Welcome Back to Cappuccinos! Part 17
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Unfair Righteousness
The sun was obscured by a light scattering of clouds as Venti, Art and Earl walked to the restaurant. "It's times like these I don't miss the weather in Alabama," Venti said. "You know how often I'd get to see sights like this down South?"
"I know what you mean, son," Earl said. "The times we do have weather on the west coast makes me appreciate it a lot better." He looked over at his son, then added "So, are you going to have any more bodybuilding photo shoots?"
Venti closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, he stared straight ahead. "I don't know, Dad. It feels kind of weird posing for a camera and pretending to lift heavy weights."
Earl arched an eyebrow at that. "You mean those weights aren't real?"
"No sir," Venti said. "I think they stopped using the real ones after a famous bodybuilder injured himself doing a heavy barbell squat."
"It's just as well. It's indecent for you to be having photos of you wearing nothing but a posing brief."
Venti grinned. "Did I ever tell you why I never compete, Art?"
"I thought it was because you'd get tired of winning first place all the time," Art said, responding with a grin of his own.
"You're adorable," said Venti, "but no, Dad here wouldn't let me compete when I was buff enough because of his belief of indecency."
Earl chuckled. "That wasn't the only reason, son."
"Oh, I was just getting to that, sir. You also thought I could win too, but that I was too young to handle the stress of being a pro bodybuilder. And you know what? As unfair as I thought you were at that time, I would bet you that you were right."
"Wait, what? You admit you might not handle being a superstar?" Art said. "When did you get replaced by a pod person?"
Venti scooped up Art and tossed him onto his broad shoulder, carrying him like a sack of potatoes. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted," he said, "I was only eighteen, even if I had a great body. I don't think I was mature enough then, and I guess I never got the interest later in life."
"Yeah, sure," Art said, thumping Venti's broad back with a fist. "Now can you put me down before all my blood rushes to my head?"
"I don't know," Venti said. "I don't think you've learned your lesson not to be so uppity to me."
"And I never will," Art said. "Someone has to put you in your place since your parents aren't around."
"Well, I have been thinking of retiring closer to Venti," Earl said.
Venti put Art down so quickly, the lion needed help to steady himself for a full five seconds.