|
|
Post by The BombTrax on Aug 20, 2016 4:19:22 GMT
One (1) Role Play Max
Final Role Play Deadline: Wednesday August 31st, 2016 @ 10:59 PM CST
Segment Deadline: Tuesday, August 30th, 2016 @ 11:59 PM CST
{MAIN EVENT}
Fatal Fourway Elimination Match
Annabel Lee versus Kelsey Spencer versus Leon Cashmere versus Rachel Ellsworth
|
|
|
|
Post by Kelsey Spencer on Aug 28, 2016 0:30:17 GMT
"These Walls Are Cold"
“Where can I put my clothes, Kelsey?”
“I dunno. Anywhere you can find space, I guess.”
Space is something that's scarce in this tiny one-bedroom apartment. Everything I own is scattered all over the place - some of it's in boxes, but most of it's not.
Who would’ve thought we’d ever be here? I certainly didn’t. Living with my biggest rival in a tiny apartment in New Orleans; just the thought of that a couple of months ago would be absolute insanity! We were at each other’s throats, trying to settle our personal issues with a match - as you do in this industry - and now we’re roommates, because neither of us can really afford to live on our own right now.
Rebecca Saint was the founder of Saint City; an organisation that was dedicated to helping children that didn’t have any other place to go. On the surface, that sounds pleasant, but some would argue Miss Saint had a hidden agenda to brainwash America’s youth, turning them into mindless drones to carry out her bidding. Saint City was a cult, more or less.
I’m still a little unsure of the details; I know Becky had a falling out with her family and they “banished” her. I didn’t think to ask much about it, as she was pretty upset at the time - I know there’s a whole lotta people out there who are going to think I’m crazy for letting someone like that into my home, but I guess that’s just the kinda person I am. I saw she was struggling, and I offered to help; no-one deserves to suffer, and besides, we were friends once before. Maybe we can turn it around and become friends again? Maybe this tough time in both of our lives can serve as a bonding experience, bring us closer together. People change people, after all.
“Gosh, you don’t have many clothes…” I comment, taking a look at what she’s stuffing into the 4x4 wardrobe.
“Most of it’s still back on the island,” she responds, packing her un-ironed clothes away. “I didn’t go back after I left the arena.”
“Why don’t we just go and get the rest?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
“Oh, I’m not going back there…” she replies before letting out a nervous laugh. I can’t really get a read on how she’s feeling, because her back is turned to me and I can’t see her face - I guess even if I could see her expression, I’d still have trouble judging it. I’m not the best at identifying human behaviour. “Let them have their cake and eat it. I would rather move on with my life.”
“If you’re sure…”
She spins in her place and strolls over to me, placing her hand on my shoulder with a smile. “I’m done with them. All that matters now is getting my old life back - the one I had before this Saint City mess.” Her eyes trail away, fixating on something across the room - I follow her line of sight and quickly discover she’s glancing at the Saint City Championship belt draped over my worn, second-hand sofa.
This part’s a little difficult for me to explain, considering I’m not quite sure I fully understand it myself, but I’ll give it a go. The kids living in Saint City came from broken homes - abusive, neglectful parents; sometimes, maybe no parents at all. With nowhere else to turn, the children followed Saint like a false prophet. I suffered more than anyone from their antics, I think. It’s a story you’re probably all aware of - while I was away training in the Ukraine, Rebecca and her disciple Mimi broke into my mother’s home and assaulted her to try and get under my skin.
I’m never one to hold a grudge. I know that’s the kinda thing most people would never even consider forgiving, but I’m holding onto hope that my friend from years ago is still in there somewhere… And besides, I’d never turn my back on someone in need.
“What’re you gonna do with that?” I ask her. Her gaze doesn’t leave the shiny strap, and she doesn’t answer me at first.
“How much do you think I could get for hocking it?” She turns to me with a cheeky grin.
“Uhh… I dunno, I’ve never hocked anything…”
“Except a loogie off an overpass, yeah?”
“...What?”
She waves it off, placing her hand on my shoulder again. “We can worry about all of this later. Right now, how about you get changed out of those smelly work clothes and into your workout stuff… I promised I’d train you, remember?”
“How could I forget?!” I feel my cheekbones rise in a wide smile. You can learn the biggest lessons from your rivals, because they’re the ones who have spent countless hours studying your skill set, looking for anything they can use to take advantage. You can turn weaknesses into strengths. I think training with Becky will be beneficial for both of us.
The drive over there is a long, silent and awkward one. What do we have to discuss? "Wasn't it great when you and your daughter broke into my mum's house and beat her up?" "Hey, what about that time I tried to kill you in the middle of the ring?" The wounds are still fresh, it would all be way too hard to talk about - at least right now. I know we'll have to address these issues some day, but right now, getting along is more important for both of us.
“This is where you train?” Becky comments with a hint of disgust in her voice as we walk in the door of the tiny gym I frequent.
“Money’s tough,” I shrug. “This place is almost half the price of other gyms in this area.”
“I guess this is just going to take some getting used to,” she responds, placing her gym bag down and stretching out. She's spent most of her life in the lap of luxury; it's definitely going to take a little time for her to adjust. We retreat to some gym mats in the corner, where we start stretching to get limber for the grappling session ahead. “I hope you haven’t gotten sloppy in this time,” she comments with a sly smirk. “Because you know I won’t be holding back, right?”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” I return a smile of my own.
Some of the greatest matches I’ve had in my career have been with Becky, and I think that’s largely because we’ve grown to know each other so well as opponents; we know how to avoid each other’s strengths, exploit each other’s weaknesses, and thus bring out the best in each other.
I know training with Becky is going to be a lot different to my training with Annabel, for a number of reasons - for starters, Becky has been wrestling almost as long as I have, and that level of experience doesn’t come without a sense of aggression; there’s bound to be a lot of frustration built up from our previous encounter. Plus, Annabel’s my best friend, my tag team partner; my health is imperative to our success. Becky, however, has no vested interest in me; she certainly won’t be holding anything back.
We lock up hard, and I feel a slight jolt run from my bad shoulder and up my neck. I must have winced just a little because as soon as I know it, Becky’s behind me, wrenching a hammerlock.
“This birdy’s still got a busted wing, eh?” she whispers in my ear, taunting my injury. Before I make my move to squirm out, she lets go and gains her distance with a playful push. “Come on, don’t toy with me. I know you’ve got more than that…”
It’s an eye-opening experience - the target on my shoulder must be a lot bigger than I expected. The first lock-up in months between Becky and I, and she’s jumped straight onto it as if the rest of my body wasn’t even there. That’s definitely something I’ll have to work on.
