Post by "The Family Man" Danny Ray on Oct 22, 2019 14:31:01 GMT -5
The Lamb
Highbury East, London N7 8JL, United Kingdom
We see Danny Ray sitting alone in the smoke-filled pub, the stench of super-strong Ales and cheap bar food fills the air. "The Family Man" arrived in London less than a day ago, but this time he arrived alone without his family. He sits at the bar with half-empty Fuller's Vintage Ale in front of him. He seems to be a bit distant or distracted as he sits there.
It's still early in the evening as the pub's usual crowd still hasn't arrived so the place is pretty well empty except for a couple of old drunks sitting at the end of the bar and a younger couple having dinner off in a corner booth. Danny Ray looks at his Ale as he takes another small drink, the taste is bittersweet to him in more ways than one. As he begins to drift off into deep thought as he stares at his Ale.
The Ray Home
Pevely, Missouri
1983
Danny Ray can be seen sitting off in a corner of the living room as shouting rings throughout the house, his father stumbles about in his usual fashion. Melbrine sits in the kitchen with tears flowing down her face once again, trying not to let Danny Ray see them. Douglas Ray screams at Melbrine to bring him another beer as he falls down into his chair. Danny Ray scared and nervous starts to run out of the room when Douglas grabs him by the arm jerking him back into the living room staring daggers into the young boy.
Douglas Ray: Where do you think you're going you little bastard?
Danny Ray doesn't say a word sits there where he landed in fear of what could happen. Melbrine rushes in carrying a can of Budweiser for Douglas. He snatches it from her as he continues to belittle her for every little thing he could think of. Danny Ray scoots over into a corner as he holds his hands over his ears as he rocks back and forth trying to distract himself from everything.
This has become an every night thing anymore as Douglas does nothing but drink twenty-four-seven since losing his job at the Ritepoint Pen Factory. Melbrine has had to get a second job to support them all ten come home and take care of not only Danny Ray but Douglas as well. But the past month or so Douglas has taken things to a new level as he has started hitting her he has yet to hit Danny Ray, but Danny Ray sees everything that his father does and says to his mother.
Douglas gets upset over his dinner not being ready on time as he throws his beer hitting Mebrine with it, Danny Ray begins to scream at his father to "STOP" as he continues to rock back and forth. Melbrine rushes over to him holding him in her arms trying to comfort him as Douglas stumbles to his feet heading over to them still shouting at both Melbrine and Danny Ray.
Melbrine gets in front of Douglas trying to make sure he doesn't touch their son, Douglas pushes Melbrine down forcing her to hit her head on the coffee table as she falls. Danny Ray rushes towards his father slamming his little fist against the legs of his father trying to defend his mother, Douglas just smacks him knocking him against the wall. Melbrine seeing what has happened picks up the small Owl Book holder hitting her husband with it knocking him to the floor. Douglas feels his head and can see blood on his hand. He stares at Melbrine with a drunken fury as he begins to get up Melbrine holds the book end up again as she stands over him.
Melbrine Ray: Don't even think about it, Get out, get out now!!!
Douglas stares at her for a moment before making his way to his feet as he shouts at his son.
Douglas Ray: This is all your fault you little bastard if it wasn't for you none of this would have happened. You're never going to be anything in life but a loser and a disappointment. No one will ever love you and no one will ever care about you, your nothing and your nothing to me.
Melbrine holds her son next to her as she watches Douglas head out of the room as he grans his keys and smokes from the end table next to his chair. A sigh of relief can be heard from Melbrine as she hears the front door closing. She gets down on her knees and looks her six-year-old son in the eyes as she wipes the tears from his face.
Melbrine Ray: Danny, don't you worry about me or him, forget about him we are better off without him, your better off without him. I love you and that's all that matters and someday you will have a good woman who loves you. Momma will make sure you have everything you need and that your taken care of.
Danny Ray: Why does dad hate me so much?
Melbrine looks at her son as the tears begin to well up again.
Melbrine Ray: It doesn't matter what he thinks son but its the alcohol, I don't think he hates you he's got a disease that he is too weak to control.
Danny Ray: Well, I never want to touch alcohol and one day I will have a family and I will make sure they are loved and have everything they ever want, no matter what it takes. I will be strong like you momma and I will always love my family and my kids and I won't ever hit my wife. I love you, momma!!!
