The Officer and the Stair Stepper

In December, I tore my meniscus.  Gone were those beach walks and I had to break up with my running partner.

After a trip to the doctor, he said, "I wouldn't recommend surgery, I recommend an elliptical machine about 12 weeks."

So, I joined a gym.  Nothing against gyms.  Nothing.  I just don't join a club for matching gym outfits and put on makeup to go to the gym.  I wear my Do it for Drew shirt and my black Nike shorts.  My goal is no makeup and fabletics.

And, I don't go to classes or talk to anyone.  I just go and do.  No muss, no fuss.

In January, I noticed that later in the evenings, a group of Marines, all ages and sizes would come in and work out together.  There are about 9 or 10 Marines.  They come in, work out, shower and go to dinner on Thursdays.  

The only interaction I had with the Marines was they would open the door, say hello, goodnight and politely use a machine first.  They were handsome and kind.  

In late January, she came in.  She is lean and lovely.  She looks like a Ralph Lauren model or an equestrian.  Long dark hair, pony tail, baseball cap, looks straight away and stair steps.  For hours.  She is a serious stair stepper.  Like me, she doesn't talk to anyone, doesn't mingle or go to a class, she just stair steps.  For ever.  

She is lovely.  No lie, one of the prettiest girls I have ever seen.  She wears zero makeup and I am convinced she is a nurse.  I am not sure why, she just looks like a nurse.  

One of the Marines, the youngest and the smallest Marine, noticed her immediately.  I saw him looking over at her every chance he could. She only looks straight ahead.

For weeks, she stepped and he would sneak glances.  I would watch this from my perch on the elliptical machine.  

Finally, late one Thursday evening, she came down off the stair stepper and walked out.  The officer jumped up and ran, no lie, ran across the gym and jumped up on a chair to look out the window.  "If she is in a mini van, my obsession ends tonight."  

And he perched up to the windows and sneaked a peek and then shouted joyfully, "YES!  A sports Coupe."

At that, he looks over at me (the only remaining person in the gym beside his Muscle Marines) and gives me that "please don't tell her what I just did" look.

I smile at him and move my hand over my lips and to zip them.  His secret was safe with me.  I was so cheering for him.  He was the kind of man I could see my Adeline with in a few years.  The mom in me wanted him to succeed.  The female in me wanted to see a courtship.

His fellow Marines laughed and told him to shower so they could go for the Thursday night ritual.  

Night after night, she stepped.  He stood across the gym and watched.  She never made eye contact with him.

One night, he walked over.  He got on the machine beside her and smiled at her.  She looked at him and that was it.  It was progress.

This went on for weeks. He would work out, she would step, he would come over, get on the machine beside her, smile at her and watch her when she was finished.

Until that night.  He introduced himself to her.  She smiled and told him her name.  What I wouldn't have done for the radio not to be blaring Megadeth.

They chatted while she stepped.  She left.

Weeks this was the routine.  

I walked into the gym, got on my machine, looked over at the Marines and realized the Officer was missing.  I hoped he didn't get deployed.  

And then, he walked in.  But he was not alone.  He was with her and they were holding hands.  When they walked in, he looked over at me and I winked at him.  My heart was screaming,"YES!" but I just winked.  He smiled.  A teeth showing smile.  

It was June.  The Officer worked from January to June for this moment.  God Bless him.

She went over to the stair stepper and he joined his Marines.  The Marines never said a word.  She never looked over. 

When it was time for her to leave, she waved.  Not a "see you later wave" but a wave with all of her fingers fluttering at him.  She was going home and he was going out with the Marines.  It was Thursday night.  I was proud of him for going and proud of her for allowing the ritual to continue.  

Tonight when I left the gym, Addie called me.  She asked me, "did you see the Marine and the girl?"  

"NOPE!".  I was disappointed I had not seen them.  


And as I drove to the light, there across from me, in a truck, windows open was the Officer and the Stair Stepper decked out in sunglasses, laughing.

Courtship.  I hope it comes back in style.