'Iron' Mike Tyson once said "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
I used to think this was about losing, and specifically about me losing. I'd lost my dignity, self-belief and manhood. I was a beaten whelp of a man; no, a boy. I never felt I'd grown up enough to compete in the 'real world' and the Tyson quote was a reminder that I never would. The focus of this utter despair was my disfigured cock that I'd broken during an accident at, of all places, the Olympics.
The end of my cock had gone from a smooth bell shape to a hexagonal, cube-like shape about half as big again as it originally was. The shaft went from square, to oval, then round. It started thick at the end and went gradually thinner to the base. That's not the worst of it. It had two new bends, one directly down, and one directly up. It meant my dick made a U-shape. I tried to tell myself that it was thicker than before, but because of the bends it looked half the length. I'd nick-named it Frankencock.
Two years after my humiliation, I won an Iron Man competition at my first attempt as a novice competitor. Then, almost immediately, I had anal sex with a two-time gold medal winning Olympian. This should have been the beginning of a more positive outlook on life but no, it was further dig at my dignity. Despite winning against seasoned athletes, I didn't see myself as a winner. I'd beaten them for sure, but I'd not beaten my own feelings of inadequacy.
I'd fucked an elite athlete in the ass, and not just fucked her but much to both our surprise left her ruined -- but who could I tell? Who would believe me? Despite how amazing it was, and how thrilled I felt, it was like a punch in the face. I already felt like a fraud, and trying to explain this to anyone would have led to even greater mockery. The only positive from this whole sorry episode was that Esher 'Ezy' Bartlett didn't get to see the focus of my humiliation -- my broken cock.
However, the Tyson quote isn't about losing, it's about showing adaptability. Over the next few months I was about to learn a valuable lesson in adaptability, but right about now life was about to kick me down again.
When I arrived home late after the race my parents both assumed that it had taken longer to complete the race than average, so assumed the worse. I got a hug from mom and a 'good effort' from my dad.
So I was a bit sheepish when I said that I'd won, and both asked what I'd won. I tried to explain I'd won the race, and honestly, I don't think either of them believed me. Out of the sponsors holdall 'Ezy' had given me, I pulled out my medal and cup, and also the dirty sportswear Esher had been wearing.
I think both parents were speechless for a while, but as I sat down for second dinner, I made a footnote in the late news sports section bringing it all into sharp focus.
The following day was Sunday and I didn't do much, just rested. Mom continued to feed me like I'd never eaten before and dad seemed to want to say something but as always didn't. I think he wanted to say I needed to get a job, or do better at college, or both. As usual we avoided each other. I went to bed early, but heard heated voices as I fell asleep.
I was up early, before dawn. I had my usual massive breakfast and was out on the bike before anyone else got up. Riding is something that I loved doing, and found it easy to push myself to the upper limits of my endurance. It also helped me reflect on life which, personally, took ages for me to work out. From my ride I went to the local pool and swam when it was quiet. I generally swam for a couple of hours then I'd get a snack from the shop and run -- a long out and back loop before coming back, picking up my bike and cycling home.
By the time I got back home there had clearly been an argument and my arrival was a reminder. Dad asked me what I wanted to do with my life, mom said I was already doing it. Dad said I should get a job or go to university or both; mom said I didn't have to rush into any of that.
I left them to it. I trained to avoid all of this bullshit.
Monday evening I got a call from the local insurance company called Whiteleaf Insurance, the largest employer where I lived.
They heard that I was the 'local boy done good' and wanted to sponsor me. In fact, they had some sponsorship at the race and apparently I'd spoken to them after the race. I just hoped they had left before I ended up with 'Ezy' in the Portakabin. She screamed out enough to leave me with a ringing in my ears.
The call was over an hour, and at the end of it they'd offered me a pick-up truck, fuel, travel expenses to and from the race, and some race gear including a new bike. In return, I'd need to do some publicity, meet their staff for a presentation once a month, and absolutely and under no circumstances damage the pick-up truck. Not even a parking accident. Not so much a scratch.
By the time I was off the phone, I was pretty excited. Mom was elated; dad less so. They wanted to meet me at the local outdoor pool for a presentation the following Saturday. I was to get my wheels, both two and four, and some sponsored sportswear.
On Monday I started my usual training routine; up before dawn to ride, then a lunchtime swim in the outdoor pool, then a run, then a ride home. Today was different though. I arrived at the pool and locked my bike up. The pool manager and team came out, and as I tried to pay, he said that until further notice, access to the pool was free. As I walked to the changing rooms, people started applauding. I got changed, and by the time I came out the pool was lined with people who not only clapped, but cheered too. I wasn't sure how to respond, so put my goggles on and dived in. However, I usually dropped into the pool and then put my goggles on. So when I dived in, they pinged off my head as I hit the water and sank to the bottom of the pool. I didn't know what to do, so I put in some lengths with my eyes stinging, then got out well short of the 5k swim I usually did.
Before I could dry off and get changed the manager came up to me. He said that he wanted to offer the use of a private changing room. I'm all for a free upgrade. He explained how the alarm and keys to the pool worked so that I could swim whenever I wanted. I signed some forms in his office and explained that I was going to get sponsorship from Whiteleaf. He said that they'd already called him and arranged a presentation ceremony for this Saturday.
He showed me the private changing room. There was enough space for some fancy lockers, two huge showers, luxury towels and equipment storage. The lockers had a drying feature for wetsuits and there was bike storage with a lockable hook. Before I could try out the shower and put some clothes after my swim on I was given a staff swipe card. On the wall next to the pool I'd got my own name to say I was 'on duty' to tell everyone I was swimming.
As we returned poolside the staff lined up and applauded me. I flushed as red as the lifeguard uniforms the staff wore. The manager, Ash, introduced me to each of them. I was still in my speedos, which were basically a tiny strip of nylon and lycra. Each time I shook hands with the female staff, they all gave me a look up and down which embarrassed me as I was trying to remember their names and not feel my cock stir.
After saying goodbye I finally tried the shower out and changed to cycle home early. Mom fed me as I got in and I explained what had happened at the pool, excluding getting looks from the female staff. Mom said that she'd try and get down to the pool to support me, and I wondered how she might feel if the female staff were keeping a 'close eye' on me.
That night I decided to rearrange my training regime using the pool as a start and end point, and so I'd start with a swim, then change and go out for my cycle, then return back to change for a run. I planned on training for the next Iron Man which was just a couple of months away which I should explain. Anyone over the age of 18 can compete in an Iron Man, but if you've not done one before you start in the open category where I'd completed from and won. My next race would be in my age category, 18-24 and I was hoping that Whiteleaf Insurance would help out with the cost.
I cycled to the pool early in the morning, arriving just before 6am. As I got there, the front gates were already opened and after a quick check of the panel found the alarm was disabled, which was a relief. After a quick look around I could see the cleaners getting ready to start their shift. I headed to the private changing room. I only needed to get changed, so I fished out my speedos and goggles and placed them on the changing room table before taking off my cycling shoes. I then pulled off my cycling shirt and dropped my shorts.
"Erm, hello?" A tiny voice squeaked from behind me.
I grabbed my shorts and covered myself before turning around to see who it was.
"Sorry, hello?"
The door opened a crack and I could see a mop of red hair. Was it Chrissy or Christina?
"Oh, morning Andy. Can I get you a, erm, hot drink?"
Not sure what the right answer was, I took a page from the book of good manners.
