Wednesday June 11th
Las Vegas, Nevada
Fostering The Future Family Center
The last few weeks have been somewhat of a roller coaster ride for Artie. After finally getting his confidence to the highest it had been since becoming a full time wrestler, he was screwed out of winning the King For A Day ladder match by Guy With Cape, and it still did not sit well with him. He was slowly starting to let it go, but after Alexandra put him in a ridiculous match against Kevin Carter where he had to be blindfolded, he was reminded of the power he could have had for this week’s matches if Guy had not sprayed that awful yellow mist in his face.
But color him surprised, and even a little confused, when he saw the match that Guy had put him in for this week. He didn’t go the route that Alexandra had in trying to embarrass Artie or have him suffer the consequences the way that he did by facing Kevin Carter blindfolded, but instead he had booked Artie a World Heavyweight Championship match…against the new champion and Artie and Bobbie’s friend, Helluva Bottom Carter. But that wasn’t all. Guy assigned himself as the referee for the match.
The whole thing did not sit well with Artie, and he knew that Guy was up to something. He just could not figure out what just yet. Today, though, he had to set all of that aside and to the back of his mind, because he and Bobbie were about to take the first step in their adoption journey. In just a few moments, they were having their first meeting with an adoption specialist at a local adoption agency that Bobbie had found during her search.
They both knew the process was going to be lengthy, so they were doing their best to prepare themselves as well as fight through any impatience they may be experiencing already. Between the both of them, Artie was displaying the most nerves because he didn’t know how the adoption agency would feel about them wanting to adopt a child. He thought they would be great parents, but would they really? How much did they really have to learn? How would this process affect his marriage to Bobbie, if at all? He had so many questions, and Bobbie could see how nervous he was as they sat in the office of the adoption agent they would be meeting with.
Bobbie: Artie, you need to relax and perk up a bit, sweetie. If they’re able to sense the nervousness coming off of you, they might think twice about approving us to adopt.
Artie took in a deep breath and straightened himself up in his chair. He tried to clear his mind of anything that might hurt their chances.
Artie: How can you not be nervous? These people are going to decide whether or not we can adopt. It’s hard not to be nervous.
Bobbie smiled, reached over and squeezed Artie’s hand.
Bobbie: Oh I’m nervous, sweetie. I’m just doing my best not to make it so obvious. I know this is going to be a long process, but I don’t know everything it will involve. But I’m confident that we’ll pass whatever they put us through with flying colors and then be on our way to becoming parents.
Artie: I guess I just need some kind of win. I’ve been losing so much lately that I don’t want us to lose this chance.
Bobbie again squeezes his hand. She understood all too well the effect that repeated losses can have on you, and she was doing her best to raise his spirits. Hopefully this meeting would turn things around and provide him with a little bit of hope for their future family.
Bobbie: I understand, sweetie. Things will turn—
The door to the office suddenly opens, cutting Bobbie off quickly. They both turn and look as a woman in her late forties to early fifties walks in, carrying some files with her. Her dirty blonde hair falls past her shoulders, and she’s dressed in a dark grey pant suit and heels.
Adoption Agent: So very sorry to keep you waiting Mr. and Mrs. Miller. My name is Audra Stone and I am the assigned Adoption Specialist to your case.
Audra walks around the desk and sits in her chair, facing Artie and Bobbie. She places the files down on the left side of her desk and turns her attention to them.
Bobbie: Please, call us by our first names. Mr. and Mrs. Miller just makes us feel old. I’m Bobbie and this is my husband, Artie.
Both extend their hands out which Audra obliges with a friendly shake. She sits up straight in her seat.
Audra: Fair enough. It’s a pleasure to meet you Bobbie and Artie. As I am sure you both are aware, this meeting is the first step in fostering or adoption process. It will set a clear picture for us here on not only what your preferences are, but what type of parents you see yourselves being.
Artie: This may sound like a weird question, but…
Both Audra and Bobbie turn their attention to Artie. Bobbie is particularly surprised that he already has a question, but she doesn’t stop him from asking whatever is on his mind.
Artie: Does anyone really know what kind of parents they see themselves as being? And, even if they have an answer to that, is it really possible to stick to that vision? Everything about being a parent is kind of…unknown, right?
