Post by veronicaaaahhhh on Dec 29, 2007 2:39:36 GMT -5
With Christmas comes a whole lot of things. There’s
the tree that’ll magically make needles pop in July,
the presents that will more than likely end up being
returned, and the travel.
Ah, yes, the travel. Traveling hours and hours just to
see your great-aunt that remembers how crazy the young
ones got when the wheel came out and all the other
ones that insist you look so much different
than last year. And yet, despite how stupid these
trips may seem, so many Americans do just that before
Christmas. They all board their planes and get there
on time for a Christmas that may or may not turn out
to be “merry.”
But not everyone is lucky enough to get there.
There are those that do not meet the good end of
travel, the ones who find themselves stuck in an
airport because their flight got delayed.
That’s the members of the Axis are dealing with. A
huge snow storm had wiped through the area (and still
was), leaving them to spend Christmas not with their
families but with each other.
And it really was only them. It was, after all, a
private flight, and thus they were the only ones
thoroughly enjoying this misery. There was also a
homeless guy sleeping in the chair in the corner when
they walked in, but he had only barely been seen as a
human when they walked in. He had reached his feet
(apparently in great pain) and walked over to them,
asking, no pleading, for money, but they had hardly
noticed him at all. They had their own personal
problems going on, ones that to them seemed a whole
hell of a lot more important than some wino.
Now they all sat on the chairs in the lobby, taking up
an entire row. All were present, with the exception of
Possessed Child: Michael, Kurt, Kat, Wayne, Vanessa,
and Scarlet.
Only three of them looked truly gone for the moment.
Michael had a book in hand, but judging by the way his
eyes kept darting away from the page, he sure wasn’t
too focused on that. Kurt had fallen fast asleep with
the music still playing in his ears. Wayne appeared to
be in some sort of deep thought, distant from what was
going on around him.
In a way, they were each in their own world.
~ ~
Michael was trying real hard to focus, to just be able
to read the book, but that just wasn’t happening. No
matter how much he tried not to worry about it, the
fact remained that his fate had probably been
determined by the blackmailer at this point. Several
hours ago, he was supposed to get the money from the
bank. By now he’d probably be doing the drop off and
have it all over with.
But none of that had happened.
And now it was probably too late.
Where it went from here he had no idea. This
blackmailer, whoever it was (and he still felt it was
the man right next to him) wouldn’t be happy about it,
that was for sure. Everything that he had heard so far
gave Michael the impression that the blackmailer had
planned this out perfectly. The whole thing had been
orchestrated to go off without a hitch---until now.
This monkey wrench had been thrown in and now Michael
didn’t know how he would react. It didn’t seem
inconceivable that he could flip out and go right to
cops.
Unless it was Kurt. Certainly he would understand
Michael’s plight, since he was right next to him.
But after what had happened in the restaurant, Michael
couldn’t even be sure of that anymore.
A little bit later, Michael got up and went to the
bathroom. As he walked back, he kept the same slow
pace, no rush to get back to his seat.
Until the phone rang.
Kurt was still asleep, but the nevertheless he had to
get there in time. His speed increased eventually to a
run. He got the phone out of his bag as quickly he
could muster and answered it.
“Are you ready?” the voice on the other end said,
showing emotion for the first time ever. It was
irritation.
“No. Our flight got cancelled. I’m stick in the
airport. Could be awhile before I can get the money.”
There was a long sigh on the other end. “I guess the
drop will have to wait awhile. I’ll get you more time.
I wanted this done very soon, but since I’m such a
reasonable man, you can take your time. Our little
secret is safe. For now.”
Then he hung up.
There was a sense of relief after the call, but also
guilt. He had acted so horribly towards Kurt based on
an assumption that was no obviously false. As much as
he wanted to apologize to Kurt here and now, he didn’t
want to wake him.
Instead, he sat back down feeling much better.
But he still wanted to get the hell out of here.
The black recess of my mind surrounds me. I float,
float into the blackness, no sound, no sight, nothing,
but my own hands. Across my hands I see drops of
blood, pooled ever so perfectly, they dot my hand as a
crimson stain. I move my hands together, and the
droplets move, rearranging themselves violently.
