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Wrestle Mania in West Virginia

Writer's picture: Nicholas VichinskyNicholas Vichinsky

Emily traced the rain down the car window. She liked to race them to pass the time. It was humid and from time to time she would look in the front and see her Mom’s graying hair and green eyes in the rearview.

So, did you have fun? Her Mom asked when she made eye contact with her.

Emily looked out the window. Yeah, I guess.

Her mom looked forward. Well, you make sure you thank Jake. He worked hard to win this prize at the precinct for us.

Emily rolled her eyes. Yeah, well, why didn’t he come with us then?

Ethan chimed in at this opportunity, he said it was because you smelled too bad. He laughed and then got punched.

Emily!

He said I stink, you heard him!

He’s eight, be mature.

She rolled her eyes again. There was thunder.

It was quiet for a second.

Her mom started talking again, you know he was working a case.

What? Emily said with disgust.

Her Mom’s eyes looked back.


The house lights were off when they pulled into the driveway. The mud divots that Jake’s truck tires had created in the gravel were filled with water.

The car door opened from Ethan’s side as soon as they got home.

HOME, FINALLY! Ethan fell to his knees and kissed the ground.

Their mom laughed. Get inside, you’re ruining your jeans.

He ran through the creaky porch door.

Emily walked to the trunk, Mom! It’s raining.

Coming, coming.

She opened the trunk.

Why is he so annoying? She stared at Ethan running through the door.

Well, he’s your brother, it’s kind of his job.

Silence.

He’s a good kid.

The door opened from the porch, Uh, Mom? You should see this.

Emily and her mom walked with their hands full of the luggage and thunder boomed again. The house was dark. They could hear every drop.

Boy, it’s certainly not like Florida,

Mom-

I wish it was as consistent as Florida here.

Mom-

It was nice to not be at home for a while, back to reality I guess -

Mom!

What?

Jake’s stuff - It’s not here. Ethan had tears in his eyes and looked down.

And Mom, looking up and realizing for the first time the emptiness of the house, smiled. No, he wouldn’t - he, he.

She started walking slowly toward the open kitchen.

Emily stood there, mouth open. Ethan walked over, he wouldn’t leave, would he?

I don’t know, she said.

Well, something must have gone wrong! Of course, that’s it! He wouldn’t leave.

Emily had her arm around her brother now. Their mother looked back at them standing in the doorway and the back at the empty spots on the kitchen counter. None of the collectible beer steins - there were dust stains where they used to be. She walked into the rooms, into the closest where hangers were left. She went into the bathroom and there were no soaps or razors, or his aftershave that he seemingly used as his smell of choice. It was dark and empty and the rain hit the rough like a clicking clock - pat, pat, pat.

Mom -

She looked like a zombie.

Stay here. She wiped tears from her eyes.

Ethan and Emily’s eyes followed her outside, she didn’t close the door, she walked in the rain, it drenched her curly gray hair flat. She turned on her car, the headlights flashed into their eyes and she sped off.

Ethan and Emily were left in the empty dark house.


_


What do you think happened? Ethan said.

Emily continued cooking the boxed macaroni, I’m not sure.

Ethan was silent again. Do you think Mom is okay?

Emily stopped stirring the noodles. She will be. She picked up the pot and drained the water from the noodles. Steam rose from the kitchen window. She looked back and saw Ethan tracing his finger into dust.

What was your favorite part of vacation? She looked to change the subject.

Ethan didn’t look up.

I liked hanging out with just you and Mom.

Emily smiled. Yeah. That was nice.

And I liked the water slide.

Emily smiled, of course, you did.

She served him the Macaroni.

Can I have Ketchup?

What? Ew.

You’ve never tried it?

No, weirdo. She opened the fridge and pulled out what was left of the ketchup bottle. Here ya go, prince. This was said sarcastically.

Ah, the food of a king, Ketchup and Macaroni, thank you, wench.

Her eyes narrowed as he innocently squeezed Ketchup on his Mac.

That’s so gross.

He tossed a spoonful in his mouth.


_


The rain kept on throughout the rest of the afternoon. At one point Emily turned on a lamp in the corner. They waited around the house for hours. They played cards - a card game that Ethan made up. They unpacked and Emily yelled at Ethan about putting his dirty clothes in her bag.

Why would you think that was a good idea?

I didn’t!

Then why did you do it?

Because I thought it would be funny.

Eventually, they ended up doing their own things together. Emily read her magazine on the couch. Ethan went through his trading cards, reading the back of each one, pretending to make a dream team.

Then headlights beamed through the windows and a car motor turned off, and a door slammed.

