Dozens of cicadas send their call into the hot evening sky. The air is uncharacteristically humid and Grizzly is having trouble sleeping. He isnt entirely sure why. One reason might be the heat as Grizzly becomes aware of the big patch of sweat on his shirt, matting his chest hair. Another reason might be the snoring of his constant companion, Digger, who is making a noise similar to the sound of chainsaws severing trees that he remembers from his days as a tree-feller.
Grizzly: Get offa me, boy, I gotta grab some air.
Digger, oblivious to the wishes of the waking, peacefully continues to snore, while Grizzly frees his legs from under his 130-pound boy. He can just about make out the silhouettes of the stacked logs that constitute his bedroom, but they do seem to draw closer. He grabs a pack of smokes from his bedside cabinet and takes a seat on the rocking-chair on his porch.
Grizzly: You gotta get your head out your ass, Bob.
He watches the flame from his lighter before he lights his cigarette. He takes a drag, sighs out the smoke and clasps the cigarette butt in the corner of his mouth. He can feel the bristles from his upper lip brush against the delicate rolling paper. As he rocks back in his seat, he confronts himself with the real root of his concerns. He speaks the name from the unoccupied half of his mouth:
Grizzly: Kryp tohhh
Grizzly narrows his eyes as he reflects on the significance of his upcoming match his days as an adorable afterthought at the very bottom of the food chain were over. Opening for the secondary show is hardly headlining Kingdom Come, but its an improvement. A small one, but its a step-up nonetheless. Being on the card at Ascension would make for a nice little pay bump, but he also wont be facing the Donny Js of the world in his next match. Hed be facing a tried and tested performer, a familiar face, somebody who will push him to the very edge of his abilities hed be facing Krypto.
Grizzly rubs his hands together and even cracks a smile, relishing the opportunity hes been given. In this business theres no room for self-doubt. He reassures himself that he didnt make this much of an impact initially, only to back down now.
Grizzlys train of thought gets interrupted when he notices bright headlights through the trees near his home. In his experience, nightly visitors usually meant that bad news had to travel urgently. He gets up to greet the approaching vehicle, but is met instead by shot, shells and slugs being fired off. The sound of quite a few bottles accompanies this chaotic cacophony.
???: Cmon, stranger! Were here to pick you up!
Grizzly grins as he recognizes one of the voices Ray Dawson, another flannelled local.
Grizzly: Now before I tell you to get off my land, tell me... The hell you guys doin here?
Ray: Havent seen you in ages, with all that prancin round you do with Dub You Zee Cee Dub You. You suddenly too good for us common folk, big guy?
Grizzly: Dawson... there are many, many people round these here parts that are too good for the likes of you, but Im not one of em. Let me have a look-see at the company youre keepin.
Grizzly strides through the harsh spotlights, over to the truck. In the passengers seat, clothed in his straw cowboy hat, is Ray's neighbour, Willie D Dempsey. Standing in the back in denim cover-alls are the Thompson twins, Skeeter and Jonny. The only way Grizzly could tell them apart was that Jon was a little taller and that Skeeter had a slight gap between his front teeth, causing him to whistle occasionally when he spoke.
Ray: You in for some fun? Willie here reckons he saw sumthin big go down over at Grangers Meadow.
Willie: I swear it, Ray! There were bright lights, a loud crash and sparks flyin everywhere! Were going to take a gander, you in?
Grizzly: Hell, yeah! The ole noggin could use some clearing.
Grizzly grabs hold of the cargo bed and slingshots himself over the side. The truck dips as the big man lands on his feet. With a few parting shots, the expedition skids off to the night.
*****
With the wind blowing their hair back and showcasing their beer-bellies, the three men at the back hold on tight to the chassis of the pick-up. With every bump in the road, they get launched into the air, spilling some beer on the way down.
Grizzly: What do you fellows reckon it could be?
Jonny: Greenskins!
Grizzly: Say what, now?
Skeeter: Yeah, I heard that other Dutch guy talkin bout how aliens in America on the TV the other day.
Grizzly: Why would the Dutch care about aliens in the States?
