Post by "The Family Man" Danny Ray on Oct 21, 2019 17:04:05 GMT -5
American Legion Hall Gym
Pilot Knob, Missouri
The sounds of people grunting, barbells being slammed around and the bodies being slammed can be heard as Daniel Ray walks into the gym with a couple of his friends from school. He can see his dad in the ring training as he walks in, he heads over to a spot in the gym where he and his friends can watch without being ion the way. Danny Ray appears to be much more aggressive inside the ring as he manhandles his training partner.
Daniel Ray seems to be a bit on edge seeing his father like this, seeing the mean, violent side of him as he trains with a friend, not even an opponent or even an enemy but a long-time friend. Daniel's friend stands there in shock as well, as they have never seen Daniels dad Danny Ray wrestle in person or ever seen this side of him. They know him as the friendly goofy dad whose always so nice and doing things with his children and wife.
Danny Ray continues his basic assault on his training partner as he delivers his finisher "A Fathers Redemption" a running knee to the face as the guy lays there almost out, Danny Ray smiles as he clamps on "The Finger Breaker" a modified Mounted Armbar, so he can isolate the hand of his training partner as he starts snapping fingers you can hear him yelling "I'm coming for you"!
Daniel Ray and his friends start to get freaked out by this side of Danny Ray, as Danny Ray releases the hold and exits the ring the trainers rush in to help out the training partner of Danny Ray's. Daniels friends rush away letting Daniel know they will see him later as Danny Ray heads over toward's them.
The Family Man: Hey Daniel, you come to see your old man in action?
Daniel Ray: Yeah, sure dad.
Danny Ray looks at him with a bit of curiosity as he notices his friends walking out of the door.
The Family Man: So where are your friends going? Thought you guys were going to hang out and play Fortnite or something today after school.
Daniel Ray: We were but can I ask you something, dad?
The Family Man: You know you can, feel free to ask me anything bud.
Daniel Ray looks down towards the ground for a moment as he tries to gather the nerve to ask his father his question, you can see him shuffling his foot. Sweat runs down the face of Danny ray as he stands there waiting on his son to speak.
Daniel Ray: Dad, what's going on with you?
The Family Man: Nothing buddy, just trying to get ready for my title rematch at End of Days, like always. Have to train and prepare.
Daniel Ray: No dad, seriously, I just saw you snapping the fingers of your friend, you scared my friends that's why they left. I'm not a little kid anymore I see things and I understand more than you think. So tell me what is going on, and I want a real answer?
The Family Man: Daniel, you're right your not a little kid anymore, so you want the truth about what's going on, fine here it is. I'm tired of being overlooked, underestimated and most of all I'm tired of working my ass off for nothing. I am tired of you and your brothers, your sister, and mom having to do without. Watching your friends get things and brag about how they got this and that. I am tired of letting you all down. So I'm doing what I need to do to get ahead in this business to make sure my family has something more than a disappointment for a father.
Daniel Ray stares into his father's eyes as tears start to well up, Danny Ray continues to speak openly and honestly to his son for the first time as an equal and not as a father to his child.
The Family Man: Son, because of you I finally have a reason to fight, a reason to stop doubting myself, and a reason to go on and reclaim what we deserve. Because of you I no longer am afraid to be me, I am no longer afraid to stand up for myself, for our family. Because of you, I try my damndest to do my best and to take what you and your brothers and sister deserve to have in life.
Daniel Ray: But dad, you always taught us to do it the right way, to be fair, honest and kind no matter what.
The Family Man: And Daniel, look where it got me, I almost died and for what so I could be forgotten and tossed to the bottom of the pile like some old dog. I have worked hard, if not harder than most of the AWF roster for the man Felix Ziko since day one and how does he repay me, not even a get well card nothing as I laid in the hospital recouping from emergency surgery.
The Family Man: No nothing, instead I see him pushing guys that have only be in the company for a hot minute and why? I will tell you why son and I want you to remember this it's simply because of the way they look, and who they know in the business. I have fought some tough people in my time and I have learned from them and its time I start using what I learned. If you want to get anywhere in life you have to be willing to break things whether it's the rules, fingers, or your own principles.
A couple of trainers walk by looking at Danny Ray as the pass him, Danny Ray smiles at them with a look of confidence and antagonization before turning back to his son.
Daniel Ray: Dad, see right there you didn't have to try and start something with them, all they did was walk by us. You raised us to respect and honor veterans yet you're facing two of them and I saw your message to them on the AWF website. Dad, you disrespected them in so many ways I felt bad for them for you. It was like watching someone else talking, it sure wasn't my dad.
The Family Man: Daniel, you wanted me to give you the cold hard truth, you wanted me to talk to you like a man and that's what I'm doing. So prepare yourself for what I am about to say when I step into that ring with Stormcrow and that coward Johnny Sniper I am going to show them what real pain is. I am going to not only cause them so much mental anguish they will actually be able to claim PTSD but they will be sent to the insane asylum after I am done. So if you couldn't handle what I said to them in my message the other day then I hate to say this son but maybe you shouldn't watch my match at End of Days.
Daniel Ray now standing there as tears run down his face as he tries to hold in his emotions he takes a deep breath before replying to his dad.
Daniel Ray: Dad, you know I can't do that I have to watch and make sure you're okay, I love you and no matter what I support you. You're my dad and you're always there for me no matter what.
The Family Man: Good, because I love you too, son and I want you to watch as I snap Stormcrow's arms, and as I drive the skull of Sniper into the cold hard concrete. I have taught you a lot but this match I will teach you probably the most important lesson of your life, "a father's love knows no boundaries", and that's because of you.
Danny Ray moves towards his son hugging him as he finishes his sentence, you can see the tears still running down the face of an emotionally drained Daniel Ray as he hugs his father back. The trainers have finally gotten the training partner of Danny Ray out of the ring and on his way to the hospital. A couple of the other gym members watch Danny Ray as he stands there hugging his son.
Daniel Ray: Dad, I know you love me and mom and the others but you can't go hurting people it's not who you are and I don't want a dad who has to hurt people to win.
The Family Man: Son, I'm not hurting people to win I'm going to hurt Stormcrow and Johnny Sniper to make sure our family is secure and that our family doesn't have to struggle anymore. I'm not the one who asked for this I tried to do things the righteous way, the way I was raised but no one wanted it to be that way they decided the only way to get by in today's world is to do as they do.
Daniel Ray: What about the fans that love you and the other kids that look up to you, my friends have always said how much they wish their dads were like you, and after today I think they will never come around again, you scared them, dad.
Danny Ray notices the two guys staring at him as they whisper to each other.
The Family Man: Son, fans where were these fans when I was down and out when we were about to lose everything? Nowhere to be found that's where. So the only thing that's matters to me now is you and the rest of the family. But son it's time for you to head home, I need to get back to training as Stormcrow and Sniper will need a good beating before I reclaim the United States championship for our family.
Daniel Ray: If you say so dad, just remember I love you and I will always be there too. What should I tell mom?
The Family Man: Just let her know when I am done training I will be home, nothing to worry about. So get along and make sure your brothers and sister behave until I get home.
Daniel Ray hugs his dad real quick and heads out the door as the two men head over towards Danny Ray. He looks at them with a glare of intense eagerness in his eyes as he runs over to the ring sliding in under the bottom rope. He quickly jumps up and starts motioning for the two guys to climb into the ring. The two men look at each other and quickly rush into the ring where Danny Ray delivers a massive "Kill Shot" to both men and as they hit the mat hard you can here Danny Ray shouting at them.
The Family Man: "SEMPER FI, SEMPER FI, SEMPER FI, SEMPER FI"
