Post by shanell on Oct 14, 2012 19:15:03 GMT -4
October 12th, 7:08 PM:
The pain is still being felt in my chest and back. Talk about fighting for your life, thats exactly what I did when I teamed with Young Mannie as we took on Educated Money less than a week ago. I've never been beaten so badly in my life, yet I refused to quit. I took everything they had and got up for more. Did I prove to some people that I'm for real? Maybe, maybe not. Did I prove to myself that this is the perfect career for me? 100 percent positively.
Those are the thoughts racing through Shanell Lewis' mind as she began walking up the two concrete steps of her childhood home's porch.
Shanell knocks on the gated door of her old home, the home where her mother still resides. She looks behind her while waiting for her mom to answer. Its a sunny day in Anaheim and 10 seconds later the door is opened. Shanell's mother, Lucinda answers and gives Shanell a hug as she walks in.
Lucinda is essentially an older version of Shanell in terms of appearance, and minus the piercings. She has short hair, combed back, touching the back of her neck. She's wearing a post office uniform, having just got home from work as a mail carrier a little bit before Shanell arrived. The 2 head to the small kitchen area of the modest, one floor home.
LUCINDA: If it isn't my beautiful baby girl. I'm so proud of you Shanell. You've really made something of yourself like I always knew you would. I remember when you were a little girl you were always so dang agressive. Now, you have a positive way to channel that agression into something that is bettering you and helping me. I appreciate the check you sent me the other day.
SHANELL: Mama you don't have to thank me. I'm just helping you, just like when I was little you made sure I had what I needed to survive. I'm thrilled that you are proud of me but all I'm doing is living my dream. But what do you think about Mannie? You know, the guy that I've been getting to know better.
LUCINDA: He seems like a knucklehead to me. I can't believe you had to bail that boy out of jail already. You've known him for what, a few weeks? Trust me Nelly, I've done my fair share of bailing men out of jail and what did it get me? Nothing but hurt in the end. You saw how the men treated me, how they treated us. Do you really want that for yourself? Do you want to relive what I had to deal with? Trust me, its no fun.
Did she really have to go there? Its bad enough that some people around here only see me as "Mannie's Girlfriend", not as Shanell Lewis. My past shaped who I am, but I can't let it define me. I won't let Mannie or anyone treat me how some of the men in my life treated my mother when I was growing up.
SHANELL: Mama its not like that. He has never raised his hand to me to hit me and he's never done anything serious. He may have used some recreational drugs but I'm talking to him about that too. I already made it clear to him that I won't go through some of the stuff that I had to endure when I was a kid. Back then, I couldn't control things. But now I'm in full control of my life, my surroundings, and the people I have to deal with. No offense but you never had great judgment in who you brought home.
Shanell's mom Lucinda looks down and nods her head, dissapointed in herself knowing Shanell isn't lying. She gets up and walks over and begins preparing them each a glass of iced tea. She brings the cups over and sits back down.
LUCINDA: I know I've made mistakes in my time Nelly but that doesn't mean I can't worry about the choices you are making now. I'm still your mother and I still want whats best for you. If you think that Mannie is so special, then go ahead and pursue it. But if he hurts you, I'm going to hurt him, understood?
SHANELL: You don't have to worry about that mama. If he hurts me, I'm going to hurt him. But, I really am starting to care for him. He's really been such a positive mentor to me in the last few weeks. Just last week, having him in my corner to tag in our match together was something that really helped me get through. I'm still in pain from that match but he had my back just like I had his and look at me, walked out a winner and am now about to main event the next show.
Shanell and Lucinda spend a few more hours together and catch up, Shanell leaves feeling inspired, knowing her mom really is behind her 100 percent now in her new career.
October 14th, 6:36 PM:
Shanell is in a local gym in Chicago getting a workout in, in preparation for her match the next night on Meltdown. She's running on a treadmill and looks at the screen and see's she has ran over 4 miles on it in a little under an hour. She turns the machine off and steps off and grabs a towel and sits down catching her breath for a short break.
SHANELL: Tomorrow night is one of the biggest moments in my life, definitely the biggest match of my short career so far. I'm teaming with my good friend Mannie and the Smooth Operator and we are taking on some of the best that APW has to offer in Shadow, Streets Wilson and Michael Lively.
