Post by Spencer Adams on Nov 4, 2018 21:19:10 GMT -5
Part 1: Find some time
(10/29/18)
The rental was filled with a flurry of #FightSmart light ribbing as we made our way out of the arena’s back parking lot. Danny and Ricky were relatively silent, but Lincoln and Andre were like a pair of drunk, bickering children.
Lincoln: You sure know how to get your shit pushed in, don’t you?
Andre: Ain’t no bow legged dyke finna drop my stock, bruh.
Lincoln: She still fucking got you.
Andre: Yeah, only ‘cause ya boi was thinkin’ ‘bout sloppy fuckin’ her dog faced tag partner.
Spencer: Guys, it’s cool. Remember who we are. A Clash loss among chaos to a C team job squad doesn’t set us back. The plan is long game, that’s how it’s always been and it hasn’t failed to keep us at the top of this company to this point. We just head in next show and take names.
Lincoln: Should’ve known we’d get the shaft on the fan vote.
Spencer: Wrestler of the year comes home with us, period. I know how to make it happen and I know the weight that carries.
Through the middle seat chatter, I can hear my phone vibrate from the center console.
Andre: I need an unwind day. We should pub crawl when we hit England.
I swipe to answer and lift the phone up to my ear.
Erica: Just sitting at home with a fifth grader that’s been going on about Halloween with his uncle.
Spencer: Shit! The thing at school?
Erica: Mmhmm. He said that you told him you’d take him before you dropped him off last time.
Spencer: No, I know. You’re right..
Erica: I mean, I’d take him myself, but I know mom isn’t as exciting as the uncle who’s a famous wrestler.
Spencer: I know..
Erica; So, you’re coming then?
Spencer: I mean..
Erica: He came down to breakfast this morning dressed as a luchador, you know.
Spencer: You get him one for Halloween?
Erica: No, it’s the one you got him from that show you took him to last year.
Spencer: Wow..
Erica: Soooo?
Spencer: Yeah, I’ll figure it out, don’t worry. I gotta let you go though..traffic’s picking up.
Erica: See you tomorrow then.
*click*
Part 2: Antidote
(10/31/18)
I barely got three knocks in against the exterior of my sister’s front door before it came swinging open to reveal the ball of hyperactivity that is my nephew.
I can hear her shouting back a few rooms away as I stepped inside.
Robbie: Sorry!
She steps out into the hall and makes her way towards the doorway.
Robbie: Sorrrrrryyyy!
Erica: Just go upstairs and get your costume on.
Robbie: Okay!
We transition to the living room as Robbie scurries upstairs, his feet thumping hard as he ascends the steps.
Spencer: Excited for the party?
Erica: Very. You need anything to drink?
Spencer: No, I’m good. Where’s mom at, by th way?
Erica: She had some errands to run.
Spencer: Ah, gotcha.
Erica: You pretty busy this week then?
Spencer: Yeah, was gonna head overseas for the next show after I’m done here.
Erica: The wrestler of the year thing?
Spencer: Yeah, have you been watching?
Erica: No, Robbie tells me everything on the way to school. The kid’s just a Spencer Adams superfan.
Spencer: You think so? I hadn’t noticed.
I hear a few spaced out stomps followed by one last hard thud as Robbie flying down the stairs in his black luchador mask and full body suit.
Robbie: I’m The Antidote!
Spencer: Well, that’s a shame. I’m supposed to be going to a Halloween party with my nephew Robbie and I think he disappeared on me.
His head hangs in a way that lets me know there’s an eye roll for me underneath the costume.
Robbie: Yeah!
Erica: Go get your shoes on. I have to talk to your uncle for a bit.
As Robbie runs back toward the front door, Erica leans in closer and drops the volume of her voice.
Spencer: I don't think so...what’s up?
Erica: He didn’t seem different to you?
Spencer: No...why?
Erica: He’s been scared of the dark the past few months and won’t sleep without a night light. I don’t know where it’s come from. I thought that sort of thing was something that kids grew out of, not grew into.
Spencer: Have you talked to anyone about it?
Erica: Not yet. He tells me he’s fine and that he just likes it better that way.
Spencer: Maybe it’s just easier for him, you know? I mean, some people need to have the TV on to go to bed. Maybe it’s something like that.
Erica: Yeah, maybe..
Robbie: Ready!
A half smile comes across her face as she sees Robbie standing in the archway of the living room.
I push up from the couch and head for the door, whispering back to Erica.
