Body Slammed! by Ray Villareal Page B

asked.
    Goose slurped the last of his milk. “Come on, Jesse. We talked about it. I’m having a Halloween party at my house Saturday night. Everybody’s gonna be there. Bucky’s even bringing Shrek along.”
    â€œMan, stop calling Melissa Dugan Shrek,” Bucky griped.
    â€œSorry, Goose,” Jesse said. “I can’t make it.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œTJ’s already invited me to a party at his apartment clubhouse Saturday night.”
    Goose rolled his eyes. “So you’re telling me you’d rather go to The Jobber’s party than mine?”
    Jesse stood and grabbed his lunch tray. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m telling you. Later, guys.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
    A fter Spanish class, Jesse rushed out of the building. TJ was waiting for him in front of the school.
    â€œBefore we go to the gym, we need to make a stop at the store,” TJ said. “Have you got any money on you?”
    Jesse checked his w allet. “Thirty-two bucks. Why?”
    â€œâ€™Cause I’m gonna help you buy everything you’ll need to build your muscles.”
    TJ drove to the Rivercenter Mall. The place was busier than Jesse had expected for a Wednesday afternoon. He figured that most of the shoppers were tourists who were going inside the mall after having visited the Alamo or taken a stroll down the Riverwalk. Jesse and TJ walked past department stores, kiosks and souvenir shops. When they neared the food court, an old woman sitting at a table with her husband flagged them down.
    â€œExcuse me, young man,” she said to TJ. “Don’t you wrestle on Monday Night Mayhem ?”
    TJ smiled. “Yes, ma’am, I do. I’m TJ Masters.”
    The old woman elbowed her husband. “See, Hutch? I told you it was him.”
    The man bobbed his head with his mouth open, but he didn’t say anything.
    â€œI’ve seen you on TV,” the woman said. “It’s too bad you don’t win very much,” she added with concern.
    TJ winked at Jesse. “I know, ma’am. They put me up against some real mean wrestlers. But I’ll do my best to win next week.” TJ was speaking in kayfabe, pretending that pro wrestling is real. “This is Jesse Baron,” TJ told the couple. “His father is Mark Baron, the Angel of Death.”
    â€œOh, dear,” the woman said. “I hope you’re not anything like your father. I don’t know why he wears that ugly make-up and those awful clothes. I’m sorry, young man, but the Angel of Death just gives me the willies.”
    â€œHe sure is scary, isn’t he, ma’am?” TJ said. “But don’t you worry. Jesse’s not anything like his father.” He winked at Jesse again.
    The woman handed TJ a napkin. “Could I please have your autograph, Mr. Masters?”
    â€œYou bet. Have you got a pen?”
    The woman pulled a pen from her husband’s shirt pocket. The man didn’t react. He just kept bobbing his head.
    TJ leaned on the table and autographed the napkin.
    â€œYou sign it, too,” the woman told Jesse. “I know you’re not a wrestler, but your father is.”
    Jesse looked at TJ.
    â€œGo ahead,” he said.
    Jesse autographed the woman’s napkin.
    After they left the couple, TJ told Jesse, “I really am gonna win next week on Monday Night Mayhem . You know that little scene with Tanner at the UFC matches? Well, Collins thinks they can do something with it, so the ACW’s giving me a bit of a push.”
    â€œYeah, my father told me about it,” Jesse said.
    â€œAnyway, I’m scheduled to pin Chris Choate on TV.”
    â€œChoate?” Jesse said. “I thought Chris Choate was being given a push.”
    â€œHe was,” TJ said. “But I think the ACW officials have lost faith in him. I overheard Harold Becker, the head writer, and Wes Meir, the show’s producer, complaining to