High Roller Club Part 1

Chapter 218

High Roller Club

Part 1

The moment of truth came when we stepped inside the building surrounded by our honor guard. Tony said that we should never go far without any protection, but when we are all gathered inside a room the honor guard would stay mostly against the wall with the others. The only time they moved was if we left the room, it was our job to stay close, but not to close or nobody would come up to talk to us. It felt creepy having them watch every move I made, Eli and our wives felt quite comfortable about it.

Even though Mom and Dad were my parents; tonight we were basically on our own because we married and not little kids anymore, as Mom kept Jason and Jonathon close to them at all times including Jared. Jenny and Dotty would be the ones babysitting and the Vincent boys, as they had gone over the ground rules. That they should never leave Dotty or Jenny’s side, as they made their way over to the rest of the children in their age group and their parents.

Dad gave me two thumbs up letting me know he was watching me, which made me feel all warm in fuzzy inside being in a room full of murders and rapist. I was never good at socializing and always kept my head down so nobody would notice me. Yet with my wheelchair, I was quickly noticed as I found an open table and climbed out walking using my collapsible crutches. I was to appear weak, but not too weak.

Eli slid my wheelchair to the side so I could sit in a normal chair. Eli and Greg went to grab us some refreshments as the girls put down our contribution with everyone else’s. I watched as our honor guard split up into separate groups so they could keep an eye on us and still let us mingle with everyone else freely. Three stood in the corner near me they looked big and scary with their white masks.

It wasn’t long before trouble found me more like my two friends Ricky and Martin. As they were pushed out of the line by the same four boys I had met in Sunday school as they told them to get on their knees and lick their boots like slaves calling them Niger’s and black trash.

Eli turned around and stood in front of them pushing them behind him. He poked Kirk in the chest with his finger telling him to back off. He towered over Eli poking him back calling him Niger lover. Eli said. “Watch it, Kirk, These two boys are mine and my husband's friends.” The other four crowed around him, as I watched my friends Greg, Jake, Adam, West, and Hank come quickly to Eli side.

I got up as well and made my way over to them and said. “Guys, wants up?”

Kirk said. “Your husband just challenged me to a fight.”

I smiled. “I really don’t think you want to do that?”

He looked at me and said. “Yea, and who’s going to stop me?”

I leaned forward and said. “I am.” They laughed; I watched our honor guards come to do their job. I held up my hand telling them we got this. Tony gave them a nod and they obeyed but stayed closes.

Kirk didn’t get the laughs he wanted as he eyed me up and down, assuming I was weak. I said. “I bet I can take you down in three moves. In fact, I have 5 large ones that say that you won’t be able to lay finger on me.” I lifted out my wallet and pulled 5 crisps one hundred dollar bills.

Kirk laughed. “You are asking me to kick your a*s and take the money. What’s the catch?”

I said. “No catch if your man enough to do it if you haven’t gotten the memo. Eli and I are the Queen's new champions. We didn’t get that by looking stupid.” Eli made sure they could see his sword. He conferred with his three friends. And they said for him that he would be stupid to pass it up. Catching the words that Mr. Tate wanted a demonstration regarding my so-called skills that earned that title.

Kirk nodded came back, he said. “No help from your guard friends or pals here, just you and me.”

I said. “Not a problem, but we would need a place to fight without being disturbed.”

 He said. “Give me 20 minutes I’ll leave Mark and Randy here so you don’t chicken out.”

I said. “Fine, I’ll be sitting at the table over there waiting until you come back.” I slowly made way back over to my table telling Ricky and Martin to join me. They looked at me as if I was crazy. I didn’t say anything, not with Mark and Randy there babysitting me.

We didn’t have to wait long as the High Bishop made his way over with Kirk. He gave me a nod and grabbed a chair.  “Kirk says you challenged him to fight, over these two boys here?”

I nodded. Kirk said. “Me and my friends want proof that Holy Queen didn’t make mistake, Eli possibility considering he isn’t in a wheelchair, but the boys and I are not so certain about young Nate. In fact, we have a hard time believing he could do much more than do the two-step shuffle.”

