I Am Ben's Brother

1. We Went Running

When we got to the running trail, son-Ben took his book and found a spot to sit down by the water. Brother-Ben and I took the dog and started off at a slow jog. The slow jog part was my contribution.

So here we were, jogging around Town Lake. He was marvelling at the scene: the breeze, the dogs on leashes, the people.

Look at the people running, kept muttering. You don't see anything like this in Chicago.

He was enjoying this.

2. Familiar Faces

Somewhere around mile two, we began to pass people he knew.

Do you understand what I'm saying? My brother comes to visit. We go jogging. And he sees friends along the trail.

Admittedly, he was here for a sports medicine conference. And the hotel was close to the lake. And their sessions got out early, today. So perhaps it wasn't surprising that he saw faces he knew.

But this wasn't just a few familiar faces he saw.

When we finished our first four mile loop, I was hoping Carl would be sitting on his usual bench at the stretching area. I was thinking that I could introduce him to Ben. But Carl wasn't there.

Just past the bridge, we passed Harold. He didn't see me, but I shouted his name as we ran by. He looked over his shoulder and smiled when he saw me. I think he even waved. But Harold doesn't know my name. I figure Ben could tell.

3. Are You Ben's Brother?

When we got to the pedestrian bridge, Ben decided that he wanted to keep going.

That'll make eight miles, I said. I don't want to run eight. I told him to go ahead -- that I'd wait on the other side.

Across the lake, I found a step to sit on. I knew it wouldn't be long for an extra mile at the pace he was wanting to run.

As I sat waiting for his orange Illini shirt to appear, a woman ran in front of me with a look of recognition on her face. I couldn't place her. She pointed at me. I still couldn't place her. She stopped running and came over.

Are you Ben's brother? she asked.

Yes. I am Ben's brother.

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