Post by Rated R on Jan 19, 2015 15:38:02 GMT -5
A Lesson in Respect
The Truth of a Revolution; Part 4
Westdale Secondary School
May 24th 2001
Let me tell you something that you might not know about me. Before I was a wrestler, before I drank a ridiculous amount, took a ridiculous amount of drugs and slept with a ridiculous number of women I was a ridiculously fast runner.
See when I was thirteen I was the star of Westdale’s track team. I didn’t much enjoy the actual running, all you’re doing is going from point A to point B without much actually happening in between, but I was damn good at it. And when you’re that good at something you just keep on doing it because, and it doesn’t matter what people say, everybody wants to be a winner. And I was a proven winner on that track, nobody else in that sh*t hole they called a school could touch me and that’s the way I liked it.
That day was no different. Another track meet, another easy win as far as I was concerned. At fifteen I was at the peak of cockiness; then again I could back it up, no problem with being cocky if people can’t prove you don’t have the right to be.
Alec Jacobs: Looks like you’ve got some competition bud.
Kate Braun: Oh, you wanna be scared at that one.
Alec and Kate Braun were two of the few people I considered actual friends back then. I was popular, but for all the wrong reasons. Turns out kids gravitate towards the kid who’d get drunk and pick fights with anybody and everybody.
Trace Demon: I don’t do competition, I just do winning.
Alec Jacobs: Not if he’s got anything to do with it.
My eyes drifted to some shrimp of a kid. Seriously he must have weighed eighty pounds soaking wet. Arms and legs like twigs and a mop for hair. All three of us cracked up the second I laid eyes on him. Couldn’t help but think if this kid had some kind of mental disorder, had to be something wrong with him if he could leave the house looking like a short scarecrow.
Trace Demon: Well now they’re just pulling people off the street to fill out the slots.
Kate Braun: Nah I think he’s a contender.
Again the three of us laughed. I think the reason I got on with them was because we all had the same kind of attitude. We weren’t the friendly sort, we had attitudes, we had problems at home and we took it with us when we turned up for school. Sure everybody wanted to be friends with us but not because we were nice, it was because we, the three of us and a couple of others, were a close knit bunch and everybody wants to be a part of something they can’t be.
Trace Demon: Whatever, watch me smoke him.
Kate Braun: Yeah, and when you’re done with that we’ve got something else to smoke as a prize.
Alec Jacobs: Better than first place mate.
We all laughed again. Thinking back on it if I heard teenagers saying that nowadays I’d roll my eyes. Growing up brings with it the harsh truth that you were never as cool as you thought you were. I took my place at the starting grid and, to much amusement from my hollering friends on the side, found myself right next to the gangly kid himself. Of course I couldn’t help being friendly and welcoming to the fresh meat.
Trace Demon: What’s your name newbie?
Scarecrow: L… lee Th… Thompson.
Maybe I’m imagining the stutter in retrospect but it sure does add to the scene don’t it.
Trace Demon: Well Lee, let’s hope those scarecrow legs of yours don’t break in two trying to keep up with me.
Saw a little flicker of anger in the kids eyes, but he was too much of a coward to act on it. I had a foot on him, blood red hair and the grazed knuckles of a kid who’s punched, and won, way above his weight for a long, long time.
Coach: We ready?!
Everybody took up their position, ready for the whistle. I could hear the shouts of my friends off on the sides again but this time I wasn’t paying much attention. I liked to focus, move everything inside my head and stay there. No distractions. But then I broke my cardinal rule, I glanced over at Scarecrow to my left and flashed him a smirk. Mind games, sure they can be effective but you’ve got to be good at them. Nowadays I’m grade-A at getting inside people’s heads. At fifteen though, I was barely breaking a C+.
The whistle went a few seconds earlier than I was expecting it too and I’d lost focus with my little show of arrogance. The rest of the field has a split second advantage on their start and that was all it took to put me at a disadvantage. I’d have time to curse myself later, I had some catching up to do. Didn’t take long for me to pull ahead of the other nobodies but something wasn’t quite right. Scarecrow was leading, and he was pulling ahead, his little twig legs working overtime to make sure nobody was catching up to him.
One blur of a race later and little Lee Thompson crossed the finish line in first, yours truly trailing behind. There was something of a stunned silence about the place, people had gotten so used to me winning every time I don’t think they knew how to react to anything else. But there it was, Scarecrow puffing away, out of breath but victorious. Kate and Alec were heading towards me, as shocked as everybody else was, me included.
Scarecrow: Looks like my legs held up just fine eh.
That was it, no time to think really. I might have lost but if I let that go without retaliation then I’d never live it down. There’s something to be said about being a gracious loser, but when you’re fifteen and you’ve got a reputation to uphold there’s not much else to be done.
I took a single step forwards and swung, catching Scarecrow clean in the side of the face with my right fist. It wasn’t the first time I’d lashed out at somebody, not even close, but I tended to go for people who’d put up a fight. I’ve never seen anybody crumple as fast as he did, a crying heap in the mud with a broken nose.
Alec Jacobs: Holy s**t that was awesome!
Kate Braun: Trace what the f**k?
But I wasn’t listening, because I knew I’d crossed a line. I’d swung at someone so much weaker than me it wasn’t even funny. I like to win, but I like to know it was worthwhile, I like a challenge. Scarecrow wasn’t a challenge, he wasn’t even close to one.
Coach: Trace you dirty little s**t!