They looked at each other and did not move.

The door opened slowly and their mom stepped in the house with a squish. She was drenched. Her mascara ran down her face. Her pants were muddy. Her shirt, her new shirt, was pressed down and stuck tight and oppressively to her skinny body.

Mom, um, let me make you some coffee and get you some dry clothes.

She was quiet and sat at the door again.

Emily got up and put down her magazine. She started walking closer.

Mom?

Pack your things, she said quietly.

Wha - what do you mean? She looked over to her brother whose mouth was open. His hands and body had not moved.

Their mother did not move, I said pack your things.

Mom -

You’re staying with your Dad.

It’s important to say, here, that the kids had not seen their dad since the divorce. A similar thing had happened, ironically you could say instead of a cop, their dad was a criminal and an addict. He stole from their own house for drug money, he locked them out of the house, and he brought strange characters to the house and made the kids hang out with him. After many promises of getting better, Mom finally said get out and whipped a bottle at his head. It was Jake, who showed up to the house and finally made Dad leave for good, to his family in West Virginia.

Mom, we can’t go see Dad, we have school in two days.

Mom stood there staring at the empty space on the counter and then she started walking to her room.

You heard me. She whispered.

Emily looked down and shared a look with her brother.

I’m not going, you can’t do this. Emily started tearing up.

The door to her room slammed.


_


In the morning Ethan woke up Emily.

Emily, pstt.

Emily lifted her head and looked at him. What?

I don’t want to stay with Dad.

She didn’t mean it.

What if she did?

She didn’t.

Will you walk out with me?

Why?

She’s sitting on the couch.


They both peaked their head over the corner. Their mom sat staring at the wall. Her coffee’s steam swirled upwards. Her hair was pulled back and shiny. Her robe was pulled tight around her. Her legs were dry and scaly. The sun came through the ceiling window and made the room white and cold.

They walked out and Ethan looked worried. He tucked his chin into his PJ shirt and bit on the collar. Emily looked down and frowned. She walked slowly to her mother and sat down next to her. She hugged her. Her mother rested her head on Emily’s and started to cry. Emily felt her shake from her gut and her tears hit the top of her head. They sat there. Ethan sat outside of it at the dining room table and watched, his head down chewing on his collar.

I’m sorry, Mom - I -

Emily, I - I need you to go to your father’s for a little bit. She said this through a broken cry.

Mom - she lifted her head and looked at her mom in the eyes - Mom, we can’t do that.

Mom looked back. Her chin was dimpled and trembling. Jus-Just for a little. She pushed her hands into her eyes and sobbed.

Emily looked at her brother, his collar still in his mouth. He aggressively shakes his head no.

Emily looked down at her mother. Her mother’s head was buried in her chest.


Later that day they were in their rooms packing. It was quiet. The kids didn’t really know what to say to each other. They packed the clothes they just unpacked. They added a couple of sweatshirts. Ethan added some toys and trading cards. They quietly got in the car and buckled up. They held their pillows in their lap and held them tight. Usually, there would be some sort of fight over the front seat but neither of them wanted it. Their mom looked in the rearview mirror and smiled softly. They both smiled back softly.

Ethan whispered to Emily, maybe he’s gotten better.

Emily smiled and agreed.

_

Their only stop was in Whitehall, Ohio at their Aunts’ house. They didn’t see them very often. They were nice but they drank, smoked, and cussed like sailors. Their mom did this too, but toned down. As the kids found out, when Mom got around her sisters, she blended right in.

They appeared at the front door, all their bags loaded. Cicadas sang in the background loudly.

Oh my god! Aunt Jamie exclaimed when she opened the door, Eliza! Get down here, Sister is here!

Aunt Jamie embraced Mom, and hugged the kids, do you even remember me? It’s been so long, I haven’t seen you since you were - she bent down with her hand parallel to the ground measuring it to her knee - about that big!

Emily smiled awkwardly.

And you! She looked at Ethan, this big guy, I haven’t seen since you came out. Ethan looked at Mom. Mom was smiling faintly.

When Eliza came down, she basically said the same thing.

Come in, all of ya. We didn’t know you were coming! Let’s get you something to eat.

Aunt Eliza did the cooking. She microwaved lasagna that was left over. Both the aunts asked about school, about crushes, and what they had seen on the news. Each question was served another drink to Mom. At the end of each question, Mom’s eyes got more crossed and her eyelids drooped a bit more. Emily watched and her face became worried. Ethan enjoyed the food.

Well, I think we should go to bed, Emily said after an hour.

But, I’m not tired. Ethan looked sadly at his food.