Part 3: #PubSmart
(10/31/18)
Andre: So, how we feelin’?
AA plops down a now empty glass, the clink against the table barely audible among the rest of the noise inside the pub. It was their seventh stop of the night and it was going just about how you’d expect it to.
Andre: Eh, let’s give it a bit.
Lincoln: How the hell is Kyle doing so good?
Kemp: I was a ball player before I was a wrestler. It just comes with the territory.
Lincoln: Either of you heard from Spencer recently?
Kemp: He said he’s gonna be in Chicago until tomorrow and then he’s flying out here for the show.
Lincoln: Got it.
Andre: So, Kemp wipes the floor with Karlie and all Lincoln has to do is drop Ol’ Z through a table. I think y’all niggas is gonna be aight.
Lincoln: What about Spencer?
Andre: I’d say bruh bruh has a pretty good track record wit’ big match situations, you know? Remember, it’s only first round too. He ain’t stupid or anything, he’ll go out there aggressive and punch a whole through that nigga Thad.
Lincoln: Yeah, I have trust and everything, just saying though, you know?
Andre: Thad’s already down, bro. His career been downtrending for a bit now and hell, I’m surprised to hear that he’s still in this shit. I was thinkin’ ol’ boy was gonna withdraw his name from the shit.
Lincoln: I think he still likes the big stage too much for that.
Andre: Maybe, but you know he’s gotta be sweatin’ at least. There’s only one result here. Spencer has had dude’s number one match after another and his confidence has to be shook now more than ever after bein’ bested by a rookie. I think he’s already tapped and facin’ our boy again is the worst first round matchup he could’ve gotten.
Kemp: I don’t think there’s any way that US Weekly garbage can spin the situation to make it look like anything else.
Lincoln: You know they’ll still try their best though.
Andre: That’s what I’m thinkin’, yeah. He’s been on the tournament bracket for a minute now and if Thad is seein’ what we’re seein’ right now, then I’m sure he’s prepared to try to milk this shit for whatever he can. I mean, probably thinks all publicity is good publicity, right?
Kemp: Is it though?
Andre: Maybe not if that publicity is centered around someone wreckin’ your shit for the millionth time.
Lincoln: Maybe he’s finding some second wind of confidence and is thinking that he can pull off an upset at Echo Arena. He’s always struck me as delusional.
Andre: You right you right.
Kemp: I don’t expect a fight out of him to be honest. He shouldn’t be here. A wrestler of the year tournament isn’t somewhere that a midcard gatekeeper should be looking to restore confidence in their abilities. He’d be better off opening the show against Bishop or something. This isn’t just a tough break, it’s a make or break situation and it’s one hundred percent going to break him. I don’t see where the guy can go from here.
Lincoln: Not that it’s important what happens to TFK or anything.
Andre: The only thing that matters is a #FightSmart victory, just like any other night. It doesn’t matter that it’s TFK now or if it’s Roy Speede or L Verez next week, this tournament as a whole is all about Spencer goin’ out and runnin’ through the field to claim officially claim the entire fuckin’ year for all of us. I’m speakin’ wit’ certainty when I’m sayin’ that he finna murk the field for the next three weeks.
Kemp: Yeah, I just don’t think that it’s a competitive conversation even if Thad were still holding the US title. You put momentum on his side and he’s still not experienced enough to hang with a lot of the people in that field, let alone someone that I’ve personally seen grinding it out in this sport over the last four years.
The generally silent Ricky, one half of the team’s security, leans against the table, his protruding gut pressing into its edge.
As usual, the other half of the security duo is quick to chime in with a retort for hefty mustached man.
Kemp: He’d probably lose that too and those idiots at US Weekly would end up calling it an “upset”.
The group’s attention turns away from the table to a pair of Brits in their early twenties that now hover over the table with phones and bottles in hand.
Andre: Yeah, make it quick though. We were about to head out in a minute.
The two lean back against the table, one of them with his phone held out in front of themselves and the group as he takes a handful of pictures before thanking them and wandering off towards the other side of the bar.
Kemp: I hate people like that.
Andre: Yeah, but it’s easier to get it out of the way and done wit’, ya dig?
The group begin to push up from the table and throw their jackets on before heading for the front door. Lincoln lifts a hand up behind him in a gesture meant to thank the crew working there.
Danny: Fuck, it’s cold out here!
He rubs his palms together in an effort to generate heat as the weather outside is felt instantly.
