Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2006 1:50:01 GMT -5
Young Alexander Laiman stood by his father’s casket as each family member and friend walked up to say their goodbyes. Laura was crying to the point that her makeup was running down her face, and Sean was comforting her the best a big brother could. Alexander had an expressionless face as his eyes scanned the back doors as everyone offered their condolences. Someone tapped his shoulder, and he turned to see a rather young couple standing there.
The young lady with burgundy hair spoke first. “I’m so sorry about your father, honey.”
The smug-looking guy next to her spoke next. “He was a really nice man. We’re all going to miss him.”
Al didn’t respond, but looked back once more to check the doors. He turned his head back, and blankly stared at the couple looking at him.
“Are you okay, honey? You don’t know who I am, do you?” The lady kneeled down in front of him. “It’s okay, I know how you feel.”
“Valerie, the little guy a mute?” The lady’s husband asked.
“Jonathan, not now!” she snapped at her husband. She turned back to Al. “You can call me Mrs. Brians.”
…
Riding in the back of a truck on the way home wasn’t exactly a luxury, but it was a free ride back from Wilkes-Barre. We had all just debuted in EWF, but unfortunately since we weren’t under contract, not to mention still trainees, we didn’t exactly receive a great payout. At the bathroom break on Route 81, Zorich handed us each an envelope containing twenty-five dollars in cash.
“This is all we get?” Geno asked.
Zorich sighed and rolled his eyes. “You’re lucky you’re getting paid at all, Long, after the shit you pulled earlier. You boys weren’t expecting a paycheck on your debut night, were you?”
All of us nervously nodded.
“EWF was bringing you in to scout you. You’re still in developmental stage, and the experience you received tonight should be your payment, dammit. In four months of training, you’ve debuted in front of an audience of nearly six thousand people. I trained for three years, worked hundreds of grueling matches in front of maybe a hundred people for years until EWF signed me.”
“Sorry,” Geno muttered under his breath.
“You ain’t gotta be sorry. I just want you boys to appreciate the chance you’re getting’ here. I wish I had the opportunity that you boys did when I was twenty. You can’t be in this to make a living, cause too few of those who enter will make big money. Get some food while we’re here, you earned it. Leave any trash in the truck though, and you’ll be my dummy for learning rare and excruciating submission moves for a day.”
Styles and I waited in line at the McDonald’s. It had to be nearly midnight, but there were still several people in line, not to mention an extremely slow guy working the counter. Fury looked over at me. “Helluva night, eh?”
I looked back at him. “We went over a tag team known nationwide, B.”
Fury nodded and smiled. “Hopefully the scouts saw us. This can’t be a one-time thing if we went over those guys.”
“It isn’t,” a voice from behind us boomed. We turned around to see Z standing in line behind us.
“You serious?”
“I’m not one for joking, and you know that.”
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” Fury asked.
“In front of the other guys? Are you kidding? Boys, we didn’t just throw your match together randomly. Little do you know that I haven’t been the only one watching you train. Erik Bryant, the President of EWF, has been watching our training sessions for the last month or so. He likes all of you, but you two are what he’s looking for right now. You have the right personalities, and the right contrasting styles. Geno, Cranston, and Stecchino will all get their chance eventually, but it appears as if I’m going to have two spots to fill in my training camp.”
“You mean…” I stuttered.
“That’s right, you’re being called up. EWF has a new tag team.”
“I don’t believe it,” Fury managed to say through the wave of excitement.
“Neither can I.”
“You just be sure when you beat the living hell out of those guys and win those tag team championships, you remember where you came from. That’s right, boys. Take your performance tonight, and multiply it! Sweat dripping, blood running, all-out, first-class asskicking! Do you know what I’m sayin’?”
“Um… Can I take your order?” The McDonald’s guy nervously looked up at us.
As Zorich turned to order his food, I whispered to Fury. “Lucky it’s illegal to strike an employee. Zorich would’ve killed that guy for cutting him off while he was rolling.”
“Hey, who’s the chick?” Fury responded.
We looked over to see a blonde-haired girl passing by with a duffel bag labeled “EWF”. She noticed Zorich, and ran over to give him a hug.
“Gina, how are you?”
“I’m doing great, Uncle Z!” she responded.
Fury and I looked each other and mouthed, “Uncle Z?”
“Did you enjoy your night off?” Z asked her.
“Did I? It was nice to not have to defend my title… again!” She sighed for a second. “How many men do I have to beat for them to get the hint?”
