So my time will come when I have the right mind, rid my mind of this hesitation, all I need is coming, though it’s not here yet

April 24, 2025

Oh, Um…Yes?

It was the day before my match against JCH and a week since my Initiation into The Octopus and all the drama that occurred that day. This day my recovered confidence was fighting with my internal struggle about how I should act around my family. I had not expected to receive a call from mo…Marine Biologist while I was in Winnipeg. The address that had been texted over to be by Clarice was leading me outside the city. The homes got larger and more private. I assume this is why she told me to get a rental car and drive myself.

The GPS said I was close. I had not been in a room with just her since she explained my situation back in January. I made a turn and pulled up to a beautiful Victorian style Mansion.

I parked and stared out of my rental, a sleek black…Toyota Corolla. Suffice to say my rediscovered confidence took a beating in that moment. My head was on a swivel when I stepped out of the car. A small hedge maze where the hedges were all cut into elaborate animals was a remarkable sight.

No Minotaur though.

“Are you going to dawdle here all day?”

I turned to see HER at the top of the stairs leading into the Mansion. Her left hand on her hip, a cigarette in her right hand, and an annoyed look on her face. Before I could respond she motioned with her smoke hand, “hurry up.”

Without any hesitation, I put my head down and went up the stairs. I got to the top and she was gone, but standing there holding the door was Clarice. I gave her the best smile I could as I walked past her, but it didn’t seem to matter because she did not even look at me. She was staring the entire time into the shadows inside the darkened lobby of the Mansion.

I pointed into the shadows, and very sarcastically said, “that way?”

She ‘no-sold’ me (of course), and the next I knew she was walking in front of me. We stepped into a room after getting my Fitbit steps up, and I had to shield my eyes. There were windows in every direction and a small table in the middle surrounded by plants. I let my eyes get used to the sudden sunlight and then realized I was walking into a Greenhouse that was inside the house. I was not sure how, but Clarice was already there with a teapot in her hand as he began to pour a cup for HER. “Sit down already.”

I blinked.

I moved with purpose after that and was then standing in front of the table looking across from HER. She blew a smoke ring into the air. I just imagined every plant in there staring daggers into her cold heart. “Did I stutter? SIT. DOWN.”

I sat down.

“Um…nice place.”

She waved her hand at me, “yea-yea. Do you know why I asked to see you?”

I didn’t. I had been hoping she was going to wish me luck in my match or tell me she was going to come watch it. I mean…come on, she is staying in the same city. It had to be that, right? “My match is tomorrow…”

She laughed and took a sip of her tea. Da Hong Pao tea that is, the most expense tea there is. It goes for $2.4K a cup. Of course, I did not know that, but later Clarice made it quite clear to me that I wasn’t worth a cup of tea to her.

“Is that why you wore THAT to a meeting with me?” She gestured with a head nod to the Five Star Championship I had proudly worn that day.

I pat the title with my left hand. I had forgotten that I had it around my waist, but I know why I wore it today and realized I had made a grave mistake. “I…”

Yep, good call Steve.

She gave me zero time to respond, “don’t embarrass yourself. I do not care if you had so many they suffocated you while you slept.”

Hubris, my name is Steve Harrison.

I did not know how to respond to this. I had figured I had done everything she had wanted. I had awakened from my dream determined to only fight for MY family and now my accomplishment is being scoffed at by the one person I realized I wanted to impress the most. She wasn’t shy about noticing my duress, “I will take your silence as an understanding between us.”

Without realizing it I nodded back at her. It did not matter that just seconds later I was swearing at myself about nodding because I knew if I did it all over again, I would have reacted the same way. “I, uh…thought you would be proud of it?”

I felt wretched.

That got a smile out of her, but it was the smile you would get before a girl says ‘no,’ to you asking her on a date. “Heh, no-no. I am glad to see some fire though, but it seems this…,” she waved her hand as if she were saying my achievement wasn’t important, “…title has already started to blind you of your responsibility to The Octopus.”

