Boss Lady probably thought she was punishing her, but Erica actually didn’t mind this assignment. This was a center for predominately Latino youth. She was excited to go and talk to kids, many of whom reminded her of herself and her own family. She got her workout on in the weight room, ran some rope drills in the ring, and finished with a bit of cardio and she was out the door without a fuss, which should make those whining babies all happy. Two hours later she had been home showered, changed and is at the ELACYC talking with the center’s president, Frank Villalobos. He had greeted her as she entered, shaking her hand with a warm smile and welcoming. She can hear the kids in the background in the adjacent rooms and gym.
(Frank Villalobos): Ms. Martinez, it’s a pleasure having you. The kids are all big wrestling fans and they’ve all seen you on tv.
(Erica): I’m happy to be here. I know you’re all on a tight schedule with them, shall we go in and get right to it? You don’t mind the cameras do you?
He shakes his head and they start to walk off, but suddenly Frank stops hesitating a moment as he turns back to Erica, seemingly unsure how to approach the subject.
(Frank Villalobos): Ummm, actually….just a quick word Ms. Martinez. You see, we like to set a certain example for the children. Don’t get me wrong, we’re glad to have you but…some of the things you do and say on the program…well….
Erica smiles and gives a small laugh as she puts her hand on his shoulder…
(Erica): Oh, that stuff…
Erica waves her hand dismissively…
(Erica): It’s just the wrestling business Senior Villalobos…we’re putting on a show…I’m in character, of course that’s not who we are. Everybody knows wrestling is…well, I don’t want to say “fake” but….
Frank perks up smiling and laughing, with instant relief.
(Frank Villalobos): Oh yes, of course, of course…you know I met Vickie Guerrero one. Nicest woman you’d ever want to meet, nothing like herself on tv.
(Erica): Exactly!
Frank turns and they continue walking towards the common area as Erica rolls her eyes behind his back. He motions for her to wait there just outside the door as he goes in, and she hears him making the announcement. She really wanted a cigarette and a strong drink or two. Who was she kidding, she wanted three or four and by the time she got out of here, it’d be just time to hit up a bar.
(Frank Villalobos): Okay, okay, niños, niñas…Remember how I told you we had a very special guest joining us today from the Hardcore Wrestling Alliance, Ms. Erica Martinez.
(Boy): Awwww, she didn’t come?
Suddenly all the kids sound off disappointment at the suggestion, automatically assuming the worst as Mr. Villalobos puts his hands up for them to calm down.
(Frank Villalobos): No, no, no…nothing like that. I just want you all to remember, how we greet our guests, and how we show what to each other?
(All the kids together): Respect!
(Frank Villalobos): Si, respeto! So…I think you’re ready then yeah?
All the kids are cheering with excitement.
(Frank Villalobos): Okay…let’s welcome our guest. Ms. Erica Martinez from the HWA.
Erica comes through the doors to the gym and she’s swarmed by about 40 screaming kids. Boys that look just like her brothers did, girls that look just like her as a girl. She feels overjoyed as they all reach in for hugs, each face more smiling than the last.
(Frank Villalobos): Okay, okay, let’s allow Ms. Martinez room to breathe. Come on now…lets sit down and we can all ask Ms. Martinez our questions, ok?
The kids all rush to the floor to sit down, crossing their legs and looking attentively as she takes a seat in a chair that has been set out for her in front of them, the kids’ hands already raised and waiving in the air.
(Erica): Hi guys, I just want to say that it means so much for me to be here with you today and I thank you for watching me on tv, and it sounds like I have some little fans here.
The kids cheer and scream bringing a smile to Erica’s face and a laugh as Mr. Villalobos pats his hands downward for them to settle down again.
(Erica): Okay, so I hear you guys have a bunch of questions for me?
She points at a little girl in the front.
(Girl): Where’s your face paint?
Erica laughs…
(Erica): Well, I only wear my face paint when I go to work, for when I’m wrestling, and speaking of which…I may have a surprise for you guys later.
She looks over at Mr. Villalobos who nods with a wink.
(Boy): Why don’t you like Michelle?
(Erica): Michelle? I love Michelle! Michelle and I are good friends, she was at my house for Christmas last year you know. We taught her how to make tamales…you should have seen here. She had masa everywhere.
The kids laugh as Erica gestures wildly with her hands.
