Post by Selena Frost on Nov 20, 2022 8:17:24 GMT -5
“Turkey-Run!”
The Food Emporium and Amish Kitchen
NYC, NY
November 19th, 2022
1:43pm
Selena’s eyes scanned each aisle like a hawk, viewing every item. She saw meats and chicken breasts, sealed and boxed packages – a cacophony of products and colors, yet none of them fit what she needed. And when her eyes settled on the empty cooler and the ‘Sorry! We currently are out of turkeys! We apologize for the inconvenience!”, she swallowed back the loud curse that threatened to escape her throat.
How the hell was it possible for six stores to be out of turkeys?! There weren’t THAT many people in NYC/Manhattan, were there? Yes, it was Thanksgiving, but come on! It was still five days away! How could there be a shortage?!
Frustrated, the Snow Queen ran her pale hands through her platinum-blonde hair. The last few days had been a bust for her. First, her t-shirt proposal had been despised and she was now sitting near elimination of the World Series of Wrestling’s next cut, but she had also completely forgotten that she had promised to host Thanksgiving this year for her parents in her Manhattan home! And maybe that wouldn’t have been a problem for normal people, but with her wife and her recently becoming the SCW World Tag-team champions, it meant meetings and interviews and promoting the brand, which was what they were supposed to do starting Monday all the way to Wednesday across the various states! By her timing, she and Deanna would make it home in time for Thanksgiving just by the skin of their teeth! And even with Gerda helping them, it would still be close – and impossible if they couldn’t find a damn turkey!
She heard the young woman moving behind her and the “Hmmm…” come from the woman’s lips. “Another no-go?” she said aloud, earning Selena’s attention. Unlike the Snow Queen, who wore blue jeans and a green sweater, along with simple black boots for the snow, Deanna was dressed in a thick brown coat, scarf, and black pants and maroon sweater.
“We don’t have to have a turkey, you know.” Deanna offered.
“Yes, we do.” Selena insisted. “Father and mother are expecting it. And I know the kids want it this year. Elsianna even asked for it!”
“Elsianna also asked if we could make some for her nutcracker doll, Sir Crackshell.” Deanna smirked. “In-between working on a paper on ‘what are you thankful for for thanksgiving?’ her class as to do.”
“Deanna…” Selena tried, shaking her head. “I’ve been screwing up a lot lately. I need to get this right.”
The redhead gave a tilt of her head, crossing her arms. “Is this about the t-shirt thing?”
Ignoring the question, Selena marched around the small grocery store, making her way to the front. The first person she saw was the cashier in the gray sweater with a ‘key-logo’. Ignoring how even THAT shirt could have been better received than hers, the Snow Queen pushed forward. “Excuse me.” She spoke to the middle-aged, dark-skinned man, earning his attention. “I know the sign says you’re out of turkeys, but are there any in the back or are you receiving any in the next few days?”
The older man gave a sad shake of his head. “I’m sorry, ma’am. We’re not sure when we’re getting the next shipment. Orders are backed up due to the more recent outbreaks. Could be tomorrow or Wednesday.”
Clenching her jaw, more upset at herself than this innocent man, Selena nodded her head as she spied Deanna catching up with her from the right. “I see. I’m sorry.” She sighed. “I just… I messed up.” She wasn’t sure why she was spilling her guts out to this guy, but in the moment, it seemed the only thing she could do. “I got so busy in doing something – making a design for this competition – spent hours on it. Cause I’m not a designer… and then they hated it, rejected it and… I stupidly forgot about everything else.”
“Selena…” Deanna’s hands gripped her arm gently. “I should have gone shopping too.”
“No. I made you sit and watch me go through snowflake designs.” Selena sighed. “It was on me. I said my parents could come. I made the promise to the kids and I…”
“Ladies…” the cashier’s deep voice interjected, seeming to take pity on the women. “Look…” he pulled out his cellphone, showing text messages. “My wife’s cousin owns an organic store in New Jersey. And according to her… they’ve got one or two turkeys left.”
Selena’s eyes went wide. “New Jersey?!”
The man nodded. “Organica Natural Foods over in Northvale, I…” he suddenly had to stop as someone in a gray coat shoved his way past Selena and Deanna, immediately heading for the exit.
“That was rude.” Deanna remarked as Selena watched the man climb into a red Ford Explorer before trying to get out of the parking lot.
“You said ‘Northvale’?” She asked, refocused on the glimmer of hope she suddenly had.
