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Gary Leonard Oldman
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#Post#: 3152--------------------------------------------------
Only Just Begun
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: February 2, 2016, 2:35 am
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I'm honestly not sure how long this will turn out to be so I may
have to move it over to the Tiny Tales section. I've played with
a few things, names, places, dates but hopefully the heart is
still there along with a happier ending. I should point out
names have been changed for respect but the nickname still lives
on, this was not intentional so please forgive me. I couldn't
help myself with this one, the muse went bananas. *Tissue
warning* Kleenex may be needed toward the end. P.S. Wolfy dear,
thank you very very much for the use of 'shtachioed Jared. ;) I
should also point out that I am not a runner, I dabbled back in
high school but never ever attempted to join any kind of group
activity so if there are any errors please let me know. I
noticed after I was done writing that the nicknames are the
same, please note this was not done intentionally and no
infringement was intended. I also make no money from writing
this.
HTML https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1607/24472737770_9c5a454683.jpg
Playlist:
HTML https://open.spotify.com/user/highlandfling22/playlist/07XpfV4cXnhzZMjDRLxAM7
Summary: Life is like a mountain, full of rocky edges, deep
ravines, and complex turns but if you are lucky enough to have
someone to help you along the way and give you hope you're one
of the luckiest people alive. They had met during their Freshman
year at U of Oregon back in '70 and found companionship in a
shared love of nature. He in the rocky dusty trails of the cross
country course her in the deep cool depths of the local lake. He
dreamed big and went for gold while she stayed back and kept the
home fires burning always there to turn to when things got dark.
This is their story, and it's only just begun.
Tagline: To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice
the gift. - Steve Prefontaine
June 1970
Somewhere in the confides of her cocoon of blankets she heard
her alarm go off on the bedside table. Bleary eyed and hair a
mess she was feeling the after effects of last night’s kegger.
The Cross Country team had placed at state level and had invited
a few of the sororities to partake in the glory. Both the Delta
Omegas and the Kappa Phi Alpha’s had been in their cups the
previous night and today it showed.
“Sus…please turn that damn alarm off. It’s too early to even
think of being able to move..”
Her roommate Anne groaned as Susi reached over to shut it off.
Peeling back the blankets she stretched and tried to adjust to
the darkness of the room. It wasn’t even five yet but she always
prided herself on getting an early jump on the day, especially
when it came to her cross training. Today’s objective was a run
around the track maybe the trail just something to clear her
head before she started her day. The pool, where she spent most
of her off time between classes and the part time job she held
down was closed for cleaning after a pack of pledges from the
Delta Phi Epsilon Frat threw in Knox gelatin right before a swim
meet resulting a foul smelling gooey mess that was going to cost
an arm and leg to clean up. She had kept the same schedule since
her freshman year of high school back in Mishapwah when she was
on the swim team but here - it was different. She had tried to
go for the swim team but it was so close minded here that she
seemingly gave up. There went her dream in one fell swoop down
the pool drain as a gaggle of old money athletes stared her
down. Talent evidently didn’t mean a thing to them so she tried
to move on as best she could but kept her usual schedule just
out of habit. The weekend loomed just over the horizon and she
had nowhere to be until one that afternoon so the morning was
strictly her own.
“Sorry, Anne.”
She said with a small smile as she got up and grabbed a change
of clothes along with her sneakers. Her roommate looked as rough
as Susi felt herself but she tried her best to keep the turning
feeling in her stomach at bay. She gave Anne a small pat on the
leg before she ducked out and down the hall to change and start
her day. It seemed everyone else on the floor was worse for wear
and not one of them had even attempted to get up. She stepped
over various arms and legs and bodies that had passed out where
they could and made her way out onto the quad. She felt a kink
work it’s way out of her leg as she stretched a bit the queasy
feeling in the pit of her stomach spread a bit but she pushed it
aside as she saw the sun rise turning the sky a warm pinkish
orange. Songbirds twittered and swooped overhead. Taking a deep
breath she let it out and centered herself. Just clear your mind
and run. The only thing she could hear as she turned the corner
on her second leg was the rhythmic thump of her own feet hitting
the ground, her own breath slow and even. The dread of her up
coming Classical Lit test slipped away as did the even bigger
feeling of dread at the upcoming summer. She couldn’t afford to
go home so she was stuck using what money she left from the
waitressing job she’d taken at the local college bar and grill
to rent an apartment the size of a shoebox until term started up
again. Those thoughts caught air and drifted it was true - but
the turning in her stomach had started up again as she felt
herself break out into a cold sweat. Oh no. Not now. Was the
only thing she could think as she tried to shake it. No good.