(Erica): Michelle is my best friend in the whole wide world, but on tv we have a job to do. We have to tell everyone a story. Do you guys know what a story is?
The kids all nod.
(Girl): That’s good, Michelle and Sean are nice together, it’s a nice story?
(Erica): Oh yes, it’s a very nice story they tell on tv, but in real life…Sean is…well…he’s not always so nice so Michelle and I do our job and stay away from him. When you grow up and you guys work with other people, not everyone is going to be nice to you, but it’s important you be a professional and do your job and not worry about the bad people.
(Boy): So Sean is bad guy?
(Erica): Oh yes, sometimes Sean can be a real bully, and bullies aren’t nice people are they?
All the kids shake their heads. Saying “Nooooooo!”
(Erica): Bullies are mean, and they play nasty pranks on people. Sean’s job on tv is to be nice, kind of like my job is to be a big ole meanie, but we’re really the opposite in person.
The kids all “Ohhhhhh” as they watch her in amazement.
(Girl): Why did you become a wrestler?
(Erica): Well, my brothers wrestled in Mexico, and I looked up to them a lot. They were my heroes and I wanted to be like them so I started wrestling too. I bet each of you has someone you look up to too right?
The kids are all nodding again.
(Boy): Is it hard to blow the fire thing that you did to that lady?
(Erica): Well first, I have to tell you guys that what you see on tv is, well you can’t believe everything you see, just like people say you can’t believe everything you read right?
Again, the kids are all nodding in understanding.
(Erica): Sometimes we use special effects like in the movies, so Miss Vanessa is fine, it was all part of the show. Hans and I had a good laugh about it back home later that night.
The kids eyes light up, they start looking at each other giggling.
(Erica): Yes, yes…Hans and I are dating in real life. He asked me out a months ago and its really nice getting to know someone like him.
(Girl): Did you have sex?
(Erica): Oh wow…I don’t think we can talk about that, but Hans and I are adults and so, we do adult things.
(Boy): Does it hurt when you fall on the ring, or is it soft?
(Erica): It does hurt a little but for wrestlers, especially certain kinds of athletes…our bodies are conditioned for it. Everyday people like you guys and your parents…you would get really hurt falling on the mat because your body isn’t used to it, but the more you do it…the more your body gets used to it. It might still hurt, but you don’t feel it in the same way you first did. Does that make sense?
The kids all nod again.
(Girl): Is Maniac scary in person like on tv?
(Erica): Oh no, not at all. He’s my teacher you know. Mi maestro. When he came back to the company he was so very nice that he said he would help all of us new wrestlers. He wanted to teach us new moves, new things about the business, be all of our friend and show us how to do our jobs. It was really, really nice of him. He showed me how to paint my face, he taught me how to do the trick with the fire, he even let me come to his house and learn some new moves. Did you know he has a wrestling ring…in his house?
The kids are all smiling, eyes wide with wonder and imagination. Mr. Villalobos comes forward to talk with the kids.
(Frank Villalobos): I think we have time for one more question and then maybe Ms. Martinez will teach us some things like Mr. Maniac has taught her, would you guys like that?
The kids cheer with excitement, all raising their hands, Erica points to one boy who doesn’t have his hand raised. He’s been sitting behind the others a bit more shy the entire time which hasn’t gone unnoticed. The others all turn to see who she is pointing to.
(Erica): What’s your name?
(Boy): Diego!
(Erica): Come on up here Diego, I bet you have a question you want to ask me, you don’t have to be shy?
Diego tentatively gets to his feet and walks forward standing in front of Erica, his head tilted down a bit.
(Erica): Go on, one little question…is there anything you want to know about wrestling, or maybe one of the wrestlers, it doesn’t have to be about me?
(Diego): Ummm…do you get a lot of money?
Erica smiles at him.
(Erica): Well, I didn’t at first. They made me work for free for a year and half before they paid me, that’s along time huh? Everyone else got paid, but me. Do you think that was fair?
Diego shakes his head, as the other kids do as well and all say “Nooooooo!” in unison.
(Erica): It wasn’t fair, but sometimes, out there in the business world people want you to prove yourself. You guys know what a job interview is? Yeah? Well, its like that…someone wants to see what you can do for them before they put you in a position. I want to tell you guys something, you too Diego. Know your worth! Never let anyone tell you how much you’re worth, how much they value you for. Para Latinos, like you, and like me…sometimes we have to work harder than others for people to notice our worth, but if you know you’re worth…no one can make you prove anything. Stay in school, get smarter every day as you learn, and when you get older never settle for less than who you know you are. Okay?