I can see in them the faces of all those I have
destroyed. I see Kid Spandex, Venom, Spider, OKAMA,
Justin Tyger, Trent Draven, The Black Ninja, Danny
Vice, Skyler Striker, Calvin Lee, Tha CBT, and more
than I cannot remember. Their eyes, fixed upon me,
burning through me. The wretched looks of agony on
their faces, agony I gave them. Pain I wrought on
them. They are frozen for what seems an eternity,
staring, fixed on me, the bringer of their
destruction.
Suddenly, without warning, the drops begin to shift,
slithering together, forming a pool of blood on my
hands, evenly divided, I can see the face, and it is
staring up at me, calling to me. Her lips, keep
repeating the same word, I cannot hear it, but I know
what she is saying.
Kurt.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kat peered at him in the airport, this was not her
idea of a great Christmas. Stuck in the airport with
Thunder, the McGurks, and Kurt. She loved these
people, mind you, but they were her friends, not her
family. Her family was hundreds of miles away,
preparing a great diner, and preparing to exchange
gifts. What a great Christmas.
They were all alone in the waiting area, Thunder had
scuried off to the bathroom, or something, and Wayne
and Vanessa had taken Scarlet to dinner.
She watched him, she had been worried about him
recently. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but he
was acting very odd. And here he was, sleeping at
three in the afternoon, his face twitching, it looked
like he was having a terrible dream.
She moved over to the chair next to him, and slid her
arm under his jacket. She wrapped her arm around his
houlder, and rubbed, gently, reassuringly. She pressed
her lips to his ear, and whispered, calmly.
“Kurt.”
He remained asleep, and so she tried again. His face
contorted, as though her voice was more terrifying
than his dream. And then she heard him mutter.
“Trixie.”
Who is Trixie, another woman on the side, a lost
lover. SHe didn't know, but the mention of the name
drew forth millions of ideas into her head. She had no
right to be concerned, Kurt was a roommate, only a
roommate. But still. Maybe Thunder needs some company
at the bar.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kurt awoke in the chair, and it took him just a moment
to adjust to his surroundings. Sitting across from
him, with a toothless grin, was that crazy hobo. He
could smell the dried and soured Jack Daniels
eminating from the toothless man like a fine perfume.
It is odd what smells your body can grow to love.
The man smiled, flashing the rotten stubs that once
were teeth.
"You and your family having a nice holiday."
"I don't have a family."
The hobo looked confused, as Kurt turned away from
him.
"Well who were all those people you are with?"
Kurt waited, but with each second the silence was
compelling him to make noise, liven this place up.
"Co-workers."
"You see, I say's to myself, 'Ralph', that's my name,
'Ralph, why'd that odd looking group o people come
waltzin round, looking all pissy.' Only answer I have
for me is 'I guessin they a family, little niece in a
red dress, momma and poppa in the bike gear, classy
lady with classy man, and you, off by yuseself. But
that don't fly, as I see classy man look at you wit
sadness, and classy lady wit love, till you say
Trixie, and everyone runs away. So I regiggle it, and
I put you wit classy lady, and maybe classy man is
yuse guy on side."
Ralph laughed uncontrollably. Kurt hung his head back,
praying for someone to come rescue him. Ralph was
enjoying himself he took a drink from a flask.
"Wanna warm up, friend. Ye know, spreddin holiday
cheer."
Ralph presented the flask. Kurt eyed it, longing for
it. No one was around.
"Can't."
"Look, I didn wanna hurt yer feelin or nuttin, I mean,
bout the queer fellow or nuttin. I was jus kiddin."
Kurt laughed.
"No, I wasn't offended, I am an alcoholic."
The look on Ralph's face turned to ghastly horror.
"My God, I'm sorry. I'll just move along."
Kurt looked at the man, as he stood, slumped forward,
head hanging low in shame. Somethng compelled Kurt,
maybe just boredom, but this man looked esperate.
"Hey man, just take a drink for me. No rules against
you having a drink, huh?"
Ralph cheered up, and dropped right back down into the
seat.
"Thank ya sir, much obligd. I wuz jes thinkin, this
fella looks like a strappin fine lad, and I say's to
meself, 'Ralph, this is one fine young fella. You
should have a drink wit him' Course that wuz before I
knew you wuz an alkie. Poor alkie. My friend Goober
was an alkie, God rest..."