Another set of pounding feet sounded behind her had her head not
been swimming the way it was she would have turned to look. She
felt someone come up beside her and give her the once over. The
narrow trail left nowhere for her to turn off and she groaned in
frustration. Her stomach revolted once more and this time she
knew it was serious. Her fellow runner took this as a sign of a
challenge and picked up their pace giving her a slight nudge.
Oh Christ, I don’t want to race with you you idiot.
She screamed internally as she felt last night’s drinks slowly
start their way back up. She gave it her all and sprinted ahead
the wind whipping her hair free of the rubber band she had used
to secure it.
“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
Was all she heard as she whizzed past the other runner and
finally found a bush to heave into. As the last of it came up
she made a solemn vow to herself that she would never ever drink
again. Everything tasted like the Schlitz she had guzzled the
night before and she just wanted to dig a hole for herself right
then and there and just die. Just leave her to the beauty of the
campus hiking paths. Her family could come and pay their
respects any time they so chose.
The sound of thundering feet and uneven breathing caught her
attention as she heaved again.
“Hey…are you okay? You about blew my doors off back there..”
She had assumed her other runner had been another woman but from
the sound of the voice that certainly wasn’t the case. She held
up her right hand for a moment before doubling back over to
heave a third time.
“Hungover. Kegger. Gonna die.”
“Small world, I was there too.
She heard him pause and thought maybe just on top of possibly
bringing up almost all of her internal organs she’d gone deaf
was well.
“O’Brian. Aren’t you Irish supposed to be able to hold your
booze?”
How did he know her name? She didn’t know this guy from Adam and
here he was acting like he knew her. Well, almost. She
straighten to try and look him in the eye and was baffled. Sun
bleached hair and sparkling blue eyes met her gaze as she was
struck momentarily dumb.
“How..did you know my..”
“It’s printed on the back of your sweatshirt. Along with Milton
Stanford High Athletics. I’m Jim Presnell. Everyone calls me..”
“Pre. I know, you’ve got a bit of a reputation on campus.”
“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.”
“Maybe it is maybe it isn’t. Congratulations on that win, did
you decide where you’re going to hang that medal yet?”
She chided with a small grin as she tried to keep her balance
and pull her hair back up into a ponytail once more.
“Right above my bed with all the others. My sister said she knew
an O’Brian on the a Tillamook U gymnastics team, was that you by
any chance?”
“No, that’s my sister, Fiona. I was on the swim team before the
team was disbanded. I ended up transferring here because of the
Elem. Ed. program. I double majored.”
They walked along back toward the campus as the sun finally rose
up high enough over the trees to cast a warm glow on a few
fallen logs off to the side of the path.
“Why didn’t you try out for the team here? I think I saw an
article on you, went all the way to state before you got bested.
The team here is in dire need of a shake up.”
Bitter memories resurfaced and a dark scowl crossed Susi’s face.
“I didn’t make it, got shut out.”
They walked along for a moment before she tried to brighten the
mood.
“Oh well, it just wasn’t meant to be. So, Mr. Pre - what brings
you out here on a Friday morning. I don’t think you’ve got
classes so why are you up so early?”
Jim shrugged before giving her a slow crooked smile, half
obscured by that preposterous mustache.
“I’m always out here. I like the quiet, being surrounded by
nature. It’s the only time I don’t have to beat someone else. I
can turn my thoughts off and just run. Be free. I imagine you do
the same..do you still swim?”
Susi nodded as she pulled off her sweatshirt, the summer sun was
slowly baking her and she didn’t feel the need to sweat anymore
than she already had.
“Yeah, I’m usually down the lake every morning before seven. In
the winter you can find me at the pool.”
“You’re water logged year round then. I never was one to enjoy
swimming..”
“Really? How can you not? I mean you’ve got to be one with it.
It’s just you and the water, the smell of the chlorine or the
lake, whichever you choose. Once you’re under everything’s
dulled - calm, until you hit the surface then you’re back to the
real world. You just push off and glide.”
“Man, where were you when I was in summer camp?”
“Probably waterlogged at Lake McCavish. I’m from Mishapwah so
depending on where you’re from it was a hike.”
