Een goede dag in de sportschool

Tom is a very active man. He is forty-five years old and lives in a small town in North Brabant. During the week, he works at the office as a project manager. In his free time, he likes to exercise and he likes to play sports. His favorite hobbies are cycling and fitness. He likes to feel strong and healthy. Every day he tries to do something active.

It is Saturday morning. Sunlight comes through the window and Tom wakes up early. He stretches and feels ready for the day. “Today I’m going to the gym to train my legs,” he says to himself. He eats a healthy breakfast with fruit, yogurt, bread, and a protein shake. He needs energy for today’s workout.

Then he packs his gym bag. He puts on his favorite workout clothes and feels excited. For an extra boost, he drinks another cup of coffee. The gym is not far from his house. Tom rides his bike there. The air is fresh and cool, and he enjoys the short ride. He thinks about the exercises he wants to do. When he arrives, he puts his bike by the door. He feels full of energy and ready to start.

Tom walks to the entrance and takes his gym pass. He scans it at the gate, but nothing happens. He tries again, but the little light turns red. On a small screen it shows: “Card declined.” Tom is confused. “That’s strange,” he thinks. He knows he paid his membership last week. He tries one more time, but it still doesn’t work.

Tom feels a little awkward. Other people walk past him into the gym. He steps aside and checks his phone. Is there something wrong with his payment? He opens his banking app, but everything looks fine. He starts to worry a bit. “I really want to train today,” he thinks. Then he looks at the front desk and decides to ask for help.

At the desk, a friendly staff member smiles at him. Her name tag says “Maria.” She says, “Good morning! Can I help you?” Tom explains the problem with his card. Maria checks her computer and types for a moment. Then she looks up and says, “Ah, I see the problem! We just need to update your account in the system.”

Tom is relieved. Maria asks him to wait a minute. She clicks a few times and says, “Done! Try it again now.” Tom walks back to the gate and scans his card. The light turns green and the gate opens. “Perfect!” he says. He thanks Maria for her help. She smiles and says, “Enjoy your workout!” Tom is happy again and walks inside.