“Yes.” The man nodded before jotting down the address and handing it to Selena.
Giving a quick ‘thanks’, the Frost wives rushed out of the store into their Honda Civic, Selena driving quickly out of the parking lot while Deanna punched the address into her phone’s GPS.
“It’s a long shot.” She warned as Selena weaved through traffic.
“Better than no shot.” The older woman sighed, turning onto the Palisades Interstate. “We just need one.”
“Well, I am grateful to that nice man.” Deanna remarked. “Without him, we wouldn’t have a chance and-“
“Oh, look at this guy!” Selena huffed as she spotted a car in the fast lane refusing to leave it but going slower than she was. “Come on…” she sighed. “Some people want to pass…” she added.
“Easy, minx.” Deanna tried. “It won’t be any good if we can’t get there at all and…”
“There we go!” Selena cheered, seeing an opening and pressing her foot on the gas-pedal, travelling fast in the ‘steady’ lane due to a brief gap in the space-between cars. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for her to pull ahead.
Yet, as she passed, she could not help but turn her head at the ‘slower’ vehicle, staring right into the eyes of a familiar looking man with a gray coat… the driver of the red Ford Explorer! And judging from the way the man’s eyes widened, he clearly recognized Selena and Deanna.
“Is that…” Deanna remarked before the red car was suddenly zooming ahead, the driver gunning the gas as hard as he could.
“Shit!” Selena swore. “He’s after the turkey too! He must have heard the cashier!” Without hesitating, the wrestler swerved into the fast lane, tailing the red car!
“Geez! Selena!” Deanna remarked. “It’s not-“
“If you say ‘it’s not worth it’, Deanna…” Selena warned, tightening her hands on the steering-wheel. “I will not be responsible for what I do next behind this wheel!”
When she spotted an opening in the lane beside her, Selena quickly swerved in and hit the gas again, trying to pass. Seeing her coming, however, the man sped forward, keeping himself ahead of her and forcing Selena back into the lane behind him. Another curse escaped the wrestler. “Come on…” she silently begged, looking for any kind of opening. The traffic seemed to lessen on the Palisades, but ‘Gray-Coat’ still hogged the left lane, zooming past other cars with Selena behind him. However, as three cars made the exit off the interstate, Selena’s eyes widened.
With a yell, the Snow Queen thrust her foot down and zoomed into the right lane, zipping ahead of Gray-Coat! “YES!” Selena cried out in success as she passed the red , cutting him off as she turned back onto the left lane. “GET YOUR OWN TURKEY!” she yelled to no-one, but it still felt good!
“Happy now?” Deanna asked, somewhat annoyed.
“Yes.” Selena nodded. “That was our turkey, Deanna. The man gave us the info-“ The pair suddenly lurched forward as the car was rocked from behind. Instinctively, Selena’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to keep her vehicle from swerving!
“What the-“ Deanna asked in alarm, shooting a glance behind her. “Did he just?!”
“He bumped us!” Selena explained in shock. “Because of a damn turkey!”
“Just let him pass!”
Deanna’s words died as she turned her head to see the same red Explorer now driving beside them in the opposite lane. From his window, Gray-Coat checked the car’s occupants before suddenly swerving his car into Selena’s lane – and into Selena’s car!
“OH FU-“ Selena tried to scream out but her voice caught in her throat as the larger red Explorer slammed into her side, pushing her against the guardrail, the sound of metal-scrapping-metal filling the Frosts’ ears and sparks flying from the left side. Desperately, Selena slammed on the brakes to allow the man to drive ahead. With a desperate cry, she then pushed the gas pedal down to keep her Civic from crashing into any cars behind her, her hands shaking as she turned into the steady, right lane and then to the side of the road, pulling over.
“Are you alright?!” she desperately asked, seeing Deanna’s eyes wide as the redhead shouted the exact same thing at the exact same time. The pair sat like that for a minute, hearts hammering in their chests. “I… I can’t believe…” Selena tried. “He could have crashed us…”
“Killed us.” Deanna corrected, causing Selena’s jaw to clench angrily.
Pulling the throttle into drive, Selena pushed the car out of the lane. “Where are you going?” Deanna asked as Selena resumed driving on the interstate.
“Giving that bastard a piece of my mind!” Selena growled, knowing where Gray-Coat was going. “How dare he endanger my wife!”
There was a moment of silence as Deanna gazed down at her phone, her eyes scanning the screen. “I think beating him to that turkey would be better!” she declared, earning Selena’s surprise. “Get going!” she urged.