“Coos Bay, only three hours away and had I paced myself when I
started running I probably would have found you back then.”
“Well, you found me now and I think that counts.”
March 1974
“We’ve been here six hours, Sus. If you stare at that paper a
minute longer your eyes are going to pop out of your skull.
We’ll have to be up and out by four tomorrow morning if you want
to make it home for spring break.”
She barely registered what Jim was saying as she lifted her head
slightly from the text she had been reading for the millionth
time. Her thesis was due in two months and she was currently
tearing it apart paragraph by paragraph. Why she had decided on
becoming an Elementary Education major was well beyond her. Why
she had even bothered to minor in special education was even
more mind boggling. She had classroom experience true but the
fact that she not only had to journal everything from her time
as an unpaid intern at the local elementary and wade through the
course work made her head pound. But yet he stood by her, always
bolstering her with words of encouragement no matter how many
times she had thought of throwing in the towel.
“I’ve only got four more pages left, Pre.”
She heard him sigh as he flopped down into the chair next to her
putting his feet up on the one free spot of the table. To look
at him one wouldn’t think he was actually a runner. His legs
were nowhere near long enough by traditional standards he
supposedly lacked enough kick to make it as a miler even though
he was a damn good one. Everything about his fell into place and
his cocksure attitude and never fading dream of the going for
the gold tied it all together in one very appealing package. His
chair creaked a bit as he leaned back and studied the ceiling
his blonde hair, still somehow permanently sun bleached from his
time spent outside, flopping back over his forehead as he
exhaled a steady breath upward.
“You can go back to your dorm y’know. I know you’re tired..”
He protested and she looked at him and silently raised one dark
brow upward.
“I swear you look just like my mother when you do that. I’m
fine, Sus. Besides I’m waiting for you.”
He reassured her before going back to studying the water marked
drop ceiling and leaving her to go back to her notes. His
in-depth analysis of the ceiling was short lived and he ended up
going through her carefully compiled notes and journals.
“You are beyond organized…”
He muttered and earned himself a small smack as he rested his
chin on her shoulder and started to read over her shoulder.
“It is evident that the class to which I have been assigned is
an avid group of learners. While some lack the corresponding
verbal skills to match their age all twenty of them show a keen
interest in the world around them and an unyielding desire to
learn and experience the world. I have also found that in my
time with them each has come out of their respective shell and
become more willing to interact with each other as well as the
head teacher and myself as a group. They are slowly becoming
more and more aware of each other versus their own self. It is
during my time with these amazing children that I have
experienced life anew, I’m seeing the world through new eyes and
it is I who should be thanking them.”
She had told him what she had been up to when she was in the
classroom but to see her own reflections written in her own hand
cemented it. He flipped to the last page and found a few stacks
of of photos Susi had secured to the lesson plans she had used
throughout the year and smiled. He had always wondered what she
was doing in the evenings when she wasn’t waiting at the track
for him to finish up his evening runs or right before she left
to cheer him on at the track meets or the time trials. She had
never missed one yet and yet she still managed to come up with
complete plans that utilized each student’s strong points and
strengthened the weak ones. Sure, there had been times when he’d
found her up to her elbows in construction paper and smudged
felt tip pen crying until her face was red as a tomato but this
sort of thing made it all worth while. You could see where
they’d started - shaky handed attempts at printing their names
and repeating written words and where they were now - on par
with their age group. Tiny faces enraptured in the story she was
reading to them to increase vocabulary and broaden their
attention spans. A game of duck duck goose half way through as a
little boy chased after her with a smile on his face. She had
asked him countless times over the last three years if she was
doing was really worth while. Again and again he’d told her yes.
“See how far you’ve come? How much you’ve helped them?”
He asked as he pointed to her seemingly endless notes, journals
and photos. She looked down then away then blushed slightly.
“I didn’t really..”
“Yes, you did, Sus. You really did and those kids are always
going to remember you for that. Now, can you please stop
obsessing over that thesis? Woodbridge is going to pass you on
those journals alone. You’ve gone above and beyond now please
take a break.”
Susi couldn’t help but smile at his little pep talk, he was
always full of them for her but when it came to himself, usually
before a time trial he was at a loss for words.
“What happened to giving anything less than my best and it being
a sacrifice to the gift, hmm Mr. Flash.”