She flinches a little as I retreat to a corner, suffering a coughing fit like I’m a chain smoker.
“Are you alright over there?” she asks, concerned. I nod my head vigorously while I combat the cough, finally getting it under control soon afterwards. “You sure you want to go through with this? You’re not well…”
“I’m fine,” I assure her, swallowing the gross, icky goo that came up my throat.
“We’ve gotta get out of that apartment before you get black mould poisoning.”
“I’m fine, Becky… I just haven’t had enough sleep, that’s all…” I return to a fighting stance - Becky hesitates for a moment, then returns to one of her own.
Minutes turn to hours as we throw every strike, hold and trick we can at each other. We've come to know each other's move sets so well that we can anticipate what's coming next; it's almost as if I'm wrestling against myself, the way we chain moves and counters together.
“Wow, Rebecca…” I speak up, forcing the words out of my body. We both stand breathless on the gym mats after an intense training session. My shoulder, while screaming in pain, is the last thing on my mind right about now. I can’t believe she was matching me move for move, hold for hold - it was as if she could climb into my brain and read what I was about to do next.
“I’ve been training almost non-stop this entire time, and we’re still on the same level… You must’ve been training just as hard as I have!”
“That’s possible,” she responds, taking a sip of her water. “When you defeated me last time, I was shattered. I started pushing myself harder than I ever have before.” She pauses for a moment and smirks. “You were wrong about one thing, though…”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“We’re not on the same level, you’re still better than I am.”
“I don’t understand,” I respond, slowly catching my breath back. “We’re both exhausted right now…”
“I let you wrestle yourself,” she says bluntly, to which I have no idea how to react. What does that even mean? I wrestled myself? “You have a bad habit of going all-out, burning yourself out while your opponent’s still fresh. It’s like boxing; all I had to do was hang back while you punched yourself out.”
Am I really that careless in the ring? I guess I’ve never given it much thought, I just sort of go out there and do what I do. Come to think of it, my style really is hit hard and often, not taking any time to devise a real strategy; I see an opening, I take it.
“Can you teach me how to slow down in the ring?”
She shakes her head. “I think that’s something you’ve got to discover on your own,” she says, drying the sweat from her body with her towel. “In fact, I don’t think there’s anything I can teach you that you don’t already know.”
“What? Really?”
“Yup. It’s pointless to have me as your mentor, it would just be a waste of your time and mine.” That’s disheartening. I was hoping she could help me break through my plateau and reach the next level, but she’s not interested. Maybe she’s concerned, after what happened the last time she became my “mentor”. “You know…” She raises a finger and brings it to her chin. “Even though I can’t exactly the train you effectively, I may know someone who can…”
I jump in my place with excitement at the good news. “Woah, really?”
“He’s the same guy that trained me. The only problem is, he lives in the UK.” Well, so much for that. I can’t even afford a plane ticket to go see my mother in Baltimore, let alone head over to the United Kingdom to meet this dude. “I’d gladly take you over there, if I had the funds.”
“That’s okay,” I shake my head slightly and smile. “We’ll get there one day.”
“You’re right. I think that helping your mother and ourselves should be the priority right now. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
---
“Bad Moon Rising was a hard night for me, both in the ring and out,” I announce to the camera. “I was exhausted before the bell even rang. See, I’ve been running all over town, scrambling to find a way to get ahead - to get on top of all these bills that just keep piling up. If America truly is the land of opportunity, I’m not seeing it.
Or maybe I’m just looking in the wrong place? Professional wrestling is all I’ve known since I was 17 years old - it was my first love, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do - and getting a standard job just re-affirmed that for me. I wanna make a living, and I wanna do that in this industry. Bad Moon Rising harbored a decent paycheck, don’t get me wrong… But to really earn the big bucks? I’ve gotta make it on a bigger stage - I’ve gotta win in the main event.”
I begin pacing on the spot a little, with a modest half-smile.
“Annabel and I won our match at Bad Moon Rising, which granted us entry into Addiction’s very first main event; a Fatal 4-Way Match. What that also means is for the first time, Anna and I will be on opposite sides of that ring.”
Slight pause.
“Initially, I looked at this as a punishment; I didn’t understand how winning a tag team match would lead to us being put in a match against each other. Anytime I’ve had to face friends in this business, it’s always led to dissension. But the more I started thinking about it, I realised that Annabel is unlike any friend I’ve ever made in my life - she’s genuine and pure, not a callous thought in her mind - and I both respect and admire that. But I also understand that she’s not someone to be taken lightly; a lesson I’m sure a lot of my PAW peers have learned the hard way. She’s demonstrated time and time again that she can reach down deep and defy the odds at will.”
I glance at the camera, with a smirk that’s accompanied by a chuckle.
“I wanna be careful with what I say here; my mouth has gotten me into trouble so many times, cost me many friends. Anna, while I respect you to the moon and back - you may just be my favourite wrestler in the world, even - I’m not gonna stand here all day and sing your praises; you already know how good you are. What took me 11 years to accomplish has taken you a small fraction of that. You were 13 years old when I started chasing this dream, and now look at us - sharing the ring with you these past few months has been amazing. You’ve taught me so much, and I hope I’ve done the same for you.
But we’ve gotta table that for now, because we’re going into this match on our own. Some of the best lessons we can teach each other will be as opponents. I’ve faced some of the best wrestlers in the world, and I’ve grown as a wrestler in my own right with each miraculous win and crushing loss. I don’t wanna come across like I’m trying to give you a lecture or anything Anna - because I’m sure you already know this - but you can learn so much from your opponents; only if you give the match everything you’ve got.”
I instinctively reach for my right shoulder.
“I know my bad shoulder will be in the back of your mind. You don’t wanna hurt me, I understand… But Anna, not targeting my bad shoulder would hurt my pride. I’d know that you’re holding back because we’re friends, and I don’t want that to be the way this match goes. I want an all-out wrestling war with my best friend; I want us to push each other beyond our limits. If something happens to me - if I end up injured, then so be it, we can deal with that later. I just want you to come at me with everything you’ve got Anna, and in return, I’ll do the same.
"
I shake my head a little, trying to get rid of the disgusting smell and taste stuck in my sinuses.
"Guys, please don’t mistake my focus on Annabel as ignorance,” I implore the viewer, as I sit on my usual box in my apartment, eyes locked on the camera lens. “I was just addressing the elephant in the room - Anna and I are the best of friends, that’s no secret - and it’s a big deal for us to be in the position we are this upcoming week, just as I’m sure it is for Leon and Rachel.”
I pause, glancing up at the black mould patch on the ceiling.
