I still am trying to figure out Ellen Westlake. She has the world on a string and she is willing to risk it all so that others can have what she was given by birth. I don't doubt her intentions, but what was the one thing that made the light bulb cut on for her? Did she witness something? Did she read an account of something at the office that spoke to her? Or like me did she have someone shoot her a look that just cut her right to her soul? Regardless Ellen is about to enter into a world that she has no idea about on any level, and she is going to have to work hard to earn the trust of all involved. We've all seen and heard stories of those in the elite status who send in spies with good intentions. Only to have members of the revolution either taken away and reeducated, and that's if they were lucky.
So I am facing not only the prospect of having to trust someone who could very easily end the revolution, and also convincing others in the group to trust her. There's only one way to deal with this. I gathered my gear together and made my way to the one place in the world where I could make sense of things; the gym in the basement. It's not the Health Club that everyone belongs to as a result of being in this department. It's got gray walls, dimly lit, workout gear that is 30 years out of date, and it's as hot as sauna as well. This is Heaven on Earth for me, because hardly anyone comes down here and I have time to just think and be alone.
I changed into a pair of sweats, a t-shirt, running shoes, and weight gloves. I proceeded to pick up a set of 20 pound barbells and do some curls. The tension and release in my muscles makes me grunt a bit but I know that this is the kind of mindless activity I need right now. Nothing about Ellen, Charles, reports, revolts, or my family. This is all about me and my body on my time. I keep going and before I know it I have reached the end of that set, and I then move onto the ab machine. In the Health Club they would have me hooked up to a machine with LEDs pointed at me and zapping me lightly. Sorry this is the most effective way I've found to workout this area, and besides I'm not in the mood to have lights pointing at my gut. I starter off light but as i went on I realized what Ellen's true motivation might be; that she might be doing this just because it's the right thing to do. For so long I've been conditioned to look at others with skepticism and a slight sense of paranoia, but maybe I might be dealing with someone who truly wants to do the right thing.
I finish up my workout with a new frame of mind and feeling much better than I did when I arrived here. As I turned and began to walk away I looked at the dank and dark room and said,
"Thanks for the therapy as always."