Ralph just kept on going on and on and on. Kurt smiled
and nodded, but not much was registering. Kurt's mind
swam with thoughts of the match at Loaded, possibly
the biggest match ever booked for Loaded, and being
probably the weakest of the crop, he knew where the
scope was going to point.
***
Standing where he was, with a lit Camel stuck between
his lips, and nothing but smoke surrounding him, Wayne
McGurk was at peace. Opening his eyes, Wayne stared at
the barrier that divided him from the clean world of
madness he wanted nothing off, just for now; the
meantime.
With the exception of a couple well dressed Asians, a
scrawny blonde kid no older than nineteen, and a
brunette in a leather trench coat, the smoker’s lounge
was considerably empty.
Wayne breathed in the smoke of the other’s, as his
lips drew hard on the camel.
Half a pack in under twenty minutes… This is where
quitting led me.
Wayne told himself, quietly.
Other’s wash their sorrow, fear, grief, anxiety, and
pain with alcohol and the kind of **** that makes
their world turn. As I face mine with nothing but
sober mind and enough smoke to suffocate a madding
crowd.
The problems I can handle, maybe sometimes just
barely. The nicotine’s just there to calm me down; to
make me feel the way I feel around my wife and my
daughter… Safe.
And in turn, its my grand and sacred duty to build a
safer world for them within my means.
Wayne stepped away from the smokers lounge and walked
back into the terminal that wasn’t any colder than the
weather dancing on the outside.
Hey...
Vanessa sat in the middle of a row of yellow chairs
with her legs crossed and Scarlett, lying sideways,
nesting her head upon Vanessa’s thighs; little baby
girl sound asleep, still sucking on her thumb.
Here we are, Wayne. Stuck on the very same airport, on
the exact same day.
Is it fate or is it just a sleight of hand?
I don’t know, what do you think?
I reckon its fate.
Me too… So, do we move, or do we wait for fate to
happen again?
I’m too scared to do either.
Why?
Because I’m happy where I am, where we are, and I just
don’t want things to slip.
I’ve already done too much.
Wayne murmured.
What does that mean?
Just don’t think about it, okay. It’s my **** to deal
with.
Wayne dug his hands into the pockets of his jacket and
turned away.
Vanessa rose from her seat, slipped her coat off, and
folded it beneath Scarlett’s head.
Where are you going?
Wayne stopped and turned his head back to her.
I don't know... I won't be far, I promise.
Wayne turned away and proceeded to the edge of the
terminal, as Vanessa walked over and reached for his
arm. Wayne turned to her, and he just looked at her;
not just her eyes, not just her lips, and not just her
hair and skin, just her and everything about her. He
reckoned he could face her if she was somebody else;
raise his voice, tell her to leave him alone, to
fuck off and to just drop the whole thing
altogether.
I don’t want to fail you.
Just couldn’t do it, man.
I’ve already failed you so many times.
I don’t understand.
Don’t.
Vanessa held Wayne by the hair and pulled herself into
him. Vanessa closed her eyes and kissed him, gently.
Wayne pressed back as he drew his eyes shut. Slowly,
Wayne lurched his hands beneath her and hoisted her in
his arms.
Vanessa dropped her forehead against Wayne’s.
Have you continued to remain true?
You know I always will.
Vanessa locked her legs around Wayne’s waist.
So, what’s the problem then?
I lost to Deville.
That’s it?
She said bluntly, yet senceire.
That’s another major match I lost this year.
Wayne stepped back and slowly eased into a chair.
It’s just one match. Something you and I know is that
were given to fail. No matter how hard we may fight
it, it still happens.
I lost every major challenge that came to me this
year. I don’t want things to run astray. I don’t want
to lose you.
Why would you lose me?
Running the tips of her fingers along Wayne’s chin.
I have never in my life felt anymore secure.
Whatever happens will be our challenge to face.
Wayne kissed her, and in turn Vanessa parted her lips
to him.
I love you, Vanessa.
I love you, Wayne.
They pressed their lips again and slowly broke away.
Reckon I’ll get Deville next time around?
Vanessa smiled, with her lips half open as she raised
her eyebrows.
Vanessa turned her head.
Where’s Scarlett?
***
It wasn’t much longer before Michael got sick of
sitting there. He needed to go somewhere else right
about now.
The bar sure sounded like a good idea.