The kids all nod.
(Frank Villalobos): That’s wonderful advice Ms. Martinez…now I think we have some supplies here for Mr. Martinez and with a little help from our adult volunteers I think Ms. Martinez is going to share with us a little bit about…………..how to paint our faces!
The kids all scream, jumping up and down as staff come out with a few carts, face paint on them and supplies. Over the next hour Erica helps the staff do facepainting for he kids, showing them the style she uses that she adapted from Maniac. She leaves with a full heart, many, many thanks from the staff and the kids and it was a wonderful experience all around. As she gets back in her car her phone is on the dash is recording.
(Erica): Those poor kids, they need a role model like me. I didn’t have the heart to tell them about you Michelle, they like you and it’s such a shame. I kept your little dumb blonde routine intact for their sake. Mira, I had my sights set on a match with our old Sensei at Havoc, but he wouldn’t accept my challenge because he’s a coward. I was looking forward to that Last Woman Standing match with Alexis, but here you come. Crying and pleading to Butch and Wisdom, because Sean kissed me and…(mocking Michelle’s voice)
“Dear God, I don’t know why you didn’t allow me to have a match at the ppv, but I’m going to ignore your will and ask for one myself. Erica sure has made me mad!”
You’re a hypocrite puta. All your “God’s will” talk about Legion and Fallen and look at you. When it comes to getting something you want, you step all over the good Lord’s will. If you were so devout, you’d have accepted the fact that you didn’t have a match at the ppv. That was god’s will, little lamb. You and your phony prayers are lies, and I knew you were full of shit last Christmas when you took a bite of the food before we had blessed it and tried to act like you forgot.
Erica shakes her head.
(Erica): You’re just made because I got Sean rock hard at Havoc. Did you see that bulge in his tights? Its not as big as Hans’ is for me, but what do you know about a man anyway? I do have to admit, he’s a damn good kisser. All sweaty and banged up after his match…it almost kind of turned me on. You know he wanted me to suck it, don’t you? Is that why you asked for the match? You’re upset because I know how to satisfy a man and you don’t? Sean knew exactly what he was doing, and then you come in and ruined it. His eyes were already open Michelle, he just pretended to act surprised to keep up those pretenses.
The car turns onto the highway and Erica merges into traffic, accelerating to 75mph.
(Erica): At Art of War, you’re going to wish you were the loyal worshiper you claim to be. You’re going to wish you took that back seat on the bench God set you on instead of going off the path he set for you. After Fallen, I thought you’d had enough, but all you’ve done now is ask to be embarrassed again on live television. Fallen exposed that little lump you call a breast and I’m going to expose you for the weak little liar that you are. I’ve been trained by the best. Maniac is a multi-time World Champion, not to mention all the other titles. There isn’t a veteran in this company that can match him. You’ve been trained by Mr. Miyagi. I used to think he was stingy and didn’t want to pass on any of his knowledge so he kept drilling us on basic shit. Then mi maestro revealed the truth to me. He said…
“He wouldn’t teach you anything, because he doesn’t know anything!”
I mean, boy did everything click then. If you think you can beat me with the “nothing” you’ve learned gringa, get ready to curl up and cry on air again. I can’t wait for Hans to take his hands and slap the mat 1…………………2……………..3, then he’ll slap my ass in victory. You’ll stare up in disappointment trying to act like you don’t know what happened, but everyone already knows you’re a failure so you needn’t pretend. It’s why your parents want you to come home, so you can stop embarrassing them in your little Mormon community. You think they’re happy about you coming to Los Angeles trying to whhore around with Sean Parker? Playing hard to get with Fallen and just standing there as he licked your tit? Come on Michelle, you didn’t really fight back that hard did you? You liked it, just like Sean enjoyed sticking his tongue down my throat at Havoc. If Sean ever touches you in that way, he’ll be thinking about Fallen being there first, just like you’ll be thinking about me knowing I gave him a little taste. You should listen to tu padre….go back home, you don’t belong here…and at Art of War I’m going to make sure you realize it.
She heads down the highway soon to get off and visit a local bar, for her long overdue cigarette and some drinks as the scene fades to black.
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