Post by thesouthsidekid on May 6, 2007 17:04:26 GMT -5
Polar Opposites, or are they?
Odyssey. Webster’s Dictionary defines odyssey as a long and difficult journey. In the epic poem Odyssey by Homer, it curtails a young man, Odysseus’s journey following the ten-year Trojan War. In the epic, Troy is overtaken and is fallen, and Odysseus spends another ten years trying to make it back to Ithica. Many assumed that he was dead, even his wife and son. But he never quit, he never surrendered, He did whatever he had to do, wether or not his tactics were considered honorable, such as his decit of the cyclops, taunting his pride, and violence, until he made it home to be united with his wife. An epic story of good triumphing over evil.
While Odysseus is the heroine of this epic, one thing that is evident and that is he has a flaw, a vice, just like anyone else. His vice is his overconfidence. This lead him to do the decitful things he did. Unlike most epics, Odysseus can be looked at in shades of gray, instead of the prototypical black and white of most epic’s heros.
Fast forward many years later. Another two more young men are on an odyssey, an odyssey that has lead them to a collision course with one another that can be considered among the most epic of proportions. The two young men are Obo, the WFWF World Heavyweight Champion, and Josh Dean, winner of the New Breed Reign tournament and just recently named number 1 contender.
At first glance, both men are polar opposites on many different levels, starting with their in ring styles. Obo, personafies the grunge, underground trek of life. He wears his demented life story on his sleeve that you can tell by the scars from his numerous battles in the ring and outside the ring. Over time, he has used sadistic and violent tendancies in the ring to make his mark among WFWF legends, looking at each action as a shade of gray and showing little no remorse for his actions. A true master of the hardcore, Obo has spent four years in WFWF, inflicting pain and anguish on all his opponents, rightfully earning the moniker, “The King of Gore”. Now, he finds himself at the top of the mountain in WFWF as World Heavyweight Champion. Obo is a prideful champion that believes there is no one in the world that can hold a candle to him, and will risk life and limb to keep what he has worked hard for.
Then there is the challenger, Josh Dean. Here we see a young man that is the opposite of the World Champion. He personafies a well trained, charasmatic athlete normally associated with a higher class of people. Since he has shown up in WFWF in late November, he has dazzled audiences at house shows, Felo De Se, and Pay Per View with his wrestling ability in the ring, mixed with his jaw dropping athletism. He enjoys the competition and never backs down from the challenge of an opponent, and will often try to topple foes with his training, and seeing things in a right and wrong fashion. Many could say he is a prodigy of the sport based on his rise through the ranks, and they would be right unless they knew the man himself. Even at the tender, impressionable young age of 21, Josh Dean is a veteran of the sport. Wrestling since the age of 15, he isn’t just a hotshot rookie that is getting on a lucky winning streak. Far from it, as he has been decorated all over the globe. But many see his New Breed Reign title and recent number 1 contendership as a flash in the pan, but that is only considering not too many people know him in WFWF.
But while at first glance, they seem different, but there is one thing about both the challenger and champion that make put them on a closer level to each other than even they realize. The scars that they carry from their past. Both suffer, but one suffers silently while the other is vocal. Obo has made it no secret over time of his turbulent relationship with Ashley, the mother of his daughter, Samantha. His blatent hatred for her reaps no ends for the way they departed each other long ago. He has suffered and through his journey to the top, taken his pain out on others in the most violent of measures to mask his own pain.
Then there is Josh Dean. Six years ago, young Josh was just breaking into the business. He lived with his trainer, Robert “Eagle” Anderson, after Robbie took him off the streets and out of correctional facilities across West Virginia. On a ride back from a house show, Robbie and Josh were involved in a horrific car crash. Josh survived, but Robbie didn’t. Ever since, he has hidden his pain from the world, putting up a wall and not letting people see. He uses the competition as his release of the pain.
The age old story of the Odyssey brings us now to the inevitable meeting. Felo De Se, May 7th, 2007. Pure Rules for the WFWF Championship. To many, this match isn’t even close. To many, it is a story of David and Goliath. One man tries to prove his dominance, the other, tries to shock the world.
