Post by High Tide on May 7, 2018 22:49:47 GMT -5
Maybe I was wrong.
I shook my head; no, I was never wrong. Just slightly off my calculations, that was all. Sitting in The Golden Coin, for the first time in ages, I couldn't help but finger my cellphone, turning it over and over with my thumb. The phone flipped round and round in my palm, like the thoughts in my mind lately. This was so not like me, I thought to myself but Stan was already at the bar to pull me out of my thoughts.
“Another rum John? Or maybe I could get you The Drink you like so much,” he smiled mischieviously and I scowled at him.
“You know I'd have to be desperate to touch that shit again. Another rum will be fine, just put it on my tab,” I snapped back at him not in any mood for his antics today. He bowed, the smile never leaving his face, and went away to make my drink. Good, I hoped he'd take awhile too. Stan was a good guy, but the most devious man I'd ever met and I wasnt up for dealing with that today. I had too much on my mind.
Like that Last Chance Battle Royale. I couldn't help but smile at that one. It really was my last chance. I wasn't stupid. Wasp was drifting out of my grasp, charmed by the wicked sea with that was Arica Lewitt. I banged my fist down on the oak bar, rattling a man's beer three seats over. He looked at me and I jerked my head forward threateningly at him. He shrank back, recognizing me, and managed to slop more beer over himself than I had spilled in the first place. Served the asshole right, I wasn't in the mood for any games today.
Stan came back quicker than I would of liked, sauntering over like he owned the place.... well he did own the place. “A perfect rum for you Mr. Tide. Speaking of wrestling, where's your buddy Bee? Stingman? I can't keep up with all the wacky names you guys have,” the older gent grinned a devious look in his eyes. He was trying to get under my skin.
It was working.
“Piss off you know entirely well his name was Wasp and he hasn't been around because he's got a woman he's attatched himself to. Well, to be honest the guy is blind, I doubt he even see's what's happening, but he's a lost cause right now I think. It's me and me alone,” I replied to him, carefully snatching the drink of of his hand and letting it's coolness drip slowly down my throat. This was as close to bliss inducing as you could legally get.
“After all the things you two have done? John my man, I've heard you speak so many times about the Flying Ant... or was it the Caterpillar? He's won titles with you. He's gone on dirty business adventures with you that no one else would have dreamed of going on. You think the new chick on the block is going to take him from you? Bah, drink another one buddy, I think you're just paranoid,” Stan replied and I studied him, taken aback. I really couldn't tell if he was joshing me or if he was having one of those rare moments where he was genuine and heartfelt. After all, this was the man who had given me “The Drink”.
Was I being paranoid? Sure Wasp hadn't been in touch much lately, and the few times I had talked to him he had sounded busy and rushed, but he did have a life after all. He still had things to do for his gym, didn't he? Yes. And so what if he was taking Trouble under his wing. She was brand new compared to the two old timers that Wasp and I were, so it made sense. I just wish I understood why they seemed to be avoiding me. I could barely find them at the shows. Something just didn't add up and I wasn't sure what it was.
“Well why don't you call him then? I'm sure he'll pick up and come right down here like old times. You can even tell him I say hi. Be nice to see the bug man again,” Stan said and started laughing as though his joke was the most hysterical thing he had ever said. To my surprise, I started smiling too, even laughing a little.
“To see him and to take his money you sneaky son of a bitch,” I laughed as I replied to him and this made him laugh even harder. Stan had a funny way of doing that, bringing my mood up when I needed it most. This was my Last Chance Battle Royale, but was this also my last chance at figuring out what was up with Wasp? I sipped from my now mostly empty glass again, slamming it back on the oak.
“You know what? What the hell, I'll give him a call,” I said and Stan nodded, his fit of laughter over.
“Atta boy. Tell him the first drink's on me why don't you,” Stan said and I raised an eyebrow surprised. Stan? A free drink that wasn't The Drink? Was I imagining his words now?
“Wish you'd do that for me you scoundrel,” I replied still grinning. The cellphone was still in my hand, though I had long stopped twirling it. Maybe I was wrong, maybe Wasp was just busy and I was just imagining things. All I could do was call, call and find out where we stood. I unlocked it and went into my contacts. Without hesitation I hit the button to call him.
Maybe I was wrong.
