Vanessa awakens in bed her face half sunken into the plush feather pillow and she opens her eyes to find Hans sound asleep beside her. Last night his leg was so swollen he took a nice hot salt bath, and now she puts her hand on his shoulder that has turned deep purple in its bruising. She scoots closer to him, feeling the warmth of his back on her face as she nestles in and closers her eyes to sleep once more.
7:22a.m. A Few Hours Later
Vanessa awakens to find Hans face to face with her having turned in his sleep. She smiles tracing her fingers on the outline of his lips, thinking how much she loves his features from the curves of his nostrils to the grooves in his ears to the small traces of red hair almost as red as her own. She loved these moments of serenity, when her champion was asleep next to her and she could take in the every wonder of him. Despite having lost the title last night, he was and would always be her champion in many more meaningful ways than wrestling gold. She leans in to give him a peck on the lips then slips out of bed then into the living room area. She grabs a remote and pushes a button that opens the drapes and suddenly hears the low hum of her cell phone in her purse. She walks over and grabs it, sees its her mom and picks up.
(Vanessa): Hey Mom….how are you?
(Mom): Me? How about you? Honey what were you thinking? That little boy can take care of himself but you went running up there smack-dab in the middle of trouble.
(Vanessa): I was fine ma’, nothing happened….and good morning to you too.
(Mom): Mmhmm…Well now that Han lost that title you don’t need to follow him around everywhere, you can come visit us more often.
(Vanessa): Hans!
(Mom): What?
(Vanessa): You said “Han” ma’. His name is Hans.
(Mom): People name their kids the weirdest things. Those German people…they can make a decent car, but that’s about all they’re good for.
(Vanessa): Ma’ it’s too early for one of your bigot fits.
(Mom): I am not bigot young lady and you watch your mouth. I’m a God-freain’ woman. You’re father and I almost went to Japan to help after that earthquake until we remembered they only eat raw fish and rice. You know my stomach can’t handle that. There’s not enough fiber in the world to help with that kind of constipation, and they don’t have toilets. Your father says they go in some kind of whole in the ground.
(Vanessa): I don’t even know where to begin with you there ma’, but maybe we can come visit in a few weeks.
(Mom): We?
(Vanessa): Yes we! And before you even say it…I don’t mean Jason. I’d really like you to meet Hans. He’s never seen New Orleans the way I can show him.
(Mom): I don’t think he’d like it here. The foods too spicy and you know those German people only eat meat and potatoes and those weird looking sausages.
(Vanessa): Hans has a very sophisticated palate…he’d love the cuisine.
(Mom): Hmmmm maybe so, but it’s too humid…it’s too hot down here for him. He’s too white, he’ll turn as red as a crawfish. He might get heat-stroke.
(Vanessa): You just don’t want him to come. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you ma’…I don’t understand why you just can’t be happy for me.
Her mother lets out a sigh and a few brief moments pass before she speaks.
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