Post by Leo on Jan 2, 2024 18:33:44 GMT -5
It’s late.
Too late.
But not late enough.
Yes, it’s that late.
But not THAT late.
Time: Uncertain. Location: Read and find out. Characters: Yes.
A condo in Key West is our location. A porch light reflects a shadow standing over the door. Tall and slender. A code is entered. The door unlocks. The slender man enters and shuts the door behind him.
“The lord of the manor has returned.”
The words read with more conviction than the voice delivering them sounds.
The lights turn on.
A framed photo of Marcus Welsh is consumed by a shadow as the slender figure falls into a leather recliner.
It’s Leo.
His pants buzz. A smile crosses his face. It feels kinda good. It buzzes again and reality hits. He scrambles to remove his phone and sees a few voicemails. He hits speaker and lets them play.
“Hey Leo! It’s Who’Re! Congrats on the big victory! We all knew you could do it!”
“Leo! Is this you? Hey! This is the TRI-TIMES and we were hoping to get an interview with you about your big win. Very impressive stuff as the team leader…you’ve got a bright future! Hit us back!”
Leo mumbles, “Not for long.”
“Big TRIAD Champ! Leo, my man…this is Gregory Poblano! That’s right, former OCW owner…you’ve caught my eye and I wanna fly you out here to LA so you can meet some people. Sydney Sweeney? You got it! Just name it and I’ll make it happen, winner!”
Leo whimpers, “So close. So close to being a somebody.”
“Leo, it’s PIC. Listen…I don’t know what’s up with Welsh but we’re hearing rumors he may not coach the Wit Trials. So, if that’s the case, we’d like you to become the permanent coach of the third team…”
Leo sits up.
“Ring me back and let me know if you’re good with that. Great job in Cambodia!”
The message ends. Leo stands.
“Me? Permanent coach?”
Leo turns on the TV and finds a music app. He scrolls and lands on ‘I’m So Excited” by the Pointer Sisters. He hits play…the music starts…he dances around the hardwood floor.
“Is this really happening? After all these years?”
He spins around and knocks over the portrait of Welsh. He pauses…the music stops. He bends over and picks it up.
“...”
He slams it into the ground. It shatters. The music picks back up. He plays an air guitar.
“LA parties! Sydney Sweeney! Beating PIC and TLS! Coaching the best wrestlers in the world to victory!”
Leo finds more photos of Welsh and slings them against the wall, floor, whatever he can find. The phone rings. Everything stops. Probably because it’s a landline. But an answering machine picks up and Welsh’s voice is on the other end.
“Leo, I’m away spending some time with Adi. I have to mull stuff over…things are…I don’t know. We can talk later. Hope you don't mind house-sitting a few more days. Thanks, pal. I really appreciate you.”
It ends. Leo grabs the answering machine and slams it into the ground. It shatters. He shoots a double bird at the plastic remains. The music picks back up.
“I’m not some fuckin lackey. I’m LEO…winner of the Trials and permanent coach of Team Welsh…nah nah…Team LEO!”
He spins around.
“That fuckin TRIAD is gonna be mine.”
He continues to dance as we fade out.
Too late.
But not late enough.
Yes, it’s that late.
But not THAT late.
Time: Uncertain. Location: Read and find out. Characters: Yes.
A condo in Key West is our location. A porch light reflects a shadow standing over the door. Tall and slender. A code is entered. The door unlocks. The slender man enters and shuts the door behind him.
“The lord of the manor has returned.”
The words read with more conviction than the voice delivering them sounds.
The lights turn on.
A framed photo of Marcus Welsh is consumed by a shadow as the slender figure falls into a leather recliner.
It’s Leo.
His pants buzz. A smile crosses his face. It feels kinda good. It buzzes again and reality hits. He scrambles to remove his phone and sees a few voicemails. He hits speaker and lets them play.
“Hey Leo! It’s Who’Re! Congrats on the big victory! We all knew you could do it!”
“Leo! Is this you? Hey! This is the TRI-TIMES and we were hoping to get an interview with you about your big win. Very impressive stuff as the team leader…you’ve got a bright future! Hit us back!”
Leo mumbles, “Not for long.”
“Big TRIAD Champ! Leo, my man…this is Gregory Poblano! That’s right, former OCW owner…you’ve caught my eye and I wanna fly you out here to LA so you can meet some people. Sydney Sweeney? You got it! Just name it and I’ll make it happen, winner!”
Leo whimpers, “So close. So close to being a somebody.”
“Leo, it’s PIC. Listen…I don’t know what’s up with Welsh but we’re hearing rumors he may not coach the Wit Trials. So, if that’s the case, we’d like you to become the permanent coach of the third team…”
Leo sits up.
“Ring me back and let me know if you’re good with that. Great job in Cambodia!”
The message ends. Leo stands.
“Me? Permanent coach?”
Leo turns on the TV and finds a music app. He scrolls and lands on ‘I’m So Excited” by the Pointer Sisters. He hits play…the music starts…he dances around the hardwood floor.
“Is this really happening? After all these years?”
He spins around and knocks over the portrait of Welsh. He pauses…the music stops. He bends over and picks it up.
“...”
He slams it into the ground. It shatters. The music picks back up. He plays an air guitar.
“LA parties! Sydney Sweeney! Beating PIC and TLS! Coaching the best wrestlers in the world to victory!”
Leo finds more photos of Welsh and slings them against the wall, floor, whatever he can find. The phone rings. Everything stops. Probably because it’s a landline. But an answering machine picks up and Welsh’s voice is on the other end.
“Leo, I’m away spending some time with Adi. I have to mull stuff over…things are…I don’t know. We can talk later. Hope you don't mind house-sitting a few more days. Thanks, pal. I really appreciate you.”
It ends. Leo grabs the answering machine and slams it into the ground. It shatters. He shoots a double bird at the plastic remains. The music picks back up.
“I’m not some fuckin lackey. I’m LEO…winner of the Trials and permanent coach of Team Welsh…nah nah…Team LEO!”
He spins around.
“That fuckin TRIAD is gonna be mine.”
He continues to dance as we fade out.