Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 21:07:36 GMT -5
“You’re sure you’ll be okay?” Lisbeth asks me as she jingled my keys in her hand. Her eyebrows go up in question.
“Oh stop Lis. It’s one little girl and she’s sleeping. What trouble could possibly happen for you to go to the gym for a couple hours?”
She still looks skeptical.
“Alright... I just know how you can get. If you need me, I’ll keep my phone on me.” She leans down to kiss my forehead. “I love you. Remember, play nice. This isn’t like Wilson. You can’t yell and throw things at him if he doesn’t do what you want.”
I scoff.
“I do not yell or throw things...”
She gives me that look. The one that says ‘really.’
“Alright, fine. There was one time I threw the TV guide at the bugger but he was meowing incessantly. What was I supposed to do? Endure that racket?”
She shakes her head with a chuckle.
“I’ll see you soon LJ.”
She slips out the front door of the home shared by Avery and Taylor. Two of my best friends... well my best friend and his.. Best friend? I wasn’t sure what they were labelling themselves at this point, but it certainly was more than just your normal friendship. But I digress. I flip on the television but there really was much on for a Wednesday night. I suppose that I wasn’t used to watching television anyway. If I had to admit it, most nights when I wasn’t occupying my time with Lisbeth I was reading, or watching some of the most long winded and atrocious promos. Only because it was important to know every potential opponent, even those not in your division.
After flipping through, I find a documentary on the planet Uranus. It figured. The laughing stock of the solar system. I could elaborate on who else I thought was a laughing stock in our company and their sisters but... another time and place. Embarrassing as it was, I found myself becoming a little heavy lidded and before I knew it I was drifting off.
The sounds of loud crashes and beeps brings me to attention. I jump to my feet, fists up, feet in a stance and from the floor, a blonde girl looks up at me in her Cinderella nightgown and big blue eyes. She blinks once before looking back to the television as if my suddenly movement hadn’t even phased her.
“Oh. Brooklyn. You’re awake.”
She doesn’t look away from the Tv. “EEEE, Yup.” She leans forward, putting her little chin on her hands, elbows resting on her knees. She doesn’t even turn back around to address me. I had to say something to Avery about manners. It was important to instil them at a young age to avoid rebellion... or so I had read.
I watch her for a second before asking, “Don’t you think it’s a little late for little girls to be out of bed?” I look quickly at my watch. It was nearly 11:00.
“But I wanna watch cartoons.”
She stares at the screen still.
I can see that I’m going to have my work cut out for me with this... ‘uncle business’
“Well I promise that in the morning when we all get up for breakfast we can watch all the cartoons you want but right now is time for Brooklyn to go back to her bed. Okay?”
Brooklyn turns her head, very slowly and it actually creeps me out just a little with the preciseness of it. I’m expecting her to curse at me or vomit pea soup. Fortunately her head stops turning where it should and she looked up at me again with this big blue eyes. Duplicates her her beautiful mothers.
“I said NO!”
She stands and her little face goes red. Her fists close up and she stomps her feet.
“Now listen here young lady...” I stop myself suddenly sounding a lot like my Grandda.
“No listen.”
She then takes off, sprinting by me and I am not able to catch her in time. For the love of... Why was it that these things always seemed to happen to me when Lisbeth was gone. The cat, now the kid.
I chase after her but she’s not in her room.
“Brooklyn.. Come on out.” I start lifting up canvas toy boxes, her comforter. Looking under her bed. There is the sound of giggling as I look up from the bed and suddenly I am pinged right in the middle of the eyes. My vision fades out for a second and when it clears I see two little bare feet take off out the open door along with the sounds of giggling.
“Jesus...” I swear under my breath and shake off the cobwebs. I finally get out the door only to hear the sound of the bathroom door slam and the door lock
I bang on the door.
“Brooklyn... you can’t be serious. Come on, let Uncle Levi in. I’ll let you watch TV for a little while.”
“NO” She screams and then I hear the sound of running water.
I bang on the door.
“Brooklyn! You need to let me in. It’s very important.”
“NO!”
I run a hand through my hair. This was going to be three stages of hell. Not even Emma was this much of a tyrant. But yet I was assured by both her mother and Avery that she was nothing but an angel. Yeah, they obviously didn’t see those horns holding up the halo.
“I”m going to come in there Brooklyn and when I do you will not be a happy little girl.”
“What you do?”
Well shit. How was I going to explain this one. I couldn’t very well use corporal punishment, that wasn’t my place nor is is socially acceptable anymore. I couldn't ground a 2 year old could I? Did they even understand what a grounding was? I wish I had of asked what Taylor did in this situations.