“I know I just gave Anna permission to target my bad shoulder, and by all means, follow suit; to a submission specialist such as yourself, Rachel, I’m sure the weaker parts of my anatomy are a topic of interest for you heading into the match.”
I raise my damaged arm, feeling that same jolt I usually do when I move it suddenly.
“It’s not exactly breaking news, but I have a bad shoulder from a few years back - had surgery to repair it and everything. But you may not be aware that I’ve come to embrace it as a part of me, and while it does get in the way sometimes, I’ve learned to work around it. You’re going to have to shake up your strategy a little in this one, Miss Atomic Redhead, because while I’m expecting Anna to avoid it, I’m anticipating you to pounce straight on that shoulder like a cat on a mouse. I’ve already got a few ideas of my own in this brain of mine, tucked away to counter what will no doubt be your relentless attempts to dislocate my shoulder.
What was it you said to me on Twitter the other day..? Oh, yeah… You said “wins ain’t all that prove your worth”. I take some offense in that statement - if it wasn’t for a win, none of us would even be in this match. Who knows where we would’ve ended up this week? We don’t need to worry about that, because we’re being showcased in a high-profile main event, thanks to our wins at Bad Moon Rising. Wins aren’t everything, but without them, our industry is meaningless. The winner of a match gets paid more, showcased in bigger matches, earns championship opportunities… Yeah, sending the fans home happy is important, and a priority for some, but who says we can’t do both?”
I shake my head slightly with disappointment; I can already tell my smile has faded.
“I don’t mean to sound rude, but maybe your lack of championships in this business has given you that false perception? I can attest, there’s no feeling like winning a championship - it changes you, like a domesticated dog tasting blood for the first time. You’ll do anything you can to taste that again; you’ll soon realise that while wins aren’t exactly everything, they’re exceptionally important.
I’m sure Leon Cashmere understands the importance of wins in professional wrestling - his Twitter biography lists him as a former ECWF and EWE Undisputed Champion. I mean, the guy’s obviously done a lot in this business. He’s also 6’4, making him much bigger than the rest of us in this match. We didn’t get to see too much of what he could do at Bad Moon Rising, but we didn’t need to - his imposing stature speaks for itself.”
I cough lightly into my balled fist.
“We’ve got a lot of diverse styles in this match, which is exciting!” I perk up. “These kinda matches are so unpredictable, which makes for a great show. I want the fans to have a great time, but not if I’ve gotta damage my health." I glance down at my hands resting in my lap. "Doctors have told me that if I want to avoid crippling pain later on in life, I should retire,” After a slight pause, I glance back up at the camera. “The idea of being in excruciating pain a decade or so down the track is scary, but not as scary as never being able to wrestle again. I’ve ignored them because I love this way too much to walk away. That being said, I…”
I’m suddenly unable to speak as a lump forms in my throat. Choking back my tears, I clear my throat and press onward.
“For Annabel, Rachel and Leon, there will be plenty of other main event matches. But for me, with this…” I tilt my head slightly to my injured shoulder. “...I’m not sure how much longer I can do this. One bad move, and it could all be over. There are still so many things I want to do in professional wrestling that I haven’t gotten the chance to yet; I’ve never been a Tag Team Champion, never main evented a pay-per-view, never wrestled a match with my mum in the crowd…
...and I’ve never been a Heavyweight Champion.
"
I screw my face up in repulsion of the foul odour in the apartment, as well as memories of interactions with my PAW locker-roommates.
"Jack Nomad doesn't see me as a serious threat, neither does Calvin Harris. I doubt Nova Wonder even knows who I am. Mercy & Sin walk in the door, make an example out of me and just move on with their lives like I'm nothing. I'm tired of it! I'm not some stepping stone people can use to further their careers. Winning this match will bring each of those dreams I listed earlier closer to becoming a reality - people like Nomad, Harris and Wonder will turn their heads in my direction - and that’s an opportunity I just can’t afford to pass up. While I may not be the fittest, the most technically-sound or the toughest wrestler in this match, I’ve got a heck of a lot more riding on it than anyone else. I’m going to win - I have no other option.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Leon Cashmere on Aug 30, 2016 3:41:12 GMT
The Long Way 'Round
“But where is your title, sweetheart?”
When Leon had come into the small kitchenette, just weeks removed from the birthday party they had for his father. His mother had wondered where his championship gold was. The problem was that Leon Cashmere hadn’t had a title over his shoulder in more than a year. With his mother’s mind showing the early signs of dwindling away with dementia, all Leon could do was smile grimly.
“Mom, you know I haven’t had a title in over a year and a half. That was in ECWF. I am in PAW now. You and pops should come down sometime and watch a show.”
While he said that, he said it only to make his mother happy. Leon knew that his parents wouldn’t be able to ever make that trip. Their health was too bad and the constant supervision his father needed with his cane and his mother needed with her mind was more of a task for three people instead of just won.
When he stepped into the small kitchen, Leon slid a backpack off of his shoulders. Wearing a tank top which was yellow and grey and a pair of comfy looking cargo shorts, his hair was long and wild today instead of tied up into its usual top knot. Putting the backpack down on the table he brought out a few things. One was a memory stick, the other was a folder with a black sharpie pin on top of it. As he tossed it down he walked over to the television and began fumbling with the laptop that sat right beside it to insert the memory stick.
“Do you want anything to eat, I can make some pancakes.”
Looking over his shoulder he gently smiled. Leon always knew if it would be a good day or a bad day if his mother offered him something to eat. The first few times he came back home and she didn’t offer him a bite, Leon was tipped that something could be wrong. They were working with doctors, Leon was told that anytime his mother reverted back or seemed normal then he needed to entertain that mindset.
Plus, despite it being 2:00 p.m on a Saturday. Pancakes sounded really damn good. A smile formed on his face as he looked back to her.
“Sure, ma. That would be great.”
After everything was set up, he made his way over to the kitchen table where he tossed open the manila folder and began scanning down the list of names with his pin. Three names were circled. Kelsey Spencer, Rachel Ellsworth and Annabelle Lee. Sighing his eyes flickered back up to the television as a video was loading. The film was grainy, but it was the tag match from last week which featured Spencer and Lee. Best friends.
“I sure hate to break up girls night…”
Leon muttered playfully as he looked down to his notes as he began scouting his opponets. The crowd roared for Annabelle. It hadn’t really been near the same reaction he had gotten from the crowd which caused a pang of jealousy in his stomach.
Had he lost his luster, had he lost his shine?
Gritting his teeth he squeezed the pen in his hand and then calmed down, his mother’s banging around of pots brought him back down to earth. Quickly realizing where he was he merely jotted down a note beside Annabelle’s name, but nobody but he could really read his handwriting anyway.