As DannyRay stares into his Ale the bartender taps the bar in front of him asking him if he's alright, Danny Ray nods his head as he looks around to see a few more people have made their way into the pub.
The Family Man: Yeah, I'm fine so how about another Ale.
The bartender quickly grabs another Fuller's Vintage Ale as he takes the bottle cap off he looks at Danny Ray for a split moment before speaking.
The Bartender: I don't mean to pry but you seem to have something on your mind, and if I am right aren't you a wrestler for Ascension Wrestling Federation?
The Family Man: Yeah, I am, we have a huge pay per view here in town this week. I have a United States title shot against the champ and a man who pretty much does everything wrong in life and gets everything handed to him on a silver platter while I do everything to the best of my ability and to the standards of everyone else always putting everyone else first and I get nothing. Stormcrow the world's biggest screw-up.
The Family Man: The guy is a drunk, a druggie and a complete mental case yet he has two, yeah two title shots this week. Yeah, he managed to get invited to fight for the European championship in AXW, then he conned his way into my rematch for the United States championship. And the last time he held two belts he couldn't even hold on to them Stormcrow lost them and by some dumb drunken luck found them in a garbage can at a bar after he allowed someone else to piss on them both.
The Bartender: Yeah that's not a good thing when your champion.
Danny Ray gets a text on his cell phone he pulls it out of his pocket and takes a quick glance at it before placing it down on the bar next to him.
The Family Man: I would say and you know what's even worse Stormcrow acts like he deserves this, he deserves all of these opportunities he is just handed. But doesn't anyone remember who Stormcrow really is he is nothing more than a murderer, the guy caused the end of his brother, his best friends Synns career by getting him hit by a bus then after allowing the man to suffer both physically and mentally for months he pulled the life support from him and allowed him to die. Stormcrow worries about no one but himself and that's who upper management is wanting as their United States champion.
The Bartender: You're pulling my leg he did that for real, and he's not behind bars?
Danny Ray receives another text he doesn't even look at this one as he just continues to vent to the bartender as he lets him know he needs another Ale.
The Family Man: No I'm not kidding, the drunk is not "Family Friendly" he represents everything that AWF doesn't stand for, yet he continues to get handed everything like I tried to tell my son Daniel, recently, success is based on who you know or what you look like, he must know some of the top guys in the business.
He grabs his Ale and takes a long slow drink as several more regulars walk through the door, the smell of the Tuesday night special hits them in the face as they walk in. The smell is that of cheap fair food with a hint of down-home cooking mixed in. They all start yelling at the bartender for their regular drinks. He excuses himself as he rushes off to fix them their drinks as Danny ray goes ahead and check s his text message still doesn't reply just smiles as he sets the phone back down.
The Bartender: Sorry about that but you said something about two opponents in this huge match, who is the other one?
The Family Man: Well, barkeep that would be the "Gomer Pile" of the AWF, the man who claims to be all he can be yet doesn't really amount to much except running like a coward. You see when he first started in AWF this guy tried to claim he was so tough, he was an ex-marine and nothing phased him, nothing bothered him he would be the first to say he will never whine or complain as he was trained to be a killer. Now all he does is cry about having whatever flavor of the day mental illness he can think of.
The Family Man: You know I heard him say something about I couldn't walk a mile or something like that in his shoes, that I didn't know what mental illness is or anything I have depression, bipolar and extreme anxiety but I don't run around using that as an excuse to be a pussy.
A beautiful middle-aged woman interrupts them as she politely asks for a refill on her drink, the bartender quickly refills it as he continues to listen to Danny Ray.
The Family Man: You know if I lose to these two guys I would be nothing more than a loser with brain cancer, yeah brain cancer but am I running around crying about that, no! Now, I guess I should be getting out of here, big match to train for in the morning so what do I owe you.
As Danny Ray finishes his sentence he pays the bartender and begins to walk out, as he notices what appears to be an American soldier sitting at a table drinking with his girlfriend or wife. Danny Ray turns around and heads over to them.
The Family Man: So you let her know you have PTSD yet or are you waiting until you want something handed to you or you can run from a fight for that one.
The Soldier jumps up with a look of anger on his face Danny Ray instantly kicks him in the gut followed up with "The Sitter" as the soldier lays there Danny Ray can be heard shouting... “OOH-RAH,” SEMPER FI" as he walks out...