And that’s what led to-
< *** >
Jason Anders’ Apartment
January 11th 2015
Jason Anders: God damn it Trace enough with the bloody life story!
Trace Demon: Woah Anders, bit rude. I don’t go interrupting you when you’re talking about your sad excuse for a family. Which is all the time.
Got to say I’ve never actually been to Anders’ apartment before. Don’t think much of it, too grotty and lower-middle class. A classic divorced husband apartment and I try to keep away from those as much as possible. Wouldn’t have come today if he hadn’t been so persistent, also it’s right on the way from my place to one of my favoured hospitals so y’know, two birds and all that.
Jason Anders: This is serious Trace, we don’t have time to talk about something that happened when you were fifteen.
Trace Demon: Even though it’s completely relevant to something that’s happening right now, therefore tying everything together neatly at the end of things?
Jason Anders: Yes, even then.
Trace Demon: Well that’s no fun.
I can see the vein in the side of his head start to bulge, makes me feel kind of sick just to know I’m inside the same room as it. Don’t make eye contact, don’t make eye contact.
Jason Anders: Trace, this is serious, Joe and Kyle are asking questions, they’re starting to doubt you. I’m starting to doubt you.
Serious business indeed. I lean forward, clasp my hands together, try to look thoughtful. It’s not that I’m not taking this seriously, I am, it’s just hard to know what to say when you’re a few feet away from a vein that could explode at any second. Got to try and not let that distract me, stick to the course Trace, keep it all about the business.
Jason Anders: Why didn’t you just use the chair man? You’d have won it, you’d have beaten Drakz and we’d be having a very different conversation right now.
Trace Demon: You dare to doubt me after one loss? I get that they don’t come around all that often but-
Jason Anders: It’s not one loss is it Trace, it’s the loss. You beating Drakz was meant to legitimize this group, it was going to be the beginning of the end of everything we worked for. All you had to do was beat Drakz and-
Trace Demon: All I had to do? Have you met Drakz, have you ever seen him wrestle? Beating him is not as easy as just standing there and doing it.
Jason Anders: You’re meant to be Trace Demon.
Trace Demon: I know!
I can’t help but shout, a slight loss of composure, that’s not all that new a feeling for me. But Anders is right, I was meant to win and I am Trace Demon. He thinks losing that match isn’t eating me up inside but that’s all I’ve thought about, whether I did the wrong thing not using that chair, whether I should have just cheated my way to the title and thrown away everything I said. But I didn’t, it’s too damn late to wonder what if now. Drakz caught me out, he used the chair and he won. Might not have been fair but that’s the way it is.
Trace Demon: The revolution isn’t over. Not because of this.
Jason Anders: That’s not what people are saying, they’re saying you’ve lost your touch; they’re saying you can’t win the big one anymore. Three straight title matches, three straight losses. It adds up.
Trace Demon: Who’s saying this?
He clams up, Anders likes to talk when it suits him but the moment he realizes his mouth is going to get him in trouble he always shuts up. That’s the coward way of doing things. You got something to say you’d better say it.
Trace Demon: Lila? Kyle? Joe?
There, the little flicker at the third name. That makes perfect sense.
Trace Demon: Joe, good old Joe Bishop, my little revolutionary protégé. You’d tell me if he was getting ideas above his station, wouldn’t you Anders? I mean we’re pals, good friends even. You’ve got my back right?
Jason Anders: Of course I do Trace, and Joe isn’t out to get you, he’s just thinking what we’re all thinking. Joe, Kyle, me, hell probably everybody out there. You’re Trace Demon for f***s sake, since when did you care about cheating to win? “It’s not cheating, it’s just an advantage.” Those are your words.
I said that once, but I’m a man of many words and not much of a filter. I say a lot of things that I don’t tend to agree with later on in life.
Trace Demon: You know what I’ve done in this company?
Jason Anders: What?
Trace Demon: Do you know… what I’ve done?
Jason Anders: What are you-
Trace Demon: Everything Anders, I’ve done everything. I’ve won everything there is worth winning and beaten everybody there is worth beating. But no matter what I do, no matter how good I am or how dominant I am everybody always says I can’t do it fairly. They call me a cheater, a liar, a scoundrel and a crook. Sure, I’m all of those things and more but I’m still the best damn wrestler in the business and it’s about time I proved it to everyone who’s too blind to pay attention.
Jason Anders: So you’re going to wrestle fairly… to prove a point?
Trace Demon: No, I’m going to wrestle fairly because I can do it and still win. Drakz was a hiccup, every new strategy has kinks to work out, but I don’t need cheap tricks and chairs to win matches so why bother with it?
Jason Anders: And what if you’re not good enough?
I almost break into laughter, did he seriously just call my ability into question? This man, this potbellied, bald, pathetic excuse of a man. I pulled him up from the depths of nothing and I made him into who he is today and he thinks he can question me. Will wonders never cease.
Trace Demon: I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that Anders, and I’m gonna be on my way. Cheers for this, it was… well fun sure isn’t the word.
I rise from my chair and limp towards the door, but Anders can’t help but get more question in before I go.
Jason Anders: What about the revolution Trace? What if you trying to prove your point kills what we’ve worked so hard for.
Fair point, given that the man has nothing if he doesn’t have me and the Final Revolution.
