ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI
****One Week Ago****
Only a few clouds make their way across the sky on this otherwise sunny day in September. The day is topped off with unseasonably cooler temperatures, but no one seems to mind.
A black cat wanders around the yard outside a two story light blue house. He chases squirrels, then darts over to a robin collecting twigs from the ground. He is unsuccessful in his attempt to catch what he would consider a snack for himself, or perhaps a “gift” to his owners, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He only finds another squirrel or bird to keep him occupied.
As he runs back and forth in the yard, the front door to the house opens and a raven-haired little girl runs outside, darting toward him.
“Dero! Leave those birdies alone!” She runs up to him and grabs a hold of him, but he doesn’t care. The little girl holds on to him as she drags him back inside the house.
She doesn’t let him go once they are inside the house, either. She squeezes him in her arms as she heads into the kitchen, where another raven haired beauty is washing the dishes. Only this person is her mother, Misty.
“Eden, honey, put Dero down. You know what happened the last time you carried him around the house. He’s only going to get angry.” Misty reminds her daughter as she rinses off a plate she just cleaned. Eden, however, ignores her mother’s warning.
“No,” she refuses, while shaking her head. “He won’t leave birdies alone!”
Misty places the plate in the dish drainer next to the sink to dry and walks over to Eden. She gets down so she is eye level with her and gently takes the family cat out of the little girls grasp.
“He’s a cat, sweetie. That’s what they do. Besides, you know he never catches them anyway.”
Dero leaps out of Misty’s hands and darts into another room. Eden folds her arms across her chest and pouts, bottom lip out and all.
“You’re mean! I’m getting Daddy!” She runs of down the hallway yelling for her Daddy. Misty stays behind and just laughs off her daughter’s latest outburst. She brushes some of Dero’s fur off of her shirt, then heads back to the sink to finish the few dishes that need washing.
After the last dish is washed and in the drainer, Misty lets the water drain from the sink, then dries her hands with a towel. Just as she is about to begin to towel dry the dishes and put them back in the cabinets, her fiancée, ad father to her daughter, Spike Staggs, walks into the room holding Eden in his arms.
“She tattled on me again, didn’t she?” Misty asks with a half laugh.
Spike nods his head as Eden buries her head in his neck, quiet sniffles heard.
“Eden, look at your mother.” Spike says, but Ede refuses. She shakes her head and a muffled “No!” is heard.
“Spike, it’s fine. She’s only three and a half. You know she overreacts.” Misty can’t help but let a slight smile appear on her face. She knows just how dramatic her daughter can be.
“No, Misty, she has something she wants to say.”
Spike nudges Eden.
“…” Eden whispers something, but Misty couldn’t quite hear it.
“She couldn’t hear you, Eden.” Spike says, nudging her again.
“I’m…sorry” She sniffles.
Misty smiles and laughs again. Spike sets Eden down, and turns her so she is facing Misty. She looks at her mother with a pitiful expression. The expression most children give when they know they are in trouble.
“As if I could not forgive that face. Come give me a hug.” Eden runs into Misty’s arms, completely forgetting having called her mean. She wraps her arms around Misty’s neck in a tight hug, which Misty returns.
“Ok, why don’t you go find Timmy and spend some time with him, or go play in your room for a bit. I need to talk to Daddy for a few minutes.”
Eden doesn’t need to be told twice this time. She disappears down the hall once again. Misty walks up to Spike, and wraps her arms around him. He leans in for a kiss, which she returns.
“Who’d have thought she’d be such a Daddy’s girl? If it weren’t for you, Eden would probably hate me.” Misty laughs, knowing that’s not true.
Spike shakes his head. “Nah. She just wants everything her way. Kinda like someone else I know around here.”
“Yeah, and she has your temper, which is what makes her so difficult to deal with sometimes.” Misty’s comeback doesn’t even phase Spike. He just grins. Misty backs away, a serious look now spread across her face.
“That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about, though.” She bites her bottom lip.
“This doesn’t sound good.” Spike raises an eyebrow.
“Well,” she begins. “That depends on how you look at it.
Spike folds his arms. “Just tell me whatever it is. You’re starting to make me nervous now.”
