Post by Holden Ross on Nov 24, 2020 22:17:37 GMT -5
He watches the casket descend into the earthen tomb where Walter Ross will reside for eternity…..or until this planet disintegrates and its particles spin off into space. Nearly fifty people have gathered at the graveside here in Oxnard, California. He was a powerful man, locally, as he owned several cashew orchards as well as a strawberry field and an asparagus field. The priest finishes his brief sermon and steps aside for Holden Ross, Walter's grandson, to deliver a eulogy. A thick growth of hair covers his head and face as he hasn’t shaved in a handful of weeks. He grips the pulpit in his massive hands, his head hanging, and “Locs" brand sunglasses obscuring his eyes.
“Walter was a respected man in this community and his loss is a huge blow to, not only my family, bhis also his extended family, the residents and city of Oxnard. He has touched the lives of so many, all of you in attendance, I’m sure, but also so many others in this city as well as many others who have moved on. Whether it was a helping hand; like when he personally helped reroof the “Boys and Girls Club" building.
He gave criminals a second chance with a job offer. If you were willing to do hard work he was more than willing to give you an honest job. He got burned more than once but always continued to give others a second chance. ‘If they ain’t a rapist or child beater I can help them.’ is something he told me more than once.
He was an Evangelist at the Oxnard Community of Christ. He has always belonged to that church and became a member of the priesthood sixty-eight years ago at the age of seventeen. I remember riding from one rural church to the next, a new one every Sunday, in a big loop as he reached out to his flock.i saw the joy in his eyes as well as his smile and can still hear his laugh over the hum of a crowd.
Walter James Ross, grampa, I’ll miss you and always love you. Thank you for everything you taught me. Believe it or not, grampa, I listened, and heard you, and live my life by the ideals you taught me. I miss you already…..”
And with that Holden takes his leave. He leaves the graveside service behind as he pulls away in a rented Dodge Charger. He lights a blunt as a tear crawls down his cheek, towards his jaw. Memories racing through his head.
Three Days Later….[/U]
A camera opens on Holden with a freshly shaved head and face. A navy blue Dickies brand work shirt is buttoned up to his throat, partially covering a fresh tattoo of a demonic skull. His eyes are covered by a pair of Locs sunglasses and a half smoked blunt is pinched between his lips. After no-smoking the last event due to his grandfather’s passing, Holden knows he needs to arrive this week. And he faces the one and only, Alexa Black. She’s a bitch who knows how to hold her own but she’s just another step on his return to glory. He takes a long, deep pull from the blunt before pitching it off camera. From the looks of it, Holden is back in his familiar scrapyard
“Twenty-twenty began with so much promise for Pandæmonium; we were putting fools on shelves and beating the ever loving piss outta anyone we wanted to. The year will end on a similar note; Pandæmonium doing more of the same. At “Collision Course,” I’m facing the biggest bitch in the P.C.W. in a number one contenders match for Rick Majors' Genesis Championship. And, while Rick and I have spilt each others blood all over this arena, Alexa and I haven’t faced off in the past. Not one-oh-one, mano-y-gorda….
Just like her first time between the sheets, her first time in the ring with me is going to be both painful and bloody. And, if you got the guts, let’s make this an Underground rules match….since we both are so comfortable in that environment. I want to at least give you an opportunity to, somehow, possibly, have an even playing field. You’re not so big that I can’t end you with the “Sins of the Father.” I’ve slayed bigger bitches than you…..”
Holden walks off camera and it doesn’t follow him. Instead, it focuses on a candle as the flame flickers. It dips and dances in the breeze before suddenly being blown out, leaving the shot in darkness.
“Walter was a respected man in this community and his loss is a huge blow to, not only my family, bhis also his extended family, the residents and city of Oxnard. He has touched the lives of so many, all of you in attendance, I’m sure, but also so many others in this city as well as many others who have moved on. Whether it was a helping hand; like when he personally helped reroof the “Boys and Girls Club" building.
He gave criminals a second chance with a job offer. If you were willing to do hard work he was more than willing to give you an honest job. He got burned more than once but always continued to give others a second chance. ‘If they ain’t a rapist or child beater I can help them.’ is something he told me more than once.
He was an Evangelist at the Oxnard Community of Christ. He has always belonged to that church and became a member of the priesthood sixty-eight years ago at the age of seventeen. I remember riding from one rural church to the next, a new one every Sunday, in a big loop as he reached out to his flock.i saw the joy in his eyes as well as his smile and can still hear his laugh over the hum of a crowd.
Walter James Ross, grampa, I’ll miss you and always love you. Thank you for everything you taught me. Believe it or not, grampa, I listened, and heard you, and live my life by the ideals you taught me. I miss you already…..”
And with that Holden takes his leave. He leaves the graveside service behind as he pulls away in a rented Dodge Charger. He lights a blunt as a tear crawls down his cheek, towards his jaw. Memories racing through his head.
Three Days Later….[/U]
A camera opens on Holden with a freshly shaved head and face. A navy blue Dickies brand work shirt is buttoned up to his throat, partially covering a fresh tattoo of a demonic skull. His eyes are covered by a pair of Locs sunglasses and a half smoked blunt is pinched between his lips. After no-smoking the last event due to his grandfather’s passing, Holden knows he needs to arrive this week. And he faces the one and only, Alexa Black. She’s a bitch who knows how to hold her own but she’s just another step on his return to glory. He takes a long, deep pull from the blunt before pitching it off camera. From the looks of it, Holden is back in his familiar scrapyard
“Twenty-twenty began with so much promise for Pandæmonium; we were putting fools on shelves and beating the ever loving piss outta anyone we wanted to. The year will end on a similar note; Pandæmonium doing more of the same. At “Collision Course,” I’m facing the biggest bitch in the P.C.W. in a number one contenders match for Rick Majors' Genesis Championship. And, while Rick and I have spilt each others blood all over this arena, Alexa and I haven’t faced off in the past. Not one-oh-one, mano-y-gorda….
Just like her first time between the sheets, her first time in the ring with me is going to be both painful and bloody. And, if you got the guts, let’s make this an Underground rules match….since we both are so comfortable in that environment. I want to at least give you an opportunity to, somehow, possibly, have an even playing field. You’re not so big that I can’t end you with the “Sins of the Father.” I’ve slayed bigger bitches than you…..”
Holden walks off camera and it doesn’t follow him. Instead, it focuses on a candle as the flame flickers. It dips and dances in the breeze before suddenly being blown out, leaving the shot in darkness.