Josh #1: Green part 1
Feb 18, 2016 11:30:50 GMT -5
Post by pete on Feb 18, 2016 11:30:50 GMT -5
I feel like an idiot.
The young man, Josh Mitchell, kind of smiles awkwardly at the laptop before him. On the screen, the image of FGA star Annie Zellor shakes her head, still smiling.
What do you mean?
I mean… standing in front of a camera… saying I’m better than the other guy… trying to belittle them, talking about snapping Slim Jims… that’s just not me.
Snapping Slim Jims… what is this is, like, 1995?! And you don’t have to do that other stuff, silly?!
Josh kinds of shrugs, looking off camera.
Well… nobody, I guess. I was just watching some old promos, trying to teach myself what all this is about…
Annie shakes her head.
Nuh uh, that’s mistake 1. All you’ll learn there is how other people be people. You’ve gotta be Josh!
Josh appears confused.
What?
Annie smiles.
Don’t try and be whoever your favourite wrestler was growing up. Just be Josh! Look. It’s just me here. This isn’t a promo, just your friend Annie, OK?!
OK.
So, like, tell me about your match, what you’re thinking about. And it’s just me. Just Annie.
Josh looks up, exhaling noisily. As he does so, unseen to him, Annie reaches out and taps a key on her keyboard.
It’s just… this is huge. You know? Three weeks ago, I’d never even set foot into a live wrestling show, let alone seriously thought I’d ever try and do it myself. And then, next Wednesday, I’ve got an actual match? Not a sparring session. Not a training session, but a match? That’s HUGE.
He kind of shrugs, looking back to Annie.
I mean, look at who I’ve got! This guy isn’t green like me! He’s been doing this for a few years now, “The Strong Style Prodigy”. He’s even got a real nickname! An impressive one at that! And then you’ve got me… the guy with the leg.
Josh…
Hey, I’m fine. Trust me. I know what people say. In the gym. In the street. It’s kind of impossible not to, you know? But it’s fine. I’m over it. I’ve been over it for years now. Where people see a handicap… I see a reminder. A reminder of why I’m trying to do… well. Everything. But this especially. These past two, three weeks, I can’t count the amount of times I’ve come this close to breaking, to giving up...before looking down, to “Scott” here.
Scott?
Scott’s what I call him. It just felt… right, you know? But that’s neither here nor there.
He smiles, faintly.
You know, I kind of don’t mind if my opponents only see the prosthetic. That’s going to happen, I know it. And more fool them, the more they focus on my weakness, the more they’re ignoring my strengths.
His face becomes a bit more concerned.
Really, it isn’t stepping into the ring with Brett Dunn that’s got me bothered. It’s got to happen at some point, right? And if Marcus says I’m ready, hey? Who am I to doubt The Alpha Dog.
He sighs.
It’s them. The crowd. What are they going to see? How are they going to react? I don’t want to be “the guy with the leg”. It isn’t a thing for me. I just want to be… well… Josh. I’m not wanting pity, I don’t want to be a freakshow. I just… I want people to know I’m taking this seriously. This means something to me. I’m not some novelty act. I’m not some “affirmative action” signing. I’m…
He stops a moment, composing himself.
I’m trying to keep an old promise, to a good friend. I’m not playing at this. This isn’t some bizarre flight of fancy. I need to do this. For him.
He shakes his head.
So yeah. That. But how’s that help me do a promo?
Annie smiles fiendishly, hitting a key on her side.
Psst, Josh, You just did one.
Josh looks confused, as Annie smiles broadly.
What? Annie!
What?
You said that was just me talking to you! Not for people to see!
Details, details! The fact is, you said exactly what you needed to say. And you didn’t do it as anybody but Josh. That’s, like, what a promo is!
He frowns.
That was a mean trick, Annie… but thank you.
Annie smiles and winks.
You’re welcome Josh! Now, I need to go and get dinner ready. I’m gonna email this to you, then you can learn how to promo as Josh from Josh! In the meantime, you better practice that #Grrface, or else!
Josh laughs.
Sure thing, thanks again Annie.
Annie waves, before hitting a key, and disconnecting the call, prompting the laptop to return to the Skype screen. Josh leans back, and exhales once more, a slight smile on his face.
