Post by Ziu Zhong on Aug 20, 2014 18:58:23 GMT -6
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January 2054
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“Daddy”
“Yes Jake?”
“Can I hear another story about grandpa tonight please?”
“Yeah, sure son.”
“Yay!”
“Go and brush your teeth and climb into bed and I will be up in a minute.”
“Yeah!”
Jake ran around the sofa, letting his emotions run wild. He finally made it to the staircase and climbed them as if he were a monkey. A normal, excitable 7 year old boy that was eager to hear more stories about his hero – his Grandpa.
Jake got to the top of the stairs and dashed into the bathroom whistling and humming to the latest pop song that was number one in the charts. He grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste and begun to brush his teeth when suddenly he could hear a vibrating sound coming from the other room. A robot hovered into the bathroom with some dry, neatly folded towels and placed them on the towel rack.
“Hello Jake,” said the robot, patting the towels neatly into their position on the roller with his robotic arm.
“Hey Cxbon! Thanks for cleaning my room earlier today.”
“You’re welcome Jake; it’s my job to clean the house.”
In 2054 robots are a common item in your everyday home. They’re mainly used as cleaners, general helpers, as friends and even as sexual partners. Jake high fived the robot before flying into his bedroom as if he were a plane, arms stretched and plane noises emitting from his mouth.
“Goodnight Jake,” said Cxbon, making his way into the hallway outside.
“Goodnight Cxbon. I love you.”
“I love you too, Jake.”
Meanwhile, downstairs Jake’s father Kayden was sending a video text message to his father.
“Hi Dad, little Jakey is on his way upstairs to await another one of your stories. I just thought I would remind you about VOW’s 40th Anniversary event in May. Are you still able to get me and Jake tickets before they go on sale? Being a VOW legend always helps doesn’t it Dad. Anyway, hope you and Mom are well and I’ll speak to you both soon. Let me know about those tickets!”
Back upstairs, Jake had jumped into bed before pulling the covers over his body. Loud footsteps could be heard before Kayden walked into his room. He strolled over to the bed and looked down at his energetic son who was about to speak.
“I like Cxbon, Daddy”
“Do you?”
“Yeah, he plays games with me when all the adults are talking. He also cleaned my room today.”
“Well, that’s what they are there for. We never had robots in our days, boy. We knew they were coming, though.”
“I can’t imagine a world without robots. They are so friendly and helpful.”
“Well there was always an argument about them being slaves and making humans lazy, but they have beefed up security so much around the world. Also, they have no feelings because they are not real, so the slave argument went right out the window. I can see why it would make people lazy but they are programmed not to overload. People can’t take them for granted.”
“Everyone has robots now.”
“They do indeed.”
Kayden started to tuck Jake into bed.
“Before we get too comfortable, have you brushed your teeth yet, little man?”
“Yes Daddy.”
Jake was excited when story time came. The big smile on his face told it all. He always loved hearing stories about his Grandpa.
“Right then,” Jake’s father said aloud, taking a seat on the bedside chair before clapping his hands twice to turn the lights off.
“Story, story, story!” shouted Jake, fists clinched and heart pounding. Kids love bedtime stories.
“Ok, calm down boy. You’re meant to be going to sleep not full of energy.”
“Story time is the best, Daddy.”
“Ok, here goes. Where were we up to last time?”
“Well…err…Grandpa had left his old company where he was very successful and decided to join a new up-and-coming company to test himself in bigger and better surroundings.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right; I remember now.”
“He left his old company because his Chinese friends stabbed him in the back. Not for real, though, or they would have gone to jail. You were metal-for-at-lee speaking.”
Kayden smiled at his son and was so proud of him. He couldn’t have asked for a better son.
“You’re so cute boy, do you know that?”
“Oh stop it Daddy.”
“You fell asleep when we left it at that part of the story so I hope you didn’t have nightmares.”
“No Dad, I dreamt of floating gummy bears and I was an aeroplane and I was flying around eating all the gummy bears.”
Kayden laughed. “Ok son. So, are you ready for story time?”
“YEAH!”
“Aren’t you bored of these stories yet? You’ve heard them so many times already.”