Bobbie has a blank look on her face, quietly wondering how that question came across. Audra leans back in her chair and is slowly nodding her head.
Audra: Very interesting point, Artie. And while it is true, parenting can come with its surprises and unexpected challenges, if we can at least get a sense of how you might handle certain situations that can arise, it will better guide us to either approve or deny you in this process. Ultimately, we would love to approve you, which is why part of the process is mandatory parenting classes that the both of you will need to attend.
Artie and Bobbie exchange looks. Bobbie is more than prepared to do whatever is necessary, but Artie was a bit surprised to hear this. He was going to speak up again, but Bobbie reached over and grabbed his hand, giving it a quick squeeze to politely silence him.
Audra: Now, first things first. Tell me a little bit about the both of you, and what brought you to Fostering The Future?
Bobbie: Well, we’ve been talking about starting a family for quite some time now. I thought I had a medical condition that prevented me from getting pregnant, but I recently found out that I was pregnant.
Audra nods, surprised to hear this. Before Bobbie can continue, Artie chimes in.
Artie: We lost the baby early into the pregnancy. We’re both signed to Sin City Wrestling, so that is our source of income.
Audra: Oh. You’re both professional wrestlers?
Audra is taking notes down on a notepad as she waits for one, or both, to answer. They look at each other, and Artie looks more concerned than Bobbie.
Bobbie: Well, now, yes. It was originally just me and Artie was my manager, but when I found out I was pregnant I stepped back. He had been getting some training here and there, and because we both wanted a steady form of income for our family, he stepped up and became an active wrestler.
Audra: Isn’t that profession a bit dangerous? And it requires quite a bit of travel?
Artie: For some companies, yes. But SCW is based out of Las Vegas, and aside from doing an actual tour twice a year, we don’t really travel all over the country. Just Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado…
Bobbie: And I wouldn’t really call it dangerous. We only have shows on Sundays, and trust me when I say that we wouldn’t bring our child to the shows with us. Some people may be comfortable with that, but my parents would have no problem caring for them while we’re gone. And if they weren’t able to, than one of us would stay home.
Audra is again nodding slowly as she is notating everything they are telling her. Artie bites his bottom lip nervously and Bobbie pats his knee, trying to calm him.
Audra: Your parents live nearby I take it?
Artie: Bobbie’s parents do. They are about fifteen minutes from us. My father is in Illinois, but he plans to visit as often as he can.
Audra: And your mother?
Artie goes silent. Audra looks up and sees Artie looking down, almost contemplating how to answer her question, but Bobbie answers for him.
Bobbie: She is in Illinois as well, but the relationship with her has been a bit…strained…over the last year. She will most likely not be involved in our child’s life.
Audra: Care to elaborate a bit more on that situation?
Artie: Do we really need to? Like Bobbie said, she most likely will not be—
Audra stops taking notes for the moment and sets her pen down. She sighs and looks at the both of them.
Audra: It seems that whatever the situation is, it is a bit difficult to talk about. While I understand and sympathize with that, we need to know everything about the family life of the couples we place children with. Regardless of the fact that you say she most likely will not be involved, we know that things happen and if this is something that could put a child in danger…
Artie quickly shakes his head, putting off that thought just as quickly.
Artie: No. No, no, it’s nothing like that. There’s no danger involved in any way. If we really have to explain, the fact is that my mother was unfaithful to my father last year. They’re currently in the middle of getting a divorce, and it’s just been very stressful on our entire family.
Bobbie: And when I say she most likely will not be involved, I mean she definitely will not be involved. We’ve already made that clear to her, and we don’t have much, if any contact with her these days. I promise you, Ms. Stone, we would do everything and anything to protect our child from any sort of harmful situation. Physically and emotionally.
Audra: I would hope so, Bobbie. As you are aware, some of the children we take in have been removed from abusive or neglectful living situations. Or just from environments that are not suitable for children to be living in. It can be very damaging to them, so if there is any chance of a living situation like that again, we would immediately deny those prospective parents.
Artie and Bobbie nod together. They each take in a deep breath and Audra leans forward, grabbing her pen once again.
Audra: Now, that all being said. Are you looking to adopt an infant, or would you prefer to foster a child with plans to adopt? I will be honest, the process of adopting an infant could take a little longer.
