Body on the Stage by Bev Robitai

place like this?” He was surprised. As
far as he knew, the population of Whetford back then would have
been a handful of newcomers pitching tents along the riverbank.
    “Oh yes – the night it opened
they crammed over a thousand people in here. Of course the floor
was new and strong then! And the theatre was the only entertainment
in town.” She was in full flood now, telling the theatre’s story
for what he guessed was at least the hundredth time. “Some really
big international acts came through Whetford, back in the day. For
the theatre’s centenary in 1978 the committee put together a big
variety show and the programme had a potted history of the theatre
listing all sorts of well-known stars that performed here.”
    Dennis jumped in quickly with a
comment, just in case she intended to list them all. “No wonder you
love the place so much, it’s obviously really special.”
    “Oh dear, has Jessica been
talking your ear off, Dennis?” Mark walked down the centre aisle of
the auditorium and vaulted lightly onto the stage. “She does go on
a bit when it comes to this place.” He gave Jessica a quick kiss.
“But we don’t mind because she’s such a lovely person. Jessica, if
you ever get tired of that policeman you’re living with, I’m next
in line, OK?”
    “Why thank you Mark – it’s
always nice to have a reserve on the bench. What have you been up
to this afternoon? Is it a lovely day out there?”
    “Yes, warm and sunny – far too
nice to be stuck indoors. I went for a long bike ride up the valley
to get some cardio endurance training. I figured you’d have plenty
of people for construction, and I’m going to need the fitness when
it comes to strutting my stuff here seven nights a week.” He struck
a muscle pose, tensing biceps and thighs that were lightly gleaming
with sweat.
    Jessica faked a yawn. “Save it
for the paying customers. We’ll be seeing enough of you over the
next few weeks.” She flashed him a brilliant smile to take the
sting out of her words.
    “Did you know that Dennis and I
are training together?” he asked her. “Cathy’s got her personal
trainer Vincenzo to design workout schedules for us and we’ll be
down at Intensity three days a week. He seems to know his stuff all
right – we’ll soon be babe magnets!”
    Dennis winced inwardly. He
hadn’t really wanted it to be broadcast round the theatre, but
obviously there was no way to keep it secret now. Jessica looked at
him with new respect.
    “So you’re actually training
with the guys are you, Dennis? Gosh, that’s even more impressive.
We’ll look forward to seeing your progress. Who knows, maybe we’ll
even see you on stage!” She laughed. Dennis didn’t, but a little
light went on inside his brain. Perhaps, one day, if he really did
get fit, he might have a body that would be worth looking at. The
thought cheered him.

Chapter Three
    At Dennis’s next gym session,
Vincenzo gave him a strenuous lower-body workout, handing him a
personalised plan written into a small booklet that would record
his progress. Dennis was pleased to find that he could cope quite
well with the squats and step-ups. He dutifully did his time on the
leg machines as well, working his quads and hamstrings. He was glad
to see Mark got more of Vincenzo’s attention this time, with close
personal supervision of his activities. Their dark heads bent over
the weight stand together.
    “That’s good,” Dennis heard
Vincenzo say, “But you gotta do more to make the big muscle. Try
this heavier dumbbell, an’ squat lower.”
    Mark’s face contorted with
effort but despite his strength he failed to complete the full set
of reps. “Man that’s hard work!” he said, wiping off with a damp
towel. “Are you giving the other guys these weights too? How are
they coping?”
    “They do fine. They work hard,
build nice muscle. That’s because they’re taking some real good
protein supplements I give them, helps the bulking up.”
    Dennis