-To Be Continued in “Wasp – One Call, Two Choices”
I shook my head; no, I was never wrong. Just slightly off my calculations, that was all. Sitting in The Golden Coin, for the first time in ages, I couldn't help but finger my cellphone, turning it over and over with my thumb. The phone flipped round and round in my palm, like the thoughts in my mind lately. This was so not like me, I thought to myself but Stan was already at the bar to pull me out of my thoughts.
“Another rum John? Or maybe I could get you The Drink you like so much,” he smiled mischieviously and I scowled at him.
“You know I'd have to be desperate to touch that shit again. Another rum will be fine, just put it on my tab,” I snapped back at him not in any mood for his antics today. He bowed, the smile never leaving his face, and went away to make my drink. Good, I hoped he'd take awhile too. Stan was a good guy, but the most devious man I'd ever met and I wasnt up for dealing with that today. I had too much on my mind.
Like that Last Chance Battle Royale. I couldn't help but smile at that one. It really was my last chance. I wasn't stupid. Wasp was drifting out of my grasp, charmed by the wicked sea with that was Arica Lewitt. I banged my fist down on the oak bar, rattling a man's beer three seats over. He looked at me and I jerked my head forward threateningly at him. He shrank back, recognizing me, and managed to slop more beer over himself than I had spilled in the first place. Served the asshole right, I wasn't in the mood for any games today.
Stan came back quicker than I would of liked, sauntering over like he owned the place.... well he did own the place. “A perfect rum for you Mr. Tide. Speaking of wrestling, where's your buddy Bee? Stingman? I can't keep up with all the wacky names you guys have,” the older gent grinned a devious look in his eyes. He was trying to get under my skin.
It was working.
“Piss off you know entirely well his name was Wasp and he hasn't been around because he's got a woman he's attatched himself to. Well, to be honest the guy is blind, I doubt he even see's what's happening, but he's a lost cause right now I think. It's me and me alone,” I replied to him, carefully snatching the drink of of his hand and letting it's coolness drip slowly down my throat. This was as close to bliss inducing as you could legally get.
“After all the things you two have done? John my man, I've heard you speak so many times about the Flying Ant... or was it the Caterpillar? He's won titles with you. He's gone on dirty business adventures with you that no one else would have dreamed of going on. You think the new chick on the block is going to take him from you? Bah, drink another one buddy, I think you're just paranoid,” Stan replied and I studied him, taken aback. I really couldn't tell if he was joshing me or if he was having one of those rare moments where he was genuine and heartfelt. After all, this was the man who had given me “The Drink”.
Was I being paranoid? Sure Wasp hadn't been in touch much lately, and the few times I had talked to him he had sounded busy and rushed, but he did have a life after all. He still had things to do for his gym, didn't he? Yes. And so what if he was taking Trouble under his wing. She was brand new compared to the two old timers that Wasp and I were, so it made sense. I just wish I understood why they seemed to be avoiding me. I could barely find them at the shows. Something just didn't add up and I wasn't sure what it was.
“Well why don't you call him then? I'm sure he'll pick up and come right down here like old times. You can even tell him I say hi. Be nice to see the bug man again,” Stan said and started laughing as though his joke was the most hysterical thing he had ever said. To my surprise, I started smiling too, even laughing a little.
“To see him and to take his money you sneaky son of a bitch,” I laughed as I replied to him and this made him laugh even harder. Stan had a funny way of doing that, bringing my mood up when I needed it most. This was my Last Chance Battle Royale, but was this also my last chance at figuring out what was up with Wasp? I sipped from my now mostly empty glass again, slamming it back on the oak.
“You know what? What the hell, I'll give him a call,” I said and Stan nodded, his fit of laughter over.
“Atta boy. Tell him the first drink's on me why don't you,” Stan said and I raised an eyebrow surprised. Stan? A free drink that wasn't The Drink? Was I imagining his words now?
“Wish you'd do that for me you scoundrel,” I replied still grinning. The cellphone was still in my hand, though I had long stopped twirling it. Maybe I was wrong, maybe Wasp was just busy and I was just imagining things. All I could do was call, call and find out where we stood. I unlocked it and went into my contacts. Without hesitation I hit the button to call him.
Maybe I was wrong.
-To Be Continued in “Wasp – One Call, Two Choices”