Bobbie: That we did discuss and as much as we would love to adopt a baby, we feel that there are simply a lot more children out there currently waiting for a loving family to take them in. So many people would rather adopt a baby because of the fact they can actually raise them from birth, but give love to a child who needs it most.
Artie: We also have our dog, Loki, at home who is a proven amazing emotional support dog. And not just for one person.
Audra looks up, slightly concerned.
Audra: Can I ask what breed of dog Loki is?
Artie: He’s a Bernese Mountain Dog. A big teddy bear, but the best family dog you could ever ask for.
Bobbie: That’s not a problem is it?
Audra: Not necessarily. But it can sometimes play a factor in placing a child. We will learn more about Loki when we do the home visit later on in the process.
Bobbie and Artie both smile, relieved. Audra takes a break from her note taking and reaches to her left side, opening one of her desk drawers. She starts flipping through some folders before she removes a packet of papers and places them on the desk in front of Artie and Bobbie.
Audra: After our meeting today, and before our next meeting, I will need the both of you to fill out this questionnaire and some other forms. Please keep in mind the form that asks for contact information for your character references must be non-family members.
Bobbie and Artie reach for the papers and together start scanning through them. Artie zones out as he looks them over, doing his best to hide how overwhelming this process will be. He understood why they had to go through so many steps, but deep down he was worried that Bobbie would be left heartbroken somehow in the end. And he was more concerned about her than about himself…
The last couple of days, Artie and Bobbie have spent most of the time going through the stack of papers that Audra Stone had given them to fill out. They went through each question on the questionnaire carefully, making sure their answer would not hurt their chances of being approved to foster a child and then ultimately adopt that child. After answering all the questions, they then went over each one a second time to make sure it was all satisfactory because they could not risk submitting anything less for this process.
The other forms included asking for information and history on both of their families. While it was all so overwhelming to go through and fill out, it twas all relatively easy to answer in the long run. But they were about to get to the portion of the forms that to them, was the most important but also the most difficult in deciding what to provide. The character references.
Artie: How many references do we need to list?
Bobbie looks at the forms and then to Artie.
Bobbie: At least four. But I imagine the more we provide, the better.
Artie: Okay. So let’s put Aron down first. That one is obvious.
Bobbie raises an eyebrow and stares at Artie.
Bobbie: And Fenris, too. We can’t list one and not the other.
Artie scratches his head and sighs. Bobbie puts the papers down for a moment and stares at Artie.
Artie: Look, I know Fenris would never say anything that could hurt our chances of being approved, but you and I both know he’s not exactly a people person. I don’t think Audra Stone would get personality like we do. Aron is better at handling these things.
Bobbie: I understand that, but I don’t want Fenris to get mad at us for not listing him as a reference. Besides, he would give another perspective that Aron wouldn’t. Let’s just list him.
Artie shrugs but ultimately agrees. Bobbie had a point, and they needed all the help they could get in this process.
Artie: Who else?
Bobbie: Miles and Carter, obviously.
Artie pushes himself back in his seat, looking hesitant. He scratches his head again, and Bobbie shows her frustration.
Bobbie: Oh come on, Artie! How could we NOT list Miles and Carter?!
Artie: Can we just wait until after Sunday to come up with our references? You may have second thoughts about choosing them.
Bobbie: Why? Because of the fact that Guy booked you against Carter for the title? There’s no bad blood between any of us, so I see no reason why we wouldn’t list them as references. And no matter the outcome of this match, it wouldn’t change things.
Artie folds his arms across his chest and stares at Bobbie for a few minutes.
Artie: Really? So you’re saying that if I beat Carter on his first defense and become the new World Heavyweight Champion, that Carter wouldn’t—
Bobbie: Wouldn’t what? Completely talk back about you and cost us the opportunity to become foster parents? Do you really think so low of Carter to think he would actually do that?!
Artie throws his hands in the air and then stands up in a rush. He takes a few steps away, growing visibly frustrated.
Artie: I don’t know! I mean no! This isn’t easy for me, Bobbie. I’m being thrown into a match against someone I consider a good friend. And it’s for the title he just won a few weeks ago. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place right now, and on top of it, we’re starting this foster to adopt process.