Part 1: A promise made, a promise to be kept.
A winding road makes twists and turns through the mountains of Clarksburg, West Virginia. I am in the driver’s seat of the car navigating these long, winding roads. Fog is heavy and traffic is dead, as it is nearing the five o’clock our on this cool Friday morning. The cool of the air is much like the cool, calm collection of the magnitude of the match that I face at Felo De Se. These roads are much of second nature to me, that even in my most fatigued states, I can travel them with ease.
It has been a long night, and I’ve been travelling most of it from Philadelphia to get to this point. Fatigue was evident on my face, as I haven’t shaven in a couple of days. The beard that was growing on my face was wild and very unkempt. My hair was greasy from not showering in a day or so. My clothes smelled of dinge and dirt, like I had been thrown to the ground and then kicked multiple times by the soul of a muddy boot. I felt like hell. But that is the way I wanted it. I wanted to get a glimpse of a day in the life of Obo, my opponent for Felo De Se. I wanted to get a feel of how his body moves, I wanted to get a feel of how he feels physically, because studying film can only do so much for a match that has everyone talking like it does.
All week, ever since both Obo and I were victorious at Forever Unscarred, and ever since the match has been made, I’ve heard the talking, not only from the media, but from people all around me. I’ve tried to block it out, but the talking is still there.
“Josh Dean……….who the hell is that?”
“Obo is gonna wipe the floors with that punk……..”
“Josh Dean barely got by Reckless at Forever Unscarred, what makes him think he has a chance?”
I’ve heard it all. No one is giving me a chance in hell. I believe I even heard a person in the supermarket say that Vegas odds are 50-1. As I think about all the talk, all the slander, the doubt from all of them, one thing came to my mind.
them, I’m going to shock the world.
I saw in sight the hill leading up to a desolate looking building. I knew the building, and I knew it well. Salem, a place that I used to call a home. Salem is a young men’s detention center for juvenille delinquents that weren’t old enough to face a criminal record. I was there because of a gang of thugs that attacked me and tried to leave me for dead. I found them and beat them savagely with any weapon I could find, tire irons, baseball bats, 2X4’s, you name it, if it wasn’t nailed down I used it. Then I found myself in there. That’s where the saga came to start. That’s where I met Robbie. His brother was a guard there at the time and introduced me to Robbie. I visited Salem not to long ago, and Marty is still there, running the place now.
I turned on my signal as my car began to creep closer to the bottom of the hill. This hill was not very tall, but it was a steep climb. I shifted my car into a lower gear to make the climb. The fog that was surrounded me started to taper out as I climbed higher and got closer to the gate. The hill began to top out as the car reached the gate. The gatekeeper come over and I rolled down the window.
Keeper: Reason for visit.
“I came to see Marty.”
Keeper: Marty, you mean Warden Anderson?
Yes of course I meant Marty Anderson, the man just happened to run this place, you dumb ingrate! Of course I didn’t say that, but it’s ok if I feel he is one. This guy must be new, because the last time I was here, he wasn’t here. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, just this once.
“Yes, Warden Marty Anderson. I’m a relative.”
Keeper: Just one moment.
The gatekeeper got on his two way walkie talkie. He began to speak into it.
Keeper: Requesting Warden Anderson’s presence at the gate. We have a yong man, that says he is a relative.
The man put his two way down and I put my car in park and waited. The gate keeper looked at me with a weird eye, like he thought that I was going to jump out of the car and mug him. I was unarmed, so he didn’t have anything to worry about. I glanced a head of me and I saw Marty walking through the parking lot on the other side of the gate. A smile came to my attention as he approached the gate keepers booth.
Marty: Yes, is there a problem Robinson?
Robinson: Sir, this young man says that he is here to see you. He says he is a relative.
Marty took one look at the car before coming around to my window and ducking down. He looked in my eyes and his face lit up slightly with a smile.
Marty: He’s fine Robinson. Let him in.
Robinson: But sir, who is he?
Marty: It doesn’t matter Robinson, I gave you an order.