Skeeter: Naw, thats his name Dutch somethin. Yeah, he was mouthin off about what illegal aliens are doin to this fine country of ours.
Grizzly: Whats he say?
Skeeter: He said that they clogged up our health care...
Grizzly: I dunno bout that...
Jonny: ...that they stole our women...
Grizzly: Well, if you love it, put a ring on it...
Skeeter: ...and they took our jobs.
Stunned silence fills the pick-up, except for the gentle humming of the engine.
Grizzly: What?
Jonny: Dey took-er-jobs!
Grizzly: Well, we cant be havin that.
Skeeter: So thats why we be baggin us some greenskins tonight!
Jonny: Yeeeeee-haww!
The brothers fire another celebratory salvo, while Grizzly slugs back his beer. Some foam sticks to his beard, but he wipes it off with the back of his hand. Ray winds down his window while Willie holds the steering wheel. Ray opens his door and hangs out to the side of the vehicle. Occasionally he winces as a few twigs and reeds hit him on the chin.
Ray: Beer us, will you?
Jonny: No problem!
Jonny takes two bottles, twists off the caps with his eye-sockets and hands it to the driver.
Ray: Much obliged!
The truck keeps barrelling into the woods, with bright headlights tearing up the shadows. The sound of jovial laughter, clinking bottles and blaring Dire Straits lie in its wake.
*****
Grizzly feels slightly outgunned as the five men sneak into the meadow. Rays freshly oiled rifle is kept close to his chest, the twins are brandishing their fully loaded shotguns and Willie, the real heavy-hitter in this outfit, has his illegal AK-47 strapped to his back. Disdainfully, Grizzly looks at the flashlight that Ray handed him. A harsh thump slows down the progress of Skeeter as the rest of the group hears the noise flesh makes as it connects with rock.
Skeeter: MOTHERF-
Skeeter drops to the dirt, clutching his left foot.
Ray: Shh!
Skeeter: But my foot!
Willie: Quiet, Skeet! You want to tell the whole world were comin?
Grizzly: Why the hell are you wearin open-toe leather sandals anyway? Were in the middle of the damn woods! A good woodsman knows his surroundings!
Grizzly runs over to his fallen friend to inspect his injury. Groaning, Skeeter peers over to check it out as well.
Skeeter: Ill be okay, guys.
Willie: Yeah, we know, its just your toe! Now quit your bitchin, we got us a quarry to... uh... quar.
Grizzly switches on the flashlight and points to something that catches his eye. The grass is charred at a certain spot.
Jonny: Whatre those? That must be where the alien craft landed!
Grizzly: No, genius. Look here.
Grizzly uses the flashlight to follow the trail of a broken wire through the grass, right up a wooden pole where the other power line is mounted on.
Ray: Looks like we got your greenskin, Willie.
Grizzly: Why, its just a broken power line. Mustve busted from the seasonal change in temperature, mixed with years of wear n tear.
Willie: You gotta compensate for stuff like that. The fool who put that up didnt know what he was doin.
Skeeter: Thatd be me.
Ray: Well, looks like you got your work cut out for you tomorrow. So much for catchin E.T. tonight, boys...
Willie: Alright, travellers, lets get back home.
As the men head back to their ride home, Grizzly stops dead in his tracks.
Willie: Whats up, big bud?
Grizzly: Listen... you hear that?
The faint mewling carries well in the cooler night-time temperature. Grizzly leads the party into the direction of the unfamiliar sound, flashlight in hand. Behind one of the bushes, a tiny Blue Russian is pleading for attention. Its fluffy grey pelt accounts for half of its size. At first, he shies away from Grizzlys reaching hands, but eventually he catches the kitten. It stops its protest as Grizzly cradles it to his chest.
Skeeter: Is that a stray?
Ray: Happens all the time after Spring fever, lots of kittens get abandoned by their mothers. Hes probably not so much a runaway as a poor lil orphan.
Willie: Youre right, neighbour. Look at all that baby fluff, Im surprised its eyes have even opened! It probably wont survive the night.
Jonny cocks his shotgun.
Grizzly turns his back on Jonny, protecting the animal from him.
Jonny: What?
Ray: Cmon, Grizz, itd be the kinder thing to do.