Bobbie: Artie, in wrestling, friends have to face friends all the time. It’s not a new situation here. Hell, Carter and Miles were put against each other last year because of Victoria Lyons! You have to roll with the punches and either you want to win it, or you don’t. But you better figure it out, because the match is only a couple of days away.
Artie: Of course I want to win, Bobbie. Me winning the World Heavyweight Championship would get such a reaction from everyone. It would prove all my doubters wrong. I’d be the most talked about champion in SCW history.
Bobbie pushes the paperwork away and stands up. She steps closer to him, ready to do her part and be the supportive and comforting wife.
Bobbie: You know that I want nothing more than that for you, sweetie. And I believe you can do it, too. But it doesn’t have to be either or, Artie. If you want to be the champion, fight like hell to win. You’re making this match out to be a bad thing and it’s not. If you ask me, Guy did you a huge a favor. Maybe this is his way of apologizing for how he—
Artie: Apologizing?! Bobbie, I know that even you can’t possibly believe that is why he booked me and Carter against each other with the title on the line. Or have you forgotten that he made himself the referee for the match, too? No. He’s up to something, Bobbie. I just don’t know what it is.
Bobbie nods and then shrugs.
Bobbie: More than likely, yes. I’m just trying to look at it from every angle here. Whatever the reason, and whatever Guy is planning, you just have to fight through it and see what happens. Who knows, IF you lose and IF you make a good enough impression, you could get another shot at the title later on.
Artie: What I want…is to make Guy pay for what he did. But I can’t focus on that, because what is more important this week is trying to beat Carter for the title.
Bobbie: One thing at a time, sweetie. One thing at a time. Like you said, this week focus on trying to beat Carter and win the title. After that? Then you can work on getting back at Guy for what he did. Or…
Artie raises an eyebrow and puts his hands on his hips.
Artie: Or what?
Bobbie: Or you could just…let it go? None of it will matter after this week anyway because it's king for a day. Not for a week. Or a month. Or a year. It’s one day so how long do you plan on going on about this?
Artie lets out a frustrated sigh and shakes his head. He throws his hands in the air again and turns around.
Artie: I don’t know. I’ve just never been so angry about something, and I never thought I would be. And because I was voicing my anger over it all, Alexandra Calaway put me in an embarrassing situation. I did my best but I wasn’t going to win that one anyway. And now this? Guy can’t screw both me and Carter out of the win, so it’s just a matter of who he wants to embarrass more.
Bobbie walks up behind Artie and puts her hands on his shoulders, and massages them. She knows he needs a win just as much as Artie wants the win, but with each loss he is taking it worse and worse.
Bobbie: If Guy tries anything funny, find a way to handle it. And no matter what happens, just move on to the next show and the next match. That’s just how this all works. Can you do that?
Artie closes his eyes and takes several deep breaths. It was taking him longer to adjust to all the ins and outs of being a wrestler than he thought it would, but he knew he had to listen to Bobbie and what she was saying. He turns around, nodding his head and hugs her tight. All he had to do now was to focus more on his match against Carter.
Easy enough, right?
With just two days to go before King Guy With Cape’s episode of Climax Control, the camera opens up inside the very venue where the show will take place…the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. All was quiet, of course, because the building was empty and the SCW ring and equipment was not set up yet, but what better place for Artie to be. The more time he gets under his belt in SCW, the more ideas he gets for his future promotional work.
Artie: I never understood it. Choosing to walk around an empty arena or a darkened room to speak about or to your opponents. There’s something eerie about it, but also, what is the point? I’m surrounded by absolute silence, but now? I get it.
In the center of the arena, the camera focuses on a shadowed figure. But with the flip of a switch, a spotlight shines on the figure, revealing Artie to be standing right where the SCW ring will be set up for Climax Control. He looks around him, quietly imagining Sundays show.
Artie: The silence gives you the peace and quiet you need to really focus…to really think and envision it all. Your upcoming challenge and what it all means for your career. I’m not completely used to all of this, so you’ll have to excuse me if I’m still not that good. But I’m trying, and that is all that should matter, right? I’m trying, and I’m learning from my mistakes from each match.
He closes his eyes and goes silent for a few long moments. A smile creeps across his face as he opens his eyes again and then looks directly into the camera.
