Title: A Long Awaited Vacation
Featuring: Tom Walczak
Date: 02/03/2011
Location: Turin, Italy

A taxi cab pulls up in front of Le Meridien Lingotto, one of Turin’s finest hotels. A small man dressed in a white button down shirt, and slacks gets out of the front seat, holding a lit cigarette in one hand as he makes his way towards the trunk opening it with his other hand. As the tiny, very well tanned man, pulls some luggage out of the trunk, the rear passenger door opens, and a pair of massive legs slowly stretch themselves out. Walczak exits the vehicle dressed rather well in a pair of khakis and a navy blue sports coat. The man seems to struggle getting out of the car clutching his chest, seeming to still be feeling the effects of his match with Seymour Almasy. As his taxi driver finishes unloading Walczak’s luggage, he puts his hand out waiting for a tip. Reaching into his pocket, Walczak hands over some bills, and even manages to smile at the now grateful man.

This is an odd turn for Walczak. In years past, after a loss, Walczak would have sulked for days, blaming everyone but himself. He would have been in a half drunken stupor, and he would have never, never, given hand me outs to those he considered beneath him. Not anymore. Sure, Walczak may have needed to win that match, but let’s be honest, it is not as if Seymour Almasy was some no name punk. Also, Walczak may not have had the best preparation for the match, and finally it was not as if the match was won on the fairest of terms.

It’s no matter, next week brings another match, and another chance for redemption, and besides that Walczak is in Europe. Away from the rigors of life in the United States, and most importantly away from the distractions it presents.

Walczak picks up his luggage, waving off, a nearby baggage clerk. As he makes his way towards the check-in desk, the other guest look up and gawk at the hulking figure making his way through the lobby.

“Hello, my name is Antonio. How is it that I can help you today?”
“I’m checking in. The reservation is under Walczak.”

“Ok, let me see. Yes, I see you have a single bed reserved, on the third floor. Would you like to update to a suite, it would only cost you One Hundred Euro extra?”

“I think I am fine with just the single room, thank you.”

“Very well, but there is a suite with a beautiful view of the vista. It would be almost a crime to not upgrade.”

“You seem like a very persistent person, but I really think that I will be fine in the room I have reserved.”

“I understand, a man of little needs. However, if you would like we could give you the suite, as well as complimentary breakfasts, for the same Hundred Euro.”

“If I agree to upgrade, will it end this back and forth we are having right now?”

“Haha, a humorous man, a suite it is then, yes?”

“Yeah, sure the suite, it’s what I wanted all along.”

“Very good. Let me just change it on the computer, and….here is your keycard, and I hope that you enjoy your stay in the beautiful city of Torino.”

“I am sure that I will.”

Picking up his luggage, Walczak makes his way towards the elevators, and then on towards his room on the tenth floor. As he slides in the keycard, and opens the door to his room, he is taken aback by the size of the room, and for a man his size that is saying something. He places his bags down on the floor, and moves towards the giant window on the other side of the room. Looking out over the landscape of Turin, Walczak is suddenly glad he was forced to upgrade. What is life, if you can’t splurge once in a while. As he sees the people walking on the city streets below, he is reminded why life in Europe is so much better. The people take in all they see around them, they don’t rush from one place to the next, pushing others out of the way. Here they relax, sitting down, not because they are tired, but because they want to take part in all that is going on around them.

It seems that Walczak can see all that is bad with America everywhere he looks. It is not, that this deep seeded hatred was born within Walczak. No, in fact it was once a place of hope for Walczak, but once there it seemed that each passing day, brought a new reason for anger and disgust. Many of the wrestlers, chose to go back after the show, but for Walczak this trip around the world. Not to mention, by staying in Europe he doesn’t have to make up an excuse to not go Monika’s wedding. He wasn’t invited by Monika, nor did he expect to be, but Piotr had told, not asked him, to go with him. PRIME’s decision to bring their show on the road could not have come at a better time.

