Post by Fiona McFly on Mar 26, 2018 3:23:46 GMT
CHAPTER 25
“In Which The Calm Comes Before The Storm…”
7 January 2018 + 0830 GMT
It was, perhaps, the biggest day of Sarah Dawkins' young life.
And Fiona McFly was with her at every second, every moment, as the hours counted down towards the tournament.
We find them inside a "green room" in the Allen Event Center, a 6,200-seat multipurpose arena that will serve as the venue for this year's folkstyle wrestling competition. It was a grand occasion, as clubs from all over Texas sent their best representatives to compete for the titles in both the girls' and boys' divisions. For Sarah, this was the perfect chance for her to overcome her tormentors and follow in the footsteps of her parents, who were wrestlers in their own right.
Yet for Fiona...this day meant much more to her than she ever realised.
This was her shot to finish the work her late husband had started and show the world that she can be just as much of a rock to other people's lives as Jack was to her own. They stood side by side facing a small vanity mirror, taking deep breaths whilst trying to prepare themselves for the culmination of a journey that started in October of last year.
FIONA MCFLY:
What are you seeing in the mirror?
SARAH DAWKINS:
I see…well, me...
Sarah paused, chuckling slightly as she closed her eyes for a few seconds, then opened them with a nod.
SARAH:
...my reflection.
Fiona smiled.
FIONA:
Aye love…that’s the toughest opponent you’ll ever meet.
Sarah perked up her left brow in curiosity. She didn't understand what that meant, fighting against oneself. Fiona closed her eyes for a moment or two, recalling the first night when her trainee thanked her for giving her a new phone.
FIONA:
You remember the first night, when you first started writing in your journal?
Sarah nodded in the affirmative, sheepishly at first.
FIONA:
That was meant to teach you about having ‘balance.’ Balance…isn’t just applied to wrestling; it’s applied to EVERYTHING you do throughout your entire life—academics, hobbies, the choices you make. It was all about learning how to calm your own anger whilst you enrich the lives of others, no matter what they say about you. Your whole life, there will be people that will go to great lengths to best you in whatever your trade or craft might be, or whatever class you’re taking…
Fiona paused, knowing that she had her own struggles in trying to keep her mother's gene of having a foul temperament under wraps, and yet in spite of everything she had been through in her own personal life--including the sudden loss of her husband and co-trainer--she had made a solemn vow to continue being a mentor to the young Arlington High freshman, even after the tournament ended, trophy or bust.
FIONA:
…and you know what? It’s okay to lose to someone else, ‘cos losing is part of life—and NOTHING in the whole world will hit you as hard or suddenly as that. As long as you don’t ever lose to YOURSELF, as long as you don’t let your own flaws get the better of you…you will always win. As long as you have balance nothing or nobody will ever defeat you.
Sarah slowly turned to face her trainer, their eyes locking on each other. It was at this point in time when she began to realise what her and Jack's endgame--their motives--for training her from the very beginning: all they wanted to do was enrich her life, as Regina Kimble once enriched theirs, whilst making sure that SHE didn't become overwrought with the same emotional issues as they had when they were fourteen years of age.
Sarah smiled at Fiona, recognising just how much she and Jack has meant to her in her own life.
SARAH:
You and Mr. Gaither…y’all two are the best friends I ever had.
Fiona's smile grew wider, and she shed a tear in knowing just how far they have come together. They slowly embraced, with Fiona gently massaging her student's neck in a loving manner. She realised that it was SARAH that helped her deal with Jack's passing and reignited her desire to honour his memory and keep his spirit alive.
A buzzer sounded, indicating that it was time to head to the arena floor. Yet as Sarah headed towards the door, Fiona stopped her in her tracks with a slight wink of her right eye.
FIONA:
Win or lose…he’d be very proud of you. And so will I…’cos you’re a great friend too.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
~~~~~~
Dear Dawn…
It's so fitting that you and I meet again--after all, the name "High Stakes" isn't something to be taken lightly.
You must think I’ve gone gaga, right?! You must think I’ve lost me temper again and challenged you to another match after you beat me decisively in the street fight a few weeks ago. To be honest…I wear me temper on me sleeves like a badge of honour that will never go away anytime soon. And it’s that very notion that, in your mind, let me to issue you a rematch challenge for the right to earn the one title I am most proud of earning throughout me own career.
