A First Chance - A Stolen Glance | Visionaries of Wrestling

A First Chance - A Stolen Glance Jul 16, 2016 18:40:13 GMT -6

Post by Jessica E. Mathis on Jul 16, 2016 18:40:13 GMT -6

Standing near a bay window that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean lapping at the beach, A blond woman in her early twenties looks out, watching the sea birds playing games as they dive at the fish near the surface. She is dressed in a mid-thigh denim skirt and a pink blouse with silver piping along the seams and a pair of white heels, although they are fairly short. She turns to the sound of a doorbell and clicks her way across the hardwood floor, out of the bedroom. Giving herself a look in the mirror of the bathroom across the hall, she nods and makes a hard left. This hallway also echos clicks as she walks, emerging into a vaulted ceiling living area. The couch and three recliners in this room line the edge of a large, light blue area rug. Against the wall to the right, a sixty plus inch television clings to the wall, currently dark. The woman approaches the front door, stopping just before a pile of circulars, magazines and assorted other mail oddities. She squats down, lifting the stack with both hands. Once back to the upright position, she turns on heel and retraces her steps. Back in the bedroom, the pile is unceremoniously deposited on the pink bedspread with a dull whump. As she begins to sort through the mail, she ends up with a pile of six envelopes, two of which appear to be bills. The rest of the mail is ignored as she opens the bills and sighs, tossing them back to the bed. The other four envelopes she gives a closer inspection. Again clicking across the floor, she stops before the nearly wall length dresser with double mirrors and lifts her cellphone from its resting spot. She flips the pink cased phone over and brings the screen live. Swipe. Passcode. A moment later, she turns the speaker phone on. With the phone in one hand and the four letters in the other, she walks across to the corner near the window, where a pair of wingback chairs face one another with a small table between. She settles into one of the chairs and sets the phone down. The letters take their place in her lap, beneath her hands as she waits. Finally, the phone clicks and the voice she was waiting for rumbles forward.

Voice: "Robert Keyhome. How can I assist you?"

The woman smiles. Despite the fact this voice belongs to a man twice her age, she still draws comfort fromhim, like an older brother who is always there.

Woman: "Robert. It's Jessica Mathis."

A slight pause from the other end comes to its conclusion with a softlaugh.

Robert Keyhome: "Hello, Jem. How in the world are ya?"

Jessica Mathis: "I'm okay. Same stuff different day. How about you?"

Robert Keyhome: "Been boring since you decided to pursue your wrestling career. Sorry so far everyone has been pretty much not interested in a new talent. God knows you just need one chance."

Jessica Mathis: "Yeah. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I have a nearly four inch tall stack of rejections. Not counting the ones who just didn't bother to reply. I got four more today, though."

Robert Keyhome: "Really, now? Any of them good?"

Jessica shrugs and starts running off the names on the envelopes, receiving a hmm in return forthem all.

Jessica Mathis: "One of them seems a bit thicker than the others. Grant it may just have a more formal response than 'best of luck, kid'."

Robert's deep laughter echoes in the room.

Robert Keyhome: "One never knows. You want me to hang on the line while you open them? I have my fingers crossed."

Jessica Mathis: "If you don't mind. I'm beyond the point of being nervous about it anymore."

She begins ripping envelopes open. The first three she opens, reads and sets on the table, with only the commentof 'Rejection'.

Jessica Mathis: "This one is the thicker one. From an outfit called Visionaries of Wrestling. Found them after some intense, late night googling. Figured why not try, worst they can do is say no, like everyone else."

Robert Keyhome: "Not one I know, but hey, if they'll give you a shot, they could be a favorite in a hurry."

Jessica smiles a little and rips into the envelope, pulling out a three page foldedpacket of paper. She unfolds them and begins to read.

Jessica Mathis: "Dear Miss Mathis. On behalf of Visionaries of Wrestling, I wish to thank you for your submission of your demo video and letter expressing interest in us. We are an organization which
believes that all talent deserves the best treatment, best chance to succeed and the best support system in the business."

Robert Keyhome: "That's promising."

Jessica Mathis: "While your talent is raw and not at the full potential, as evidenced both in the video provided and your letter, it is our decision to offer you a chance to develop those skills. Enclosed with this letter, you will find a developmental contract. This contact is offered to you on a short term basis, with a long term contract possible if we feel you are deserving and will dedicate yourself to upholding the high standards and conduct of our organization."

The sound of Robert cheering echoes as Jessica fumbles through the papers. Thetwo included pages consisting of a simple contract, spelling out the details of the offer. This draws a huge smile as she slides to the edge of the chair.

Jessica Mathis: "Uncle Rob, they want me to have a match this month! Looks like I am being put in a match with three other people."

Robert Keyhome: "Throwing you into the fire I see. Those matches are total chaos. You can lose without even being involved in the decision if it is a Fatal Fourway."

Jess scans the paper, then nods.

Jessica Mathis: "Looks like that is what they have in mind. Guess they believe in throwing ya into the deep end and let you swim or sink."

Robert Keyhome: "Fantastic! Now, where and when do you report?"

Jessica Mathis: "Dayton."

Robert hmms again.

Robert Keyhome: "At the University? Nice arena there."

Jess shakes her head.

Jessica Mathis: "Nope. Hara Arena."

