Post by Mark Mania on Nov 20, 2013 14:41:20 GMT -5
“Ladies and gentlemen, he is the one, the only, the Main Event, Mark Mania!”
I can hear the crowd cheering from behind the curtain. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in front of any sort of crowd. Now, after returning to wrestling following an extended break, I’ve got to put on the face again. It’s time to be Mark Mania the champion. I’m not Mark Mania the retired wrestler. I’m not Mark Mania the degenerate gambler. I’m not Mark Mania who sits at home alone on the couch. No. I’m Mark Mania, and I’m the baddest mother fucker around.
I swing open the curtains and raise my hands as I greet the crowd that has assembled outside of Mania Enterprises in Boston, MA. My best friend and assistant Rosa Ramirez is clapping at the podium and opening her arm up towards me as the crowd continues to stand and clap. I wave to the crowd and approach the podium and give Rosa a big hug before addressing the crowd.
“I don’t know what to sa-“
The crowd continues to cheer and I smile and stand there in silence for a few moments.
“Thank you, thank you!” I yell while waving to everyone. Finally the noise begins to subside.
“It’s been awhile hasn’t it?” The crowd laughs. “Based off of the amount of people here, I’m going to assume that you’ve all heard the news that I have signed with Pure Wrestling!” The crowd erupts into cheers again. “Yes, yes. I know, I’m as excited as you! It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a wrestling ring. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to train for a wrestling match. But it’s also been a long time since I’ve been so excited to start a new chapter in my career. APW was great to me for the past six years. I came and went a few times and I was welcomed back with open arms each time. As we all know, APW and I did not end on great terms. We had differences of where we thought my career should go. Everyone knows I’m a stubborn bastard, so when things weren’t going my way, I decided against resigning my contract and I walked off into the sunset.”
“I think we all knew that couldn’t be the end. A great career like I’ve had to be ended over a contract dispute? Just doesn’t seem reasonable does it? So after six to eight months without me, of course APW closes its doors.” The crowd starts to boo. “No, no, I’m just kidding, I had nothing to do with APW closing, I’m actually shocked and saddened that it has closed. Out of that sadness however, has come my reemergence. After receiving the news of APW closing I immediately got in contact with all of my old friends there and that is how I found out about Pure Wrestling. That’s how I ended up here today!” The crowd screams in excitement.
“I believe very strongly in the ownership group here at Pure and after watching these first two weeks of shows I know the quality will be second to none. I didn’t want to make a big deal about coming back, I didn’t need any grand entrance, I didn’t need any secret storyline. I’m not here to bullshit around. I’m here to reclaim my glory as one of the best in the business. I’m here to help Pure succeed as a company. I may not have been here from day one, but week three ain’t so bad. Pure is exactly what its name says it is. It’s new, there’s no bureaucracy that it going to keep things from getting done. There’s no stains that keep people from enjoying the product. There’s no sorted past that is going to interfere. Pure Wrestling is just clean, new, and of course Pure.” The crowd erupts.
“So here we are, months after I’ve competed in a wrestling match and I get to start off in a wonderful little newcomers match. Is there anything more Pure than that? I haven’t been in a ‘newcomers’ match in a long, long time. Frankly, I’m thrilled about it. I of course feel sorry for the other three folks in the match that have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into, but thrilled none the less. There is something so electric about a newcomers match. It puts you in a situation that none of you have ever been in before. The main purpose of these kinds of matches is weed out the nobodies. Everyone has their dreams set on becoming champion. Everyone has their dreams set on walking in and taking over a federation. Everyone wants to be the face of the franchise. There’s only one problem with that. Not everyone has the ability to be the face of the franchise. In fact, most people are destined for failure, embarrassment, and despair.”
“Unfortunately for my three competitors, it seems like they’re all going to get a taste of those three emotions. Violet Rose, Cam Carter, and Johnny boy have no idea what’s coming their way. They’re trying to prove their worth to Pure Wrestling, to the fans, and to the whole world. It’s a hearty endeavor, and one that will eventually be all for not. They got a crap deal. Normally these new comers matches are filled with people trying to make a name for themselves. But this time, it’s three nobodies and Mark fucking Mania.” The crowd starts cheering.
