RP1

My old job was at a supermarket. I hated the place except for a few select people who made it worthwhile, one of whom was my wife who I had met there, and a few others who were pleasant to talk to. I didn’t class them as friends, more acquaintances if not just colleagues, but nonetheless, I headed back there because I needed to pick up a few things.

It was surprising clean and well kept, neat and tidy, obviously a better manager was there than when I had previously been employed there. The place always had pieces of cardboard boxes and plastic wrap on the floor that the staff never picked up. They were animals at times; some didn’t even flush the toilet after using it. How fucking difficult is it to flush a toilet? How difficult is it to clean up after yourself when you are shelf stacking? The answer is not hard at all.

I picked up the items I wanted: a new tooth brush, tooth paste, and some fruit. I took them to the counter and one of my old co-workers still worked here. I was surprised, but then again it had only been about ten years at most since I had quit. Some stay loyal to one company, some don’t. I was the latter.

“Is that you Josh?” she asks looking up from her magazine.

I nod, “it is. I’ve got a bit bigger since you last saw me. No longer that ten stone student you remember.”

She laughs and scans the items and places them in a bag. I didn’t want one but I couldn’t be bothered arguing.

“So what you up to these days, still teaching?”

“I got my postgraduate in teaching. But I never went into teaching.”

“What do you do now?”

“I’m a pro wrestler. I was training whilst I was at Ambleside. Debuted later that year and wrestled regularly until we moved to Canada in two thousand and six.”

“Still with Emma?” she asks as I placed my card in the reader. “Cash back?”

“No thanks, and yea still with Emma. Married her, even got a daughter.”

“Aw how sweet. I knew you two liked each other. I said to your mum that you’d end up together.”

I laugh and pick up the items and remove my card from the reader, placing it back into my wallet.

“Well she was one of the girls I knew that I was actually interested in getting to know better, and being with to be honest. Some were a bit too eager for certain things. Others were taken. And then some were quite simply not my type. Emma was my type. Someone I got on real well with and one of the few positives that came from working here.”

“So how old are you now?”

“Thirty”

“You don’t look it.”

“I know I don’t. I got ID all the way up and till I was about twenty three, especially over in the States with the legal age being higher. But alas, you can’t have everything right?”

“Yea, so were you living these days?”

“Malibu, California. We’ve got a lovely beach home, great view of the sea, and access onto the beach. Perfect. Our dream home...”

“You’re a lucky man. You’ve got a great wife, great home and a great career.”

I nod, I was indeed very lucky. Everything was so perfect and at times like this it makes me realise it more so than I already do.

“I better get off. I hate holding up queues.”

“It was nice seeing you. Will you be over here again?”

I shrug, “I honestly don’t know. I come over from time to time to see my folks but that is getting rarer these days. We don’t get on much, mainly my Dad. They weren’t happy about me moving to America, but it mainly started when I moved up to Ambleside with Emma. He was pissed off and they said you go and you can never come back. They backed down before I did, but in fairness, we haven’t really gotten over it.”

“Sad, you’re a nice person and so was Emma.”

“I know, it makes you laugh you know. I was twenty one when I left home, many sons and daughters leave well before then. They almost expect you to stay your whole life. It pissed me off. And when I moved to America I was glad to be out of the way in a sense. They could focus on themselves and I could focus on me and Em. But hey, I might be over again soon and I’ll tell her you said hi and she’ll probably drop in.”

“That would be nice.”

“See you later,” I say as I turn and leave. It was nice seeing my old supervisor. She was one of the few people I got on well with. Shame she was still working for the same company, but hey, she enjoys it and that is all that matters. As I leave I wave, I don’t know why, but I do. I notice a few young youths have gathered around my car to look at it. As let’s face it, you don’t see expensive sports cars around here all too often. It is mainly normal everyday cars like Polos, Golfs, Vectras, Mondeos, and such. Not Audi R8’s.

“Get away kids.”

They move deciding not to argue, it was nice to see some still have respect for their elders. Not that I am old mind you. I get in my car and reverse out and speed off the car park leaving them behind.

The scene fades in and we see Josh Williams stood in front of a camera set up. He has a smile on his face and looks confident. This week he would be making his debut against Tyler Lucas on Direct Hit. He was looking forward to it after spending a while out of the ring. It had been a while since he had that buzz, and personally, he knew he couldn't wait for the match to begin. In many ways he wanted it now, and didn't want to wait.

He pauses.

He smiles.

A grin etches across his lips and our scene fades to black.