"Are you sure you want to come with me?" My fifteen-year-old daughter couldn't miss the doubt in my tone. Nikki used to think exercise was similar to slow death.
But that day was different. "Yeah," she said, "I haven't spent much time with you lately." She wore her sweatshirt, took an oversized water bottle and looked at me expectantly.
"Okay, let's go then." Doubtful or not, I was grateful my teenage daughter still wanted to hang out with me.
Suddenly, I had visions of Nikki becoming my new workout partner. And we would build a whole new relationship based on our common love of exercise.
The ten-minute drive to the gym went smoothly. After we entered the two-story building, we found two treadmills (跑步机), side by side. I placed my water bottle in the holder, hung a face towel over the handrail (扶手) and took off my sweatshirt. Nikki's water bottle was too large to fit into the holder, so she set it on the floor and climbed onto her treadmill.
Stepping over to her, I told her how to control the treadmill. "You might want to fasten the safety key to your shirt," I instructed her.
"Why?"
"It'll protect you if you fall."
She rolled her eyes. "That's not going to happen."
I knew from experience that it was useless to argue with her. And really, I'd never actually seen anyone fall from the treadmill, so I figured she had a point. I increased my speed; she increased hers. Several minutes later, I noticed her eyeing the water bottle she'd set on the floor.
"Don't reach for that bottle while you're moving. If you need a drink, stop the treadmill first," I warned.
With an eye roll and headshake, she ignored me. She managed to hold the water bottle, if not gracefully, at least successfully. Maybe I wasn't giving her enough credit. Then I heard a loud thump (碰撞声). It took me a moment to realize that the noise wasn't coming from behind me but beside me.
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Looking at my daughter. I was struck by the strange sight of her running on her knees.
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"Are you okay?" I took her free hand and asked.