Trace Demon: Maybe they’ve just beaten it out of me Anders? Maybe the fact that those fans don’t care about this company enough to want us to save it has just taken all of the fight away? Or maybe… just maybe, I think I can save the WFWF without cheap shotting my way to a victory. Choose whichever one you feel like Anders, I honestly don’t care.
< *** >
Westdale Secondary School
May 24th 2001
Mr. Takahashi: So you thought it appropriate to hit him?
I was used to being given detention, used to being sent to the principal’s office, used to timeouts. I was used to every kind of discipline schools can dish out now that we’ve got soft on kids. But there was one thing I wasn’t used to, and that is the way Mr. Takahashi would speak to people who had done something he disagreed with.
Mr. Takahashi: Well Demon-kun?
Mr. Takahashi was a history professor, he’d made the move to Hamilton back in 98, bringing his family with him, to make some kind of new start. Not quite sure what he was running from, his daughter never did tell me when I started sleeping with a couple of years after this. All I got from her was losing my Asian chick virginity.
Trace Demon: He had it coming.
Mr. Takahashi: He deserved to be hit in the face for beating you in a race?
Trace Demon: He provoked me, he threw shade.
Mr. Takahashi: That is not what I have been told, and as you are the one who punched someone I am not inclined to believe your version of events.
I only ever had a few meetings with Takahashi but he was always polite, no matter what you did or said he would never raise his voice, he’d always maintain this calmness. I’m not quite sure how he did it, my school was filled with the kind of kids that adult me would probably want to throw off of a bridge given the opportunity. Takahashi was truly a stronger man than I when it came to composure.
Mr. Takahashi: What I believe is that you struck out at that boy because of jealousy. You cannot handle not being the best.
Trace Demon: I am the best! He-
Mr. Takahashi: Hush! I am talking.
Nowadays it’s hard to believe that any man could have such firm control over me, but in that moment I silenced myself sharply. It was the authority he spoke with, bleeding out with every word. A man never has to be strong if he can appear to be powerful.
Mr. Takahashi: In my culture respect and proper etiquette is important, we treat others as we would hope to be treated. Would you hope to be punched in the face?
Trace Demon: Nobody would try it.
Mr. Takahashi: And why is that? There are plenty of boys bigger and older than you on the track team, why do they not try and hurt you?
Trace Demon: Because they’re scared.
Mr. Takahashi: Maybe. I have seen you run, you’re talented there is no doubt of that, but people don’t talk about your talent, they talk about your poor attitude. Do you know why that is?
He holds up a single finger as I was about to answer, telling me he doesn’t expect me to offer one.
Mr. Takahashi: They do not respect you, because you do not respect them. You are belligerent and confrontational as if you enjoy the fact that they do not like you. But I think that while you might not care if they like you part of you does care about the lack of respect, does it not? Do you not feel hard done by?
Trace Demon: They respect me, they respect that I win every…
I trailed off, my mind drifting back to earlier that day when I failed to do exactly what I was about to proclaim I do every single time. Because sometimes I don’t win, sometimes I fall short.
Mr. Takahashi: Yes, sometimes you don’t win, and you fear they’re going to stop respecting you if you lose. So you hit that poor boy because you think fear is the same as respect. Fear is not the same as respect Demon-kun. And you do not gain respect if you cannot give it. Would you like to know why you lost that race today?
Trace Demon: Who the fu-
Mr. Takahashi: I will not have that language used in this room do you understand me?
I can’t tell you why I did it, certainly wasn’t afraid of the guy, but I shut up quick enough when he said that. Might be because it was the same kind of sternness I was used to hearing from my father right before he started throwing bottles at me.
Mr. Takahashi: You did not respect the man who stood next to you. It is not that he was simply faster, it’s that you did not respect the possibility that he may be faster. You chose to pay no heed to him and you failed to win because of it. And young Demon, if you continue in that manner then you will never achieve anything. Respect everybody and everything Trace, whether you like them or not, because if you do not… then it will be your undoing.
< *** >
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
January 11th 2015
Trace Demon: So what’s the verdict doc?
Everybody likes to think they’re not immortal, that they can’t be hurt, that they’ll be absolutely fine no matter what they do. Turns out nobody is immortal, when it comes down to it our bodies are just made up of bone, cartilage and a lot of other stuff that I’m not going to pretend to care about. My mind might be stronger than yours but my body can ache just like anybody elses.
Doc Jones: It’s nothing serious Trace, a bit disjointed, it’s going to ache for a couple of weeks but I’m sure you’ll suck it up. I’d recommend you keep out of the gym but I don’t see you listening to me either way.
Doc Jones has been my personal doctor for a couple of years now. Sure I could go to any number of doctors employed by the WFWF but I like to keep my health private, every single knock and scrape the WFWF physicians deal with gets reported and I don’t want any of that on file. Instead I bring all my business here, Doc patches me up without any of the fuss and he’s happy to take a bit extra on the side to keep me an open appointment any time I need it.
Trace Demon: Keep out of the gym? Doc I’ve got a match to get ready for, I can’t be slacking.
Doc Jones: I want to ask if you’re being serious but I already know the answer.
Trace Demon: Straight up Doc is my leg gonna hold up for this match, that’s the only thing I’m interested in here. How big of a target is this thing right now?
Doc Jones: How big of a target is your seriously painful leg? You’ve really got to ask that?
That’s the thing about Doc, he’s got an attitude, probably why I like him. No pretence with the guy, he just tells it like it is. I don’t often listen to him sure, but I appreciate the effort.
Trace Demon: Alright, I get the picture.