“What about girls, Leo?”
Leon shook his head and held up his hand as his mother began whipping up the batter for pancakes. He looked over his shoulder to see his mom leaning on the kitchen counter, her eyes trailing towards the television as well. It wasn’t the first time she had watched him watch film here. It had been passed down from his father to Leon.
There had been many of a time when Leon had come downstairs for a midnight snack or an early morning breakfast before his ring workout and his father would be there, right in front of the kitchen television where he sat where he would jot down notes and try and figure out his opponent. For a moment he pondered if PAW had put him in a position that his father had never been in. Four people, three of them strong, powerful women. The game had changed since Frank Cashmere had been in a wrestling ring that was for sure.
“Oh…I’m facing three pretty amazing women coming up in PAW. They’re trailblazers. They’re so young and full of life. I consider myself in my prime but I’ve never felt older standing next to them. I know it’ll be one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced. And that includes a ton of title matches that I’ll never remember when it’s all said and done.”
Leon heaved a heavy sigh. The weight of the world and anxiety creeping it. Slowly he dropped his pen and put his head in his hands. What had he gotten himself into? What if he was the first eliminated. Did it show him that he didn’t belong? Gently his mother patted him on the shoulder as she looked across the table and onto the film. Leon was right, everything about the girls exuberated energy and purpose. Leon could try to match that energy, but someone like Annabelle had so much it was hard to overshadow her.
That moment was when he deemed her the favorite in the match. Not the former champion of many companies. Not the one who had dropped 75 pounds in the last two years. Not the one who brought hype, but this little chick with a side ponytail was the favorite, and had been marked as the chosen one.
Tightly he squeezed the pen again.
“I’m sure you’ll do fine. Look, the pancakes are ready.”
Once again he let go with a deep breath.
Pancakes sounded great.
+++
It wasn’t the first time he had found himself here on a nightly walk. After his yoga routine and cardio workout, he never wanted to just plop down so most of the time he would take a nightly walk around the grounds of the little compound which seemed tucked away from society. Where they lived just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee was as secluded from the city as you could be. But if you looked to the east, you could see the lights from the city lighting up the sky. It was fun to pretend, and easy to pretend you were in the middle of nowhere.
The school usually remained open for those who were friends or students could come and get a workout in whenever they wanted to. Leon had popped the door open and walked in. The place resembled an old airplane hangar in a lot of ways. It was long and the dome was high. Down one side was littered in paraphernalia of old from Frank Cashmere’s legacy. Sprinkled here and there were photos of him or his brothers. One spot down at the end was dedicated to the success Leon Cashmere had seen, a few trophies and a handful of replica championship belts hung up.
Maybe he had come here to remind himself of who he was. It was now eating at him, deep inside of him that he may not be a favorite going into the match, that he was somehow being overlooked. It was hard to be humble when you had as much success as he had. As much as he wanted to boast and brag and scream about why people should respect him, he knew nobody in PAW would care nor understand.
It was a whole new world.
A brave new world.
“I don’t know…”
He started as he rubbed his chin.
“Maybe I come here to remind myself of why I thought I was special. Why I thought I was a cut above the rest. Why I once felt like the best in the world and now I feel like an afterthought. And I get it. I know I’ve only been in PAW for about a month now. I know I was victorious in my first match. But I see people like Calvin Harris and Nova Wonder tearing it up. I look at the top of the card and I know I could and should be there…And then I realize that maybe PAW doesn’t look at me as something special…So I guess I have to show them what makes me special.”
Grumbling lightly he walked up and down the long wall of fame, letting his fingers trail against some of the pictures in frames. Some of them he got off the wall and examined before placing it back up where it belonged.
“But what makes you special, Annebelle Lee? Hm? Some people, just by looking at the way you act with your best friend that you’re kind of special. Not in a good way. Your story has been told before. It isn’t cute, it isn’t adorable. Sadly, someone with so much potential as you has turned this into a fairy tale that it isn’t meant to be. How can anyone relate to someone like you? I’m jealous. You got to go to college. You got to break into the business with ease. You had the support of your father behind you. Meanwhile I had to take any bookings I could get. Often times I had to walk to a backyard or a parking lot to get the hell beat out of me for fifteen dollars…”
Slowly he opened his arms as if he were begging off in the corner, like he knew what the rebuttal would be. He was ready to respond.
“I get it, that’s a common trend in wrestling as well. But I’m not out here trying to make that my gimmick and something that I rely on. Your story is one that has been told a billion times, and just because you look the part? Doesn’t mean you have to soak it up. I’ve realized something in this match. If I want to win, I can’t offer you lot my hand. I can’t be the courteous gentleman. If it’s my job to break you in the business the hard way. Then you’ll be the first one I target. I’ll hit you so hard that you’ll be the little thumb sucking baby you were when you were in the locker room watching your daddy perform.”
There was a sense of bitterness in his voice. Leon had never really been treated preferably well by his father growing up. Seeing in his mind’s eye that Annabelle was supported and nurtured and loved set something off in him for sure that he hadn’t unleashed in some time.
“It’s not that I don’t want someone like you to succeed. You did it all the right way. Do you think I could go to college? I wish I had been able to. I wish I had something to fall back on but wrestling is all I know. I’ve been sitting at the house for the last two years trying to get back into the game, but you know what it’s turned into Annabelle? It’s turned into me just going into a show for a paycheck and waiting until it runs out to go take another booking so I can afford to keep the lights on at the Cashmere compound.”
Leon pointed down to the ground as if he were standing on a wrestling ring, but it was a metaphorical ring, from the context of his monologue.
“But now I’m here to stay. I’m ready to get back on the road full time. I’m ready to earn my keep in PAW. While this may be your first stop of many. I look at this like one of my last stops. I remember looking at this business the same way you do now. I remember watching the shows from behind the curtain and from the locker rooms and getting that excited jolt in the pit of my stomach every single time the bell sounded or someone’s music hit. I remember a time when I thought this business wasn’t seedy and full of idiots who are ready to take advantage of you. I remember a time when I didn’t see when people didn’t get into this business just to have an on screen or off screen romance with someone. I remember when I was that kid.”
He pointed forward this time as if he were pointing to Annabelle, like she was standing right in front of him, but there was nobody there.
“You are a walking, talking poster child for all that is right about wrestling. You’re pure. You’re untouched. But it’s a false sense of reality. Sure, when you hit the ring all the kids in the crowd can live vicariously through you. But you’re lying to them. You’re putting in their head that this business is full of sunshine and rainbows when it’s not. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when children watch what I do in awe. I love it when parents come up to me after shows and tell me how much their kid looks up to me. I love it, it makes me feel accomplished. But I’m real. I’m walking proof that you don’t have to be handed everything in life to succeed.”