She enquired as she finally relented and closed her file folder.
“You’ve gone above that, Sus.”
He heaved a sigh as he helped her set her piles of paperwork and
folders to rights before glancing at the clock.
“Have you got somewhere to be?”
She asked as she stuffed the last of her papers into her tote
bag and collected her textbooks. He shook his head but his
stance gave him away.
“You’re nervous about Friday aren’t you?”
She watched him stiffen and then look down. He was having doubts
and from the looks of them they were major. She’d heard rumors
about Pre’s competition but she knew in her gut that he was
going to blow their doors off. Even if he didn’t believe it
himself.
“You’re going to be fine, better than fine. You’re going to
leave them in your dust, you know it - I know it. Browerman
knows it. The entire University knows it.”
“But…”
“No buts, Pre. You’ve come so far, you can’t let one case of
nerves keep you back. Your mother told me what you said about
Munich, you’re going. You’re a Miler and you know it - you
wouldn’t have pushed yourself this hard if you didn’t believe in
yourself. To me you’ll always be an Olympian, no matter what.”
She reached up and smoothed his bangs, running a hand over his
cheek before giving him a peck.
“I’ll be right here cheering the loudest for you. You’ll be able
to hear me right as your cross that finish line.”
Deep down he knew she was right, she always was about these
things. It was like she had the knack for bolstering him up and
keeping that flame bright. Without her he would have crashed and
burned, not to mention he probably would have flunked out had
she not helped him study.
“You just have to promise me that you’ll meet my class and sign
autographs for them after you win, Mr. Flash. We’ve been doing
number units on your times and charting how long it’ll take you
to cross the finish line.”
She never failed to surprise him when it came to incorporating
something as mundane as his running times into her plans.
“We’ve got you theoretically clocked in at eight minutes and
twelve seconds.”
She said with a smile as she slipped her hand and threaded her
fingers through his own and pulled him toward the exit.
July 1974 Stockholm Sweden
“You can do this, you can do this.”
Had been his mantra for the entire flight, hell it had been
repeating in his mind since March. His legs felt like tree
trunks, his stomach felt like he had swallowed a discus. Susi
had tucked a plethora of encouraging notes in his luggage -
something his teammates had found oddly hysterical but when he’d
produced a handmade banner from her class it shut them up quick.
“Man, you’ve got a legion of mini fans or something, Pre.”
Hollander said as he scanned the gold and green banner that had
encouraging messages written as neatly as possible in children’s
script. If his mother saw it he knew she’d have to have it to
put in the scrapbook she kept.
So, it had come down to this. Trying to bolster himself once
more as he brought up the last of the continental breakfast he'd
eaten an hour earlier with the team. The smell of turf and hazy
summer peet filled his nostrils. He could do this, he knew.
Final call for runners was announced and each took their mark.
His heart was hammering in his chest and he was sure he’d die
right there on the spot. The pistol sounded and off they flew,
thundering feet and arms moving like pistons.
“You can do it, you can do it.” soon turned into I can do it, I
can do it then quickly switched to ‘I did it! I did it! as he
gave one final burst of speed and broke into a sprint as the
finish line came into view. Eight minutes and twelve seconds and
the first place qualifying time was officially his, Sus had
called it. He was going to Montreal come hell or high water. But
not before he put a ring on his good luck charm’s finger and
signed a few dozen autographs for his biggest little fans.
1975
Newly graduated and newly married, both for a year; they moved
into a tiny trailer in the cheaper part of town, just outside of
Eugene not too far from either set of in laws. The place wasn’t
much, just a single wide that had seen better days but it was
home and it would do for now. The salad days were upon them
still. Things settled into rhythm while jobs were held down,
plans were made and set in stone. Commitments were met and bills
always paid on time. Until life threw them a curveball. They had
been stopped at a red light on spring evening towards the end of
May. They had been on their way home from a meet, just like
every other week it seemed. Tonight’s had been a big to do with
an after party and everything but they had decided to duck out
early and enjoy a quiet evening at home. Conversation drifted
from the lesson plans to shift changes. She had accepted a job
at one of the local elementary schools as a substitute and he
had snatched up a bar tending gig that left his days open to
focus on training. Both were comfortable in their life together
thus far. Windows were down and the radio crackled the local FM
station. How Sweet It Is filtered through the car as he told her
a joke he’d heard from some old timer who had a permanent seat
at the Eagle’s Nest Inn and she had thrown her head back and
laughed. Neither of them had even seen the pickup flying toward
them from the intersection until they heard the squeal of tires
and the deafening shriek of metal meeting metal as both
windshield’s exploded upon impact.