I already know this is going to be the biggest challenge anyone like me could face. I mean lets start with Shadow. This is a man who is over a foot and a half taller than me and outweighs me by twice my weight. But the scariest thing about him? He's an APW Hall of Famer.
This is a business where respect is earned and Shadow you have earned my respect. It will be an honor to step in the ring against you. If I want to earn my place you are someone that I would need to face sooner or later anyways, so its my luck that I get a chance at you this early in my career. Your past accolades, I respect them, but I will tell you this. I'm fighting for my life in this company. I have came from nothing and if I lose my job, I go back to nothing. And I refuse to go back to nothing. Your size and strength advantage look good on paper, but once we step in the room there is nothing that can measure the heart and fight inside of any of us. I want to be that standard for heart and fight in APW. Shanell Lewis is here not to make money to go blow at a club or at a bar, Shanell Lewis is here to provide for her mama and herself, and she's here to show that a young woman can come from nothing and become something extraordinary. But, you aren't the only one I have to deal with at Meltdown.
Another man who has earned my respect is Streets Wilson. Last week, just like Shadow and Michael Lively, you picked up a win on Meltdown against another newcomer, Ryan Collins. Some would take that as a sign to maybe slow down. Some would say I'm not ready for talent like Streets, but not me. I see it as a chance to prove that not only can a newcomer hang with a veteran but if the gameplan is correct, that newcomer can beat someone like Streets. Streets, your background is more similar to mine than anyone else in this match. You had it rough, and dealt with a tremendous loss much younger than someone should have to deal with something like that. Losing your parents, in that way, it couldn't have been easy. But you didn't crumble and give up like most people would have, you fought. You fought and you made something of yourself. I commend you for that. I've been in situations where it looked like the only thing to do was to give up and ask for help. But you didn't.
But Streets as much have you have overcome in your life, there are people out there that have overcame more and achieved more. Now, I'm not stupid. I have no room to say that person is me, but I can say that with Mannie and Mr.Williams, we pose a threat and should be taken seriously. I have a feeling you might respect us, but one member of your team that I doubt will is the last man on your team. Michael Lively.
Just the mention of his name is enough to make my stomach turn. I wipe a bead of sweat from my forehead and look down at my hands which are entangled in each other and I crack my knuckles out of frustration.
Michael Lively is someone who calls himself The Woman Hater. Really? You hate women? Well guess what, I'm the woman that will make you hate the rest of us even more. You are everything I'm against. I've had men come and go in my life, and none of them were by choice. My mom had a habit or bringing deadbeats around, and they never showed me love. I turned cold to it after awhile, but seeing someobody like you makes me remember why I told myself I'd never let a man hold me back from making something of myself.
Michael without you, APW might not be what it is, but it might actually be better. You are someone that wants nothing more than to feed your own ego, so you do it by any means necessary. You don't give a damn about me, so why should I give a damn about you? And so I don't. The only thing I want, is to get my hands on you.
Mr.Williams, Mannie I am begging you guys to let me get my hands on Michael Lively in this match. He hates women so much, I'm sure he would hate to be left in the ring one on one with me then. Because, I'm not going to cower to him or submit to him. What I am going to do is...
A smile crosses Shanell's face as she has stood up and walks over to a punching bag. She kicks it intensely and then kicks it again, and again.
Kick you, over and over and over until you learn to respect a STRONG WOMAN. What you have done in the past, is something that I can do nothing about. But here and now, I can change the direction of your career and mine in one night. If you want to make an example out of a woman I dare you to try and make it out of me. I may be new here but I've been fighting my entire life. So you and your hate hardly intimidates me. If you really want to intimidate me, do it in the ring. Show me that you can take me out. I don't think you can do it. I think after this match, you are going to look at women alot different than how you view us now.
Shanell's phone rings in her workout bag and she pulls it out and answers.
Hello?
As the voice on the other end isn't heard, Shanell's facial expression tells a story. She looks shocked, but even worse, upset. Her lip curls and quivers.
No, you can't be serious. Tell me that this is some sick joke!
Tears fall from Shanell's cheek and she throws her phone and kicks the punching bag as hard as she can and screams in anger
I can't believe this! I cant believe this!!!!
