This short story was written in response to Esther Chilton’s prompt word of the week. This week’s word is: Exercise…

Shaun’s mum was always telling him to get more exercise. Always getting on at him to get out of his room and do something. Well, look at me now mum, he thought, I’m running! The purest form of exercise! No more complaints of “get off that XBox” or “you should be outside playing football” needed today. I’m running like the wind! 

Haring through the middle of a town centre and whizzing past shops and people wasn’t ideal. So many obstacles to consider which the countryside doesn’t layer in on a Saturday morning run. He twisted around shoppers on the paths. He vaulted decorative flower boxes. Puddles splashed underfoot as he sprinted across roads and sprang over kerbs, dodging cars and their furiously honking horns. 

Oh, he was getting his exercise, alright. 

He wondered if she’d like her birthday gift. Top of the range pair of trainers and most expensive pair in the shop. Definitely weren’t easy to obtain. 

He just needed to get home. And that depended on not being caught by the security guard.