"Is this your idea of a joke?"
"Are you laughing?"
"No."
"Then it is not a joke."
Pull it together Johnny. Your fists covered in his blood will feel good but it will not help. Or will it? Keep it on the back burner for now. He thought he was smooth setting up this interview for a fake company.
Raptor Valley Wrestling. He should have known I would check it out before I came and find out it wasn't real. But he knew I would come despite it to see what he wanted.
Predictability will get a man killed. So will curiosity I'm told. But I havent died yet.
"You brought me all the way out here and I wanted to know what you were selling. So far it does not look like you have any merchandise to interest me so I am five steps from leaving."
"You would leave without learning what I have to tell you."
"It won't keep me up at night not knowing. I have a great match to go get ready for."
"Your last match with that company."
Big fucking deal he knew that one. He called about the interview so he had to have known.
"You knew about the match Im so surprised. I'm leaving now have a fucked-up life."
"You can go Nathan. You held him long enough."
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuckety fuck fuck. I dont need to turn around to know who it is. I know the voice and I know the cheap cologue he wears. Fuck fuck and fuck some more. This was more a set up then I thought.
"You arranged this."
"Yes I did."
"You know I want nothing to do with you. Dad."
"It means nothing that I want something to do with you?"
"Why would it mean anything to me I got you out of my life a long time ago when you screwed us all."
"I screwed you? You see it all backwards Johnny and I don't blame you for it. But you are wrong."
Rip out eyeballs. Kick nuts so hard they go indoors for the winter. Keep popping fingers until he never waves again. I see many options to me but I wait. He's smart and he wouldn't bring me here without something planned.
"You have shit dripping off the corner of your mouth."
"Did your mom give you that vile tongue or was it living in the sin city?"
Dick.
"You insult Las Vegas our convo ends in a family feud."
"How excited are you for this week?"
What?
"I don't understand."
"Yes you do. How confident are you that you will win the match and be a title holder?"
"I am, I have good odds of winning"
"There is Vegas again. It is not about odds Johnny it is about you winning or losing. Can you beat all?"
"I can beat enough to get the title."
"Have you studied them? The men you face?"
"Studying is for weaklins you taught me that."
"No your mother taught you that. I would never be so stupid."
The hands move on their own. He's against the wall and I think of twisting the head and making a wish.
"Do not talk about mom she was a saint."
"I did not know you felt strongly about this so you do have strong emotions that will help you win. I can help you win Johnny if you let me."
There is the offer again. The offer of breaking his neck is more tampting to me.
"I know you were in the wrestling business but why do you think I would need your help?"
"You could be big in wrestling but you are not moving forward you are moving back. With me I can change that. I can get you a win this week and I can help you move on."
I release my grip slow but Im ready to put it on again if he breathes wrong. I should leave. But I have no big wins can I continue to do it this way? I dont want him. But I might need him. Fuck.
"We can talk. But only until I make my decision."
"To join me?"
"Or to neuter you."
"A fair deal. We will go back to my gym and talk it is in the back. Tell me are they talking about you?"
"No they ignore me for the big guns like Danger and Dan. I am small to them."
"Good in this match it is good for them not to see you coming."
"Im the biggest one in the match they can't help but see me coming."
"It is a figure of speech. What I mean is that you strike when they are not looking and you pin one to be the champion and you protect yourself. You need to have a plan of attack."
Breaking legs is a great strategy for me but I see what he is saying. Could he be onto something and do I need to sit and listen to what he has to say? His gym is low brow but it has what they need to train men with.
I'm here talking to my father in his gym. When did I cross the rainbow and how do I get out?
"You need to see if from my side Johnny. I love you and I want you to do good."
Bullshit there is more here then love but he is a good liar.
"It looks good for me to have a champ in the family and I know we can help each other out."
"You know that I want to win and I have wanted to win since I got there. That's the only reason I listen to you now.,"
"We will talk more tomorrow. You should go out now with Nathan and talk with him."
"You read the tabloids but it is not true I am not gay or bi I am straight as an arrow."
He laughs. I forgot how I hated that laugh.
"It is not a date. I want you to get to know your brother is all."
!!!
"Speechless at last I knew that would do it. You and Nathan go have a time on the town and we will talk tomorrow."
"Nathan, Nathan is my brother?"
"Talk to him about it."
He leaves and I look out the door of the gym. Nathan is younger then me and Dad left young so he could be my brother or half brother or step brother. Fuck if I know.
I have a brother. A brother. A brother.