With a grin, Selena pushed forward on the gas, zipping forward. “Wish this thing was a rocket ship or something.” She remarked. “Then we could catch him, no problem!”
“Turn up here!” Deanna declared, indicating the NY-303 S toward Tappan exit.
“What? But that’s…” Selena tried.
“Trust me!”
Without hesitation, Selena veered into the exit. A second later, she could see the Palisades interstate jammed with cars some yards ahead! A gridlock! The ‘shorter’ way that Selena had thought to go was the slowest… and trapped in the middle was the dented Explorer!
“Deanna! You’re a genius!” Selena whooped, wanting to risk kissing her wife’s cheek but not wanting to lose control of their already banged-up car. Instead, the pair continued to drive, Selena holding her breath as they took the lefts and rights on Livingston Street till they had reached the Organica Foods store.
“Park up front!” Deanna exclaimed. “I’ll park the car.”
Obeying on instinct, Selena pulled into the front of the store and jumped out, Deanna doing so and rushing to the front while Selena rushed inside. Unable to enjoy the décor, smell and music, she quickly rushed down the aisle, scanning everything in the ‘meats’ section… until she spied the old woman holding the turkey – the last turkey on display.
The Snow Queen’s heart sank.
“Oh, dear…” she heard the woman sigh and shake her head. “A fifteen pound turkey? No….” she shook her head again before placing the bird back on the shelf and walking away. “Far too much for me.”
Immediately, Selena’s legs pushed her forward, her hands shaking as she took the heavy bird into her hands. “Not for me…” she whispered lightly, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Maybe it wasn’t an award-winning t-shirt or an extra-dimensional vehicle…
But there wasn’t much in that moment that Selena was more grateful for.
Paying for the turkey, Selena rushed out of the store, her eyes scanning until she spotted her car. With a quick march, she was across the parking lot, holding the turkey up proudly to Deanna, who still sat in the driver’s seat.
“Deanna…” she exclaimed, holding the turkey. “I got-“
CH-CH! The sound echoed in Selena’s ears, causing her to turn around to stare right into the fuming eyes of Gray-Coat, the man standing in front of Selena and holding a small gun at her.
“Give me the turkey!” He ordered.
“How- are you insane?!” Selena asked, her eyes wide.
“I’m not going back to my wife or in-laws empty-handed! I’ll never hear the end of it!”
“Okay, you are insane.” Selena shuddered but began to hand the turkey over to the gunner. And just as his hand grazed the bird’s leg-
“FREEZE!” came the screaming armed security guard. Distracted, Gray-Coat jerked his head towards the guard, giving Selena time to swing the frozen, 15-pound turkey directly into his head! Stunned, Gray-Coat fell onto the ground, his gun going off and popping the closest tire of Selena’s car, a loud ‘HISSSS’ sounding. Immediately, the guard was on him, disarming/cuffing him.
“Thank you.” Selena breathed as the guard took the madman away. She could barely turn around before the driver’s door opened and her wife rushed into her, throwing her arms around Selena to hold her tight.
“I’m okay.” Selena whispered before showing Deanna the turkey. “Least now you’ve got a story for Elsianna’s paper. Can we at least be thankful for that?”
“That and…” Deanna eyed their busted car with the totaled bumper, flat tire and mangled side. “Uber, I suppose.”
“Yeah.” Selena nodded as Deanna used her phone to get them a ride back home to Manhattan, the Snow Queen keeping their Thanksgiving-turkey tight in her arms. “But I think a new car wouldn’t be asking for too much either.”
********************************************************
The video opens to reveal a smiling Selena Frost, dressed in a magenta sweater and blue jeans, her platinum-blonde hair in its iconic braid.
“So…what am I grateful for and why do I deserve that incredible Axtgriff vehicle?” she smiles a little at the pair of questions.
“I’ll start with the first question because it leads to the second. Now, it would be easy to thank the World Series of Wrestling or the fans or family or friends… and yes, they are all deserving of thanks and much more! But seeing as how I only have a short amount of time to talk in this episode for the TV-show… I need to show you what I am most thankful for…”
With a gesture of her hand, Selena reveals an old 1993 19" Sony KV-19TS20 television, worn down and a little dusty in the corners.
