Post by Deleted on May 22, 2019 9:23:25 GMT -7
1.
(Off Camera)
Life, it can be pretty tough for us these days. Times may have changed, we may have even progressed as a society but there are things that seem to stay the same from year to year, decade to decade and generation to generation.
“Daddy, why are all these black men shooting each other?”
-They are practicing.
As a child I never understood that. What was so damn hard about being a black man in urban America? So draining and disheartening that instead of a book or a pencil, you went for the automatic, be it pistol or submachine gun..and took down. Not the oppressor not the society that had kept you down..but another one just like you.
These days we have smartphones, WiFi 4G and 5G tech with VR and shit..yet the killing doesn’t stop. The culture evolves but not from all parts..
..practice just goes on.
Sitting alone inside this office, four goddamn flights of stairs and elevator that has been out of order for about as long as the dive bar from down the street and the pizza joint half a block away has started to tell me “you can only purchase to tab if you plan on paying it back” I do plan on paying it back. All I need is one good booking, one great gig and I can shorten a bunch of it.
Because when it all boiled down to, when you went to the nitty-gritty, when it came to nut-cutting time
..aw shit, I need another drink!
You know all that talk about living as disadvantaged black man in modern America? You’ve seen the documentaries, you’ve seen the stats, heard the speeches about how long have we come since the civil rights era..yeah? All that ain’t shit if you think about it. I mean REALLY think about it.
The dudes are still there, so are the corners and the drugs. They got better clothes, better phones, same tacky bling. Of course the way they earn the money for that is poisoning their own people, their friends, homies down the street, kids..anyone who needs an escape and God knows that everyone needs an escape in the Donald John Trump era..I know I do.
So what do I do? I live, dream and hope to achieve the American dream. I even open up my own business, which is the reason I am sitting on my black ass in this office. Waiting for the phone to ring, for someone to climb that four flights of stairs to give me a job..the next person going by could be the one who turns my luck around. The next phone call may just change my course..all I need is just one more chance, one more bump just one more bump man! -damn, already sounding like one of those fiends chasing the dragon..so what do I do when I don’t sit here trying to figure out the wrongs of the society?
I wrestle. Yeah, I do. I wrestle every chance I get, for every damn promotion that offers me a booking for pretty much any money I can get, why? Because I want to? Hell no, because I HAVE TO. I owe so much money that if I want to keep this office afloat, I need to scrape some money. You see living the American dream for modern time disadvantaged blacks is doing everything in excess and boy do I do it well. I smoke, drink, eat and do it all in excess. I’d do that for sex too but for some reason..there hasn’t been that much of it lately. Maybe if I drank, smoke and ate less..but if I stop that how would I pass the time? Yeah..
So when I told you about the hard times of black men in our society..you didn’t think I was just being hip and talking about how black lives matter or something did you? I live that life, I hustle that hustle and I work the work..but not only am I a disadvantaged black in Trump’s America, I’m even worse off.
I am a disadvantaged black woman in Trump’s America, who owns a private investigations office AND wrestles for a living?
..now that I think about it, maybe if I drank less I would have had at least a better idea for a business or second job. If for example I would have opened up a liquor store near something like my neighborhood. I’d never have to worry about money
My name is Tracy Dixon and I’m a professional wrestler
..what’s your excuse?
2
Off Camera.
There was something dangerous in the night air, was it smog, fog or just something simply degenerated. Going up the fire escape was never a smart choice. Hearing those footsteps I knew someone was coming and that sure as hell wasn’t my landlord. Leaning back on the big chair I reached for the 357 from the desk drawer. Had it tinted with a guy who worked as a gunsmith. No pesky shines to warn anyone I aim it on. Pulling back the hammer I turn to the window, just a second or two too late, because if I had kept my eyes on the door I would have heard the lock being picked, would have seen the duo of massive thugs in ski masks..and gotten time to move away from the shot.
WHACK!
“SHIT!”
I put down the paperback novel I had been reading to look up at Clarence slamming his palm on the bar.
“I DON’T BELIEVE IT! YOU GOT KNOCKED DOWN BY A PUNCH LIKE THAT AND CAN’T GET UP! YOU ARE RUINING THIS MATCH! IT’S AS GOOD AS LOST YOU ASSHOLE! YOU, STUPID STUPID ASSHOLE!”
Repeated whacks, this time at the TV set, for someone his age and size Clarence had quite the temper. A middle aged skinny white man with glasses, receding hairline and all he did have his good qualities. I mean just because I haven’t seen any yet didn’t mean such qualities couldn’t exist? Right?
I had watched that old man jump from his seat walk up to the TV spewing cusses at the television, If you didn’t hear him talk or know him. Clarence could even be seen as someone’s grandfather..but once he opens his mouth.