“That’s right, you three may not know who I am, but believe you me, the rest of the world does. I was an APW legend! Extreme Champion, one of the longest running Overdrive Champions, and this was at a time when APW was at its absolute best. And I know what you’re thinking, oh, a few secondary titles that don’t mean shit in one federation. Oh you poor fools. My career didn’t begin in the APW, oh, no. My career began way back in the 90’s! Were any of you even born in the 90’s? For God sake, I was probably competing for championships while your parents were giving each other hickeys on Penny Hill. I’ve been in this business my whole life. I’ve competed in the biggest matches on the biggest stages against the biggest names. This newcomers match is a novelty for me. For you, it’s your life. For me, it’s practice. I haven’t wrestled in nearly six months and frankly I’m a little rusty. So I couldn’t be more excited to take on you three.”
“Each of you will offer a different challenge. Firstly Violet, I run into this all the time, how badly can I beat the hell out of a woman before the fans turn on me? I’ve learned from my past, it’s pretty bad. Maybe I’ll push the limit this time, see if I can reach that new level. I’d be lying if I said I took you seriously at all. You’re dressed like a kid on Halloween. Well guess what, Halloweens over, the jack-o-laterns are out, the front lights are turned off and you’re still standing around like a fool. I mean hell, you couldn’t even pull off the costume correctly. Didn’t anyone ever tell you that women are supposed to dress slutty for Halloween? How much of a failure are you!?”
“A so-called super-heroine, but really you just seem like a heroin addict that got a crazy idea and never stopped. I’m all for vigilante justice, but I prefer to keep it in the ring. So let’s see you drag out that short temper of yours into the ring and compete with one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Let’s see you flying all over the ring using high risk low reward moves. You know what’s going to happen, Violet? I’m going to stand in the middle of the ring while you flip and fling yourself around. Then when you’ve tired your coked up body out, I’m going to smack you in the face, put you between my legs, and spin your body 180 degrees and jam your face right into the ground. I don’t even care if that’s how I win the match. I don’t even care if it’s after the match is over. You’re just such a jittery little bitch that I want to plant that half-masked face of yours directly onto the mat. Deal with that however you’d like Voilet, because the only Violet thing about you after I’m done is going to be your shiny black eyes.”
The crowd erupts in cheer as I finish my point.
“God damn it, that felt good! Mother fucker!” The crowd cheers louder.
“It has been way too long since I’ve been able to get this damn anger off my chest. Shit, I’ve been holding it all in the whole time, this feel great! Who’s next? Cam Carter? Give me a break, why not just be John Smith. Oh wait, that’s coming up. I don’t know much about you except that I hate names that are alliteration that aren’t mine. I want to corner the market on that, but fucking everyone and their mother does it. Wait, am I really attacking your name? Have I run out of material already?”
The crowd laughs as I continue on.
“It feels like 1999 all over again. Oh fuck, Cam, you don’t even get that reference do you? Do you remember 1999? You might’ve been in diapers. The so-called ‘street legend’ was nothing but a baby when I was paving my way through the wrestling world. Do you realize you’re a joke or is everyone else in on it and this is like an episode of The Joe Schmoe Show. Hell, you don’t get that reference either. Ok, I’ll explain it. It was a show that aired in like 2003. The premise of the show was that it was a dating show and they were all competing for this girl. This guy, the proverbial, ‘Joe Schmo’ was one of the last two guys left. They had a reunion and had all the original guys back. The first guy steps up and says, ‘I’m an actor.’ And Joe Schmo’s face was priceless as each person that was on the show stepped up and said they were an actor. The whole reality show was a big prank on Joe Schmo and he felt like a complete fool. That’ll be what you feel like after I’m done with you; A complete and utter fool. Because this is just one big prank where you think you’re worth something and people actually give a shit about you, but in reality, you’re a nobody, who got in a few little fights and thought you were a tough shit.”