“Everyone can pinpoint a time where their life stood at cross-roads. Where a choice suddenly came to them, or something came along that could not only change a thing or two but change their entire lives forever! For years…” she pats the TV, “This thing sat on top of a wooden box, showing sports shows and whatever in Liam’s Bar and Grill, a place where I worked, in Nome, Alaska. A place I thought I would be working for the rest of my miserable life. It only had three channels. KAUU Channel 5, 2 NBC, and Fox-Sports. Liam kept it on Fox, obviously. And for years, I just ignored it or maybe caught a glimpse of a game or two.”
She shakes her head, her hand still on the TV. With a slight slam, she hits her fist on it, the television immediately springing to life to play an old-looking commercial of wrestlers inside a ring…
“But one day, working the night shift… there it was on the screen. A promotion for Supreme Championship Wrestling. An open invitation to join and make some good money… change your life. An invitation I took.”
“I sometimes wonder what would happen if I had called in sick for that shift or been serving another customer on the other side of the room and missed the commercial. Or if I had seen it later and not cared about it. Or if this television had broken down in its 23-year existence at the time… Because I don’t think I would be a world-champion-wrestler if any of that had happened. I don’t think I would have been able to travel the world, make a living, meet my wife, raise a family… any of it without seeing that commercial on this television.”
“The whole thing was like one big domino effect. And this…” she gestures to the TV. “Was the first one. Without it? The others couldn’t fall. And all the good and bad that’s come with it. From this amazing series of events trying to showcase SCW to the world? To being slammed for a t-shirt design? I wouldn’t change it for the world. I wouldn’t. Because I love this life I have. I’m thankful for it. All of it. Every morning I can wake up next to my wife? Can play with my children? Can wrestle some of the best wrestlers in the world? See the world like South Africa, England, Japan? All began with this television set.”
Moving around, Selena sits on the side of the large television. “So, why would I need some amazing car of interdimensional speed and ability? Aside from the fact that it’s blue and that’s my favorite color? In a word…”
Her sapphire eyes narrow. “Motherhood.”
Again, she slams her fist on the television and the screen shifts and sputters a little in its old age before showing a young boy skating on an ice-rink, followed by a little girl trying to play piano, followed by an older girl performing on a stage, followed by Deanna and Selena wrestling in the ring, Selena’s voice is heard over all of them.
“David has hockey every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Amiliah has piano lessons. Elsianna is working on another play and wants to also learn French. Three children, all in school, all growing and reaching new milestones every day.”
Selena nods her head. “That’s right. Most people on this show want to talk about ‘hardships’ and ‘pains’? You’ve got to make a wrestling show in two different places? My kid’s got a dentist appointment tomorrow morning and my youngest daughter has a cold and needs her mommy to give hugs and make chicken-noodle soup. Who wants to play, bitches?!”
“Because I don’t just owe my wrestling career to this TV. I owe my family-life to this TV. And that’s something you don’t miss on these TV shows. You can skip the action sequences sometimes and you can TiVo or DVR the sex scenes if you need to. But the heartfelt moments? The moments that define your life? Your kid’s first day at school? They’re first crush? Learning to drive a car… I don’t want to miss that while Deanna and I am trying to be the greatest wrestler in the world. I don’t want to miss that while I’m making history in SCW and even in this series of events in some ways! Cause what’s the point of it all if I do? What’s the point in being great as a wrestler if you’re still as alone as you were back in Nome? What’s the point in finding a family if you can’t be with them when they need you or want you? If you can’t share their lives?! What’s the point in being thankful for what you have when you’re letting it pass you by one day at a time?”
Selena shakes her head.
“No. That isn’t for me. I want to be thankful for what I have but I also don’t want to waste what I have. I want to treasure this life that this television started me on! Zero regrets! So if you tell me I can win a vehicle to let me do that? To be there for when they go to bed and then on TV for SCW to be the greatest wrestler in the world? Hell yes I am going to fight like hell to get it! And I’d like to see anyone try and stop me!”
Calming herself a little, a knowing smile breaks across Selena’s features. “Because I keep my promises. To my children to be in their lives. To SCW to do them proud in this series of events… and to one particular judge and boss of sauce that dared me to have more ‘heat’ and ‘fire’ in my work… well…”
Lifting up her fingers, Selena snaps them. Immediately, the television begins to show a firework show on its screen before it begins to heat up, suddenly bursting into flames as it finally reaches its end, though the fireworks continue to play until the end.
“Happy Thanksgiving, WSOW!” Selena smiles. “Don’t overcook your turkeys.” She gives a wink before walking off-camera, the camera focusing on the fire/firework show of the television before fading to black.