“No; I love your stories about Grandpa.”
“Fair enough. Here goes.”
The room was dark with a dimly lit cartoon night-light in the corner of the room on the other side of Jake’s bed. A proud father sat over him and told him a story that he had been told himself many, many times by his father, and a story he had already told his son many, many times.
“Once upon a time, your Grandpa – Ziu Zhong – joined Visionaries of Wrestling.”
“Vision-hairies!” giggled Jake.
“Visionaries Of Wrestling; the best wrestling entertainment show today and for the past 40 years. Ziu Zhong had arrived to prove to himself AND the wrestling world that he could hold his own with the best. He wanted to be the best. VOW had only been open 3 months but Ziu could see the potential they had and jumped at the chance to join them. Grandpa Ziu joined what was to be his home for many, many years.”
Jake stared into his father’s eyes and imagined what it was like back them. A life without robots. A life when petrol and even people were needed to drive cars. A life when you got stuck in traffic and had to sit behind another vehicle. Why did people waste time in traffic?! Crazy! Jake preferred his current life in 2054, but wow…how great would it have been to watch Grandpa Ziu wrestle in VOW. All the kids love VOW and Jake was no different.
“Ziu’s first match was a four way. Death, Patrick Jones and Judas Dathan. A wrestler always remembers his first match in a new company, but this was remembered for all the wrong reasons.”
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40 years earlier...
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Sunday 17th August 2014
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Ziu Zhong is dressed in a smart blue chequered shirt with light blue jeans and is sat in a Chinese restaurant with his wife, Ling. The lady is dressed in a lovely yellow flowery dress with her hair in a bun.
“Me love noodles. Me could bathe in them.”
“Calm down there, Ling.”
Ling smiles aggressively.
“They so tasty.”
“I’ve never come across someone who loves noodles as much as you. We haven’t lived in China for about 8 years now; you know you don’t need to eat them all the time, right?”
“Me just loves them. Mmm…so tasty.”
Ling dives into her plate of noodles as an embarrassed Ziu looks over his shoulders to see if anyone is watching.
“So have you had any more thoughts about book club?”
Swallowing before she has even chewed the food, the noodles slither down her throat like a snake. Ling finds a gap to reply.
“Me think good idea for book club. Me advertise in local paper and next week me hopes friends in neighbourhood come round to read.”
“It’s a good idea. It will keep you busy.”
“So…another win for my warrior husband.”
“It certainly was.”
“Me little champion you.”
“PKA was a tough competitor, there’s no doubt about that, but how he became champ will never know. You simply can’t have a drunk as your champ.”
“VOW need warrior champ like you.”
“They certainly can’t do any worse than PKA. Well, Judas Dathan will be a close second. Anyway, I’m looking at that World Visionary Championship now. I’m an amateur to this roster and maybe ahead of myself a bit but I feel that I’m ready. I want gold and I want top gold.”
“You can do it.”
“I think beating there champion has proved it. That’s 3 and 0 now. Well, I should have won the first match if the ref opened his eyes so technically I’m 2 and 1. I felt so good going into the past two matches and I need the same this week.”
“Why, who you match this week?”
“This week I face Lucas McCann. He’s the only unbeaten wrestlers on the current roster, well, along with me of course. He will be a tricky opponent but I think I can get round him.”
“Think?”
“I know I can. He hasn’t faced anyone like me yet. He seems over confident and that will be no match for my smart confidence. I know what he’s capable of, but he doesn’t know what I’m capable of. I’m going to destroy him just like I did previous wrestlers that doubted me.”
“Can me come watch husband soon?”
“What, live?”
“Yes. Me could sit it back with you and give massage and me could be by husband side.”
“Yeah I think we could sort something out.”
“Me so happy. Wife and husband happy again; no marriage counselling; me soon have book club; you unbeaten warrior showing other wrestle who best. Life is good.”
Ling was correct. After years of misery, misunderstanding, silence and anger, Ling and her husband were enjoying life. Ziu was in a new job and was wrestling like he always knew he could. Ling was being reasonable and more supportive than Ziu could ever imagine. Considering Ziu spent a lot of time away from Ling, who spends all day every day in a silent house by herself, she was handling it very well after the one marriage counselling session that sorted the Zhongs out.