Leon shook his long mane of hair. Some of it fell into his face which caused him to pull his hair back into a loose ponytail and shook his head again to make sure it didn’t fall in his face again.
“And the thing is, nothing will be proved with a win or loss against me, Annabelle. In an elimination four way, anything can happen. The only thing I can take out of this match is I will eventually be at the top of this roster and on the top of this card and you will be sputtering in the same spot. It’s what people like you do. You have a ceiling, and you’ve nearly hit it in your small amount of time here in PAW. The difference between me and you? I can go down the line asking people about you, and they won’t know what to say. Sure, they’ll say you love the business and you always have a smile on your face. But you go ask the top stars in this company what they think about me, and they’ll have loads to tell you. I carry myself like a champion, and I know when I have to turn my mean streak on and off, and I don’t foresee a time in this match when I’m going to be nice to you. It’s time for a wakeup call, Annabelle. I should be standing across the ring from Ana Hayden. Not you.”
As if he were washing his hands of Anabelle he dusted them off and moved onto the next opponent, which just so happened to be Rachel Ellsworth. Leon couldn’t help but to chuckle over the thoughts of teaming with Ellsworth from the following week.
“Miss me, Rach? I was glad to be in your corner last week. I actually believe you are as bat shit crazy as you say you are and people say you are. I did learn something about you last week that was pretty interesting. I of course had some words to say about you—all nice by the way. I said that I would rather have you as my partner than Evie or Hunter. That was proven right when you got the pin for us as I held Hunter off of you. It was a true display of team work. I’m not going to sit here and say we won because of me or because of you. I felt like we could both put past the potential of being opponents to get the job done to get to this main event. But yeah, there was something about you…”
Furrowing his brow he folded his arms but still had that thoughtful smile on his lips because of the joke he had said last week that had gotten Rachel all up in arms.
“For whatever reason, it seemed you had something to say about me calling you a vampire. I do apologize for that, by the way. Firstly, I don’t believe in vampires. And calling you a vampire is an insult to every badass vampire that has ever been written into existence. You see, what I learned about you is that you have really thin skin. You couldn’t stop talking about how I called you a vampire on your Twitter. You have the gal to say I’m too Fabio for your liking, but yet your too thin skinned to be able to take a little joke and run with it.”
Another chuckle followed that statement as he kept that significant smirk on his face which just caused his mustache to twitch as he stood there.
“I mean you’re all about being this little fire cracker bad ass who can submit or beat anyone she steps in the ring with, but that isn’t what I see when I look at you Ellsworth. You seem like to me some insecure little girl who tries to make up for her insecurities with a false bravado. You want to be the insane badass, but you can’t get over the trivial stuff to get over the hump. You’re spinning wheels in PAW, aren’t you? The only thing you could give the fans a few weeks ago was a blog post? Who the hell reads blogs now anyway? Why don’t you type your next statement out on a typewriter and post it to a bulletin board somewhere in the park. More people would read it than on a blog.”
He held up his hands with another laugh.
“Oh, and wait, wait. You’re a professional wrestler and you can’t afford a better domain name than learn2lovethebombinfofaceImnotavampire.blogspot.web.weblink.com, then I don’t know what to tell you. I mean, I’ll buy it for you if you’re worried about the cash. It’s only like ten bucks a year. Come on! I guess you’re one of these hard ass types who is like…Who gives a damn about the fans! I don’t care if they cheer or boo me! But if you do care about them, make it easier to get to your blog. Damn.”
Shaking his head, he wasn’t much with computers at all but he did know how to work Twitter from his phone, and he listened to enough podcasts to know Squarespace would be really easy to work. Even for someone like Ellsworth.
“So this is a good turning point for you, Ellsworth. Are you going to once again get your panties in a wad over a wrestling promo? I don’t know if this is your first rodeo or not, but I would advise you not to get caught up in the trivial stuff and focus on your in ring work. Or you could just get on social media and pour your heart out again about how I called you a damn vampire. I don’t care what you said about me, I just know about your Fabio comment because someone put it out there, but if you think I’m all looks and no skill?”
His mustache twitched once again to show he was smirking underneath his facial hair. Like it was some sort of caterpillar which was alive, it stopped twitching for a moment after he had entertained the thought.
“Then I’ll tell you exactly what I told Annabelle Lee. You can go up and down the roster and ask them about me and there is my resume and references. Although, I don’t like to brag about my past accomplishments because they don’t matter here. I’m a multiple time world champion, and just like in those other places? I won’t stop until I’m competing for a title here as well. For me, this match isn’t about winning. It’s about standing out. As long as I’m not the first pinned, as long as I let people know I am here to stay. I’ll be happy with my performance.”
Staring forward, he looked amused again.
“Can you say the same thing, Rachel? Wins and losses? They’ll all run together in a few years. It’s the moments that I strive for. It’s the moments I remember, and if I lose? If I somehow get pinned or submit? It’s possible. I don’t claim to be the greatest at everything, I don’t claim that all I need is a body part to tap someone out like you do because that just isn’t true. Win or lose, at the end of this match they’ll be talking about me. I just hope that doesn’t get in your head like the Vampire comment did…Or it’ll be a long match for you.”
Slowly he moved away from the wall and surveyed it for a moment. He hoped—he prayed that it would be another championship on the wall in a few months. But this one would say PAW on the casing of it. This was home now. His mind shifted to Kelsey Spencer.
“Kelsey…It’s interesting. The dynamic between you and I. You are not a rookie. You’re a veteran and you’re a bottle rocket waiting to explode. Just awaiting your time. If I can, I’ll give you some advice that I think you have already begun to take. You can be friends with Annabelle in this match. Or you can help me make this the singles match it’s supposed to be in an elimination style…Me and you.”
For a moment he paused.
“You and I? We are cut from a different cloth aren’t we? When we lock eyes in the back before a show. It’s just universally know that we are a cut above the rest. Therefore shouldn’t be us, going toe to toe in this match and not Annabelle and Ellsworth. By all means I am not trying to cause problems with you and Annabelle but let’s face it—eventually there will be a time that she isn’t going to be there for you because she’s going to be the most popular wrestler, and everyone will be falling in love with her and you’ll just merely be an afterthought.”
He shrugged about the harsh truth.