A pause issues from the phone, then...

Robert Keyhome: "Northish side of town. Not the biggest venue, but should be perfect for your debut. Live people, but not like a seventy or eighty thousand person crowd."

Jess gives a quick yelp of glee.

Jessica Mathis: "Oh, Rob. I can't tell you how excited I am."

Robert's voice carries a warm smile with it.

Robert Keyhome: "I remember the feeling, Jem. It was only fifteen years ago I was feeling the same way."

Jessica Mathis: "Yeh, but you had Darryl with you. And you had masks on."

Laughter from both.

Robert Keyhome: "You have a face you don't need to hide, kiddo. You want them to see who you are and appreciate who you are."

Jessica Mathis: "But it was such a great gimmick. The Inevitables. Death and Taxes. Such a classic bit!"

Robert Keyhome: "Was good for a run as Tag Team Champs. You have any idea what you are going to do for a gimmick, if anything?"

Jessica smiles, knowingly.

Jessica Mathis: "Oh, yes. I already have it planned out. I need to call Mom and let her know."

Robert Keyhome: "Gotcha. Congrats kiddo. Let me know when you get your flight info taken care of and all. I can give you a lift to the airport if you want."

Jessica Mathis: "Thanks, Uncle Rob. For everything."

Robert's voice is half joking, half not as he replies.

Robert Keyhome: "Don't thank me yet. Once you nail down that long term contract, you can take me out to Longhorn Steakhouse."

Jessica laughs, leaning back in the chair, slouching.

Jessica Mathis: "It's a deal."

She retrieves the phone, disconnecting the call. She leans back, looking down at the letterstill in her lap. Back into her favorites she taps, selecting her Mother's phone number...

===

Dayton, Ohio.

From the look of things, a hot day has come to a slightly cooler close. Despite the respite in temperatures, the Coldstone Creamery seems to be hopping busy. The line stretches out the door and four
bodies down the sidewalk. Emerging from this hub-bub, looking a tad bit frazzled, is Jessica E. Mathis, carrying a waffle cone that appears to be stuffed with Birthday Cake Ice Cream. Jessica angles
away from the store front, headed toward a bench at the road side, under the sign of a nearby Tim Horton's. Once there, she settles downwith a sigh and licks at the frozen treat. She is dressed in a pink
top with silver butterflies on it, cut off jean shorts and cowgirl boots, light brown. With great delight she leans back, enjoying the cooling feeling of the ice cream.

Jessica Mathis: “So strange. Finding myself in a place I dreamed of, but not exactly where I dreamed I'd be. But, Dayton is still good to me. The place I finally get to chase down my dream. To finally become a Professional.”

She pauses to lick a stream of ice cream from her hand, as it is melting. She chases it up the cone with the flat of her tongue, before pulling her head back, the tip of her tongue leaving a trail in the now slightly soft ice cream.

Jessica Mathis: “For my debut, I get to be part of one of two Fatal Fourway matches. Sounds like fun. A good environment to learn, for sure. It will be confusing, crazy and likely like a cartoon, one could end up putting oneself in a sleeper hold if you aren't paying attention.”

She giggles to this and takes her time working at the ice cream. Finally, after several long minutes,she has the ice cream eaten down into the cone itself, letting her turn her attention away from her sweet treat.

Jessica Mathis: “I don't know a thing about these guys. Other than names. This, naturally, means I can't trash talk very well. Well, I could try.”

She stands up, spreads her arms out like she has huge muscles and deepens her voice.

Jessica Mathis: “My name is Jamo. It rhymes with Camo. I'll hit you so hard, it'll go Blammo.”

She coughs and takes a step back, putting her right foot on the edge of the bench to balance herself.

Jessica Mathis: “Whew. Can't do that one for long.”

She takes herself a few breaths.

Jessica Mathis: “I know. Lame. But the good thing is this. These guys know about as much about me as I do about them. Which is not so much.”

She settles back on the bench and drinks a little of the melted ice cream from the waffle cone, which is getting a little soggy.

Jessica Mathis: “Leo Dempsey. Sounds like an NFL quarterback from the sixties. Like a big, tough guy. Someone who you don't want to turn your back on. Always good advice in the Wrestling business though, I have been told.”

She takes a bite from the cone and chews.

Jessica Mathis: “Patrick Jones. Sort of a generic name. Calls to mind a generic kind of guy. Probably someone with good technical skill, but a little slow and plodding. Again, that's the name. Who knows what the man behind is like?”

She takes several bites from the cone, finishing it and disposing of the wrapper in a nearby trash can.

Jessica Mathis: “So it isn't the greatest, I admit. But as I said, the issue goes both ways. I know little about these three, and they know little about me. What they need to know, is that I'm coming to prove myself. That doesn't mean I necessarily have to win, tough that would be nice, but to find out how I am doing, how I need to improve, and that I can hold up in one of the most chaotic of matches.”

She smiles and pulls from her hip pocket a pair of plastic pink sunglasses with the lenses shaped like stars.

Jessica Mathis: “See you in the ring guys.”

She slips the glasses on. It looks kinda funny, but at the same time, it seems in place on her.

Jessica Mathis: “Showtime, Synergy.”

With the smile, she turns, her head turning last as she smiles at the camera before clicking away in her boots.