The High Bishop said. “You do have a valued point, but… personally, I have seen him in action and trust me when I say he can back up his story.”

Kirk said. “Then you have no problem if we boys find out for ourselves?”

He shook his head. “No, but what does he get if he wins?”

I said. “I only want one thing and that is nobody touches these boys without my say so; they are treated with the same respect as everyone else. I was told that our church doesn’t discriminate people by the color of their skin. They are given the same chance to prove themselves worthy. I say they are worthy, and so does my friends.” They all nodded.

Kirk growled. “Worthy my a*s, their father maybe important person and all, but these boys are nothing more than ditch diggers and bottle washers.”

I said. “I bet you couldn’t do a weeks worth of their job, without going home crying to your mama.”

Eli nodded. Kirk said. “Let’s put your money where your mouth is. I say I can kick your a*s, good and proper and take your title. I am willing to take that bet that I could work these too Niger’s under the table. I could use a week’s paid vacation. But first, you have to prove to me and my friends that you are worthy of that title. If not then I take your title and these two boys just became my personal slaves.”

I stuck out my hand and said “deal.” The High Bishop motioned over his honor guard and told them to prepare the main room for us.

He said. “I am looking forward to watching Nate kick your butt, and once that happens I want a formal apology to these boys, and weeks worth of work for all four of you; which I will pick the days you boys work so it is fair. Take it or leave it, I betting if you are smart you will forget the whole thing and part as best friends.”

Kirk said. “Not going to happen, sir, not until they prove themselves to us.”

The High Bishop nodded said. “Last chance,”

Kirk said. “No, Mr. Tate said he wanted proof that these boys are for real; money only gets them in the door.”

The High Bishop shrugged his shoulders. “A very wise, decision boys to always find out for yourselves, but remember if you back out of the deal; that nobody included Mr. Tate or his followers will look too kindly on cowards.

“He may have asked you test these boys be as you are his prize bull in a fight, but he is also testing you to see if you can cut the mustard after he has personally groomed you. I already know and so does Mr. Grayson, but most importantly so does the Holy Queen know that these boys can kick your a*s.

“Nate may be somewhat limited being newly healed, but he and Eli took down a whole squadron of men in Texas without batting an eyelash. He took down several of the fallen Queen's men down with only a pair of crutches. Every one of those men was a trained killer. You are nothing more than a flea on a dog back to him. I’ll match Nate’s bet if you happen to win.”

Kirk's buddies paled as they mouthed a whole squadron. Eli and I knew he was boasting because he was going off what he has seen me do on videotape. Even I would be impressed if I wasn’t the one doing the butt-kicking at the time. He told us to make ourselves ready as he made his way around the room. Eli and I smiled as he collected bets as he shook hands greeting people as they eyed me up and down assuming that I was weak and underestimating me.

Dad pulled me aside and told me to kick his butt, but to remember my training only using very little movement, and reminding me that I needed only show them enough that I was capable of handling myself even in this weak form.

Tony gave me two thumbs up knowing he had taught me to fight in this weak form; which was going to be the hardest thing for me to do because I so very much wanted to be myself without holding back. Dad also went around the room placing bets on me that I would kick Kirk’s butt, and so did Mr. Tate; telling everyone that I didn’t have a chance to even make the first round. 

I made one big mistake and that was I should have made the match private, as everyone headed for the main hall where the big open stage was where we hold our services. Then again we wanted people to notice me; we wanted them to see what I was capable of so the big scary people like Mr. Tate would invite me into their social clubs.

Mom hated the idea of me fighting, even more on a Sunday. Today though she was using me as stepping stone too give her and Dad the opportunity that would get big scary people to notice them by appealing to their greed, flashing their cash and bragging about me.