He had only been there a few minutes when he heard
footsteps behind him. The person turned out to be Kat,
who sat down on the stool next to him.
“Hey,” she said as she sat down. Michael could see
that she was worried about something.
“Hey. Is something wrong?”
“Yeah. That’s actually why I came to see you. Kurt’s
been acting weird lately. Now I just heard him say the
name Trixie. Do you know who that could be?”
“No clue. I don’t know what’s been happening with him.
Lately we’ve been kind of distant.”
“I noticed. I don’t know what it is, but there’s
something wrong with him and it’s bugging me.”
“The only thing we can really do is talk to him about
it.”
“I guess you’re right. You heading back with the rest
of the guys?”
“Maybe in a bit. I think I’ll have a little bit to
drink first.”
“Me too. Plus that hobo weirds me out. Don’t really
want to get near him.”
“Although Kurt appears to have taking a liking to
him.”
Michael pointed over to where Kurt and the hobo were
talking, causing both him and Kat to laugh a bit.
***
"And so that's how I lost this her finger. Yup, it
hurt like hell, but at least I had some of the finest
pooter I eva seen. HEHE!"
His laugh was really starting to get irritating, but
with the laugh filling the room, he could barely hear
those size 19 boots pounding on the linoleum. He
turned, and saw Wayne."
"Scarlet!"
"What's going on man?"
Kurt rose from his seat, concerned.
"I can't find Scarlet. She ran off."
Kurt rose from his seat. He prepared to go join the
hunt, when he looked at Ralph.
"Sorry man, got to go, here you are."
A wadded bill landed in Ralph's lap. As Kurt scurried
off, Ralph unfolded the bill, and saw a face he had
not seen in a long time, Benjamin Franklin. The old
man was overwhelmed, and could only muster up.
"Thanks friend." He hoped that the man could hear him.
“What happened? Kurt asked.
“Vanessa and I were talking…”
Ralph sat there as Kurt and the tall man with the
beard walked away. Ralph turned his head to the right.
“Hello, little girl.”
***
Outside of the airport bar, Starbucks, and the newstand, there was nothing else open in the airport. Almost every security guard they turned to said they couldn't find her. By then, Michael and Kat accompanied Vanessa in her search for Scarlet. Kurt and Wayne remained as they were.
As far as Wayne was concererned, he brought Scarlet being missing onto himself; just too preoccupied, man, with his own **** that he didn't think of anything or anyone else but himself. As he looked with Kurt, he tried to push his grief aside; keep his head on finding Scarlett. But whatever he did, that damn thought would just pop up every five seconds.
***
The girl took a seat beside him. She was a cute little
bugger; big green eyes, dark red hair kept in a
pigtail.
“Daddy said never to talk to strangers.”
Ralph extended his hand to her.
“Hi, I’m Ralph and I’m not no stranger anymore.”
The little girl stood on the seat and took a moment to
look at Ralph.
“I’m Scarlet.”
“Hey, you’re that little girl those two guys were
lookin’ fo’”
“What two guys?”
“This guy wid longish blonde hair and dis other tall
fellow with black hair.”
“Uncle Kurt and Daddy?”
“Maybe thats them.”
“So, what are you doing here?”
“I live here.”
“That’s cool.”
Scarlet looked in the distance and began to jump; waving her cute little hand in the air.
"Uncle Kurt! Uncle Kurt!"
Kurt approached Ralph and Scarlet.
"Hello Uncle Kurt!" said Scarlet.
"Thnaks for finding Scarlet, Ralph." Kurt said as he pat Ralph on the back. "So, where've you been, Honey Bunny? Your mom and your dad have been going crazy looking for you."
Scarlet raised her eyebrows and shrigged her shoulders.
Wayne and Vanessa came into the terminal, with Thunder and Kat close behind. Wayne and Vanessa quickly threw their arms around Scarlet, the child stretched her out her arms around the necks of her parents.
"I found her." Ralph spoke up.
Vanessa rose, walked over the Ralph and threw her arms around him.
"Thank you." She said sofly.
"I haven't been this close to a woman in years!" Ralph said with glee.
And as the clock faded to twelve and with Christmas Eve fading soflty, Kurt, Wayne, Michael, Vanessa, Kat, Scarlet, and yes, Ralph all gathered together and shared a wondeful Christmas in the cozy confines of a Starbucks.