“Life is good, Ling. Life will be even better when I open that bloody briefcase.”
“Why take so long.”
“They might be waiting for the right moment. I need to get on to them and ask for the code. I’ve left it along since I won it but I will speak with VOW management and get it opened.”
Suddenly a waiter approaches the table.
“Another drink for you sir?”
“Yes please. Same again,”
“Tsing Tao coming right up.”
The waiter rushes into the back to fetch another beet for Ziu.
“You love beer now.”
“I’m not a keen beer drinker but since last week when I showed PKA up I’ve got a taste for it. These Chinese beers, these Tsing Tao’s, are absolutely delicious.”
“Nasty. Me no like beer.”
The waiter appears from nowhere and plants the Tsing Tao beer on the table.
“There you go, sir.”
“Great, thanks.”
The waiter races round to another table as Ziu and Ling continue their candle-lit dinner.
“Mmm.”
“Me bet drink taste better if you beat Lucas this week.”
“Oh yeah, definitely. I’m on a roll with two extremely important wins, but I need to push on now. I can’t be winning the Quest for the Case match, followed by defeating VOWs first champion only to lose to Lucas McCann. It’s not on.”
“You show him Mr.”
“Oh I will. I’m letting the Ziu Fly lose. I need to be a little more creative with my moves, as I haven’t used me signature moves yet. I want to deliver Slap-Fest on Lucas and watch him feel the pain. I need to deliver Two Zhongs Make A Right too.”
“Baby you so weird with your names.”
“Nothing wrong with some decent names for your moves. Lucas’s main moves are called 'Lights Out', 'End of Days' and 'Straight to Hell'. Hmm...very creative. He defeated Starrkadian last week, thinking he was in a different world with his style of wrestling, but I’m coming in like an atomic bomb…KABOOM!”
“Excuse me sir, can you not say that word in here please, you’ll scare the customer. I was lucky enough to hear the sentence before it but if our customers hear that word they will be out of here faster than Usain Bolt.”
“I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”
Ling nudges Ziu under the table with her foot.
“Ziu, watch it.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think. Anyway, where was I…oh yeah, so you get the picture. Lucas will be hit by a storm and it will be nothing he has ever felt before.”
“You talk so strongly ‘bout wrestle.”
“It’s my life, you know. You and wrestling, it’s all I need.”
Ling’s pretty smile appears on her face as her sparkly earrings shine either side.
“Me can’t wait to come event with you.
“You can come to the event, and cum in the event if you like?”
“Oh stop it, Ziu; you so dirty.”
Ziu laughs. “You love it really.”
“I love it if kid is end of it.”
“Yeah one day we’ll be ready. We’ve only been back on good terms a few weeks now, let’s take it easy.”
“Yeah me knows. But one day me wants little boy.”
“Everyone wants a boy first don’t they.”
“They so cute me wants to eat them. I wonder what we call our babies.”
“Babies now?”
“Well, you know, I…er…”
“I’m just playing, Ling. I’m sure we’ll have a few.”
“Me likes Chloe for girl and Jayden for boy.”
“Jayden? Chloe’s ok but Jayden?”
“It’s nice name.”
“Kayden maybe, but not Jayden.”
“Oh Kayden. I like that name!”
“Something different. Anyway let’s stop talking about baby names or you’ll get all broody.”
“OH! Me broodies all reds.”
“Let me settle in VOW first. Let me ruin some more members of the roster. Since I’ve arrived Death has gone quiet, Daniel Kennedy seems to be injured or lost, Patrick Jones is nowhere to be seen, Judas Dathan has gone quiet, Stacey Jones is quiet and now PKA is on walkabouts. I don’t think these wrestlers can handle me.”
“Oh baby, why you so arrogant sometimes.”