Shanell kicks the bag again and again and then collapses on the floor, tired out from the strength of her strikes on the bag. A minute later, the gym door opens and Mannie runs up to Shanell who is on the floor in tears and grabs her head and holds her.
MANNIE: Shanell! I got your text to meet you here to workout, sorry I'm late, but what the hell is wrong girl!?
I'm trying to move my mouth to tell him but its the hardest thing I've ever tried doing. I'm in the fight of my life at Meltdown but right now all I can think about is the fight that my mom is going through. The words escape my mouth
SHANELL: My mom, a friend of her's just called me. They said she had a stroke. She's in critical condition at the hospital back home in Anaheim. Mannie I can't lose her. I don't know what to do right now. But I know what I have to do. I have to fight. I have to fight for my mom. I'm not good in these situations. I can't go home and watch her just lay there. Mannie I have to fight for her tomorrow. I have to pray for her tonight. If I can win this fight tomorrow, then I know she can win the fight she's in right now.
Mannie rubs Shanell's hair as her head is in his chest, his other arm wrapped tightly around her.
MANNIE: Don't worry we are gonna fight for her. Michael, Shadow and Streets won't know what hit 'em once we get finished with them. The important thing is that your mom gets the best care possible. I'm gonna make a few calls to ensure she does. You focus on getting yourself right mentally, and I'll handle everything else. If your mom is anything like you I know she's a fighter. This is a battle that she can and WILL win. And we are in a battle together that I know we will win. Shanell I won't let anything happen to you, but not only that I know you will let nothing happen to me. And after we win tomorrow night, we'll catch a flight together to make sure your mom is recovering.
I clutch around his body as hard as I can, crying out the pain. The one person who gave me some sort of stability, my mom, she has to be okay. And I'm not putting a match above her condition, I just know there is nothing I can do. Its the fight in her that has to win, and I feel like my main motivation now is to fight for her. Show her that she raised a fighter, I know she can feel my thoughts as she lays in a hospital recovering. This is for my mom. This is for my life. This is for Our lives. There is no other option. The fight must burn in me, otherwise the fight will die.
The pain is still being felt in my chest and back. Talk about fighting for your life, thats exactly what I did when I teamed with Young Mannie as we took on Educated Money less than a week ago. I've never been beaten so badly in my life, yet I refused to quit. I took everything they had and got up for more. Did I prove to some people that I'm for real? Maybe, maybe not. Did I prove to myself that this is the perfect career for me? 100 percent positively.
Those are the thoughts racing through Shanell Lewis' mind as she began walking up the two concrete steps of her childhood home's porch.
Shanell knocks on the gated door of her old home, the home where her mother still resides. She looks behind her while waiting for her mom to answer. Its a sunny day in Anaheim and 10 seconds later the door is opened. Shanell's mother, Lucinda answers and gives Shanell a hug as she walks in.
Lucinda is essentially an older version of Shanell in terms of appearance, and minus the piercings. She has short hair, combed back, touching the back of her neck. She's wearing a post office uniform, having just got home from work as a mail carrier a little bit before Shanell arrived. The 2 head to the small kitchen area of the modest, one floor home.
LUCINDA: If it isn't my beautiful baby girl. I'm so proud of you Shanell. You've really made something of yourself like I always knew you would. I remember when you were a little girl you were always so dang agressive. Now, you have a positive way to channel that agression into something that is bettering you and helping me. I appreciate the check you sent me the other day.
SHANELL: Mama you don't have to thank me. I'm just helping you, just like when I was little you made sure I had what I needed to survive. I'm thrilled that you are proud of me but all I'm doing is living my dream. But what do you think about Mannie? You know, the guy that I've been getting to know better.
LUCINDA: He seems like a knucklehead to me. I can't believe you had to bail that boy out of jail already. You've known him for what, a few weeks? Trust me Nelly, I've done my fair share of bailing men out of jail and what did it get me? Nothing but hurt in the end. You saw how the men treated me, how they treated us. Do you really want that for yourself? Do you want to relive what I had to deal with? Trust me, its no fun.