The Food Emporium and Amish Kitchen
NYC, NY
November 19th, 2022
1:43pm
Selena’s eyes scanned each aisle like a hawk, viewing every item. She saw meats and chicken breasts, sealed and boxed packages – a cacophony of products and colors, yet none of them fit what she needed. And when her eyes settled on the empty cooler and the ‘Sorry! We currently are out of turkeys! We apologize for the inconvenience!”, she swallowed back the loud curse that threatened to escape her throat.
How the hell was it possible for six stores to be out of turkeys?! There weren’t THAT many people in NYC/Manhattan, were there? Yes, it was Thanksgiving, but come on! It was still five days away! How could there be a shortage?!
Frustrated, the Snow Queen ran her pale hands through her platinum-blonde hair. The last few days had been a bust for her. First, her t-shirt proposal had been despised and she was now sitting near elimination of the World Series of Wrestling’s next cut, but she had also completely forgotten that she had promised to host Thanksgiving this year for her parents in her Manhattan home! And maybe that wouldn’t have been a problem for normal people, but with her wife and her recently becoming the SCW World Tag-team champions, it meant meetings and interviews and promoting the brand, which was what they were supposed to do starting Monday all the way to Wednesday across the various states! By her timing, she and Deanna would make it home in time for Thanksgiving just by the skin of their teeth! And even with Gerda helping them, it would still be close – and impossible if they couldn’t find a damn turkey!
She heard the young woman moving behind her and the “Hmmm…” come from the woman’s lips. “Another no-go?” she said aloud, earning Selena’s attention. Unlike the Snow Queen, who wore blue jeans and a green sweater, along with simple black boots for the snow, Deanna was dressed in a thick brown coat, scarf, and black pants and maroon sweater.
“We don’t have to have a turkey, you know.” Deanna offered.
“Yes, we do.” Selena insisted. “Father and mother are expecting it. And I know the kids want it this year. Elsianna even asked for it!”
“Elsianna also asked if we could make some for her nutcracker doll, Sir Crackshell.” Deanna smirked. “In-between working on a paper on ‘what are you thankful for for thanksgiving?’ her class as to do.”
“Deanna…” Selena tried, shaking her head. “I’ve been screwing up a lot lately. I need to get this right.”
The redhead gave a tilt of her head, crossing her arms. “Is this about the t-shirt thing?”
Ignoring the question, Selena marched around the small grocery store, making her way to the front. The first person she saw was the cashier in the gray sweater with a ‘key-logo’. Ignoring how even THAT shirt could have been better received than hers, the Snow Queen pushed forward. “Excuse me.” She spoke to the middle-aged, dark-skinned man, earning his attention. “I know the sign says you’re out of turkeys, but are there any in the back or are you receiving any in the next few days?”
The older man gave a sad shake of his head. “I’m sorry, ma’am. We’re not sure when we’re getting the next shipment. Orders are backed up due to the more recent outbreaks. Could be tomorrow or Wednesday.”
Clenching her jaw, more upset at herself than this innocent man, Selena nodded her head as she spied Deanna catching up with her from the right. “I see. I’m sorry.” She sighed. “I just… I messed up.” She wasn’t sure why she was spilling her guts out to this guy, but in the moment, it seemed the only thing she could do. “I got so busy in doing something – making a design for this competition – spent hours on it. Cause I’m not a designer… and then they hated it, rejected it and… I stupidly forgot about everything else.”
“Selena…” Deanna’s hands gripped her arm gently. “I should have gone shopping too.”
“No. I made you sit and watch me go through snowflake designs.” Selena sighed. “It was on me. I said my parents could come. I made the promise to the kids and I…”
“Ladies…” the cashier’s deep voice interjected, seeming to take pity on the women. “Look…” he pulled out his cellphone, showing text messages. “My wife’s cousin owns an organic store in New Jersey. And according to her… they’ve got one or two turkeys left.”
Selena’s eyes went wide. “New Jersey?!”
The man nodded. “Organica Natural Foods over in Northvale, I…” he suddenly had to stop as someone in a gray coat shoved his way past Selena and Deanna, immediately heading for the exit.
“That was rude.” Deanna remarked as Selena watched the man climb into a red Ford Explorer before trying to get out of the parking lot.
“You said ‘Northvale’?” She asked, refocused on the glimmer of hope she suddenly had.
“Yes.” The man nodded before jotting down the address and handing it to Selena.