Everything had been taken down, leaving nothing but an empty stage with bare boards, as I watched the High Bishop place several traffic cones around the edges and circled it with caution tape as our ring to fight in. I was handed a pair of trunks as my honor guard circled me making a privacy curtain to change into them. Eli smiled at me as I  placed my clothes on the seat of my wheelchair. It was to be bare-knuckle and barefoot fighting, I was allowed my crutches as my only weapon. Kirk chose s broken off broom handled and a cane that he had borrowed from Mr. Tate as he looked at me, eyeing my body as piece of meat he couldn’t wait to sick his teeth into as he took his boxed seat with his friend as he invited High Bishop to sit with him and Mr. Grayson.

But Mr. Grayson stated he would be our referee tonight. He to placed his bet on me, I was told I was the long shot bid 10 to 1 odds Kirk being the 10. The pot was over 500 thousand dollars in favor of Kirk winning. Mom and Dad smiled at me giving me two thumbs up knowing how underestimated I was until some actually saw me fight. Dad said we were going clean up when I win. Not if I would win, but would win.

Once the bets were all in the match would begin and the doors closed. Mr. Grayson stood up and walked to the middle of the stage as he motioned me forward now that I had taken my seat in my corner as Kirk took his in the opposite corner as we waited for everyone to finalize their bets and the match to begin.

Kirk was built like a linebacker, his bare chest and arms rippled with muscles. Even his legs were built for strength. I had learned that bronze and muscle meant very little in a fight except to impress the ladies, which I am sure it did seeing many of them foaming at the mouth. Then again I had my own fans as well, but I pretended not to see them, instead, I focused on my target.

The rules were explained that there would be three rounds; no maiming, or killing, one ten count knockout is all that is required or the persons can no longer fight. I did the two-step shuffle causing everyone to laugh that Kirk would kick my a*s. Dad had a whole fist full of cash as he yelled. “Kick his a*s son.” No one here believed I could do it, and they call this making friends the easy way.

We didn’t have a bell instead Mr. Grayson blew a loud whistle as Kirk came out swing as I watched him use the broom-handled as he tried to convince me he was trained fighter. I waited calmly as he came closer trying to knock my crutches away. He laughed as he stuck hard only finding empty space as I had pivoted and leaned on my right side lifting the crutch and jabbed him in the chest hard causing him to double over; giving me time to come around him as I leaped frog using my crutches as I came up behind him and swept his legs from underneath him with my right crutch.

Once down I bodied slammed him across his back as his head planted into the stage causing his nose to bleed. The whistle blew as I was told move away from him. More like roll-away as I made it look like it took a lot of effort to get to my feet.

Mr. Grayson asked Kirk if he was done, causing him to growl angrily as he got quickly up on his feet wiping the blood on his arm. He motioned me forward as Mr. Grayson stepped away from us. Kirk redoubles his effort as he swung his broom-handled back and forth wildly as if he was shearing wheat in a field. Watching me back up then brought it up to slam it on my head. He gasped when I caught it dropping my crutches. I made the effort to wobble to make it look like I wasn’t capable of standing for long. Not wanting to give away that I wasn’t as weak as they believed me not to be.

Yet it gave me what I needed. Kirk held tight to his broom handle as I twisted my body using his strength holding the broom handle and fell backward pointing downwards as the weight of my body forced the broom-handled out of his hands as if it was spring loaded as it fell on top me let my self fall flat on the ground and rolled away with my new weapon. He dove for my crutches but I was quicker by pushing them out of the ring, making them unusable by either of us. 

 

Kirk smiled at me said. “What you going to do now without out your crutches?”

I said. “I got our big stick to use, instead.” Everyone laughed then gasped as I showed them a few moves as I twirled the broom-handled around my waist and like an old pro. Kirk blinked as he saw me standing on two feet set apart.

I faked a wobble allowing myself to go down on one knee. As if I was bowing to Kirk telling him that I had just given him the opening he wanted seeing how weak and pathetic I was as I bated him. I waited for him to come to me and take it now that I looked like a helpless little kitten; hearing the audience yelling to Kirk to finish me off and watching more money change hands that I was done for.