“Wrestling is all about confidence, and I’m not arrogant I’m confident. You don’t get anywhere in the wrestling world without confidence. Lucas has fake confidence, and I’m going to exploit it. If he thinks he can talk me out of the game before we wrestle he can think again. That guy says the same things week in week out and I’m not falling for his bull****. He may have something very deep and meaningful in common with me –the loss of our fathers – but that’s where we draw the line. I’m going to end his unbeaten record and shut him up like everyone else wants me to do.”
“Baby, you so mean these days, what’s gotten into you?”
“I’m fine – just passionate about the sport. Passionate about out-wrestling my opponents before and during the match.”
“Ok, but don’t get too mean.”
“How about we get out of here now. Lets head back home and celebrate my win over PKA and my win this week over Lucas McCann.”
“And celebrate our future unborn child, Kayden.”
Ziu rolls his eyes. “Yes, if that makes you happy.”
Ling stares at her husband for a minute.
[Whispers] “Me so horny.”
“Where did that come from.”
“Me dough know. Me just……so horny.”
“Right, let’s get out of here.”
Within minutes they finish off their food, pay the bill and head on home for a night of fun in celebration of Ziu beaten VOW’s champion PKA, Ziu’s hopeful win over his opponent Lucas McCann this week, and in Ling’s eyes, in celebration of their future unborn child – Kayden Zhong.
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“Daddy, why was it remembered for all the wrong reasons?”
Kayden put his hand over his sons head and brushed the hair out of his face.
“Your Grandpa didn't like to remember it because the ref didn’t see the pull on the tights. Grandpa lost the match and was very upset but was given the chance for revenge a week later at Heatstroke when he returned to the ring with pretty much the same people involved apart from a few additions. It was called Quest for the Case and the winner would win a briefcase full of goodies.”
Jake turned and looked at his night-light, imagining what could be inside the briefcase, even though he has heard this story so many times. Jake was very dramatic yet mature for his age.
“Ziu climbed the ladder and reached the briefcase with every ounce of energy he could muster.”
Jake’s eyes were locked on his father. The hairs on his arms and his back shot up and the things his father was saying to him caused a shiver through his body. He wiggled his toes with excitement, and his heart was beating fast.”
“He grabbed the briefcase and held it close to his chest as he fell all the way to the canvas, landing on Judas Dathan, the man who cheated to beat him the week before.”
Jake clenched his fits really hard under the covers in support of his Grandpa.
“Ziu was praised by the media and his fan base was growing rather quickly. He had to wait to find out what was inside the briefcase, though. But he was given yet another exciting match just one week later where he was put up against VOW’s first ever champion – PKA. He was on an up and had won the belt a week before, but Ziu went in with a game plan and his so called ‘smart confidence’ and worked hard on him until he crumbled. Ziu picked out his flaws and beat him, causing the wrestling world to sit up and take notice.”
Jake’s eyes were desperate to close and send their owner off to sleep to dream about this very story, and they flickered a few times but Jake kept them open enough to continue paying attention.
“Then there was Lucas McCann.”
Jake turned his head slightly and looked into the dark ceiling. Grandpa was amazing. He truly was amazing. That’s all he could think of in his heard, over and over again.
“Lucas was a strong competitor that had impressed the VOW fans up until this point, but he was about to come crashing back down to earth as Ziu wiped the floor with him. Ziu showed his high flying skills yet again, and even delivered one of his signature moves for the first time. He pulled it off with perfection and there was no way back for Lucas. His swagger and arrogance stunk and Ziu dealt with him. It was to be an even bigger turning point for Ziu than the PKA win and the Quest for the Case win, because people finally took notice of Ziu Zhong, your Grandpa, and they realised he was the real deal.”
Realising he was getting louder as he got deeper into the story, Kayden looked down at his son and paused abruptly. Jake had closed his eyes and his head had sloped to one side.
“Shh…that’s it, boy…”
Kayden pulled the bed sheet further up over his son’s body and tucked him in again. He stood up and walked towards the bedroom door as Jake lay there sleeping. Jake’s father opened the bedroom door then turned round to speak once more as the light from the hallway shot in the room across the bed sheets and up the wall.
“Sweet Dreams son.”
And that’s exactly what Ziu’s grandson did that night. He had sweet dreams.
He dreamt of his hero...