“This isn’t the streets big boy. This is my house. I’ve spent my entire life in the ring and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some street punk come in and think they’re better than me. You’re exactly what’s wrong with the youth of today. You feel like you’re the best there is even though you haven’t done a damn thing. You’re just a self-righteous, self-obsessed, moron. You haven’t done anything to earn anyone’s respect. You haven’t done anything to earn MY respect. You’re a punk kid and I can’t wait to wipe the damn floor with you. I don’t even care if it gets into more of a brawler match. I’m made for that, I can compete with that, no problem at all. In fact, I love it. I’ll punch that arrogant smirk off your face so quick you won’t know what hit you. You can go on and on about your accomplishments in other places, but I’ve got the sneaking suspicion that Pure Wrestling may be in a slightly different class than where you’ve been before. I mean, Pure Wrestling has bathrooms at the arenas, and roofs. That must sound like a five star resort compared to the places you’ve played. You can call yourself a champ all you want, you’re nothing but a chump.”
I laugh at myself about the stupid line.
“Champ and chump? Real fucking original, Mark.” The crowd laughs with me.
“Give me a break, I told you I was rusty! Well, after leading off Cam by making fun of his name, what on earth can I say about John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt? I mean, clearly I could say that his name is my name too. But, I don’t think I could NOT say that. It’s just so fucking catchy. I’m sure it must just be complete hell growing up with a name like that. Which is why, I’m not even going to bother with it. I don’t care that your name is the same as a cheap children’s song. I wouldn’t care if your name was Barney the Dinosaur or Big Bird. Those are just things that get in the way from the true objective we all have here. I just want to win. I don’t care who I have to beat, I don’t care what kinds of problems people have. I don’t care if someone’s parents ruined their lives. It’s all insignificant shit.”
“Yet, it seems like you can’t stop living in the past. You’re haunted by your name. What kind of hell is that? Change your name man, it takes like $50 and a trip to City Hall. How lazy can you be that you wouldn’t run down to City Hall to get away from this ‘horror’ that is your name. If you ask me, I think you like it. I think you like all the attention and you know the only way to keep it going is for people to think you don’t like it. You just act like it bothers you, and because you’re such an irritating prick, everyone keeps it up and keeps all the attention on you. Well, at least while they’re singing the song.”
“Listen, I know I’m a hypocrite about this subject. I love the public eye, I love people cheering my name… I really do, I fucking love it. But at least I embrace it, man. You pretend like you’re some holier than thou douchebag who can’t stand it. We all know that in reality, all anyone wants is a little attention on themselves. People want to feel like someone knows who they are. It’s better to be hated than forgotten. I remember in college there was a philosophy teacher that asked his class whether they would rather be Hitler or a deceased John Doe Ally soldier. The poll was completely blind and nearly half of the class said they’d rather be Hitler. Do you know why? It’s because people still talk about Hitler every single fucking day. Of course he was one of the worst human beings to ever exist and the pain that he caused is rivaled by very few. But people still say his name, do you think he wouldn’t get off on that? No, I’m not comparing you to Hitler, obviously that’s a stretch. What I’m saying is, you’re trying to be this hated figure and be remembered for that, but what’s really going to happen after this week, is that I’m going to kick your angry little ass and I’m NOT going to get the crowd to start singing, I’m not going to even acknowledge you. Because I know THAT, that will hurt worse than anything else.”
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for joining me here today. You’ll see a whole lot more from me in the future. I hope you all tune in to Pure Wrestling this week as I make my return to the ring and show the world why they should never, ever count out Mark Mania!”
The crowd cheers and I wave towards them. I start to walk off the stage to the chants of “MA-NI-A, MA-NI-A”. I offer another wave as Rosa follows me off the stage. We get behind the curtain.
“Went pretty well, yeah?”
“Are you kidding? That went incredible. I mean, you told a few stupid jokes and had a few clichéd lines, but isn’t that what everyone expects of you?”
Rosa always has a way of putting me down in just the nicest ways.
“Thanks for coming out here to do this. Do you think you’ll be hanging around?”
“Let’s see how you do in your first match. I don’t want to be the assistant to a loser.”
“Have you seen these three? Do you really think there’s a chance in hell I’m going to lose to these fools? I had more experience than them before they were born.”
“Maybe when you were in tip-top shape, you’re looking a little round around the belly there.”
I look down to my stomach, round is a very mean way to put it. Maybe it’s not a six-pack anymore, but hell, I’m in my late 30’s what can be expected of me?
“Oh yeah, real funny, try and knock a guy down when all he’s doing is making an honest run out of it.”
“You’ve never done an honest thing in your life.”
