Marathon Runner
Artemis lined up with the other runners at the starting point. He was number 162.
This is what he had been working for this past year. His dream. If he accomplished this his life would finally be fulfilled. He could die happy.
It was almost time. Artemis gazed at the scene around him. Video cameras were everywhere, capturing every little moment of the big day on film. Thousands of people stood behind the railings along the street where the runners would compete.
Artemis saw his own mother and father in the crowd, waving their arms wildly to attract his attention. Juliet and Butler held up a large poster that read GOOD LUCK ARTY in big letters. Artemis sighed. The enthusiasm level of his family was incredible for a bunch of criminals.
It was time. A man stood just off to the side of the street, and raised a pistol into the air.
Artemis got ready. He bent his knees, preparing to launch himself down the road. He was going to win this. It was his destiny.
The gun went off.
The runners sprinted off the starting line.
All except one.
Artemis launched himself just like the other runners, but what he didn't count on was one thing.
An untied shoelace.
Artemis stepped on the shoelace, tripping over his own shoelace, and falling flat on his face.
His hopes were dashed.
His dreams destroyed.
Well….there's always next year….
Tora: Hello again. This was more a of spur-of-the-moment-I-couldn't-fall-asleep-last-night-so-I-wrote-this-then-posted-it-this-morning kind of thing. Yeah. The reason why I made Artemis trip over his own shoelace was to show his lack of natural coordination. I really couldn't show his lack of conditioning because this is a marathon and they give you like a whole year to train. So Artemis would have a while to prepare, and I think he would be the type of person that would take full advantage of it. Yeah, so….R&R!