by Tony Correia
“Fags!” Ian shouts, as he whips by us.
I stand up on the pedals and get set to take off after him.
“Settle down!” Thom says to me. “They’re just assholes. Nothing you do or say is going to change that.”
I start to count down from one hundred. When I get to ninety I see Ian cut off a little kid on his bike. The kid falls over and starts crying. The kid’s parents stop to make sure he’s okay.
Screw it.
I put all my weight on the pedals and take off after Ian and his pals. They have a hundred metres on us but a slope on the bike path helps us gain on them. Ian sees that we’re on their tail. All of them take off as fast as they can.
“Jorge! Stop! I can’t keep up!” Thom shouts.
I wish I could ditch Thom so I could go faster. We’re starting to gain on them. I cut across onto the pedestrian path. A jogger shouts at us when I cut him off. Ian is less than ten metres ahead of us. If I can just push myself a little harder . . .
“Jorge! You’re scaring me!”
Thom’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. I stop pedalling until it’s safe to put the brakes on the bike. Ian looks back and sees that we’ve given up the chase. He gives me the finger and disappears around the next bend in the Seawall.
Thom and I get off the bike. We walk it to the side of the Seawall out of the other cyclists’ way. A few more joggers give us what for as they go by.
“What is wrong with you?” Thom asks. “This is our anniversary, not some stupid grudge match!” He leaves the bike and walks ahead of me toward a bench. I try to keep up with him, but the bike is awkward for one person to push.
“Thom, wait!” I say. “I didn’t mean to lose my temper. I know that guy from school. I got expelled because of him.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Thom puts his face in his hands and starts to cry.
“Thom, please don’t cry. People are starting to stare.”
“Let me get this straight. It’s okay for you to act like a homicidal maniac. But I can’t be upset that you nearly got us killed on a tandem bike.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“I took my feet off the pedals. You were going so fast!”
“But I stopped before things got out of control.”
“I don’t believe you. I went out of my way to make this day special for both of us. You’ve ruined it. And not just today. I’ve never seen anyone get that angry before. What if you ever get that mad at me?”
“You know I would never hurt you.”
“That’s what abusive boyfriends say.”
“Thom, look at me.”
He lifts his face and wipes away the tears.
I tell him, “I could never live with myself if I did anything to hurt you.”
Thom looks confused. I can see him debating what to do next. I can’t say I blame him.
“I think I should just go home,” he finally says.
16
Thin Ice
Getting back into Thom’s good graces is not easy. It takes a week of begging, flowers and dinners at restaurants. I even convince him to come with me to Ricky’s birthday party.
Everybody who is anybody in B.C. indy wrestling circles is going to be there. I don’t really want to go, but I promised Arshdeep I would get him there so he could have face time with Ricky. Arshdeep is still a long way from peak shape, but he wants Ricky to be aware of him for when he is.
“I have bad news,” Thom says when he arrives to pick me up for the party. Thom points to his car parked behind the store. Lionel is sitting in the front seat, his head against the passenger window.
“What’s he doing here?” I ask.
“Eddy dumped him. He showed up on my doorstep, drunk and depressed.”
“We can’t take him to the party.”
“I can’t just leave him in my car.”
“Why not? He’s not your boyfriend anymore.”
“He’s still my friend.”
“Fine. But you have to keep an eye on him. I’m going to this party as a favour to Arshdeep. I don’t need any gay drama.”
“Do you want to go alone?”
“I’m sorry. I’m stressed. This party is a really big deal and I’m afraid of doing something stupid.”
“You’re already on thin ice, mister.”
* * *
Arshdeep is waiting for us in his car when we get to Ricky’s house. Pria is with him.
“Why aren’t you inside?” I ask him, getting out of Thom’s car.
“I was waiting for you!” Arshdeep says. “I don’t know any of these people.”
“That’s the whole point of inviting you to the party.”
“Hey, babe!” Pria gives Thom a big hug.
“Hey, girl!” Thom says.
“Who’s that guy?” Arshdeep asks when he sees Lionel.
“Arshdeep, Pria, this my ex-boyfriend, Lionel,” Thom says.
“In spite of my current condition I’m very pleased to meet you,” Lionel says. He looks like he’s trying not to throw up.
“Let’s just get this over with,” I say.
“That’s the party spirit,” Pria says. She minces across the driveway in her high heels.
The party is in full swing. I didn’t get invited to parties when I was in school, so the number of people crowded into Ricky’s living room overwhelms me. I grab the back of Thom’s shirt before we get too far into the house.
“What’s wrong?” Thom asks.
“There’s so many people. And this house is a mansion.” I can feel myself starting to freak out.
“It’s just a house. Take a deep breath. Smile and be yourself.”
“I don’t know how to do that.”
“Then pretend everyone you meet is me.”
I lean against the wall. I take deep breaths until I feel normal again.
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a horrible boyfriend lately,” I say to Thom.
“Dating is hard, Jorge. If we can’t learn to weather the rough patches how are we going to enjoy the good times?”
