THE FAMILY MAN : PASSING ALONG A BLESSING

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The Ray family are still celebrating the great couple weeks they have had since AWF hired Danny Ray to a two-year contract. The Family Man just had his first match in Ascension Wrestling Federation a huge fourteen man tag team match. Danny Ray may not have walked away with the win but he did do well enough to impress the owners and get himself a championship match at the AWF PPV. A fatal four way against the Prestige Class Champion Kira Izumi and the man Danny Ray pinned at EOD night three El Cazador plus Cobalt Lancer. This has the Family Man on cloud nine as he will be competing for his first championship here in AWF, although Danny Ray had won an ICW Shooting Star championship opportunity against fellow AWF member "The Prodigy" Bobby Barratt he never actually got the opportunity to face him for it.So this will be Danny Rays first championship match. Amanda Ray, Danny Ray's wife has been on the phone non stop telling everyone about what an amazing husband she has and what he has done for her and the children. She is so proud of Danny Ray that she hasn't been able to stop smiling and singing to herself.



The Family Man is sitting at the kitchen table just staring at his first paycheck from AWF, it's over five times the amount he was making for Icon Championship Wrestling. Danny Ray is just so calm his mind is at ease for the first time in months as he sits there at the table writing checks to pay all of his household bills. He is finally able to catch up his electric bill that has been two months behind for quite a while now. Danny Ray's oldest son Daniel asked him this morning before heading out to the school bus if he could have a dollar for a soda at lunch, Danny was so thrilled he was able to say yes and give his son the money without having to feel bad about giving it to him. Daniel was astatic when he left waving his dollar at the kids on the bus, it's the simple little things that make's the Ray family happy.



As Danny Ray licks the last envelope and places an American flag stamp on it he gathers up all of the envelopes with the paid bills inside of them and heads towards the front door. Danny Ray slips on his black rubber flip flops as he opens the front door and steps out to walk down the driveway to the mailbox to place his outgoing mail into it, raising the little red flag to let the mailman know there is something in it. The next door neighbor jogs up next to Danny Ray, asking if he has a minute to chat as he saw the End of Days matchup. The Family MAn tells him yes he has time and asks his neighbor how he liked it and his thoughts about the match. The neighbor goes on to tell him how much he loved the match and the whole show and that he loves and supports what Danny Ray is doing for his family. Danny Ray thanks him and offers him a cup of coffee if he had time to come in for a bit as Danny Ray and Amanda are the only ones there. The twin's Frank and Tiffany Rose are with the grandmother and the two oldest boys Daniel and Thomas are still at school. The neighbor happily accepts and the two men head into the house for a hot cup of coffee on this cold October day.



Danny Ray and the neighbor Mike both have a seat in the living room as Amanda heads to the kitchen to fix the coffee for them. The two men sit back getting comfortable as they make idle chit chat while waiting for their coffee.



Mike - "Well Danny so tell me what's it like being a famous wrestler?"



Danny Ray - "Haha, I wouldn't say famous but it's fun and a lot of hard work. I do it to make sure my family is taken care of. I wasn't sure how things would go when I first started to wrestle all I did know is there were bills that needed to be paid and wrestling was my chance to make sure they got paid."



Mike - " Yeah I understand that I got laid off about two weeks ago from my job and I haven't been able to find any work. It's a young mans world out there and no ones looking to hire a fifty-five yeard old. Plus I'm too young to start drawing social security. "



Danny Ray - " So Mike if you don't mind me asking what are you going to do to keep up on your bills? "



Mike - " Well, for now, I have a few bucks saved up in the bank, and hopefully I will find work soon. So what's it like to work with Kira Izumi and Hyperion? I hear he's a God in wrestling. "



Danny Ray - " To be honest I haven't really met either of them yet but I do know that they are like the main event people in the AWF. They both are extremely talented and well respected for the most part."



Danny Ray - " What would you say if I could get you and the family tickets to the next show?"



Mike looks shocked as his mouth just drops open and he tries to mutter something.



Mike - " That would be insane, we have never been to a wrestling event, my son and wife would have a heart attack. "



Danny Ray - " Well I will talk to my boss and see if I can't get you three some tickets for the event, you all can be my guest. I know my boys were so excited when they saw their first wrestling match it was a blast seeing the amazement on their faces as the watched each wrestling match and when they got to meet the wrestlers. There is nothing better than knowing you brought so much joy to your family. "



Danny Ray's wife Amanda slowly enters the room so not to interrupt the two men and their conversation. She sets down the tray of coffee and some warm biscuits with butter and honey, it's a cheap but delicious snack to have with a hot cup of coffee on any cold day. Amanda leans over giving her husband a kiss on the cheek as she sits down next to him. She hands Mike a cup of coffee with two scoops of sugar and a little Irish creamer while pointing to the biscuits and honey and butter.



Mike - " Thanks for the coffee and snack Amanda, it's really good. So what kind of coffee creamer is this? "



Amanda Ray - " The coffee itself is Maxwell House original blend and the creamer is Baileys Irish Cream I know we normally don't buy that. It's name brand but we are celebrating Danny's new job so we splurged. "



Danny Ray - " Yeah, we splurged but not before paying up our bills. It's the first time we have been able to have a few dollars to buy something we want and not actually needed."



