Josh #5: White
May 16, 2016 18:13:10 GMT -5
Post by pete on May 16, 2016 18:13:10 GMT -5
Hey there Annie! Or should I say, Mrs Dupree? I don’t know, actually, when you’re going to get this. Are you married yet? I’m going to assume for simplicity that you are.
Congratulations!
Josh Mitchell leans forward, and adjusts the focus on the camera. The slightly blurry image is brought into sharp relief, showing that he’s wearing a suit, with tie, and smiling. He gives the camera a little wave.
Now, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person and all, what with the guest list being full before you even met me, and, well… let’s not worry about the well. But I figured, if I can’t be there in person, then I can be there in spirit. So, hi!
He smiles.
Have you done the wedding presents yet? Did you find mine? I sent it with Molly… I know it’s maybe a bit much… but you’ve been an amazing friend to me Annie. Truly amazing… and I can’t thank you enough. I hope both you and Chase enjoy it for years to come.
He looks thoughtful a moment, before continuing.
Look… I’m going to address the elephant in the room… It’s weird I’m facing Chase the day after your wedding. I mean, I know him and me aren’t exactly close or anything, but you’re my friend. But even though it’s your wedding… I’m sorry.
A half hearted shrug, and apologetic shrug.
I’m sorry because I can’t just lay down for him. You know, I did think about it for like a minute. Whether I could… it’s your wedding. I don’t want to be responsible for anything that might happen literally the day after you tie the knot.
He smiles, and shakes his head.
Then I thought about what you’d do to me if you thought I’d let Chase win, and, well, I’ve already lost one leg, I want to keep the other.
A chuckle.
Seriously, though… Annie… I can’t Annie. I can’t lay down for Chase for the same reason I can’t just give up when it gets too hard. I’m filming this after just having my first Intermediate Class… it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Harder than the first day of training. Harder than that first match. Everything aches. Even my phantom foot aches.But still I can’t give up… He’d never… I’d never forgive myself.
Josh sighs. It’s equal parts wistful and exhausted.
I need to win, Annie. Not because it’s nice… not because I have to prove myself the best. I have to do it for Scott. You know that… I can’t let him down. I won’t let him down. I let myself think before that I could just, you know, get by. Survive. Do enough. But enough is never enough is it? And I was wrong. It’s not enough to survive.
I need to win.
I need them to book me Annie. I need to wrestle on the big cards, the supercards, not just get stuck on the merch stand again. Bianca was a start… but I need to capitalize. I can’t let what happened before happen again… come in on a high, edge a draw, and then lose the big one. I just… I just don’t know if I’m strong enough to take that again.
He chuckles to himself.
They tell you you need to be strong to get the win… and sure. There’s something to that. But you’ve got to be stronger to survive a loss. You have to be… it’s so crushing… To take a loss, when you put everything you had into it… That’s soul destroying. And then to bounce back and fight again? I don’t think I can do that again.
A half-smile, to hide the pain.
So I’m just going to have to carry on winning. I’ve got responsibilities, Annie. I’ve got to make it happen. For him. And that means beating Chase. I know it’s not going to be easy. I’ve seen him, he’s gifted. He’s also got you coaching him every step of the way… we both know he’s good.
But I need to be better.
He shakes his head, rapidly, as if shaking loose the cobwebs.
Listen to me… I’ve gotten all serious. Sorry, that wasn’t what this was meant to be… This was meant to be congratulations for you both. I sincerely wish you both every happiness in your life together. I look forward to seeing you both when you get up here.
Thoughtful look.
Do me a favor… don’t show Chase this. All that stuff before… I just got into one. It was inappropriate.
And enjoy that gift. For the pair of you… the first milkshake’s on me.
He smiles, and waves one last time, before leaning forward and reaching around the camera, before the screen turns to black.
Congratulations!
Josh Mitchell leans forward, and adjusts the focus on the camera. The slightly blurry image is brought into sharp relief, showing that he’s wearing a suit, with tie, and smiling. He gives the camera a little wave.
Now, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person and all, what with the guest list being full before you even met me, and, well… let’s not worry about the well. But I figured, if I can’t be there in person, then I can be there in spirit. So, hi!
He smiles.
Have you done the wedding presents yet? Did you find mine? I sent it with Molly… I know it’s maybe a bit much… but you’ve been an amazing friend to me Annie. Truly amazing… and I can’t thank you enough. I hope both you and Chase enjoy it for years to come.
He looks thoughtful a moment, before continuing.
Look… I’m going to address the elephant in the room… It’s weird I’m facing Chase the day after your wedding. I mean, I know him and me aren’t exactly close or anything, but you’re my friend. But even though it’s your wedding… I’m sorry.
A half hearted shrug, and apologetic shrug.
I’m sorry because I can’t just lay down for him. You know, I did think about it for like a minute. Whether I could… it’s your wedding. I don’t want to be responsible for anything that might happen literally the day after you tie the knot.
He smiles, and shakes his head.
Then I thought about what you’d do to me if you thought I’d let Chase win, and, well, I’ve already lost one leg, I want to keep the other.
A chuckle.
Seriously, though… Annie… I can’t Annie. I can’t lay down for Chase for the same reason I can’t just give up when it gets too hard. I’m filming this after just having my first Intermediate Class… it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Harder than the first day of training. Harder than that first match. Everything aches. Even my phantom foot aches.But still I can’t give up… He’d never… I’d never forgive myself.
Josh sighs. It’s equal parts wistful and exhausted.
I need to win, Annie. Not because it’s nice… not because I have to prove myself the best. I have to do it for Scott. You know that… I can’t let him down. I won’t let him down. I let myself think before that I could just, you know, get by. Survive. Do enough. But enough is never enough is it? And I was wrong. It’s not enough to survive.
I need to win.
I need them to book me Annie. I need to wrestle on the big cards, the supercards, not just get stuck on the merch stand again. Bianca was a start… but I need to capitalize. I can’t let what happened before happen again… come in on a high, edge a draw, and then lose the big one. I just… I just don’t know if I’m strong enough to take that again.
He chuckles to himself.
They tell you you need to be strong to get the win… and sure. There’s something to that. But you’ve got to be stronger to survive a loss. You have to be… it’s so crushing… To take a loss, when you put everything you had into it… That’s soul destroying. And then to bounce back and fight again? I don’t think I can do that again.
A half-smile, to hide the pain.
So I’m just going to have to carry on winning. I’ve got responsibilities, Annie. I’ve got to make it happen. For him. And that means beating Chase. I know it’s not going to be easy. I’ve seen him, he’s gifted. He’s also got you coaching him every step of the way… we both know he’s good.
But I need to be better.
He shakes his head, rapidly, as if shaking loose the cobwebs.
Listen to me… I’ve gotten all serious. Sorry, that wasn’t what this was meant to be… This was meant to be congratulations for you both. I sincerely wish you both every happiness in your life together. I look forward to seeing you both when you get up here.
Thoughtful look.
Do me a favor… don’t show Chase this. All that stuff before… I just got into one. It was inappropriate.
And enjoy that gift. For the pair of you… the first milkshake’s on me.
He smiles, and waves one last time, before leaning forward and reaching around the camera, before the screen turns to black.