I was confused but I took a bit of time to get myself together, “I have been waiting for you to explain everything.”

She took a sip of her tea and nodded towards me, “I like that you want to learn but some things are better taught over time and experienced then just being told. Does that make sense?”

“Oh um…yes?”

It began that day.

How pathetic.

“Are you asking me?”

I shook my head, “no,” I stopped, “I mean, I… yes?”

She rolled her eyes, “I will just move on for now because MY family should not be this noncommittal about something so tame. I will just tell you that Ellis has gone missing. I am sure he planned this, as he stole money from us.”

I slumped in my seat.

Ouch.

But…wait?

“ELLIS IS GONE?!?” This was the first time I had heard. I know I tried pretending I didn’t know the next night, but it is better to be composed than show someone you are flustered. Nah, being rattled was just for showing MOM. HOW fucking great.

She calmy waited as Clarice lit another Virginia Slim for her. She took a small drag and blew the smoke slowly towards a plant next to her.

Purposely.

I gulped.

She was so short but so intimidating. It was at odds with everything I had ever learned so I was constantly trying to figure her out. “You need to find him.”

“Me?”

“You need to get the money back.”

“Whoa…whoa…”

“I will leave it up to you on how it is accomplished.”

“I…”

“Dead or alive.”

The smoke from the cigarette stuck in the air over the table. It was parroting me I thought, as the only thing I could move after that last comment were my eyes.

I blinked…several times.

Maybe I was saying SOS in Morse Code?

“Dead?”

She shrugged, “I said however you accomplish getting the money back. You must understand, little jellyfish, that he stole from all of us. The Octopus does not forgive thieves even if you are family.”

“What do you mean by all of us?” I was very confused because I wasn’t sure where he stole this money from or how he had gotten access to it. I may as well go by “Confused” Steve Harrison? Lot of emphasis on the question mark.

The teacup made a bit of noise as she placed it back on the table. “As a family, an organization of shared ideals we have one big bank account that covers all our expenses. All profits from our dealings go into it but you must realize that what you take out you must put in beforehand. This isn’t a handout, this pays you a salary.”

I smiled as I heard about The Octopus Bank Account because I honestly did not care about what happened to Ellis Jackson. “Nice, but yea, yea, I have no problem taking care of that sea roach.”

Clarice laughed.

The Matriarch put her hand up and Clarice stopped laughing but a grin remained which made me fume inside my mind. “It is a bit funny but let’s compose ourselves, Clarice.”

I softly chuckled to myself as I tried to integrate myself into this and yes, I know how pitiful that is. I was a putty of clay for her to constantly change the shape of. “Heh-heh, what’s so funny?”

She sighed, “of course, I am always fair,” she said. I stared at her expecting a laugh to follow but she was serious. “You are broke.”

Oh.

Um.

Yes?

She continued as she saw the fear begin to form on my face. “Who saved Jack?”

“I never actually got an explanation on that.”

She ignored me, “who took care of that disgusting wannabe gangster in Montreal?”

Clarice raised her hand, and SHE nodded, “yes, Clarice took care of him and then I brought us all together again. You should be thanking her because she had the courage to do what needed to be done, while you gallivanted around not even understanding what you were involved in. It was unbecoming of someone I gave birth to.”

I slumped in the chair as far as I could without sliding off it.

This was just getting rougher by the comment.

I was speechless.

I patted my newly cleaned Five Title Championship, but its curves did not soothe me anymore. She stood up. She walked over to me and leaned down and gave me the coldest kiss on the cheek.  Goosebumps ran down my arms. “We need to leave but remember, Steve, that any debts you incur are on you right now. Find Ellis and get MY…I mean, The Octopus’s money back.” She turned from me as if she left me on mute and began to walk away. She stopped and turned back, “Good luck tomorrow night.”

I beamed.

“Leave a few minutes after us, we have a cleaning crew coming in” Clarice said as she faded back into the shadows of the Mansion.

I let that run off me like a melting ice cream cone in Lukas hand, unaware of what that meant.