Mike - " Hey, it's no biggy I completely understand how that is. "



Danny Ray - "Hey honey, I invited Mike and his family to come see the next wrestling match, that's okay with you right? "



Amanda Ray - " Absolutely, it will give me another female to gossip with throughout the night."



Mike - " Well, thanks for the snack and everything I better get home and get ready to go job hunting. I will let the family know of your generous offer. "



Danny Ray walks Mike out of the house and sends him on his way as Mike walks to his house Danny Ray tells his wife to have a seat that they need to talk.



Danny Ray - " Babe, I know how lucky we are and I also know we just now got caught up on bills and we don't really have a lot of extra money to just blow. But I have a guaranteed paycheck for the next couple years and I have faith in God and that he will make sure we are taken care of."



Amanda Ray - " Honey, calm down and slow down whats going on? "



Danny Ray - " I am, I am just heard something that bothers me, Mike just got laid off about a week or so ago and I'm worried about him and his family."



Amanda Ray - " So honey what do you want to do? Whats going on in your brain? "



Danny Ray - " Well I was thinking we could give him a check for a couple thousand or so to help him until he finds work. I know it's a lot especially for us and we normally don't have it but with the sign on bonus, I received from AWF we have it. I want him and his family to not have to worry about bills or if they are going to be tossed out into the streets or where their next meal is going to come from. "



Amanda starts to cry as tears run down her face Danny Ray slides over next to her and wraps his arms around her to comfort his beautiful wife. The two of them sit there for a few minutes as she lets it out and Danny Ray realizes his wife feels the same way he does.



Amanda Ray - " I know just how you feel, and if it wasn't for that incredible heart of yours we wouldn't be where we are today. We are not rich by far but God has blessed us by making sure we have what we need. So sweetie, if you want to pass along a blessing to Mike and his family lets, do it. "



Danny Ray - " I knew you were an angel when I first saw you and everyday you prove to me that I was always right. I love you, baby."



Amanda stands up as she slides her hand across her husbands back and heads towards her bedroom. Danny Ray smiles as she walks away and heads to the kitchen table where his checkbook is still laying out. The Family Man sits back down in that old rugged chair he sat in earlier in the day and begins to write a check out to Mike and his family for $2600 with a smile on his face. Danny Ray finishes up writing the check and places it in his pocket as he heads over to his desk to put away his checkbook before heading over to Mike's house to pass along his blessing.



Danny Ray yells to his wife Amanda that he is heading next door to speak with Mike before walking out the front door. The Family Man has had a rough life and has worked hard to get to the place he is at in his life and is more than thrilled to be able to help an old friend and neighbor in need. Passing along a blessing is what he has always been taught Danny Ray's own mother would give someone in need her last penny if it meant giving them a little piece of happiness.Growing Up Danny Ray always watched and learned from his mother as his father left early in his life and was nowhere around. The life lessons that both of his parents engraved into his soul and mind has made him the father, the husband, and the person he is today. Whether it was a good lesson or a bad lesson they all taught him something he learned from. Now he is on his way to give an old friend a lesson in life, that it's okay to accept help from those who care.



Danny Ray has reached his neighbor Mikes front door and reaches out to ring the doorbell, as Danny Ray waits for Mike or Mikes wife to answer he pulls the check out of his pocket and holds it in his hand. The door slowly opens as both Mike and his wife answer the door greeting Danny Ray inviting him inside. The three of them head into the living room having a seat on the big comfortable furniture.



Mike - "Hey buddy, how can I help you? Did you forget something earlier."



Danny Ray - " Not really, but I was talking" to my wife Amanda and well we couldn't help but think about your current situation."



Mike - " My current situation? What do you mean bud? "



Danny Ray - " Well, when we talked earlier you said that you had gotten laid off and haven't found work yet. I hope I am not crossing any lines or anything but I just couldn't stop thinking about that and I was talking to Amanda about it. We have been fortunate enough to be blessed recently with me getting a new job at AWF. "



Mike - " So what are you getting at Danny? "



Danny Ray - " Please, don't get the wrong idea, I am simply saying I know what you are going through all too well. I want to pass along the blessings that my family has received. "



Danny Ray reaches out to Mike and his wife, handing Mike the check and then sitting back on the couch.



Mike - " Oh my God Danny I can't take this, $2600 that is just way too much I have known you and your family for over a decade. I know you don't have this type of money to give away. "



Danny Ray - " Mike please take it and make sure your bills are paid it will help you until you find a new job. I am and will be fine, so Amanda and I want you to have this. Just remember this blessing and if you are ever in the position whatever it may be to pass along a blessing to someone else do your best to help them. "



Mike and his wife stand up tears in their eyes they grab Danny Ray hugging him and thanking him for such an amazing gesture and act. Danny Ray steps back heading towards the door as he is ready to go home and let his wife know how it went. Before Danny Ray walks out the door he tells Mike that once he gets the tickets for the wrestling event he would bring them over. Mike and his wife smile and thank him as Danny Ray heads back home.