By midnight, Dick has once again slowed down his footwork. He has also nearly lost his balance twice. He is trying to hold the key as far away from the downpour as his arm will let him. His breathing is now labored as he alternates between standing still and marching with big, high steps on the stump. Across from him, Zach remains still, steady, stoic and silent.

Daniele again throws encouragement to her father, who is really trying to hold his own against a much younger and physically stronger competitor. Daniele tells Dick that he has been up there for over FIVE hours. Zach quietly hangs on, regularly glancing Dick’s way to check on him.

At half past 12am, Dick begins to alternately sway his right arm and hold it stiffly against his body. He has also come very close to the edge of his stump. Dick appears to sway and then catch himself as he rubs his aching legs that look like they may be cramping. Daniele tells him to be careful and tries to distract him from the agony by instructing him to say hello to her brother. Dick complies and says hi to Vincent.

The rain stops to give the men some respite, even as Dick pulls his legs back by the ankles one at a time to stretch. Daniele continues to tell him he can do it. Dick manages to tell Zach that he’s done a good job and admits that their task is difficult. At some point, Daniele whispers ‘I love you” to her valiant dad and tells him it has been SIX hours.

At 1am, the rain starts up again, with Dick now trembling at the mouth, shivering throughout his body that appears to finally be cramping and freezing up on him. The forty-something, smoker, rocker bartender and desperate dad looks like he’s hanging by his last and with every little ounce left in his being. Zach is still the silent, steady, unmoving and unyielding adversary on the other side of the rain-soaked garden.

Daniele keeps on giving her dad words of encouragement. She tells him repeatedly that he’s OK and is doing real good. She tries to tell him that Zach is hurting and just not showing it. She encourages him to hang on, reminding him that if he wins, they will have the power to choose who goes home.

By quarter past two in the freezing morning, Dick must be telling Daniele that he’s nearing his end because Daniele tells him, “Do whatever you want to, it’s OK.” Dick shakes his head as he stands trembling, while Zach marches in place, looking like he could carry on for hours. Ten minutes later, a defeated Dick finally succumbs to the physical torture and releases his hold on his key. Zach has emerged victorious in the first round of Head of Household (HoH) competition after nearly SEVEN and A HALF hours of unbelievable competition!


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-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of BigBrotherCaps)

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Posted by: Alex Fetcher | November 1, 2007 8:09 PM