“I want to kiss you so bad.”
“Not now. That wrestling blogger is here.” Thom gestures to where Bobby Bentley is talking to Thunder.
“That guy is everywhere,” I say.
“Crap! I lost Lionel,” says Thom. “Go find Arshdeep and Pria. I’ll catch up with you.”
I find Pria alone in the kitchen holding a red plastic cup. She does not look impressed.
“Where’s Arshdeep?” I ask her.
“Off talking to one of his wrestling bros. Where’s Thom?”
“Looking for Lionel.”
“Good. Now I can give you a piece of my mind. What the hell was that stunt you pulled in Stanley Park?”
“When did Thom tell you about that? I haven’t even told Arshdeep.”
“Hello! Thom and I talk, text and Snapchat daily. Get over it.”
“It’s none of your business, Pria. No one got hurt.”
“This time! What are you doing? Do you have any idea what you have in Thom? He is like a black Beyoncé!”
“Beyoncé is black.”
“Don’t interrupt me! So help me, if you hurt Thom I will come after you like the goddess Durga, eight arms a-swinging. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you. I care for him more than you know.”
“Jorge!” someone shouts into my ear. I stagger under the sudden weight of Ricky Flamingo. He is well on his way to being piss drunk. “Who’s this? Your girlfriend?” he asks.
“Ha!” Pria says.
“This is my friend, Pria,” I say. “She’s dating a friend of mine I want to introduce to you. There he is now.” I wave my hand over the crowd to get Arshdeep’s attention. He heads toward us as soon as he sees I’m with Ricky. �
��Ricky, this is my buddy, Arshdeep. We trained together at the School of Hard Knocks.”
Ricky takes a closer look at Arshdeep’s face. “I know you! You broke Thunder’s arm.”
“It was the other way around,” Arshdeep corrects him.
“That’s right. I’ve heard good things about you from Bobby Bentley. You wrestling again yet?”
“Just got my cast off.”
“Congratulations. I’ll keep an eye out for you. Who knows, maybe I can lure you to Lion’s Gate in the future.”
“That would be awesome.”
“I need a drink!” Ricky shouts. He staggers away.
“Can we leave now?” I say after Ricky is gone.
“Our work here is done,” says Arshdeep.
“You two stay here,” I tell them. “I’m going to look for Thom and Lionel.” I turn around and walk right into Thunder. His drink spills all over his cheap nylon shirt.
“Watch it, dick!” Thunder says. His face freezes when he sees who we are. “Arshdeep. How’s the arm?”
“Better. No thanks to you.”
“Accidents happen,” Thunder snarls.
“Especially when you’re in the ring,” says Pria.
“Who’s that dude you were with earlier, Jorge?” Thunder says to me. “Your boyfriend?”
“And if it was?” I say.
“You want to be careful,” Thunder taunts me. “Bobby Bentley is here. You know how he likes to gossip in his blog.”
“Someone should tell him how you broke Arshdeep’s arm,” I fire back.
“Yeah?” Thunder gets in my face.
“Yeah!” I meet his gaze.
“Jorge! What were you and I just talking about?” Pria says.
“Ignore him, Jorge,” Arshdeep says. “He’s just trying to screw up your career. Just like he did mine.”
I don’t even need to count to one hundred. I go off to look for Thom and Lionel.
The party is even busier than when we arrived. I’m dripping sweat as I squeeze through the halls and make my way upstairs. There’s a long line for the bathroom. For a brief second I worry that Thom and Lionel are in there making out.
I see a door open just a crack at the end of the hall. I push it open to look inside, hoping I don’t catch anyone having sex. Instead I find Lionel sitting next to Bobby Bentley on a bed.
“Lionel! Time to go!” I say.
“Hey, Jorge! Have you met Bobby?” Lionel is clearly having the time of his life. It must be hair of the dog.
“Hey, Bobby!” I say. “I hope Lionel hasn’t been harassing you.”
“Not at all,” Bobby says.
I help Lionel to his feet and lead him back down the hall.
“That guy was so into me,” Lionel says.
“I bet.”
“Oh, and by the way. I’m going to break up you and Thom. I’m getting him back if it’s the last thing I do.”
I look to see if Lionel is kidding. He’s not smiling.
“You can do that as soon as we get out of here,” I say.
Arshdeep and Pria are where I left them. Thom is with them too.
“Where the hell were you?” Thom asks Lionel.
“Don’t ask. Let’s just go,” I answer for him. “I’ve had enough fun for one night.”
17
Outed
I’m really excited about practice tonight. Ricky is planning on announcing the card for the next show. I’m hoping he puts me up against one of the mid-level wrestlers instead of a student near the bottom of the card. At the same time, I don’t want to be too near the top of the card. That would create friction with the other wrestlers. I really don’t need that right now.