Word Count: 797. Thanks to Ben for allowing me to feature Annie.
The young man, Josh Mitchell, kind of smiles awkwardly at the laptop before him. On the screen, the image of FGA star Annie Zellor shakes her head, still smiling.
What do you mean?
I mean… standing in front of a camera… saying I’m better than the other guy… trying to belittle them, talking about snapping Slim Jims… that’s just not me.
Snapping Slim Jims… what is this is, like, 1995?! And you don’t have to do that other stuff, silly?!
Josh kinds of shrugs, looking off camera.
Well… nobody, I guess. I was just watching some old promos, trying to teach myself what all this is about…
Annie shakes her head.
Nuh uh, that’s mistake 1. All you’ll learn there is how other people be people. You’ve gotta be Josh!
Josh appears confused.
What?
Annie smiles.
Don’t try and be whoever your favourite wrestler was growing up. Just be Josh! Look. It’s just me here. This isn’t a promo, just your friend Annie, OK?!
OK.
So, like, tell me about your match, what you’re thinking about. And it’s just me. Just Annie.
Josh looks up, exhaling noisily. As he does so, unseen to him, Annie reaches out and taps a key on her keyboard.
It’s just… this is huge. You know? Three weeks ago, I’d never even set foot into a live wrestling show, let alone seriously thought I’d ever try and do it myself. And then, next Wednesday, I’ve got an actual match? Not a sparring session. Not a training session, but a match? That’s HUGE.
He kind of shrugs, looking back to Annie.
I mean, look at who I’ve got! This guy isn’t green like me! He’s been doing this for a few years now, “The Strong Style Prodigy”. He’s even got a real nickname! An impressive one at that! And then you’ve got me… the guy with the leg.
Josh…
Hey, I’m fine. Trust me. I know what people say. In the gym. In the street. It’s kind of impossible not to, you know? But it’s fine. I’m over it. I’ve been over it for years now. Where people see a handicap… I see a reminder. A reminder of why I’m trying to do… well. Everything. But this especially. These past two, three weeks, I can’t count the amount of times I’ve come this close to breaking, to giving up...before looking down, to “Scott” here.
Scott?
Scott’s what I call him. It just felt… right, you know? But that’s neither here nor there.
He smiles, faintly.
You know, I kind of don’t mind if my opponents only see the prosthetic. That’s going to happen, I know it. And more fool them, the more they focus on my weakness, the more they’re ignoring my strengths.
His face becomes a bit more concerned.
Really, it isn’t stepping into the ring with Brett Dunn that’s got me bothered. It’s got to happen at some point, right? And if Marcus says I’m ready, hey? Who am I to doubt The Alpha Dog.
He sighs.
It’s them. The crowd. What are they going to see? How are they going to react? I don’t want to be “the guy with the leg”. It isn’t a thing for me. I just want to be… well… Josh. I’m not wanting pity, I don’t want to be a freakshow. I just… I want people to know I’m taking this seriously. This means something to me. I’m not some novelty act. I’m not some “affirmative action” signing. I’m…
He stops a moment, composing himself.
I’m trying to keep an old promise, to a good friend. I’m not playing at this. This isn’t some bizarre flight of fancy. I need to do this. For him.
He shakes his head.
So yeah. That. But how’s that help me do a promo?
Annie smiles fiendishly, hitting a key on her side.
Psst, Josh, You just did one.
Josh looks confused, as Annie smiles broadly.
What? Annie!
What?
You said that was just me talking to you! Not for people to see!
Details, details! The fact is, you said exactly what you needed to say. And you didn’t do it as anybody but Josh. That’s, like, what a promo is!
He frowns.
That was a mean trick, Annie… but thank you.
Annie smiles and winks.
You’re welcome Josh! Now, I need to go and get dinner ready. I’m gonna email this to you, then you can learn how to promo as Josh from Josh! In the meantime, you better practice that #Grrface, or else!
Josh laughs.
Sure thing, thanks again Annie.
Annie waves, before hitting a key, and disconnecting the call, prompting the laptop to return to the Skype screen. Josh leans back, and exhales once more, a slight smile on his face.
Word Count: 797. Thanks to Ben for allowing me to feature Annie.