Post by Jackson Burnside on May 8, 2024 14:41:43 GMT -5
Jackson Burnside, UWL’s Weatherman is alone in a small hotel room. It isn’t much, but it is enough to get him through the next couple of nights in Nashville ahead of Grand Voyage. He is sitting on the full size bed with his back up against what passes as a headboard. The room is dark, illuminated by a faint blue-white glow coming from an old, mediocre 24 inch flat screen. An Android S23 is on the bed next to him, in a call and set to speaker.
Little Girl:
“…and we had a ’Sink-o May’ party! We had chips and salsa and cheese but I only ate the chips and the cheese the sauce was too spicy!”
Jackson Burnside:
“Now that sounds made up. Cinco de Mayo you said? Are you tricking me little lady? Jackie do I need to text Ms. Helen to see if this is true?”
On the other end of the line is Jackson’s daughter, Jacqueline. . Is she named after her father to be cute or is it just an act of narcissism? That’s for you to decide. She sounds no older than five, probably younger. Her voice has that distinct tamber that really little girls have, but for a kid so young she’s good at speaking and expressing herself.
Jaqueline:
“I’m not tricking you! Mommy also made her ‘dillas’ with veggies and chicken but I didn’t like the chicken oh and also cheese. I ate the veggies and cheese! And scallions! There’s scallions in the garden, I LOVE SCALLIONS!”
Jackson’s daughter rambles in that rapid fire, word-vomit way kids do. His amused smile changes to a grimace as the phone’s speaker peaks as Jackie yells about her love of scallions.
Jackson Burnside:
“That sounds good. I could use some of mommy’s cooking right now. Hey maybe you can help mommy next time I come home and make those for me? You can cute the vegetables right?”
Jaqueline:
“No! I need my stool to reach the counter but it’s in the bathroom! Oh! I can’t use a knife I’m just a little kid!”
Jackson Burnside:
“I guess you’re right. You’ll probably steal the peppers though won’t you?”
Jacqueline:
“Mmhm.” Her voice drops to a child’s whisper – you know one of those whispers that isn’t actually quiet? “But don’t tell mommy, okay?”
Jackson Burnside:
“I won’t, peanut. That’ll be a nice treat for me next time I come home.”
Jacqueline:
“When will you be home?”
Jackson hesitates.
Jackson Burnside:
“I don’t know, baby. Very busy, I’ve had a lot of big matches.”
Jacqueline:
“Did you, uhm. Did you get the, the… did you get your gold belt?”
He smiles sadly to himself. There’s something else behind that question. More than just a child asking her father how work is going.
Jackson Burnside:
“Not yet. Maybe soon.”
Jacqueline:
“Can I watch your game when it happens?”
Jackson Burnside:
“Match, not a game. Uhm, well ask mommy. Is she going to let you watch the show this weekend? You know I’ve got a match against three other people?”
Jacqueline:
“THREE?! THAT’S A LOT!”
He pulls the phone away from his hear as the speaker crackles under the volume of a child’s unrestrained yelling.
Jackson Burnside:
“Listen baby I need to talk to mom now, can you give her the phone.”
There’s no good-bye, just the sound of the phone getting put down. There’s some rustling, and then the distant sound of a child yelling a drawn out “SMUUURFS.” A moment later a female answers.
Jackson Burnside:
“Nikki, you there?”
Nicole:
“Yeah I hear you. Sorry I went and put Smurfs on so we could talk.”
Jackson Burnside:
“She loves those little blue guys.”
Nicole:
“She drew a picture of them earlier. I’ll take a picture and send it over – Hey listen. You got something in the mail the other day. A little package came into the uh, the PO BOX you have in town for work stuff. The one fans can write into, stuff like that?”
Jackson Burnside:
“Yeah?”
Nicole:
“Yeah.” There’s a long pause. Something in Nicole’s voice sounds uneasy. “It uh… I think some sort of uhm, animal genitalia?”
Jackson sits straight up in the bed. He picks the phone up and brings it closer, but keeps it on speaker.
Jackson Burnside:
“Did you throw it away?”
Nicole:
“OF COURSE I THR-” She stops herself from yelling and drops to a whisper. “Of course I threw them away! What in the Hell is this? Some insane fan?”
Jackson Burnside:
“No. So I’ve got my title match coming up, this guy Cory Chavelle?”