Did she really have to go there? Its bad enough that some people around here only see me as "Mannie's Girlfriend", not as Shanell Lewis. My past shaped who I am, but I can't let it define me. I won't let Mannie or anyone treat me how some of the men in my life treated my mother when I was growing up.
SHANELL: Mama its not like that. He has never raised his hand to me to hit me and he's never done anything serious. He may have used some recreational drugs but I'm talking to him about that too. I already made it clear to him that I won't go through some of the stuff that I had to endure when I was a kid. Back then, I couldn't control things. But now I'm in full control of my life, my surroundings, and the people I have to deal with. No offense but you never had great judgment in who you brought home.
Shanell's mom Lucinda looks down and nods her head, dissapointed in herself knowing Shanell isn't lying. She gets up and walks over and begins preparing them each a glass of iced tea. She brings the cups over and sits back down.
LUCINDA: I know I've made mistakes in my time Nelly but that doesn't mean I can't worry about the choices you are making now. I'm still your mother and I still want whats best for you. If you think that Mannie is so special, then go ahead and pursue it. But if he hurts you, I'm going to hurt him, understood?
SHANELL: You don't have to worry about that mama. If he hurts me, I'm going to hurt him. But, I really am starting to care for him. He's really been such a positive mentor to me in the last few weeks. Just last week, having him in my corner to tag in our match together was something that really helped me get through. I'm still in pain from that match but he had my back just like I had his and look at me, walked out a winner and am now about to main event the next show.
Shanell and Lucinda spend a few more hours together and catch up, Shanell leaves feeling inspired, knowing her mom really is behind her 100 percent now in her new career.
October 14th, 6:36 PM:
Shanell is in a local gym in Chicago getting a workout in, in preparation for her match the next night on Meltdown. She's running on a treadmill and looks at the screen and see's she has ran over 4 miles on it in a little under an hour. She turns the machine off and steps off and grabs a towel and sits down catching her breath for a short break.
SHANELL: Tomorrow night is one of the biggest moments in my life, definitely the biggest match of my short career so far. I'm teaming with my good friend Mannie and the Smooth Operator and we are taking on some of the best that APW has to offer in Shadow, Streets Wilson and Michael Lively.
I already know this is going to be the biggest challenge anyone like me could face. I mean lets start with Shadow. This is a man who is over a foot and a half taller than me and outweighs me by twice my weight. But the scariest thing about him? He's an APW Hall of Famer.
This is a business where respect is earned and Shadow you have earned my respect. It will be an honor to step in the ring against you. If I want to earn my place you are someone that I would need to face sooner or later anyways, so its my luck that I get a chance at you this early in my career. Your past accolades, I respect them, but I will tell you this. I'm fighting for my life in this company. I have came from nothing and if I lose my job, I go back to nothing. And I refuse to go back to nothing. Your size and strength advantage look good on paper, but once we step in the room there is nothing that can measure the heart and fight inside of any of us. I want to be that standard for heart and fight in APW. Shanell Lewis is here not to make money to go blow at a club or at a bar, Shanell Lewis is here to provide for her mama and herself, and she's here to show that a young woman can come from nothing and become something extraordinary. But, you aren't the only one I have to deal with at Meltdown.
Another man who has earned my respect is Streets Wilson. Last week, just like Shadow and Michael Lively, you picked up a win on Meltdown against another newcomer, Ryan Collins. Some would take that as a sign to maybe slow down. Some would say I'm not ready for talent like Streets, but not me. I see it as a chance to prove that not only can a newcomer hang with a veteran but if the gameplan is correct, that newcomer can beat someone like Streets. Streets, your background is more similar to mine than anyone else in this match. You had it rough, and dealt with a tremendous loss much younger than someone should have to deal with something like that. Losing your parents, in that way, it couldn't have been easy. But you didn't crumble and give up like most people would have, you fought. You fought and you made something of yourself. I commend you for that. I've been in situations where it looked like the only thing to do was to give up and ask for help. But you didn't.
But Streets as much have you have overcome in your life, there are people out there that have overcame more and achieved more. Now, I'm not stupid. I have no room to say that person is me, but I can say that with Mannie and Mr.Williams, we pose a threat and should be taken seriously. I have a feeling you might respect us, but one member of your team that I doubt will is the last man on your team. Michael Lively.