I had my mission.

I was still beaming.

What a moron.

_

June 20th, 2025

Everything is still fine.

I found myself covering my left ear so I could hear what was coming out of the cell phone that I held to my right ear. It was a lot of nodding and ‘yes,’ ‘ok,’ and ‘I understand,’ but these phone calls I look forward to. I was on my way back to the Merch Table. The last request on the phone was the same one I heard every Revival, ‘Get Steve.”

“Let me get this straight. You gave fabby my dinner because in that softened brain of yours, you came up with an 8-Iron being a Meatball sub?”

Welp, Steve was back at least. I continued my walk back towards them both. I got within earshot. “Steve,” I said. He looked over at me and I pointed at the phone in my hand.

He waved me off and looked extremely irritated at my interruption, “what is it, Doc? Are you on the phone with a Pizza Place and want to know what toppings I want?” He paused and he squinted his eyes, “don’t think you aren’t taking any blame for that doofus giving that thing my dinner.”

I shook my head, “I have an important call for you from…”

“Just spit it out!”

Before I could respond the angry sounds coming from the phone made me flinch. I looked back up at Steve and just held the phone to him, “it’s the boss,” I said. She was more than that to both of us obviously but at that moment, I do not think any niceties were going to help.

Steve slowly moved his hand to the phone and before he could pull it back, I put it in his hand. He looked at me and sighed as he put the phone to his ear, “Ma’am?”

I smiled.

It always made me happy when those two talked to each other. So much time had been lost between them. I knew this would never be a typical family but whatever I could do to help them both, I would do. This was my family too, right?

It started the same as it usually did, “Oh, um…yes?”

Then…

“The same thing every two weeks, mom,” he hit that mom with sarcasm so drippy I had to take a step back in fear of getting soaked.

This was new…

…Not good though.

He continued with a sneer on his face that if it were directed at anyone else, SHE would have been proud. “Is this a recording? I get it: I am broke and have to find Ellis. I will get it fucking done! I don’t need you to constantly be on my back.”

He threw the phone back at me. In my surprise at what I just heard I almost dropped it. I damn sure knew that my jaw had hit the floor though. I looked up and he was already walking away with Jack as he continued to berate him.

My phone went off.

I took a deep breath and answered…

--

I like them scrambled.

I love them as an omelet.

I once ran from a motorcycle I had hit with them.

They are so brittle when not properly confined in their case.

They are cracked by time and betrayed, by the fate laid in front of them.

Oh eggs, you are wonderful protein. I hold you in respectful esteem.

eGGs on the other hand I hold in even higher reverence. Did you think I would say otherwise?

It is only fitting I get to stand across from another member of my forgotten family. I might never be allowed back on the battleship but, I damn sure still have a room there. Crumblestiltskin is more nostalgic than you may believe.

All you have to do is look at who follows him now. It is a who’s who of hires. Each one a past of success that would make any wrestler in PRIME blush. It is amazing to me that Hessian and Tony Gamble bought into such bullshittery but when you look at their success (minus a tag team victory over a pair of kids) maybe they are using Jiles to stay relevant.

I am not judging. It is a smart play, especially when your knees are going and your legacy is taking more hits than Fred Dick in a bathroom sketti fight.

Sorry, that was a bit judgy, but you don’t become Ol’ Banditsbane without having a sound grasp on what makes a good (bad?) eGG Bandit.

Heh.

Sigh.

This attitude is what The Marine Biologist would say is unserious. I am playing with my food, trying to knock them off their game instead of just bulldozing my way into the paint and dunking on my opponent.

I get it though.

I have always tried to control my emotions.

It is getting ridiculously hard to contain the rage that keeps jabbing my brain and constantly reminding me that I lost to Kerry…again. All that time spent cleaning the title and, in an instant, it was ripped from my heart.

That is where you come in, Tony.

You have a face that just screams to be punched---a lot. So many times, that I am unable to lift my arms in the air anymore will be sufficient. That is what this is because if I don’t find an outlet for this anger, I might have another brain aneurysm.