Something I know very well.
Something I vow to reclaim.
The title…of Iron Maiden.
It’s not a name to be taken for granted like…gold, silver, or even LIFE itself. It’s not something that you can just slap on a Twitter handle and prattle about the entire locker room just ‘cos you want to be tough-minded like your father. It’s something you have to FEEL, something you have to SACRIFICE your own body for ‘cos you want to be considered “the best.”
It’s something you have to earn.
Eternity, Alexis Caffery, Pandora Freeman…they ALL earned the title of “Iron Maiden” at some point in their careers. They all put their own bodies and livelihoods on the line just so they can outlast the other five opponents and claim their rightful places in the women’s division. They ALL poured their hearts, minds, blod, sweat, and tears into that title and EARNED their moments to shine on the world’s biggest stage.
Being in the iron Maiden match itself—win or lose—is hard enough.
Qualifying? That’s even HARDER than you’ll realise.
You already know your opponent is this week. You’ve beaten me once, so that means—in the most natural of purposes—you already have a leg up on me. You’re already thinking that you can put me down once again, with a spot in the Iron Maiden match on the line! Yet somewhere down the road, I sat there and left you with the one question people ask all the time, yet can’t seem to find the answer they’re looking for:
Why?
Think for a moment or two: why, Dawn, would you even WANT to accept me challenge in the first place, knowing full well you already have an advantage over me? Truth be told, I cannot answer that for you. You have to figure out the answer for yourself…but in order to do that, in order to firmly cement your place in said match and beat me oonce and for all, you have to stand in front of the proverbial mirror and confront the greatest enemy you will EVER go up against in your own life.
You must face YOURSELF.
‘Cos on the path that is called life, NOTHING OR NOBODY will ever hit you as hard and as swiftly as your own reflection.
When you stand in front of that mirror…you THINK you see yourself as being a shining white light in a family that has always prided itself in its wrestling legacy. You THINK you see yourself as a little girl that strives to live out your greatest dreams and make your father proud as he put your through your paces, one step at a time. You THINK you see yourself as riding high and finding the sense of stability you need to finally stand out in a business that eats people alive and spits their bones out if they let it. You THINK you see yourself as someone who’s willing to pour their own blood, sweat, and tears into this sport and sacrifice your own body in order to do what is noble and good.
Yet what does your REFLECTION tell you?!
It’s telling you that it’s okay to be the biggest bully in the locker room by slapping a title you HAVEN’T EARNED onto a Twitter handle and passing it off as yours! It’s telling you that it’s okay to mock and demean other people’s lives and memories just ‘cos they weren’t made by your own flesh and blood, a man who’s called out EVERYONE on the roster just for the mere “crime” of being there solely to collect a pay ticket! It’s telling you that it’s peachy to sit there and lash out when things don’t go your way or somebody else tries to end your career, when life takes you for a ride and knocks your arse to the ground!
Point is REAL simple: unless you learn to have balance, unless you learn how to never give into your own self-doubts and worries, then you will NEVER win.
I issued the challenge to you …to show you just what it’s like to be part of something special, a REAL JOURNEY that will last a lifetime. ‘Cos I’ve fought people just like what you want to be, BULLIES with no remorse or regret for their actions. ‘Cos I’ve taken hit after hit, shot after shot, from people just like you who sit there and wish that I just stay down! ‘Cos I CHOOSE to enrich myself and grow as a person by being a white light to other people—just as others have done so for me in the past!
‘Cos I VOWED to keep on fighting after dealing with the biggest loss I could ever take.
You can laugh ‘cos I wish to honour me husband’s spirit. You can smirk just ‘cos you’re the daughter of a Hall of Famer. You can tell me to rely on a “real” wrestler’s moves all you want to…but you HAVE to be ready and willing to take the hits! You have to have the heart and desire to stand in front of me and give me EVERYTHING you got! You have to be fully capable of sacrificing your own livelihood in order to fully realise your potential.
Trust me…NOTHING will come easy for you. You can push me all you want…but I WILL push back. ‘Cos me journey will NEVER end, no matter what people like you tell me. I will never tire from the road that lies ahead of me.
I will never rest ‘til I reclaim me title as “Iron Maiden.”
I will never allow me own vile temperament to get the best of me!
And I will NEVER give up me fight to become a World champion.