Doc Jones: So you’ll pull out of the match?
Trace Demon: Of course I’m not going to pull out of the match, too much to prove. Plus when have you ever known me to listen to doctors’ orders?
Doc Jones: Never, which is a real pain in the ass when I’m the doctor in question. Look, listen to me, if you’re seriously going to do this, and we both know you are because you’re a stubborn pain in the ass, then protect that leg. It’s going to heal up no problem but right now it’s going to cause you problems.
He’s right, can’t argue and I’m not going to deny it. Every time I stretch my leg out I can feel that little tug of muscles. Might not be serious but it opens up a target, I’m going to have to adjust. Luckily that’s something I’m good at.
Trace Demon: I’ll do my best Doc. Think you can swing me a quick look at my guy upstairs?
Doc Jones: Think you can pay for the new paintjob on my car?
Trace Demon: You’re a man after my own heart Doc.
He laughs, the man was being serious about the money but I can’t fault him, he knows when he’s onto a good thing and I’m not going to get rid of one of the few people I know who are actually useful to me.
Doc Jones: Follow me.
Turns out if you wander around a hospital on your own you’re liable to get into a bit of trouble one way or the other. Have a doctor with you and you’re gold.
Trace Demon: Any updates?
Doc Jones: Not my patient Trace, you know I want nothing to do with whatever you got yourself involved with here.
Trace Demon: Don’t tell me you haven’t been checking in.
Doc Jones: That’s not the point.
As he leads me through the hospital I can’t help but wonder why I keep coming back to check in. Did I even care about my leg or was it just an excuse? I am the king of lies, maybe I’ve gotten so good that I can lie to myself and not even know it. What I do know is that there’s a reason I keep coming back. I shouldn’t care, he’s nothing, an insect on the foot of my boot, but here I am. I’d like to think I’m just covering my own back, making sure he’s not dead and that I don’t have to shell out on a better lawyer than Anders, but there’s more to it than that.
Doc Jones: There’s your John Doe. Don’t know what happened to him but he’s not woken up since he got dropped on our doorstep.
Trace Demon: Someone went to town with a crowbar.
Doc Jones: More than I need to know Trace. This good enough for you, are you done?
Maybe I do know why I’m here; it’s because of the one thing I haven’t done. I haven’t told her, I’ve kept this from her and she doesn’t trust me because of it, if she ever did trust me to begin with. I don’t care about this speck of a man, this pathetic little runt, but maybe it’s time I started practicing what I preach. Maybe it’s high time I start respecting the people who deserve my respect.
Trace Demon: Yeah, I’m done.
Maybe it’s time I told her the truth.
< *** >
I’ve got to offer my apologies Shapiro; I haven’t had the time to give you the proper attention and care this match deserves. Other things on my mind you see, a lot of things going on and you ended up bottom of the pile. That’s okay though isn’t it; you’re used to being bottom of the pile.
Okay, that was a cheap shot, I’m not afraid to admit it. Maybe you’re a hell of a talent, maybe you’re the next big thing, I don’t know. And that’s not from a lack of scouting, trust me, it’s because you haven’t done anything. You’re a nobody, a non-factor, card-padding at best, jobber at worst. It’s the exact same reason Lila fed you to Drakz before The Clash, because you were never going to be a threat. When the WFWF needs a nobody to fill out the show they come to you. “But Trace” I hear you cry, Shapiro challenged for the National Championship! True, true, but you’ve got to keep your best jobber looking a little bit dangerous don’t you?
Truth is Shapiro, pushing past all the bravado and the insults; this is not your week. You’re stepping in the ring with me at a time when I simply can’t afford to lose, not for the revolution, but for me. Three on the bounce, three pay per view title matches, three losses. One as champion, two as challenger, all losses. I’m back at the bottom now Shapiro, might not like to admit it but it’s true. I’ve got to drag my way back up to the top and you just so happen to be the first man I’ve got to stand on to reach it.
You know what the worse thing is? Now there’s not going to be any excuses. When I beat you, just like when I beat the next man and the man after that it’s not going to be because of some underhanded tactics. It’s going to be because of one simple fact – I’m the better wrestler. I’m stepping in that ring with one simple gameplan and that’s to hit harder than you, to wrestle circles around you and to break you down into so many little pieces by the end of the match you’re going to need a whole team of men to find the fragments of bone and cartilage I’ve beaten out of you. You’re going to leave that ring not knowing who you are or why you stepped foot in there in the first place. You thought the beating Drakz gave you hurt? Well you go ask Drakz how much pain he’s in right now because I’m going to bring the exact same ferocity and the exact same viciousness right to you.
And that’s a testament Shapiro, because despite everything I’ve said about you I’m not taking what you bring to the table for granted. I respect that you’re good enough to even get into the WFWF, let alone get a shot at the National Championship and let alone a shot at me. And the fact that I plan on bringing everything I’ve got to this and every single other match I’m in should tell you just how serious I am. Shapiro, I respect that you’re good enough to be in that ring with me, but I don’t respect you yet. That’s something you need to earn. Win or lose, and it’s going to be lose, you can earn my respect as long as you can stand up at the end of this match. Because I’m going to be doing everything in my power to make sure you can’t do that.
The world might think I’m lying, it might think I’ve lost my mind, but I’m stepping into that ring to fight fairly and I’m going to win fairly. And when the dust settles you’ll realize that I’m not only as good as I’ve always said I am… I’m better.
