Story
by Terry McDermott
King Danny O'Beam
Running a small promotion kept Sarah Jane from having a life
of her own. After the main event, she would help the road crew
disassemble the ring, and then drive several hours into the night.
Most of the time one of the wrestlers or an assistant would travel
with her. On this certain night she was all alone, and began
thinking about her life.
One year after high school her father had
died. Instead of selling the promotion, she decided to run it
herself. A few years later she married a wrestler named Eddie
Smith, who had been World Champion for a week. The two talked
of selling the business, settling down, and having a family.
Sadly, two years into their marriage Eddie and two other wrestlers
were killed in a car wreck.
To escape the pain, Sarah Jane absorbed
herself into her work to keep the sorrow out of her thoughts.
Yet when driving alone, the pain could not be controlled. "Surely
there is more to life," Sarah Jane said as tears traveled
down her cheeks. "I guess I should call it a night."
Looking for a cheap motel, an Irish pub
caught her eye. "Why not live a little?" she said turning
into the parking lot.
Since Sarah Jane didn't drink, she ordered
a coffee. A group who called themselves "The Tennessee Unicorns,"
were performing "Down by the Sally" Turning her barstool
around, one band member caught her eyes. He was in his early
fifties, with a muscular build. Maybe an athlete in his younger
days.
As the band played her mind drifted into
the past.
King Danny O'Beam would enter the arena
riding a white stallion, wearing a crown and an emerald robe.
The announcer would say," Ladies and Gentleman! The Shamrock
of Ireland! King Danny O'Beam!" You could hear "Down
by the Sally" in the background. The fans would go crazy.
In time, King Danny got a title shot against
the seven foot champ, known as Derek the Red. He had long orange
hair, and wore a helmet with horns. The fans hated him with a
passion. Sadly the match only lasted a few seconds.
After that night, the fans lost confidence
in King Danny. When he would enter the ring, fans would chant
"King Danny O'Beam went splat! When the champ knocked him
out in three seconds flat!" Soon he faded, and within a
year forgotten.
When the band took a break, Sarah Jane
approached the old musician. "Excuse me sir. What is your
name?" she asked.
"Daniel Bean," he replied.
"I'm Sarah Jane," she said, Tex
McDevitt's 's daughter."
By the expression, Daniel was surprised.
Yet all he said was "Who?"
"Tex McDevitt, the wrestling promoter
back in the 70's" she said. "Didn't you use to be a
wrestler?"
The old musician walked away with his ears
red as tomatoes. It seemed his past was painful also. Sarah ran
up to him and said, "I'm so sorry! I never meant to embarrass
you. I've just been thinking about the past."
"That is your problem, sweetheart.
You live in the past. For me the past is behind me, I live for
today." Tears began to flow down her cheeks. Daniel walked
away again. Since her father died, she had always lived in the
past. Thinking of all the bad things in life.
"I must forget the past," she
said to her herself.
"What's wrong baby?" Looking
up she saw a man her age with a head full of red hair, smiling
at her.
"Nothing," she replied. "But
thanks for asking."
" Care to dance?" he said as
the band began playing again.
"Sure!"
McDermott © 2009
top
|
