Post by Steve Sinclair on Oct 15, 2015 23:46:20 GMT
Billy’s black 2014 Dodge Hellcat rumbles down a old dirt road. While it doesn’t look very Dukes of Hazzard like, you know kicking it sideways through the bends, throwing dirt and rocks as far as the eye can see, outrunning the cops, jumping dry creek beds in a single bound while pegging out the tach on the old Dodge 440 big block, there is something just as cool as slowly idling down a the road, with the low deep rumble exiting the exhaust posts scaring the wildlife away letting everyone and everything within earshot know that something wicked is coming is just as cool.
And you don’t burn through as much gas either. Seriously, there are no gas station out where Billy is and if there is one, do you really want to stop at? You have watched Deliverance right?
The Hellcat comes to a stop. As the camera pans around the front of the car and we check out the front bumper and grill of this 707 horse machine, Billy snaps the throttle a couple of times, you know to clear out the carbon and then he shuts the beast down. The driver’s side door opens and stepping out of his ride is HillBilly Sutton. He’s a bit dressed up today. Old Navy jeans today. Navy blue Old Navy faded logo tee and a red and white checkered flannel over that. Finishing it off with a old pair of Tony Lama boots and a black Stetson hat. Stylish HillBilly Sutton today.
As Billy stands next to his ride he glances up at the sky and off into the woods around him before taking a step forward and slowly shutting the door behind him. He slowly walks up to the front of the car running his finger down along the top edge of the fender.
“There you are, on the road, the road of life and you come to the old fork in the road and you have to make a decision. Do I go right? Do I go left?”
The camera pans 180 degrees around and we see the fork in the road.
“Do you go this way, the way towards the top. The path of least resistance. The path that will have you in the spotlight all of the time, in front of all of the eyeballs. Everything you do they will see it. They will nitpick it. They will place you on a pedestal and worship you and treat you like you are this all mighty and powerful god!”
Billy looks up to the skies as if he is this god.
“You can do no wrong. They love you! They worship you! They chant your names and they expect you to win every single time no exception! They tweet, oh lots and lots of tweets, texts. They fill the skies, those blue little birdies on their way to the server with words of encouragement and praise! This path is a freshly paved road. Lots of traction for drag racing. Lots of grip! You can throw it in the turns, if there is a turn and you know the car will stick. It is the rocketship! It is the ride of a lifetime! The easy life! The path…..”
Billy looks in that direction.
“Made of gold bars and hot women.”
“Or do you take the other path? And I have to warn you. That path…..”
Billy shakes his head.
“Is dirty. Nasty. Bumpy. Full of potholes, blind corners and hardships. Heartbreak and long nights with cigarette butts, empty beer bottles and fat chicks. Razor bumps, different sized titties and zits on their ass. The only shower you get are golden and you still stink after words. No one is your friend, everyone is your foe and the world is out to get ya. It is a long hard fought road that will eventually lead you to the same place as the other road. The starting and ending points are the same. Except that one makes you the golden boy with no flavor. The twelve time employee of the month with no soul. Nothing. You are the plain white tee that everyone wears but doesn’t know why. That other road…..”
Billy looks in it’s direction and nods.
“Builds character. Adds layers to you. You will come out on the other end road tested, battle scared and looking a little rough around the edges, but you can handle the heat. You can take everything everyone can throw at you and still get up! Why? Because that is what that road made you do. A hard f*cking time! There are no breaks! There isn’t getting lucky and you don’t get sh*t without earning it! The hard way! With busted up knuckles, a broken nose or two and too many broken bones to count! It’s not the glamorous life style at all and every person who gets in that ring against you, with bad mouth you. Will knock you down with their words and remind you just how gifted they are when compared to you.”
Billy cracks his knuckles.
“Because they took the path lined with palm trees, bleached blondes with spray on tans. They don’t know you! They haven’t walked a single day in your life. They know nothing about you! But they know that they will win this battle. They have to. They have the soft tires and air ride suspension. No way are they giving that up. But you know something. That path full of dirt and grime….it eventually comes out on the other side and when it does.”
Billy smirks.
“Everything just falls into place. The victories come. The belts come and when you start collecting them, so does the respect and when everyone takes note of the path you took to get at the same they are at.”
“You see Caleb. You are doing exactly what I warned you about. You are saying the same nonsense, the same crap you told Craig Williams two weeks ago. Yes we know, you are the best in the world. Best wrastler on the face of the planet and no one can stop you. What else do you have? Yes we know that those three title belts you lug around proves that you are the best. You tell everyone who is booked against you this. I have these therefore I am awesome. But what else do you have have? Are there any other tricks in the bag or is that it Caleb? Is that all you have? I’ll give you this. You tweaked the script this week with tasting defeat last week and why don’t you just come on out and say it Caleb. Just say it. Everyone knows you want too. Just blame that lose on Arch Stanton and Tyson Turbo. It’s their fault. It’s right der, on the da tip of your tongue. Set those words free. You’ll at least get some respect from the guys for speaking what is really on your mind. But no you keep them close to your heart. No need to make the natives irate?”
Billy leans up against the front of his Hellcat.
“I am nothing more than a sacrificial lamb to you. A person the UWL has placed in front of you to avenge that awful loss of yours because there is no way a dirty gorilla and a mountain man should ever get one over on you. But it did happen. In middle of that ring. YOu can say you lost focus all you want. Call it whatever you need to call it Caleb. Tell yourself. Tell me. Tell da world that you will take a dump truck of mental fiber pills to get yourself to focus once again and get back to your winning ways for the path you have been on has been nothing more than a airplane runway. Straight and narrow. Something like losing at Nightmare, der aren’t any winding back country roads where you live. But me….It’s always an uphill climb and sometime, the path Ima on, crosses over your velvet highway and when it does, it’s a car crash.”
Billy pushes off his car.
“I’m the mid 70’s full size Buick that steams rolls that peice of shit Honda import your in. I’ll destroy your world. I told ya that da world wants to see this match and have been waiting for a long time Caleb. Der is a reason for that. Because everyone can see the accident coming from a mile away. Someone is going to die and that someone is the chump in the subcompact tin can. I don’t claim to be the best and this Saturday Night, I won’t be second either. Der is a old saying in racing Caleb you closet Nascar fan you.”
Billy pulls his hat down a bit.
“Checkers or wreckers. I love checkers and I will be the first one to that flag this week.”
Billy turns and walks back to the driver’s side door.
Fade out.