...his Grandpa Ziu Zhong.
January 2054
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“Daddy”
“Yes Jake?”
“Can I hear another story about grandpa tonight please?”
“Yeah, sure son.”
“Yay!”
“Go and brush your teeth and climb into bed and I will be up in a minute.”
“Yeah!”
Jake ran around the sofa, letting his emotions run wild. He finally made it to the staircase and climbed them as if he were a monkey. A normal, excitable 7 year old boy that was eager to hear more stories about his hero – his Grandpa.
Jake got to the top of the stairs and dashed into the bathroom whistling and humming to the latest pop song that was number one in the charts. He grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste and begun to brush his teeth when suddenly he could hear a vibrating sound coming from the other room. A robot hovered into the bathroom with some dry, neatly folded towels and placed them on the towel rack.
“Hello Jake,” said the robot, patting the towels neatly into their position on the roller with his robotic arm.
“Hey Cxbon! Thanks for cleaning my room earlier today.”
“You’re welcome Jake; it’s my job to clean the house.”
In 2054 robots are a common item in your everyday home. They’re mainly used as cleaners, general helpers, as friends and even as sexual partners. Jake high fived the robot before flying into his bedroom as if he were a plane, arms stretched and plane noises emitting from his mouth.
“Goodnight Jake,” said Cxbon, making his way into the hallway outside.
“Goodnight Cxbon. I love you.”
“I love you too, Jake.”
Meanwhile, downstairs Jake’s father Kayden was sending a video text message to his father.
“Hi Dad, little Jakey is on his way upstairs to await another one of your stories. I just thought I would remind you about VOW’s 40th Anniversary event in May. Are you still able to get me and Jake tickets before they go on sale? Being a VOW legend always helps doesn’t it Dad. Anyway, hope you and Mom are well and I’ll speak to you both soon. Let me know about those tickets!”
Back upstairs, Jake had jumped into bed before pulling the covers over his body. Loud footsteps could be heard before Kayden walked into his room. He strolled over to the bed and looked down at his energetic son who was about to speak.
“I like Cxbon, Daddy”
“Do you?”
“Yeah, he plays games with me when all the adults are talking. He also cleaned my room today.”
“Well, that’s what they are there for. We never had robots in our days, boy. We knew they were coming, though.”
“I can’t imagine a world without robots. They are so friendly and helpful.”
“Well there was always an argument about them being slaves and making humans lazy, but they have beefed up security so much around the world. Also, they have no feelings because they are not real, so the slave argument went right out the window. I can see why it would make people lazy but they are programmed not to overload. People can’t take them for granted.”
“Everyone has robots now.”
“They do indeed.”
Kayden started to tuck Jake into bed.
“Before we get too comfortable, have you brushed your teeth yet, little man?”
“Yes Daddy.”
Jake was excited when story time came. The big smile on his face told it all. He always loved hearing stories about his Grandpa.
“Right then,” Jake’s father said aloud, taking a seat on the bedside chair before clapping his hands twice to turn the lights off.
“Story, story, story!” shouted Jake, fists clinched and heart pounding. Kids love bedtime stories.
“Ok, calm down boy. You’re meant to be going to sleep not full of energy.”
“Story time is the best, Daddy.”
“Ok, here goes. Where were we up to last time?”
“Well…err…Grandpa had left his old company where he was very successful and decided to join a new up-and-coming company to test himself in bigger and better surroundings.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right; I remember now.”
“He left his old company because his Chinese friends stabbed him in the back. Not for real, though, or they would have gone to jail. You were metal-for-at-lee speaking.”
Kayden smiled at his son and was so proud of him. He couldn’t have asked for a better son.
“You’re so cute boy, do you know that?”
“Oh stop it Daddy.”
“You fell asleep when we left it at that part of the story so I hope you didn’t have nightmares.”
“No Dad, I dreamt of floating gummy bears and I was an aeroplane and I was flying around eating all the gummy bears.”
Kayden laughed. “Ok son. So, are you ready for story time?”
“YEAH!”
“Aren’t you bored of these stories yet? You’ve heard them so many times already.”
