August 19th, 2013...
“No, I never thought I’d be here. I don’t think as a child, a teenager, college student, or as an adult you ever really believe you’ll make it to something like this. It’s humbling, it’s unbelievable. I never would have guessed back in February that I’d be sitting across from an interviewer, questioning me because I’m in the semi-finals of a tournament for a world wrestling championship.”
Adrian Flynn, clean shaved, his medium length brown hair parted to a wave of professionalism, sets in front of a black background. The video interview keeps rolling, never showing the actual interviewer.
“How do I feel about my last match? Man, I have to tell you the honest truth, I had no clue what that pressure would be like. I mean I stepped in that ring, locked eyes with a veteran of this sport and all I could think is, wow, I am really doing this. No amount of training or time spent in the ring before a show can prepare you for those bright lights and that loud, unforgiving, ecstatic audience. I mean the experience itself is more overwhelming than anything. But the fact that I walked out and was able to wrestle Chris Micheals down to a three count; I just don’t know what to feel. I got to the back and I looked in the mirror in the locker room, I didn’t know how to take the man I was looking at. It’s surreal, and tonight, I can’t see it being any different.”
Adrian is very lively as he speaks, the humility, excitement, and passion bleeds from his expressions and eyes. Shifting back-and-forth as he speaks, like a child in a toy store. He speaks with his hands furthering the excitement.
“Why am I here? Why did I join Infinity... You know, I could say it was about a dream, being something I always wanted to be, but honestly I think that’s kind of a lie. As a teacher, you tell yourself you are inspiring these kids to better themselves, to chase their dreams; I realized that I could tell them that, but I never lived it. I found out about this opportunity and I had to go after it.”
The lively tone of the interview fades as it transitions to the next question. Adrian paused before the screen, almost as if he needed to collect himself. He breathes in deep and slowly exhales as he locks eyes with the unseen and unheard interviewer.
“Murray Muir, the man I face tonight, well, I’d like to say that it’s going to be a very respectful match, one of honor and integrity. I’m not sure thought. Muir is a man on a mission, similar to me, but his mission is different. It’s not really about the thrill of the game or the desire to be the best role-model to these fans, no, for him its about something more. I can’t place my hand on it. I want to say its about money and fame, but the kid has that. So, why, why would someone, like me who has never wrestled before, put his body on the line and wrestler when he already has money and owns a business where many know him? It doesn’t make sense to me, but all I know is he is dangerous and I’m not going to back down. This crowd needs someone to look up to; they need a strong, positive, respectable champion...”
August 6th, 2013...
Sunlight shines through the cracks of the blinds into Adrian’s bedroom, he rolls over and looks at his clock, 7:04 a.m. With a sigh Adrian tries to lift his leg out of the bed. He exerts much forces, but even then he barely lifts his leg at first. Adrian finally gets to a seated position on the side of the bed.
“Damn...” he said with a soft murmur.
He stands and immediately grabs his lower back in pain. He begins thinking about the match the night before, cussing himself in his mind for the pain he is feeling now. He stumbles forward and lays out a collard dress shirt and a pair of khakis. He stumbles towards the calender on the wall, he places a X over today’s date and looks at the circled date... Only two more day, only two and he would be back in the classroom teaching again.
Adrian laughs slightly, “How am I going to teach if I can’t even walk!” He smiles and head to the bathroom to prepare for his morning shave.
August 8th, 2013...
The school bell rings and students rush to their seats. A few students linger before finally sitting down. Flatting his blue and black striped tie against his chest, Adrian stands. He is still very meek and sore as he slowly walks before the class. His bare face, taken up mostly by his eager smile, tells the story right now; a new year, a new Adrian, a new class, and a new life.
“Hello, my name is Mr. Flynn, this is American history from 1492 to 1951. Many of you are probably wondering how much homework will be given in this class, and they answer is one assignment. I am not saying you will not have tests and class work, but as far as anything I want you to do at home, I only want one thing,” Adrian removes his hands from his slack pockets and folds them in front of his chest. “I want you to challenge yourselves. How? Well I believe that each and everyone of you have the opportunity to great and amazing things. This is the first day of high school for each of you, and in this next year you are going to mold yourself into the students you will be for the next three years. I don’t want any of you to settle for ‘okay is enough’ I want extraordinary.Each of you are great young people who will be adults making huge decisions soon, and if you have settled on those choices, they don’t allow you the greatest possibilities. This applies to our class in more ways than you believe, people of our history haven’t settled for the simple ‘okay is enough!’ NO! They are in the history books because they done extortionary things! You can be in the next history book, you just have to believe you are worth the life you have and that you can be great! Any questions?”
The class is filled with students trying hard to believe the words they just heard, many are smiling. One boy, skinny with longer black hair, gages in his ears raises his hand.
“Aren’t you Adrian Flynn? They wrestler from IWF?” The kid sounded almost mocking, but mostly trying to seem like he wasn’t excited about his accusation.
