Mind over Muscle - Chapter 1

[rextorres]

Hey all! This is my first story that I've posted on this site in over a year. Feedback will be welcome!

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Mind over Muscle
By Rex Torres ([email protected] web http://www.superfantasystories.com/ )

Chapter 1: Conner?s Reward

Frank and Janice Vander Steen had finally made time to go on a vacation to Aruba. Frank had worked all year long as a sales representative for a large furniture store in Thomasville, which is a city in southern Georgia, while saving up for this trip. Janice has worked all year round as a fifth-grade school teacher at a public elementary school, so this opportunity to get out of town couldn?t have come at a better time.

Not only were Frank and Janice looking forward to some time to relax, but they also needed to leave behind the pressures of work. They had just had a stressful year behind them. Their fourteen year-old son Conner was confined to a wheelchair, due to a birth defect. He was a bright kid, but he never got to enjoy the use of his legs. They had purchased a new wheelchair, which Conner could steer using just a joystick in his left hand.

Their oldest son, Marcus, was seventeen years-old and he was on the basketball team at his high school. He was a tall, lanky kid; he was athletic and weighed about 170 pounds. He loved to go out to play sports and hang out with his friends, without having to worry about Conner. Unfortunately, he was often left at home, so he could care for his little brother. That annoyed him tremendously.

As soon as the Vander Steen?s had checked in at the hotel, located near the southern coast of Aruba, they wandered around the beautiful beaches. There was white sand everywhere. The weather was awesome, the sun was shining, and the cool easterly breeze blew into their hair.

Marcus immediately headed for the sandy beach, where he dove straight into the ocean so he could enjoy his first swim on the island. Frank and Janice just wandered around the small shops at the hotel, while they were pushing Conner?s wheelchair on the sidewalk.

After thirty minutes, Marcus came running towards them, soaking wet.

?Hey mom, dad! They have a small gym here for hotel guests! I want to go and have a short workout in there?? he said excitedly.

?Well, we want to go for a swim. You can go work out, as long as you keep an eye on Conner!? Janice told him.

?Awwww come on! I don?t want to have to watch Conner again! Give me a break?? he protested.

?Marcus! Conner is part of the family, too!? Frank said sternly. ?Just because you can run and walk and do all the things you want, doesn?t mean that we have to leave Conner all alone. He?s also on vacation! You have to take care of your little brother now and then!?

?Why can?t you watch him?? Marcus asked his mother.

?We?d like to wander around the shops. So, take Conner with you. We?ll meet you back at the hotel when we return?? Janice instructed the boy.

?Oh, alright?? Marcus grumbled, as he turned around to walk to the gym.

?Hey, Marcus!? Frank shouted at him.

Marcus turned around and stared at him in anger.

?Forgetting somebody??

Marcus let out a deep sigh.

?Come on, Conner? Follow me!?

?Okay? See you later, mom and dad!? Conner said cheerfully, as he pushed the small lever on the joystick forward, which made the wheelchair move forward, while following his older brother. ?Wait for me, Marcus!?

When Marcus opened the door to the gym, he patiently waited for his little brother to steer the wheelchair through the door. Once inside, Marcus filled out a sign-up sheet, so he could work out in the small gym, which was located on the property of the hotel.

Conner parked his wheelchair by the registration desk, where there was a small TV set. He watched TV, while his big brother worked out. He was bored to tears, but he didn?t want to say anything to his brother, because he realized that he would become very angry if he did.

After a few moments, Conner became thirsty, and asked for a drink of water. The receptionist told him that there was a water fountain, but it was outside, just a few yards away. The lady opened the door and allowed Conner to roll his wheelchair out the door.

?Just knock on the door when you get back, okay?? the lady said to the boy. ?I?ll open the door for you.?

?Thank you!? Conner said, as he started to ride down the sidewalk.

A few yards up ahead, he spotted the water fountain. He tried to take a short drink of water, but he was just too low to reach the spout. He was about give up and just turn around, when he spotted a young girl and an older man with dark skin. They walked up to him and greeted him.

?Bon bini? the girl said to the boy in the wheelchair. ?Do you need some help with that??

The older man noticed how Conner had to struggle to raise himself up so that he could reach the top of the water fountain.

?I?ll get you a cup so you can drink the water?? the girl said. She turned around and ran into the hotel, where she got a plastic cup from one of the restaurants. After a few moments, she returned with a plastic, red cup, which she held under the short stream of water, which came from the spout on top of the water fountain.

?Here you go!? she said, as she handed the boy the cup, which was filled with cold drinking water.

