Chapter 1 – A Fresh Start for Ernie Munger
Ernie Munger opened the door to the bar and walked in. He looked fresh and dapper in a white shirt and navy blue jeans. The bath at the motel had done him good. He sat on a stool and ordered a whiskey soda. The bar was empty and the bartender looked like he wanted to go to bed. But Ernie loved small town American bars like the one he had just walked into. He had been inside many. It was a pleasure afforded by his job as a travelling manager of female wrestlers.
Ernie took a sip of his whiskey and smiled at the bartender who looked like he didn’t want to talk much. After finishing his drink, Ernie walked out to his car, a 64 Ford Mustang. It was a beautiful evening and there was a cool breeze as he walked across the parking lot. There weren’t too many cars on the highway and it was quiet as he smelled the evening air. He looked at the bright red neon sign at the entry to the parking lot and felt good.
It had been tough the last few years. The internet and all the free downloading had ruined the female wrestling video industry. It had affected people like him. He made a living off setting up matches for his prot?g?s with video producers. But many female wrestlers, especially the younger ones, had given up their wrestling careers and entered the porn industry in recent times. But Ernie’s heart lay in the wrestling video business. He wasn’t ready to give up. Afterall he had been in the business managing wrestlers for nearly thirty years. He had leads with two older wrestlers. It was a new start. He felt like he could make things happen. He was a man of good taste.
Inside the car, Ernie opened the dashboard and removed two envelopes. He opened the first envelope and took out some photographs. The photographs were of a 40 year old wrestler who went by the name of Joan Russell. She was in the nude. Ernie liked her – medium height, just the right amount of muscularity, flat abs and quite buxomly with the hard tits not the saggy boobs. The photographs were said to be quite recent. Ernie had tracked down some of her older videos, mostly amateur apartment wrestling stuff. The woman looked good, she was fit and agile. And she didn’t mind doing the erotic stuff which is where the money was. The only trouble was that Joan Russell was presently in jail on an arson charge. The details were sketchy. But Ernie had paid the money to bail her out. He was going to pick her up now.
Ernie put the photographs back in and opened the second envelope. The second envelope had another set of nude photographs. These photographs were of a 39 year old woman named Eileen Brennan. She was another amateur wrestler who was mostly active in the East coast. She also didn’t mind doing the erotic stuff. Ernie thought the two of them would make a nice pair. Like Joan, Eileen also had a nice taut body. Just the right amount of flesh and not overtly well toned. Nice legs which looked like they received regular workouts. What’s more, Joan and Eileen were about the same height. The photographs were in black and white so Ernie couldn’t really say what their skin tones were like. But hell, you couldn’t get everything right. Ernie wondered if the two women would hit it off. It would be great if they got attracted to each other. A lot of these female wrestlers were lesbians. Ernie knew because he had managed many of them. He felt excited by the prospect of travelling across the country with these two beautiful women. He put the photographs back into the envelopes and the two envelopes into the dashboard. He started the car. He was off to pick Joan Russell from jail. Eileen Brennan would arrive later by bus.
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Chapter 2 – Joan
The guard at the electronic gates checked Ernie’s papers and then placed a call to somebody inside the enormous building that was the penitentiary. He told Ernie that Joan Russell would come out in ten minutes and that he could have a coke from the machine in his office. Ernie accepted the offer.
He leaned against his car, leisurely sipping the coke. It was a windy evening and the yew trees branches swung in the air. The air smelled of dew. It did seem like it was going to rain. Then he heard the electronic gates open.
Ernie could only see her in the dark. She carried a small bag as she walked out of the gate. She paused for a moment on the footpath and looked towards the right and then towards the left like a little girl who was crossing a road for the first time. Then she saw him and began to walk towards him. Ernie threw the coke bottle onto the grass near the footpath. Ernie thought she looked quite confident as she walked towards him. He still couldn’t see her face.
Joan: Are you the person who bailed me out?
Ernie: Yes, young lady. That’s me. Ernie Munger. Pleasure to meet ya.
Joan: It’s a pleasure.
She had a beautiful face with clear skin and a perfect oval shape. One tends to ignore the face and focus on the body when you’re in the wrestling business. But she did look worn out and jaded, there were hints of dark circles around her eyes. Her blonde hair was unkempt. She wore a yellow round neck t-shirt and blue jeans that didn’t look like it was washed anytime recently.
Ernie opened the door for his new prot?g? and they drove away.
Ernie: We’re going to pick up another young lady at the bus depot. She’s gonna be travellin with us. You two are gonna be a team. Her name is Eileen. You hungry?
Joan: Just a little. But I can wait.
Ernie: We’ll have dinner together. If you want a drink, there is a bottle of whiskey under you seat.
Joan smiled and her face turned pink. There was a hint of sadness in her face as if it was too much for her to smile. She felt around under her seat and took out the bottle of whiskey and looked at Ernie as if she was looking for a glass.
Ernie: Straight from the bottle, young lady. That’s how we do it on the road.
Joan took a hit from the bottle. She heaved a little as if in relief.
Ernie: Drink as much as you like. How long you been in jail now?
Joan: Would have been six months a week from now.
Ernie: Was it OK? I know it’s a dumb question. But did you do allright in there? I mean, was it tough?
Joan didn’t say a word for a few seconds that seemed to Ernie like minutes. Then she spoke.
Joan: It was tough.
Ernie: Was it your first time inside?
Joan looked hurt as if he had thrown a stone at her face.
Ernie: I didn’t mean it that way, young lady. I was just askin. You see we’re gonna be on the road together travelin to different places. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. Just treat me like your friend.
Joan didn’t say anything but just looked silently out at the road.
Joan: Do I look like I’m a regular in jail?
Ernie: Now now, young lady. No need to get angry with me. I was just askin you know.