Giving a quick ‘thanks’, the Frost wives rushed out of the store into their Honda Civic, Selena driving quickly out of the parking lot while Deanna punched the address into her phone’s GPS.
“It’s a long shot.” She warned as Selena weaved through traffic.
“Better than no shot.” The older woman sighed, turning onto the Palisades Interstate. “We just need one.”
“Well, I am grateful to that nice man.” Deanna remarked. “Without him, we wouldn’t have a chance and-“
“Oh, look at this guy!” Selena huffed as she spotted a car in the fast lane refusing to leave it but going slower than she was. “Come on…” she sighed. “Some people want to pass…” she added.
“Easy, minx.” Deanna tried. “It won’t be any good if we can’t get there at all and…”
“There we go!” Selena cheered, seeing an opening and pressing her foot on the gas-pedal, travelling fast in the ‘steady’ lane due to a brief gap in the space-between cars. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for her to pull ahead.
Yet, as she passed, she could not help but turn her head at the ‘slower’ vehicle, staring right into the eyes of a familiar looking man with a gray coat… the driver of the red Ford Explorer! And judging from the way the man’s eyes widened, he clearly recognized Selena and Deanna.
“Is that…” Deanna remarked before the red car was suddenly zooming ahead, the driver gunning the gas as hard as he could.
“Shit!” Selena swore. “He’s after the turkey too! He must have heard the cashier!” Without hesitating, the wrestler swerved into the fast lane, tailing the red car!
“Geez! Selena!” Deanna remarked. “It’s not-“
“If you say ‘it’s not worth it’, Deanna…” Selena warned, tightening her hands on the steering-wheel. “I will not be responsible for what I do next behind this wheel!”
When she spotted an opening in the lane beside her, Selena quickly swerved in and hit the gas again, trying to pass. Seeing her coming, however, the man sped forward, keeping himself ahead of her and forcing Selena back into the lane behind him. Another curse escaped the wrestler. “Come on…” she silently begged, looking for any kind of opening. The traffic seemed to lessen on the Palisades, but ‘Gray-Coat’ still hogged the left lane, zooming past other cars with Selena behind him. However, as three cars made the exit off the interstate, Selena’s eyes widened.
With a yell, the Snow Queen thrust her foot down and zoomed into the right lane, zipping ahead of Gray-Coat! “YES!” Selena cried out in success as she passed the red , cutting him off as she turned back onto the left lane. “GET YOUR OWN TURKEY!” she yelled to no-one, but it still felt good!
“Happy now?” Deanna asked, somewhat annoyed.
“Yes.” Selena nodded. “That was our turkey, Deanna. The man gave us the info-“ The pair suddenly lurched forward as the car was rocked from behind. Instinctively, Selena’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to keep her vehicle from swerving!
“What the-“ Deanna asked in alarm, shooting a glance behind her. “Did he just?!”
“He bumped us!” Selena explained in shock. “Because of a damn turkey!”
“Just let him pass!”
Deanna’s words died as she turned her head to see the same red Explorer now driving beside them in the opposite lane. From his window, Gray-Coat checked the car’s occupants before suddenly swerving his car into Selena’s lane – and into Selena’s car!
“OH FU-“ Selena tried to scream out but her voice caught in her throat as the larger red Explorer slammed into her side, pushing her against the guardrail, the sound of metal-scrapping-metal filling the Frosts’ ears and sparks flying from the left side. Desperately, Selena slammed on the brakes to allow the man to drive ahead. With a desperate cry, she then pushed the gas pedal down to keep her Civic from crashing into any cars behind her, her hands shaking as she turned into the steady, right lane and then to the side of the road, pulling over.
“Are you alright?!” she desperately asked, seeing Deanna’s eyes wide as the redhead shouted the exact same thing at the exact same time. The pair sat like that for a minute, hearts hammering in their chests. “I… I can’t believe…” Selena tried. “He could have crashed us…”
“Killed us.” Deanna corrected, causing Selena’s jaw to clench angrily.
Pulling the throttle into drive, Selena pushed the car out of the lane. “Where are you going?” Deanna asked as Selena resumed driving on the interstate.
“Giving that bastard a piece of my mind!” Selena growled, knowing where Gray-Coat was going. “How dare he endanger my wife!”
There was a moment of silence as Deanna gazed down at her phone, her eyes scanning the screen. “I think beating him to that turkey would be better!” she declared, earning Selena’s surprise. “Get going!” she urged.