Conner drank the water, and stared at the girl when he was finished. The girl was about thirteen years old. She had long, black hair and chocolate colored skin. She was skinny; she had dark brown eyes, and a friendly face.

?Thank you so much for helping me?? he said to the girl.

?It?s our pleasure, my young guest. We?re here to help each other. Welcome to Aruba!? the older man said. He seemed too old to be the girl?s father, so Conner correctly assumed that he must have been her grandfather.

?Could you give us some money?? the man asked him. ?We?re very poor, and we won?t be getting any more money from the government for another three days??

?Well? All I have is one Dollar?? Conner said, reaching into his pocket on the side of his shorts. ?I don?t have anything else??

?It?s not the amount what matters?? the man replied. ?It?s the heart that is important! I can tell that you?re a very generous boy, indeed??

Conner took the Dollar bill out of his pocket and handed it to the older man.

?Do you have any wishes or desires, you would like to share with us?? the man asked him.

?Well?? Conner explained, as he bowed his head. ?I realize that I?ll never be able to walk. I just wish that I could be more helpful to my big brother Marcus??

?Why is that??

?Marcus is really big into sports and working out? he continued. ?I just wish there was some way I could do something to help him and his friends. I feel so useless sometimes, just because I?m stuck in this wheelchair??

?Don?t say that! You?re not useless at all!? the girl replied.

?My boy? You?re not useless! On the contrary, you are very giving and very loving? The spirits like to work through souls like you?? the man said in a soft voice. ?You have proven your generosity by giving me this money. You have passed the test!?

?Test? What test?? Conner asked.

?We can make you very useful towards your brother and his friends!? the girl added to her grandfather?s comments.

?What? How?? Conner wondered out loud.

?My boy? You?re very selfless? Your wish is to help others rather than to help yourself! This is precisely what the spirits are looking for? Yes? You will do great things!? the man whispered to the boy. ?You will change the lives of many? I can feel it!?

For the moment, Conner got scared. What were these two people talking about? What were they going to do to him? What was all this talk about spirits supposed to mean?

?Don?t be afraid! Just tell us: What is your brother?s wish?? the girl asked him.

?He?s always talking about playing sports, becoming bigger and stronger, and working out in the gym. He?s just obsessed with having big muscles? But, how can I help him??

?If you can call upon the spirits, my boy, then you can help your brother, his friends, and anyone else you?ll meet, who can use your assistance!? the older man responded.

?But, I?m stuck in a wheelchair. I can?t do anything?? Conner said dejectedly. ?I?m nothing but a handicapped kid??

?Ahh? But, you have your mind, and that seems to be working fine!? the girl replied. ?You?re a very smart and intelligent young man!?

?My? My mind? What do you mean?? Conner asked. He began to get nervous.

?Can you imagine what your brother would look like, if he were suddenly to grow bigger and more muscular?? the man explained. ?Or, could you imagine him growing bigger and taller? Or, becoming older or even younger??

?Yes?? Conner pondered. ?But, that?s just in my mind? Those are just fantasies!?

?What if your wishes were to become reality? What if you could change how other people looked, by just using your mind? What if you could manipulate the muscles and the bodies of your brother, his friends, and just about anyone else?? the girl said in all sincerity.

?That?s impossible!? Conner shouted. ?You two are crazy! Nobody can manipulate the muscles of others by just thinking about how they should look! You?re insane!?

?The spirits can make it possible! I can assure you!? the man said. ?I can give you the power to call on the spirits, by simply using your mind? Would you like to be able to do this??

Conner sighed deeply.

?Sure? Why not? What do I have to lose??

?Consider this gift as a reward for your generosity?? the man said with a grin. ?You can?t use it on yourself, but you could use it on anybody else??

?Okay? I guess I could try it. So, what do I need to do?? Conner asked him.

?Just close your eyes and I will place my hand on your forehead. I will give you the ability to call upon the spirits, so you can manipulate others using your mind?? the man said calmly. ?You will command the spirits, and they will change, form, mold and sculpt any person?s body the way you order them to!?

Conner closed his eyes.

The man placed both hands over the boy?s forehead. He then spoke a few verses in a strange language, which sounded like a mix between Spanish, English, Dutch, and a local Creole tongue.

?Muchah homber generoso? Muchah homber sinsero? Mi ta dunabo eh poder di mandah eh spiritunan pah hasi lokeh boh tah mandah nan hasih pah boh? Kambia, kreseh, y yudah otroh hendenan kuh boh poder? Tur eh spiritunan tah bai hasi lokeh aboh keh feh awor? Esaki tah mi regalo pah boh, mi muchah? Huseleh bon?? the man spoke while resting the palms of his hands against Conner?s forehead.

