At no time did I agree to this

"Ok," my friend said to me, "If you can make it to the top of the rope without slipping, I will give you 20 dollars."

"Seems easy enough," I said. I started to climb the tall rope that was in the gym. After getting up to a quarter of it my hands started to burn. I was panting and I just wanted this torment to end. I felt my grip loosening, but then a thought came into my head, 'No! You must not give up! Not now!'  I felt my resolve strengthening and my head cleared. I was filled with energy. I started to climb my mind focused on a repeated pattern. Hand, feet, hoist, hand, feet, hoist. I was unstoppable. I got up to a third of the way when I looked down. Then, my focus broke, my muscles strained. I was determined though and I climbed and climbed. I reached the top and then safely repelled down.

"That will be 20 dollars," I tell my friend.

"I don't remember shaking your hand to make it official," he said to me.

I walked away tired and frustrated. I must have used my entire body to its limit as I collapsed in exhaustion.


I guess I should tell you I climbed a 50 foot rope all for the sake of nothing. At least it felt like it was 50 feet. How ironic would it be if I told you I only had climbed 5 feet. Looking back, I should have shaken his hand to make it official.