Artie: Take one of my last matches, for example. The King For A Day ladder match. Going into that match, I was the most confident I’ve been since becoming a full time active wrestler. The odds were stacked against me, and no one thought I had a chance. But I did. I had that crown in my grasp. But I let my confidence blind me. I should have known what would happen. I should have seen that Guy would pull a stunt like he did. Use the *air quotes* classic move of spraying mist in my face. He was fighting to keep his crown so naturally he would do anything and everything to keep it.
He shakes his head and looks down at the ground for a few moments. Weeks later he was still sorely disappointed with himself.
Artie: My mistake, though. I definitely won’t let that happen again. And now I find myself going into a match that Guy himself booked and will also be involved in…as the referee. I just can’t catch a break, can I?
He laughs and shakes his head.
Artie: I’m not going to stand here and spend too much time focusing on Guy With Cape, because as much as I would love to be facing him this week, I’m not. I’m facing Carter for the World Heavyweight Championship, and Guy has given himself the referee’s job. And that’s fine. I may not like it, but I’ll accept it. I have to, but as long as Guy doesn’t do anything to provoke me, I won’t do anything to provoke him, either. I just hope he does the right thing and calls this match right down the middle. If he can do that…we won’t have a problem.
He smiles and shakes his head again, knowing as well as everyone else that this match will not come without its problems. He closes his eyes again and then brings his hand up, cupping his right ear.
Artie: Oh, but can you all hear that? Can you hear what I am hearing? It’s the sound of each and every one of you cheering and applauding me as my hand is raised in victory after I beat Carter to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. Who would have thought that about me, right? While everyone always counts me out and thinks of me as the underdog of all underdogs, the noise you will all make when I win will be deafening. It pains me though that it will come at the expense of a good friend.
He pauses and frowns, the guilt over what he is planning to do on Sunday becoming apparent.
Artie: Carter, I know you’re watching this. And I want you to know that this isn’t easy for me. I’ve never been big on any sort of confrontation with anyone, but I also have never felt good about fighting with friends. Granted, we’re not actually fighting, but if there is one thing I know, it’s that anything can happen and either one of us can take something the wrong way. Or, Guy could set us up and try and turn us against each other. Either way, only one of us can win, and I’m sorry to say that I’m not going to take it easy on you.
He shakes his head.
Artie: I know how hard you worked to get where you are, Carter. You busted your butt for a long time and Bobbie and I were excited for you when all that hard work finally paid off. We wanted to see you have a long reign and be the champion we all know that you are. But we never saw this match coming. We never imagined that I would be your opponent in your first defense. Makes me sick that I kind of have to thank Guy for that, all while being suspicious of him at the same time. This wrestling business is nuts.
He shrugs and then looks around the empty arena, still imagining him winning.
Artie: You’ll have other opportunities, Carter. I have no doubt in my mind. But, I want this win. I need this win more than anything, because it will prove to each and every person who has ever doubted me and who continues to doubt me, that they shouldn’t. I may not have the body of a wrestler. I may still be learning and growing as a wrestler, but becoming the new World Heavyweight Champion on Sunday? That will cement my place in SCW history regardless of how long my reign may be or what I do with it. Because no one sees it coming. Everyone thinks I’m going to lose, because that’s been my track record so far.
He pauses and then sighs before looking back into the camera.
Artie: I hope this doesn’t affect our friendship, Carter. I don’t want it to, but like I said earlier, anything can and does happen in this business. I didn’t want to be the one to take that title away from you, much less on your first defense, but things don’t always happen the way we see them or the way we want them to. But I’m not going to be the one to complain either. And win or lose, just know that I respect the hell out of you and I can’t thank you and Miles enough for helping me to get to where I am right now. It’s funny how some things work, isn’t it?
He pauses one last time and then reaches down just out of the camera view and out of the light. When he stands back up and in view of the camera, he is wearing a replica of the SCW World Heavyweight Championship around his waist.
Artie: Take a good long look at this, Carter. And everyone else watching. This isn’t just me dreaming. On Sunday? This will be a reality. Artie Miller will be your NEW SCW World. Heavyweight. Champion!
He pats the replica belt around his waist and then puts his arms out to his side, trying to play the part well. How it all will go down, he still doesn’t know. But he’s going to fight with everything he has to make this dream come true.