Fin.
the tree that’ll magically make needles pop in July,
the presents that will more than likely end up being
returned, and the travel.
Ah, yes, the travel. Traveling hours and hours just to
see your great-aunt that remembers how crazy the young
ones got when the wheel came out and all the other
ones that insist you look so much different
than last year. And yet, despite how stupid these
trips may seem, so many Americans do just that before
Christmas. They all board their planes and get there
on time for a Christmas that may or may not turn out
to be “merry.”
But not everyone is lucky enough to get there.
There are those that do not meet the good end of
travel, the ones who find themselves stuck in an
airport because their flight got delayed.
That’s the members of the Axis are dealing with. A
huge snow storm had wiped through the area (and still
was), leaving them to spend Christmas not with their
families but with each other.
And it really was only them. It was, after all, a
private flight, and thus they were the only ones
thoroughly enjoying this misery. There was also a
homeless guy sleeping in the chair in the corner when
they walked in, but he had only barely been seen as a
human when they walked in. He had reached his feet
(apparently in great pain) and walked over to them,
asking, no pleading, for money, but they had hardly
noticed him at all. They had their own personal
problems going on, ones that to them seemed a whole
hell of a lot more important than some wino.
Now they all sat on the chairs in the lobby, taking up
an entire row. All were present, with the exception of
Possessed Child: Michael, Kurt, Kat, Wayne, Vanessa,
and Scarlet.
Only three of them looked truly gone for the moment.
Michael had a book in hand, but judging by the way his
eyes kept darting away from the page, he sure wasn’t
too focused on that. Kurt had fallen fast asleep with
the music still playing in his ears. Wayne appeared to
be in some sort of deep thought, distant from what was
going on around him.
In a way, they were each in their own world.
~ ~
Michael was trying real hard to focus, to just be able
to read the book, but that just wasn’t happening. No
matter how much he tried not to worry about it, the
fact remained that his fate had probably been
determined by the blackmailer at this point. Several
hours ago, he was supposed to get the money from the
bank. By now he’d probably be doing the drop off and
have it all over with.
But none of that had happened.
And now it was probably too late.
Where it went from here he had no idea. This
blackmailer, whoever it was (and he still felt it was
the man right next to him) wouldn’t be happy about it,
that was for sure. Everything that he had heard so far
gave Michael the impression that the blackmailer had
planned this out perfectly. The whole thing had been
orchestrated to go off without a hitch---until now.
This monkey wrench had been thrown in and now Michael
didn’t know how he would react. It didn’t seem
inconceivable that he could flip out and go right to
cops.
Unless it was Kurt. Certainly he would understand
Michael’s plight, since he was right next to him.
But after what had happened in the restaurant, Michael
couldn’t even be sure of that anymore.
A little bit later, Michael got up and went to the
bathroom. As he walked back, he kept the same slow
pace, no rush to get back to his seat.
Until the phone rang.
Kurt was still asleep, but the nevertheless he had to
get there in time. His speed increased eventually to a
run. He got the phone out of his bag as quickly he
could muster and answered it.
“Are you ready?” the voice on the other end said,
showing emotion for the first time ever. It was
irritation.
“No. Our flight got cancelled. I’m stick in the
airport. Could be awhile before I can get the money.”
There was a long sigh on the other end. “I guess the
drop will have to wait awhile. I’ll get you more time.
I wanted this done very soon, but since I’m such a
reasonable man, you can take your time. Our little
secret is safe. For now.”
Then he hung up.
There was a sense of relief after the call, but also
guilt. He had acted so horribly towards Kurt based on
an assumption that was no obviously false. As much as
he wanted to apologize to Kurt here and now, he didn’t
want to wake him.
Instead, he sat back down feeling much better.
But he still wanted to get the hell out of here.
The black recess of my mind surrounds me. I float,
float into the blackness, no sound, no sight, nothing,
but my own hands. Across my hands I see drops of
blood, pooled ever so perfectly, they dot my hand as a
crimson stain. I move my hands together, and the
droplets move, rearranging themselves violently.
