Chapter 16: Road Work

Years earlier, Val was standing on the sidewalk in front of their house. In middle school, there had been a unit on competitive running, and she discovered her love of the sport. But there was a problem. She felt nervous, though, running on her own being only 12 at the time.

On the sidewalk, she was waiting for Abel Santos. He lived down the street, and she’d seen him running down their street at a set time every afternoon. And there he was! Val put her arms wide to block him.

“Abel! Wait, I need to ask you something. Why are you passing here every day like this?”

“It’s conditioning. My coach recommended it. I’m a midfielder on my school’s football team, which means I’m running like 8 kilometers in a game. I’m trying to build up my stamina, uh, Valerie.”

“Just Val, please. OK, you mean soccer and 5 miles, speaking American. Do you go to St. John’s? OK. Abel, I want you to help me, it’s really important. Can I go with you on your runs? I just worry while running by myself, I only weigh, let me think, 30 kilos. I wouldn’t be able to defend myself from some asshole.”

“You know what? My mother would never forgive me if I didn’t help you feel safe. Let’s go together.”

Val and Abel became running partners from then on. He was the same age, and they enjoyed a friendly and casual relationship. Right away, he showed Val a better route for their four mile daily run. No longer was she passing the convenience store, where the creepy high school guys loitered so they could beg older customers to buy them beer and cigarettes. Instead, he showed her the trail into the open space district, where they could run on the soft pine needles in the little grove of evergreens.