Misty takes a deep breath. “Ok. While you were in the shower earlier, we got a phone call.”
“We?”
Misty nods.
“From who?”
“A blast from the past, actually. Our old friend, Mark Ward.”
Spike’s eyes widen a bit.
“Mark Ward? As in “Hot Stuff” Mark Ward? You can’t be serious.” Spike seems genuinely surprised, yet curious at the same time.
“Oh it was him alright. As if I could forget that accent. Anyway, apparently he and Christian Underwood are starting up their own company. Sin City Wrestling. It’s based out of Las Vegas. He’s offered us both contracts and wants us both on board.”
Now Spike takes a deep breath.
“That’s not a good idea, Misty. Both of us couldn’t handle being on the road. Not with Timmy and Eden.
Misty leans back, allowing most of her weight to sit on the dining table.
“I know that. That is what I told him. I said I had to talk it over with you first before I gave him an answer. He needs an answer by tonight, though.”
Spike scratches his head and runs his hand through his hair, then shakes his head.
“I can’t do it, babe. I’ve had my career. I’m burnt out.”
Misty doesn’t respond. She just looks at the floor and goes deep in thought.
“Look, if it’s what you want to do, Misty, just do it. You were just starting to build your career when you got pregnant. I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to go back.”
Misty shakes her head, then looks like she is about to cry.
“I don’t want to leave you, Eden or Timmy, Spike. I know I could come home during free time, but I haven’t been away from her since she was born. Yet a part of me wants one last run at this. I just don’t know.”
Before Spike can respond, Eden can be heard screaming from down the hall. She runs past them and into the living room, leaving Spike and Misty looking on, confused. When Spike’s son, Timmy, comes running past holding a rubber snake in his hands, they get the answers they need.
“Timmy! Stop teasing her with that thing, please!” Misty yells as Eden’s terrified screaming continues.
Timmy laughs as he makes his way into the kitchen and grabs a soda from the fridge. He opens it and takes a sip.
“I was just having some fun.” He snaps back. “Maybe now she’ll think twice before she breaks another one of my X-Box controllers!”
He tosses the rubber snake on the counter then heads back to his bedroom. Misty and Spike both shake their heads.
“Anyway,” Spike says, returning to the topic at hand. “Just accept the contract, Misty. I can handle things here. No sweat!”
Misty bursts out laughing.
“HA! You sure about that? Handling a teenager AND a toddler? Somehow, I doubt that.”
Suddenly presented with a challenge, Spike takes full advantage of the situation.
“Alright then. You call Mark right now. Tell him you accept his offer, and that I will stay here and take care of the kids.”
Spike grabs Misty’s phone from the counter and holds it out to her. She eyes it with a smile, then takes it.
“You’re on. But just so you know, I don’t think you will last one week without me here. You’ll be begging me to come back or you’ll be calling my sister for help.”
“You’re doubting my mad skills. I got this!”
Misty lets another laugh escape, but she doesn’t say anything further. She dials a number, staring at Spike the whole time with a smile on her face. A few seconds later, someone answers on the other end.
“Hey, Mark, it’s Misty…yea, I talked to him. Spike is going to sit this one out. He’s going to stay home and take care of the kids, while I wrestle for you guys in SCW…No, not right now…Completely his idea, actually…*laughs* I will tell him that…Ok, see you soon.”
Misty hangs up and Spike looks at her curiously.
“You wanted to tell me something?” He locks his eyes on her, as she just laughs some more. She slowly walks up to him, places a hand on his chest and smiles.
“I’m to inform you that you will be receiving a special ordered apron with the words “Mister Mom” on it. But, he wishes you luck all the same.”
Misty pats his chest, laughing yet again. She sets her phone back on the counter and walks away, leaving Spike standing there wide-eyed and speechless. After a few seconds, he shakes his head and goes after her.
“Hey! I’m installing a damn dishwasher while your gone!”
Misty’s hysterical laughing can be heard from the living room, along with Eden’s as well.
************
If you asked me four years ago, how I felt about having kids, my answer would have been pretty damn obvious. I was absolutely terrified. I never imagined myself being a mother. I was more focused on building my career as a wrestler and get the fame and recognition I wanted. I was well on my way to being a legend when I got pregnant.