I can see in them the faces of all those I have
destroyed. I see Kid Spandex, Venom, Spider, OKAMA,
Justin Tyger, Trent Draven, The Black Ninja, Danny
Vice, Skyler Striker, Calvin Lee, Tha CBT, and more
than I cannot remember. Their eyes, fixed upon me,
burning through me. The wretched looks of agony on
their faces, agony I gave them. Pain I wrought on
them. They are frozen for what seems an eternity,
staring, fixed on me, the bringer of their
destruction.
Suddenly, without warning, the drops begin to shift,
slithering together, forming a pool of blood on my
hands, evenly divided, I can see the face, and it is
staring up at me, calling to me. Her lips, keep
repeating the same word, I cannot hear it, but I know
what she is saying.
Kurt.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kat peered at him in the airport, this was not her
idea of a great Christmas. Stuck in the airport with
Thunder, the McGurks, and Kurt. She loved these
people, mind you, but they were her friends, not her
family. Her family was hundreds of miles away,
preparing a great diner, and preparing to exchange
gifts. What a great Christmas.
They were all alone in the waiting area, Thunder had
scuried off to the bathroom, or something, and Wayne
and Vanessa had taken Scarlet to dinner.
She watched him, she had been worried about him
recently. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but he
was acting very odd. And here he was, sleeping at
three in the afternoon, his face twitching, it looked
like he was having a terrible dream.
She moved over to the chair next to him, and slid her
arm under his jacket. She wrapped her arm around his
houlder, and rubbed, gently, reassuringly. She pressed
her lips to his ear, and whispered, calmly.
“Kurt.”
He remained asleep, and so she tried again. His face
contorted, as though her voice was more terrifying
than his dream. And then she heard him mutter.
“Trixie.”
Who is Trixie, another woman on the side, a lost
lover. SHe didn't know, but the mention of the name
drew forth millions of ideas into her head. She had no
right to be concerned, Kurt was a roommate, only a
roommate. But still. Maybe Thunder needs some company
at the bar.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kurt awoke in the chair, and it took him just a moment
to adjust to his surroundings. Sitting across from
him, with a toothless grin, was that crazy hobo. He
could smell the dried and soured Jack Daniels
eminating from the toothless man like a fine perfume.
It is odd what smells your body can grow to love.
The man smiled, flashing the rotten stubs that once
were teeth.
"You and your family having a nice holiday."
"I don't have a family."
The hobo looked confused, as Kurt turned away from
him.
"Well who were all those people you are with?"
Kurt waited, but with each second the silence was
compelling him to make noise, liven this place up.
"Co-workers."
"You see, I say's to myself, 'Ralph', that's my name,
'Ralph, why'd that odd looking group o people come
waltzin round, looking all pissy.' Only answer I have
for me is 'I guessin they a family, little niece in a
red dress, momma and poppa in the bike gear, classy
lady with classy man, and you, off by yuseself. But
that don't fly, as I see classy man look at you wit
sadness, and classy lady wit love, till you say
Trixie, and everyone runs away. So I regiggle it, and
I put you wit classy lady, and maybe classy man is
yuse guy on side."
Ralph laughed uncontrollably. Kurt hung his head back,
praying for someone to come rescue him. Ralph was
enjoying himself he took a drink from a flask.
"Wanna warm up, friend. Ye know, spreddin holiday
cheer."
Ralph presented the flask. Kurt eyed it, longing for
it. No one was around.
"Can't."
"Look, I didn wanna hurt yer feelin or nuttin, I mean,
bout the queer fellow or nuttin. I was jus kiddin."
Kurt laughed.
"No, I wasn't offended, I am an alcoholic."
The look on Ralph's face turned to ghastly horror.
"My God, I'm sorry. I'll just move along."
Kurt looked at the man, as he stood, slumped forward,
head hanging low in shame. Somethng compelled Kurt,
maybe just boredom, but this man looked esperate.
"Hey man, just take a drink for me. No rules against
you having a drink, huh?"
Ralph cheered up, and dropped right back down into the
seat.
"Thank ya sir, much obligd. I wuz jes thinkin, this
fella looks like a strappin fine lad, and I say's to
meself, 'Ralph, this is one fine young fella. You
should have a drink wit him' Course that wuz before I
knew you wuz an alkie. Poor alkie. My friend Goober
was an alkie, God rest..."