Robinson nodded his head and had the high fenced in gate opened as I slowly drove my car inside. I pulled into a near parking spot and put the car in park. I opened the door to the car and Marty walked over as I shut the door to the car.
Marty: Superstar, you look like hell made over.
“I feel like hell made over.”
Marty: Come on inside, you can use the guards showers to get cleaned up. Then you and I can talk. Do you have a change of clothes?
“Marty, think about who you’re asking. I’m a professional wrestler.
With that, I grabbed my bag and walked with Marty. It was a little cooler than I expected it to be up in the hills. Thank God the walk was just a short distance. We reached the doors. Marty took his keys out and opened up the door. Immediately I was overtaken with the warmth of the place. It felt so good. I kept the car cold on the trip to keep myself awake. Marty nor I spoke, but he directed me to the guards shower room. Only a handful of guards were up at the time, most of them finishing the overnight watch. I entered the shower room and sat my stuff down. I began to undress and prepare for a long awaited shower.
I couldn’t wait to jump into the shower. Just the thought of the sensation of the warm water on my skin was euphoric in that moment, just like the moment that I walk out onto that stage for Felo De Se, just like that warmth in the moment of standing across from Obo, knowing that despite what the world thinks, I know that I belong in that title match. My journey has been hard, and in the end, I know it all will pay off.
I grabbed a towel from the rack and took my toletry supplies into one of the open shower stalls. I turned on the water and adjusted it accordingly to the temperature. I stepped in and the warm water was just as I thought it would be. I was in great pleasure as I lathered up and began to wash myself. Finally, I feel normal again. The grunge and the dinge from two days of not showering ran down into the drain, much like the anxiety of the waiting for the bell to ring. I lathered up my shampoo and put it into my hair. I lathered it into my scalp and my head started to tingle. It felt good to be clean again. A fresh start. I ran my fingers through my hair and rinsed. I turned off the faucet and reached out of the stall for my towel. I was relived to finally have gotten a shower.
My experiment of reliving what a day in Obo’s life was getting to be hazardous, but I think I finally had a clue of what he is all about. But why, well, that part hasn’t hit me yet, but I know that it would.
I walked back into the guards locker room and began to get changed into some normal, clean clothes. I had contemplated washing the dirty ones, but nah, not right now, I can wash them later on. After dressing, I opened the door and walked into Marty’s office. I shut the door behind me, and I looked and saw Marty sitting behind his desk, drinking his moring coffee and reading the paper. He glanced up from his reading and saw me enter. He sat the paper down and grabbed his mug. He held it up and gestured toward it.
Marty: Coffee? You look like you could use a cup.
Use a cup? Yeah, I might as well. As soon as I get done here, I’m right back on the road again.
I nodded my head and Marty turned around behind his desk and poured me a cup. He turned and grabbed the cream and poured some into the mug. I motioned when it was good and he sat it on the opposite side of his desk. He motioned for me to come sit down. I complied with his request and sat down in the chair on the opposite side of him. He looked at me, his grey eyes told the story and he didn’t have to say anything. He was confused to why I was here.
Marty: Let’s get to the point Superstar. Why are you here, because I’m a little confused?
“Remember when I came and visited a couple of months back?”
Marty: Yeah.
“Remember that I said, when I get a World Title shot, I’d be back.”
Marty: Yeah.
“Marty, I got a World Title shot.”
Marty looked at me in shock. I couldn’t tell what it was that he was thinking, was that I got a World Title shot in general, or that I got a title shot so soon into my WFWF tenure.
Marty: Really?
“Yup this upcoming Felo De Se.”
Marty: What does this have to do with me?
“Marty, I told you, when I get that title shot, you are gonna be in the front row, with VIP accomadations.”
Marty: You’re serious.
I reached into my bag and pulled out a ticket. I put it on the desk and slid across to him.
“Dead serious.”
Marty looked at me with a gleam in his eye. I was shocked he was taking this the way he was. Did he think that I wouldn’t remember a promise that I told him that I’d keep.
