Memorial

I sat in the funeral home looking at a closed casket. Memories of when I was ten and my grandfather passed away due to a hit and run by a drunk driver flashed in my mind. Vala sat beside me, tears streaming down her eyes. Her mother, who looked like an older clone of Vala, had a hand resting on her shoulder while trying to keep it together for her daughter’s sake. I sat a few seats away, wanting to be respectful of their mourning and so I could do my own. I may not have known Vince long but I was still sad he was gone.

The funeral was a few days after the wake. It looked as if the entire time had shown up for the funeral. As I stood in the graveyard during the rainy and overcast day watching the casket get lowered into the ground and hearing the sobs of his family and closest friends I dipped my head low to show respect. At least he took that son of a bitch with him I thought. My mind began to wander, somewhere the man who had shot Vince was having a funeral just like this, being lowered into the ground. Did he have people who cared he was dead? Were the sounds of loved ones crying accompanying him to his final destination?

I looked over at Vala and hesitantly put my hand on her shoulder.

“ I’m sorry” I offered.

She gave me a weak smile through her tears. Seeing her like this only increased my own grief. I wish I could do something to make her feel better but that wasn’t an option. I’m just a mediocre wrestler at best, I’m not God. I can’t just wave a hand and make everything magically better, as convenient as that would be.

“ Thanks Josh. It means a lot you’re here. “

I searched for something, anything to say to comfort, my friend.

“ Instead of mourning his death, you should celebrate his life.”

Immediately I regretted I opened my big mouth. What the hell was that?! I asked myself. I wanted to sink through the ground, I wished a hole would open up below me and swallow me up. I thought about jumping up and running out. Anything to escape the fact I had said something so incredibly stupid.

“ You’re right Josh. My dad wouldn’t want me to be sad. Thanks,”

“ Yeah, no problem,” I said, still mentally kicking myself. Hey Josh! Next time you have a stupid thought, keep it to yourself, ya jackass! I told myself. The crowd of people started to depart on their own until it was me, Gunner, Vala, and her mom, staring, not saying a thing. With one lost glance at her dad, Vala turned around and ran away. I thought about chasing after her but I didn’t. What the hell could I do to help? I asked myself. With a nod to Vala’s mother I left the graveyard.

Vala was a ghost all next week, missing the first week of school. Every day I hoped to run into her, hoping she was doing better. Every day that hope was dashed. I tried calling her occasionally. While I was worried I didn’t want to come off as a creep. She had enough to deal with.

I turned off the bedside lamp and stared at the ceiling letting my mind wander. It wasn’t until I woke up that morning that an idea came to mind. I picked up my phone and called Travis. I explained to him my idea and once I got his blessing to go ahead, I hung up. Next I called Jessica, Vala’s mom on her landline and asked her to come to the show tonight and to make sure Vala did as well. It took a little convincing but she agreed to be there. I set my phone down and went to tell Gunner the plan.

That night, instead of waiting in the locker room for my match or hanging out backstage, I stood on stage wearing a gray wool suit. I was joined by every member of the roster and all the other employees. On the Titantron was a large picture of Vince in uniform smiling. Below the picture were the words “ In loving memory of Vincent Joesph Marshton, 1963-2020. To kick off the show, Travis spoke into the microphone.

“ Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Tonight we celebrate the life of Vincent Joseph Marshton. He was a good cop and an even better man. He left behind a loving wife and daughter, and to pay our respects tonight’s show is dedicated to Vince. Now, I ask for a moment of silence as we toll the bell ten times after which there will be a short video package provided to us from the Billings Police Department.”

We all bowed our heads silently as the bell began to toll. No one looked up or said a word. Once it was done we all went backstage while a video of Vince began to play for the fans. Gunner and I were defending our titles in the main event tonight so I was in no Urdu to get ready. My rumbling stomach reminded me I hadn’t eaten all day as I was too busy helping set up this tribute show. I went over to catering and grabbed myself a couple of hamburgers and pasta salad. Once I was done eating Gunner and I talked to our opponents about our match. Originally we were going to drop the belts to them but Travis had changed his mind, deciding Gunner and I were going over.

Finally it was time for the main event. I put on my trunks, knee pads and elbow pads. I snapped on my championship belt and headed for the backstage curtain. Gunner and our opponents were waiting for me. We were facing two luchadors called Aero and Venom. Aero was dressed in red and white luchador attire that was meant to resemble the Power Rangers. Venom wore a luchador mask that was black with webbing, black tights and had a massive spider painted on his chest.

Aero and Venom went out first as their theme Impossible by Manafest started to play. The fans were already loud from the show we had put on and were clearly looking forward to this match. Once their theme died down, Gunner and I fist-bumped each other as our theme, a remix of Ultranumb by Blue Stahli began to play. Together we went through the curtain and faced our adoring public. The fans cheered loudly as Gunner and I held up our championship titles. We slowly walked down the ramp. As we walked down, I spotted Vala and Jessica cheering as loud as the could for us, big smiles on their faces.

