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Summer 2024
“So I attempted to run 10 miles around the park close to our parents’ house, since I went home for the weekend,” Toby Ingram said over the phone to his older brother, Brody. “How did it go?” “Not as well as I had hoped. I think, at this point, I’m so used to being able to run up to 8 miles, that somehow I knew something was up around Mile 5.” “What happened?” “I noticed that my heart was beating really fast, and so I thought I needed to slow down a bit before going much further. I walked a mile to slow down my heart rate, and then I just chilled by the lake for about 15 minutes. After that, I was able to finish strong,” Toby replied. “Were you able to run the full 10 miles?” Brody asked. “I would say more or less 9 miles, but close enough. Then, as usual, on my way home, I got an iced coffee, and right now I’m at Mom and Dad’s house waiting for Dawson and everyone to come over.” “Yeah, sometimes around Mile 5 or Mile 6, I have issues with my heart pounding really hard, and I have to also slow down for a bit. McCalsky and I are training for the half marathon next year. So far, we are able to run up to 8 miles, walk 1 to 2 miles, and then finish it out. I’m not too worried about it honestly. I’m just there to have fun, not to win money or anything. But that would be nice.” “Yes, it would be,” Toby remarked. “By the way, why did you not go back to Crown Point with Dawson and everyone else?” Brody asked. “They had friends over last night. I’ve been back in Crown Point since last night because I wanted to run at the park. It’s been a minute since I’ve been there, and it’s one of my favorite places to run.” “Makes sense.”
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June 2016
“So, unfortunately, David can’t join us for tennis this afternoon,” Brody Ingram said on the phone. “Oh, sorry to hear that. He alright?” Levi Cranston responded on the other end. “Yeah, he’s fine. We’re worried that Toby might have a sinus infection. It started off as a cold, but he started feeling intense pressure in his nose, around where your sinuses are. And he’s been in bed all day today. David is gonna stay home with him and keep him company.” “He’s a good brother.” “I wish he could play tennis with us, but I think he and Toby will have enough fun playing video games,” Brody replied. “Yes, he will,” Levi said. “I don’t remember Toby being this down in a while. I had a small sinus infection a few years ago, and it knocked me down for at least a week or so.” “Yeah, a few years ago, my sister Vicky and I both had it, and it ruined our summers.” “It’s not fun. For me, it started off as a cold, and then it turned into that.” Summer 2024
Toby Ingram just came back from a run, and his girlfriend, Alyssa, was waiting for him at his apartment. They were planning to spend the evening in and watch goofy cartoons. He needed a breather before taking a shower, so he lay on the common area floor with Alyssa, and he lifted his shirt up to his chest, exposing his ribs and belly button. Alyssa then put her right ear against his upper stomach. “Jesus Christ, Toby. Your heart’s thumping,” Alyssa remarked. “Yup, I can feel it in my chest,” Toby replied. “You’re so hot and sweaty, too. How did your run go?” “I think it went well. Ran up Halsted through Boystown and back and then a little past Fullerton and back.” “How crazy was it today?” Alyssa asked. “It wasn’t bad. It’s gonna be insane next weekend though,” Toby said. “Oh yeah, that’s right. Oh, can you do me one favor?” “Yea?” “Can you tell me your middle name?” “You know my middle name.” “I do, but I want to hear you say it,” Alyssa said. “Alright, my middle name is Matthew,” Toby replied. “What is it again?” “It’s Matthew.” “Again?” “Matthew.” “I just love hearing you say your middle name.” “Sure.” “You’ve got a strong and sexy heartbeat.” December 2022
Toby Ingram and his girlfriend, Alyssa Riley, were hanging out at Toby’s Lincoln Park apartment. They were watching some cartoons until Alyssa noticed that Toby fell asleep. She decided to put her ear against his chest. Toby woke up and pulled his shirt up to expose his ribs and his belly button. He took a very deep breath. “Are you listening to my heart?” Toby sleepily asked his girlfriend. “Mhm,” Alyssa replied. “Is it fast?” “Yes. It’s also really steady.” “I fell asleep. Not sure how that happened,” Toby remarked. “Just relax and go back to sleep,” Alyssa said. “This is relaxing.” “I’m just relaxed listening to all that love flowing through your heart.” “Mhm.” “I also love how deep your heart sounds. It’s too precious.” Summer 2024
“So I attempted to run 10 miles around the park close to our parents’ house, since I went home for the weekend,” Toby Ingram said over the phone to his older brother, Brody. “How did it go?” “Not as well as I had hoped. I think, at this point, I’m so used to being able to run up to 8 miles, that somehow I knew something was up around Mile 5.” “What happened?” “I noticed that my heart was beating really fast, and so I thought I needed to slow down a bit before going much further. I walked a mile to slow down my heart rate, and then I just chilled by the lake for about 15 minutes. After that, I was able to finish strong,” Toby replied. “Were you able to run the full 10 miles?” Brody asked. “I would say more or less 9 miles, but close enough. Then, as usual, on my way home, I got an iced coffee, and right now I’m at Mom and Dad’s house waiting for Dawson and everyone to come over.” “Yeah, sometimes around Mile 5 or Mile 6, I have issues with my heart pounding really hard, and I have to also slow down for a bit. McCalsky and I are training for the half marathon next year. So far, we are able to run up to 8 miles, walk 1 to 2 miles, and then finish it out. I’m not too worried about it honestly. I’m just there to have fun, not to win money or anything. But that would be nice.” “Yes, it would be,” Toby remarked. “By the way, why did you not go back to Crown Point with Dawson and everyone else?” Brody asked. “They had friends over last night. I’ve been back in Crown Point since last night because I wanted to run at the park. It’s been a minute since I’ve been there, and it’s one of my favorite places to run.” “Makes sense.” June 2016
