From the archives
This afternoon, I was sorting through some old Word documents, and I stumbled across an assignment I'd done for a Fiction Seminar class from almost a decade ago. This was the class where I first hit upon the idea of doing a novel about wrestling, although at the time my sense of the story and its characters were still super vague.
Anyway, the assignment was to choose 10 brief but vivid moments that we observed in real life (maybe on the same topic or theme? I can't remember) and just whip through them in an attempt to capture their essence. I only got down five, but re-reading them today, I'm astounded to find that I like them more than I ever like anything I've written when it I look at it fresh.
I thought, for shits and giggles, I'd share the one that's my favorite. Here goes:
2. Tommy's lesson
The first sign of trouble was the creaking. Tommy knew the ring's worn metal frame never groaned under its own weight, never strained to support its two-by-four-enforced canvas mat unless there were men standing on it. He turned away from the concession stand, feeling the leaden weight of the Diet Pepsi in his grip as he realized there were kids messing around in the ring.
Two boys leaned against the middle rope, using its elasticity to sling-shot each other toward the center of the mat. In the opposite corner, their sister balanced on the lower turnbuckle, bouncing up and down -eyes closed, hugging the ring post to keep her balance. On the floor, another boy peered under the ring apron, looking for the midgets that were rumored to support massive structure.
"Hey, uh…can you guys get out of there, please?"
Tommy abandoned his drink on the snack counter, sprinting between rows of chairs to resume his security post. He reached for the boy on the floor, but a pair of hands spun him around before the grab was completed. It was Ian. And he was pissed.
"You're letting them play in my ring? MY RING? That's a fucking lawsuit waiting to happen."
"Ian…" Tommy heard Ian's palm striking his face before he felt it. One hit, a sharp spanking of his cheek - drawing redness and heat to its surface.
Onlookers collectively gasped, causing Tommy's untouched cheek to take on a matching hue. Ian stepped back, shaken by the unexpected audience. He pointed a trembling finger at the target of his fury.
"Next time, do your fucking job. That's all I'm askin."
Anyway, the assignment was to choose 10 brief but vivid moments that we observed in real life (maybe on the same topic or theme? I can't remember) and just whip through them in an attempt to capture their essence. I only got down five, but re-reading them today, I'm astounded to find that I like them more than I ever like anything I've written when it I look at it fresh.
I thought, for shits and giggles, I'd share the one that's my favorite. Here goes:
2. Tommy's lesson
The first sign of trouble was the creaking. Tommy knew the ring's worn metal frame never groaned under its own weight, never strained to support its two-by-four-enforced canvas mat unless there were men standing on it. He turned away from the concession stand, feeling the leaden weight of the Diet Pepsi in his grip as he realized there were kids messing around in the ring.
Two boys leaned against the middle rope, using its elasticity to sling-shot each other toward the center of the mat. In the opposite corner, their sister balanced on the lower turnbuckle, bouncing up and down -eyes closed, hugging the ring post to keep her balance. On the floor, another boy peered under the ring apron, looking for the midgets that were rumored to support massive structure.
"Hey, uh…can you guys get out of there, please?"
Tommy abandoned his drink on the snack counter, sprinting between rows of chairs to resume his security post. He reached for the boy on the floor, but a pair of hands spun him around before the grab was completed. It was Ian. And he was pissed.
"You're letting them play in my ring? MY RING? That's a fucking lawsuit waiting to happen."
"Ian…" Tommy heard Ian's palm striking his face before he felt it. One hit, a sharp spanking of his cheek - drawing redness and heat to its surface.
Onlookers collectively gasped, causing Tommy's untouched cheek to take on a matching hue. Ian stepped back, shaken by the unexpected audience. He pointed a trembling finger at the target of his fury.
"Next time, do your fucking job. That's all I'm askin."