“You’re the woman and you won the world title, Gina. This is to be expected.”
Fury and I quietly stepped away from the conversation and slipped outside. We heard Geno and Cranston arguing back and forth.
“I’m telling you, that was Gina Guerra!” Geno yelled.
“Come on, Gene,” Cranston replied, much calmer than Geno. “What would Gina Guerra be doing at a McDonald’s out in rural Pennsylvania in the middle of the night?”
Fury suddenly interjected, “visiting her uncle.”
Cranston and Geno turned heads simultaneously. “Her uncle?” They both asked.
Fury motioned for them to come towards the door, and pointed through the glass where Z had his arm around Gina. “It’s Gina Guerra, all right.”
…
June 11, 2002
It was certainly nice to have a smile on my face again. I’d left Valerie’s place in the early morning, and I was returning to my locker room, hoping the day would continue as great as it started. Unfortunately, I was wrong, as I heard a voice behind me.
“Typical guy.”
I knew that voice. It was Gina Guerra, one of EWA’s top talents, not to mention my mentor’s niece. I wondered what the hell she wanted with me, not to mention why there was a stereotypical gender remark coming from her mouth.
“Excuse me?” I inquired.
“I said, typical guy.”
Wonderful, we have a master of the obvious on our hands here. “Not that I like that comment, but mind telling me how you reached that conclusion?”
“Save it, Laiman. We all know you're just trying to get in that chick's pants. Come on, you think we're buying this shit?”
All right, that’s it. I stopped caring who I was speaking to. I didn’t need to hear this from her or anyone else. “My intention isn't for you to buy it. It'd cost too much money to have it spelled out for you in a Barney episode.”
Her expression and tone didn’t change. “Still with the wisecracks, eh Laiman? Try not to embarrass yourself with the lady tonight.”
“I won't, just for your sake, lackey.” The hell with this, I have a date tonight anyway.
As much as her cocky smile bothered me, I turned away and walked out the door. I could’ve sworn I heard her reply, “You're damn right you won't, Laiman.” but it was hardly of concern to me.
I pulled up to the diner once again, and saw Val, beautiful even working, wiping down the bar, this time with no one else there. She didn’t even look up when I came in.
“Little late, Al?”
“It's only two,” I responded.
“I swear that you're Nosfaratu.”
“You're definitely not the first one to say that.” Life of the nightwalker, what can I say?
“So what's up?”
“How'd you like to come to the EWA Arena?”
I’d love Gina to see the smile on her face. However, she looked rather surprised. “There a particular reason why?” she asked.
“Well, I keep losing time driving back and forth. Every time I do, that little prick I’m facing starts running his mouth again.”
“Well, sure I'd love to go.”
“Great, let's roll.”
Val tossed away the apron she was wearing and walks out, locking up the restaurant on her way out. She hopped in the passenger side of my car, and I took off. When we got there, I was half-expecting to find Miss Guerra there waiting, but instead I found my good friend and interviewer Blake Smith. I cut a good promo for my opponent who never seemed to stop speaking, and then we headed for my locker room. It caught me off-guard, but once again, I heard that voice.
“Brought the lady back for a midnight snack, have you?”
“Piss off, lackey,” I muttered.
“Who the hell are you?” Val demanded.
Gina walked up, looking Val right in the eye. “Perhaps I'm someone you should listen to.”
“Oh really? Enlighten me.” A girl with a spine! I was lovin’ it!
“You're dealing with Laiman here, kid.”
“What's your point?”
“My point is that you need to watch what you do. Laiman's obviously unstable, and he's just like any other guy.”
“Whatever you say, would you just leave?”
“Tell your man I send my regards.”
“I'm sure he'll be thrilled.” She shook her head and walked away. Damn, was I glad to get her away finally. I followed Val into my locker room, and I headed for the shower since I seriously needed one. When I got out, I found a red-faced Valerie staring at me.
“Who's Charlene?”
Charlene? I hadn’t seen her since high school. “Girl I went to high school with, why?
“She just called, wanting to thank you for the wonderful night! What the hell is that about?”
“Val, I haven't seen Charlene in years!”
“Whatever, Gina was right. You are just a typical guy. I'm riding the bus home, and don't bother calling me again.”
Before I could say anything, Val ran out the exit. I threw an unopened Mountain Dew across the room and it crashed against the wall. I crashed down on my armchair, but the caller ID was still blinking. I went over to delete it, but my face suddenly turned sour. There was probably steam rising from my head as I stomped out and slammed the door hard. The caller ID had read “GUERRA, GINA Z.”
