When She Can't Run: Penny's Exercise Day

When She Can’t Run

(warning: some pumpkin and money puns ahead. Don’t let them cash you off guard)

Penny could never hold still. She loved to move and be free, and couldn’t see the point in putting down roots. Why do that when you can explore the world? And explore the world she did, but if you want to get anywhere, you need to walk. Most days were spent walking, so she never really needed to exercise; she was always moving and she loved that! The thump of her boots on the ground were like energizing music, always pulsing to a personal beat that drove her forward.

Walking was fun but she also loved running, and not just because it made it harder to be caught. Exploring made it so easy to be a thief. No one knew you, and if you were sly enough you could be long gone before anyone noticed they had been short-changed. Penny had always been told she was the brightest person in the pumpkin patch, and she was anything but empty headed, so she was rarely ever caught. However, it was possible to catch her off her gourd. At those times, her wanderlust proved to be great training to insure that no one could cash up to her and demand their cash back.

One day, Penny was enjoying a jog when she felt a splat in her hair. Looking up she saw the dark ominous rain clouds looming by. Not one to complain about some rain, she decided to keep going, but she quickly changed her mind when she saw a blinding light quickly followed by many smaller flashes. The thunder rolled in and she knew not to test Mother Nature. Picking up the pace she went into a run, her boots squelching in the quickly forming mud. She had heard about a small town nearby: if she was quick maybe she could out run the brunt of the storm.  The rain was getting heavier. The lighting was bright. The wind became a pounding gale. In the distance she saw a torch mounted outside a wooden building, the flame flicking violently as it threatened to give out.

“Safety.” Penny said in her head. It looked like a small hotel a little ways outside of town, and it’s a good thing it was there! The pelting rain became blinding, and Penny used some earth magic to suspend some mud up in the air as a makeshift umbrella. Running forward she groped in the darkness until her hand rested on a wooden door. She reached for its handle, pulled, and rushed inside slamming the door behind her as thunder rolled as loud as a violent river.

Penny did her best to dry off by the door, but a puddle was already forming at her feet. Her shirt clung to her pumpkin-y flesh and she could hear the water dripping from her red hair. She was also aware of the looks she was getting, but that was not unusual for her. As she wrung out the bottom of her shirt she cast her gaze around. Per usual, the older, more traveled ones just looked long enough to acknowledge her presence while younger ones gawked at her unsure what to make of this seemingly humanoid vegetable. With no interaction Penny walked over to an empty chair and let the welcoming smell of firewood waft over her as she contently collapsed for a short rest.

Unfortunately, that rest would be much longer than she anticipated, and she wasn’t the only person caught in the storm.

“What do you mean we can’t leave?” a particularly bossy guest shouted at the hotel owner. Penny watched annoyed but intrigued.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” the hotel owner said calmly as he tried to ignore the guest’s grumblings. ”We just recently received a message about the conditions of the roads. They are flooded. No one is allowed out until the rain lets up.”

“Give me that.” The guest demanded as they yanked a magical note out of the owner’s hand. Penny looked outside, or at least tried to. The rain was so thick that the window was useless, as if a heavy cloth had been hung over the glass pane.

“This is fine. I’ll just wait here until the storm passes. It won’t take long,” Penny thought to herself. So she waited, and waited, and waited. The hotel was packed and days had passed souring everyone’s mood, including Penny’s. Staying in one place for a time usually made her feel a little hollow, but this made her feel like her head would explode. She had to move. Pacing did little to help and only caused others to watch with concern. This many days in one place, she couldn’t take it! She felt she’d be calmer if her brain was scooped out!

Penny slumped against a wall in the emptiest corner she could find, which was only empty if you could ignore the three other people nearby. If one of them hadn’t turned around and waved she would have been able to.

“Heyo!” A young traveler smiled brightly. Penny simply gave him a little wave of acknowledgement and nothing more, but he wanted a conversation. “What’s your name?”
“Penny Nicole Dime.” She noticed a suppressed smirk on the man’s face. A fellow pun lover? Penny decided to lead the conversation. If he was distracted enough maybe she could pickpocket him. “Where were you heading when the storm blew in?”

 “I’m going to my grandpap’s house and training with him to be the strongest warrior ever!”

“Is that so? Here,” Penny said, noticing his muscular physique and pulling up a chair “Show me how strong you are.” Her arm was propped up on the table, and he understood the challenge. Gripping hands and with a crowd forming, the arm wrestle was on. Penny pushed with all her might, but his arm didn’t move. Feeling they were equally matched Penny kept pushing hoping his strength would give out, until suddenly; slam! Her fist was pushed down and the little crowd cheered for the traveler. He wasn’t pushing at all.

“Not bad. Want to try with the other arm?” He offered. Penny nodded in agreement and slipped her hand into one of her pockets. Their arms were braced for another battle, and he was completely oblivious to what Penny was doing. Someone gave a count of three and they were at it again. Again, his arm wasn’t budging, but he wasn’t prepared for Penny’s trick. A copper light flashed before his eyes and his focus faltered for just a second, but a second was all it took for his fist to come slamming down on the table.

“You are stronger,” Penny grinned and caught something in the air, “but I got a head.” She put her palm out showing the coin she had tossed, its shiny face reflecting the surprised expression of the traveler.

He gave a laugh, “I guess we’re tied then.” The now larger crowd started cheering for a tiebreaker, but quickly started bickering within itself as to what to do. It was clear the young man was stronger, so another arm battle wouldn’t be interesting. Hearing the discourse, Penny suggested an endurance battle.

“Endurance battle?” the young man doubted before nodding in agreement.

“I have a jump rope!” A little one called from the crowd. The idea was well liked and they found another jump rope and an hourglass. They got ready, faced each other, and then started. Sand trickled through the glass as the two jumped so fast that you could hear the ropes swishing in the air. They kept at it like this for a good amount of time. They were both good, but as time passed the traveler slowed down.

“Getting tired?” Penny teased. The man steeled his face and picked up the pace. Penny loved this challenge: this movement was just what she needed.

“Time’s up!” Someone called. Another person in the crowd scolded the person saying that’s not how this worked, but that false time was enough to get the young man to stop and pant. Penny kept going, feeling more energized as she went. She even started to spin and do tricks. The crowd cheered declaring her the winner.

“Good try.” She told him as she put the jump rope away. He just grinned and held his arms out for a hug. Penny rolled her eyes and gave him a hug, all the while fighting her urge to pick something from his pockets. There were too many witnesses.

“Hey everyone!” The hotel owner shouted. “We just got word, the storm’s let up enough for everyone to go.” That got the biggest cheer from the crowd yet. They all bolted for the door, but no one was as fast as Penny.

“Patch you later!” She joyfully exclaimed as she leapt into the petrichor filled air. Now wherever she goes she carries a jump rope. If she can’t run into the sunset, she’ll jump to the sky.