Marty: There is another reason you’re hear Josh. It wasn’t just to give me a ticket.
He knew. Marty knows a lot of things. But when a person watches another person grown up every day for a certain amount of time, they do pick up things. And Marty could pick up that I was hiding something.
“Ok, you’re right there is another reason. I went to the gravesite.”
Marty: Oh really? How did it go?
“About how you would expect.”
Marty: You broke down?
“Yes, I finally broke down. But then something else happened Marty, I can’t explain it, but it was weird.”
Marty: I’ve seen a lot of weird things in my day, so whatever you can say, won’t surprise me.
“He came back.”
Marty: He what?
“He came back. Marty it was like he was alive again. He came back, and I could see him. And Robbie talked to me. He told me I wasn’t to blame for what happened. And that he loved me, and that I was his son. And he hugged me, and it was like he was there all over again. Marty you can call me crazy, but I wouldn’t lie about something like this.”
Marty: I believe you.
“You do?”
Marty: Yeah. So, there is only one thing to ask yourself now. Are you ok now?
Was I ok? You know I hadn’t thought about it. I’d like to think that I am. I mean I did get the closure that I thought I needed. But was I ok?
“I’m pretty sure I am.”
Marty: I only have one piece of advice for you. If you have any doubt in your mind, if you have any second thoughts about being ok with everything now, then you need to go back to the gravesite one more time. Are you ok?
I really had to think about it. It was then I came to the conclusion, maybe I do need to go the gravesight just one more time, to make sure I was ok with it.
As I got up from that chair, I didn’t say a word about wether I was or not. Marty got up and followed me as I grabbed my bags and walked out. I walked toward my car and sounded the alarm to unlock the door. As I reached my car, I opened up the door and tossed the bag in and got into the car. I rolled down the window as Marty looked at me.
Marty: Be careful whatever it is you decide to do.
“Make sure you show up for the match.”
With that I rolled up the window and put the car in reverse. I put the car in drive and the gatekeeper already had the gate opened for me as I drove out. I had kept my promise to Marty, but there was one thing I could do before I could be fully ready. And that is just what I had to do.
Odyssey. Webster’s Dictionary defines odyssey as a long and difficult journey. In the epic poem Odyssey by Homer, it curtails a young man, Odysseus’s journey following the ten-year Trojan War. In the epic, Troy is overtaken and is fallen, and Odysseus spends another ten years trying to make it back to Ithica. Many assumed that he was dead, even his wife and son. But he never quit, he never surrendered, He did whatever he had to do, wether or not his tactics were considered honorable, such as his decit of the cyclops, taunting his pride, and violence, until he made it home to be united with his wife. An epic story of good triumphing over evil.
While Odysseus is the heroine of this epic, one thing that is evident and that is he has a flaw, a vice, just like anyone else. His vice is his overconfidence. This lead him to do the decitful things he did. Unlike most epics, Odysseus can be looked at in shades of gray, instead of the prototypical black and white of most epic’s heros.
Fast forward many years later. Another two more young men are on an odyssey, an odyssey that has lead them to a collision course with one another that can be considered among the most epic of proportions. The two young men are Obo, the WFWF World Heavyweight Champion, and Josh Dean, winner of the New Breed Reign tournament and just recently named number 1 contender.
At first glance, both men are polar opposites on many different levels, starting with their in ring styles. Obo, personafies the grunge, underground trek of life. He wears his demented life story on his sleeve that you can tell by the scars from his numerous battles in the ring and outside the ring. Over time, he has used sadistic and violent tendancies in the ring to make his mark among WFWF legends, looking at each action as a shade of gray and showing little no remorse for his actions. A true master of the hardcore, Obo has spent four years in WFWF, inflicting pain and anguish on all his opponents, rightfully earning the moniker, “The King of Gore”. Now, he finds himself at the top of the mountain in WFWF as World Heavyweight Champion. Obo is a prideful champion that believes there is no one in the world that can hold a candle to him, and will risk life and limb to keep what he has worked hard for.