“No; I love your stories about Grandpa.”
“Fair enough. Here goes.”
The room was dark with a dimly lit cartoon night-light in the corner of the room on the other side of Jake’s bed. A proud father sat over him and told him a story that he had been told himself many, many times by his father, and a story he had already told his son many, many times.
“Once upon a time, your Grandpa – Ziu Zhong – joined Visionaries of Wrestling.”
“Vision-hairies!” giggled Jake.
“Visionaries Of Wrestling; the best wrestling entertainment show today and for the past 40 years. Ziu Zhong had arrived to prove to himself AND the wrestling world that he could hold his own with the best. He wanted to be the best. VOW had only been open 3 months but Ziu could see the potential they had and jumped at the chance to join them. Grandpa Ziu joined what was to be his home for many, many years.”
Jake stared into his father’s eyes and imagined what it was like back them. A life without robots. A life when petrol and even people were needed to drive cars. A life when you got stuck in traffic and had to sit behind another vehicle. Why did people waste time in traffic?! Crazy! Jake preferred his current life in 2054, but wow…how great would it have been to watch Grandpa Ziu wrestle in VOW. All the kids love VOW and Jake was no different.
“Ziu’s first match was a four way. Death, Patrick Jones and Judas Dathan. A wrestler always remembers his first match in a new company, but this was remembered for all the wrong reasons.”
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40 years earlier...
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Sunday 17th August 2014
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Ziu Zhong is dressed in a smart blue chequered shirt with light blue jeans and is sat in a Chinese restaurant with his wife, Ling. The lady is dressed in a lovely yellow flowery dress with her hair in a bun.
“Me love noodles. Me could bathe in them.”
“Calm down there, Ling.”
Ling smiles aggressively.
“They so tasty.”
“I’ve never come across someone who loves noodles as much as you. We haven’t lived in China for about 8 years now; you know you don’t need to eat them all the time, right?”
“Me just loves them. Mmm…so tasty.”
Ling dives into her plate of noodles as an embarrassed Ziu looks over his shoulders to see if anyone is watching.
“So have you had any more thoughts about book club?”
Swallowing before she has even chewed the food, the noodles slither down her throat like a snake. Ling finds a gap to reply.
“Me think good idea for book club. Me advertise in local paper and next week me hopes friends in neighbourhood come round to read.”
“It’s a good idea. It will keep you busy.”
“So…another win for my warrior husband.”
“It certainly was.”
“Me little champion you.”
“PKA was a tough competitor, there’s no doubt about that, but how he became champ will never know. You simply can’t have a drunk as your champ.”
“VOW need warrior champ like you.”
“They certainly can’t do any worse than PKA. Well, Judas Dathan will be a close second. Anyway, I’m looking at that World Visionary Championship now. I’m an amateur to this roster and maybe ahead of myself a bit but I feel that I’m ready. I want gold and I want top gold.”
“You can do it.”
“I think beating there champion has proved it. That’s 3 and 0 now. Well, I should have won the first match if the ref opened his eyes so technically I’m 2 and 1. I felt so good going into the past two matches and I need the same this week.”
“Why, who you match this week?”
“This week I face Lucas McCann. He’s the only unbeaten wrestlers on the current roster, well, along with me of course. He will be a tricky opponent but I think I can get round him.”
“Think?”
“I know I can. He hasn’t faced anyone like me yet. He seems over confident and that will be no match for my smart confidence. I know what he’s capable of, but he doesn’t know what I’m capable of. I’m going to destroy him just like I did previous wrestlers that doubted me.”
“Can me come watch husband soon?”
“What, live?”
“Yes. Me could sit it back with you and give massage and me could be by husband side.”
“Yeah I think we could sort something out.”
“Me so happy. Wife and husband happy again; no marriage counselling; me soon have book club; you unbeaten warrior showing other wrestle who best. Life is good.”
Ling was correct. After years of misery, misunderstanding, silence and anger, Ling and her husband were enjoying life. Ziu was in a new job and was wrestling like he always knew he could. Ling was being reasonable and more supportive than Ziu could ever imagine. Considering Ziu spent a lot of time away from Ling, who spends all day every day in a silent house by herself, she was handling it very well after the one marriage counselling session that sorted the Zhongs out.