Cheerio!
“In Which The Calm Comes Before The Storm…”
7 January 2018 + 0830 GMT
It was, perhaps, the biggest day of Sarah Dawkins' young life.
And Fiona McFly was with her at every second, every moment, as the hours counted down towards the tournament.
We find them inside a "green room" in the Allen Event Center, a 6,200-seat multipurpose arena that will serve as the venue for this year's folkstyle wrestling competition. It was a grand occasion, as clubs from all over Texas sent their best representatives to compete for the titles in both the girls' and boys' divisions. For Sarah, this was the perfect chance for her to overcome her tormentors and follow in the footsteps of her parents, who were wrestlers in their own right.
Yet for Fiona...this day meant much more to her than she ever realised.
This was her shot to finish the work her late husband had started and show the world that she can be just as much of a rock to other people's lives as Jack was to her own. They stood side by side facing a small vanity mirror, taking deep breaths whilst trying to prepare themselves for the culmination of a journey that started in October of last year.
FIONA MCFLY:
What are you seeing in the mirror?
SARAH DAWKINS:
I see…well, me...
Sarah paused, chuckling slightly as she closed her eyes for a few seconds, then opened them with a nod.
SARAH:
...my reflection.
Fiona smiled.
FIONA:
Aye love…that’s the toughest opponent you’ll ever meet.
Sarah perked up her left brow in curiosity. She didn't understand what that meant, fighting against oneself. Fiona closed her eyes for a moment or two, recalling the first night when her trainee thanked her for giving her a new phone.
FIONA:
You remember the first night, when you first started writing in your journal?
Sarah nodded in the affirmative, sheepishly at first.
FIONA:
That was meant to teach you about having ‘balance.’ Balance…isn’t just applied to wrestling; it’s applied to EVERYTHING you do throughout your entire life—academics, hobbies, the choices you make. It was all about learning how to calm your own anger whilst you enrich the lives of others, no matter what they say about you. Your whole life, there will be people that will go to great lengths to best you in whatever your trade or craft might be, or whatever class you’re taking…
Fiona paused, knowing that she had her own struggles in trying to keep her mother's gene of having a foul temperament under wraps, and yet in spite of everything she had been through in her own personal life--including the sudden loss of her husband and co-trainer--she had made a solemn vow to continue being a mentor to the young Arlington High freshman, even after the tournament ended, trophy or bust.
FIONA:
…and you know what? It’s okay to lose to someone else, ‘cos losing is part of life—and NOTHING in the whole world will hit you as hard or suddenly as that. As long as you don’t ever lose to YOURSELF, as long as you don’t let your own flaws get the better of you…you will always win. As long as you have balance nothing or nobody will ever defeat you.
Sarah slowly turned to face her trainer, their eyes locking on each other. It was at this point in time when she began to realise what her and Jack's endgame--their motives--for training her from the very beginning: all they wanted to do was enrich her life, as Regina Kimble once enriched theirs, whilst making sure that SHE didn't become overwrought with the same emotional issues as they had when they were fourteen years of age.
Sarah smiled at Fiona, recognising just how much she and Jack has meant to her in her own life.
SARAH:
You and Mr. Gaither…y’all two are the best friends I ever had.
Fiona's smile grew wider, and she shed a tear in knowing just how far they have come together. They slowly embraced, with Fiona gently massaging her student's neck in a loving manner. She realised that it was SARAH that helped her deal with Jack's passing and reignited her desire to honour his memory and keep his spirit alive.
A buzzer sounded, indicating that it was time to head to the arena floor. Yet as Sarah headed towards the door, Fiona stopped her in her tracks with a slight wink of her right eye.
FIONA:
Win or lose…he’d be very proud of you. And so will I…’cos you’re a great friend too.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
~~~~~~
Dear Dawn…
It's so fitting that you and I meet again--after all, the name "High Stakes" isn't something to be taken lightly.
You must think I’ve gone gaga, right?! You must think I’ve lost me temper again and challenged you to another match after you beat me decisively in the street fight a few weeks ago. To be honest…I wear me temper on me sleeves like a badge of honour that will never go away anytime soon. And it’s that very notion that, in your mind, let me to issue you a rematch challenge for the right to earn the one title I am most proud of earning throughout me own career.
Something I know very well.
