“So, you’re just gonna sit around and… paint all day long?” asked Chris.
“Yeah,” Michael responded calmly, stepping back from his painting for a moment before dipping his brush in some paint and adding a few final touches, “Why?”
"It’s just… I don’t know. I figured since you used that muscle growth powder and got all big and muscley, you’d spend more time at the gym, or you know – don’t you have another bodybuilding competition lined up or something?”
“Yeah,” Michael said, barely turning away from his artwork to motion towards the small collection of bodybuilding trophies on his bookshelf, “I guess so. But I mean, I’ve already done all of that stuff. It was cool, I guess. But I haven’t gotten to paint in a while, you know. I kinda just want to do that.”
“Um…” Chris said, “OK. But don’t you feel like you’re kind of wasting it all?”
“Wasting what?” said Michael, honestly.
“That body, man! The muscles! The good looks! I mean, you’re a total stud, man!”
“I suppose so,” said Michael, “But you could be too, if you used some of that muscle powder. I think you’d like it. But me, I’m just kind of over it. Actually, I’m kind of thinking of using the reversal powder and just getting rid of all this.”
“Wow, man,” Chris said, “I never thought I’d hear you say that, the way you used to talk about how bad you wanted to be a big muscleguy, be in bodybuilding shows and everything… But I mean, hey, I guess you’re just happier… being yourself.”
“I guess so,” said Michael, “Funny, isn’t it?”
Christ sat on the couch for a few moments, watching as Michael quietly finished his painting.
“Um, hey – ” he finally said, breaking the silence, “So, I guess you’re not going to be needing the rest of that muscle growth powder then…”