“ Looks like your girlfriend showed up after all,” Gunner said with a smirk and nudge.

“ Shut up,” I said shoving them with a big grin. “ You’re breaking Kayfabe, quit it.”

We entered the ring as our theme died down. The ring announcer spoke into the microphone, introducing both teams. The referee took our tag titles and held them up to signal it was a title match, handed then to the ring announcer then ordered for the bell to ring.

Gunner started off the match with Aero. There were no lockups here, the two started off the match by flying into each other. Aero and Gunner proceeded to then dazzle the crowd with high flying and technical moves. Aero landed a springboard 450 Splash that took my breath away. I almost forgot I was in the match and not a fan until Gunner tagged me in. I went in the ring where Aero executed a trio of arm drags on me before hitting me with an arm drag.

Aero tagged in Venom who got me with a flying forearm once I stood up. He went for the cover but only got a one count. He tried standing me up but I pushed him away and hit a Bicycle kick. When he got up, I whipped him into the corner and hit him with a splash. When Venom crumbled into the ground, I backed up and hit him with a Cannonball Senton. I turned around and started showboating to the crowd. When I faced Venom again, he made me pay with a Running Superkick.

He picked me up but I executed a back suplex in him. While he was down I tagged in Gunner who ducked a Clothesline and hit Venom with one of his own. He followed that up with a leg drop to the midsection and then kicked Venom in the head. The crowd was in their feet, roaring in approval with that they had seen thus far. Venom ducked Gunner’s Enziguri and hit him with one of his own. Venom stumbled across the ring and tagged in Aero.

Aero went for a suplex on Gunner but countered it into a neck breaker. Gunner went for a Senton but Aero got his knees up. As Gunner held his midsection, Aero forced him to his knees so he can hit Gunner with a Huricanrana driver. At the same time, Venom hopped on my side of the apron. I turned to face him as he hits me with a Huricanrana driver, spiking me on the apron. I rolled away, holding my head, stopping when I was in front of Vala and Jessica.

After selling the move for a few moments I looked up at them and winked.

“ Y’all having fun?” I asked their smiling faces. I pulled myself up by the barricade, making sure it looked like I was struggling.

“ Don’t tell me you’re tired,” Vala teased.

“ Nah, I’m just giving them false hope,” I responded. “ I gotta go, don’t miss me too much.”

I ran to the ring and broke up a near three count. I hopped on the apron and pulled down the top rope, causing Venom to fly over and crash. I climbed on top of the turnbuckle and hit a Moonsault on Venom

“ This is awesome! This is awesome! This is awesome!” The fans chanted and I had to agree. I hopped back on the apron for the tag. Gunner lunged and tagged me in. I hit the legal man, Aweo with a slingshot spear and waited for him to get to his knees. Once he did, I hit the Desti-Knee. But I didn’t go for the pin, no I would win with my newest move to my move set, a move I decided would be my main finisher, the Perculator.

I picked Aero up and spiked him on top off his head with an Elevated Impaler DDT then went for the cover. The fans counted along with the referee

“One, two, three!”

I rolled off Aero and got to my feet as Gunner and I were announced as the winners and still champions. We were handed our championship belts and climbed on two of the turnbuckles, raising them up high. We dropped down and helped Aero to his feet. Venom joined us and we stared each other down before Gunner and I extended our hands. Aero and Venom shook them and the four of us embraced in the ring. Once we pulled away I was handed a microphone and signaled for me and Gunner’s music to be shut off.

“ I want to thank each and every single one of you who came out here tonight. But there are two very special people here tonight we here at TSW want to recognize. Security, will you please assist Jessica and Vala Marshton to the ring?”

The crowd popped as security went over to Vala and Jessica, helping them over the barricade. The ring announcer entered the ring and handed me a framed picture of Vince. Both Vala and Jessica entered the ring with smiles but confused expressions. I took a few deep breaths before speaking again.

“ Vince was an amazing human being, anyone who knew him will agree. He showed each and every single person who doesn’t like cops on which finger they can sit and swivel. I was honored to know him and I hope the show we just put on was enough for us to honor his memory. Billings what do you think, did we do that?”

A thunderous roar of approval sounded throughout the arena.

“ Now you two,” I said pointing at Vala and Jessica “ You two may be wondering how you’re going to go on without Vince. And I can see why. There will never be another human like him. But I will say this when things get rough, remember, you have the TSW family. We’ll be here if you need anything. And to prove our sincerity, we all have agreed that all of tonight’s revenue will be going to you two.”