Let us imagine you aren’t a member of the eGG Bandits for a second, Tony. Now just think…what are you then?

A fading veteran with ‘get off my lawn,’ stamped on their forehead?

A grin?

What I respect the most is a victory over that traitorous fake cowboy Clay Byrd. I would tip my hat to you but that shit burglar stole them all.

That means I am not blind to what you can do inside the ring. I also know that you have a lot on your plate and if Hessian isn’t there pushing you forward you get lazy. Wrestling becomes a chore for you and not focusing on me will leave you wrapped in ice packs.

I am not in a giving mood, Tony.

Things are not going the way I want right now. I will take this opportunity and grasp success with everything I have left. The Almasy is my chance to prove I have another gear I can get to.

I will silence you fools once again.

My Enlightenment will be your nightmare.

--

July 3rd, 2025

Three bodies were lying on the floor. Each barely moved and only made muffled noises. A left foot came into view roaring into the ribs of one of the barely conscious men.

“OH!”

A stomp on the left ankle.

“UM!”

The moans became cries of agony, the ankle moving in a direction it was not meant to be in.

“YES?”

The foot is placed on top of the face of the man. The camera pans up to see the maniacal grin of Steve Harrison with his arms up in celebration as he rubs the sole of his foot on the face of the man below.

“Sorry, I’m late, Jack.”

Doc walks into the dimly lit abandoned fish hatchery on the edge of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. Jack turns to greet him, “finally.”

“Finally?”

Jack points out into the middle of the room where chairs and tables have been tossed around and destroyed. The remains are like a treasure map to each man who look like they all need to go the ER. Doc gasps at what he sees, as he remembers the last time something like this happened. That time though it was forced upon Steve to survive but this…this looked like The Miracle Man orchestrated it.

“We don’t want anyone too injured to work, mon,” Jack says to Doc.

Doc shakes his head, “I mean…what happened?”

“I found an outlet,” Steve Harrison says just loud enough for people to hear but not necessarily saying it to anyone. He is now sitting on a bent fold-out chair, the legs looking to give any second because of the bends in it.

Jack nods at Doc, “yea, I normally like the Adidas Outlet but whatever the boss-mon says.”

Doc ignores Jack and looks out at the manic looking Steve, “what is the meaning of this, Steve?”

Steve slowly turns his head and looks right at Doc. His eyes are dilated, and his face has no expression on it. Blood drops were drying on his cheek and his shoes. “Are you questioning my actions, Doc?”

Doc looks away afraid of what he said and speaks to Jack, “who are these people?”

“They are the people William Morris sent out to find where Ellis went.”

“And?” He looks over at Harrison who has now begun to stare at his shaking hands and muttering to himself.

Jack whispers back to Doc, “one of them said the wrong thing and you know…we all need to blow off some steam now and then.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly Steve was right behind Doc, “Oh.”

Doc jumps.

“Um.”

Doc turns and puts his hand up not knowing what is going to happen.

“Yes?”

Doc stops and meets Harrison’s gaze. Steve rubs both of his hands down his bald head. It occurred to Doc that one of the people said those words, “Steve?”

Steve turns his head randomly towards a window but if something is there, he misses it. He looks at the family in front of him. “Let’s go, tomorrow we celebrate July 4th with giving Tony Gamble the freedom of not having a future.”

--

“I think he is ready.”

“I never thought the day would come where you would be out in the field again.”

“He thinks he can hide his true feelings from us. I saw the video of him visiting Rebecca. Ellis was trying to stir up drama by sending it to me but all he did was confirm what I already knew.”

“Ok, so why do you think he is ready?”

“I watched him give away his hesitations and he acted. This is anger we can control because deep down everyone wants to please their…mother.”

“Is this what you really want?”

“Hmm…on another matter, I need you to ask your wife if she knows anything about a lockbox that Rebecca gave to Steve back in December. My beloved (laughs) explained what happened to Steve at his old farmhouse.”

“Got it.”

Click