Happy Holidays and all that jazz
Nov 30, 2021 11:47:01 GMT -5
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Post by Holden Ross on Nov 30, 2021 11:47:01 GMT -5
Holden is sitting in a recliner next to his father, in his father’s living room, watching the Raiders play the Cowboys. Between the chairs is an end table with a lamp, ashtray, and a can of coke for each of them, resting on coasters. Every three seconds a soft “hsspt” noise emits from Frank’s portable oxygen tank. His father, Frank, is still a big man, standing six-five, but he weighs nearly a hundred pounds less, tipping the scales at two twenty-five. He was once known as the “Monster” but a new Monster lives within him; Cancer. Stage four, already, in his left lung. Most likely due to painting cars when he was a teen without breathing protection. Frank lights a joint and passes it over to his son, Holden, who accepts it and takes a hit from it himself. Frank sparks another, for himself, and they smoke in silence for a few moments.
“So, you got a match comin up in that new company, right?” Frank’s voice is gravelly and part whisper.
Holden nods while taking a pulling a hit deep into his lungs. “I do….but I’m not sure what to do….”
Frank turns his head to look at Holden, his brow furrowed into a confused scowl.
“What do you mean ‘you don’t know what to do?’ You forget how to wrestle? You afraid of a girl?” Frank’s question is clearly part insult and the sneer curling his lips deepens the dig.
The machine makes the “hsspt” noise twice before Holden has choked back his response for a less hostile answer.
“I have never wrestled a woman before, on top of, the fact I am [I} literally [/I] three times the size of her. If I slip up, even slightly, I could seriously injure her.”
Frank scoffs. “D’ya wanna fuck her or somethin?” the question stuns Holden as if his father had suddenly slapped him across the face. “Listen to yourself, questioning whether you can wrestle her.”
“But list-“ Holden is cut short when frank unexpectedly erupts to his feet and throws his can of coke across the room where it crashes into his “International Tokers Champion” belt displayed next to a poster sized photo of the N.L.C.W. stable, “Absokution,” featuring Frank, among others.
”YOU ARE BETTER THAN HER!” his roar makes Holden flinch and sends his dog scrambling for the back of the house. The doberman has heard his master’s outbursts and doesn’t want to stick around for another rant.Go out there and beat her flat, in the middle of the ring. If you are three times her size, no sell her shit, and bury her with my finisher.”
Holden shakes his head, annoyed. “If I do that I will really look like a prick and everyone will hate me.”
Frank has shuffled into the kitchen and is returning with another Coke and a zip-lock baggie of gummy candy. He eases himself down into his chair, pops the top on the Coke, and guzzles three-quarters of the can before setting it on its coaster. After a belch he turns his attention back to his son.
“You’re a heel, you don’t give a shit if people hate you. Christ, you want them to hate you…” he says before popping an orange gummy into his mouth. Holden stares at his hands while Frank follows the thread unravelling in his head. “You don’t care about the fans….it’s HER! You like her, don’t you?”
Holden continues to stares at his hands while the red rises up his cheeks, flushed with embarrassment. Frank Snickers and Holden wide-eyed him, shooting daggers.
“You’re sprung on this chick? Have you even met her?” Frank’s question is fair….
“I saw her…backstage….last week…” is all Holden can manage to mumble. His father chuckles.
“Your mom ruined you….. What happened to the guy from P.C.W. who owns strip clubs? You owned two of em before the city shut em down… Jesus Christ on a crooked cane…” Frank pops a few more gummies and shakes his head in amazement. “Does she even know who you are?”
“We have interacted some on Twitter.” quickly replies.
“Are you fucking…? Is he serious?” Frank asks the dog, Typhoid, who yawns in response. “I hear ya, I’m fuckin bored, too!”
“You want a plate, yet? Or are you going to just drink Coke?” Holden is frustrated that Frank isn’t fighting his cancer and is choosing to “deal” with it his own way; pot and pain pills.
“I’m fine” Frank waves his son off, his attention focused on the game on t.v.
“Alright, I’m heading for bed….need anything else?” Holden stands in silence, watching the man who is his Father, slowly dying in front of his flat screen. Holden sighs and heads for the guest room.
“Turnin in early?” Frank asks the empty room, unaware it has been ten minutes since Holden said goodnight.
“…And we are BACK on the air! This is the “Canvas Crawler Podcast” and I am your host, Chris “Don’t call me Bob” Seger. I hope you ALL had a great Thanksgiving and I know I am very thankful for our first guest. He terrorized the ranks of Pure Class Wrestling for over a year before finally moving up to the Big Time. ACTION WRESTLING!!! That’s right, folks, none other than the Bastard himself, Holden “the Human Wrecking Ball” Ross! Holden, are you on the line, brotha?!”
Holden is obviously calling in.
“Hey, Chris, great to be talking to you again.”