Continuing to look out at the city, Walczak decides to put off his workout until the morning, and partake in the joys of the city of Turin. Changing into a pair of jeans and a plain white undershirt, he makes his way back down out of the hotel, and onto Via Nizza. He sees, happy couples sitting outside at little cafes, and parents trying to reel in their children as they run off, or linger to long at things that make them stare in wonder.
Walking down Via Nizza, he spots a smokeshow brunette sitting alone at a café. She sips a cup of coffee with one hand, and has a cigarette lit in the other, but all Walczak notices is her piercing green eyes. Just looking at them puts him in a trance. Slowly, he makes his way towards her table, as he gets there, his shadow descends over the lady, but she doesn’t even look up at him.

“Is this seat taken?”

Speaking up seems to finally grab her attention, as the lady motions with the hand holding the cigarette for Walczak to sit down. Pulling the chair away from the table Walczak tries to make himself as comfortable as possible, not an easy feat for someone his size.

“How are you doing tonight?”

“I did not know that you were going to speak, I thought that you just wanted seat.”

“How could I sit here, and not try to speak to you? Every man walking by this café stops and stares at you, did you not think that one of them would try to stir up some conversation?”

“Did you not think that I was sitting alone for a reason? Per chance, I was not looking to have any conversations this night.”

A waiter comes over, giving Walczak a chance to gather himself, before once again trying to break the steely façade of the woman who grows more attractive with each passing moment.

“Is there anything I could get for you today sir?”

“A glass of water, and a piece of Tiramisu.”

“Very well, and anything else for you miss?”

“No thank you, I should be leaving soon.”

“I will bring your food out shortly sir.”

“So, is there any reason you are going to be leaving? I felt like this conversation was really starting to pick up.”

“Well, I have just about finished my coffee, and I see no reason to sit around while you eat your cake. I feel that I could spend my time more efficiently.”

“Maybe you could just humor me until you leave. Are you from Turin?”
“I do not see why you are so interested in my comings and goings, but if you must know yes I am from Turin.”

“That’s good, I need some advice as to what I can do here. Are there any places in particular that I should visit while I’m here?”

“You should visit Palazzo Madama. I visit there often, no matter how many times I visit there, I find something new. I get lost in there for hours at a time.”

“Is this you opening up a bit? I didn’t think that you wanted to talk?”
“You asked a question, and I answered that is all. I guessed many things when you sat down, but I did not think that you were one to read into things.”

“And I did not expect you to be one to judge, when I saw you from afar. Maybe, I am reading into things too much, but since I am new around here would it be possible that you could be my guide at Palazzo Madama tomorrow?”

“Was there anything that I said here tonight that would lead you to believe that I would be interested in such a thing?”

“Not at all, but is there anything that I have said here tonight that would make you think that I wouldn’t ask?”

“Fair enough. I can meet you there at 12:30 tomorrow.”

The waiter comes back again, just as he promised. Placing the Tiramisu and water in front of Walczak, he turns to be on his way, but is called back by the woman.

“Excuse me, could I have a refill of my coffee.”

“Of course.”

“So does this mean you are staying a bit longer?”

“It means that I want some more coffee.”

“Well, if you are going to be here a little longer is it possible to ask your name?”

“My name is Alessandra, and yours?”

“Tom, it is nice to meet you.”

“So Tom, what is it that you do?”

“I am a wrestler.”

“HAHA.”

“What is so funny?”

“Oh nothing, I should have guessed as much. I just find it funny that grown men dress up in tights and play games.”

“To you it is funny, to me it puts food on my table. What is it that you do Alessandra?”

“I live life, I take pleasure in all that I do, and do not waste a moment of my day, that is until I started talking to you.”

“We have ourselves a funny one do we? I was actually more interested in what you do to make a living, not what you do to pass the time.”
“And I answered as such. If you are wondering where I get the means to live my life it is through restaurants such as this one, which my family owns. It allows me to live my life as I see fit, and not be tied down by society’s normal restraints.”

“So I take it that you will be paying for my Tiramisu?”

“What kind of businesswoman would I be if I let everyone who spoke with me eat for free?”

“Fair enough. Maybe, once you finish your coffee you could show me around this city a little more closely? I do need some protection; I heard that the gypsies and such prey on poor little foreigners such as me.”
“Protection you do not need, but maybe it would be fun to show someone around. Let us go.”

Walczak gets up, and ever the gentleman and holds out Alessandra’s jacket for her. After putting money down for the Tiramisu, Alessandra smiles, and they make their way into the city. The years, and his fame, have given Walczak much more confidence with the ladies, but he was not always that way. And, while the beauty of Alessandra would provide a distraction for any man, Walczak can’t help but think of the first woman he loved.