…
The pounding of the mat drowned out the roar of the crowd. Facedown in the middle of the ring, Fury and I were twenty minutes into our rematch with Simmons and Rayfield, and they certainly were out to fix their image after losing to two rookies. Fury was bloodied and staggering in the corner, and I had finally managed to knock Simmons down with an enziguri kick. The crowd had been behind us the entire time, since the promo we cut when we arrived solidified us as fan favorites. I crawled slowly towards Fury, and the crowd began stomping, hoping I could reach out just enough to make that hot tag. I knew a key move was coming up, and I was praying I could pull it off. I felt Simmons grab my leg, and without thinking, I rolled through hold he had and sent him face-first into the ropes. I heard him cry out, and while I knew I wasn’t the one who screwed up the move, I knew I would pay for it physically.
I tagged Fury in, and he stomped away at Simmons. Wearily, I saw Simmons grab Fury by the head, and Fury gave the signal for Rayfield that Simmons was injured. Fury whipped Simmons into the ropes, and Fury got hit with a clothesline as if it’d been a steamroll. Simmons staggered over to make the tag, and while Rayfield and Fury pleased the crowd with a series of changes in tide, I couldn’t help but stare over at Simmons. Part of me was concerned for his well-being, but the bigger part of me was concerned for my own, fearing he’d tear me apart once we got backstage. That is, if he decided to wait that long.
Fury tagged me in, and as I lifted Rayfield by the hair, he elbowed me right in the groin. I groaned as I felt his leg drop on my head. I lifted my head a bit and saw the blood dripping on the blue mat. The force of his leg dropping on my head had probably broken my nose, and it was certainly beyond no reasonable doubt that Simmons and Rayfield were believers of the eye-for-an-eye rule. As Rayfield set me up for his finisher, Fury suddenly ran in and hit a missile dropkick! I reversed the momentum, and pinned Rayfield with a backslide!
“Here are your winners and the new EWF Tag Team Champions, Bryan Fury and Al Laiman!” I saw referees attending to Simmons on the side, and I was not looking forward to the day where we’d be facing them in their contracted rematch. Fury helped me walk to the back, as I still wasn’t seeing completely straight. Fury grabbed two lounge chairs from the nearby catering area and let me crash on one of them.
“Simmons may have broken his ankle on that fall, Al.”
I shuddered, fearing the repercussions that would knowingly take place.
“Rayfield told me he was gonna teach you a lesson, but assured me it was for your own good.”
I looked at the blood still dripping from my face. Before I could respond, I could hear Simmons and Rayfield approaching. I braced myself for an attack, but to my surprise, I heard a voice that wasn’t theirs ring out.
“If you touch either one of them, you’ll have Z to deal with.”
“Who the hell are you?” Rayfield snapped.
“EWF’s newest member, Joey Cranston.”
“Well rookie, I’d suggest getting out of my way before you receive their fate as well.”
“I wouldn’t suggest it. You see, I was in the front row watching that match, and while I’m sure you’ll lay the blame on them solely because you screwed up, it was your timing that was off, Simmons. And I guarantee if you lay a finger on them for their mistakes, not only will Zorich tear you a new one and probably put your jobs on the line, but I’ll lay a submission on you so hard it’ll break more than your ankle.”
Rayfield narrowed his eyes, but Simmons pulled him back with the arm that wasn’t supporting the crutch. “Dude, he knows Zorich, and he’s right. It was my mistake.”
“But I thought…”
“Just drop it, okay?”
I breathed in a sigh of relief. I heard Fury ask Cranston, “so you’re joining us here, huh?”
“Yeah, and you’re lucky I like you guys.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Don’t thank me, thank Z.”
Z stepped out from behind them. “I know it wasn’t your fault, Al, but some of these veterans are vicious. They don’t believe you’ve paid your dues and they’ll come after you like that. I won’t always be here to watch out for you, so you have to learn to watch out for each other. Soon enough, Geno and Vince will be here as well. You guys are getting to places that many would never have imagined in their first year, so envy is definitely going to get the best of some of them. Keep your head up and do your job, though. That’s the only way you’ll get past it and earn their respect.”