“Toby, you alright?” Brody Ingram asked his younger brother, whom he saw lying on the couch in the common area. “My head’s pounding,” Toby replied. “Sorry to hear that.” “Yeah, well, I did it to myself.” “What happened?” Brody asked. “Idiot me decided to go on a run after taking a week off from it with this damn head cold going on,” Toby replied. “How do you feel, aside from the pounding headache?” “I feel okay otherwise, a little tired. It felt really nice getting my pulse up again, but I think I started back at it a little too early.” “Maybe a little, but at least you got a workout in. Do you think it went well today?” “No.” April 2024
“I wish David Savino could come with us to Boston,” David Ingram said on the phone to his friend, Levi Cranston. “Yeah, poor nutjob is down with a bad cold,” Levi replied. “I know he and his roommates are all sick with a cold, and they hung out together in the common area and watched TV for the whole day.” “Didn’t you and your brothers do that once?” “Oh my god, yes. This was when Brett was a junior in high school, I was a sophomore, Brody was a freshman, and Toby was in fifth grade, I believe. Fortunately, Dawson was on his own by then, so he didn’t have to deal with whatever germs we may have had,” David said. “Yes, I remember that. You all had a bonding day in your common area by watching TV the whole day,” Levi said. “Yeah, it was actually not a bad day, given the fact that we were all sick. We were all in the common area, wrapped in our own blankets. We watched TV and played video games. Then we also ordered pizza for dinner.” “We’ve done similar when we were sick.” “I remember it actually worked out quite well, since my parents were celebrating their anniversary that day. We called ourselves the Sick Boys Club. Just because we all happened to be sick.” “Oh my god. You all crack me up.” Spring 2019
“Toby, you’re awake,” Brody Ingram said to his younger brother. They, along with their three other brothers, were in Door County, Wisconsin for a road trip. Toby was sick with pneumonia, so Brody kept him company while everyone else explored the area. “I had a really bad dream,” Toby replied quietly, he was lying on his stomach, with his arms wrapped around his pillow. His eyes were half open. “Like a fever dream?” “Yeah, I think that’s what it’s called. I thought you went on a run.” “I did, but I’ve been back for about an hour. I’ve been playing video games since then,” Brody said. “My heart’s pounding. Like not really fast, but it’s beating really hard through my pillow,” Toby remarked. “It was really scary, wasn’t it?” “Mhm.” “Take a deep breath, and if you need to squeeze my hand, just let me know. You’ll be okay.” “I hope so. That was probably one of the worst nightmares I’ve ever had.” “You gonna try to go back to sleep?” “I need to, really want to fight this bug off.” April 2017
“I love Toby to death, but boy oh boy, can he be a real dufus at times,” David Ingram said over the phone to one of his best friends, Levi Cranston. “Oh geez, what happened now?” Levi asked over the phone. “So Toby and his friend, Sav, were home from college this weekend. And Dawson and Toby were supposed to go to our grandma’s birthday dinner last night. Dawson and his wife, Daniela, came out and showed up on time. Toby, however, lost track of time, since he was out skateboarding with Sav and a couple other friends. And he showed up late of course, and then he really embarrassed himself at the restaurant.” “He can be a bit of a space cadet, is that right?” “Toby is by far one of the smartest people I know. All five of us boys are highly intelligent, but he has single-handedly challenged me on certain ideas that I would never have thought of, coming from my younger brother. But he has a tendency to be very absent-minded,” David replied. “That used to be me all the time as a kid, but then I changed my ways,” Levi said. “That’s all of us, to be honest. Our grandma requested that they all dress a little nicer since it was her birthday. I think Toby forgot to set his alarm to the time that he was supposed to get ready for the dinner. He spent too much time skateboarding with his friends that Dawson called him and asked him where he was. Then, Toby panicked and had Sav drive him to the restaurant. He showed up to the restaurant dripping in sweat and exhausted. He also had his skateboard with him, and our grandma called him out in front of everyone.” “I’m sorry that he had to deal with that. Happened to me a lot as a kid, so I can relate.” “Everything is fine now between Toby and our grandma. She can be a bit unreasonable at times. But in the end, she wants what’s best for us, and she wants us to be happy. But Toby did tell me that he felt so bad that he wanted to crawl into a hole at the dinner.” “Why weren’t you at the dinner?” “Oh for god’s sake. Brody and I are now in San Francisco, and Brett is in Brooklyn.” |
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