And our revolution is far from over.
The Truth of a Revolution; Part 4
Westdale Secondary School
May 24th 2001
Let me tell you something that you might not know about me. Before I was a wrestler, before I drank a ridiculous amount, took a ridiculous amount of drugs and slept with a ridiculous number of women I was a ridiculously fast runner.
See when I was thirteen I was the star of Westdale’s track team. I didn’t much enjoy the actual running, all you’re doing is going from point A to point B without much actually happening in between, but I was damn good at it. And when you’re that good at something you just keep on doing it because, and it doesn’t matter what people say, everybody wants to be a winner. And I was a proven winner on that track, nobody else in that sh*t hole they called a school could touch me and that’s the way I liked it.
That day was no different. Another track meet, another easy win as far as I was concerned. At fifteen I was at the peak of cockiness; then again I could back it up, no problem with being cocky if people can’t prove you don’t have the right to be.
Alec Jacobs: Looks like you’ve got some competition bud.
Kate Braun: Oh, you wanna be scared at that one.
Alec and Kate Braun were two of the few people I considered actual friends back then. I was popular, but for all the wrong reasons. Turns out kids gravitate towards the kid who’d get drunk and pick fights with anybody and everybody.
Trace Demon: I don’t do competition, I just do winning.
Alec Jacobs: Not if he’s got anything to do with it.
My eyes drifted to some shrimp of a kid. Seriously he must have weighed eighty pounds soaking wet. Arms and legs like twigs and a mop for hair. All three of us cracked up the second I laid eyes on him. Couldn’t help but think if this kid had some kind of mental disorder, had to be something wrong with him if he could leave the house looking like a short scarecrow.
Trace Demon: Well now they’re just pulling people off the street to fill out the slots.
Kate Braun: Nah I think he’s a contender.
Again the three of us laughed. I think the reason I got on with them was because we all had the same kind of attitude. We weren’t the friendly sort, we had attitudes, we had problems at home and we took it with us when we turned up for school. Sure everybody wanted to be friends with us but not because we were nice, it was because we, the three of us and a couple of others, were a close knit bunch and everybody wants to be a part of something they can’t be.
Trace Demon: Whatever, watch me smoke him.
Kate Braun: Yeah, and when you’re done with that we’ve got something else to smoke as a prize.
Alec Jacobs: Better than first place mate.
We all laughed again. Thinking back on it if I heard teenagers saying that nowadays I’d roll my eyes. Growing up brings with it the harsh truth that you were never as cool as you thought you were. I took my place at the starting grid and, to much amusement from my hollering friends on the side, found myself right next to the gangly kid himself. Of course I couldn’t help being friendly and welcoming to the fresh meat.
Trace Demon: What’s your name newbie?
Scarecrow: L… lee Th… Thompson.
Maybe I’m imagining the stutter in retrospect but it sure does add to the scene don’t it.
Trace Demon: Well Lee, let’s hope those scarecrow legs of yours don’t break in two trying to keep up with me.
Saw a little flicker of anger in the kids eyes, but he was too much of a coward to act on it. I had a foot on him, blood red hair and the grazed knuckles of a kid who’s punched, and won, way above his weight for a long, long time.
Coach: We ready?!
Everybody took up their position, ready for the whistle. I could hear the shouts of my friends off on the sides again but this time I wasn’t paying much attention. I liked to focus, move everything inside my head and stay there. No distractions. But then I broke my cardinal rule, I glanced over at Scarecrow to my left and flashed him a smirk. Mind games, sure they can be effective but you’ve got to be good at them. Nowadays I’m grade-A at getting inside people’s heads. At fifteen though, I was barely breaking a C+.
The whistle went a few seconds earlier than I was expecting it too and I’d lost focus with my little show of arrogance. The rest of the field has a split second advantage on their start and that was all it took to put me at a disadvantage. I’d have time to curse myself later, I had some catching up to do. Didn’t take long for me to pull ahead of the other nobodies but something wasn’t quite right. Scarecrow was leading, and he was pulling ahead, his little twig legs working overtime to make sure nobody was catching up to him.
One blur of a race later and little Lee Thompson crossed the finish line in first, yours truly trailing behind. There was something of a stunned silence about the place, people had gotten so used to me winning every time I don’t think they knew how to react to anything else. But there it was, Scarecrow puffing away, out of breath but victorious. Kate and Alec were heading towards me, as shocked as everybody else was, me included.
Scarecrow: Looks like my legs held up just fine eh.
That was it, no time to think really. I might have lost but if I let that go without retaliation then I’d never live it down. There’s something to be said about being a gracious loser, but when you’re fifteen and you’ve got a reputation to uphold there’s not much else to be done.
I took a single step forwards and swung, catching Scarecrow clean in the side of the face with my right fist. It wasn’t the first time I’d lashed out at somebody, not even close, but I tended to go for people who’d put up a fight. I’ve never seen anybody crumple as fast as he did, a crying heap in the mud with a broken nose.
Alec Jacobs: Holy s**t that was awesome!
Kate Braun: Trace what the f**k?
But I wasn’t listening, because I knew I’d crossed a line. I’d swung at someone so much weaker than me it wasn’t even funny. I like to win, but I like to know it was worthwhile, I like a challenge. Scarecrow wasn’t a challenge, he wasn’t even close to one.
Coach: Trace you dirty little s**t!