Then there is the challenger, Josh Dean. Here we see a young man that is the opposite of the World Champion. He personafies a well trained, charasmatic athlete normally associated with a higher class of people. Since he has shown up in WFWF in late November, he has dazzled audiences at house shows, Felo De Se, and Pay Per View with his wrestling ability in the ring, mixed with his jaw dropping athletism. He enjoys the competition and never backs down from the challenge of an opponent, and will often try to topple foes with his training, and seeing things in a right and wrong fashion. Many could say he is a prodigy of the sport based on his rise through the ranks, and they would be right unless they knew the man himself. Even at the tender, impressionable young age of 21, Josh Dean is a veteran of the sport. Wrestling since the age of 15, he isn’t just a hotshot rookie that is getting on a lucky winning streak. Far from it, as he has been decorated all over the globe. But many see his New Breed Reign title and recent number 1 contendership as a flash in the pan, but that is only considering not too many people know him in WFWF.
But while at first glance, they seem different, but there is one thing about both the challenger and champion that make put them on a closer level to each other than even they realize. The scars that they carry from their past. Both suffer, but one suffers silently while the other is vocal. Obo has made it no secret over time of his turbulent relationship with Ashley, the mother of his daughter, Samantha. His blatent hatred for her reaps no ends for the way they departed each other long ago. He has suffered and through his journey to the top, taken his pain out on others in the most violent of measures to mask his own pain.
Then there is Josh Dean. Six years ago, young Josh was just breaking into the business. He lived with his trainer, Robert “Eagle” Anderson, after Robbie took him off the streets and out of correctional facilities across West Virginia. On a ride back from a house show, Robbie and Josh were involved in a horrific car crash. Josh survived, but Robbie didn’t. Ever since, he has hidden his pain from the world, putting up a wall and not letting people see. He uses the competition as his release of the pain.
The age old story of the Odyssey brings us now to the inevitable meeting. Felo De Se, May 7th, 2007. Pure Rules for the WFWF Championship. To many, this match isn’t even close. To many, it is a story of David and Goliath. One man tries to prove his dominance, the other, tries to shock the world.
Part 1: A promise made, a promise to be kept.
A winding road makes twists and turns through the mountains of Clarksburg, West Virginia. I am in the driver’s seat of the car navigating these long, winding roads. Fog is heavy and traffic is dead, as it is nearing the five o’clock our on this cool Friday morning. The cool of the air is much like the cool, calm collection of the magnitude of the match that I face at Felo De Se. These roads are much of second nature to me, that even in my most fatigued states, I can travel them with ease.
It has been a long night, and I’ve been travelling most of it from Philadelphia to get to this point. Fatigue was evident on my face, as I haven’t shaven in a couple of days. The beard that was growing on my face was wild and very unkempt. My hair was greasy from not showering in a day or so. My clothes smelled of dinge and dirt, like I had been thrown to the ground and then kicked multiple times by the soul of a muddy boot. I felt like hell. But that is the way I wanted it. I wanted to get a glimpse of a day in the life of Obo, my opponent for Felo De Se. I wanted to get a feel of how his body moves, I wanted to get a feel of how he feels physically, because studying film can only do so much for a match that has everyone talking like it does.
All week, ever since both Obo and I were victorious at Forever Unscarred, and ever since the match has been made, I’ve heard the talking, not only from the media, but from people all around me. I’ve tried to block it out, but the talking is still there.
“Josh Dean……….who the hell is that?”
“Obo is gonna wipe the floors with that punk……..”
“Josh Dean barely got by Reckless at Forever Unscarred, what makes him think he has a chance?”
I’ve heard it all. No one is giving me a chance in hell. I believe I even heard a person in the supermarket say that Vegas odds are 50-1. As I think about all the talk, all the slander, the doubt from all of them, one thing came to my mind.
them, I’m going to shock the world.I saw in sight the hill leading up to a desolate looking building. I knew the building, and I knew it well. Salem, a place that I used to call a home. Salem is a young men’s detention center for juvenille delinquents that weren’t old enough to face a criminal record. I was there because of a gang of thugs that attacked me and tried to leave me for dead. I found them and beat them savagely with any weapon I could find, tire irons, baseball bats, 2X4’s, you name it, if it wasn’t nailed down I used it. Then I found myself in there. That’s where the saga came to start. That’s where I met Robbie. His brother was a guard there at the time and introduced me to Robbie. I visited Salem not to long ago, and Marty is still there, running the place now.