Lincoln: Let’s just keep heading down the West side and see where we land, yeah?
The group heads off down the sidewalk while Andre lingers behind, pulling the phone out of his jacket pocket.
He puts the phone to his ear and waits a second for a response.
Lincoln: Tell him he’s missing out!
AA looks up and lifts a finger to further halt the group.
Part 4: The party
(10/31/18)
As we stepped through the front doors of Robbie’s school, we were greeted by a sea of young foot traffic. The halls to the sides of us were filled with teachers dressed up in costumes of their own who were handing candy out to the students that passed them. From what Erica told me, the school liked to hold an indoor trick ‘r treat as part of the Halloween party in order to give the kids a safer option to get their candy in the city.
Robbie: Over here! I want to go show my costume to my teacher!
He yanks at my arm as he does his best to sprint down the hallway with me in toe.
He holds his bag out and lets out a distorted tough guy’s “trick or treat!”
Robbie: I’m The Antidote!
Mrs. Hatton: Oh wow! Are you a superhero?
Robbie: I’m a wrestler!
I lean over Robbie to extend a hand to the middle aged woman.
Mrs. Hatton: Nice to meet you. Are you the famous uncle Robbie’s always telling us about then I take it?
Spencer: I...guess I am, yeah.
Mrs. Hatton: Well, there’s food and games in the lunch room whenever you guys want to go join in.
Spencer: Sounds like fun. What do you think, Antidote?
Robbie: Let’s go!
Spencer: Wanna get more candy first?
Robbie: We can after!
Spencer: Nice meeting you, Mrs. Hatton.
She smiles as we round the corner and go towards the middle of the building.
He takes a moment to ponder my question before shrugging as we approach the propped doors to the lunchroom, the sound of Halloween music echoes off the walls. When we walk into the room, I’m stopped by a guy who looks to be around mid-thirties.
Spencer: Can I help you?
?: Robbie’s uncle, right? Huge fan!
Spencer: Yeah and uh...thanks, man.
?: Matt Settles, gym teacher.
He throws a hand out to shake before giving one of those “guy slaps” on the back. Robbie looks a bit confused as he tugs at my free arm.
Robbie: Is it okay if I go see my friends?
Spencer: Yeah, just come back when you’re done, okay?
Robbie: Okay!
Matt: This is crazy! An AW champion in MY school! You mind if we take a picture real quick?
Spencer: Yeah, sure..
He wastes no time pulling out a camera and taking a picture of the two of us, extending his hand once again after he’s done.
Spencer: Yeah, I don’t know. I’m pretty busy with the business and everything, you know?
Matt: Yeah, well that makes sense. Just you know, any time that you want to, just call the school and I’m sure we’d be able to set something up.
Spencer: I’ll keep it in mind..
I give an obligatory smile as one of the mom’s taps on my shoulder, pulling my attention away from the gym teacher.
Spencer: Hi..
?: Oh my god, I was just watching you on Ellen last week! Is she the funniest lady ever or what?
Spencer: Yeah, she’s uh...
I feel a lump form in my throat as I catch a glimpse of a figure on the other side of the room sandwiched between the maze of bodies, cloaked entirely in black cloth and seemingly looking my way.
Her words become a blur to me and I find myself coming in and out of the conversation as I look back towards the figure again.
I feel my every muscle fiber tense up as my mind is sent spiraling by their idea of “hello”, a single finger raised to their lips to demand silence. I nearly jump out of my own skin as I feel the woman’s hand rest against my right arm.
Spencer: I..I’m sorry..I-
Another mom pivots around, a toothy grin spreading across her face.
The first woman jumps in to respond.
The toothy grin spreads even more as I feel a layer of sweat push its way out to rest against my forehead.
I feel the need to vomit forming in my chest as I politely push my way past the other adults and take some rushed steps towards the other side of the gym. As I look back through the gap in the bodies, I see an open space where the figure was previously standing. My heart is ready to break out of my ribcage before I’m able to breath a sigh of relief as I see Robbie turned towards a group of kids.
He turns around at the touch of my hand resting against his shoulder.
I’m left frozen for a moment as I’m met by the cloaked face of a child dressed as the black Spiderman.
I spin around, searching for him desperately.
I take a step back, peeking over the crowd further to no success.
I search over newly created gaps in space created by other shifting attendees, but have no luck.
I feel the spiral as my mind comes back to the image of that cloaked finger.