And that’s what led to-
< *** >
Jason Anders’ Apartment
January 11th 2015
Jason Anders: God damn it Trace enough with the bloody life story!
Trace Demon: Woah Anders, bit rude. I don’t go interrupting you when you’re talking about your sad excuse for a family. Which is all the time.
Got to say I’ve never actually been to Anders’ apartment before. Don’t think much of it, too grotty and lower-middle class. A classic divorced husband apartment and I try to keep away from those as much as possible. Wouldn’t have come today if he hadn’t been so persistent, also it’s right on the way from my place to one of my favoured hospitals so y’know, two birds and all that.
Jason Anders: This is serious Trace, we don’t have time to talk about something that happened when you were fifteen.
Trace Demon: Even though it’s completely relevant to something that’s happening right now, therefore tying everything together neatly at the end of things?
Jason Anders: Yes, even then.
Trace Demon: Well that’s no fun.
I can see the vein in the side of his head start to bulge, makes me feel kind of sick just to know I’m inside the same room as it. Don’t make eye contact, don’t make eye contact.
Jason Anders: Trace, this is serious, Joe and Kyle are asking questions, they’re starting to doubt you. I’m starting to doubt you.
Serious business indeed. I lean forward, clasp my hands together, try to look thoughtful. It’s not that I’m not taking this seriously, I am, it’s just hard to know what to say when you’re a few feet away from a vein that could explode at any second. Got to try and not let that distract me, stick to the course Trace, keep it all about the business.
Jason Anders: Why didn’t you just use the chair man? You’d have won it, you’d have beaten Drakz and we’d be having a very different conversation right now.
Trace Demon: You dare to doubt me after one loss? I get that they don’t come around all that often but-
Jason Anders: It’s not one loss is it Trace, it’s the loss. You beating Drakz was meant to legitimize this group, it was going to be the beginning of the end of everything we worked for. All you had to do was beat Drakz and-
Trace Demon: All I had to do? Have you met Drakz, have you ever seen him wrestle? Beating him is not as easy as just standing there and doing it.
Jason Anders: You’re meant to be Trace Demon.
Trace Demon: I know!
I can’t help but shout, a slight loss of composure, that’s not all that new a feeling for me. But Anders is right, I was meant to win and I am Trace Demon. He thinks losing that match isn’t eating me up inside but that’s all I’ve thought about, whether I did the wrong thing not using that chair, whether I should have just cheated my way to the title and thrown away everything I said. But I didn’t, it’s too damn late to wonder what if now. Drakz caught me out, he used the chair and he won. Might not have been fair but that’s the way it is.
Trace Demon: The revolution isn’t over. Not because of this.
Jason Anders: That’s not what people are saying, they’re saying you’ve lost your touch; they’re saying you can’t win the big one anymore. Three straight title matches, three straight losses. It adds up.
Trace Demon: Who’s saying this?
He clams up, Anders likes to talk when it suits him but the moment he realizes his mouth is going to get him in trouble he always shuts up. That’s the coward way of doing things. You got something to say you’d better say it.
Trace Demon: Lila? Kyle? Joe?
There, the little flicker at the third name. That makes perfect sense.
Trace Demon: Joe, good old Joe Bishop, my little revolutionary protégé. You’d tell me if he was getting ideas above his station, wouldn’t you Anders? I mean we’re pals, good friends even. You’ve got my back right?
Jason Anders: Of course I do Trace, and Joe isn’t out to get you, he’s just thinking what we’re all thinking. Joe, Kyle, me, hell probably everybody out there. You’re Trace Demon for f***s sake, since when did you care about cheating to win? “It’s not cheating, it’s just an advantage.” Those are your words.
I said that once, but I’m a man of many words and not much of a filter. I say a lot of things that I don’t tend to agree with later on in life.
Trace Demon: You know what I’ve done in this company?
Jason Anders: What?
Trace Demon: Do you know… what I’ve done?
Jason Anders: What are you-
Trace Demon: Everything Anders, I’ve done everything. I’ve won everything there is worth winning and beaten everybody there is worth beating. But no matter what I do, no matter how good I am or how dominant I am everybody always says I can’t do it fairly. They call me a cheater, a liar, a scoundrel and a crook. Sure, I’m all of those things and more but I’m still the best damn wrestler in the business and it’s about time I proved it to everyone who’s too blind to pay attention.
Jason Anders: So you’re going to wrestle fairly… to prove a point?
Trace Demon: No, I’m going to wrestle fairly because I can do it and still win. Drakz was a hiccup, every new strategy has kinks to work out, but I don’t need cheap tricks and chairs to win matches so why bother with it?
Jason Anders: And what if you’re not good enough?
I almost break into laughter, did he seriously just call my ability into question? This man, this potbellied, bald, pathetic excuse of a man. I pulled him up from the depths of nothing and I made him into who he is today and he thinks he can question me. Will wonders never cease.
Trace Demon: I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that Anders, and I’m gonna be on my way. Cheers for this, it was… well fun sure isn’t the word.
I rise from my chair and limp towards the door, but Anders can’t help but get more question in before I go.
Jason Anders: What about the revolution Trace? What if you trying to prove your point kills what we’ve worked so hard for.
Fair point, given that the man has nothing if he doesn’t have me and the Final Revolution.
Trace Demon: Maybe they’ve just beaten it out of me Anders? Maybe the fact that those fans don’t care about this company enough to want us to save it has just taken all of the fight away? Or maybe… just maybe, I think I can save the WFWF without cheap shotting my way to a victory. Choose whichever one you feel like Anders, I honestly don’t care.