As I heard these words from my mentor, I couldn’t help but wonder how long he’d be here to protect us. After all, he did have new kids to train, and he was right. He won’t be around forever. The thought of him leaving us reminded me of my father, and the calmness on his face while he laid in that coffin. I couldn’t imagine having to live through that again, especially with never knowing what truly happened to my father.
The young lady with burgundy hair spoke first. “I’m so sorry about your father, honey.”
The smug-looking guy next to her spoke next. “He was a really nice man. We’re all going to miss him.”
Al didn’t respond, but looked back once more to check the doors. He turned his head back, and blankly stared at the couple looking at him.
“Are you okay, honey? You don’t know who I am, do you?” The lady kneeled down in front of him. “It’s okay, I know how you feel.”
“Valerie, the little guy a mute?” The lady’s husband asked.
“Jonathan, not now!” she snapped at her husband. She turned back to Al. “You can call me Mrs. Brians.”
…
Riding in the back of a truck on the way home wasn’t exactly a luxury, but it was a free ride back from Wilkes-Barre. We had all just debuted in EWF, but unfortunately since we weren’t under contract, not to mention still trainees, we didn’t exactly receive a great payout. At the bathroom break on Route 81, Zorich handed us each an envelope containing twenty-five dollars in cash.
“This is all we get?” Geno asked.
Zorich sighed and rolled his eyes. “You’re lucky you’re getting paid at all, Long, after the shit you pulled earlier. You boys weren’t expecting a paycheck on your debut night, were you?”
All of us nervously nodded.
“EWF was bringing you in to scout you. You’re still in developmental stage, and the experience you received tonight should be your payment, dammit. In four months of training, you’ve debuted in front of an audience of nearly six thousand people. I trained for three years, worked hundreds of grueling matches in front of maybe a hundred people for years until EWF signed me.”
“Sorry,” Geno muttered under his breath.
“You ain’t gotta be sorry. I just want you boys to appreciate the chance you’re getting’ here. I wish I had the opportunity that you boys did when I was twenty. You can’t be in this to make a living, cause too few of those who enter will make big money. Get some food while we’re here, you earned it. Leave any trash in the truck though, and you’ll be my dummy for learning rare and excruciating submission moves for a day.”
Styles and I waited in line at the McDonald’s. It had to be nearly midnight, but there were still several people in line, not to mention an extremely slow guy working the counter. Fury looked over at me. “Helluva night, eh?”
I looked back at him. “We went over a tag team known nationwide, B.”
Fury nodded and smiled. “Hopefully the scouts saw us. This can’t be a one-time thing if we went over those guys.”
“It isn’t,” a voice from behind us boomed. We turned around to see Z standing in line behind us.
“You serious?”
“I’m not one for joking, and you know that.”
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” Fury asked.
“In front of the other guys? Are you kidding? Boys, we didn’t just throw your match together randomly. Little do you know that I haven’t been the only one watching you train. Erik Bryant, the President of EWF, has been watching our training sessions for the last month or so. He likes all of you, but you two are what he’s looking for right now. You have the right personalities, and the right contrasting styles. Geno, Cranston, and Stecchino will all get their chance eventually, but it appears as if I’m going to have two spots to fill in my training camp.”
“You mean…” I stuttered.
“That’s right, you’re being called up. EWF has a new tag team.”
“I don’t believe it,” Fury managed to say through the wave of excitement.
“Neither can I.”
“You just be sure when you beat the living hell out of those guys and win those tag team championships, you remember where you came from. That’s right, boys. Take your performance tonight, and multiply it! Sweat dripping, blood running, all-out, first-class asskicking! Do you know what I’m sayin’?”
“Um… Can I take your order?” The McDonald’s guy nervously looked up at us.
As Zorich turned to order his food, I whispered to Fury. “Lucky it’s illegal to strike an employee. Zorich would’ve killed that guy for cutting him off while he was rolling.”
“Hey, who’s the chick?” Fury responded.
We looked over to see a blonde-haired girl passing by with a duffel bag labeled “EWF”. She noticed Zorich, and ran over to give him a hug.
“Gina, how are you?”
“I’m doing great, Uncle Z!” she responded.
Fury and I looked each other and mouthed, “Uncle Z?”
“Did you enjoy your night off?” Z asked her.
“Did I? It was nice to not have to defend my title… again!” She sighed for a second. “How many men do I have to beat for them to get the hint?”
“You’re the woman and you won the world title, Gina. This is to be expected.”
Fury and I quietly stepped away from the conversation and slipped outside. We heard Geno and Cranston arguing back and forth.