The TSW locker room all came down the ramp and surrounded the ring clapping and chanting “ Marshton! Marshton! Marshton!” As the fans followed suit I carefully set the framed picture down. Gunner and Brooklyn joined me in the ring. Gunner and I dropped our championship titles over his picture and Brooklyn draped her blue and silver TSW Women’s championship belt over his picture as well.

“ Vince!” I said into the microphone pointing at the sky and looking up. Everyone in the building followed my lead. After a few moments me, Gunner and Brooklyn picked up our championship titles. Jessica and Vala gave all three of us bone-crushing hugs, tears of joy streaming down their faces. Once they let us go, Gunner and I sat on the middle rope and held the top rope up for them to exit. Vala and Jessica gracefully exited the ring but when Brooklyn tried to follow I stood abruptly.

“ Sorry. Ladies only,” I joked. Brooklyn responded with a smirk and punching me in the stomach so hard I couldn’t breathe for a few seconds. Still I smiled and followed everyone else backstage where Travis was waiting. He hugged Vala and Jessica, both profusely thanking Travis for all this.

“ It wasn’t my idea. If you want to thank the one that came up with the idea, thank Josh,” Travis said pointing to me.

Both Vala and Jessica looked at me mouths agape.

“ You?” was all Vala could say.

“ Thought I said I didn’t want any recognition for this,” I told Travis.

“ Hey, this whole show was your idea, you’re taking credit,” Travis said with a smile.

“ I wanted to help any way I could,” I said to Vala and Jessica, “ I called Travis up and pitched him the idea.”

Vala walked over and hugged me so hard I swear I felt a rib crack. I could feel her tears on my neck.

“ Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me,”’ she whispered.

“ No problem,” I said, struggling to get the words out. “ Vala…air,”

“ Oh sorry,” Vala said releasing me and backing up. I smirked and draped my title across my shoulder.

“ There’s one more thing. See, we here at TSW have this thing called the Main Event Celebration. It’s where whoever is in the last segment or match of the night gets a little surprise,” Gunner and I exchanged sinister looks as we stood side by side. Just then a cooler of red Gatorade was dumped on me, Gunner and Brooklyn while a cooler of blue Gatorade was dumped on Vala and Jessica. The three of us held our titles in the air, basking in the moment. Meanwhile Vala and Jessica screamed and stood in shock as the blue liquid soaked them.

“ Welcome to TSW!” The locker room yelled in unison. We all exchanged high fives and laughed. However the murderous glint in Vala’s eyes stopped me mid-laugh

“ Uh guys?” I said nervously. Gunner and Brooklyn ceased laughing and it dawned on the three of us we may be in trouble.

“ Oh geez, I think I left the oven on in my locker room.” Gunner said slowly backing away.

“ Yeah. Me too,” I said backing up.

“ What do you say we go turn off the ovens in our locker rooms?” Brooklyn asked following our example.

“ Is something wrong? What's the rush?” Vala asked slowly stepping forward, a sinister grin on her face.

“ It’s wrestling stuff we have to take care of because we’re wrestlers,” I stammered nervously before turning to Gunner and Brooklyn and muttered, “run”. They didn’t even hesitate, taking off through the hallway.

“ Where are you going?” Vala asked innocently.

“ Oh I think they’re just… you know…” I said before turning around and running after them.

“ I’m going to kill you!” I heard Vala shriek. The sound of running footsteps behind me provided all the motivation I needed to run faster.

“Help! Help! There’s a crazy Native girl after us!" Gunner yelled.

“ Mistakes were made!”I shouted as I caught up to Brooklyn and Gunner.

“ Josh, come here! I have something for you!” I heard Vala yell.

“ No! Not me! Take Gunner! That’s why we keep him around, he’s a meat shield!”

“ Wow Josh, way to leave your partner in the cold,” Brooklyn shouted.

“ Seriously, not cool dude!” Gunner added.

“ Every man for himself bro! You’re on your own!” I responded as we rounded a corner.

“ Oh really?” Brooklyn asked before shoving me. I stumbled and fell down. Gunner and Brooklyn laughed as they ran off.

“ Hey! Get back here! Come on guys, haven’t you heard of No Child Left Behind?” I shouted after them. I turned around to see Vala standing a few feet from me.

“ Hi Josh,” she said with a smile.

“ Let’s talk, let’s talk,” I said repeatedly getting to my feet and backing up.

“ Okay, what do you want to talk about?” Vala asked me

“You not killing me,” I said backing up until my back rested against a wall.

“ Oh I’m only going to kill your friends. I have something else in mind for you,” Vala said while advancing towards me until she was inches away. Her next move surprised me. Her lips met mine for a few moments then my cheek. As she backed away her mouth went to my ear.

“ Gotcha,” she whispered then turned around and walked away, shooting me a sly smile over her shoulder. I just stood there unable to remember my name. What the hell just happened?