< *** >
Westdale Secondary School
May 24th 2001
Mr. Takahashi: So you thought it appropriate to hit him?
I was used to being given detention, used to being sent to the principal’s office, used to timeouts. I was used to every kind of discipline schools can dish out now that we’ve got soft on kids. But there was one thing I wasn’t used to, and that is the way Mr. Takahashi would speak to people who had done something he disagreed with.
Mr. Takahashi: Well Demon-kun?
Mr. Takahashi was a history professor, he’d made the move to Hamilton back in 98, bringing his family with him, to make some kind of new start. Not quite sure what he was running from, his daughter never did tell me when I started sleeping with a couple of years after this. All I got from her was losing my Asian chick virginity.
Trace Demon: He had it coming.
Mr. Takahashi: He deserved to be hit in the face for beating you in a race?
Trace Demon: He provoked me, he threw shade.
Mr. Takahashi: That is not what I have been told, and as you are the one who punched someone I am not inclined to believe your version of events.
I only ever had a few meetings with Takahashi but he was always polite, no matter what you did or said he would never raise his voice, he’d always maintain this calmness. I’m not quite sure how he did it, my school was filled with the kind of kids that adult me would probably want to throw off of a bridge given the opportunity. Takahashi was truly a stronger man than I when it came to composure.
Mr. Takahashi: What I believe is that you struck out at that boy because of jealousy. You cannot handle not being the best.
Trace Demon: I am the best! He-
Mr. Takahashi: Hush! I am talking.
Nowadays it’s hard to believe that any man could have such firm control over me, but in that moment I silenced myself sharply. It was the authority he spoke with, bleeding out with every word. A man never has to be strong if he can appear to be powerful.
Mr. Takahashi: In my culture respect and proper etiquette is important, we treat others as we would hope to be treated. Would you hope to be punched in the face?
Trace Demon: Nobody would try it.
Mr. Takahashi: And why is that? There are plenty of boys bigger and older than you on the track team, why do they not try and hurt you?
Trace Demon: Because they’re scared.
Mr. Takahashi: Maybe. I have seen you run, you’re talented there is no doubt of that, but people don’t talk about your talent, they talk about your poor attitude. Do you know why that is?
He holds up a single finger as I was about to answer, telling me he doesn’t expect me to offer one.
Mr. Takahashi: They do not respect you, because you do not respect them. You are belligerent and confrontational as if you enjoy the fact that they do not like you. But I think that while you might not care if they like you part of you does care about the lack of respect, does it not? Do you not feel hard done by?
Trace Demon: They respect me, they respect that I win every…
I trailed off, my mind drifting back to earlier that day when I failed to do exactly what I was about to proclaim I do every single time. Because sometimes I don’t win, sometimes I fall short.
Mr. Takahashi: Yes, sometimes you don’t win, and you fear they’re going to stop respecting you if you lose. So you hit that poor boy because you think fear is the same as respect. Fear is not the same as respect Demon-kun. And you do not gain respect if you cannot give it. Would you like to know why you lost that race today?
Trace Demon: Who the fu-
Mr. Takahashi: I will not have that language used in this room do you understand me?
I can’t tell you why I did it, certainly wasn’t afraid of the guy, but I shut up quick enough when he said that. Might be because it was the same kind of sternness I was used to hearing from my father right before he started throwing bottles at me.
Mr. Takahashi: You did not respect the man who stood next to you. It is not that he was simply faster, it’s that you did not respect the possibility that he may be faster. You chose to pay no heed to him and you failed to win because of it. And young Demon, if you continue in that manner then you will never achieve anything. Respect everybody and everything Trace, whether you like them or not, because if you do not… then it will be your undoing.
< *** >
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
January 11th 2015
Trace Demon: So what’s the verdict doc?
Everybody likes to think they’re not immortal, that they can’t be hurt, that they’ll be absolutely fine no matter what they do. Turns out nobody is immortal, when it comes down to it our bodies are just made up of bone, cartilage and a lot of other stuff that I’m not going to pretend to care about. My mind might be stronger than yours but my body can ache just like anybody elses.
Doc Jones: It’s nothing serious Trace, a bit disjointed, it’s going to ache for a couple of weeks but I’m sure you’ll suck it up. I’d recommend you keep out of the gym but I don’t see you listening to me either way.
Doc Jones has been my personal doctor for a couple of years now. Sure I could go to any number of doctors employed by the WFWF but I like to keep my health private, every single knock and scrape the WFWF physicians deal with gets reported and I don’t want any of that on file. Instead I bring all my business here, Doc patches me up without any of the fuss and he’s happy to take a bit extra on the side to keep me an open appointment any time I need it.
Trace Demon: Keep out of the gym? Doc I’ve got a match to get ready for, I can’t be slacking.
Doc Jones: I want to ask if you’re being serious but I already know the answer.
Trace Demon: Straight up Doc is my leg gonna hold up for this match, that’s the only thing I’m interested in here. How big of a target is this thing right now?
Doc Jones: How big of a target is your seriously painful leg? You’ve really got to ask that?
That’s the thing about Doc, he’s got an attitude, probably why I like him. No pretence with the guy, he just tells it like it is. I don’t often listen to him sure, but I appreciate the effort.
Trace Demon: Alright, I get the picture.
Doc Jones: So you’ll pull out of the match?