Nicole:
“That piece of shit I’ve seen on Good Morning America? I can’t believe that fucking guy has a job.”
Jackson Burnside:
“Yeah him. He’s an unstable guy, really likes to intimidate people. Get this I think he abducted somebody’s sister once.”
Nicole:
“I feel great now, thanks!”
Jackson Burnside:
“Sorry. Well yeah, so he did this whole thing, said I need to get my nuts back or whatever. Being real cute y’know, trying to show how macho he is. Probably got the damn things from a butcher. Sonuva bitch, didn’t think he’d mail ‘em off.”
Nicole:
“Well it’s a good thing it went to the PO Box! When’s your match with this guy? Should you even be getting involved with a sick freak like this?”
Jackson Burnside:
“I don’t know. Soon, they keep telling me soon. Listen though, Nikki, he’s a lot of talk, a lot of bluster. Thinks he’s cock of the walk right, Pope of Wrestletown. More to the point though he wants me to be intimidated. But he doesn’t scare me. He’s a big dumb redneck and he’s used to bullying women and dudes half his size. Somebody needs to beat him, and it’s gonna be me.”
Nicole:
“I hope it’s a wrestling match. I don’t like it when you do those violent matches. That, chain match or whatever you had scared me.”
Jackson Burnside:
“I’m gonna bring whatever I have to do beat this guy. He can’t represent this business or the UWL. I’m the guy who has to put him in his place. Wants me to find my nuts? I never lost him. Once the Coronation Cup is done with his ass is mine.”
There’s a long awkward silence.
Nicole:
“I’m not letting her watch.”
Jackson Burnside:
“Oh come on! It’s gonna be the biggest night of my lif-”
Nicole:
“I know, I know. But if something happens, and he doesn’t just beat you, but her hurts you, I can’t even imagine how I explain that to her.”
Jackson Burnside:
“Have faith in my Nikki. God didn’t put me on this path just to let some sick freak beat the Hell outta me over and over again. I’ve taken my share of punishment from Cory, but come our match it’s his turn.”
Nicole:
“The other thing too. I mean, her w-“
Jackson Burnside:
“It won’t make a difference whether I win or lose. Just consider it okay?...” There’s no response. Nicole silently mulls it over, the possibilities and outcomes churning around in her head. “Hey, next time I’m home you have to make quesadillas okay? She wants to help.”
Nicole:
“Sure we can do that.”
Little Girl:
“…and we had a ’Sink-o May’ party! We had chips and salsa and cheese but I only ate the chips and the cheese the sauce was too spicy!”
Jackson Burnside:
“Now that sounds made up. Cinco de Mayo you said? Are you tricking me little lady? Jackie do I need to text Ms. Helen to see if this is true?”
On the other end of the line is Jackson’s daughter, Jacqueline. . Is she named after her father to be cute or is it just an act of narcissism? That’s for you to decide. She sounds no older than five, probably younger. Her voice has that distinct tamber that really little girls have, but for a kid so young she’s good at speaking and expressing herself.
Jaqueline:
“I’m not tricking you! Mommy also made her ‘dillas’ with veggies and chicken but I didn’t like the chicken oh and also cheese. I ate the veggies and cheese! And scallions! There’s scallions in the garden, I LOVE SCALLIONS!”
Jackson’s daughter rambles in that rapid fire, word-vomit way kids do. His amused smile changes to a grimace as the phone’s speaker peaks as Jackie yells about her love of scallions.
Jackson Burnside:
“That sounds good. I could use some of mommy’s cooking right now. Hey maybe you can help mommy next time I come home and make those for me? You can cute the vegetables right?”
Jaqueline:
“No! I need my stool to reach the counter but it’s in the bathroom! Oh! I can’t use a knife I’m just a little kid!”
Jackson Burnside:
“I guess you’re right. You’ll probably steal the peppers though won’t you?”
Jacqueline:
“Mmhm.” Her voice drops to a child’s whisper – you know one of those whispers that isn’t actually quiet? “But don’t tell mommy, okay?”
Jackson Burnside:
“I won’t, peanut. That’ll be a nice treat for me next time I come home.”
Jacqueline:
“When will you be home?”
Jackson hesitates.
Jackson Burnside:
“I don’t know, baby. Very busy, I’ve had a lot of big matches.”
