Let's Wrestle

On my tenth birthday, Dad handed me an envelope marked "Happy Birthday to Tim, the world's biggest fan". He sort of gave away the surprise, but I didn't care. I ripped open the envelope and took out two tickets.

"This is great Dad," I said. "Front row seats to see Dynamite Dan defend his championship belt. Thanks."

"Laura," I said right away. She was my next door neighbor and best friend. We both loved to watch wrestling on TV.

In the afternoon, my dad drove Laura and me to the event. On the way to the arena my dad seemed to hit every red light. I had trouble sitting still, I was so excited.

I turned to Laura. "Can you believe it? Dynamite Dan and Kurt Crusher wrestling in the same ring. And we have great seats. This is going to be the best."

Everyone knew how mean Kurt was. He played all the dirty tricks on the other wrestlers, like pulling hair.

"Well, are you?" Laura gave me a little poke in the ribs under my arm. I jumped.

She stuck her finger out, like she was going to tickle me. I scooted across the seat away from her. She giggled.

Laura liked to tease, but I didn't mind. We both went to Hillview School and she was okay. For a girl. I would never tell her, but I liked the freckles on her nose.

My dad drove to the front of the arena and stopped. "Okay," he said. "I'll be back here to pick you two up when it's over. Have a good time."

We rushed to the entrance doors. The sign on the building said:

This Afternoon . . . Rockin' Rasslin'
MAIN EVENT:
DYNAMITE DAN VS KURT CRUSHER
STARTS AT 3 P.M.

A woman at the door took our tickets and we walked inside. I sniffed the air. "Mmmm. Popcorn, hotdogs. Over there." I pointed to a lineup for food.

Laura nodded. "I'm hungry too. Let's buy something before we find our seats."

"Well," I said, "Maybe I should try to get Dyanmite's autograph first."

"Oh, that's right." Laura looked back to the food stalls. "But there's a long lineup for hotdogs. I've got an idea. Tim, you see if you can get the autograph. I'll buy the food and meet you at our seats."

"Okay, thanks."

She dashed to the lineup and I headed for a hallway marked "Dressing Rooms." The arena had concrete floors and cement block walls. My runners made flapping echoes along the hallway.

As I passed a door it flew open. Out stepped a huge man in a black mask. It was Kurt Crusher.

He stuck his face down to mine and growled, "Outta the road, punk!"

I tried to move out of his way but we bumped into each other. My forehead bounced off his big, round belly.

"Beat it, kid!" Crusher roared at me. "What's the matter, got no respect for your elders?"

I flattened myself against the wall. The wrestler marched by and muttered, "I should tie your ears in a knot."

He left through the door at the end of the hallway. My heart pounded. Crusher could tie someone like me into a pretzel if he wanted. I almost decided to give up on Dynamite Dan's autograph. Just then, I had another scare.

Someone behind me shouted, "Hey kid! Where do you think you're going?"

A puffing man in a uniform ran up to me. "Only wrestlers are allowed in this part of the building. What do you want?"

"Just an autograph." I ;pulled a note card and pen from my pocket. "Dynamite Dan is my favorite wrestler, and --- ."

"Sorry." The guard waved his hand. "No fans allowed around here."

Suddenly a door nearby opened and a voice boomed out, "It's okay. Bring him here."

The guard blinked and nodded. He took me by the arm through the open door. I was surprised at what I saw inside.

There stood Dynamite Dan, with his huge arm muscles and long blond hair. He wore red trunks, white shoes, and a white headband. He held out his hand to me.

"Always glad to meet a fan," he said. "Step inside for a second."

Wow, I thought. Wait until Laura hears about this!