After a few moments, Conner felt sleepy and dozed off. A few minutes had passed, when he woke up again, feeling hot and sweaty for sitting directly in the burning sun. When he opened his eyes, the old man and the girl were no longer there. He was still sitting in his wheelchair, in the same place, just besides the water fountain. What happened? Was it all a dream?

Conner just pushed the lever on his joystick, and allowed the wheelchair to ride back to the gym where Marcus was working out. He looked both ways, while riding back. He wondered if he would see the old man and the young, tanned girl again.

When he finally made it back to the gym, he tapped with his finger on the glass door, so that the receptionist could let him in. It felt good being inside again. The humidity on the island was very high, and the heat had caused Conner to sweat a bit. There was an air conditioner inside the gym, and he was happy to be back inside again.

Conner just looked on and smiled, as he watched Marcus finish up his workout on the weight bench. Somehow, he knew, in the back of his mind, that he now had the ability to help out his brother in ways Marcus had never dreamed of possible. Conner couldn?t wait to put his new ability to the test?

[rextorres]

OK Guys, here's something for you to think about:

Near the end of the first chapter, you'll read the following text in a paragraph. This is what the old guy says to Conner when he gives the boy his "power":

?Muchah homber generoso? Muchah homber sinsero? Mi ta dunabo eh poder di mandah eh spiritunan pah hasi lokeh boh tah mandah nan hasih pah boh? Kambia, kreseh, y yudah otroh hendenan kuh boh poder? Tur eh spiritunan tah bai hasi lokeh aboh keh feh awor? Esaki tah mi regalo pah boh, mi muchah? Huseleh bon??

The text is NOT made-up. It's REAL!! The spelling has been changed slightly in order to accomodate English readers.

Here are the questions:

1. What's the name of the language that this text is written in?
2. What's the English translation of the text in the story?
3. Where is this language spoken?

If you can answer all three questions correctly, then you are one VERY smart dude!

Have fun!!!!

Rex

[Ender]

Just a guess... Brazilian Portuguese and in starts with something like

Person/boy of great generosity? Person/boy of great sensitivity?

I did Latin back in high school but I've read a couple of books that have 'Brazilian' characters in them and it sort of 'feels' like that...

The books are 'Speaker for the Dead,' 'Xenicide' and 'Children of the Mind' sequels to 'Ender's Game' all by Orson Scott Card...

Ender

[biguglymofo]

Yikes, you beat me to it!

I just finished Ender's game and am about to start shadow of ender although I'm thinking of reading xenocide first. Anyhow, I guess I know where you got your screename from now, LOL.

[rextorres]

Wow, great guess, Ender... Close, but no cigar!

Hint: You will find some of the answers to these questions by visiting MY website.

Let's take a few more guesses!

I appreciate all your comments about the "Mind over Muscle" story. It's my first story, written for MGS, in over a year.

I normally write kids' fanfiction/fantasy stories (eg. Superboy Jamie).

You can read my stories here:
http://www.superfantasystories.com/

Rex
tf_wizard on Yahoo IM
author, novelist, programmer

[Ender]

Originally Posted by biguglymofo

Yikes, you beat me to it!

I just finished Ender's game and am about to start shadow of ender although I'm thinking of reading xenocide first. Anyhow, I guess I know where you got your screename from now, LOL.

I've read them all... Even Shadow of the Gaint... Speaker for the Dead is the second... but Ender's Shadow is concurrent with Ender's Game... It's Beans take on the events of Ender's Game and who/what Bean is...

Speaker For the Dead Skips ahead 3000 years... the wonders of Time Dialation... Ender and Val are in their 30's and Peter is long dead...

Ender...

[mutador]

Hi Rex,

I think the language is Spanish, easy for me to know cause I?m argentine Anyway I couldn?t get all the words, or either it is some dialect (Don?t think there is any), you made a good job of ?encryption?, or there are some mistakes J I?d point out if you wish, you have to be careful about automatic translations

The use of spanish is interesting, here we use ?vos? (boh), as well as in the caribbean countries like Colombia, they use it sometimes, preferred to the most common ?t??.

If I had to translate it, it would be something like this:
?Very generous man, very sincere man, I give you the power to command the spirits so what you command will be so for you? Change, grow, help others ??? with your power? Spirits will make this favour to you???? This is my gift to you, my boy, make good use of it?.

Well, still I don?t get to translate the exact phrases, some words like ?endenan? are weird?? what?s that?

Spanish is spoken in all Latin America except Brazil, in Spain and some small parts of Africa.

I think it was very fun on your behalf to do the little contest after the story.
It sounds like a really interesting beginning, looking forward for the next chapters.