Jacqueline:
“Did you, uhm. Did you get the, the… did you get your gold belt?”
He smiles sadly to himself. There’s something else behind that question. More than just a child asking her father how work is going.
Jackson Burnside:
“Not yet. Maybe soon.”
Jacqueline:
“Can I watch your game when it happens?”
Jackson Burnside:
“Match, not a game. Uhm, well ask mommy. Is she going to let you watch the show this weekend? You know I’ve got a match against three other people?”
Jacqueline:
“THREE?! THAT’S A LOT!”
He pulls the phone away from his hear as the speaker crackles under the volume of a child’s unrestrained yelling.
Jackson Burnside:
“Listen baby I need to talk to mom now, can you give her the phone.”
There’s no good-bye, just the sound of the phone getting put down. There’s some rustling, and then the distant sound of a child yelling a drawn out “SMUUURFS.” A moment later a female answers.
Jackson Burnside:
“Nikki, you there?”
Nicole:
“Yeah I hear you. Sorry I went and put Smurfs on so we could talk.”
Jackson Burnside:
“She loves those little blue guys.”
Nicole:
“She drew a picture of them earlier. I’ll take a picture and send it over – Hey listen. You got something in the mail the other day. A little package came into the uh, the PO BOX you have in town for work stuff. The one fans can write into, stuff like that?”
Jackson Burnside:
“Yeah?”
Nicole:
“Yeah.” There’s a long pause. Something in Nicole’s voice sounds uneasy. “It uh… I think some sort of uhm, animal genitalia?”
Jackson sits straight up in the bed. He picks the phone up and brings it closer, but keeps it on speaker.
Jackson Burnside:
“Did you throw it away?”
Nicole:
“OF COURSE I THR-” She stops herself from yelling and drops to a whisper. “Of course I threw them away! What in the Hell is this? Some insane fan?”
Jackson Burnside:
“No. So I’ve got my title match coming up, this guy Cory Chavelle?”
Nicole:
“That piece of shit I’ve seen on Good Morning America? I can’t believe that fucking guy has a job.”
Jackson Burnside:
“Yeah him. He’s an unstable guy, really likes to intimidate people. Get this I think he abducted somebody’s sister once.”
Nicole:
“I feel great now, thanks!”
Jackson Burnside:
“Sorry. Well yeah, so he did this whole thing, said I need to get my nuts back or whatever. Being real cute y’know, trying to show how macho he is. Probably got the damn things from a butcher. Sonuva bitch, didn’t think he’d mail ‘em off.”
Nicole:
“Well it’s a good thing it went to the PO Box! When’s your match with this guy? Should you even be getting involved with a sick freak like this?”
Jackson Burnside:
“I don’t know. Soon, they keep telling me soon. Listen though, Nikki, he’s a lot of talk, a lot of bluster. Thinks he’s cock of the walk right, Pope of Wrestletown. More to the point though he wants me to be intimidated. But he doesn’t scare me. He’s a big dumb redneck and he’s used to bullying women and dudes half his size. Somebody needs to beat him, and it’s gonna be me.”
Nicole:
“I hope it’s a wrestling match. I don’t like it when you do those violent matches. That, chain match or whatever you had scared me.”
Jackson Burnside:
“I’m gonna bring whatever I have to do beat this guy. He can’t represent this business or the UWL. I’m the guy who has to put him in his place. Wants me to find my nuts? I never lost him. Once the Coronation Cup is done with his ass is mine.”
There’s a long awkward silence.
Nicole:
“I’m not letting her watch.”
Jackson Burnside:
“Oh come on! It’s gonna be the biggest night of my lif-”
Nicole:
“I know, I know. But if something happens, and he doesn’t just beat you, but her hurts you, I can’t even imagine how I explain that to her.”
Jackson Burnside:
“Have faith in my Nikki. God didn’t put me on this path just to let some sick freak beat the Hell outta me over and over again. I’ve taken my share of punishment from Cory, but come our match it’s his turn.”
Nicole:
“The other thing too. I mean, her w-“
Jackson Burnside:
“It won’t make a difference whether I win or lose. Just consider it okay?...” There’s no response. Nicole silently mulls it over, the possibilities and outcomes churning around in her head. “Hey, next time I’m home you have to make quesadillas okay? She wants to help.”
Nicole:
“Sure we can do that.”