Joan: It was my first time. And I intend to make it the last.
Ernie: I’m sure. I’m gonna put you to work. I have some nice gigs lined up for you and this Eileen who we’re gonna pick up now. Just you wait and see.
Joan: How long have you been managing wrestlers?
Ernie: All my life. Since I was twenty, that’s more than thirty years now. I’m proud to say that it’s the one and only job that I’ve worked my whole life.
That brought a smile on her face. She sounded posh like she had been to school. She was definitely no trailer trash.
Joan: You been working locally?
Ernie: Nah! I’ve worked all over the world, but mostly the US and Eastern Europe. California Wildcats, DWW, HPC, TPC, Catfight Corner – my girls have worked for them all. I’ve worked with every major producer in the business.
Joan: Yeah? What’s business like now?
Ernie: It’s tough. What with the fuckin internet and all. It’s fucked everyone up. All those assholes on the internet sharing and downloadin our videos for free. Its fuckin criminal. A real pain in the ass for the whole business. No respect for our hard work. Excuse my language, young lady. But don’t you worry about anythin. I’m gonna set you up.
Joan smiled at him. It was a genuine smile. She took another hit from the whiskey bottle. Ernie could tell that she already trusted him. He had a way with these wrestling women. Which is why he never got married and settled down like ordinary men.
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Chapter 3 – Eileen
The bus depot was empty. Ernie parked the car a fair way away from where the buses normally stopped. The bus that would bring Eileen Brennan was scheduled to arrive in ten minutes.
Joan: Where are we exactly? I mean what part of town?
Ernie: We are in Marfa, young lady. It’s a little town in West Texas. We’ve driven fifty kilometers from where you were arraigned. This is where they shot Giant with Liz Taylor and James Dean.
Joan: Ok.
She was silent again. Joan hadn’t talked much on the drive to the bus depot. Ernie had done most of the talking. Nearly half the bottle of whiskey was gone. Joan continued to look forlornly into space.
The bus arrived in the distance. A figure got out and the bus was on its way again. The figure paused for a moment and then registered Ernie’s car. Ernie blinked his lights. The figure ran towards the car in a slow jog. The figure had a medium sized bag in her hand. As the figure came closer, Ernie saw that Eileen was wearing a tight blouse and shorts. Ernie took a peek at the well toned legs and thighs before stepping out to greet her. Eileen hugged Ernie. Ernie hugged back. Joan had slowly got out on the other side of the car. Eileen walked towards Joan and hugged her tight. Eileen had a fleshy and round face with dimples on her cheeks when she smiled. Her blonde hair was pinned tightly back in a ponytail.
Eileen: Is that whiskey I smell on your breath?
Joan: Yes, I’ve been drinking. A little.
Joan looked shy.
Eileen: Hell, I could use some of it. It’s been a long journey you know.
Ernie: Both you ladies are gonna be drinking a lot as long as I’m your manager, I can tell you that. Now why don’t we get into the car? It’s gettin late, lets get us a bite to eat and discuss some business.
Eileen: Hell, sure. I’m famished. Where we goin?
Ernie: Well, Marfa ain’t the most happenin place on earth, young lady. But I know a place where they serve some humongous sumptuous beef steaks. That and beer.
Eileen: Well, what we waitin for?
They all got into the car. Eileen was one talkative lady. Ernie liked this because Joan was not a big talker. Opposites usually attract. He drove silently letting the ladies talk and get acquainted, interrupting occasionally.
Eileen: Well, its nice to be with y’all. I hope we make a nice team. How long you been in this business, Joan?
Joan: Twenty years now. How about yourself?
Eileen: About the same. It’s the only job I ever did in my life.
Ernie: Ha! And I say this is the best job on earth. Fuck all those assholes who work nine to five. They’re all gonna be replaced by robots in a few years time.
Eileen: Hell, I love this job. Wrasslin and travellin around. You like it Joan?
Joan: Its allright. It does get to you after a while. I mean, when you do something for twenty years, it does get to you. You know what I mean?
Eileen: Yeah I know what you mean. But you know what I say? No job is easy. And hell, it’s better than workin nine to five.
Joan: I guess so. I did work as a secretary for a while. But it wasn’t for me. So I went back to being a wrestler.
Eileen: Hell, that’s what I’m talking about! It’s the best job on earth. Keeps you fit. We were meant to be warriors not sit in front of computers.
Joan: I guess you do have a point.
Eileen: I’ve seen your videos.
Joan: I’ve seen yours too.
There was a short silence. Ernie had not wondered about the prospects of these two women being aware of each other. They seemed to be seizing each other up.
Eileen: You mean you’ve seen me before?
Joan: I recognized you the moment I saw you. You’ve done some stuff that’s really a bit out there.
Ernie thought he heard Eileen gulp in the backseat.
Eileen: Hell, I recognized you too. You’re no Winnie the pooh yourself, if I may say so.
Joan turned around.
Joan: What do you mean?
Eileen: I mean some of that amateur home video stuff that you did. My, you really let yourself go in some of them.
Joan: Well, that’s what I would say about you as well. The videos that I have watched with you in them, you didn’t seem to be acting or anything.
Ernie: Which videos are we talking about here? I must admit I haven’t seen that many videos starring the two of you. I hired you both based purely on the photographs that I was shown.
Eileen: I was talkin about the videos that Joan did with a producer called The Cowboy. My, you do have a reputation Joan.
Joan: Well, I have heard a lot about you as well, since we’re discussing reputations.
Eileen: Ya know, I’ve always wondered why nobody cast the two of us together in a video.
Joan: Well, its never too late I guess.
Ernie: Well, young ladies, that’s what I’m here for. Uncle Ernie is going to make all your fantasies come true.
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