The room becomes hyper and the students start talking among themselves about Monday’s wrestling show. Many students declared that they new it was him. Adrian tried to calm the class down but they kept being loud and moving around.
“Listen... Hey.... LISTEN!” Adrian yells over the room and the students quieten down almost immediately. As their attention reverts back to Adrian, he tries to cover up his frustrated expression. He sighs before finally speaking. “It doesn’t matter who I am. I will not lie to each of you and deny that I am a professional wrestler; each of you are smart enough to know this, but I am your teacher first. I understand that we live in a city where wrestling is a major part of the alure, but again this is a classroom and I am your instructor.”
The class settles down and Adrian continues on giving out the necessary first day materials and covering the basics. In the back of his mind though he realizes that being a prowrestler could potentially break him away from the bond he has with students, all they are going to view him as is that wrestler they watch from time to time.
As the class draws to a close the students begin going on again about the match with Michaels, discussing the upcoming match with Muir, and just going on about what they had seen. The bell rang and as the students moved from the classroom, Adrian gathered his things and started towards the gym; at least there was the team, they wouldn’t view him different.
August 10th, 2013...
Adrian sits in the living room, reviewing tapes from the last show, watching his and Muir’s matches very close, analyzing each move Muir used, looking for holes to counter on. Adrian was deep in thought and it took the second ring on the door bell before he caught it.
“Coming,” he shouted as he gingerly stood from the couch. For the most part the soreness was gone and the muscles had loosened, but he still was touchy. As he opened the door, shock, fear and a slight sense of happiness hit him.
“Hey, I hope you don’t mind me stopping by, I just need to gather a few more things.”
Her words stung, but Adrian couldn’t help but be happy to see her. Alexis squeezed past Adrian and stood in the living room. She stared at the TV watching as she seen her husband on TV. She rolled her eyes before walking on into the house.
“I’m glad you got that ‘one-damn-match’ out of the way. How is school?” She asked, Adrian wasn’t sure if she truly cared or she wanted him to ignore the first comment because she knew that he wasn’t just doing the one match. His face had been all over advertisements for the next show. He opted not to respond to either.
“You look good Alexis,” he said with a sadness in his voice.
“Yeah, I’d say you did to, but I don’t want to lie. You look like shit. How’s the knee, I can see you’re limping on it. Slightly surprised I’m not visiting you at a hospital,” her words were harsh, still very upset about it all. He knew that it’d take a miracle to change things for them now.
“What do you want from me Alexis? You have already broke me, what else do you have to take?” Adrian’s words were met with the same intensity as the pain he hard been feeling since she left.
“I’ll be honest, I came here hoping the beating you took would make you realize this is so stupid. I watched Adrian, I watched you throw away any care of your body. For what though? You don’t have me anymore, you can’t keep your class calm because they only see you as Adrian Flynn ‘big shot’ wrestler- yeah, I heard about your struggle the other day, and I’m almost positive that everything else isn’t as great as you want it to seem. Adrian grow up some, be the man you really are and quit playing with our life,” Adrian limped past her towards the couch, trying to ignore her as she continues to cut him, slash after slash.
“Get your stuff Alexis, I don’t have time for this. I need to finish my lesson plans and finish up these analysis. Plus, isn’t that what you want? You said you came here for it.”
“No, I want you to see the light Adrian, this isn’t for you!”
“SHUT UP ALEXIS! I am done with this, I am tired of you being such a bitch about this. I have made my choice and for the first time in a long time, I feel alive again,” Adrian said with the only anger coming out with his first words, the rest were soft, protected by the power of his voice.
“I can’t believe this,” Alexis begins to cry and head for the door, not bothering to stay around and get anything. She turns back slowly, and painfully, you could tell she was hesitant, “I want a divorce Adrian. I am through dealing with this, and with you.”
The words hit harder than any shot Michaels threw at him, and he was sure Muir couldn’t top it either. He sunk to the couch, realizing that he really was losing her. Alexis walked out the door as Adrian blankly stared at her.
August 16th, 2013...
The wrestling team crowds around each other in a huddle. Jaden, his hair freshly cut short, buzzed off, tries to reason with everyone, appearing to try and keep them calm. The team is disgruntled and you hear one boy yell ‘I don’t care...’ others are agreeing and the just force themselves over Jaden’s words. Adrian walks into the gym, exercise pants and a sleeveless t-shirt on, the team quiets immediately. Jaden steps to the side, a look of defeat pains through his green eyes. Adrian can see that something isn’t right.
“What’s going on here,” Adrian asked as Jaden just hung his head.
A boy with blonde hair steps out, he looks older than the rest, but about the same age as Jaden. He doesn’t really hesitate before his words spill out. “Coach, we feel abandoned by you. You come to practice distracted, and you have yet to even discuss our weight class trials. We feel as a team that you don’t care about us enough. This wrestling thing you’re doing, it’s killing the team sir.”