They had tried to shield each other from the impact as the MGB
skidded into a nearby rock wall with a sickening crunch. The
world seemed to stop but they remained, battered and bloodied
still clasping each other’s hands.
“Sus…you okay?”
She could only groan as she tried to turn her head to face him
and shrieked in pain. Gasping for air Susi felt her world tilt a
bit her stomach turned as she tried to center herself once more.
“If I could turn my head I’d be so much better. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so..”
The pickup’s driver teetered uneasily over to the driver’s side
and tried to wrench the door open. Both of them cringed as he
reeked of cheap stale booze.
“What the hell was you sittin’ there for, boy?”
He slurred as the door finally gave way and Jim was helped to
his feet. Deep cuts could be seen on his left cheek and above
his brow.
“We were stopped at that stop sign like any normal person should
be you idiot! Now help me get Susi out…”
Together drunkard and husband gingerly moved her out as the
sounds of sirens filled the sleepy evening air as the sun
finally dipped below the tree line. Someone from one of the
nearby houses must have heard the impact and called 911. Others
were coming out of their homes to take a peek at the type of
accident that didn’t happen every day.
“That’s Mrs. P, Momma!”
They heard an excited child no more than eight exclaim. At that
moment Susi was put to her feet and groaned in pain, clutching
at Jim's tshirt and track jacket sleeve. She could barely stand
on her own let alone walk. It wasn’t until they had both been
checked over at All Saint’s General did they find that Jim had
suffered a fractured ankle and wrist along with a bruised ACL in
his dominant leg; Susi on the other hand was a little more worse
for wear, a broken pelvis along with a few bruised ribs and a
nasty case of whiplash were very likely to keep her out of the
classroom and the water for nearly a year. It was then they had
found that she was a little over five weeks along. Hadn’t even
known it yet, nothing was a miss and they welcomed it with joy
and open arms. Sadly, their joy and jubilation was to be short
lived. Late one night towards the end of October the clock just
stopped on the little life they had pinned so many hopes and
dreams on. Twenty-five weeks in and it was already over.
“It was a little girl.”
She’d said quietly as she stared out the window of the cramped
hospital room trying to make sense of things. Her world was no
longer on it’s axis. He nodded as he stroked her hair and tried
to brush away the tears that fell from his wife’s eyes. Neither
would forget the smell that seemingly clung to their clothes as
they left. Disinfectant, ether, and sadness. It was indeed a
little girl; she would have been an Aquarius like her father.
Would she have taken to the track like he did or would she have
been a water baby like her mother? They’d never know but they
loved her anyway. They had named her Aubrey and said their
goodbyes to her one rainy morning in the same church where they
had gotten married. She was left in the care of family members
long since passed but visited often, every birthday, Christmas,
Easter, and New Year. She would live on in their hearts totally
unsullied by the world at large. They drifted for a few months
afterward, neither sure if they should cry in front of the
other. Finally long overdue tears were shed and promises made
late one winter's night as a wind and snow whipped around the
home they shared.
"We can't give up, Sus."
"Who ever said we were? I'm not going anywhere if you're not."
"Good, I don't plan on it."
For the first time in months each drifted toward the middle of
the mattress toward one another and drifted off together towards
a deep sleep that had eluded them since October.
1979
Together they learned that with rain comes glorious moments of
golden light. Things started to look up for the Presnells. While
Jim had missed out on Montreal and a slew of other qualifiers
due in part by mental block and pain associated from the
accident in ’75 he slowly picked up his pacing and qualified
once more for the Summer Games due in part to determination and
his ever patient wife. Susi had obtained a masters in Special
Education and was now working full time at one of the better
districts. They had moved out of the tiny trailer and into a
neat and tidy little sub development where they hosted weekly
dinners for the combined family. By the summer of 1980 they
welcomed not only another gold medal but also a son, Gabriel -
or Gabe as he was called, was his father’s spitting image right
down to the wide blue eyes, sandy hair, and cocksure attitude.
The boy had skipped over the walking phase most little ones
gravitate toward by the time they’re a year and went straight to
running. But his story is better left for another time, his
parents are still working in theirs.
~ Fin ~
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