Ralph just kept on going on and on and on. Kurt smiled
and nodded, but not much was registering. Kurt's mind
swam with thoughts of the match at Loaded, possibly
the biggest match ever booked for Loaded, and being
probably the weakest of the crop, he knew where the
scope was going to point.
***
Standing where he was, with a lit Camel stuck between
his lips, and nothing but smoke surrounding him, Wayne
McGurk was at peace. Opening his eyes, Wayne stared at
the barrier that divided him from the clean world of
madness he wanted nothing off, just for now; the
meantime.
With the exception of a couple well dressed Asians, a
scrawny blonde kid no older than nineteen, and a
brunette in a leather trench coat, the smoker’s lounge
was considerably empty.
Wayne breathed in the smoke of the other’s, as his
lips drew hard on the camel.
Half a pack in under twenty minutes… This is where
quitting led me.
Wayne told himself, quietly.
Other’s wash their sorrow, fear, grief, anxiety, and
pain with alcohol and the kind of **** that makes
their world turn. As I face mine with nothing but
sober mind and enough smoke to suffocate a madding
crowd.
The problems I can handle, maybe sometimes just
barely. The nicotine’s just there to calm me down; to
make me feel the way I feel around my wife and my
daughter… Safe.
And in turn, its my grand and sacred duty to build a
safer world for them within my means.
Wayne stepped away from the smokers lounge and walked
back into the terminal that wasn’t any colder than the
weather dancing on the outside.
Hey...
Vanessa sat in the middle of a row of yellow chairs
with her legs crossed and Scarlett, lying sideways,
nesting her head upon Vanessa’s thighs; little baby
girl sound asleep, still sucking on her thumb.
Here we are, Wayne. Stuck on the very same airport, on
the exact same day.
Is it fate or is it just a sleight of hand?
I don’t know, what do you think?
I reckon its fate.
Me too… So, do we move, or do we wait for fate to
happen again?
I’m too scared to do either.
Why?
Because I’m happy where I am, where we are, and I just
don’t want things to slip.
I’ve already done too much.
Wayne murmured.
What does that mean?
Just don’t think about it, okay. It’s my **** to deal
with.
Wayne dug his hands into the pockets of his jacket and
turned away.
Vanessa rose from her seat, slipped her coat off, and
folded it beneath Scarlett’s head.
Where are you going?
Wayne stopped and turned his head back to her.
I don't know... I won't be far, I promise.
Wayne turned away and proceeded to the edge of the
terminal, as Vanessa walked over and reached for his
arm. Wayne turned to her, and he just looked at her;
not just her eyes, not just her lips, and not just her
hair and skin, just her and everything about her. He
reckoned he could face her if she was somebody else;
raise his voice, tell her to leave him alone, to
fuck off and to just drop the whole thing
altogether.
I don’t want to fail you.
Just couldn’t do it, man.
I’ve already failed you so many times.
I don’t understand.
Don’t.
Vanessa held Wayne by the hair and pulled herself into
him. Vanessa closed her eyes and kissed him, gently.
Wayne pressed back as he drew his eyes shut. Slowly,
Wayne lurched his hands beneath her and hoisted her in
his arms.
Vanessa dropped her forehead against Wayne’s.
Have you continued to remain true?
You know I always will.
Vanessa locked her legs around Wayne’s waist.
So, what’s the problem then?
I lost to Deville.
That’s it?
She said bluntly, yet senceire.
That’s another major match I lost this year.
Wayne stepped back and slowly eased into a chair.
It’s just one match. Something you and I know is that
were given to fail. No matter how hard we may fight
it, it still happens.
I lost every major challenge that came to me this
year. I don’t want things to run astray. I don’t want
to lose you.
Why would you lose me?
Running the tips of her fingers along Wayne’s chin.
I have never in my life felt anymore secure.
Whatever happens will be our challenge to face.
Wayne kissed her, and in turn Vanessa parted her lips
to him.
I love you, Vanessa.
I love you, Wayne.
They pressed their lips again and slowly broke away.
Reckon I’ll get Deville next time around?
Vanessa smiled, with her lips half open as she raised
her eyebrows.
Vanessa turned her head.
Where’s Scarlett?
***
It wasn’t much longer before Michael got sick of
sitting there. He needed to go somewhere else right
about now.
The bar sure sounded like a good idea.
He had only been there a few minutes when he heard
footsteps behind him. The person turned out to be Kat,
who sat down on the stool next to him.