“I will...” Think Levi, think. What could I do that would get this girl out of the bathroom and prevent her from what sounded like flooding the bathroom. I rests my head against the bathroom door when an idea strikes me. Not even having the best idea I rushes into Avery’s bedroom and opening up his drawers I find a red T-Shirt. I pull it on even if it’s obviously too tight.
“Sorry brother, I’ll buy you a new one.” he I can hear the seams start to stretch. Looking around I spot what I need to completely this. A bag of cotton balls and inspiration strikes.
Ten minutes later...
I knock, waiting for the response of the little girl inside, hoping that she hasn’t passed out with the bathroom door locked.
“What?” she calls.
“Ho Ho HO.” I say. “I'm Santa Claus and your uncle Levi called me to come and talk to you about being a good girl...”
The door unlocks. Thank god kids are so gullible even if I wasn’t sure if she’d buy it with how shabby the whole thing looked. She opens the door to look at me through the crack, one big blue eye.
“You look really skinny to be Santa Claus. Where is your big belly?”
I gotta think quick.
“Well Santa knows that there are plenty of obese people in the world today and he decided to get healthy and show everyone that it’s important to work out and eat all your vegetables.”
She doesn't look convinced.
“And Mrs. Claus got real mad at me for eating all her cookies and I got grounded. Then I’ve been really hungry and just wasted away.”
Her mouth drops open and she opens the door wide, running to throw her arms around my legs.
“Poor Santy! I got lots cookies. We go eat.”
And with that, I had won the battle.
****
At 12:34 am Lisbeth Chambers parks Levi’s car in the driveway and walks up the driveway, gym bag in hand she puts the key into the lock and opens the door. It’s’ dark inside except for the murmur of what sounds like the television. She sets down her bag and walks slowly into the living room and shakes her head at the scene.
Levi, dressed in a very tight fitting red shirt and his blue jeans has cotton balls stuck in his hair. His eyes are shut and he’s snoring slightly. On the table around him are empty plates with half eaten cookies and sandwiches. A nearly half empty glass of milk with a my little pony straw and a big bowl with a melted brown puddle in the bottom which Lis assumes was ice cream. On Levi’s chest is the little girl. Milk moustache, mouth open in a little bow as she sleeps contently in the big man’s arm. On the TV is some kids show that she doesn’t immediately recognize.
With a smile she throws an afghan over the two of them and kisses Levi and then Brooklyn on their heads before making her way to the spare room, smiling with adoration.
***
Recording promos always was a second nature to me. I had never in my life had trouble coming up with the words I needed to tell someone exactly what I needed to say. Until now.
Facing someone that even in a short period of time had become family was one of the hardest things I had to do, besides losing my mother unexpectedly. How do you sit down in front of a camera and tell your brother that you were going to beat him and keep your title securely around your waist without coming off as a arsehole?
With a sigh, I spin my laptop around so that my face is the only thing on the screen and with a heavy heart I press record.
:::RECORD:::
:::END RECORD:::
I just hoped that in the end, Avery saw it in such a way that he knew I wasn’t trying to hurt him.
“Oh stop Lis. It’s one little girl and she’s sleeping. What trouble could possibly happen for you to go to the gym for a couple hours?”
She still looks skeptical.
“Alright... I just know how you can get. If you need me, I’ll keep my phone on me.” She leans down to kiss my forehead. “I love you. Remember, play nice. This isn’t like Wilson. You can’t yell and throw things at him if he doesn’t do what you want.”
I scoff.
“I do not yell or throw things...”
She gives me that look. The one that says ‘really.’
“Alright, fine. There was one time I threw the TV guide at the bugger but he was meowing incessantly. What was I supposed to do? Endure that racket?”
She shakes her head with a chuckle.
“I’ll see you soon LJ.”
She slips out the front door of the home shared by Avery and Taylor. Two of my best friends... well my best friend and his.. Best friend? I wasn’t sure what they were labelling themselves at this point, but it certainly was more than just your normal friendship. But I digress. I flip on the television but there really was much on for a Wednesday night. I suppose that I wasn’t used to watching television anyway. If I had to admit it, most nights when I wasn’t occupying my time with Lisbeth I was reading, or watching some of the most long winded and atrocious promos. Only because it was important to know every potential opponent, even those not in your division.
After flipping through, I find a documentary on the planet Uranus. It figured. The laughing stock of the solar system. I could elaborate on who else I thought was a laughing stock in our company and their sisters but... another time and place. Embarrassing as it was, I found myself becoming a little heavy lidded and before I knew it I was drifting off.