I turned on my signal as my car began to creep closer to the bottom of the hill. This hill was not very tall, but it was a steep climb. I shifted my car into a lower gear to make the climb. The fog that was surrounded me started to taper out as I climbed higher and got closer to the gate. The hill began to top out as the car reached the gate. The gatekeeper come over and I rolled down the window.
Keeper: Reason for visit.
“I came to see Marty.”
Keeper: Marty, you mean Warden Anderson?
Yes of course I meant Marty Anderson, the man just happened to run this place, you dumb ingrate! Of course I didn’t say that, but it’s ok if I feel he is one. This guy must be new, because the last time I was here, he wasn’t here. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, just this once.
“Yes, Warden Marty Anderson. I’m a relative.”
Keeper: Just one moment.
The gatekeeper got on his two way walkie talkie. He began to speak into it.
Keeper: Requesting Warden Anderson’s presence at the gate. We have a yong man, that says he is a relative.
The man put his two way down and I put my car in park and waited. The gate keeper looked at me with a weird eye, like he thought that I was going to jump out of the car and mug him. I was unarmed, so he didn’t have anything to worry about. I glanced a head of me and I saw Marty walking through the parking lot on the other side of the gate. A smile came to my attention as he approached the gate keepers booth.
Marty: Yes, is there a problem Robinson?
Robinson: Sir, this young man says that he is here to see you. He says he is a relative.
Marty took one look at the car before coming around to my window and ducking down. He looked in my eyes and his face lit up slightly with a smile.
Marty: He’s fine Robinson. Let him in.
Robinson: But sir, who is he?
Marty: It doesn’t matter Robinson, I gave you an order.
Robinson nodded his head and had the high fenced in gate opened as I slowly drove my car inside. I pulled into a near parking spot and put the car in park. I opened the door to the car and Marty walked over as I shut the door to the car.
Marty: Superstar, you look like hell made over.
“I feel like hell made over.”
Marty: Come on inside, you can use the guards showers to get cleaned up. Then you and I can talk. Do you have a change of clothes?
“Marty, think about who you’re asking. I’m a professional wrestler.
With that, I grabbed my bag and walked with Marty. It was a little cooler than I expected it to be up in the hills. Thank God the walk was just a short distance. We reached the doors. Marty took his keys out and opened up the door. Immediately I was overtaken with the warmth of the place. It felt so good. I kept the car cold on the trip to keep myself awake. Marty nor I spoke, but he directed me to the guards shower room. Only a handful of guards were up at the time, most of them finishing the overnight watch. I entered the shower room and sat my stuff down. I began to undress and prepare for a long awaited shower.
I couldn’t wait to jump into the shower. Just the thought of the sensation of the warm water on my skin was euphoric in that moment, just like the moment that I walk out onto that stage for Felo De Se, just like that warmth in the moment of standing across from Obo, knowing that despite what the world thinks, I know that I belong in that title match. My journey has been hard, and in the end, I know it all will pay off.
I grabbed a towel from the rack and took my toletry supplies into one of the open shower stalls. I turned on the water and adjusted it accordingly to the temperature. I stepped in and the warm water was just as I thought it would be. I was in great pleasure as I lathered up and began to wash myself. Finally, I feel normal again. The grunge and the dinge from two days of not showering ran down into the drain, much like the anxiety of the waiting for the bell to ring. I lathered up my shampoo and put it into my hair. I lathered it into my scalp and my head started to tingle. It felt good to be clean again. A fresh start. I ran my fingers through my hair and rinsed. I turned off the faucet and reached out of the stall for my towel. I was relived to finally have gotten a shower.
My experiment of reliving what a day in Obo’s life was getting to be hazardous, but I think I finally had a clue of what he is all about. But why, well, that part hasn’t hit me yet, but I know that it would.