“Life is good, Ling. Life will be even better when I open that bloody briefcase.”
“Why take so long.”
“They might be waiting for the right moment. I need to get on to them and ask for the code. I’ve left it along since I won it but I will speak with VOW management and get it opened.”
Suddenly a waiter approaches the table.
“Another drink for you sir?”
“Yes please. Same again,”
“Tsing Tao coming right up.”
The waiter rushes into the back to fetch another beet for Ziu.
“You love beer now.”
“I’m not a keen beer drinker but since last week when I showed PKA up I’ve got a taste for it. These Chinese beers, these Tsing Tao’s, are absolutely delicious.”
“Nasty. Me no like beer.”
The waiter appears from nowhere and plants the Tsing Tao beer on the table.
“There you go, sir.”
“Great, thanks.”
The waiter races round to another table as Ziu and Ling continue their candle-lit dinner.
“Mmm.”
“Me bet drink taste better if you beat Lucas this week.”
“Oh yeah, definitely. I’m on a roll with two extremely important wins, but I need to push on now. I can’t be winning the Quest for the Case match, followed by defeating VOWs first champion only to lose to Lucas McCann. It’s not on.”
“You show him Mr.”
“Oh I will. I’m letting the Ziu Fly lose. I need to be a little more creative with my moves, as I haven’t used me signature moves yet. I want to deliver Slap-Fest on Lucas and watch him feel the pain. I need to deliver Two Zhongs Make A Right too.”
“Baby you so weird with your names.”
“Nothing wrong with some decent names for your moves. Lucas’s main moves are called 'Lights Out', 'End of Days' and 'Straight to Hell'. Hmm...very creative. He defeated Starrkadian last week, thinking he was in a different world with his style of wrestling, but I’m coming in like an atomic bomb…KABOOM!”
“Excuse me sir, can you not say that word in here please, you’ll scare the customer. I was lucky enough to hear the sentence before it but if our customers hear that word they will be out of here faster than Usain Bolt.”
“I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”
Ling nudges Ziu under the table with her foot.
“Ziu, watch it.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think. Anyway, where was I…oh yeah, so you get the picture. Lucas will be hit by a storm and it will be nothing he has ever felt before.”
“You talk so strongly ‘bout wrestle.”
“It’s my life, you know. You and wrestling, it’s all I need.”
Ling’s pretty smile appears on her face as her sparkly earrings shine either side.
“Me can’t wait to come event with you.
“You can come to the event, and cum in the event if you like?”
“Oh stop it, Ziu; you so dirty.”
Ziu laughs. “You love it really.”
“I love it if kid is end of it.”
“Yeah one day we’ll be ready. We’ve only been back on good terms a few weeks now, let’s take it easy.”
“Yeah me knows. But one day me wants little boy.”
“Everyone wants a boy first don’t they.”
“They so cute me wants to eat them. I wonder what we call our babies.”
“Babies now?”
“Well, you know, I…er…”
“I’m just playing, Ling. I’m sure we’ll have a few.”
“Me likes Chloe for girl and Jayden for boy.”
“Jayden? Chloe’s ok but Jayden?”
“It’s nice name.”
“Kayden maybe, but not Jayden.”
“Oh Kayden. I like that name!”
“Something different. Anyway let’s stop talking about baby names or you’ll get all broody.”
“OH! Me broodies all reds.”
“Let me settle in VOW first. Let me ruin some more members of the roster. Since I’ve arrived Death has gone quiet, Daniel Kennedy seems to be injured or lost, Patrick Jones is nowhere to be seen, Judas Dathan has gone quiet, Stacey Jones is quiet and now PKA is on walkabouts. I don’t think these wrestlers can handle me.”
“Oh baby, why you so arrogant sometimes.”
“Wrestling is all about confidence, and I’m not arrogant I’m confident. You don’t get anywhere in the wrestling world without confidence. Lucas has fake confidence, and I’m going to exploit it. If he thinks he can talk me out of the game before we wrestle he can think again. That guy says the same things week in week out and I’m not falling for his bull****. He may have something very deep and meaningful in common with me –the loss of our fathers – but that’s where we draw the line. I’m going to end his unbeaten record and shut him up like everyone else wants me to do.”