“Are you in Chicago, now? I know the show is next week but have you flown into town, yet?” Chris asks.
“Naw, I’m still up in Washington State visiting my Father. I fly out late tonight.” The sound of a lighter sparking followed by a bong rip can be heard.
“The show you’re on is only available by pay-per-view, correct? Haven’t tickets sold out?”
“Yeah, you can only see it if you order it now.” Holden coughs a little.
“And you are facing Tatiana Jolee, who is literally three times smaller than you. Now, we have seen you obliterate smaller opponents in Pure Class Wrestling, will the match be any different?”
“Not really.” Holden’s answer comes after a slight pause.
“Well, she went on the radio, today, in Chicago and gushed about how you two are great friends. Is there some truth to that? You two dating? Hooking up? And can you ragdoll her like all the others in your past?” Chris is getting right to the meat of it.
Holden sighs and the let’s out a slight chuckle. “Once we get in that ring, it’s all business…you know how I roll. And, are we friends? I’d say she is the closest thing to a friend I got there. We’ve talked quite a bit on Twitter and I told her the truth; I’ve never wrestled a woman, let alone someone as tiny as her.”
Chris laughs. “C’mon, give us the real scoop! Are you hitting that or no?!”
“No. And go fuck yourself, buddy.” Holden is quick to answer.
“Whoa, calm down, just asking the questions I get asked all the time. Like this one; made you sign with Action Wrestling? Unfortunately, Pure Class Wrestling went out of business but not before launching several careers, including yours, but what made you choose A.W.?”
The sounds of another bong rip. “This is one of the best companies out there and I would be foolish not to sign with em. Right now I’m workin a short-term contract but I’m pretty sure I’m going to sign a bigger deal soon “
“Well, Holden, I know we are all looking forward to seeing where your career goes from here. You are one of the biggest men on the roster, physically. Did that play a factor in your signing with them?”
Holden scoffs before taking another bong rip. “Im one of the biggest no matter where I go. Don’t forget, Royce Gracie tapped out Dan Severn….size don’t mean a whole lot.”
“I can’t wait to see you in the ring again. I caught your match last week against Kancer, and I’m thinkin this week will just be more of the same.”
“I hope so, Chris.”
“Alright, thanks for calling in, Holden! Ladies and gents, if you don’t already have your ticket order this pay-per-view today! It’s loaded with great matches including the potential massacre, Tatiana Jolee versus our beloved, Holden Ross! Thanks for calling, Holden!”
“Thanks for having me, Chris.”
“You gotta be nuts to miss this pay-per-view! And speaking of nuts….. Nuts dot com has quite a selection…..”
Holden hangs up his phone and rises from his seat. Head leave the living room and makes his way down the hall to check on Frank. He is sleeping and Holden knows this may be one of the last times he sees his Father. With a sigh, he heads back to the living room for another bong rip.
“So, you got a match comin up in that new company, right?” Frank’s voice is gravelly and part whisper.
Holden nods while taking a pulling a hit deep into his lungs. “I do….but I’m not sure what to do….”
Frank turns his head to look at Holden, his brow furrowed into a confused scowl.
“What do you mean ‘you don’t know what to do?’ You forget how to wrestle? You afraid of a girl?” Frank’s question is clearly part insult and the sneer curling his lips deepens the dig.
The machine makes the “hsspt” noise twice before Holden has choked back his response for a less hostile answer.
“I have never wrestled a woman before, on top of, the fact I am [I} literally [/I] three times the size of her. If I slip up, even slightly, I could seriously injure her.”
Frank scoffs. “D’ya wanna fuck her or somethin?” the question stuns Holden as if his father had suddenly slapped him across the face. “Listen to yourself, questioning whether you can wrestle her.”
“But list-“ Holden is cut short when frank unexpectedly erupts to his feet and throws his can of coke across the room where it crashes into his “International Tokers Champion” belt displayed next to a poster sized photo of the N.L.C.W. stable, “Absokution,” featuring Frank, among others.
”YOU ARE BETTER THAN HER!” his roar makes Holden flinch and sends his dog scrambling for the back of the house. The doberman has heard his master’s outbursts and doesn’t want to stick around for another rant.Go out there and beat her flat, in the middle of the ring. If you are three times her size, no sell her shit, and bury her with my finisher.”
Holden shakes his head, annoyed. “If I do that I will really look like a prick and everyone will hate me.”
Frank has shuffled into the kitchen and is returning with another Coke and a zip-lock baggie of gummy candy. He eases himself down into his chair, pops the top on the Coke, and guzzles three-quarters of the can before setting it on its coaster. After a belch he turns his attention back to his son.
“You’re a heel, you don’t give a shit if people hate you. Christ, you want them to hate you…” he says before popping an orange gummy into his mouth. Holden stares at his hands while Frank follows the thread unravelling in his head. “You don’t care about the fans….it’s HER! You like her, don’t you?”