__________________________________________________________


…March 15, 1991…

Walczak paces up and down his bedroom nervously. These past couple of months have been wonderful to him, he no longer is looked down upon in school, in fact he commands a rather large amount of respect. Most of the Athletic Coaches, have asked for him to join their teams, no tryouts necessary, but he has no interest in such things. The girls who were once scared of him, now swoon, and gossip as he walks past. Since the moment he established himself, by wiping the floor with Chet Watkins, school has been his small little kingdom. He has no need to be nervous, so why is he? Today is the first time he and Monika are going out on a date. Granted, they are going in a group, but Walczak initiated it, and she said yes. When he first heard that she agreed he could not have been happier, he even giggled like a schoolgirl in his bedroom, but now as the moment approaches he gets nervous. He has already changed out of one shirt that he sweat thru, and now it seems that if he doesn’t stop pacing he will certainly sweat thru another.

“KNOCK…KNOCK…KNOCK…”

“Tom, are you almost ready? If we don’t leave soon we will get to the movie theater late, and miss meeting up with the others.”
“I am ready. I will come out in second.”

Walczak takes a deep breath, and gathers himself before opening the door. However, nothing he has done in the past two hours can prepare him for what stands in front of him. He has always been attracted to Monika, from the moment he first saw her, but today she truly takes his breath away. While it is still somewhat cold outside, Monika wears a baby blue dress, and lets her hair flow down to her shoulders. She wears almost no makeup, and does not need to, and her smile causes Walczak to whimper.

“Monika, you look very nice tonight.”

“Thank You Tom, you don’t look so bad yourself. Now can we get going, I heard that New Jack City is supposed to be great, and I don’t think that I would be able to forgive you if we were late.”

“I would not want that.”

While Walczak does not know how Monika could think that he looks good, wearing a pair of acid washed jeans, and a multi colored button down shirt, he knows for certain he has not seen a girl more beautiful. As he follows her down the stairs, and outside, he thinks of just how lucky he is. Had he remained in Poland, he would have still in the orphanage, leading a miserable existence, but here he was allowed to go to school, and live life more freely than he ever would have in Poland. Here he had friends, and even more importantly here he had Monika, and Piotr, and they gave him a life worth living.

__________________________________________________________


…Present Day…

Walczak came to Turin looking to relax, have a good time, but his first night here had exceeded his expectations. While at first Alessandra seemed unwelcoming, almost harsh, she has proven to be a rather enjoyable companion, who shows Walczak parts of Turin he would have never found on his own. It seems that Alessandra has enjoyed herself as well, as she now walks Walczak back to his hotel, her arm entwined in his.

“I truly have had a wonderful time. I read about the city before I came here, but I am certain that I would have not seen many of the things you showed me if I had read a thousand books.”

“It is one of the many benefits of being a friend of the locals.”

“Oh, so now we are friends. No more than a couple hours ago it seemed that you could barely stand the sight of me.”

“I must admit that I am surprised that I enjoyed your company. I thought you nothing more than a brute, but you are certainly much more than that, and I am happy that I decided to accompany you today.”

“Good to hear. I hope that you find my company as inviting in the coming days, I have been told that I am fun enough in small doses, but people tend to tire of me quickly.”

“An honest man, and if I tire than I will leave, so it is up to you to keep me entertained.”

“I will do my best. It looks as if we have arrived.”

“So it does.”

Alessandra disengages from Walczak’s arm and stands in front of him staring into his deep brown eyes as they stand in front of the hotel. Walczak has truly had one of his better nights in recent memory, and counts himself lucky to have met such a woman on his first night in Turin. However, as she leans towards him offering him her lips, he does a curious thing and offers his cheek. A surprised look appears on Alessandra’s face, but she agrees to meet Walczak tomorrow. Walczak turns and walks toward the hotel, not thinking of the woman he spent the night with, but of the woman he left long ago.

__________________________________________________________


…March 15, 1991…

Walczak, Monika, and two other girls come out of the movie theater. Walczak and Monika look fulfilled and happy, but the other two girls seem disgusted.

“So Caitlin, did you enjoy the movie?”