Something I vow to reclaim.
The title…of Iron Maiden.
It’s not a name to be taken for granted like…gold, silver, or even LIFE itself. It’s not something that you can just slap on a Twitter handle and prattle about the entire locker room just ‘cos you want to be tough-minded like your father. It’s something you have to FEEL, something you have to SACRIFICE your own body for ‘cos you want to be considered “the best.”
It’s something you have to earn.
Eternity, Alexis Caffery, Pandora Freeman…they ALL earned the title of “Iron Maiden” at some point in their careers. They all put their own bodies and livelihoods on the line just so they can outlast the other five opponents and claim their rightful places in the women’s division. They ALL poured their hearts, minds, blod, sweat, and tears into that title and EARNED their moments to shine on the world’s biggest stage.
Being in the iron Maiden match itself—win or lose—is hard enough.
Qualifying? That’s even HARDER than you’ll realise.
You already know your opponent is this week. You’ve beaten me once, so that means—in the most natural of purposes—you already have a leg up on me. You’re already thinking that you can put me down once again, with a spot in the Iron Maiden match on the line! Yet somewhere down the road, I sat there and left you with the one question people ask all the time, yet can’t seem to find the answer they’re looking for:
Why?
Think for a moment or two: why, Dawn, would you even WANT to accept me challenge in the first place, knowing full well you already have an advantage over me? Truth be told, I cannot answer that for you. You have to figure out the answer for yourself…but in order to do that, in order to firmly cement your place in said match and beat me oonce and for all, you have to stand in front of the proverbial mirror and confront the greatest enemy you will EVER go up against in your own life.
You must face YOURSELF.
‘Cos on the path that is called life, NOTHING OR NOBODY will ever hit you as hard and as swiftly as your own reflection.
When you stand in front of that mirror…you THINK you see yourself as being a shining white light in a family that has always prided itself in its wrestling legacy. You THINK you see yourself as a little girl that strives to live out your greatest dreams and make your father proud as he put your through your paces, one step at a time. You THINK you see yourself as riding high and finding the sense of stability you need to finally stand out in a business that eats people alive and spits their bones out if they let it. You THINK you see yourself as someone who’s willing to pour their own blood, sweat, and tears into this sport and sacrifice your own body in order to do what is noble and good.
Yet what does your REFLECTION tell you?!
It’s telling you that it’s okay to be the biggest bully in the locker room by slapping a title you HAVEN’T EARNED onto a Twitter handle and passing it off as yours! It’s telling you that it’s okay to mock and demean other people’s lives and memories just ‘cos they weren’t made by your own flesh and blood, a man who’s called out EVERYONE on the roster just for the mere “crime” of being there solely to collect a pay ticket! It’s telling you that it’s peachy to sit there and lash out when things don’t go your way or somebody else tries to end your career, when life takes you for a ride and knocks your arse to the ground!
Point is REAL simple: unless you learn to have balance, unless you learn how to never give into your own self-doubts and worries, then you will NEVER win.
I issued the challenge to you …to show you just what it’s like to be part of something special, a REAL JOURNEY that will last a lifetime. ‘Cos I’ve fought people just like what you want to be, BULLIES with no remorse or regret for their actions. ‘Cos I’ve taken hit after hit, shot after shot, from people just like you who sit there and wish that I just stay down! ‘Cos I CHOOSE to enrich myself and grow as a person by being a white light to other people—just as others have done so for me in the past!
‘Cos I VOWED to keep on fighting after dealing with the biggest loss I could ever take.
You can laugh ‘cos I wish to honour me husband’s spirit. You can smirk just ‘cos you’re the daughter of a Hall of Famer. You can tell me to rely on a “real” wrestler’s moves all you want to…but you HAVE to be ready and willing to take the hits! You have to have the heart and desire to stand in front of me and give me EVERYTHING you got! You have to be fully capable of sacrificing your own livelihood in order to fully realise your potential.
Trust me…NOTHING will come easy for you. You can push me all you want…but I WILL push back. ‘Cos me journey will NEVER end, no matter what people like you tell me. I will never tire from the road that lies ahead of me.
I will never rest ‘til I reclaim me title as “Iron Maiden.”
I will never allow me own vile temperament to get the best of me!
And I will NEVER give up me fight to become a World champion.
Cheerio!
Well howdy there pardner.