“Baby, you so mean these days, what’s gotten into you?”
“I’m fine – just passionate about the sport. Passionate about out-wrestling my opponents before and during the match.”
“Ok, but don’t get too mean.”
“How about we get out of here now. Lets head back home and celebrate my win over PKA and my win this week over Lucas McCann.”
“And celebrate our future unborn child, Kayden.”
Ziu rolls his eyes. “Yes, if that makes you happy.”
Ling stares at her husband for a minute.
[Whispers] “Me so horny.”
“Where did that come from.”
“Me dough know. Me just……so horny.”
“Right, let’s get out of here.”
Within minutes they finish off their food, pay the bill and head on home for a night of fun in celebration of Ziu beaten VOW’s champion PKA, Ziu’s hopeful win over his opponent Lucas McCann this week, and in Ling’s eyes, in celebration of their future unborn child – Kayden Zhong.
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“Daddy, why was it remembered for all the wrong reasons?”
Kayden put his hand over his sons head and brushed the hair out of his face.
“Your Grandpa didn't like to remember it because the ref didn’t see the pull on the tights. Grandpa lost the match and was very upset but was given the chance for revenge a week later at Heatstroke when he returned to the ring with pretty much the same people involved apart from a few additions. It was called Quest for the Case and the winner would win a briefcase full of goodies.”
Jake turned and looked at his night-light, imagining what could be inside the briefcase, even though he has heard this story so many times. Jake was very dramatic yet mature for his age.
“Ziu climbed the ladder and reached the briefcase with every ounce of energy he could muster.”
Jake’s eyes were locked on his father. The hairs on his arms and his back shot up and the things his father was saying to him caused a shiver through his body. He wiggled his toes with excitement, and his heart was beating fast.”
“He grabbed the briefcase and held it close to his chest as he fell all the way to the canvas, landing on Judas Dathan, the man who cheated to beat him the week before.”
Jake clenched his fits really hard under the covers in support of his Grandpa.
“Ziu was praised by the media and his fan base was growing rather quickly. He had to wait to find out what was inside the briefcase, though. But he was given yet another exciting match just one week later where he was put up against VOW’s first ever champion – PKA. He was on an up and had won the belt a week before, but Ziu went in with a game plan and his so called ‘smart confidence’ and worked hard on him until he crumbled. Ziu picked out his flaws and beat him, causing the wrestling world to sit up and take notice.”
Jake’s eyes were desperate to close and send their owner off to sleep to dream about this very story, and they flickered a few times but Jake kept them open enough to continue paying attention.
“Then there was Lucas McCann.”
Jake turned his head slightly and looked into the dark ceiling. Grandpa was amazing. He truly was amazing. That’s all he could think of in his heard, over and over again.
“Lucas was a strong competitor that had impressed the VOW fans up until this point, but he was about to come crashing back down to earth as Ziu wiped the floor with him. Ziu showed his high flying skills yet again, and even delivered one of his signature moves for the first time. He pulled it off with perfection and there was no way back for Lucas. His swagger and arrogance stunk and Ziu dealt with him. It was to be an even bigger turning point for Ziu than the PKA win and the Quest for the Case win, because people finally took notice of Ziu Zhong, your Grandpa, and they realised he was the real deal.”
Realising he was getting louder as he got deeper into the story, Kayden looked down at his son and paused abruptly. Jake had closed his eyes and his head had sloped to one side.
“Shh…that’s it, boy…”
Kayden pulled the bed sheet further up over his son’s body and tucked him in again. He stood up and walked towards the bedroom door as Jake lay there sleeping. Jake’s father opened the bedroom door then turned round to speak once more as the light from the hallway shot in the room across the bed sheets and up the wall.
“Sweet Dreams son.”
And that’s exactly what Ziu’s grandson did that night. He had sweet dreams.
He dreamt of his hero...
...his Grandpa Ziu Zhong.