“LOOK AT THAT! THAT STUPID SON OF A BITCH LAID OUT IN THE RING RIGHT THERE! HE OWES ME A GRAND, ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS IS WHAT I WOULD HAVE GOT IF HE HAD MADE IT TO THE END OF THAT ROUND AND WHAT DOES HE DO?! THAT MOTHERFUCKER IS TAKING A NAP! WHAT IS THIS SHIIIIIIIIT!?!?”
I watched him rip what I could only assume was a betting slip, throwing the ripped up shreds in the air before stomping back to his chair behind the bar.
“..you know they say gambling is a sin?”
He just glared at me, chewing a piece of gum.
“..yeah, take that shit to church. So is letting deadbeats drink on tab..you know if you paid your tab I wouldn’t have to make any risk bets, right?”
Ouch, that shit hurt. I knew that Clarence and his dive of a bar was the only place around that would even let me patron for a tab. Same couldn’t be said for the liquor store or even the pizza joint..fucking leeches didn’t realize they are humanitarians not some cold blooded business lizards. I figured I needed to let Clarence in on something positive after all, I did feel kinda guilty.
“..look man, you have been very patient and I know it’s because of my uncle but let me tell you..”
I couldn’t even finish before he snorted at me.
“If it wasn’t for your uncle Leroy and the history we have. Your sorry ass would have never gotten a tab in the first place. I would have barred you and you’d have to walk more than a few blocks just to find a place to drink!”
I had heard it all before. Uncle Leroy, a regular saint when it came to my life, but right now I wasn’t in the mood for Clarence’s history lesson of the good ol’ days.
“Look, Clarence. It’s all going to change. I got a job and..”
His face stretched to a smirk, and it wasn’t a pleasant sight.
“A job huh? Got yourself a big case did ya?!”
“No Clarence, it’s not a cas--”
“Did some rich old lady lose a poodle? Or are you on the search for someone who has dozens of unpaid parking tickets..OR is it..A DOMESTIC case, some crazy broad has you stalking her husband because she isn’t putting out and he made the mistake to smile at her one day..”
He had those jokes, Clarence had a sense of humor, in the loosest sense of the term. I don’t think anyone had ever dared to call him funny, not to his face I bet..or anyone who was alive at least. I let him have that fun before unveiling the truth:
“I got a wrestling gig. My first ever match in Galactic Womens Wrestling!”
That did shut him up, I swear he almost swallowed his gum, looking at me. Then spitting it away with the velocity of a speeding bullet.
“WRESTLING?! That shit hasn’t been popular since what?! The 70’s! How is that supposed to cover your tab..unless..”
He smirked at me again, like a shark.
“..some sort of foxy boxy type of deal? You and some other gals dressed up in skimpy outfits wrapping legs around each other and perverts pay up to slobber at ringside or online, am I right?”
Shaking my head, I felt a shudder go through my body.
“Look, I know my wrestling hasn’t actually been any kind of premium payment. I bring a lunch so I don’t have to have catering..I’ve faced some obscure and outright horrible opponents but all that’s going to change. I’m facing someone relevant this time. Clarence they got me against a multi time champion, a legend who’s been in plenty of places and..”
He went back to flicking channels on that beat up TV.
“You are gonna get killed kid. Don’t do it.”
How dare he just claim that like that?! I tried giving him the evil eye while he switched over to the news.
President Trump has just sent out a stern warning to China that if they don’t../i]
“YOU CAN’T KNOW THAT! ..not for sure. I got some good moves too. I’ve beaten people before!”
He flicked away to the shopping network.
“Yeah? Name one!”
“..well not lately, no. But I can win matches! I have and I can do it again. I just gotta keep at it, keep training, working hard and do my best and sooner or later my luck will turn. It’s gotta turn, I can’t fail at everything Clarence, I can’t lose ALL THE TIME..”
He shook his head at me.
“..and you think I got a gambling problem. You got signed to a wrestling organization that isn’t operating out of the back of some van and has shows outside of high school gyms? Great, good for you. But if you think that you can go against someone who has won a bunch of championships and is a big deal in the companies they are in..your odds are less than shit. “
I gulped.
It hurt, really hurt. Clarence had snide remarks for a lot of things but I thought that he would be happy for me. I wanted to jump the bar and slam that TV on his damn head for doubting me. But I couldn’t do that on account of my uncle or the fact that if I couldn’t chill at this bar, where could I go? Home? Office? ..at least here I had a friend, well sort of.
“Give me a drink Clarence..nothing too stiff. I’m training again tomorrow.”
He got up slow and walked up to mix me a drink.
“When’s the show?”
“24th Wells Fargo Center, in Philly..”
He didn’t say a word just offered me the drink.
“Good luck on Friday kid. You’ll need it.”
I grabbed the drink had a sip, it was stronger than before.
“Wow..that packs a kick doesn’t it?”
He winked at me.
“..don’t worry, that won’t be added to your tab. This one’s on the house. I’ll be waiting for my money when you get back.”
I guess that was as much of a encouragement as I could expect from him. It still made me feel nice and warm inside.
..or maybe it was just the drink.