap around the track before I start with the weight machines. I always start with my lower body then move onto my upper body, then finish with a run on the treadmill or the elliptical if its available.

Every Wednesday I go for a walk in Calamity Park and sit down on the bench in the centre. I read a chapter of my book and then go home for coffee. Sometimes I bring an umbrella and a towel if its raining.

Every Thursday I visit my favorite pub and drink a pint after work. Every Friday I take a drive out of town and see the sights in another city. Every Saturday and Sunday I stay home and clean and do laundry. And every Monday I set aside to do whatever I fancy at the time. This Monday I was going to see a movie!

I drove to the theatre and noticed it was close. I frowned. The cinema wasn't like one of those multiplex where you're just an anonymous face in a crowd of movie goers. It only had one screen and usually showed only older movies, so to see it closed down was kind of sad.

I decided to eat at a fancy restaurant instead.

I drove to Don Valencia's, a small Italian restaurant that got rave reviews in the local paper. The place was, expectantly, packed and it took me a while to get at seat. Since I was alone it was just a small two seater table in a corner somewhere. I ordered my usual, the New York style steak with fried onions and gravy on the side for the fries. I was about to take a bite when someone sat across from me.

I looked up and saw them smiling at me. It was the kind of smile that made you wonder if they were hiding something. It was a sort of, smug smile with hint of flirty. I smiled back weakly.

"What are you doing sitting here all by your lonesome?" The stranger asked.

"I like to be alone." was my stoic reply.

They frowned. "No one should be alone all the time. Why don't I join you?" The stranger called the server over and ordered a glass of wine for both of us.

"There, now we're out together."

"Thank you, but I don't drink." I told the stranger in hopes they'd leave me alone. Instead they smiled and said "That's a shame."

I tried to ignore them and continued to eat my steak. It was really well prepared today. The onions were especially nice.

"You don't talk much do you?"

"No."

"Everything straight to the point with you?"

"I don't like to waste time explaining myself."

"Not a fan of small talk then, I suppose?"

"I suppose."

The wine arrived, I sent mine back telling the server the must have been some mistake. They seemed pleasant about it but they were probably annoyed.

"You're a weird one, you know?"

"Please don't call me that."

"What, weird?"

"Yes."

"Why not?"

"When I was younger a lot of people called me weird."

"Where you?"

"I don't think so."

"We're all weird."

I stopped eating and looked the stranger in the eye.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, take you for example. I bet you're the kind of guy that just does things on a whim."

"Not exactly."

"Really?"

"I have a routine, and I like it."

"A routine..."

"Yeah. Every Tuesday I go to the gym for my weekly workout routine. I warm up with a few stretches and a lap around the track before I start with the weight machines. I always start with my lower body then move onto my upper body, then finish with a run on the treadmill or the elliptical if its available.

"Every Wednesday I go for a walk in Calamity Park and sit down on the bench in the centre. I read a chapter of my book and then go home for coffee. Sometimes I bring an umbrella and a towel if its raining.

"Every Thursday I visit my favorite pub and drink a pint after work. Every Friday I take a drive out of town and see the sights in another city. Every Saturday and Sunday I stay home and clean and do laundry. And every Monday I set aside to do whatever I fancy at the time. This Monday I was going to see a movie! I mean, I was going to see a movie, but the theatre I usually go to has shut down."

"That's sad to hear."

"I know, it was such a good theatre."

"I meant that you don't leave anything to chance. Everything in your life is so strictly regimented."

"That's not true, Monday's are for spontaneous things!"

"You even have to schedule your spontaneous things to Monday's only."

I was about to object but I couldn't think of what to say. They were right.

"You must feel so uncomfortable doing anything that wasn't planned for."

This was true. Every time something unplanned happened I got all anxious and nervous about it. I didn't like surprises. I was actually very uncomfortable right now talking to this stranger across from me.

"What's your name?" The stranger asked.

"Um, its..."

"Never mind" They interrupted. "Do me a favour. This Wednesday, instead of taking a walk in Calamity Park, go for a drive to another city. Have a coffee with a stranger. Do something that you didn't plan."

The stranger drank the rest of their wine and got up. "Thanks for the wine by the way." They walked away.

I never saw that stranger again but I decided to take their advice and do something different on Wednesday. And Thursday and Friday and the rest of the week too.

At first it was weird. The other regulars at the pub thought something bad happened to me because I didn't show up for a few weeks but when I finally came around again I explained how I was trying something new. I even had a different brand of beer when I sat down for a pint.

Now I don't schedule anything, except laundry. That's still Sundays, but thats because there's nothing open here on Sundays.

I wonder what I'll do tomorrow?