For the first time since they arrived at his doorstep, tension is mounting between Grizzly and his friends.
Grizzly: Over my dead body! Nobodys touchin him. Not if they want to be put down themselves.
Willie: Look here, Grizzly! You cant keep it. That hound of yours, remember? Hell tear that poor thing to shreds!
Grizzly: Why dont one of you take him, then?
Skeeter: We dont want it...
Grizzly: Hes not an it, hes a he!
Jonny: Howd you know?
Grizzly: Because his grey little balls are more than you got, Jonny! Shootin a poor little kitten like that. Shame on you, Jonathan Thompson!
As a stare-down ensues, Grizzly shines the light on the faces of his companions, using his free hand. After a while, he turns the light off.
Grizzly: I have an idea. I know I cant keep the little fellow, but I know somebody who will.
*****
Grizzly: Thank you so much for makin the trip. I really appreciate it.
The park bench is completely dwarfed by the two seated men. The chequered patterns betray the woodsman on the left, but the other person is hidden beneath a trench-coat, scarf, sunglasses and a fedora.
Grizzly: And thank you for bein so discreet! He cant know that this is from me.
Man: Of course. There is more to you than meets the eye, Grizzly Bob. It is unfortunate that fate seems to land us on opposite sides of a rivalry. Perhaps, in due time, we shall gain a better understanding of one another.
Grizzly: I figure were just two young bucks, feelin each other out. Maybe after we settled our differences, we can meet like this sometime, you know kick back, have a brew... That reminds me, heres my end of the bargain.
Grizzly reaches into his burlap sack and hands over a bottle of 2006 Shiraz. The mysterious figure inspects the label.
Man: Good year... Where did you get this?
Grizzly: General store. I had to ask around, but I hope you and the missus enjoy it.
Man: You know... its a very noble thing youre doing for Krypto.
Grizzly: Kryptos gotta be hurtin pretty bad, now. Alhazreds maniac giant squashed his little dog right in front of his eyes. I cant imagine what that must be like. But this changes nothin between him and me. Dont you think for a second that ll be takin it easy when we square off in the ring!
He hands the kitten over to the man, who carefully places it in his lap.
Grizzly: I... I havent given him a name, yet.
Man: Well, if I may quote the Bard, whats in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.
Grizzly: I guess youre right. Probably better that way, too. I never wanted to get too attached, he was never mine to begin with. I did buy the little man a nice collar with a bell on it, sos Krypto will know where he is at all times.
The man puts his hand on Grizzlys shoulder.
Man: Dont you worry, Krypto will take very good care of it. Ill do as you asked me to and say that its a gift from me. I can respect your need for anonymity, as Krypto is your upcoming opponent.
Grizzly's demeanour has become decidedly more aggressive. He brushes the other mans hand from his torso.
Grizzly: I'll tell you what Im sure as hell looking forward to that fight. When Im in that ring with him, I wont be doin that green lil bugger any favours. Even with his stolen Power Glove, he cant take on these two paws of mine! If he wants to poke the bear, hell get whats comin to him gettin his hide kicked all the way back to the mothership!
Man: I dont approve of you speaking of Krypto like that.
Grizzly: Im sure you dont.
Grizzly gets up, abruptly. He gives his acquaintance a stern look, but eventually his expression relaxes. The two men hold each others gaze.
Grizzly: You know what, bub? Youre doin me a big favour out of the kindness of your heart and that lil kitty got a home.
The seated man nods in approval.
Grizzly: Thats enough for me.
Grizzly extends his hand toward the man, who gets up (still protecting the kitten) and does the same. Smiles creep across their faces simultaneously, they nod to each other and they shake hands, without saying a word.
Leaving the other man to admire the beautiful setting sun, Grizzly hops into his vehicle. The red truck speeds off into the orange dusk, throwing dust into the late afternoon breeze. The man looks down at the kitten as it playfully paws at his fingers, sometimes getting its sharp little claws stuck in his beard. In his rear-view mirror, Grizzly looks at the duo. Contentedly, he stomps on the accelerator and races home, where he knows he has a longing companion of his own waiting for him.