“I’ve been there before. I know. This thing, this fame? It gets to your head. Annabelle could be destined for greatness. She’s already got all the eyes on her and done things that we’ve strived our whole careers to do. Are you going to stand there and be the sidekick or are you going to do something about it? The last thing I want to see happen is someone like you, Kelsey. Let someone like her become something bigger than you because you stood by and let it happen.”
Now, for the moment he looked as serious as he had been the whole time. It was a route he didn’t want to take. It was necessary. Sometimes you had to go low to stay afloat. That’s exactly what he was doing.
“I don’t like to throw my weight around. For years I was a brawler. For years I talked with my fists and elbow and knees but since then I’ve done the right thing. I’ve turned to more of a technical wrestler. I don’t strike with the intent to hurt…Badly. But this match, Kelsey. I want you to know it means everything to me. The stakes are as high for me as they are you. You should realize that and you should take what is yours. Do what you have to, but make sure it’s me and you standing at the end because that’s what PAW deserves…It deserves two of the best, not some rip off fan girl and angry online vampire lady.”
He pointed to himself.
“I am professional wrestling. You are professional wrestler…And together…We are the main event.”
With his drive flight looming, he heaved a heavy sigh before he turned his back on the wall, he knew it would take a while. But he also knew something else.
Leon Cashmere would get there. Sooner or later.
|
|
|
|
Post by Annabel Lee on Aug 31, 2016 21:05:49 GMT
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee
• • • Dear Diary,
I miss Kelsey. I miss Az now that I'm home in Portland. I missed Daddy the whole time I was in Atlantic City even though I had a great time with Fuzzy. I never thought it would be so hard having friends.
When it was just you and me and Corduroy Bear on the road with Daddy all those years I remember thinking it was hard not having the chance to have any friends. But now that I've got some I have to be away from them all the time and it's really hard.
I miss Kelsey's laugh and her goofy faces and the way she always wants to go eat. I miss Az's expressions and the way he sneaks up and hugs me and cuddling with him. When I'm away from home I worry about Daddy. I worry about whether he eats a good lunch or falls asleep in his chair when he knows it's bad for his back.
I guess I never really thought about all of this before because I always got to travel with Daddy when he wrestled and Uncle Joe and Uncle Ray and everyone were all on the same circuit so they were there all the time. Wrestling has changed a lot since then I suppose.
Daddy says it has. He gets that sound in his voice when he talks about wrestling still. Like I know he thinks about maybe trying to go back. His knees can't do it anymore, and I always think I should tell him, but he always changes his mind and I don't have to. I'm really glad I don't. I'd hate to have to see the look in his eyes.
I can't be thinking about all that right now though. I've got a really big match coming up. I suppose it might be the biggest match I've had so far. Me and Kelsey against Johnny and Strick was real big, but this just might take the cake. It's double layer chocolate frosted chocolate cake with sprinkles big.
A Main Event! Can you believe it!!! A Main Event already. The odds are stacked against me, but the odds are stacked just as much against everyone else. There's Rachel Ellsworth of course, and then Leon Cashmere, and Kelsey.
Not only that, but it's an elimination match too! I don't just have to be better than one person. I have to be better than three people, or outlast two to make it to the last one. Quite a challenge, isn't it? Like running up the side of a mountain, but having to wrestle at the same time. They're all toughies all on their own, but man oh man I have to face all three of them!
Daddy made a face when I told him about the match. I can tell he's worried. Not just about the match and there being three people either. I think he's wondering if there's some backstage politics or something.
I don't think there is, I just think they wanted a great big awesome Main Event! They wanted to make sure whoever was there had a real big challenge so that a victory was that much sweeter. Imagine how amazing it will feel to know you've beaten three incredible challengers in the very first Main Event of the very first Addiction. That's something no one else will ever get to do!
It's a challenge, but I know we can do it. I kept up with my training while I was celebrating with Az, I even ran some drills with him and he ran me through his own training routine. Man my booty still hurts from that!
That's what it's going to take though. I amped up my training routine once I got back. I've gone for my morning run every day and I upped the weight on most of my sets too. Daddy thinks I'm pushing too hard but I know I have to up my game for a match like this. He worries too much. I feel fine and I'm being careful.
I'm not going to fib here, I want this win more than I think I've wanted any other in PAW so far. Sure I really wanted me and Kelsey to beat Johnny and Strick so we could go after the Tag Team Championships, and I still hope we do some day, but there's something extra special about this one. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is. Sure there's all that stuff I mentioned before, but there's more too, I just don't know what that “more” is.
This one is going to be as much about strategy as it about skill and moves. I can't go in looking to be the one that eliminates all three. I have to make sure I'm there just to eliminate the third one so I'm the only one left standing. I can't predict who that one is going to be, either, so I have to be prepared for all three of them, and they're all so different.
I'm going to call Uncle Joe I think. He's always been great at this kind of thing. He has a way of seeing what other people miss. I bet he can give me some great pointers. I know he won't be afraid to tell me everything like it is, either. He'll tell me my own weaknesses, what they other are going to try to exploit and what I need to watch out for.
I know that there's a very real possibility that I won't win. I'm prepared for that. I know it will sure hurt, but I promise that I won't let it stop me if that's what happens. I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far. I know that there is a lot more left for me to accomplish too. If I don't win here, I can still walk away knowing that I did everything in my power to do so, and no one can ask more of me than that.
Daddy was right you know? (Big surprise, right? When isn't he right?) I know what he meant now when he told me that no one will ever ask more of me than I'll ask of myself. But I always have to ask more of myself, because I know what I've got in here, I know what I can do. I don't ever want to know what it feels like to know that I didn't do everything I could.Always,
A • • • Annabel beamed as she stepped in front of the camera after turning it on. She had set it up in the middle of the wrestling ring in a rather familiar place. Familiar to her, anyway. Not so much to anyone watching.
“I thought I'd do something a little different this time around. Well, different for me anyway. I know lots of other people have done this kind of thing, but oh well. That's them, this is me!”
She stepped back and gestured around what the camera could see. “This right here is where I learned to wrestle. I suppose it doesn't look like much right now, all quiet with no one training, but man, this place... it's something else. I spent a long time researching schools, and this one was among the best, this was the one I wanted.
“I was so excited when they accepted me that I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep until my first day.” If Annabel feels at all embarrassed about the admission, it doesn't show. Her usual smile is firmly in place.
“Right over there,” she pointed at a line of treadmills, “is where they tested our endurance. I ran until I threw up. It wasn't pretty. I know that they were trying to weed out the weak. I heard that they had bets that I would be one of the first ones to drop out.”
Her smile brightened even more as she looked to the camera. “I sure showed them, didn't I?” She turned a slow circle in the ring, taking in the full view of the school around her, no doubt taking a moment to savor old memories.