With a grin, Selena pushed forward on the gas, zipping forward. “Wish this thing was a rocket ship or something.” She remarked. “Then we could catch him, no problem!”
“Turn up here!” Deanna declared, indicating the NY-303 S toward Tappan exit.
“What? But that’s…” Selena tried.
“Trust me!”
Without hesitation, Selena veered into the exit. A second later, she could see the Palisades interstate jammed with cars some yards ahead! A gridlock! The ‘shorter’ way that Selena had thought to go was the slowest… and trapped in the middle was the dented Explorer!
“Deanna! You’re a genius!” Selena whooped, wanting to risk kissing her wife’s cheek but not wanting to lose control of their already banged-up car. Instead, the pair continued to drive, Selena holding her breath as they took the lefts and rights on Livingston Street till they had reached the Organica Foods store.
“Park up front!” Deanna exclaimed. “I’ll park the car.”
Obeying on instinct, Selena pulled into the front of the store and jumped out, Deanna doing so and rushing to the front while Selena rushed inside. Unable to enjoy the décor, smell and music, she quickly rushed down the aisle, scanning everything in the ‘meats’ section… until she spied the old woman holding the turkey – the last turkey on display.
The Snow Queen’s heart sank.
“Oh, dear…” she heard the woman sigh and shake her head. “A fifteen pound turkey? No….” she shook her head again before placing the bird back on the shelf and walking away. “Far too much for me.”
Immediately, Selena’s legs pushed her forward, her hands shaking as she took the heavy bird into her hands. “Not for me…” she whispered lightly, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Maybe it wasn’t an award-winning t-shirt or an extra-dimensional vehicle…
But there wasn’t much in that moment that Selena was more grateful for.
Paying for the turkey, Selena rushed out of the store, her eyes scanning until she spotted her car. With a quick march, she was across the parking lot, holding the turkey up proudly to Deanna, who still sat in the driver’s seat.
“Deanna…” she exclaimed, holding the turkey. “I got-“
CH-CH! The sound echoed in Selena’s ears, causing her to turn around to stare right into the fuming eyes of Gray-Coat, the man standing in front of Selena and holding a small gun at her.
“Give me the turkey!” He ordered.
“How- are you insane?!” Selena asked, her eyes wide.
“I’m not going back to my wife or in-laws empty-handed! I’ll never hear the end of it!”
“Okay, you are insane.” Selena shuddered but began to hand the turkey over to the gunner. And just as his hand grazed the bird’s leg-
“FREEZE!” came the screaming armed security guard. Distracted, Gray-Coat jerked his head towards the guard, giving Selena time to swing the frozen, 15-pound turkey directly into his head! Stunned, Gray-Coat fell onto the ground, his gun going off and popping the closest tire of Selena’s car, a loud ‘HISSSS’ sounding. Immediately, the guard was on him, disarming/cuffing him.
“Thank you.” Selena breathed as the guard took the madman away. She could barely turn around before the driver’s door opened and her wife rushed into her, throwing her arms around Selena to hold her tight.
“I’m okay.” Selena whispered before showing Deanna the turkey. “Least now you’ve got a story for Elsianna’s paper. Can we at least be thankful for that?”
“That and…” Deanna eyed their busted car with the totaled bumper, flat tire and mangled side. “Uber, I suppose.”
“Yeah.” Selena nodded as Deanna used her phone to get them a ride back home to Manhattan, the Snow Queen keeping their Thanksgiving-turkey tight in her arms. “But I think a new car wouldn’t be asking for too much either.”
********************************************************
The video opens to reveal a smiling Selena Frost, dressed in a magenta sweater and blue jeans, her platinum-blonde hair in its iconic braid.
“So…what am I grateful for and why do I deserve that incredible Axtgriff vehicle?” she smiles a little at the pair of questions.
“I’ll start with the first question because it leads to the second. Now, it would be easy to thank the World Series of Wrestling or the fans or family or friends… and yes, they are all deserving of thanks and much more! But seeing as how I only have a short amount of time to talk in this episode for the TV-show… I need to show you what I am most thankful for…”
With a gesture of her hand, Selena reveals an old 1993 19" Sony KV-19TS20 television, worn down and a little dusty in the corners.