“Oh it was horrible. Too much violence, too much cursing, too much everything. Did you like it Tom?”

“It was good movie, I think that it was very much true to life.”
“I couldn’t agree more. I feel like we are too shut in from the truths of the world, and when we are finally exposed to them we just can’t handle it.”

“That is just like you Monika. You always feel for those less fortunate, maybe you should get off your high horse once in a while and enjoy life.”
“Enjoy life Margaret, does enjoying life include sharing Chet Watkins bed, because that is a life I do not want.”

“You are bad Monika. Chet is hot, and we were drunk, what was I supposed to do?”

“Think rationally.”

“This Chet, he is no good.”

“No argument from me Tom, he wasn’t very good, but he was good to look at.”

“HAHA!! You are dirty. Are you guys going to come to Tony’s party with us, or are you heading home?”

“If my dad, found out that I brought his good boy Tom, with me to a party he would be furious, so I think that we will play this one safe, and head home.”

“Okay, I’ll give you a call tomorrow, let you know what happened.”

“Sounds good Cait, have fun. Ready to go Tom?”

“Yes.”

“Bye Tom.”

“Yeah, bye Tom, have fun?”

“Goodnight.”

Caitlin, and Margaret walk off giggling as they look back at Walczak and Monika. No doubt, Walczak would have had fun at the party, but to him he was much happier with the situation he was in now. He walked beside Monika, the nervousness that had disappeared while in the movie theater, was now back, and he was at a loss for words. Things only got worse when Monika walked closer to him, and grabbed his hand. He was certain that she was disgusted by his clammy hands, but he was too nervous to remove it.

“That was a great movie right?”

“Yes, I had a very good time.”

“You know, Caitlin likes you.”

“I like her to, she is very nice girl.”

“No, not like that she likes you, likes you. She wants to go out on a date with you.”

“Oh, I do not think that would be very good idea.”

“Yeah, me neither, but she wanted me to let you know.”

Walczak was taken off guard by Monika’s revelation. He wanted to go out tonight, to get closer to Monika, not some other girl he had no interest in. He walks holding Monika’s hand, but his nervousness is gone, and in its place confusion. They walk towards home, but the conversation has come to an abrupt halt. As they near their home, Monika suddenly stops, and Walczak turns to look at her.

“Okay, just stop right here.”

“What is wrong Monika?”

“Nothing is wrong with me, but what about you?”

“Me? Nothing is wrong, I thought tonight was great.”

“Oh, sure it was great, but you asked me out and now you won’t even talk to me.”

“I am not very good at talking, still learning English as each day passes.”
“Tom, do you like me or not?”

“I…I…Well…”

“It is a simple question, do you like me or not?”

“It is…I…Hmm…”

Before Walczak can gather himself to answer, Monika reaches up and kisses Walczak. He brings her in closer, and that moment is one that will be seared in his mind as long as he lives. He had been hoping to tell Monika how he felt tonight, but even in his dreams he did not see this happening.

“Hey, you two.”

“Oh, hi Dad.”

“I have been waiting for you two for an hour, where have you been?”
“Daddy, you knew the movie ended at 11:20, there is no way you have been waiting around for an hour.”

“Fair enough, I saw you thru the window.”

“So why didn’t you stay inside?”

“The way you two were acting, I thought you were being mugged.”

“Stop it dad.”

Monika walks by her father, and makes her way into the house. Piotr makes his way towards Walczak. He does not seem angry, in fact he has a smile on his face.

“I am sorry Piotr. I did not mean to disrespect you.”

“No need to apologize. I have seen the way she looks at you. I figured it was only a matter of time before she made her move. This changes nothing between us. I just want you to know that if you break her heart, than our relationship will change. Understood?”

“Understood.”

__________________________________________________________

…Present Day…
Walczak stands in his hotel room, sipping on a glass of cognac. He once again looks out of the window, trying to think of Alessandra, but with only Monika coming to his mind. He promised himself that while in Europe he would focus on nothing but furthering his wrestling career, but since he saw Monika he has been able to think of little else.

He should be thinking of another woman all together, Alexandra Pierce, but he leaves that for tomorrow. He has had his fun, but tomorrow he must once again focus, hoping to avoid yet another slipup in his rise to the top.
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