“So, why here? I'm sure that's what everyone is wondering. Just like I overheard them talking that first day, I've overheard other things. I've heard people saying that there is no way I deserve to be in this match. That doesn't make a lot of sense since me and Kelsey won our last match to get here, for starters.
“But I know that they mean because I'm too new and because I've only had a handful of matches. I like to think I've done pretty well in those matches though, haven't I? Each one I've gone out there and shown everyone my determination. Each one has helped me improve for the next.” She tapped the fingers of her opposite hand with her right pointer as she ticked them off, “Roy Baker got me ready for Rachel and Miss Rachel got me ready for Mikael and Adam Wolfe and even though we didn't win against Johnny and Strick we learned from Mikael and Adam too.”
Finally Annabel just shrugged. “I know I'm never going to impress everyone. There will be people that will choose not to like me just because. Lots of people warned me about that. It's part of the business. I can't spend all my time worrying about them. Not when I've got a match this big coming up.”
She exhaled a huge breath that puffed out her cheeks a bit before she turned to hop up on the top rope and sit on the corner of the ring. She hooked her legs between the ropes for balance and folded her hands in her lap. Something behind the camera distracted her for a moment and make her smile grow.
“Feels like I gotta start with Kelsey, doesn't it? That's the big elephant in the room. At least everyone else seems to think so. We already told everyone how it is, but people still think it's a great big deal that Kelsey and I are tag partners who have to face each other now.” She held up her finger like she was silencing the viewer's protests. “The thing is, if your wrestling is really about wrestling, then why shouldn't matter? If it's about the sport and testing yourself there don't have to be any sore feelings afterward.”
A concerned look crossed her face for a few moments. “The truth is, I am a little worried about you, Kels-o! We haven't talked much these last few weeks because we're both getting ready for this match, but I'm worried about you. You got that second job and you're really burning that midnight oil. I'm worried that I'm not going to get the best Kelsey possible as one of my opponents.
“We've trained together a ton and I know darn well that you're amazing. That's exactly what I want from you. I want you to be amazing at Addiction. I'm bringing my very best and I want the same from you so that be both know we gave it everything, just like we do when we're partners.”
Turning her gaze back to the camera, her smile redoubled. “You've taught me loads so far, and I know that you've got tons left to teach. Some of that I'm going to learn in the ring on Thursday night. Hopefully I can teach you a thing or two as well. Never stop learning, that's kind of our motto, right?”
The excitement on her face was genuine. She bounced a little where she was sitting as she tried to contain herself. “I can't wait to be back in the ring with you. I can't wait to test myself against you. We've got so much in common and it feels like we've known each other for years, like we're sisters, but I know that you've had more years in the ring than I have. I want to see just how I stack up against someone I look up to so much.
“When it comes right down to it, we have more advantage over each other than we have over Miss Rachel or Mr. Leon. We've been in the ring with each other more as partner. We know each others strengths and weaknesses almost as good as we know our own. I know about your old injuries and you know about the areas I've been working on with you because I'm not as confident in them.” A thoughtful shrug accompanied that last thought.
Then her tone turned sage and she made a serious face. “I don't expect you to go easy on me, and I know you don't expect me to go easy on you. In fact, if I know you as well as I think I do, I bet we'll be going after each other extra hard just so we can prove it to each other. That's how much I respect you Kels-o! I never want you to think that I think I'd have to give anything less than my best to get past you.”
Annabel was feeling fidgety, but she kept herself from hopping down and pacing. She didn't want to make everyone dizzy. “Then there's Miss Rachel Ellsworth. I sure haven't forgotten about her, and I don't think she's forgotten about me either. We had a great match, my second match ever in PAW. It was a toughie and I learned a lot from that one too.
“I'm sure that Miss Rachel doesn't want the reminder,” okay, okay, a tiny bit of mischief showed in her expression as she went on, “but after all of her words and what she thought of me, when that match was all over, I was the one getting my hand raised. I don't think she liked that very much. I saw some of what she said after and what she's said in the past few weeks. It seems like Rachel feels like she has to 'avenge' that loss, like there was something embarrassing about it to her.”
A quizzical look replaced her trademark smile. “I never understood that, why losing against someone new feels like such a slap in the face to people. I guess that people feel like all their experience ought to automatically give them the edge, but that's just not how it works. I won because I was the better wrestler that night.”
Her expression faded, but the curious tone in her voice remained, “Miss Rachel's got that chip on her shoulder coming into this match now. I hope it doesn't affect her too much. It's not just me she has to worry about, it's Kelsey and Mr. Leon too. If she's got herself too focused on just me, she's going to miss the bigger picture, miss two other people that want a victory just as much as I do and just as much as she hopefully does.”
Annabel paused, fiddling with the laces on her shoes while she caught her breath and thought. Her lips pursed and shifted this way and that while she weighed her words. “Now lots of people have asked me what I'll do if Miss Rachel does try to target me. I know it's possible and that she might feel like she needs to teach me a lesson or something. What I'm going to go out there and do hasn't changed though, no matter what Miss Rachel might think or try.
“I'm going to go out there and wrestle my heart out, just like I always do. I'm not going to pick out any one of the three because I don't have a vendetta. I'm just going to wrestle whichever one of them comes after me first. If that is Miss Rachel, then we'll have ourselves a round two of our first match! I hope it doesn't sound too cocky to say, but I'm confident that any round two will end up just the same as round one did.”
She was worried that it did sound cocky. It sounded cocky in her head. She didn't mean for it to. She had beat Rachel once though, so she knew that she had the ability to do it again when it came right down to it.
That thought was pushed aside as she finally went on. “And that brings us to Mr. Leon Cashmere. Between my three opponents he is definitely the one I know the least about. I'm not trying to say that like some other people do, like 'Oh I don't even know who that guy is so he must not be important!' Not at all.” She shook her head in point.
A fain blush touched her cheeks for a moment as she admitted, “I've been just a little bit slacky in doing my homework, but don't you worry I'm going to fix that straightaway after I finish this thinger here. All I really know about Leon right now is that he was Rachel's partner, whether he wanted to be or not, and they won that match together. He's awful pretty too. “
Oops, had she said that out loud? Well it wasn't like it wasn't true. Mr. Leon was a nice looking boy. She only had eyes for Az, but she wasn't blind. Now she was getting sidetracked.
“Well that's not true. I know that Mr. Leon is pretty darn good too. Miss Rachel didn't do all the work to get their team a victory on the last show and bring them to this here match, even if she's the one that pinned Miss Evie in the match.
