A few years ago, I was working out at the gym when a group of three teenage boys, around thirteen or fourteen years old, walked in, laughing and joking as they entered.
Teenager #1: Shouting “We’re here to challenge you for the Gym Badge! Send out your Pokémon!”
Their laughter filled the room as they repeatedly shouted their challenge, clearly having a blast. Most of us just carried on with our workouts, trying to ignore them, but one trainer began walking over to engage. He later told me he was planning to play along and tell them they could “earn a badge” if they beat him in something like a stair-stepper challenge.
However, before he could even get close, one of the boys got too excited. He swung his arm around dramatically.
Teenager #2: “Karate chop! AUGH!”
Unfortunately, he made the mistake of trying to chop the metal side of a machine with all his might. The result was exactly what you’d expect—he bent over, clutching his hand and crying out in pain. His two friends panicked, turned on their heels, and bolted out of the gym.
Trainer: “Oh, s***. Are you okay?”
But the injured teenager didn’t stop to answer. Instead, he rushed out after his friends, still clutching his hand.
Then, a seventy-year-old regular who was walking on the treadmill couldn’t help but comment.
Old Regular: “Workout Machine used Being Made Of Metal. It was Super Effective.”
That line sent everyone in earshot into fits of laughter. The trainer stepped outside to check if the teen needed help, but by the time he got to the parking lot, the trio was long gone.
