Post by Noris Cranley. on Aug 11, 2019 16:03:27 GMT -5
"I'm not scared of the future. It's what will be my past. I know I'm young and with only a year of experience, it feels all surreal. They called me up when I was just doing matches at small shows in Houston, Texas. My coach says I'm ready but he also warned to be wary of what is to come. He said this business will bring out the best and worst in you; I have to find a way to live with both. I don't think I'm ready but then again, when we ever ready?"
GOODBYE.
The constant noises of thumping against hardened floors filled the facility's interior main hall. Multiple individuals were inside rings being coached by some of the best to ever step foot into the sport. Many of varying ages focused on their passion to be the next breaking force in professional wrestling. The youngest among them had secured a guaranteed foot in the door who is said to be the least of the group; The notion must have garnered a sweet-bitter reaction from his peers for no one had expected such a child to be accepted among one of the newest frontrunning promotions in the United States.
In the center of this training regime, Noris was busy practicing chaining with a much larger opponent. One of the head coaches was directly in the corner ordering firmly the commands for the next step in transitions where Noris was having the advantage. Unlike his sparring partner, he had amazing body control and flexibility to outmaneuver his opponent. Three steps ahead which led to his success in the drill. Before he could even react, the head coach ordered all students to surround the ring in a lumberjack manner. Only Noris was left inside meaning it would be the last time to honor his quick success in the school.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as we all know, Noris Cranley has signed with Alpha Pro Wrestling."
Mild applause from his fellow trainees. Noris rubbed the sweat off his bald head and flicked it to the canvas. He remained humble but inside, he was beaming lighter than the northern star. Cranley's belief in this very moment was tainted by the doubts he had.
"We want to thank you so much for all the time you've spent with us. You're going to do great things in this business. To Noris!"
The rest of the students exclaimed his name in glory. Strong applause followed suited afterward to the discretion of his departure. While the training had finished, Noris followed out of the ring to the locker room area to retrieve all the belongings. It was no longer his locker anymore. It will become someone else's. Upon closing the door for the final time, he was greeted by others arriving afterward. Most shook his hands, some nodded their heads and few paid no mind. One of his closest friends, Jack, approached him by tapping his bald head from behind. Noris spun on his boots with a smile plastered from ear to ear resulting in a tight hug before they released.
"We're going to miss you bud."
"Same. I never thought I would be signed to APW let alone already in a match."
"Know who it's going to be against?"
"Yeah. Some dumb chick named Charmaine Da God. I don't really care because I want this more than she does. It's one chance to just be who I am and not ever have to go home again."
Jack sighed. He knew the troubles Noris was dealing with at home but always supported his decisions. He would never wish it upon someone else; There have even been times when he let him stay overnights to get him away from his abusive father. Always ironic how the ones who try their best to ruin the dreamers eventually get ruined by them. Noris on the other hand, he always believed his suffering would pay off. Today was proof of that.
"I don't know how I'm going to live without you. I don't want to be with Derek; He's slow and fat."
"Listen, if you could make me the wrestler I am today, I'm pretty sure Derek is lucky to have you. I just hope I don't be what one of those flip-flops our coach was talking about. Speaking of coach, I have one more person to say goodbye too."
"He's a pretty busy man. You sure?"
"It's the right thing to do."
Noris sighed because he knew it was true. Jack extended his right hand in the distance between them for a handshake which Noris happily shook. Once they let go, no more words were said and he left the locker room in nothing but his shirt and shorts carrying the large duffle bag over his right shoulder. In front of the main office door, he knocked twice before a voice shouted from the other side.
"Come in!"
He entered inside and closed the door behind him. His brownish eyes stared towards the individual sat in the executive chair behind the large mahogany desks sorting through papers and documents. Noris stood before the desk analyzing the decorative design of the former Hall of Famer. The boss in the chair ceased his operation to lean forward with his hands locked together on the table.
"I...ugh. I wanted to say thank you. It's really sad we didn't get to know each other but you have your reasons. I really value and appreciate the lessons I've learned. Hope we meet again and I won't let you down."
Without any hesitation, Noris made haste to the door. Each step on the carpet was light and smooth but he felt the weight of his shoulders be lifted for that reason. Knowing that once he went to the door, a whole new world would be there for him. The world in which he trained all his life meaning to be on his own in his entire life. Noris never went to college nor ever had a job during his younger years. This was his first exposition into the real world. Nothing to expect but the absolute worst.
"Mr. Cranley."
His voice almost frightened him as he reached for the handle of the door. The boy looked over his right shoulder to see the man.
"Good luck."
Was he hearing things? Did the boy mishear him? It was unbelievable. The students would call him an idiot for thinking at the very least he would receive the blessing of the once behind this world-renowned institution. Hell, Noris hasn't even finished paying his tuition but to hear the one man who accomplished it all tell him good luck was the stroke of genius on his hard work. Noris wanted to cry but tears meant nothing in his coach's eyes. Instead, he smiled and left the office more confident in what the future held.
The walk down the hallway turned into a long corridor. All the memories of his harshest times flowed through his mind. He was frightened to leave the building but he had to overcome it. This was the next step in his life. Fighting everyone in the world to eventually be World Champion. A dream Noris wanted to make reality even if it was taking the reality stone from Thanos to will it into being. His first match against Charmaine was going to be the proof the child was ready to overcome it all.
