Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2021 10:14:33 GMT -5
Had to be done (offcam)
It’s a dreary, drizzly day in Harrison, Arkansas. Rain lashes on the windscreen of the hippievan of Thomas “Loverboy” Busch as it makes its way through the country roads of the town. The mood in the van itself is unusually somber. Big Sam is in the wheel, merely staring at the road with vacant eyes. On the back of the van Tiny Tim can be seen huddled in the backseat, hugging Socksworth in silence. And even Loverboy is muted, flipping through his phone in silence.
The car makes a turn and passes through a gate with “Maplewood Cemetery” written in big bold letters and stops once Big Sam finds a parking spot. The trio exit the van and start making their way inbetween the tombstones, systematically zigzagging through the rows of graves until they reach a simple headstone with the following text chiseled into it.
Big Sam stares at the headstone and lays a bucket of flowers on it. Three stand in silence until Loverboy speaks up, his usually cheery voice down to a muted, somber baritone.
“Hey papa… can’t believe it’s been ten years since you were laid there next to mama… Sorry that we haven’t come visit you two that often. It’s been hard you know… But you did your best. You prepared us well. I’m doing my best to look after Samuel and Timothy. Miss you…”
Loverboy takes a step back, turning to stare at the cloudy sky as Big Sam takes his turn, kneeling next to the headstone. “I wanted to come so many times papa… But Tim and Tom didn’t. They’re both okay you know. Tom’s a real bright cookie. And Tim… he’s Tim. Loving life and putting on a brave face when he doesn’t. We’re doing fine. We’re gonna be famous soon papa. You’d be so proud of us…and I hope mama is too”
Big Sam dropped a flyer that showed “Brothers Busch vs Oblivion, UPRISING Tag Team Titles” on the grave. He stood up and walked to Tiny Tim who hadn’t even looked at the headstone once ever since they got there. “Hey Tim… I know it’s hard. But papa would love it if you said hi to him. I bet Socksworth agrees” Sam was speaking in a soft tone. It was the first time Tiny Tim had gotten even this far since their father died. Up until now he had gone into a complete mental shutdown whenever the two older brothers approached the subject of visiting the grave of their father. Sam had often pondered that it was probably a good thing that their mother died while they were so young. Had Tim been able to form a bond with her, her death would have been emotionally completely crippling.
Even their fathers death had struck the youngest brother like a ten ton hammer. And both Tom and Sam had at first feared Tim would never get over. But it was the introduction of Socksworth that allowed Tim to finally overcome his grief. And here he was. Finally Tim looked up and faced the gravestone, sobbing quietly as he walked up and sat down next to it. He reached over to the carvings and spoke up quietly. “Papa… Socksworth says that you are looking down on us from heaven. I want to believe him. He also says that I should be strong. Especially because it’s been so long since you left papa.”
Loverboy is about to go and comfort Tiny Tim, but Big Sam stops him. The two brothers lock eyes and Sam mouths “he needs to do this on his own” to Loverboy, who finally nods and relents. Slowly Tim was able to compose himself further and spoke up again. “We’ve become wrasslers papa. Just like those guys we watched from the telly when I was little. Remember those days? Sitting down on mondays to watch these huge guys fight. We’re wrasslers now. And we’re gonna be champions soon too papa… Socksworth says that if we win on Saturday our names will be written in history. I want to win that championship papa. For you. Socksworth says that it would make you so proud. I want to make you proud papa… I miss you so much…”
Finally Sam walked up to Tiny and laid his hand on his shoulder. The youngest Busch silently got up and hugged Big Sam, sobbing onto his shoulder like a little kid. Loverboy walked up to pat Tiny on the shoulder and the trio started to make their way back to the van. As they got there, Tiny went in first. Sam stopped Loverboy and held him back. “We needed to do this you know.” he muttered quietly to Loverboy.
The oldest Busch nodded. “I know. Especially considering the timing. We really need to win those belts Samuel. For Tiny’s sake if nothing else.”
Sam nodded. “Yeah. But it ain’t gonna be easy.”
Loverboy took Sams hand. “One for all and all for one. It’s more than just a tagline brother.” He gave Sam a smile and climbed into the van. Sam stared at him for a moment before jumping into the drivers seat himself.
