One Life for One Moment - The Jerry Bolte Story

[Lewb]

A cold November morning, chill in the air to tingle even the warmest of mans spines, making a soft whistle noise, only heard when its not drowned out by car engines and rickety train tracks. An arena car park only half full, some people outside their cars getting the ice off their windscreens, or just waiting for their engines to start up after a night shift. Like clockwork, at 9:13, the bus from out of town stops at the stop. Unlike clockwork, there's more people getting off the stop as usual. One more than normal hanging about by the bus stop as the bus leaves, looking around with an overpacked gym bag on his shoulder trying to catch his bearings at an unknown destination. Getting a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket and matching the writing on it to the arena name, knowing he's in the right place, makes his way to the entrance gate when his phone starts ringing. He reaches in his pocket and answers the phone, knowing who is ringing him already.

???: Hey baby.

? G.f: Hey... you find the place?

???: Yeah, I just got here. I.... I don't know about this Tania.

Tania: Jerry! Come on, this is what you've been working towards. Everything you've ever wanted will be in that building in front of you.

Jerry: It's not that. It's just.... it's a new company, new owners. I'm coming here to talk to the owner, and I don't even have a name. No point of contact. What of this is just like Cleveland all over again.

Cleveland is in Ohio. Cleveland is also the place Jerry Bolte first tried to make it in America. Whilst feeling top of the world in the position he was in at this moment in Cleveland, mere minutes after walking through the door, dreams had been shattered, finding out no job was waiting or him, no job... at the non-existent company. Tania too knows this, and brings an awkward pause on the phone. Jerry breaks the silence with optimism.

Jerry: I can't have tha much bad luck tho. This has got to be the real deal, so I'm going to go and do this. I'll do this, make a bit of money, and get you flown out here I promise!

Tania: Oh I hope so Jez, things are just getting worse and worse here. Dad's getting worse, half the time he doesn't know my name. And Deb just seems to blame me.

Tania hasn't been able to call Deb mum for thirteen years. Mostly due to the fact her real mum Rebecca had died thirteen years ago to Alzheimers, and with her father going through the same thing, her now stepmother cant accept the fact that shes losing him, and his daughter is a somewhat easy target. Jerry has always felt guilt since moving out to America leaving Tania in that situation.

Jerry: I'm doing everything I can baby, I'm going to get you out here soon enough I promise you!

Tania: It's just so hard not seeing you Jerry (Tania breaks down in tears.) Can't you come back and see me? Please?

Guilt wrenching through Jerrys stomach not even settled in the knowing he is doing what he's doing for the greater good, has to bring himself to tell his only love the one thing she didn't want to hear.

Jerry: I.....I just cant Tan. If I came back, look at how far it would be bringing me back to getting you here for good. I know its hard but we just need to think about the-

Jerry was interrupted by an dial tone, the judging, unforgiving dial tone of Tania's pain. As he looks up at the arena he's about to enter he mutters the word future under his breath and walks through the automatic doors....

To Be Continued....​

 

[Lewb]

I don't know who you think you are and where you've come from, and to be frank, I don't care, there's no place for you here.... You start any time you like, it's a pleasure having you on board..... SCW? What the hell is that?! what are you on fella? The possibilities that seem available always astounded Jerry Bolte when in a mood of thought and doubt. Every turn in the corridor of not seeing anyone or anything, another excuse he thinks of for doing this return trip without a contract in his hand. Each door named after a capital of each state, and its felt like hes walked from California to New York six times already. You know, the big capitals, Washington DC, New York City, Florida, GM's office, Raleigh.... Jerry, unaware of a capital in the US called GM's office, turns back round at the point of realisation with a look of determination. This is it. Nerves setting in uncontrollably like we say countless times with the contestants of American Idol. But no-ones going to call Jerry's name, one knock on the door, and his fate will be found.

*Knock, Knock*

An awkward silence slowly turns to a hard realisation. No answer, no GM, no job. Its obvious but Jerry knocks again.

*Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock*

This is getting embarrasing Jerry, there's people walking past wondering what your doing. Cut your losses and leave Jerry your looking desperate. No, another set of taps should do the trick... hes the other side of the office, knock harder.

*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*

If he's there thats definately going to get his attention, thats got the janitors attention the other side of the corridor... he's not dressed like a janitor mind, he's more dressed like... well, a GM.

???: Hey, what's my door done to you pal?

More than you could imagine inside Sir, you could see Jerry mouth, but knowing this is his big shot no noise was added to this.

Jerry: Oh n-nothing sir, I apologise. I guess I don't know my own strength sometimes.

???: Hmmm. Do you have an appointment or is this an unexpected visit?

Jerry: Umm yeah, I have an appointment, I'm Jerry Bolte.

???: Ah Jerry! Come on in!

He opens the door to now an understandable empty room. Six or seven photographs are on the desk and as Jerry walks in he sees his photograph staring back at him. Whilst unexpectedly seeing yourself can startle you, this occasion and its settled Jerry right down. Why do you always get this paranoid Jerry?

Jerry: I see you been expecting me then GM? With the picture and all.

???: I'm not the GM. I'm the CEO, i just make the business decisions. The GM sorts all the wrestling aspect out, but, you won't ever get to meet him. None of the superstars will get to meet him, takes all of the animosity out and makes sure everything is kept fair. But the GM knows about you Jerry, we've both seen our audition tape. We've een te various fan videos of you on Youtube, and we've seen your promos for the British Companies you been with. I have to admit man, you are like a breath of fresh air to a lot of what we've seen so far and we can't wait for you to start. Yo do still want to start don't you?

What a stupid question. For a smart man, a stupid question. This sounds like the most perfect thing Jerry could have ever imagined and hes being asked if he wants to do this or not. The permanent smile says all you need to know, but ummm, Jerry, you might want to answer the guy instead of standing there looking like a mental patient just staring at the man!

Jerry: Yes! Most definitely Sir. I cant wait to get started and wrestle.

CEO: Two weeks today.

Jerry: Two weeks today? Really?

CEO: Yep, our debut show, Riot, Tuesday 30th November, your up against Electric Rain. I'm expecting a good performance. The gym is next to the the main hall entrance everything you need is in the induction pamphlet here. But apart from that, good to have you on board!

He puts his hand out, and Jerry latches onto it making sure this cant be taken away from him. Your an SCW superstar now son. You have the chance for it all. Glory, titles, getting your girlfriend out here to share all this with you. The CEO hands him his induction pamphlet. Pamphlets are different in America than Britain. In Wales it's normally a six paged document on which religion to follow, or how to turn the washing machine on. Here you can see why America is the Land of Opportunity. Places to get my theme music endorsed, a video, promo shots, complimentary hair cut, a free gym to use. A free gym! He walks down the corridor not looking where hes going, too much to look at in all the stuff his been given. Feeling like a kid at Christmas looking at his presents he walks straight into a wall. He looks up as if the wall was purposely in his way, but something catches his eye to the slight right. Something he thought he would ever see. A locker room door. He always thought he'd see that, but not the plaque on the front of it.

JERRY "THE THUNDERBOLT" BOLTE
LOCKER ROOM

Seeing that is the moment it set in. He rummages through the paperwork to get the key card, slots it through and the red light on the door lock turns to green, and he opens his locker room. His own locker room. The door shuts behind him as he goes through the first stages of preparing for his debut match in two weeks time.​