Post by Stephen Callaway on Sept 1, 2010 17:09:34 GMT -5
Stephen Callaway stands in the kitchen. It’s not his kitchen but his brother, Alistair’s. Nevertheless, he’s drying the dishes as Alistair washes. Stephen is quiet for a moment before he asks.
Stephen
“What’s it like to be my brother?”
Alistair looks up from his washing with a plate in his hands confused by this question.
Alistair
“What do you mean by that?”
Stephen
“There’s a guy in KoP. His name’s Johnny, and I’m facing him on Sunday…..”
Alistair
“I know I read the card.”
Stephen
“Like you Johnny’s got a brother in the business, Kurt. Kurt runs the KoP and he’s been world champion and tag champion. What I meant was, seeing Johnny made me realize what you lot must go through.”
Alistair raises an eyebrow at ‘you lot’. Stephen notices this.
Stephen
“I don’t mean it like that. What I mean is, I’ve been world champion several times. I’ve been at the top of the card, I’ve wrestled all over the world….”
Alistair
“From what I hear, you may be on your way to another title.”
Stephen
“Exactly. But you’re not. Neither is Scott, or Brian, Fiona or any of the rest. I never did it to be egotistical or competitive with any of you.”
Alistair looks at Stephen over the saucepan he hands Stephen to dry.
Stephen
“OK, maybe a little. But there are seven of us. I never realised before what it must be like for you. To have someone like me, someone in the same profession as you who just keeps going higher and higher while everything you do is looked at as ‘Stephen Callaway’s brother’.”
Alistair, having finished washing, pours the remaining water down the drain before turning to Stephen.
Alistair
“Look around you Stephen. I am a mid card wrestler at best, yet this mid carder has a fair sized house, a beautiful wife and a wonderful daughter. Don’t be worried about us living in your shadow. It was your shadow that got us into SML in the first place. You got in as the overly pushed but quite good trainee and that opened the doors for the other trainees Trainees like myself, Scott, Stewart, Brad, people not named Callaway and of course, my wife Vally Cally. This Johnny fella, like me he would have gotten in the door because of Kurt and his family connections just like we did. (He clicks the kettle and starts making coffee) The fact he’s lasted in The Kingdom so far, is not only down to Kurt. He’s a good wrestler. I know I’ve watched him. My advice for Sunday? Focus on Johnny not on Kurt’s brother.”
Alistair’s wife Valerie walks into the kitchen.
Valerie
“Look at me, my brother’s a wrestler, I never once compared myself to him. Not once did I think ‘he’s better than me’ or ‘I’m better than him’. Nor did I ever think about measuring up to what he’s done in the business. I always followed my own path, not because I’m a woman and he’s a man, but because I am the centre of my universe. Egotistical? A little. But it’s true. You should look at what you’re doing and celebrate the achievements in your life. You’re a top class wrestler. You have a wife that loves you, an amazing family and a gorgeous brother and sister in law. Answer me this: If Ally flipped burgers at Maccy D’s, would you be worried about him being in your shadow? Do you ever give a damn about siblings who aren’t in the business?”
Stephen folds his towel and lays it on the table.
Stephen
“It hits me sometimes when I hear people talking about their family. Sometimes harder than when I think about the Nobles or the Bamfords because those not in the business or music or movies must look at the millionaire sibling with a hint of jealousy buying boats and flash cars while they earn minimum wage. But from day to day, no I don’t really give a damn.”
Valerie
“On Sunday when you go out there wrestle him the best you can. You kicked the crap out of Justin Kaard last week without ever thinking about his family. When you’re standing with that title round your waist, you won’t be thinking about Kid Flannigan’s sister. So why bother about Johnny Noble or his brother?”
Stephen
“I don’t. It’s been bothering me for a while that I’m this big shot wrestler while my family tread water in the mid card. Getting booked against Johnny Noble just brought it to the surface.”
Alistair
“The only time you should think about Johnny’s brother is when the match is over. Is he impressed by your match? Look at Sterling you impressed him by barging into his office, showing ruthless aggression and refusing to shut your trap until you got what you wanted. Look at Kurt Noble as your boss and Johnny as your opponent nothing else.”