I?d been reading some of the stories in your page, specially those of Tristan, the pdf file; and also about the boy that?s stronger than superman?I want you to know that I appreaciate them. I must admit super-kids are not my biggest turn-on, actually I prefer mature men in my fantasies, but I get to like pretty much anything with super-strength anyway; and your stories helped me spend a good time.

I see you have some elements repeating in your stories, like the beach, the family and specially the male brothers relationship; that?s good, you have a style already!

Well, greetings and Looking forward for the next installments!!

Mutador

[mutador]

Uhh checked your page, it 's papiamentu! I didn't know that language existed ...
nice to know new things man, it's not spanish, it was so similar, funny to read those "bo", we use that word here too


mutador

[rextorres]

Hi Mutador! Thank you for your reply!

You are 99% correct with your answers!!

1. The text is written in Papiamento (Or Papiamentu, as it is spelled in Spanish), which is the local language spoken in Aruba and on the other islands which form the Natherlands Antilles (including St. Martin, Curacao, and Bonaire).

2. Here is the text:
?Muchah homber generoso? Muchah homber sinsero? Mi ta dunabo eh poder di mandah eh spiritunan pah hasi lokeh boh tah mandah nan hasih pah boh? Kambia, kreseh, y yudah otroh hendenan kuh boh poder? Tur eh spiritunan tah bai hasi lokeh aboh keh feh awor? Esaki tah mi regalo pah boh, mi muchah? Huseleh bon??

Which means:
"Generous Boy... Sincere boy... I am giving you the power to command the spirits to do whatever you tell them to do for you... Change, grow and help other people with your power... All the spirits will go and do what you wish from now on... This is my gift to you, my boy... Use it well...."

3. The language is spoken on Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Martin. All are located in the Caribbean.

Enjoy the story!!!

Rex

[CanadianGordon]

I am very pleased to see a character finally in a wheelchair in one of the stories on here. And that he'll have a pivoital role in the story. Nicely done. I like the fact that he's intelligent and is aware of the world around him.

My brother, I know would probably do the same for me if he could. Assist me that is. He's selfless, and he's in a wheelchair. He has been his entire life..
Funny how different the world is when you can't do things the way everyone else goes about life normally... I think that makes sense.
Looking forward to the rest of the story.
Nicely done.
gordon.

[BB-61]

Say rextorres,
I visited your site, and I wonder if you've heard of Book Surge? They will print just about anything in almost any volume of prodcution you need.

You might want to consider self publishing.


http://www.booksurgepublisherservices.com/

[rextorres]

Hi BB-61!

Thanks for the tip about the publisher.

Actually, I've hired an agent, who has 90 days to find me a publisher.

I got another 30 days to go, and he hasn't found one yet...

Let's see what happens!

Thanks again!

Rex

[mestillcool]

I've just read through your story so far, and you truly are a gifted writer.Good luch with the whole publishing thing as i'm sure it would be a great success for you

[rextorres]

Thank you, mestillcool!

You can also read TRISTAN on my website, which is probably one of the LONGEST muscle boy stories you will find on the web.

The story is novel-length (over 109,000 words long) and you can download the PDF of it here:

http://www.superfantasystories.com/tristan.htm

Check it out!

Rex

[Ender]

Originally Posted by CanadianGordon

I am very pleased to see a character finally in a wheelchair in one of the stories on here. And that he'll have a pivoital role in the story. Nicely done....

For what it's worth... There are 'Wheelchair' weightlifters and bodybuild builders... I understand that it's not uncommon for guys to get into upper body training to help them be more independent (moving in and out of the chair for bed, bath, etc and make getting around in a unpowered chair easier) , and they get hooked on building the muscles they can use...

And there's wheelchair races, basketball and I'm sure more... Conner can still be a muscular jock...

Ender...

[Mdlftr]

Originally Posted by Ender

For what it's worth... There are 'Wheelchair' weightlifters and bodybuilders... I understand that it's not uncommon for guys to get into upper body training to help them be more independent (moving in and out of the chair for bed, bath, etc and make getting around in a unpowered chair easier) , and they get hooked on building the muscles they can use...

And there's wheelchair races, basketball and I'm sure more... Conner can still be a muscular jock...

Ender...

And soccer players, rugby players, fencers, swimmers....the list goes on.
Check out the Wheelchair Sports Worldwide Website:
http://www.wsw.org.uk/events.asp

Great character for the story!

Mdlftr

[rextorres]

I posted something different today. Check it out:

Shirtbusters
http://www.musclegrowth.org/forum/sh...3208#post23208

Enjoy!

Rex