The sounds of loud crashes and beeps brings me to attention. I jump to my feet, fists up, feet in a stance and from the floor, a blonde girl looks up at me in her Cinderella nightgown and big blue eyes. She blinks once before looking back to the television as if my suddenly movement hadn’t even phased her.
“Oh. Brooklyn. You’re awake.”
She doesn’t look away from the Tv. “EEEE, Yup.” She leans forward, putting her little chin on her hands, elbows resting on her knees. She doesn’t even turn back around to address me. I had to say something to Avery about manners. It was important to instil them at a young age to avoid rebellion... or so I had read.
I watch her for a second before asking, “Don’t you think it’s a little late for little girls to be out of bed?” I look quickly at my watch. It was nearly 11:00.
“But I wanna watch cartoons.”
She stares at the screen still.
I can see that I’m going to have my work cut out for me with this... ‘uncle business’
“Well I promise that in the morning when we all get up for breakfast we can watch all the cartoons you want but right now is time for Brooklyn to go back to her bed. Okay?”
Brooklyn turns her head, very slowly and it actually creeps me out just a little with the preciseness of it. I’m expecting her to curse at me or vomit pea soup. Fortunately her head stops turning where it should and she looked up at me again with this big blue eyes. Duplicates her her beautiful mothers.
“I said NO!”
She stands and her little face goes red. Her fists close up and she stomps her feet.
“Now listen here young lady...” I stop myself suddenly sounding a lot like my Grandda.
“No listen.”
She then takes off, sprinting by me and I am not able to catch her in time. For the love of... Why was it that these things always seemed to happen to me when Lisbeth was gone. The cat, now the kid.
I chase after her but she’s not in her room.
“Brooklyn.. Come on out.” I start lifting up canvas toy boxes, her comforter. Looking under her bed. There is the sound of giggling as I look up from the bed and suddenly I am pinged right in the middle of the eyes. My vision fades out for a second and when it clears I see two little bare feet take off out the open door along with the sounds of giggling.
“Jesus...” I swear under my breath and shake off the cobwebs. I finally get out the door only to hear the sound of the bathroom door slam and the door lock
I bang on the door.
“Brooklyn... you can’t be serious. Come on, let Uncle Levi in. I’ll let you watch TV for a little while.”
“NO” She screams and then I hear the sound of running water.
I bang on the door.
“Brooklyn! You need to let me in. It’s very important.”
“NO!”
I run a hand through my hair. This was going to be three stages of hell. Not even Emma was this much of a tyrant. But yet I was assured by both her mother and Avery that she was nothing but an angel. Yeah, they obviously didn’t see those horns holding up the halo.
“I”m going to come in there Brooklyn and when I do you will not be a happy little girl.”
“What you do?”
Well shit. How was I going to explain this one. I couldn’t very well use corporal punishment, that wasn’t my place nor is is socially acceptable anymore. I couldn't ground a 2 year old could I? Did they even understand what a grounding was? I wish I had of asked what Taylor did in this situations.
“I will...” Think Levi, think. What could I do that would get this girl out of the bathroom and prevent her from what sounded like flooding the bathroom. I rests my head against the bathroom door when an idea strikes me. Not even having the best idea I rushes into Avery’s bedroom and opening up his drawers I find a red T-Shirt. I pull it on even if it’s obviously too tight.
“Sorry brother, I’ll buy you a new one.” he I can hear the seams start to stretch. Looking around I spot what I need to completely this. A bag of cotton balls and inspiration strikes.
Ten minutes later...
I knock, waiting for the response of the little girl inside, hoping that she hasn’t passed out with the bathroom door locked.
“What?” she calls.
“Ho Ho HO.” I say. “I'm Santa Claus and your uncle Levi called me to come and talk to you about being a good girl...”
The door unlocks. Thank god kids are so gullible even if I wasn’t sure if she’d buy it with how shabby the whole thing looked. She opens the door to look at me through the crack, one big blue eye.
“You look really skinny to be Santa Claus. Where is your big belly?”
I gotta think quick.
“Well Santa knows that there are plenty of obese people in the world today and he decided to get healthy and show everyone that it’s important to work out and eat all your vegetables.”
She doesn't look convinced.
“And Mrs. Claus got real mad at me for eating all her cookies and I got grounded. Then I’ve been really hungry and just wasted away.”
Her mouth drops open and she opens the door wide, running to throw her arms around my legs.
“Poor Santy! I got lots cookies. We go eat.”
And with that, I had won the battle.