“Everyone can pinpoint a time where their life stood at cross-roads. Where a choice suddenly came to them, or something came along that could not only change a thing or two but change their entire lives forever! For years…” she pats the TV, “This thing sat on top of a wooden box, showing sports shows and whatever in Liam’s Bar and Grill, a place where I worked, in Nome, Alaska. A place I thought I would be working for the rest of my miserable life. It only had three channels. KAUU Channel 5, 2 NBC, and Fox-Sports. Liam kept it on Fox, obviously. And for years, I just ignored it or maybe caught a glimpse of a game or two.”
She shakes her head, her hand still on the TV. With a slight slam, she hits her fist on it, the television immediately springing to life to play an old-looking commercial of wrestlers inside a ring…
“But one day, working the night shift… there it was on the screen. A promotion for Supreme Championship Wrestling. An open invitation to join and make some good money… change your life. An invitation I took.”
“I sometimes wonder what would happen if I had called in sick for that shift or been serving another customer on the other side of the room and missed the commercial. Or if I had seen it later and not cared about it. Or if this television had broken down in its 23-year existence at the time… Because I don’t think I would be a world-champion-wrestler if any of that had happened. I don’t think I would have been able to travel the world, make a living, meet my wife, raise a family… any of it without seeing that commercial on this television.”
“The whole thing was like one big domino effect. And this…” she gestures to the TV. “Was the first one. Without it? The others couldn’t fall. And all the good and bad that’s come with it. From this amazing series of events trying to showcase SCW to the world? To being slammed for a t-shirt design? I wouldn’t change it for the world. I wouldn’t. Because I love this life I have. I’m thankful for it. All of it. Every morning I can wake up next to my wife? Can play with my children? Can wrestle some of the best wrestlers in the world? See the world like South Africa, England, Japan? All began with this television set.”
Moving around, Selena sits on the side of the large television. “So, why would I need some amazing car of interdimensional speed and ability? Aside from the fact that it’s blue and that’s my favorite color? In a word…”
Her sapphire eyes narrow. “Motherhood.”
Again, she slams her fist on the television and the screen shifts and sputters a little in its old age before showing a young boy skating on an ice-rink, followed by a little girl trying to play piano, followed by an older girl performing on a stage, followed by Deanna and Selena wrestling in the ring, Selena’s voice is heard over all of them.
“David has hockey every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Amiliah has piano lessons. Elsianna is working on another play and wants to also learn French. Three children, all in school, all growing and reaching new milestones every day.”
Selena nods her head. “That’s right. Most people on this show want to talk about ‘hardships’ and ‘pains’? You’ve got to make a wrestling show in two different places? My kid’s got a dentist appointment tomorrow morning and my youngest daughter has a cold and needs her mommy to give hugs and make chicken-noodle soup. Who wants to play, bitches?!”
“Because I don’t just owe my wrestling career to this TV. I owe my family-life to this TV. And that’s something you don’t miss on these TV shows. You can skip the action sequences sometimes and you can TiVo or DVR the sex scenes if you need to. But the heartfelt moments? The moments that define your life? Your kid’s first day at school? They’re first crush? Learning to drive a car… I don’t want to miss that while Deanna and I am trying to be the greatest wrestler in the world. I don’t want to miss that while I’m making history in SCW and even in this series of events in some ways! Cause what’s the point of it all if I do? What’s the point in being great as a wrestler if you’re still as alone as you were back in Nome? What’s the point in finding a family if you can’t be with them when they need you or want you? If you can’t share their lives?! What’s the point in being thankful for what you have when you’re letting it pass you by one day at a time?”
Selena shakes her head.
“No. That isn’t for me. I want to be thankful for what I have but I also don’t want to waste what I have. I want to treasure this life that this television started me on! Zero regrets! So if you tell me I can win a vehicle to let me do that? To be there for when they go to bed and then on TV for SCW to be the greatest wrestler in the world? Hell yes I am going to fight like hell to get it! And I’d like to see anyone try and stop me!”
Calming herself a little, a knowing smile breaks across Selena’s features. “Because I keep my promises. To my children to be in their lives. To SCW to do them proud in this series of events… and to one particular judge and boss of sauce that dared me to have more ‘heat’ and ‘fire’ in my work… well…”
Lifting up her fingers, Selena snaps them. Immediately, the television begins to show a firework show on its screen before it begins to heat up, suddenly bursting into flames as it finally reaches its end, though the fireworks continue to play until the end.
“Happy Thanksgiving, WSOW!” Selena smiles. “Don’t overcook your turkeys.” She gives a wink before walking off-camera, the camera focusing on the fire/firework show of the television before fading to black.