Aunt Jamie stood up, Let me show you to your rooms.

Then Mom’s slurred speech slid in. Your Dad will pick you up in a minute.

Aunt Jamie spun her head toward their Mom. What?

Eliza put her fork on her plate. Kids, the room is at the end of the hall.



In the room, Emily and Ethan listened to the murmurs from the dining room table. Emily slid out from the blankets while Ethan pretended to sleep.

Where are you going?

Emily looked back, going to listen.

Ethan rolled over.

She tip-toed down the scratchy carpet and sat at the corner of the hall and the living room. The dining room light, the only light on in the house shined through and she sat right around the corner. She listened to her Mom’s slurred speech. She was crying.

Bu-why, why, did he leaf?

There was a pause.

Eliza or Jamie, Emily couldn’t tell, whispered something to her.

Her Mom’s drunk voice rose above that, I don’ care-bout the fuckin’ kid(hiccup)s, somfin’s wrong. Jake wouldn’t jus’ leave.

Emily’s eyes squinted, with pain.

One of the Aunts said, You’re being fucking ridiculous. Take your kids home, have them stay with us. They can’t stay with him.

There was just silence.

Emily got up and tip-toed back to the room.

Ethan raised his head, what did she say?

Nothing good.


They both tried to sleep, but they couldn’t. Just like anyone when you stay in a new place, and you have a looming event the next day, rarely does good sleep happen. Emily kept hearing her heartbeat on her pillow. On top of that, unlike their house which constantly made weird clicks and cracks, her Aunts’ house was dead quiet. There was nothing to distract her from the thoughts in her head.

So, as the sun cracked through the blinds, just barely, they both awoke. Emily got up first, and Ethan, probably not wanting to be left behind, followed in her lead. They both unzipped their bags, and clothed themselves for the day. They walked out with their backpacks on their backs to see their mother passed out on the dining room table with a drink still held in her grasp.

They both frowned and walked past her.

Emily made them toast.

They sat with their toast, in the cool morning, waiting for their Dad.


They heard the motor of the truck before they saw it. Brown and loud. It rolled around the corner leaving black exhaust behind it. Ethan and Emily stood up and waited with their hands holding the straps of their back. Emily bit her lips and Ethan chewed on his collar.

Their Dad rolled down the window.

Hello, Kids! His smile had black in his gums and yellow on his teeth.

Well, don’t just stand there!

Emily and Ethan started walking toward the passenger door. Emily couldn’t help but notice that there was no back seat, which meant there was room for argument on who would sit in the back away from Dad.

I’ll sit in the middle, Ethan said.

When the door closed and the truck was put into reverse, Emily saw out the window that their Mom was looking through the window. Mom waved, Emily did not wave back.


The ride was long, made longer by the consistent stops by Dad at gas stations for dip. That’s one thing that Emily always remembered - the smell of Wintergreen and his lip always curled.

Otherwise, they all sat in the front quietly. From time to time, their dad would try to make small conversations. He would ask questions about things that were relevant years prior.

So, uh, you still collect baseball cards, Eth?

Ethan nodded, mhm. I brought some, to show you.

Then he would start talking about himself, as if to say, your isn’t good enough. Ya, well, You should see my collection. You can have them once I’m done with them.

Ethan smiled kindly.

What about you, Emmy -

I don’t go by Emmy anymore.

Ethan looked at his dad like, you should have known better.

Emily looked straight.

So, uh, Emily - He spit out the window, are you still dancing?

No. She stared out the window.

Emily is doing track this year she said.

Shut up, Ethan.

She’s not good at it, Ethan continued.

Track, eh? You know your old man was good at track. State champions.

Of course, you were.


The ride went on like this until they got to the rolling hills of West Virginia. The kids couldn’t help but look out the window and look joyful. The clouds were dark and the air was heavy and chilly. Mist surrounded the space between the trees. The turns were sharp but continued on for a while so they couldn’t help but lean into each other.

I think you guys would will really like the house. Of course, your grandmother is there, but she won’t mind.

She minded.

You know I stopped drinking.

He didn’t.

Ethan looked up and smiled softly at his Dad, that’s good.


The house was old and rotting. The porch used to be white but all that was left was flaking stips of white. The boards had holes and were dried and rotten. The house was yellow, but it was washed. The weeds in the landscape were overgrown and the yard was mud. It rained, it rained and rained.

On the inside it was dark, there were no lights. The floors were hardwood and creaked. The furniture, too, was yellow - a weird trend of the 70s.

Mom! I’m here with the kids.

They walked around the corner and Ethan smiled and waved.

Hi.