Adrian stares on at the team, disbelief in his eyes. He lets his arms fall to his side. He cocks his head to the side and breaks the silence, pain obviously in his eyes. “Is this true guys? You really feel abandoned by me? I never meant for you to feel this way...”
“Coach, don’t give us that! This is about you, it always has been. You aren’t doing this prowrestling thing to inspire us. Sure, it worked last year but none of us believed you’d actually do it. Who though’t you’d actually do what we wanted. Coach, we respect you, but we want to actually work here most of us need it, colleges don’t want second best,” said that same kid, not holding back before he finally motioned towards the group. Each of them filed out of the room one by one. Adrian turned around quickly.
“If you walk out now, you won’t walk back in!” He shouted, but the wrestlers kept going out. One of them murmured ‘it’s not like it matters,’ as he walked by and Adrian just looked on in shock. ‘What the crap is going on in my life right now,’ he thought to himself.
The room cleared out, all but Jaden. Adrian knew his loyalty, but that still didn’t take away from this moment. Adrian through his clipboard to the floor and placed both hands on his head, doing his best to just breathe.
January 17th, 2013...
“Slow it down,” Brain Edwards said as Adrian was rushing through the arm drags he was practicing. Adrian caught Edwards again before he could fully set himself and Edwards slammed to the mat. “Damn it Adrian, slow it down! Now!”
Adrian backed off in his frustration, he refused to speak. He watched as Edwards got to his feet. They were the only two in the gym today. Coach Bock had returned back to the college for early practices and Adrian had asked Jaden not to be here today. Adrian whipped the sweat from his eyes before Edwards started the next drill.
Adrian was to take a back bump after a shoulder block, seemed simple enough. Adrian took the hit and fell.
“Land flat Adrian.” Edwards gave Adrian a second and charged again. Adrian fell hard again. “Land on your damn back.” Adrian shot back up and Edwards positioned again. Adrian felt the blow connect and he slammed, he laid there, not moving for a second.
“You are going to break your hip! Land flat. What the hell is up with you?”
Adrian springs to his feet and shakes it off, staggers himself but Brian doesn’t move.
“I asked you a question. What is up? You are off horribly and this shit isn’t going to fly in two nights, you are not only going to get your ask kicked but you dream might as well be over buddy.”
“What’s the point?” Adrian relaxed himself and leaned against the ropes.
“The point is this, you are a man of your word, you are a very talented performer, and damn it you have an opportunity right now to do something so many believe of doing and you are letting the world drag you down. Check the attitude and the problems at the door!”
“Screw that! Screw this! Brian, I don’t have anyone in my life to care about this anymore! So what, it’s suppose to be you and Jaden hoping and praying I live out each of your dreams while my world falls apart? I lost my wife man! She wants to divorce me over this freaking crap! I love my wife, I’d die for her, and yet here I am listening to you tell me how shitty I am at this until I get upset then you try to say I’m good? That doesn’t fly man,” Adrian steps through the ropes to the floor, he runs his fingers through his hair before turning back. “Why am I doing this? Honestly, is it for me, or for some orphan that I have been trying to play dad too? I have watched my job fail, my team fail, my marriage fail, all because of some kid I didn’t even know three years ago? I’m sorry he never had a father and I really tried to make up for it, but I’m losing everything here, and he is off in his own world dreaming about me winning some belt because he really believes its what I want. I was happy with my life. And yeah, a huge part of me wants to be here, but part of me wants my life back.”
“If you want your life back so bad, go get it! No ones stopping you,” as the words registered in Adrian’s head he had begun to regret the things he just said. “I didn’t need you to play daddy for me. I sure as hell didn’t need you to place all this false hope in my head that I was worth something. Adrian, I have looked up to you, you were a strong man. You made people believe in you by just your words alone. But if its all been a lie, how can I believe in you anymore? I hope you get everything back, because I get it; following your dreams isn’t worth the sacrifice.”
Jaden rushes from the room as Adrian tries to speak. He realizes that Jaden is gone and he could chase, but that isn’t needed right now. Jaden needed to calm down, as did he. Adrian turned back to Brian and hung his head in shame.
August 19th, 2013 (continued)...
“I do have one final thing to say, to all the people watching this, and to Murray as well. This business is a group of people chasing something. It’s not about the fame and fortune, it’s about inspiring yourself and others. It’s about the people who love you and support you on your way to the top. Muir, I want you to know, regardless of why you are here; you can’t walk through me on your quest for whatever it is you want. A hero stands up to fight, and I will stand up. There is a fire in my heart and my eyes and they won’t extinguish until I can prove to myself and all those who have doubted me that I am the man I have always said I am; just now I am following my heart. Muir, best of luck tonight, I will extend my hand to you, and I hope you accept, but know, the man who truly wants this for the right reasons will succeed. I have learned to be the best you have to sacrifice, but I’m not sacrificing this. Following my path to that championship is worth every sacrifice and I will not be an afterthought.”
Adrian stands from the chair he was sitting in. The black screen is left as he walks away. A man determined; a man...
Built by his sacrifice.