“I take pride in that.”
We both laugh.
“So what’s next?”
“Seattle, baby!”
I can hear the crowd cheering from behind the curtain. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in front of any sort of crowd. Now, after returning to wrestling following an extended break, I’ve got to put on the face again. It’s time to be Mark Mania the champion. I’m not Mark Mania the retired wrestler. I’m not Mark Mania the degenerate gambler. I’m not Mark Mania who sits at home alone on the couch. No. I’m Mark Mania, and I’m the baddest mother fucker around.
I swing open the curtains and raise my hands as I greet the crowd that has assembled outside of Mania Enterprises in Boston, MA. My best friend and assistant Rosa Ramirez is clapping at the podium and opening her arm up towards me as the crowd continues to stand and clap. I wave to the crowd and approach the podium and give Rosa a big hug before addressing the crowd.
“I don’t know what to sa-“
The crowd continues to cheer and I smile and stand there in silence for a few moments.
“Thank you, thank you!” I yell while waving to everyone. Finally the noise begins to subside.
“It’s been awhile hasn’t it?” The crowd laughs. “Based off of the amount of people here, I’m going to assume that you’ve all heard the news that I have signed with Pure Wrestling!” The crowd erupts into cheers again. “Yes, yes. I know, I’m as excited as you! It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a wrestling ring. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to train for a wrestling match. But it’s also been a long time since I’ve been so excited to start a new chapter in my career. APW was great to me for the past six years. I came and went a few times and I was welcomed back with open arms each time. As we all know, APW and I did not end on great terms. We had differences of where we thought my career should go. Everyone knows I’m a stubborn bastard, so when things weren’t going my way, I decided against resigning my contract and I walked off into the sunset.”
“I think we all knew that couldn’t be the end. A great career like I’ve had to be ended over a contract dispute? Just doesn’t seem reasonable does it? So after six to eight months without me, of course APW closes its doors.” The crowd starts to boo. “No, no, I’m just kidding, I had nothing to do with APW closing, I’m actually shocked and saddened that it has closed. Out of that sadness however, has come my reemergence. After receiving the news of APW closing I immediately got in contact with all of my old friends there and that is how I found out about Pure Wrestling. That’s how I ended up here today!” The crowd screams in excitement.
“I believe very strongly in the ownership group here at Pure and after watching these first two weeks of shows I know the quality will be second to none. I didn’t want to make a big deal about coming back, I didn’t need any grand entrance, I didn’t need any secret storyline. I’m not here to bullshit around. I’m here to reclaim my glory as one of the best in the business. I’m here to help Pure succeed as a company. I may not have been here from day one, but week three ain’t so bad. Pure is exactly what its name says it is. It’s new, there’s no bureaucracy that it going to keep things from getting done. There’s no stains that keep people from enjoying the product. There’s no sorted past that is going to interfere. Pure Wrestling is just clean, new, and of course Pure.” The crowd erupts.
“So here we are, months after I’ve competed in a wrestling match and I get to start off in a wonderful little newcomers match. Is there anything more Pure than that? I haven’t been in a ‘newcomers’ match in a long, long time. Frankly, I’m thrilled about it. I of course feel sorry for the other three folks in the match that have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into, but thrilled none the less. There is something so electric about a newcomers match. It puts you in a situation that none of you have ever been in before. The main purpose of these kinds of matches is weed out the nobodies. Everyone has their dreams set on becoming champion. Everyone has their dreams set on walking in and taking over a federation. Everyone wants to be the face of the franchise. There’s only one problem with that. Not everyone has the ability to be the face of the franchise. In fact, most people are destined for failure, embarrassment, and despair.”
“Unfortunately for my three competitors, it seems like they’re all going to get a taste of those three emotions. Violet Rose, Cam Carter, and Johnny boy have no idea what’s coming their way. They’re trying to prove their worth to Pure Wrestling, to the fans, and to the whole world. It’s a hearty endeavor, and one that will eventually be all for not. They got a crap deal. Normally these new comers matches are filled with people trying to make a name for themselves. But this time, it’s three nobodies and Mark fucking Mania.” The crowd starts cheering.
