With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

For close to 10 years I have been a member of the local rowing club.  My outrigger canoes, k1s and surfskis have all lived in the historic shed.  I was always the odd ball, the non-rower, but over time I was accepted (ish) into the clan.  I am not on the water much anymore, but I still use the gym and do my best to keep up with the regulars on the erg.

The rowing club is not a fancy place, just enough to get the job done.  Many of New Zealand’s rowing elite have trained at the club and their pictures and stories adorn the walls.  Much of the equipment is rusty and only a fool would go near the place in a white shirt.  The rowing club is a place of serious work.  Rusty, serious work.

Club members are issued a key that is sacred.  The key allows us to keep our own hours which is of course the glorious benefit of membership.  Do what you want, when you want.  The keeper of these keys has little tolerance for any tomfoolery.  Should a club member misplace a key, that member is forever besmirched.  As punishment, lost keys seem to take months to replace, in addition to the $10 replacement fee.  Oh my…

The club is run by a group of veteran rowers.  A rowing mafioso of sorts.  It is unwise to cross the club officials as their power is absolute.  The key guy is part of the mafioso.

In the early hours of this morning I was in the gym, rust covered hands, doing my thing. I was approached by one of the club officials.  I sensed a turning point was looming.  The veteran rowers were soon to depart for the World Masters Games in Italy (of course) and they needed my help.  Feeling that I was about to be invited to join the inner circle, I jumped to my feet.

I was given a special key though it was made clear this was a temporary loan.  I was half expecting a blood oath or secret handshake to follow.  I was told the mafioso would be away for five weeks and in their absence someone had to keep an eye on things.

The instructions were precise.  Every other day I was to use the special key to ensure the supply of toilet paper was at an acceptable level.  The high school rowing programmes would be commencing soon and failure was not an option.

While the responsibility is not trivial, I believe I can exceed expectations and conduct myself with distinction.  My ascension has begun.