“People get hung up on that kind of thing, you know, about who did the pinning or who got pinned. Which is just silly because when you are on a team both people have to put in the effort to make it work. I'd never begrudge Kelsey for getting the pin in our match against Mikael and Adam Wolfe just like I wasn't mad at her for getting pinned when we were against Johnny Raike and Strike Plissken. We win or lose as a team, plain and simple.”
Her expression turned earnest as her eyes returned to the camera after having wandered a bit. Had Leon been there in the room she would have given him the same look. “So I hope that Mr. Leon isn't worrying about not being the one to make the pin in their last match. Without him there's no way that their team would have won. Which is exactly why I'm not 'sleeping on Leon' as they say, or anybody else.
“Leon's got his reasons for being in PAW just like anyone else, and I bet those reason are important to him. Like my reasons are important to me and Kelsey's are important to her. All of our reasons are what drive us, and from what little I know of Mr. Leon, I do know that he's got the drive. Whatever he's fighting for will make him a great big ol' obstacle to get past. But I do intend to get past him.”
At long last Annabel hopped down from the corner. She paused and stretched her legs for a moment. One foot was all tingly and half asleep. “The combination of Kelsey, Rachel, and Leon is absolutely going to be the biggest challenge I've faced so far in my short wrestling career. It's going to take everything I have, and I know there's a real possibility that everything I have won't be quiet enough.
“But I know that I have it in me to win this too. A match like this is as much luck as it is strategy and physical prowess. For every last one of us the odds are three to one. No one has a better chance than anyone else. Some people might even argue I have the best chance of all because I know Kelsey as well as I do and I've already beaten Rachel once.”
She shrugged after a moment of considering it. “Whether that is true or not I don't really know. What I know is that I'm walking in to the first ever Addiction with every intention of walking away the winner, and I will do whatever I have to in order to get there.”
Her smile returned before she pressed the tips of her fingers of both hands to her lips and blew a big kiss at the camera. With a wave, she reached out and turned it off.• • • “Good game kiddo.”
Annabel made a face as Uncle Joe further mussed up her already messy ponytail when he sat down beside her on the bench. They were both dripping sweat and huffing and puffing. Uncle Joe was still in way better shape than her father was, but then again Uncle Joe had never been quiet as popular or captured the spotlight for as long.
Fewer high profile matches meant less strain on his body. He was a smaller man over all, too. Less weight, different genetics, an entirely different training routine. Uncle Joe retired earlier too. It all added up.
“You're doing great, light years ahead of what I expected.” His smile put her at ease as he patted her on the back. “Made me remember that you're not a little girl anymore and you can give your Uncle Joe a knock right upside the head.”
“Sorry about that. I forget I have to take it easy on you old guys.” She gave a sheepish smile with the cheeky comment but Uncle Joe just smiled and laughed on concession.
“Never apologize for training well, or training hard. Your old man used to do that all the time. He'd blast me ass over tea kettle with that lariat of his, rattle my brains good, and then he'd pick me up and tell me he was sorry. No one ever got better at offense by not hitting hard, and no one ever got better at defense by not getting hit hard, got it?”
Several strands of hair from her ponytail stuck to her forehead as it swayed when she nodded, “Got it.”
“Now, let's talk about improvement.”
This was the part Annabel had been looking forward to most. She twisted around sideways on the bench so that she was facing Uncle Joe and folded her legs up in front of her. They made a convenient little place to rest her water bottle after she had a good long drink.
“You hit like a woman twice your size, got some real power in there. Your old man taught you well. But you get too far ahead of yourself in your head. I can see you planning it out in there, thinking about the next strike, and the next. If I can see it, so can your opponents. You're giving yourself away. Just like in real life, in the ring you can't sacrifice the moment in favor of the future. Focus on what you're doing as you're doing it, but leave yourself room to adapt.”
She scrunched up her face. “That's what I'm trying to do. I try to think about what they might do to counter and what I can do to counter that and...” she trailed off as he got that amused look on his face.
“That's what I'm saying, girlie. You're all up here,” he reached out and tapped her on the forehead, “and not enough in here.” He pointed to her heart witch raised brows to see if she understood what he was saying.
Annabel felt that little bit of “ah hah!” in the back of her mind. The smile spread back across her face, but she didn't respond because she could see that Uncle Joe had more to say.
“Trust yourself. Trust your instinct. When you're at the end and you hurt and you feel like you can't breathe and you want to lay down, that's when your body will do what your mind tells it to. But in the middle, when you're in that phase where you're wearing the other guy down, that's when you have to let your body do what it knows how to do.”
She nodded rapidly and had another drink of her water, keeping on top of the ever important hydration routine her father often reminded her of. Her ponytail bounced back and forth as she tilted her head from one side to the other while she thought about how to bring up something else she had been thinking about.
“Uncle Joe,” she began tentatively. “So this is a really weird question but it's just been something I've been thinking about. When I had a layover about a month back in Milwaukee I got to thinking about when Daddy and I lived there. Do you remember that gym?”
She could see his expression slowly changing. Not in a good way. Uncle Joe had a perpetual smile, just like she did. Whenever it went away she always knew something big was coming. But she forged on.
“That old guy who ran it, the really cranky one, Old Butch. Who was he? What was his deal? He's one of the few things I remember about Milwaukee at all.”
Uncle Joe sighed and wiped his towel over his face. “Listen kiddo, that's something I don't know a lot about, okay? Your daddy did his best for you during that time. You probably don't remember much. It wasn't great, but it was everything he could do, okay? That's a can of worms you'd best leave unopened.”
The seriousness of his words and his tone were unexpected. They hit so hard that Annabel felt herself leaning backward slightly. “Uncle Joe... Did Daddy do something wrong in Milwaukee?” And what did that have to do with Butch anyway?
“No no no. Of course not. Your daddy's always been on the straight and narrow. I'm just saying, it wasn't an easy time for him. He had you and you kept him going. Don't worry about Milwaukee and the past. Worry about what's in front of you and the future.”
She knew that she wasn't going to get anymore out of him, and she didn't want him to worry. So she turned it around and back to the lesson at hand, the one for wrestling. “Just not at the expense of the moment, I got it. Thanks Uncle Joe! I'd better go get an ice pack.”
The relief flooded his face and just confirmed that there was more to this all than she knew. “Good idea. Do your Uncle Joe a favor and don't tell your old man how hard we hit today, alright?”
Annabel's smile turned to a grin as she hopped up from the bench. “Don't worry, it's our secret.”
“Atta girl. Just be careful with secrets. Keep 'em, just don't keep too many. They'll get you in trouble.”
Secrets. What was Uncle Joe keeping secret?• • •
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee |
|