Trace Demon: Of course I’m not going to pull out of the match, too much to prove. Plus when have you ever known me to listen to doctors’ orders?
Doc Jones: Never, which is a real pain in the ass when I’m the doctor in question. Look, listen to me, if you’re seriously going to do this, and we both know you are because you’re a stubborn pain in the ass, then protect that leg. It’s going to heal up no problem but right now it’s going to cause you problems.
He’s right, can’t argue and I’m not going to deny it. Every time I stretch my leg out I can feel that little tug of muscles. Might not be serious but it opens up a target, I’m going to have to adjust. Luckily that’s something I’m good at.
Trace Demon: I’ll do my best Doc. Think you can swing me a quick look at my guy upstairs?
Doc Jones: Think you can pay for the new paintjob on my car?
Trace Demon: You’re a man after my own heart Doc.
He laughs, the man was being serious about the money but I can’t fault him, he knows when he’s onto a good thing and I’m not going to get rid of one of the few people I know who are actually useful to me.
Doc Jones: Follow me.
Turns out if you wander around a hospital on your own you’re liable to get into a bit of trouble one way or the other. Have a doctor with you and you’re gold.
Trace Demon: Any updates?
Doc Jones: Not my patient Trace, you know I want nothing to do with whatever you got yourself involved with here.
Trace Demon: Don’t tell me you haven’t been checking in.
Doc Jones: That’s not the point.
As he leads me through the hospital I can’t help but wonder why I keep coming back to check in. Did I even care about my leg or was it just an excuse? I am the king of lies, maybe I’ve gotten so good that I can lie to myself and not even know it. What I do know is that there’s a reason I keep coming back. I shouldn’t care, he’s nothing, an insect on the foot of my boot, but here I am. I’d like to think I’m just covering my own back, making sure he’s not dead and that I don’t have to shell out on a better lawyer than Anders, but there’s more to it than that.
Doc Jones: There’s your John Doe. Don’t know what happened to him but he’s not woken up since he got dropped on our doorstep.
Trace Demon: Someone went to town with a crowbar.
Doc Jones: More than I need to know Trace. This good enough for you, are you done?
Maybe I do know why I’m here; it’s because of the one thing I haven’t done. I haven’t told her, I’ve kept this from her and she doesn’t trust me because of it, if she ever did trust me to begin with. I don’t care about this speck of a man, this pathetic little runt, but maybe it’s time I started practicing what I preach. Maybe it’s high time I start respecting the people who deserve my respect.
Trace Demon: Yeah, I’m done.
Maybe it’s time I told her the truth.
< *** >
I’ve got to offer my apologies Shapiro; I haven’t had the time to give you the proper attention and care this match deserves. Other things on my mind you see, a lot of things going on and you ended up bottom of the pile. That’s okay though isn’t it; you’re used to being bottom of the pile.
Okay, that was a cheap shot, I’m not afraid to admit it. Maybe you’re a hell of a talent, maybe you’re the next big thing, I don’t know. And that’s not from a lack of scouting, trust me, it’s because you haven’t done anything. You’re a nobody, a non-factor, card-padding at best, jobber at worst. It’s the exact same reason Lila fed you to Drakz before The Clash, because you were never going to be a threat. When the WFWF needs a nobody to fill out the show they come to you. “But Trace” I hear you cry, Shapiro challenged for the National Championship! True, true, but you’ve got to keep your best jobber looking a little bit dangerous don’t you?
Truth is Shapiro, pushing past all the bravado and the insults; this is not your week. You’re stepping in the ring with me at a time when I simply can’t afford to lose, not for the revolution, but for me. Three on the bounce, three pay per view title matches, three losses. One as champion, two as challenger, all losses. I’m back at the bottom now Shapiro, might not like to admit it but it’s true. I’ve got to drag my way back up to the top and you just so happen to be the first man I’ve got to stand on to reach it.
You know what the worse thing is? Now there’s not going to be any excuses. When I beat you, just like when I beat the next man and the man after that it’s not going to be because of some underhanded tactics. It’s going to be because of one simple fact – I’m the better wrestler. I’m stepping in that ring with one simple gameplan and that’s to hit harder than you, to wrestle circles around you and to break you down into so many little pieces by the end of the match you’re going to need a whole team of men to find the fragments of bone and cartilage I’ve beaten out of you. You’re going to leave that ring not knowing who you are or why you stepped foot in there in the first place. You thought the beating Drakz gave you hurt? Well you go ask Drakz how much pain he’s in right now because I’m going to bring the exact same ferocity and the exact same viciousness right to you.
And that’s a testament Shapiro, because despite everything I’ve said about you I’m not taking what you bring to the table for granted. I respect that you’re good enough to even get into the WFWF, let alone get a shot at the National Championship and let alone a shot at me. And the fact that I plan on bringing everything I’ve got to this and every single other match I’m in should tell you just how serious I am. Shapiro, I respect that you’re good enough to be in that ring with me, but I don’t respect you yet. That’s something you need to earn. Win or lose, and it’s going to be lose, you can earn my respect as long as you can stand up at the end of this match. Because I’m going to be doing everything in my power to make sure you can’t do that.
The world might think I’m lying, it might think I’ve lost my mind, but I’m stepping into that ring to fight fairly and I’m going to win fairly. And when the dust settles you’ll realize that I’m not only as good as I’ve always said I am… I’m better.
And our revolution is far from over.