I have half an hour to spare, so I kill time watching matches on YouTube. Then I click on Bobby Bentley’s wrestling blog, Sweat and Blood, to see if there’s something about my upcoming debut for Lion’s Gate Wrestling. My jaw drops when I see the headline for the latest blog post:
Lion’s Gate Wrestling’s Newest Addition is Gay!
What the hell?
This weekend I learned that Brooklyn Tremblay, Lion’s Gate Wrestling’s newest star, is gay and has a boyfriend.
The question is, will Brooklyn use his sexuality in his gimmick? And if he does, what impact will it have on his career?
There have been rumours that a prominent veteran wrestler has been in a gay relationship for twenty years. But he denied it when I asked him about it.
I think it would be great to have an openly gay wrestler working the circuit. It’s about time pro wrestling caught up with the rest of the world.
I nearly lose my head the first time I read the post. Then I go back and read it again. I realize it’s a pretty positive piece. It makes me wonder if Lionel was right and Bobby is gay. There is no doubt in my mind that Lionel is the one who outed me to Bobby.
I scroll to the bottom of the blog post and start reading the comments.
Fag!
I’ll stop going to LGW shows if that homo is wrestling.
He better hire some security to keep him safe from me.
For all I know, the comments are from some troll in his underwear sitting in his parents’ basement. Most of the marks at the shows are harmless. They use the action in the ring to get out their aggression. It makes me nervous all the same. What if someone figures out what Thom looks like and takes it out on him?
I consider skipping practice. But the other wrestlers would think I’m ashamed of being gay. If there’s one thing I’m not, it’s ashamed of who I am. I have Thom to thank for that. I sling my gym bag over my shoulder, stick out my chest and head to practice.
* * *
To my surprise, the other wrestlers are supportive.
“My brother is gay,” says Sauron, the Masked Man. “If anyone screws with you, I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks!” I tell him.
“Don’t let those idiots get to you,” Jamie tells me. “I’m gay and I’m as tough as they come.”
“Why aren’t you out then?” I ask her. Jamie is the women’s champion. Why would she need to keep it secret?
“I’m sure the marks are already thinking about me having sex with my opponents,” she says.
That’s not what I call gay pride. But I’m not going to knock it.
The only person who is enjoying my misery is Thunder.
“I knew you were gay from the moment you started training!” Thunder says, showing up for practice late.
“It takes one to know one,” I tell him.
“I’m as straight as they come.”
“That’s what closet cases tell themselves.”
“Just don’t give me AIDS in the ring,” Thunder says.
I start to lose my temper and move in on Thunder. Jamie stops me before I do anything stupid.
“Thunder, if I find it was you who outed me to Bobby, I’m going to pile drive you for real,” I tell him.
“Save the trash talk for the ring, Jorge,” Ricky says. “I think you need a quick timeout. Why don’t we go for a walk on the treadmill?” He turns and says, “The rest of you get warmed up.”
I follow Ricky to the cardio area. We each get on a treadmill and start walking like we’re outside.
I guess I should start. “Ricky, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was gay. I didn’t know how everyone would react.”
“We’re monsters in the ring, not in real life, Jorge. But I realize it’s not easy coming out. Especially in this business.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s not the end of the world though. I think I know how we can make this work.”
“Can’t we just ignore it? What I do in private isn’t anybody’s business.”
“You’re forgetting an important point. You are your gimmick in and out of the ring. When th
e marks see you in street clothes, they don’t see Jorge, they see Brooklyn Tremblay.”
“So what do I do?”
“Play it up. Instead of burying it, I say we shove your gayness in the marks’ faces.”
“Like Gorgeous George and Adrian Street? But isn’t that playing into people’s homophobia?”
“That’s pro wrestling.”
“I can’t do that. Even if I was straight, I couldn’t do that.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Jorge,” says Ricky. “Because if you don’t make the most of this chance to get some heat, you won’t be wrestling for Lion’s Gate.”
I flash back to my talk with Romeo. He saw this coming a mile away. I didn’t listen.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Ricky goes on, “you can debut the gimmick on Thunder. I’ll let you squash him. If he so much as puts up a fight, I’ll let you beat him up for real.”
That does sweeten the deal. But it doesn’t make me feel any better about the gimmick.
* * *
I drive out to see Thom after practice. I tell him about the blog post. But I leave out Ricky’s idea for the gimmick.
“This is good news!” Thom says. “Now we don’t have to sneak around when we’re with your wrestling buddies.”
I should have known he would think that. Thom doesn’t get pro wrestling at all.
“You should read the comments on the blog post,” I say. “I’ve never felt so hated in all my life.”
“A lot of people hate gay people. You better get used to it no matter what you end up doing.”
Thom still thinks wrestling is just a hobby for me. He sounds like his father.
“Why couldn’t this have happened after I proved myself in the ring?” I moan. “This wouldn’t be so bad if I had a fan base.”
“People will forget about this. It’s not the eighties. Maybe you’ll pave the way for more gay wrestlers to come out.”
“I don’t want to be a figurehead. I just want to wrestle.”