“I’m telling you, that was Gina Guerra!” Geno yelled.
“Come on, Gene,” Cranston replied, much calmer than Geno. “What would Gina Guerra be doing at a McDonald’s out in rural Pennsylvania in the middle of the night?”
Fury suddenly interjected, “visiting her uncle.”
Cranston and Geno turned heads simultaneously. “Her uncle?” They both asked.
Fury motioned for them to come towards the door, and pointed through the glass where Z had his arm around Gina. “It’s Gina Guerra, all right.”
…
June 11, 2002
It was certainly nice to have a smile on my face again. I’d left Valerie’s place in the early morning, and I was returning to my locker room, hoping the day would continue as great as it started. Unfortunately, I was wrong, as I heard a voice behind me.
“Typical guy.”
I knew that voice. It was Gina Guerra, one of EWA’s top talents, not to mention my mentor’s niece. I wondered what the hell she wanted with me, not to mention why there was a stereotypical gender remark coming from her mouth.
“Excuse me?” I inquired.
“I said, typical guy.”
Wonderful, we have a master of the obvious on our hands here. “Not that I like that comment, but mind telling me how you reached that conclusion?”
“Save it, Laiman. We all know you're just trying to get in that chick's pants. Come on, you think we're buying this shit?”
All right, that’s it. I stopped caring who I was speaking to. I didn’t need to hear this from her or anyone else. “My intention isn't for you to buy it. It'd cost too much money to have it spelled out for you in a Barney episode.”
Her expression and tone didn’t change. “Still with the wisecracks, eh Laiman? Try not to embarrass yourself with the lady tonight.”
“I won't, just for your sake, lackey.” The hell with this, I have a date tonight anyway.
As much as her cocky smile bothered me, I turned away and walked out the door. I could’ve sworn I heard her reply, “You're damn right you won't, Laiman.” but it was hardly of concern to me.
I pulled up to the diner once again, and saw Val, beautiful even working, wiping down the bar, this time with no one else there. She didn’t even look up when I came in.
“Little late, Al?”
“It's only two,” I responded.
“I swear that you're Nosfaratu.”
“You're definitely not the first one to say that.” Life of the nightwalker, what can I say?
“So what's up?”
“How'd you like to come to the EWA Arena?”
I’d love Gina to see the smile on her face. However, she looked rather surprised. “There a particular reason why?” she asked.
“Well, I keep losing time driving back and forth. Every time I do, that little prick I’m facing starts running his mouth again.”
“Well, sure I'd love to go.”
“Great, let's roll.”
Val tossed away the apron she was wearing and walks out, locking up the restaurant on her way out. She hopped in the passenger side of my car, and I took off. When we got there, I was half-expecting to find Miss Guerra there waiting, but instead I found my good friend and interviewer Blake Smith. I cut a good promo for my opponent who never seemed to stop speaking, and then we headed for my locker room. It caught me off-guard, but once again, I heard that voice.
“Brought the lady back for a midnight snack, have you?”
“Piss off, lackey,” I muttered.
“Who the hell are you?” Val demanded.
Gina walked up, looking Val right in the eye. “Perhaps I'm someone you should listen to.”
“Oh really? Enlighten me.” A girl with a spine! I was lovin’ it!
“You're dealing with Laiman here, kid.”
“What's your point?”
“My point is that you need to watch what you do. Laiman's obviously unstable, and he's just like any other guy.”
“Whatever you say, would you just leave?”
“Tell your man I send my regards.”
“I'm sure he'll be thrilled.” She shook her head and walked away. Damn, was I glad to get her away finally. I followed Val into my locker room, and I headed for the shower since I seriously needed one. When I got out, I found a red-faced Valerie staring at me.
“Who's Charlene?”
Charlene? I hadn’t seen her since high school. “Girl I went to high school with, why?
“She just called, wanting to thank you for the wonderful night! What the hell is that about?”
“Val, I haven't seen Charlene in years!”
“Whatever, Gina was right. You are just a typical guy. I'm riding the bus home, and don't bother calling me again.”
Before I could say anything, Val ran out the exit. I threw an unopened Mountain Dew across the room and it crashed against the wall. I crashed down on my armchair, but the caller ID was still blinking. I went over to delete it, but my face suddenly turned sour. There was probably steam rising from my head as I stomped out and slammed the door hard. The caller ID had read “GUERRA, GINA Z.”