“I hope it’s enough…” he muttered under his breath
It’s a dreary, drizzly day in Harrison, Arkansas. Rain lashes on the windscreen of the hippievan of Thomas “Loverboy” Busch as it makes its way through the country roads of the town. The mood in the van itself is unusually somber. Big Sam is in the wheel, merely staring at the road with vacant eyes. On the back of the van Tiny Tim can be seen huddled in the backseat, hugging Socksworth in silence. And even Loverboy is muted, flipping through his phone in silence.
The car makes a turn and passes through a gate with “Maplewood Cemetery” written in big bold letters and stops once Big Sam finds a parking spot. The trio exit the van and start making their way inbetween the tombstones, systematically zigzagging through the rows of graves until they reach a simple headstone with the following text chiseled into it.
“Here lies Edith Busch. A wife and a mother. Sunshine on a rainy day and the soul of a household
December 11th 1972 - June 15th 1995
&
And her loving husband Dalton Busch. A father of three, man of strength and determination.
August 20th 1968 - March 30th 2011”
Big Sam stares at the headstone and lays a bucket of flowers on it. Three stand in silence until Loverboy speaks up, his usually cheery voice down to a muted, somber baritone.
“Hey papa… can’t believe it’s been ten years since you were laid there next to mama… Sorry that we haven’t come visit you two that often. It’s been hard you know… But you did your best. You prepared us well. I’m doing my best to look after Samuel and Timothy. Miss you…”
Loverboy takes a step back, turning to stare at the cloudy sky as Big Sam takes his turn, kneeling next to the headstone. “I wanted to come so many times papa… But Tim and Tom didn’t. They’re both okay you know. Tom’s a real bright cookie. And Tim… he’s Tim. Loving life and putting on a brave face when he doesn’t. We’re doing fine. We’re gonna be famous soon papa. You’d be so proud of us…and I hope mama is too”
Big Sam dropped a flyer that showed “Brothers Busch vs Oblivion, UPRISING Tag Team Titles” on the grave. He stood up and walked to Tiny Tim who hadn’t even looked at the headstone once ever since they got there. “Hey Tim… I know it’s hard. But papa would love it if you said hi to him. I bet Socksworth agrees” Sam was speaking in a soft tone. It was the first time Tiny Tim had gotten even this far since their father died. Up until now he had gone into a complete mental shutdown whenever the two older brothers approached the subject of visiting the grave of their father. Sam had often pondered that it was probably a good thing that their mother died while they were so young. Had Tim been able to form a bond with her, her death would have been emotionally completely crippling.
Even their fathers death had struck the youngest brother like a ten ton hammer. And both Tom and Sam had at first feared Tim would never get over. But it was the introduction of Socksworth that allowed Tim to finally overcome his grief. And here he was. Finally Tim looked up and faced the gravestone, sobbing quietly as he walked up and sat down next to it. He reached over to the carvings and spoke up quietly. “Papa… Socksworth says that you are looking down on us from heaven. I want to believe him. He also says that I should be strong. Especially because it’s been so long since you left papa.”
Loverboy is about to go and comfort Tiny Tim, but Big Sam stops him. The two brothers lock eyes and Sam mouths “he needs to do this on his own” to Loverboy, who finally nods and relents. Slowly Tim was able to compose himself further and spoke up again. “We’ve become wrasslers papa. Just like those guys we watched from the telly when I was little. Remember those days? Sitting down on mondays to watch these huge guys fight. We’re wrasslers now. And we’re gonna be champions soon too papa… Socksworth says that if we win on Saturday our names will be written in history. I want to win that championship papa. For you. Socksworth says that it would make you so proud. I want to make you proud papa… I miss you so much…”
Finally Sam walked up to Tiny and laid his hand on his shoulder. The youngest Busch silently got up and hugged Big Sam, sobbing onto his shoulder like a little kid. Loverboy walked up to pat Tiny on the shoulder and the trio started to make their way back to the van. As they got there, Tiny went in first. Sam stopped Loverboy and held him back. “We needed to do this you know.” he muttered quietly to Loverboy.
The oldest Busch nodded. “I know. Especially considering the timing. We really need to win those belts Samuel. For Tiny’s sake if nothing else.”
Sam nodded. “Yeah. But it ain’t gonna be easy.”
Loverboy took Sams hand. “One for all and all for one. It’s more than just a tagline brother.” He gave Sam a smile and climbed into the van. Sam stared at him for a moment before jumping into the drivers seat himself.
“I hope it’s enough…” he muttered under his breath