I walked back into the guards locker room and began to get changed into some normal, clean clothes. I had contemplated washing the dirty ones, but nah, not right now, I can wash them later on. After dressing, I opened the door and walked into Marty’s office. I shut the door behind me, and I looked and saw Marty sitting behind his desk, drinking his moring coffee and reading the paper. He glanced up from his reading and saw me enter. He sat the paper down and grabbed his mug. He held it up and gestured toward it.
Marty: Coffee? You look like you could use a cup.
Use a cup? Yeah, I might as well. As soon as I get done here, I’m right back on the road again.
I nodded my head and Marty turned around behind his desk and poured me a cup. He turned and grabbed the cream and poured some into the mug. I motioned when it was good and he sat it on the opposite side of his desk. He motioned for me to come sit down. I complied with his request and sat down in the chair on the opposite side of him. He looked at me, his grey eyes told the story and he didn’t have to say anything. He was confused to why I was here.
Marty: Let’s get to the point Superstar. Why are you here, because I’m a little confused?
“Remember when I came and visited a couple of months back?”
Marty: Yeah.
“Remember that I said, when I get a World Title shot, I’d be back.”
Marty: Yeah.
“Marty, I got a World Title shot.”
Marty looked at me in shock. I couldn’t tell what it was that he was thinking, was that I got a World Title shot in general, or that I got a title shot so soon into my WFWF tenure.
Marty: Really?
“Yup this upcoming Felo De Se.”
Marty: What does this have to do with me?
“Marty, I told you, when I get that title shot, you are gonna be in the front row, with VIP accomadations.”
Marty: You’re serious.
I reached into my bag and pulled out a ticket. I put it on the desk and slid across to him.
“Dead serious.”
Marty looked at me with a gleam in his eye. I was shocked he was taking this the way he was. Did he think that I wouldn’t remember a promise that I told him that I’d keep.
Marty: There is another reason you’re hear Josh. It wasn’t just to give me a ticket.
He knew. Marty knows a lot of things. But when a person watches another person grown up every day for a certain amount of time, they do pick up things. And Marty could pick up that I was hiding something.
“Ok, you’re right there is another reason. I went to the gravesite.”
Marty: Oh really? How did it go?
“About how you would expect.”
Marty: You broke down?
“Yes, I finally broke down. But then something else happened Marty, I can’t explain it, but it was weird.”
Marty: I’ve seen a lot of weird things in my day, so whatever you can say, won’t surprise me.
“He came back.”
Marty: He what?
“He came back. Marty it was like he was alive again. He came back, and I could see him. And Robbie talked to me. He told me I wasn’t to blame for what happened. And that he loved me, and that I was his son. And he hugged me, and it was like he was there all over again. Marty you can call me crazy, but I wouldn’t lie about something like this.”
Marty: I believe you.
“You do?”
Marty: Yeah. So, there is only one thing to ask yourself now. Are you ok now?
Was I ok? You know I hadn’t thought about it. I’d like to think that I am. I mean I did get the closure that I thought I needed. But was I ok?
“I’m pretty sure I am.”
Marty: I only have one piece of advice for you. If you have any doubt in your mind, if you have any second thoughts about being ok with everything now, then you need to go back to the gravesite one more time. Are you ok?
I really had to think about it. It was then I came to the conclusion, maybe I do need to go the gravesight just one more time, to make sure I was ok with it.
As I got up from that chair, I didn’t say a word about wether I was or not. Marty got up and followed me as I grabbed my bags and walked out. I walked toward my car and sounded the alarm to unlock the door. As I reached my car, I opened up the door and tossed the bag in and got into the car. I rolled down the window as Marty looked at me.
Marty: Be careful whatever it is you decide to do.
“Make sure you show up for the match.”
With that I rolled up the window and put the car in reverse. I put the car in drive and the gatekeeper already had the gate opened for me as I drove out. I had kept my promise to Marty, but there was one thing I could do before I could be fully ready. And that is just what I had to do.