Just the mention of his name is enough to make my stomach turn. I wipe a bead of sweat from my forehead and look down at my hands which are entangled in each other and I crack my knuckles out of frustration.
Michael Lively is someone who calls himself The Woman Hater. Really? You hate women? Well guess what, I'm the woman that will make you hate the rest of us even more. You are everything I'm against. I've had men come and go in my life, and none of them were by choice. My mom had a habit or bringing deadbeats around, and they never showed me love. I turned cold to it after awhile, but seeing someobody like you makes me remember why I told myself I'd never let a man hold me back from making something of myself.
Michael without you, APW might not be what it is, but it might actually be better. You are someone that wants nothing more than to feed your own ego, so you do it by any means necessary. You don't give a damn about me, so why should I give a damn about you? And so I don't. The only thing I want, is to get my hands on you.
Mr.Williams, Mannie I am begging you guys to let me get my hands on Michael Lively in this match. He hates women so much, I'm sure he would hate to be left in the ring one on one with me then. Because, I'm not going to cower to him or submit to him. What I am going to do is...
A smile crosses Shanell's face as she has stood up and walks over to a punching bag. She kicks it intensely and then kicks it again, and again.
Kick you, over and over and over until you learn to respect a STRONG WOMAN. What you have done in the past, is something that I can do nothing about. But here and now, I can change the direction of your career and mine in one night. If you want to make an example out of a woman I dare you to try and make it out of me. I may be new here but I've been fighting my entire life. So you and your hate hardly intimidates me. If you really want to intimidate me, do it in the ring. Show me that you can take me out. I don't think you can do it. I think after this match, you are going to look at women alot different than how you view us now.
Shanell's phone rings in her workout bag and she pulls it out and answers.
Hello?
As the voice on the other end isn't heard, Shanell's facial expression tells a story. She looks shocked, but even worse, upset. Her lip curls and quivers.
No, you can't be serious. Tell me that this is some sick joke!
Tears fall from Shanell's cheek and she throws her phone and kicks the punching bag as hard as she can and screams in anger
I can't believe this! I cant believe this!!!!
Shanell kicks the bag again and again and then collapses on the floor, tired out from the strength of her strikes on the bag. A minute later, the gym door opens and Mannie runs up to Shanell who is on the floor in tears and grabs her head and holds her.
MANNIE: Shanell! I got your text to meet you here to workout, sorry I'm late, but what the hell is wrong girl!?
I'm trying to move my mouth to tell him but its the hardest thing I've ever tried doing. I'm in the fight of my life at Meltdown but right now all I can think about is the fight that my mom is going through. The words escape my mouth
SHANELL: My mom, a friend of her's just called me. They said she had a stroke. She's in critical condition at the hospital back home in Anaheim. Mannie I can't lose her. I don't know what to do right now. But I know what I have to do. I have to fight. I have to fight for my mom. I'm not good in these situations. I can't go home and watch her just lay there. Mannie I have to fight for her tomorrow. I have to pray for her tonight. If I can win this fight tomorrow, then I know she can win the fight she's in right now.
Mannie rubs Shanell's hair as her head is in his chest, his other arm wrapped tightly around her.
MANNIE: Don't worry we are gonna fight for her. Michael, Shadow and Streets won't know what hit 'em once we get finished with them. The important thing is that your mom gets the best care possible. I'm gonna make a few calls to ensure she does. You focus on getting yourself right mentally, and I'll handle everything else. If your mom is anything like you I know she's a fighter. This is a battle that she can and WILL win. And we are in a battle together that I know we will win. Shanell I won't let anything happen to you, but not only that I know you will let nothing happen to me. And after we win tomorrow night, we'll catch a flight together to make sure your mom is recovering.
I clutch around his body as hard as I can, crying out the pain. The one person who gave me some sort of stability, my mom, she has to be okay. And I'm not putting a match above her condition, I just know there is nothing I can do. Its the fight in her that has to win, and I feel like my main motivation now is to fight for her. Show her that she raised a fighter, I know she can feel my thoughts as she lays in a hospital recovering. This is for my mom. This is for my life. This is for Our lives. There is no other option. The fight must burn in me, otherwise the fight will die.