Holden continues to stares at his hands while the red rises up his cheeks, flushed with embarrassment. Frank Snickers and Holden wide-eyed him, shooting daggers.
“You’re sprung on this chick? Have you even met her?” Frank’s question is fair….
“I saw her…backstage….last week…” is all Holden can manage to mumble. His father chuckles.
“Your mom ruined you….. What happened to the guy from P.C.W. who owns strip clubs? You owned two of em before the city shut em down… Jesus Christ on a crooked cane…” Frank pops a few more gummies and shakes his head in amazement. “Does she even know who you are?”
“We have interacted some on Twitter.” quickly replies.
“Are you fucking…? Is he serious?” Frank asks the dog, Typhoid, who yawns in response. “I hear ya, I’m fuckin bored, too!”
“You want a plate, yet? Or are you going to just drink Coke?” Holden is frustrated that Frank isn’t fighting his cancer and is choosing to “deal” with it his own way; pot and pain pills.
“I’m fine” Frank waves his son off, his attention focused on the game on t.v.
“Alright, I’m heading for bed….need anything else?” Holden stands in silence, watching the man who is his Father, slowly dying in front of his flat screen. Holden sighs and heads for the guest room.
“Turnin in early?” Frank asks the empty room, unaware it has been ten minutes since Holden said goodnight.
“…And we are BACK on the air! This is the “Canvas Crawler Podcast” and I am your host, Chris “Don’t call me Bob” Seger. I hope you ALL had a great Thanksgiving and I know I am very thankful for our first guest. He terrorized the ranks of Pure Class Wrestling for over a year before finally moving up to the Big Time. ACTION WRESTLING!!! That’s right, folks, none other than the Bastard himself, Holden “the Human Wrecking Ball” Ross! Holden, are you on the line, brotha?!”
Holden is obviously calling in.
“Hey, Chris, great to be talking to you again.”
“Are you in Chicago, now? I know the show is next week but have you flown into town, yet?” Chris asks.
“Naw, I’m still up in Washington State visiting my Father. I fly out late tonight.” The sound of a lighter sparking followed by a bong rip can be heard.
“The show you’re on is only available by pay-per-view, correct? Haven’t tickets sold out?”
“Yeah, you can only see it if you order it now.” Holden coughs a little.
“And you are facing Tatiana Jolee, who is literally three times smaller than you. Now, we have seen you obliterate smaller opponents in Pure Class Wrestling, will the match be any different?”
“Not really.” Holden’s answer comes after a slight pause.
“Well, she went on the radio, today, in Chicago and gushed about how you two are great friends. Is there some truth to that? You two dating? Hooking up? And can you ragdoll her like all the others in your past?” Chris is getting right to the meat of it.
Holden sighs and the let’s out a slight chuckle. “Once we get in that ring, it’s all business…you know how I roll. And, are we friends? I’d say she is the closest thing to a friend I got there. We’ve talked quite a bit on Twitter and I told her the truth; I’ve never wrestled a woman, let alone someone as tiny as her.”
Chris laughs. “C’mon, give us the real scoop! Are you hitting that or no?!”
“No. And go fuck yourself, buddy.” Holden is quick to answer.
“Whoa, calm down, just asking the questions I get asked all the time. Like this one; made you sign with Action Wrestling? Unfortunately, Pure Class Wrestling went out of business but not before launching several careers, including yours, but what made you choose A.W.?”
The sounds of another bong rip. “This is one of the best companies out there and I would be foolish not to sign with em. Right now I’m workin a short-term contract but I’m pretty sure I’m going to sign a bigger deal soon “
“Well, Holden, I know we are all looking forward to seeing where your career goes from here. You are one of the biggest men on the roster, physically. Did that play a factor in your signing with them?”
Holden scoffs before taking another bong rip. “Im one of the biggest no matter where I go. Don’t forget, Royce Gracie tapped out Dan Severn….size don’t mean a whole lot.”
“I can’t wait to see you in the ring again. I caught your match last week against Kancer, and I’m thinkin this week will just be more of the same.”
“I hope so, Chris.”
“Alright, thanks for calling in, Holden! Ladies and gents, if you don’t already have your ticket order this pay-per-view today! It’s loaded with great matches including the potential massacre, Tatiana Jolee versus our beloved, Holden Ross! Thanks for calling, Holden!”
“Thanks for having me, Chris.”
“You gotta be nuts to miss this pay-per-view! And speaking of nuts….. Nuts dot com has quite a selection…..”
Holden hangs up his phone and rises from his seat. Head leave the living room and makes his way down the hall to check on Frank. He is sleeping and Holden knows this may be one of the last times he sees his Father. With a sigh, he heads back to the living room for another bong rip.