****
At 12:34 am Lisbeth Chambers parks Levi’s car in the driveway and walks up the driveway, gym bag in hand she puts the key into the lock and opens the door. It’s’ dark inside except for the murmur of what sounds like the television. She sets down her bag and walks slowly into the living room and shakes her head at the scene.
Levi, dressed in a very tight fitting red shirt and his blue jeans has cotton balls stuck in his hair. His eyes are shut and he’s snoring slightly. On the table around him are empty plates with half eaten cookies and sandwiches. A nearly half empty glass of milk with a my little pony straw and a big bowl with a melted brown puddle in the bottom which Lis assumes was ice cream. On Levi’s chest is the little girl. Milk moustache, mouth open in a little bow as she sleeps contently in the big man’s arm. On the TV is some kids show that she doesn’t immediately recognize.
With a smile she throws an afghan over the two of them and kisses Levi and then Brooklyn on their heads before making her way to the spare room, smiling with adoration.
***
Recording promos always was a second nature to me. I had never in my life had trouble coming up with the words I needed to tell someone exactly what I needed to say. Until now.
Facing someone that even in a short period of time had become family was one of the hardest things I had to do, besides losing my mother unexpectedly. How do you sit down in front of a camera and tell your brother that you were going to beat him and keep your title securely around your waist without coming off as a arsehole?
With a sigh, I spin my laptop around so that my face is the only thing on the screen and with a heavy heart I press record.
:::RECORD:::
Here we are Avery. This is a big moment for you. This is an opportunity for you to show everyone that you are just as worthy to hold this title as I am. AS many of the others that have held it before either of us. Regardless of what happens out there on Saturday, I am proud of you and I am glad that the fates brought us together even if it was mostly happenstance. Now... let me move away from that before I sound like I need a midol and a bowl of ice cream to drown my feelings.
There is no doubt that you have had some pretty miserable things happen to you of late. It has been a very big topic for many of your opponents, to rub into your face everything that has gone down whether it be the death of your first wife, the loss of your children and fiance. Your other health issues, or all the opportunities that you were not able to follow through on. But all of those things in my opinion only make you a stronger man, not a weaker one.
There are some in our sister companies that would like to get on social media and ridicule you for all that you have not done, instead of looking at all you have. That would like to stand in front of a company and laugh at the fact that you are in fact a very real human being with faults and mistakes. Instead of praising you for your perseverance through adversary they prefer to sit behind their glass houses and throw the metaphorical stones.
They are fools.
They are fools to misjudge your abilities. They are fools to assume that based on your past history you are doomed to repeat those mistakes. And even they, they are fools to attack without first getting all the facts. But I know that you're far better than all of that.
Avery, you are one of the best people I know.
You embody the very thing that we should look up to in this business. Strength through adversity.
There is no denying that you are a beacon for others and a role model for the young. I mean how many men would willing take in a woman and her child and practically raise that child as his own -however short the time has been- without even thinking of himself-. Who after several years would not think twice about helping his long time friend when she was in trouble.
These are things that a champion should be.
Not someone who gets on twitter and brags about how she can bring cheap plastic memorabilia to shows. Not about someone who claims after one title defence is the best champion a company has with no real proof to back it up. You are not someone that will go out of your way to attack someone for no reason other than the fact that they have something you want. You earn everything and it may just be that all those times you were not ready for your time to shine.
I just wanted to make sure you knew all that.
That despite what I say next. Despite everything you are still someone that I hold very high in esteem and I will fight with you and for you without even a question.
But I’m sorry, I can't’ let you walk away with this title.
It isn't’ anything personal but I am not going to just lay down in the middle of that ring and let you win. If you are destined to be the next marquee champion than you need to prove it. You need to take down the leviathan, a fate not easily done. If this were any other match where I was not your opponent I would gladly tell everyone how strong and determined you were.
To be honest, I have a hard time saying anything truly bad about you. It’s just not in my nature to say bad things about people who don’t actually deserve it. I cannot take cheap shots like others we know. But I knwo that you're going to give me one hell of a fight.
I expect you to make sure that you fight until you cannot fight anymore and even when you lose to me again, you are still not going to look bad because of who you stepped up to face. That is worthy of anyone’s respect and anyone that doesn't’ see that is blind.
I intend to push you to your limit Avery. I wasn’t just pushing you this week to weaken you, I was doing it to give you a better chance because I want you to show everyone what I already know. That you are a champion, you just need a title to prove it to all those people who cannot see the forest for the trees.
Come Saturday, I intend to show everyone that even though you will not be a champion with an actual title, you will be a champion to everyone who truly matters.
Me.
:::END RECORD:::
I just hoped that in the end, Avery saw it in such a way that he knew I wasn’t trying to hurt him.