Sowing Wild Oats, Ch. 1: You're not young forever

"Hi Rob, why so glum? What's up?", Rick asked as he joined his friend in
the coffee shop.

"Not much. I'm bored - no plans for the weekend. Darryl's gone home,
along with most of the rest of the world.", Rob droned, playing with his
coffee.

"Yeah, I know what you mean, my roomie's gone too. I've nothing on after
I finish work tonight. Got a bit of studying, but I'll likely finish
that while working. Wanna hang this weekend?"

"Sure, but we've gotta come up with something interesting...", Rob
trailed off.

"You sound like it's more than just this weekend."

"Nahh, ...,  well, yes, it is. I graduate this year and then it's onto
that 'ladder of success', and I think I'll be bored for the rest of my
life."

"Are you sure you're OK? You sound depressed. Why not play some tennis
at eleven to get those juices flowing? Can you hang on that long?". Rick
had thought of pubbing, but not with Rob sounding so down - it could get
really maudlin.

"Tennis? Sure, maybe I just need some exercise to get my head working
again. Maybe by then we'll have come up with something to do. My uncle
was saying college was the best time of his life and he did things then
he still thinks about today. I've only got this year, and nothing really
memorable, ..."

"Come on now, you've got lots of friends, and most of the time we have a
great time. What sort of things was your uncle talking about?"

"That's part of the problem, He wouldn't say anything more than that if
he tried the same things any other time or place, he'd be in jail, but
he looked real nostalgic and had a big grin. When I tried to get him to
open up, he told me I'd have to figure it out myself and come up with my
own adventures, but that when I'd had a few, he'd tell me about his. He
said copying someone else's adventures was as boring as doing nothing,
but I should get my mind in gear and sow wild oats while I had the
chance."

"He must be some sort of wild and crazy guy."

"Not really. He's fun and has a great sense of humour, but he's as blue
chip as my Dad. So, I figure I'll end up the same way. But, he obviously
wasn't always that way. I must be old before my time." Rob looked even
more depressed.

"Nonsense! We just need to be creative and come up with something. I
think you're right - this is the year. My Dad asked me this summer if
I'd done anything yet I couldn't 'tell the old man', and when I said no,
he looked disappointed. That was weird. Maybe we're expected to do
something crazy? Anyway, I must head off to work - let's both try and
think of something memorable to do and we'll talk about it tonight. See
you on the court."

Rob looked up, "Yeah. I'm gonna cream you again, you know." He grinned.

"Now that's better. Don't be so sure - I've been practising. Bet I'll
beat you this time." Rick moved to the door.

"What you wanna bet? Loser buys the beer?"

"Let's go for bigger stakes - we'll decide before the match. I have to
go..." and Rick went off, leaving Rob wondering what he should suggest
for stakes.

... continued in Ch. 2: The bet

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