“Hey,” she said as she sat down. Michael could see
that she was worried about something.
“Hey. Is something wrong?”
“Yeah. That’s actually why I came to see you. Kurt’s
been acting weird lately. Now I just heard him say the
name Trixie. Do you know who that could be?”
“No clue. I don’t know what’s been happening with him.
Lately we’ve been kind of distant.”
“I noticed. I don’t know what it is, but there’s
something wrong with him and it’s bugging me.”
“The only thing we can really do is talk to him about
it.”
“I guess you’re right. You heading back with the rest
of the guys?”
“Maybe in a bit. I think I’ll have a little bit to
drink first.”
“Me too. Plus that hobo weirds me out. Don’t really
want to get near him.”
“Although Kurt appears to have taking a liking to
him.”
Michael pointed over to where Kurt and the hobo were
talking, causing both him and Kat to laugh a bit.
***
"And so that's how I lost this her finger. Yup, it
hurt like hell, but at least I had some of the finest
pooter I eva seen. HEHE!"
His laugh was really starting to get irritating, but
with the laugh filling the room, he could barely hear
those size 19 boots pounding on the linoleum. He
turned, and saw Wayne."
"Scarlet!"
"What's going on man?"
Kurt rose from his seat, concerned.
"I can't find Scarlet. She ran off."
Kurt rose from his seat. He prepared to go join the
hunt, when he looked at Ralph.
"Sorry man, got to go, here you are."
A wadded bill landed in Ralph's lap. As Kurt scurried
off, Ralph unfolded the bill, and saw a face he had
not seen in a long time, Benjamin Franklin. The old
man was overwhelmed, and could only muster up.
"Thanks friend." He hoped that the man could hear him.
“What happened? Kurt asked.
“Vanessa and I were talking…”
Ralph sat there as Kurt and the tall man with the
beard walked away. Ralph turned his head to the right.
“Hello, little girl.”
***
Outside of the airport bar, Starbucks, and the newstand, there was nothing else open in the airport. Almost every security guard they turned to said they couldn't find her. By then, Michael and Kat accompanied Vanessa in her search for Scarlet. Kurt and Wayne remained as they were.
As far as Wayne was concererned, he brought Scarlet being missing onto himself; just too preoccupied, man, with his own **** that he didn't think of anything or anyone else but himself. As he looked with Kurt, he tried to push his grief aside; keep his head on finding Scarlett. But whatever he did, that damn thought would just pop up every five seconds.
***
The girl took a seat beside him. She was a cute little
bugger; big green eyes, dark red hair kept in a
pigtail.
“Daddy said never to talk to strangers.”
Ralph extended his hand to her.
“Hi, I’m Ralph and I’m not no stranger anymore.”
The little girl stood on the seat and took a moment to
look at Ralph.
“I’m Scarlet.”
“Hey, you’re that little girl those two guys were
lookin’ fo’”
“What two guys?”
“This guy wid longish blonde hair and dis other tall
fellow with black hair.”
“Uncle Kurt and Daddy?”
“Maybe thats them.”
“So, what are you doing here?”
“I live here.”
“That’s cool.”
Scarlet looked in the distance and began to jump; waving her cute little hand in the air.
"Uncle Kurt! Uncle Kurt!"
Kurt approached Ralph and Scarlet.
"Hello Uncle Kurt!" said Scarlet.
"Thnaks for finding Scarlet, Ralph." Kurt said as he pat Ralph on the back. "So, where've you been, Honey Bunny? Your mom and your dad have been going crazy looking for you."
Scarlet raised her eyebrows and shrigged her shoulders.
Wayne and Vanessa came into the terminal, with Thunder and Kat close behind. Wayne and Vanessa quickly threw their arms around Scarlet, the child stretched her out her arms around the necks of her parents.
"I found her." Ralph spoke up.
Vanessa rose, walked over the Ralph and threw her arms around him.
"Thank you." She said sofly.
"I haven't been this close to a woman in years!" Ralph said with glee.
And as the clock faded to twelve and with Christmas Eve fading soflty, Kurt, Wayne, Michael, Vanessa, Kat, Scarlet, and yes, Ralph all gathered together and shared a wondeful Christmas in the cozy confines of a Starbucks.
Fin.