I didn’t want you kids to be here, she said. Smoke rose from her hand. Emily noticed her light blue nightgown was stained.

They both looked at the ground.

Alright then, their Dad said, let me show you to the room you’re staying in.

They walked down the dark hallway, stains were on the walls from water damage. The wallpaper flaked off like the porch. Dad opened the door and smiled, home sweet home.

The kids walked in and dropped their bags.

Uh Dad - Ethan said, I have to go to the bathroom.

Sure, son, the outhouse is right outside your window.

Emily’s eyes widened.


For dinner, they had bean sandwiches. Which, Dad said, was his favorite. All it consisted of was stale bread, American cheese, and warmed-up canned beans. He said they usually add bologna, but they were out.

Dad sat at the table with us and opened a beer.

I thought you stopped drinking.

Well, I stopped drinking a lot of alcohol. One drink doesn’t hurt anyone. He smiled.

Emily rolled her eyes.

After dinner, they all sat cramped on the couch. They listened to a local radio station that had some sort of wrestling match on. Dad whispered to himself throughout the match. He had one beer after another. Grandma smoked cigarettes.

Ya know, son. He said after the final match, I always wanted you to be a wrestler. He burped.

Mom doesn’t let me, I don’t know if I’d like it.

‘Course. He took a swig of his drink.

They went to bed early that night.

I hate him, Emily said.

He’s not that bad.

That’s because he only talks to you.


In the morning, they got out of bed early.

They walked to the Kitchen where Grandma could see them from the couch.

He left to work.

He didn’t say he was working this week.

Don’t talk back. Grandma smoked a cigarette.

Now, I have chores for you today.


The kids spent the day doing chores. Specifically cleaning the floors of the house. It didn’t help the Grandma sat on the couch and smoked and then left her ashes on the ground. The kids would have to re-sweep that section. In the afternoon, they were to pull weeds from around the outhouse. Grandma napped. It rained and it was a heavy fall heat. During that time, the kids at least got some time to be just by themselves. So, they made the best of the situation. They started by trying to pull the longest weed, and then from there whoever pulled more. Eventually, this turned into tag and they laughed and ran around the mud yard until Grandma yelled from the window that she was trying to sleep.

When their dad got home they were sitting on the porch. Their dad slammed the car and mother-fuckered it. He used an index finger to pull his chaw out of his lip and stomped up the stairs.

Hi Dad, Ethan said.

Boy did I have a fucking day and he slammed the door behind him.

The kids followed him in. He went to the fridge and pulled out a beer and sat on the couch. He drank until he passed out.

That’s how most days that week went.


On Friday the routine was the same. The kids were exhausted and out of clothes. All they had were their going-out clothes so they wore their clothes from the day they arrived - dried with mud. They sat on the porch and watched the rain. When their dad pulled in he was in a good mood.

Kids, I wanna take you to Wrestle Mania.

The kids looked at each other.

Well, get ready.

At this point the kids were desperate, so they actually felt excited. Even Emily, who would normally have no interest in something called wrestle mania decided to smile a little. So they got ready, in the only non-dirty clothes they had - their going-out clothes. Emily wore the white dress with yellow flowers and Ethan wore his light blue button-up.

They crammed into the back seat and drove down back roads. It was hilly and their stomachs dropped. Ethan put his hands up like he was on a roller coaster, and Emily held in a smile.

They finally opened to an open field with rows of trucks lined next to a small building where yellow light shined from the windows. They could hear the screams of the crowd and the pounding of the microphone against the speakers. Ethan smiled but for some reason, Emily felt a pit of nervousness. Their dad had a smirk with a lip full.

At the door, it took some convincing but Dad got the guy to get the kids in. Dad handed him a roll of cash and whispered in his ear. The guy looked at him and nodded and then looked at the kids apologetically.

Men and Drinks were all over.

Boom. Boom. Clap.

Boom. Boom. Clap.

Kids, I’m grabbing a drink, go find a seat. He left them and Emily looked at him meanly.

Here, grab my hand, she yelled to her little brother over the crowd.

They swiveled through the standing men and found a seat.

Not soon after their dad showed up with a forty and a friend.

Kids, this is Joe.

Joe looked at the kids and nodded. He said something to their dad.

Joe, she’s fourteen.

Joe smirked.

Dad spit.


Dad, Emily, and Ethan - and Joe watched round after round. Each time, one of them would go with a wad a cash and one of them would be excited and one of them would be frustrated. When it was Dad’s time to Joe would talk over Ethan to Emily, So, pretty girl you visit your dad often? He’d smile. Boy, you sure are cute. Ethan would look at her. She would ignore him. Dad would come back and Joe would act like she wasn’t there. In a weird way she hated him for providing relief when he came back.