…
The pounding of the mat drowned out the roar of the crowd. Facedown in the middle of the ring, Fury and I were twenty minutes into our rematch with Simmons and Rayfield, and they certainly were out to fix their image after losing to two rookies. Fury was bloodied and staggering in the corner, and I had finally managed to knock Simmons down with an enziguri kick. The crowd had been behind us the entire time, since the promo we cut when we arrived solidified us as fan favorites. I crawled slowly towards Fury, and the crowd began stomping, hoping I could reach out just enough to make that hot tag. I knew a key move was coming up, and I was praying I could pull it off. I felt Simmons grab my leg, and without thinking, I rolled through hold he had and sent him face-first into the ropes. I heard him cry out, and while I knew I wasn’t the one who screwed up the move, I knew I would pay for it physically.
I tagged Fury in, and he stomped away at Simmons. Wearily, I saw Simmons grab Fury by the head, and Fury gave the signal for Rayfield that Simmons was injured. Fury whipped Simmons into the ropes, and Fury got hit with a clothesline as if it’d been a steamroll. Simmons staggered over to make the tag, and while Rayfield and Fury pleased the crowd with a series of changes in tide, I couldn’t help but stare over at Simmons. Part of me was concerned for his well-being, but the bigger part of me was concerned for my own, fearing he’d tear me apart once we got backstage. That is, if he decided to wait that long.
Fury tagged me in, and as I lifted Rayfield by the hair, he elbowed me right in the groin. I groaned as I felt his leg drop on my head. I lifted my head a bit and saw the blood dripping on the blue mat. The force of his leg dropping on my head had probably broken my nose, and it was certainly beyond no reasonable doubt that Simmons and Rayfield were believers of the eye-for-an-eye rule. As Rayfield set me up for his finisher, Fury suddenly ran in and hit a missile dropkick! I reversed the momentum, and pinned Rayfield with a backslide!
“Here are your winners and the new EWF Tag Team Champions, Bryan Fury and Al Laiman!” I saw referees attending to Simmons on the side, and I was not looking forward to the day where we’d be facing them in their contracted rematch. Fury helped me walk to the back, as I still wasn’t seeing completely straight. Fury grabbed two lounge chairs from the nearby catering area and let me crash on one of them.
“Simmons may have broken his ankle on that fall, Al.”
I shuddered, fearing the repercussions that would knowingly take place.
“Rayfield told me he was gonna teach you a lesson, but assured me it was for your own good.”
I looked at the blood still dripping from my face. Before I could respond, I could hear Simmons and Rayfield approaching. I braced myself for an attack, but to my surprise, I heard a voice that wasn’t theirs ring out.
“If you touch either one of them, you’ll have Z to deal with.”
“Who the hell are you?” Rayfield snapped.
“EWF’s newest member, Joey Cranston.”
“Well rookie, I’d suggest getting out of my way before you receive their fate as well.”
“I wouldn’t suggest it. You see, I was in the front row watching that match, and while I’m sure you’ll lay the blame on them solely because you screwed up, it was your timing that was off, Simmons. And I guarantee if you lay a finger on them for their mistakes, not only will Zorich tear you a new one and probably put your jobs on the line, but I’ll lay a submission on you so hard it’ll break more than your ankle.”
Rayfield narrowed his eyes, but Simmons pulled him back with the arm that wasn’t supporting the crutch. “Dude, he knows Zorich, and he’s right. It was my mistake.”
“But I thought…”
“Just drop it, okay?”
I breathed in a sigh of relief. I heard Fury ask Cranston, “so you’re joining us here, huh?”
“Yeah, and you’re lucky I like you guys.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Don’t thank me, thank Z.”
Z stepped out from behind them. “I know it wasn’t your fault, Al, but some of these veterans are vicious. They don’t believe you’ve paid your dues and they’ll come after you like that. I won’t always be here to watch out for you, so you have to learn to watch out for each other. Soon enough, Geno and Vince will be here as well. You guys are getting to places that many would never have imagined in their first year, so envy is definitely going to get the best of some of them. Keep your head up and do your job, though. That’s the only way you’ll get past it and earn their respect.”
As I heard these words from my mentor, I couldn’t help but wonder how long he’d be here to protect us. After all, he did have new kids to train, and he was right. He won’t be around forever. The thought of him leaving us reminded me of my father, and the calmness on his face while he laid in that coffin. I couldn’t imagine having to live through that again, especially with never knowing what truly happened to my father.