I stand in the doorway to Eden’s room, watching her sleep peacefully.
Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t change a thing, because if I had made the choice back then, I wouldn’t have the best gift anyone could ever give me. I wouldn’t have my mini-me…my daughter. I don’t regret having my little girl. Not for a second.
I quietly walk up to her bedside, and pull her blanket up over her. Her soft breathing soothes me.
Back then, I spent so much time focusing on doing whatever I had to do to be number one. I didn’t care if people hated me or liked me. I simply did what I wanted, when I wanted, to become champion…three times I might add. I turned my back on people who I considered friends, simply because I thought I was better than everyone else. I was greedy. I was a cold-hearted bitch at times.
Eden’s favorite teddy bear lays on the floor by my feet. I pick it up and tuck it under the covers next to her just in case she wakes up and can’t find it.
Things have changed, though. I have changed. Everything I did years ago just seems so…trivial. Now that I’m a mother, I can’t walk around with the same attitude I did before. Not when my daughter might very well be watching me, though I hope Spike limits that as much as possible. I can’t risk her seeing a side of me that I buried almost four years ago when she was born. I could never forgive myself if Eden were to see me turn into the heartless bitch I was just mere months before she was born. I need to show her that she can achieve anything she wants if she sets her mind to it, but she has to do it in a respectful manner. She has to earn it. Things in life just aren’t handed to you. I’m going to make her proud of me. I want her to be proud of her Mommy.
I look at a drawing that is now hanging on the wall above Eden’s bed. The family stick figures that represent “Mommy, Daddy, Timmy and Me” put a smile on my face. They are pretty good for being drawn by a three and a half year old.
I haven’t wrestled in four years. If not slightly longer than that. The fact that I have been booked in a Hardcore Match has me a bit terrified. Not for myself, but for my daughter. I can’t imagine her reaction if I came home with a nasty injury of some sort, but I can not let myself think the worst. I have to look at who my opponents are, and those two women are no strangers to me.
I quietly walk out of Eden’s room hoping not to wake her. I’m going to the one place I know I can focus and remind myself just what I am capable of. Mine and Spike’s trophy room.
Kittie is one women I do not plan on taking lightly. I’ve feuded with her in the past, but last time I saw her, we were on good terms. At least I think so. Kittie is a lot like me, actually…or she is a lot like the person I used to be. She is hungry for the recognition she deserves. I know she has it in her, I won’t doubt that, but she has to be careful. Her anger and frustration could very well get the best of her and be her biggest downfall and cost her everything she is working on accomplishing. I know better than anyone. I respect Kittie, but I won’t allow myself to let my guard down. One of us will prove to be better than the other. Only time will tell who that woman is.
I open the door to the trophy room, immediately feeling a sense of nostalgia. Reminders of our time in GXW, as well as other companies, adorn the walls of the room. One prize in particular has my eye. My GXW Women’s Championship Belt.
Fantasia, however, is a different story. I don’t know her personally, but I saw her around back in our GXW days. I don’t think I have ever seen her wrestle, but does that mean I should underestimate her? Absolutely not. I’m fairly sure her escort, Shane Boswell,will be at ringside, and he may very well try to interfere. Anything is possible in a hardcore match after all. Fantasia knows how to get what she wants. She’ll use her body and good looks if she has to, but I really don’t care. If I feel in anyway threatened by her, I know what I have to do. I know what I WILL do.
I run my hand along the case containing my most prized possession. Is it a symbol of what I can do? Or is it simply a symbol of what I once was and never will be again?
Kittie and Fantasia I’m sure will have some interesting things to say about me. They know who I was back then. They know I was a bitch and didn’t give a damn. But, I am going to show them, as well as anyone else who knows me, that I am not who I used to be. A new Misty has emerged, and the old Misty is never coming back. The bitch is gone. I am devoted to my daughter…to my family. This time around, I’m going earn my right as top woman in this company. I’m going to make my daughter proud, and there is nothing ANYONE can do to stop me. Present or future. And that is a fact!
Scene fades to black.