Noris exited the building and walked to his 2009 Toyota Rav4. The old and deserted car was his first. So many memories and he always loved it like it was his own child. Starting the engine, he heard it roar weakly as it did. Cranley shifted the transmission into reverse then stared towards the school for the last time. Both hands tightly gripped the steering wheel in compliance with overwhelming joy succumbing his emotions. He truly shed a tear before reversing out of the parking lot to go home for the final time a few days before his first flight to Austin, Texas.
The ending of one book in his chapter. It was a true ending but one thing was hindering it from being a permanent seal. He had to go home. Face his abusive father for one last time and solicit the final resignation in residence. Noris knew it wasn't going to be easy. It never was. During the drive home, his hands were shaking out of blooming fear to hear his father's voice. Cranley was determined to leave thanks to his newfound confidence. His true home was the school which meant being free from all of the world's troubles. He pulled into the parking spot of the run-down apartment building in the hood and sighed to himself. Noris stared at his keychain for one more motivating piece of courage.
Congratulations Noris Cranley, Graduate of the Relentless Holmes Wrestling Institution.
HELLO.
Once what was a crowded institution had subverted into an empty haven, the silence of a ghost town of this main hall has become occupied by one individual. Cloaked under the dark jacket but brightened by the lights above, Noris remained humble in his contention to be debuting in Alpha Pro Wrestling. The child sat down on the ruined mats of hard labor with legs crossed to assume a more calm position; A gesture of how joyful his time to be in APW albeit so short has been.
"You know. I've been through so much in my life that I really thought I would never sit here to air out my dirty laundry. I just wanted to fight out of all the pain I went through so I could one day believe in what everyone whoever supported me wished for my well being. When I first started my training, my own family disowned me. They thought I was foolish and stupid to be chasing a pipe dream rather than working a usual nine-to-five job look they do to pay bills and put food on the table. I guess that's what most parents do. They'd replace their own children's wannabe life with their own miserable nightmare. That wasn't going to fly for me. I wanted much more and when I signed my name on that contract, it was a slap in their face to prove how much I accomplished.
Every day I wake up now, I get to smile. I get to sit up on the couch just enjoying the beauty of never having to go to sleep on hungry stomachs or unwashed clothing. This was going to be my legacy. Fighting out of the slums and now fighting to be at the top of the mountain where my name will be a beacon of hope for everyone else to shine no matter who or what they are. I can't really say the same for Charmaine. A woman believing to be a God although she hasn't experienced what torture is. Very confident, competitive but she overestimates herself when she thinks she can win against someone who has absolutely nothing to lose. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this match. It's not about egos or skill; It's about the spirit and the heart. Hers have never been tested how life has tried to break mine every day.
So tell me this. What makes her different than everyone else? The way she struts or how her heels are more custom made from designer stores? No. In my eyes, she represents the op. She represents all the haters and low lives who overcompensate due to their abundance of finance and overly inflated egos. Charmaine has talent, yes. She's good and green. We're both are but I'm not green to what life can do or the evil it portrays. I'm ready to bring my entire A-Game but I know she'll doubt me and underestimate my power. She already has. She knows deep down that I have everything to beat her and knock her off her nigh-unstoppable high horse. The ground she'll taste will be the nastiest thing of reality slapping her in the face telling her her little story won't happen until she humbles herself."
Noris slowly was risen from the carpeted floor and dispersed to a section of the main hall. He sat down on a lonely folded chair where his body leaned forward. He rested his arms upon his thighs and his chin upon his bridged formed hands. Those brownish eyes were poignant in their intention to assume how determined he was to defeat the confident lady who may be too arrogant for her own good. Noris smirked and continued where he left off.
"Charmaine Da God versus Noris Cranley in Austin, Texas. Thousands of people will look at this match of two debuting athletes making their very first appearance on the big leagues. This isn't a match to be thrown away to the side. Management saw something in both of us. The next big thing to lead the new generation of wrestlers to the mid-card and then to the main event; If only the circumstances were different, we would have joined forces to take everyone down. I know you're talented. The way you walk and talk, it's a true representation of the confident being you are. You're a walking truth of the way a woman who had everything handed to her should appeal to the higher class. I almost envy you but I don't. Because with all that confidence, you'll never see me coming to beat you down in the ring.
And it's not out of sheer personal grudge, it's the truth. You're not ready. You're not ready for what's going to happen outside of the ring. All the eyes focused on you when you have to look the thousands of people in their eyes who saw you at your worst. The world's already seen me at my worst; I've been at the worst for eleven years! Eleven years and now it's time to showcase my best! My best in and outside the ring; It starts with proving that any cocky individual can easily be beaten and their mouths sewn shut for the rest of their lives. Charmaine. I hope to see you at your best to prove you cannot be better than someone who has been through hell and back.
I'm ready to fight. I'm ready to go into that very ring and sacrifice it all. No matter how terrible the pain or fatigue will be, it will be an honor to lay down my life in that ring for one day of peace and glory. I will bring you down to an absolute world where you will never want to enter. My life. You don't know it and even if you try to slew your funny words at me, you are not about that life. With that said, good luck and if you can bring it, do it. I'll see you soon Charmaine and may the true God above forgive you for your own heresy."
Noris followed out of the main hall and left the area. He was ready to fight and be left to the ring.
