Post by J on Dec 3, 2020 11:13:32 GMT -5
My sister Christelle
//Off Camera//
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE NOT IN THE TOURNAMENT?!” I flinched at the sheer loudness and desperation in her voice. My big sister was normally mild-mannered and sweet, but could go off like a rocket if anything upset her. What I was less sure about is why the news I wasn’t in the tournament had garnered this sort of reaction
“I couldn’t get in for the first show, I had problems with the ring gear...”
“But I put fifty euros on you to be the first champion!!! God damn crooked bookmakers... and I can’t even be there to see mon petit frere with all this global bullshit.”
“Sometimes you’re the pigeon, sometimes you’re the statue.” I offered, trying to help.
“I’m always the fucking statue...” Christelle whined, and I felt horrible hearing her so upset. She wasn’t wrong though. My older sister, Christelle Gillet, was one of the unluckiest people anyone could ever meet. A regular Calamity Jane.
“It’ll be fine. Look, I can still get into the championship match through the backdoor, don’t worry yourself. I won't let you down. I know times are tight back home.” I said, trying to comfort her.
“*sniff* I know you’ll do your best. I just hate being stuck here right now, the political climate of Europe is fucked, especially France, it’s just vile. I want to be back in the States, for good, if Le Pen ever gets in power. Just need to find me an American partner to get that green card.” Marine Le Pen was the leader of the far-right party in France, and garnering a lot of support in the country. To say the siblings were far from fans was an understatement.
“I am sure Ari and I can find you some hunky Americano.”
“Knowing my luck he’ll end up having a two centimeter dick.” Christelle sighed. “Look, I’ve gotta get back to work, but keep in touch, please. I’ll be tuning in to watch you come Saturday.”
“I didn’t know SPLAT aired in France?”
“IT DOESN’T?!” There was a long line of French expletives before the line went dead. I sighed. Hopefully she’d be okay, I loved my big sister dearly. It just seemed as the years went on, she became more and more miserable as life just hadn’t turned out the way she wanted. If only things could be like they were when they were young, again…
***
Life was so much simpler then, 1990’s what a time to be alive. Especially for a kid, sure the Gillet’s were not a rich family but they did the best they could. Papa Michel worked in a factory as a laborer, strong as an ox as he was. Sadly of course the years of vigorous manual labor took the toll on him, even the strongest steel softens when it takes enough hits. Mama Monica, the cheerful yet somewhat fluent with her linguistic liberties was usually a kind and mild mannered woman just like her daughter was to be, of course in both cases when they flew off it happened brashly. She worked as a cleaner, not the most luxurious of professions but like she always said “cleaning up other people’s shit all day, if nothing else I know how to keep the house clean” and boy was that ever true.
As small as their apartment was, it was spotless, cleaning was a whole family activity on saturdays and of course after it they would be able to eat something fancier than usual. That being said we grew up happy, me and Christelle. I never really longed for a brother like all my friends did. She was all I needed, my one sibling was my protector, playmate and parent at the same time. Sure some of the boys made fun of me for playing with her and the other girls, but never when she was around..because she would usually punch them in the nose and even then, she punched HARD.
Growing up I looked up to her and it really hurt me to think just how much she struggled with life these days. She had such a different life younger and even when I got crushes as a boy it was never girls my own age, it was always her friends, especially Ann-Marie she was my favourite, she was mean at me but Christelle always defended me, I think it actually made Ann-Marie pick on me more and I liked the attention. Who wouldn't? I mean an older woman even by a few years even at that age? Mon dieu I was smitten.
I never told her, we never discussed my crushes because I think we both knew it would make it weird, but somehow I think she knew. Christelle knew me better than I know myself, probably to this day. There are times when I wish she would be the one touring and wrestling instead of me, I am all I am because of her and yet..she is the one being miserable back home. Michel and Monica are still with us, they are happy we made it out of the country to see the world and I know that they’ve seen some of our matches too. Not that they would admit it or praise it because as Papa says “if it isn’t football it’s not sports is it?” and Mama tends to stick to her soaps (the tv kind, not the cleaning kind, I hope) ..but now when I prepare for my first match in ages. I do wish Christelle was here, she’d know just what to say and if anyone made a fool of me in that ring, I know she’d be the first one in to punch those bastards right on their nose!
Sitting here, I am starting to realize just how lucky I am even if Ann-Marie never became my girl or any of the others. I have Arianna. The twins like me, I have a new lease on life and my career starting up against some of the best and brightest stars in Uprising in America home of dreams..it would all be perfect. If only I had my darling sister here with me.
I’m gonna do it this time, Christelle, I’m going to win this match and do it for you.