“That’s right, you three may not know who I am, but believe you me, the rest of the world does. I was an APW legend! Extreme Champion, one of the longest running Overdrive Champions, and this was at a time when APW was at its absolute best. And I know what you’re thinking, oh, a few secondary titles that don’t mean shit in one federation. Oh you poor fools. My career didn’t begin in the APW, oh, no. My career began way back in the 90’s! Were any of you even born in the 90’s? For God sake, I was probably competing for championships while your parents were giving each other hickeys on Penny Hill. I’ve been in this business my whole life. I’ve competed in the biggest matches on the biggest stages against the biggest names. This newcomers match is a novelty for me. For you, it’s your life. For me, it’s practice. I haven’t wrestled in nearly six months and frankly I’m a little rusty. So I couldn’t be more excited to take on you three.”
“Each of you will offer a different challenge. Firstly Violet, I run into this all the time, how badly can I beat the hell out of a woman before the fans turn on me? I’ve learned from my past, it’s pretty bad. Maybe I’ll push the limit this time, see if I can reach that new level. I’d be lying if I said I took you seriously at all. You’re dressed like a kid on Halloween. Well guess what, Halloweens over, the jack-o-laterns are out, the front lights are turned off and you’re still standing around like a fool. I mean hell, you couldn’t even pull off the costume correctly. Didn’t anyone ever tell you that women are supposed to dress slutty for Halloween? How much of a failure are you!?”
“A so-called super-heroine, but really you just seem like a heroin addict that got a crazy idea and never stopped. I’m all for vigilante justice, but I prefer to keep it in the ring. So let’s see you drag out that short temper of yours into the ring and compete with one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Let’s see you flying all over the ring using high risk low reward moves. You know what’s going to happen, Violet? I’m going to stand in the middle of the ring while you flip and fling yourself around. Then when you’ve tired your coked up body out, I’m going to smack you in the face, put you between my legs, and spin your body 180 degrees and jam your face right into the ground. I don’t even care if that’s how I win the match. I don’t even care if it’s after the match is over. You’re just such a jittery little bitch that I want to plant that half-masked face of yours directly onto the mat. Deal with that however you’d like Voilet, because the only Violet thing about you after I’m done is going to be your shiny black eyes.”
The crowd erupts in cheer as I finish my point.
“God damn it, that felt good! Mother fucker!” The crowd cheers louder.
“It has been way too long since I’ve been able to get this damn anger off my chest. Shit, I’ve been holding it all in the whole time, this feel great! Who’s next? Cam Carter? Give me a break, why not just be John Smith. Oh wait, that’s coming up. I don’t know much about you except that I hate names that are alliteration that aren’t mine. I want to corner the market on that, but fucking everyone and their mother does it. Wait, am I really attacking your name? Have I run out of material already?”
The crowd laughs as I continue on.
“It feels like 1999 all over again. Oh fuck, Cam, you don’t even get that reference do you? Do you remember 1999? You might’ve been in diapers. The so-called ‘street legend’ was nothing but a baby when I was paving my way through the wrestling world. Do you realize you’re a joke or is everyone else in on it and this is like an episode of The Joe Schmoe Show. Hell, you don’t get that reference either. Ok, I’ll explain it. It was a show that aired in like 2003. The premise of the show was that it was a dating show and they were all competing for this girl. This guy, the proverbial, ‘Joe Schmo’ was one of the last two guys left. They had a reunion and had all the original guys back. The first guy steps up and says, ‘I’m an actor.’ And Joe Schmo’s face was priceless as each person that was on the show stepped up and said they were an actor. The whole reality show was a big prank on Joe Schmo and he felt like a complete fool. That’ll be what you feel like after I’m done with you; A complete and utter fool. Because this is just one big prank where you think you’re worth something and people actually give a shit about you, but in reality, you’re a nobody, who got in a few little fights and thought you were a tough shit.”
“This isn’t the streets big boy. This is my house. I’ve spent my entire life in the ring and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some street punk come in and think they’re better than me. You’re exactly what’s wrong with the youth of today. You feel like you’re the best there is even though you haven’t done a damn thing. You’re just a self-righteous, self-obsessed, moron. You haven’t done anything to earn anyone’s respect. You haven’t done anything to earn MY respect. You’re a punk kid and I can’t wait to wipe the damn floor with you. I don’t even care if it gets into more of a brawler match. I’m made for that, I can compete with that, no problem at all. In fact, I love it. I’ll punch that arrogant smirk off your face so quick you won’t know what hit you. You can go on and on about your accomplishments in other places, but I’ve got the sneaking suspicion that Pure Wrestling may be in a slightly different class than where you’ve been before. I mean, Pure Wrestling has bathrooms at the arenas, and roofs. That must sound like a five star resort compared to the places you’ve played. You can call yourself a champ all you want, you’re nothing but a chump.”