Feeling somewhat better about himself, Stephen picks up his coffee and follows the other two out of the kitchen as we fade to black
END PROMO
Stephen
“What’s it like to be my brother?”
Alistair looks up from his washing with a plate in his hands confused by this question.
Alistair
“What do you mean by that?”
Stephen
“There’s a guy in KoP. His name’s Johnny, and I’m facing him on Sunday…..”
Alistair
“I know I read the card.”
Stephen
“Like you Johnny’s got a brother in the business, Kurt. Kurt runs the KoP and he’s been world champion and tag champion. What I meant was, seeing Johnny made me realize what you lot must go through.”
Alistair raises an eyebrow at ‘you lot’. Stephen notices this.
Stephen
“I don’t mean it like that. What I mean is, I’ve been world champion several times. I’ve been at the top of the card, I’ve wrestled all over the world….”
Alistair
“From what I hear, you may be on your way to another title.”
Stephen
“Exactly. But you’re not. Neither is Scott, or Brian, Fiona or any of the rest. I never did it to be egotistical or competitive with any of you.”
Alistair looks at Stephen over the saucepan he hands Stephen to dry.
Stephen
“OK, maybe a little. But there are seven of us. I never realised before what it must be like for you. To have someone like me, someone in the same profession as you who just keeps going higher and higher while everything you do is looked at as ‘Stephen Callaway’s brother’.”
Alistair, having finished washing, pours the remaining water down the drain before turning to Stephen.
Alistair
“Look around you Stephen. I am a mid card wrestler at best, yet this mid carder has a fair sized house, a beautiful wife and a wonderful daughter. Don’t be worried about us living in your shadow. It was your shadow that got us into SML in the first place. You got in as the overly pushed but quite good trainee and that opened the doors for the other trainees Trainees like myself, Scott, Stewart, Brad, people not named Callaway and of course, my wife Vally Cally. This Johnny fella, like me he would have gotten in the door because of Kurt and his family connections just like we did. (He clicks the kettle and starts making coffee) The fact he’s lasted in The Kingdom so far, is not only down to Kurt. He’s a good wrestler. I know I’ve watched him. My advice for Sunday? Focus on Johnny not on Kurt’s brother.”
Alistair’s wife Valerie walks into the kitchen.
Valerie
“Look at me, my brother’s a wrestler, I never once compared myself to him. Not once did I think ‘he’s better than me’ or ‘I’m better than him’. Nor did I ever think about measuring up to what he’s done in the business. I always followed my own path, not because I’m a woman and he’s a man, but because I am the centre of my universe. Egotistical? A little. But it’s true. You should look at what you’re doing and celebrate the achievements in your life. You’re a top class wrestler. You have a wife that loves you, an amazing family and a gorgeous brother and sister in law. Answer me this: If Ally flipped burgers at Maccy D’s, would you be worried about him being in your shadow? Do you ever give a damn about siblings who aren’t in the business?”
Stephen folds his towel and lays it on the table.
Stephen
“It hits me sometimes when I hear people talking about their family. Sometimes harder than when I think about the Nobles or the Bamfords because those not in the business or music or movies must look at the millionaire sibling with a hint of jealousy buying boats and flash cars while they earn minimum wage. But from day to day, no I don’t really give a damn.”
Valerie
“On Sunday when you go out there wrestle him the best you can. You kicked the crap out of Justin Kaard last week without ever thinking about his family. When you’re standing with that title round your waist, you won’t be thinking about Kid Flannigan’s sister. So why bother about Johnny Noble or his brother?”
Stephen
“I don’t. It’s been bothering me for a while that I’m this big shot wrestler while my family tread water in the mid card. Getting booked against Johnny Noble just brought it to the surface.”
Alistair
“The only time you should think about Johnny’s brother is when the match is over. Is he impressed by your match? Look at Sterling you impressed him by barging into his office, showing ruthless aggression and refusing to shut your trap until you got what you wanted. Look at Kurt Noble as your boss and Johnny as your opponent nothing else.”
Feeling somewhat better about himself, Stephen picks up his coffee and follows the other two out of the kitchen as we fade to black
END PROMO