The night was winding down, they air was thick with smoke and fog and sweat. All their popcorn was gone. The kids were thirsty but did not want the beer their dad offered them. He was beyond drunk, so was Joe. Listem’ Joe - you, you can sit with my daughter if I win - an’ you pay double. Emily and Ethan both shot glances that their dad did not pick up. Joe looked back at Emily and adjusted his crotch. He smirked, Deal.

I’m leaving, Emily said.

Dad grabbed her arm and yanked her back down - you fuckin’ listen to me, you stay right here.

She almost cried. She stared and watched the match praying - perhaps for the first time in her life, that a man got beat to death.

The problem was, Dad had made the bet knowing the card was in overwhelming favor of his side. Knowing, Joe would have to sit by his daughter. So, when the conclusion of the fight occurred. Joe, who just lost a lot of money was happy. He moved close to her. She could see his wet armpit hair sticking out of the sides of his arms.

You’ve been interested in older men? He spit and put his hand on her knee. It was black with grease and brown under his fingernails.

She held in a cry and didn’t respond.

Oh you, like to play hard to get, I get ya. He moved his hand higher.

Now, Joe, her Dad said, don’t go to crazy. He counted his money.

Ethan sat with his eyes down.


Wrestle Mania went on an hour longer.


_


No one talked on the way home. It didn’t help that Emily had to drive because he was too drunk. He passed out as soon as he sat down and leaned heavily on Ethan. Emily cried. So did Ethan.


_


In the morning they stayed in their room. Their dad walked in, still drunk from the night before, your mother is coming to pick you up tomorrow. They were dirty and smelly and this news made it feel like a weight has been lifted.

Ethan spoke, when?

Sometime. What? Don’t one of you want to stay with your dad longer though?

Emily breathed snarkily.

What was that? He got stern.

Uh, she was jus-

After all, I did for you kids this week?

Emily said, what did you do for us this week?

With a loss of words, he lied. Well, your mother told me she’s only taking one of you. I get to decided who stays with me. I figured, fuck it, why don’t they pick…

They sat like statues.

Meet me in the yard in ten. He walked away.

He’s lying, Mom wouldn’t do that.

We also didn’t think she would leave us here.

They were quiet.


It was a hot day by the time they got outside. Their dad was smoking a cigarette and humming to himself. The mud had dried up and become hard and cracked under their feet.

Welcome to Wrestle Mania Two-Point-O, Kids!

What the -

Where, you battle for the privilege to stay with your pops! He took a long drink.

In the middle of mud yard he had set up a boundary where they would wrestle.

Winner get’s to stay with me. He smiled.

I’m not doing that, Emily folded her arms.

Her dad smirked, I thought you’d say that, don’t make me get Big Joe over here.

Her stomach dropped.

They had all started sweating.

Come on, get in.

She walked over. Here’s the rules, he said, Win. That’s it, when I ring the bell, fight. He laughed and threw a bottle at the tree.

In that instant, both the kids knew what they had to do. Win.

For Ethan, it was obvious. His dad liked him more he would leave him alone, they would get along, he didn’t mind Wrestle Mania that much. His sister could not stay here, he would have to protect her and be a man, like he wanted to be seen as.

For Emily, it was the same. What would her mother say if she let her brother win? How could she not be better than that? Less selfish?

They did not have time to talk about this.

Remember, Daddy loves ya!

Ding.

I’ll spare the details. But they beat each other like it was a fight to the death. Punches, pinches, bites, wedgies, hair pulling on both sides. The whole time, the old man got his ego stroked because they were fighting for the right to stay with him. So he laughed and drank. When Ethan came out victorious, he said Atta boy and laughed inside to go to sleep. When it was over they held each other and cried. When they stopped they sat under a tree and cried more. At night, Grandma yelled because their crying was too loud and shooed them to the basement, otherwise she’d wake their dad. They held in their tears while they brought their sleeping bags to the hard cement floor. They held each other through the night.


In the morning, by the time their dad was awake, they were sitting on the porch ready to go. They had scabs and scratches. All over them. They shook and he sat in the porch rocker behind them, not saying a word. Just rocking until their mom showed up.

When she did, the kids ran to the back of her car.

What the fuck did you do to my kids?

They fought to stay here! Ask ‘em.

You’re fucking sick. She smacked him.

I hate you, bitch. He said as she slammed the door. Bye kids! He blew them a kiss.

The kids cried.

Stop crying, she said to them. Jake left me. Then she cried. That’s fucking worse.

She never was really the same after that.

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