I laugh at myself about the stupid line.
“Champ and chump? Real fucking original, Mark.” The crowd laughs with me.
“Give me a break, I told you I was rusty! Well, after leading off Cam by making fun of his name, what on earth can I say about John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt? I mean, clearly I could say that his name is my name too. But, I don’t think I could NOT say that. It’s just so fucking catchy. I’m sure it must just be complete hell growing up with a name like that. Which is why, I’m not even going to bother with it. I don’t care that your name is the same as a cheap children’s song. I wouldn’t care if your name was Barney the Dinosaur or Big Bird. Those are just things that get in the way from the true objective we all have here. I just want to win. I don’t care who I have to beat, I don’t care what kinds of problems people have. I don’t care if someone’s parents ruined their lives. It’s all insignificant shit.”
“Yet, it seems like you can’t stop living in the past. You’re haunted by your name. What kind of hell is that? Change your name man, it takes like $50 and a trip to City Hall. How lazy can you be that you wouldn’t run down to City Hall to get away from this ‘horror’ that is your name. If you ask me, I think you like it. I think you like all the attention and you know the only way to keep it going is for people to think you don’t like it. You just act like it bothers you, and because you’re such an irritating prick, everyone keeps it up and keeps all the attention on you. Well, at least while they’re singing the song.”
“Listen, I know I’m a hypocrite about this subject. I love the public eye, I love people cheering my name… I really do, I fucking love it. But at least I embrace it, man. You pretend like you’re some holier than thou douchebag who can’t stand it. We all know that in reality, all anyone wants is a little attention on themselves. People want to feel like someone knows who they are. It’s better to be hated than forgotten. I remember in college there was a philosophy teacher that asked his class whether they would rather be Hitler or a deceased John Doe Ally soldier. The poll was completely blind and nearly half of the class said they’d rather be Hitler. Do you know why? It’s because people still talk about Hitler every single fucking day. Of course he was one of the worst human beings to ever exist and the pain that he caused is rivaled by very few. But people still say his name, do you think he wouldn’t get off on that? No, I’m not comparing you to Hitler, obviously that’s a stretch. What I’m saying is, you’re trying to be this hated figure and be remembered for that, but what’s really going to happen after this week, is that I’m going to kick your angry little ass and I’m NOT going to get the crowd to start singing, I’m not going to even acknowledge you. Because I know THAT, that will hurt worse than anything else.”
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for joining me here today. You’ll see a whole lot more from me in the future. I hope you all tune in to Pure Wrestling this week as I make my return to the ring and show the world why they should never, ever count out Mark Mania!”
The crowd cheers and I wave towards them. I start to walk off the stage to the chants of “MA-NI-A, MA-NI-A”. I offer another wave as Rosa follows me off the stage. We get behind the curtain.
“Went pretty well, yeah?”
“Are you kidding? That went incredible. I mean, you told a few stupid jokes and had a few clichéd lines, but isn’t that what everyone expects of you?”
Rosa always has a way of putting me down in just the nicest ways.
“Thanks for coming out here to do this. Do you think you’ll be hanging around?”
“Let’s see how you do in your first match. I don’t want to be the assistant to a loser.”
“Have you seen these three? Do you really think there’s a chance in hell I’m going to lose to these fools? I had more experience than them before they were born.”
“Maybe when you were in tip-top shape, you’re looking a little round around the belly there.”
I look down to my stomach, round is a very mean way to put it. Maybe it’s not a six-pack anymore, but hell, I’m in my late 30’s what can be expected of me?
“Oh yeah, real funny, try and knock a guy down when all he’s doing is making an honest run out of it.”
“You’ve never done an honest thing in your life.”
“I take pride in that.”
We both laugh.
“So what’s next?”
“Seattle, baby!”
