Post by goodburn on May 20, 2012 17:41:52 GMT -4
I Know Who He Is
Fathers support their sons. I don’t know how I’ve been able to support Kyle for as long as I have, but I have. It isn’t like Kyle is a total monster, he hasn’t committed total genocide, and he isn’t a murderer, so in that sense that means I was somewhat of a good father. I don’t know if that’s me talking, or if that is Kyle’s voice in my mind telling me that I shouldn’t interfere, instead I should support him on his goal in APW.
It isn’t like it matters. With or without me he’ll win. He’ll win more than matches, he’ll win like he always wins. He wins in disputes, arguments, everything. This is one of the few times I’m not on the other side of the dispute, and it’s always better to be on the winning side, so this time I’ll support him, that’s what fathers do anyway, right?
Here I am at the Civic Center in Charleston, WV with my greatest accomplishment, Kyle Goodburn, who is more of blight on the world than a blessing. But with every victory Kyle has, is also a victory for me since I am the one responsible for him, or was responsible for, since he is grown up now. Just like the old days of us watching wrestling programs together, it seems that both of us are getting into Meltdown, the show where Kyle Goodburn will have to prove himself to the big shots of APW. In the background a loud chorus of “OHHH’s!” is heard, and shortly after Broken Dreams is heard in the arena. Kyle turns to me with a disappointed look on his face.
“Never a good sign when the first match is a squash match.” Kyle sits down next to me in the dressing room, “Hopefully things will pick up soon.”
I pat Kyle on his back with a smile on my face, “Something tells me they will soon enough.” Meaning of course, when he starts running wild on APW things will get much more entertaining for the fans.
Kyle gets a grin on his face. Something tells me that he knew what I meant.
“That’s kind of you to say,” Kyle nods his head as he speaks to me, “Something occurs to me though. Whenever you have had the opportunity, you were there with me, doing what you believe is every father’s responsibility to do, Supporting their offspring. You don’t even care that I’m here to cause trouble, to do what is in my best interest, I’m solely here for me.”
My mind begins to sort through all of the possibilities of him saying these things. He hasn’t been this blunt since our last chess game when he was fourteen years old. Although one of the differences of this instance is, these statements are true. Kyle saying that I am here to be a good father is 100% true. After all, just because he is a rotten son doesn’t make it right for me to be a rotten father. For this reason, I listen to the rest of what he has to say.
“These are good habits for a good father,” Kyle continues, “But great habits for a great manager.
He must be kidding. My thinking must show on my face, because he has an answer for that.
“I am not kidding,” Kyle answers to my silent question, “I know you must think that you didn’t teach me any good habits, but I don’t lie anymore. That’s probably why everyone thinks I’m such a pain in the ass. You are aware that the nicest people are liars, right?”
I’m sure that’s true with some people, how else could politicians get elected…
“How about I just tell you the truth, since after all, I’m trying to tell you that I am honest.” Kyle scoots closer to me, “I know what you think I’m going to do here. You think this place is just going to be a playground where I can just bully whoever I want. That’s not right at all, I am here for a legacy.”
I finally have to break my silence, “Well, why am I needed for that?”
Kyle looks at me in a puzzled face, “You really think I could think of a great way to leave an amazing legacy here? I know who I am, you know who I am, within a week I would just tear this place apart. That’s the last thing this place needs, is some huge guy that just wants to beat people up. We both know what happens to those guys, they die out.”
This is an all-time first. Kyle for some reason needing me. None of it makes sense. Everything is pointing to him actually needing me for some sort of reason, or else he wouldn’t even bother asking me for my help. I am much too curious to not find out what Kyle’s plan is for me. No other choice than to find out. But I have to get more details from Kyle before I fully commit to anything.
“Why me Kyle?” I ask Kyle, “There must be an abundance of other people that could help you with this. Why do you want me?”
“I know who you are too,” Kyle replies, “this is about who I can trust. It’s true that there is an abundance of people that may be more qualified than you, but I need someone I know. Yes, I know a lot of people, but there isn’t a lot of people I know that I can trust anymore, probably my fault for that fact, but I know there is no one that cares about my future more than you. One other reason also, you have it driven in your head that my legacy, is your legacy too.”
He has me there. My son knows me better than I gave him credit for, perhaps he has been listening to me all these years after all.
“For that reason,” Kyle continues, “I know that you will join me. You will make sure that whatever legacy I leave behind here will be a legacy that is remembered. My triumphs are yours, my failures are yours. All in all, this is our time to shine, it’s time to form a winning team.”
A winning team, there hasn’t been a more fulfilling accomplishment than being on a winning team. In my experience, there hasn’t been a better leader of a winning team than Kyle Goodburn, and with his logic, I am responsible for that. That is a great feeling. Obviously Kyle has been choosing his words carefully, because he is making a most successful argument, and according to him, it is the truth. I can’t find a flaw with it yet.
“Haven’t you ever wondered what Star Wars would be like,” Kyle asks me, “If Luke would have joined Vader? A father and son team ruling the universe! That would have been awesome, don’t you think?”
“Well, in the end Vader joined Luke in the light side of the force. And Vader ended up dying…” I try continue correcting Kyle’s Star Wars analogy, “And also, which of us are supposed to be Vader?”
“Well my advice to you then,” Kyle replies, “is that you don’t jump into a weird slide thing with a hand missing, and join me before one of us gets electrocuted by an emperor.”
Kyle’s analogy is a long stretch to put it mildly, but I understand his point, that this is a one-time offer. And if I don’t take him up on it, I will regret it. I suppose our family has a strange way saying things. I’ve learned to take what he says seriously though, so that’s what I do. I take this threat serious.
“I have some more questions.” I say to Kyle, “First, why is it so important that you don’t do what you actually want to do, just run wild on APW? Why is it important to you that you have some sort of legacy?”
“I am better than just some random attacker,” Kyle says to me, “I’m not some disorganized villain like The Joker or Two Face. You know what I’m capable of. I am destined for more than cheap trickery. I want more than that, and that is what I am going to get. But I need to remind me of that.”
I decide that he is genuine. This is a man that wants what every man wants for himself. He wants to reach his destiny. He deserves it, and with my help, he will reach his destiny. I decide to join him, and to be part of a winning team.
“Next week Kyle,” I tell Kyle, “You are facing some Asylum guy, becoming a big deal; he’s on a hot streak. And you know what; we are going to end it, the both of us.”
Kyle gets a smile on his face. Is it the joy of having his father join him? Or is it because once again, he has gained another victory? After all, he has accomplished a goal, he got what he wanted. He didn’t fail, he asked me to join him, and I did. If this was a type of game, it won’t be the last game he has won…
