[Nic Totopoulous is walking around outside on a bright and sunny day.  He has a vest on, a pair of crazy designed pants, and has his hair down.  He is walking around contemplating his future, not only as a wrestler, but as a person.  He is walking down the sidewalk as people pass him by.  They do not seem to recognize him as the former TNT Wrestling World Champion, or they do not wish to disturb him.  He passes by a number of little stores on the street.  On the other side of the road is a park where a number of children are playing.  He stops for a moment to watch them.]

Not a worry in the world.  Look at those children.  All they know is that they are having fun playing right now.  They don't know that some day they will have responsibilities.  They don't know that some day people will depend on them, and they will have to do what they can to scratch and claw to get ahead in this world.  They haven't a worry in the world.

[Just then one of the children, a little boy with short black hair runs across the street.  He is wearing shorts, a T-shirt and sandals.  He is no more than seven years old.  He runs up right up to Nic Totopoulous.]

Excuse me Mister.

[Nic Totopoulous gets down on to one knee to get to eye level.]

What can I do for you?

Are you Nic Totopoulous?

Yes I am.  And you are?

My name is Jonathan.

Well hello Jonathan.  What can I do for you?

Well, my dad is a great wrestling fan.  He is your biggest fan too.  I was wondering if you want to come to my house to see him.

Well I guess I can do that for you.  I'm not busy right now.

[Totopoulous gets back up to his feet.  The two of them continue to walk down the street.  The whole time they are talking about what it is like to be a wrestler.]

Well you know something, being a wrestler is a lot of work.  It's very important for you to go a wrestling school to learn how to defend yourself in the ring.  At the school you learn a lot about how to do a lot of different moves.  There are some moves that you pick up being on the road all the time, but the basics are learned at the school.

Does it take a lot of work to get very good?

Sure it takes a lot of work.  As wrestlers, we wrestle usually about four nights a week.  We wrestle shows that don't even appear on TV.  Those are the matches were we are able to try a lot of new moves, see how things go.  They are really good practice.  In a lot of cases the matches don't mean anything, but they are still great practice.

That sounds like a lot of work.  Is being a wrestler fun?

If wrestling wasn't fun, then I wouldn't be doing it.  Let me tell you something.  When your music hits the speakers, and a crowd of nearly twenty thousand fans are standing on their feet cheering for you, it is one of the greatest feelings in the world.  That is one of the reasons I'm still in wrestling.  If I didn't get a rush every time I walked to the ring, there would be no reason for me to be here.

Do you ever get nervous?

Every time I go to the ring.

Why?  You were World Champion for five months.  Aren't you used to it?

Well I am used to going down to the ring.  But I get nervous because every time I go down to the ring, there is that chance I could get injured.  There is a chance every time I go to the ring I could get hurt.  But that is a risk I want to take.  I also get nervous because not only do I want to win, but I also want to put on a good show.  The better a performance you put on, win or lose, the more the fans will like you.

That's true.  I like guys that are exciting, whether they win or lose.  Here's the house here.  Oh, and he is a big Elvis fan.  So he if starts talking about it, that's why.

Thanks for the warning buddy.

[The boy and Totopoulous walk up the driveway to the front door.  The boy opens the door, and they both walk in.]

DAD!

I'm here, what do you need?

I have someone here to show you.

All right, I'll be right over.

[A moment later a man wearing a white Elvis type jumpsuit walks around the corner.  He is an old man with black hair.]

Oh my gosh!  It's Nic Totopoulous.  It's a pleasure meeting you sir.

Please call me Nic.

Yes sir, I mean Nic.  John, where did you find him?  I hope you were nice to the man.

Yes he was quite polite.  He's a good kid, asks a lot of questions.  But where are you going to get in life without asking questions?

I found him walking around outside.

Well it's very nice to meet you.

[Nic puts out his hand and shakes the man's hand.]

Hey John, can you go get me a camera?  I want to take a picture with him, if that's okay with you of course?

It's fine.  I like taking pictures with fans.

Great, go get the camera son.

[The boy runs around the corner and out of site.  A moment later he runs back with a camera in hand.]

All right.  Here we go.  Say cheese!

[Nic and the man stand next to each other and hit a pose.  The boy puts the camera to his face, and clicks the button to take the picture.]
 

 

Thanks again Nic.  This has been great, you are too kind.

Well I like to get to know fans.

Speaking of getting to know fans, do you like Elvis?

Well he really is a little before my time.

Poppy Cock!  He is great for every generation.

[Totopoulous looks at his wrist, he isn't wearing a watch.]

Oh look at the time.  I've really got to be getting going now, but it was great to meet both of you.

Are you sure?  Oh well, that's too bad, I was going to line up some Elvis for you.

Maybe another time.  Actually hey.  Take my vest.  You have been too kind.

Really?

Of course, as long as I get your sun glasses.  It's pretty sunny out.

I would do anything for Nic Totopoulous.

[The two exchange the articles or clothing.  The man puts on the vest, and Totopoulous puts on the sun glasses.]

Well thanks again Nic, it was a pleasure.

[Totopoulous shakes the mans hand again, then he shakes the boys hand.  He turns around and walks out the door.  He walks past the driveway and back out onto the street.  He begins to walk down the street back in the direction of the park.  He walks up the sidewalk.  He walks across the street to where the park is located.  He walks through the freshly cut grass as he watches the children playing with ball.  Then he comes across a man carrying a guitar.  He has an open guitar case on the ground with a little bit of change in it.  He is wearing back looks almost like a bed sheet around him, and has on a big white hat.  Totopoulous walks over to the man who is playing the guitar and puts a five dollar bill in the case.]

Thank you very much sir.

Sorry I can't put any more in.  It's all I've got on me right now.

Five dollars, you are too kind.

Well you are pretty good.

Thank you sir.

That's quite the hat you have on there.

Thank you.  It was a gift from my wife, before she died.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Hey wait a minute, are you Nic Totopoulous?

Yes I am.

I am a big fan of yours.  I don't watch much TV these days, because I'm short on money.  But when I watched I used to watch you on TV.

Well that is nice to hear.  It's always nice to run in to fans on the street.

I'm glad.  Are you still World Champion?
 

 

Unfortunately I'm not.  I lost last Sunday night to White Thunder.

Well that's too bad.  But you two are friends right?

You really haven't watched for a while.  A few weeks ago White Thunder turned on me.  He attacked me with a steal chair.

Really?  That's surprising.  I wouldn't have seen it coming.

Ya, funny thing about that is, me neither.

[Both of them chuckle.]

Hey you know what, since you haven't seen a show in a while, there's a show in town tonight.  Why don't you come with me?  I'll get you a ticket.

You can do that?

Of course I can, and I will.

Wow, thank you Nic.

Hey as long as you want me to beat Aussie Wonder this Sunday night, I'll take you there.

Aussie Wonder?  When did he come back?

Come with me, I'll tell you all about it.

[The man puts his guitar in the case and zips it up.  Then he and Totopoulous begin to walk down the street.  The scene fades to black.]