Once he made for it I used the broom handle as a poll as I swung my body around it as he dived for it, and twirled it over my head listening to it whistle. I brought it down hard as I planted the end of it down hard in front him and did roundhouse aerial kick cartwheel using the broom handle as my anchor. Bring the audience to their feet, each time Kirk went for me I cartwheeled using the broom handle using it to balances me, just like Tony and Jenny taught me too. Until I had made a complete circle of the stage playing keeps away.

Then I used it to launch myself feet forward into his chests by pole vaulting and then cartwheeled from the floor placing my hands on the floor with my broom handled and twisted into aerial corkscrew locking my ankles and legs as I twisted in the air. Bring down my broom handled across his chest; knocking the air out of him as I landed on my right knee to steady myself proving that it was all done with upper body strength. 

The room gasped as they watched a trained gymnast performing tricks only using my upper body strength, and using my lower body as momentum nothing more. To indicate my lower body hasn’t been used for a long time. Just the way Jenny and Tony had taught me, using my weakness to set the trap.

The whistle blew and I stepped away as Mr. Grayson asked him if has had enough. By the time he counted to 6 he was back on his feet grabbing his rib-cage and rubbing where I had hit him. He looked over at Mr. Tate as he frowned telling him he better not quit or he never hear the end of it.

I let him catch his breath as he motioned for his cane thinking it would give him some sort of advantage. I faked a yawn causing my fans to laugh as they cheered me on. The moment he came at me he smiled I watched as he pulled out a knife from the top of the cane and tossed the rest of the cane to the side.

Mr. Grayson was about to disqualify him. Until I said. “He can use it if I can make a change in weapons?” Kirk agreed taking the bait, as he was reminded not to maim me or kill me. I went down one knee to give the appearance I couldn’t stand without the broom handle. I motioned Eli over and told him to break the broom-handled into two pieces. He looked at me as if I was crazy but he managed to do it. Kirk laughed at me as I told Eli to remove his shoes so I could have his shoelaces.

I asked Kirk if I could use a knife, for a minute, not to fight with. He shook his head no and Mr. Grayson asked what I needed the knife for I said. “To make holes in my sticks.” Kirk blinked as he was ordered to hand me his knife or not us it at all, and ordered to his corner.

The wood was soft enough to dig through as I made my notches. I quickly threaded Eli’s shoelaces through them and fashioned me a pair of numb chucks. I slid the knife over to Kirk and Mr. Grayson reminded him of the rules and also reminded him if he doesn’t bring me down in the next round I win. If he does we go into the fourth and the final round. He said he understood and Mr. Tate yelled. “Now show him that he is not worthy of the title Kirk, I have a lot of money riding on you.”

He smiled as he tossed the knife from one hand to the other, as he made his way towards me. I remind on my right knee as I worked my numb chucks, with speed and confidence of a fighter. They weren’t great but they would work for what I needed them to do. The moment Kirk was near me as he tried to cut me, hoping to make contact, I surprised him as I spun on my knee into a knee spin like I was on the ice getting wood burn.  Letting the numb chuck rise up as his right hand came down to cut me. Giving me what I wanted as one side wrapped around his wrist with the knife in it.

He screamed in pain as the second chuck locked his other wrist to counteract the pain I had just caused using his body instincts; where the mind tells your hand to help you, letting the shoelaces and other numb chuck turn into a set of handcuffs. Watching the knife fall to the side sticking up out of the floor as my right leg spun out taking him down to the floor as I rolled grabbing the knife in my right  hand and sat on top of his chest breathing hard as I placed the knife at his throat with my right hand and using the other to keep the numb chucks tight into vice so he was unable to free his hands, waiting for the whistle blow.

Kirk blinked at me seeing that his hands were unless and I had the knife in my hands at his throat. I could see him questioning me as he had watched me do everything on my knees during the last round. I said. “Three rounds as promised; you never laid a hand on me. I don’t need my legs to fight.” I took the knife and away and rolled off him handing the knife to Mr. Grayson. Eli handed me my crutches and I stood up with his help. I leaned down and held out my hand to him said. “Are we friends? Or enemy’s?”

He said, “friends sound good.”

I nodded. “Good because I have enough enemy’s.”