433 Follow-Up Calls (1/2)

In the Ironman Training Center, Jones sat in front of the phone expectantly with a name list in his hand.

The 24-hour Frogman Challenge had ended, but Jones' work wasn't over yet. He had to make some follow-up calls with students to make check whether or not they had passed the Challenge, and thus check the outcome of his work.

Jones was looking forward to the results of the follow-up calls. He was like a man with a lot of lottery tickets waiting for the winning numbers.

I don't know how many students have passed the 24-hour Frogman Challenge. It is very difficult. I can gain a footing here if 40% of the students can pass, which would be excellent. I might get an extra bonus if half of the students can pass. And if 60% of the students passed... No, that's hardly possible. I don't think any training center in Los Angeles can achieve that.

Jones dialed the first phone number on the list as he was thinking about all this.

”Is this Mr. James? Hello, I'm Coach Jones of the Ironman Training Center. I'm calling to ask if you have passed the 24-hour Frogman Challenge?”

”No! I quit during the 8-kilometer swim because of exhaustion. It's really a shame...” said the voice.

Jones hung up the phone and was in a bad mood. He had expected a piece of good news in his first call-back. But it didn't come. The first student didn't pass the challenge. However, he calmed down and dialed the next phone number.

”Mr. Garcia, I'm Coach Jones of the Ironman Training Center. I am calling to ask if you passed the 24-hour Frogman Challenge? No? Sorry to hear that...”

More terrible news! The optimism in Jones's eyes had disappeared, and nervousness began to grow in his heart.

Calm down. I will get good news in my call to the third student according to the 40% probability of passing. Jones then made the third call.

”Mr. Davis, I'm Coach Jones of the Ironman Training Center. I'm calling to ask if you passed the 24-hour Frogman Challenge? Not you either?”

And the student named Davis suddenly asked, ”Are there many students who haven't passed the competition besides me?”

Jones immediately realized that he had leaked the information and he explained at once, ”The 24-hour Frogman Challenge is very difficult. And the pass rate is not high. In fact, most of the participants cannot fulfill the competition. Don't be discouraged, Mr. Davis. Just keep training and I'm sure you'll be more likely to pass next year.”

Suddenly overwhelmed by negative emotions, Jones hung up the phone. He stopped for one more minute to get back his courage to dial the fourth phone number.

”Hello, Mr. Pop, I'm Coach Jones of the Ironman Training Center...”

What waited for him was another piece of bad news. The fourth student did not finish the competition.

Bad luck today. All of the first four guys didn't finish the Challenge. But I feel that the good news is on its way. Jones blamed the defeat on his luck and tried to comfort himself. And then he made the fifth call.

But another ”I quit the competition” welcomed him.

He made six calls. None of the six people passed the 24-hour Frogman Challenge. He expected a good result six times and was disappointed six times, too. The disappointment engulfed him, and he felt more and more lost.

What's going on? Six people and no one passed! Is the 24-hour Frogman Challenge so difficult?

At that moment Jones still hadn't realized that it was the problem of training that stopped the students from finishing the challenge.

Looking at the name list in his hand, Jones was so worried about receiving another piece of bad news in the next call that he didn't even dare to pick up the phone and call the next student.

What I need now is a piece of good news to encourage myself. Jones then searched the list and found the name Cruise.

I remember this guy, Cruise. An excellent sportsman with blonde hair. He will have finished the competition!

Thinking about that, Jones skipped the other phone numbers on the list and dialed Cruise's phone number first. And after a long wait, Cruise answered.

”Is this Mr. Cruise? Hello, I'm Coach Jones of the Ironman Training Center.”

…

Cruise walked into the restaurant to see the fat guy, Hassel, in the corner.

In front of Hassel were two big plates full of food. And Hassel was eating happily with his knife and fork.

He has gotten much thinner since we last saw each other a few days ago. It seems that the physical training class he attended was effective to some extent, Cruise thought and then walked towards him.

”You are much thinner.” Cruise sat facing Hassel and pointed to the plates to ask, ”But you will be as fat as before if you keep eating so much.”

”I was tired to death because of the damn competition. I slept for a whole day and a night to recover. And my training before! It felt like being in hell. It was not easy for me to go through all this. So, eating this is my reward to myself,” the fat guy said as he kept eating.