Post by knight on Jul 15, 2007 3:07:57 GMT -6
Matteo's brother is a priest.
Crazy, right? Especially since I didn't even know he had a brother. You see, these are the weird little things you learn after you spend WAY too much time with a person. Nobody knew about that in America. Everyone just assumed that he was the only boy in his family. Guess not.
I found out because there's some sort of huge family reunion going on over here and so Matteo's entire family is coming to the states for it.
His brother Paolo is actually a really cool guy. He's about 26, (yeah, he's the oldest) and he was consecrated this year. I was over Matteo's apartment watching "The Exorcist" (how appropriate, right?) in the middle of the day (I think it was like 11 in the morning) when he just walks into the room and stares at me. I was about to jump up and kick his ass, but then he asked if I was Chris.
The reunion isn't for another three weeks, but they were starting to trickle in. Apparently (and I didn't know this), Matteo owns three floors of this building... so the entire Bersa clan will be under one roof. That could actually be rather amusing.
Later that night, I spoke to Matteo as we were sitting down to dinner.
Matteo: Chris, how old are you?
Chris: Eighteen.
He didn't say anything for a while and everyone just ate in silence.
Matteo: Good.
I hesitated in chewing my next forkful of pene. I looked around the table and everyone was eating normally. I shrugged it off and went back to the food. It was eerily awkward though.
Matteo: You have a pretty important match coming up. I hope you know that.
Chris: Yeah, I know. My match with Meltdown. It should be very interesting. You know, I can't quite get a solid read on him. I mean, he talks alot about honor and respect and whatnot, but I don't really think he means it. It's weird.
Matteo gave me a blank look.
Matteo: No. I wasn't speaking of that one. I'm talking about your upcoming match with Remmy Skye.
That made no sense. My brain whirred, trying to understand that.
Chris: But Matteo. Remmy Skye is just a small time worker in Coney Island Wrestling. Meltdown is in Power On Wrestling. I think the more important match is obvious.
Matteo: I didn't say that one match is more important than the other. Obviously you have to be smart in your match against Meltdown. Most of all, don't turn your back to him. The second you do, you've lost the match. I'm just saying, be sure to put on a good show at your CIW match.
Chris: Why?
Matteo: Let's just say, it's in your best interest.
No one ever wants to hear someone tell you "it's in your best interest". Only two types of people say that. Mobsters who're ready to kill you, and trainers, ready to cut you loose at the first sign of weakness. Knowing Matteo, it could've been either.
Chris: Well, ummm... I'll be sure to do that... but yeah. Do you know anything about Meltdown that could help me?
Matteo: Well, he seems desperate.
Chris: How so.
Paolo: Eh, he is trying to go back to the eh... how do you say here? Originales?
Matteo: Originals? Oh! The beginnings! Yes yes... wait... che cazzo? Perche-
Paolo: I ehh.... saw the tape.
Matteo: Oh, ok. But yeah, Paolo has a point. After his loss, Meltdown is looking for something to lean on. All this talk about respect and the honor of wrestlers is just a crutch for him. It's something he needs to keep going. In my opinion, you should be able to defeat him.
Giovanna walked to the table with gelato in what looked like shallow glass goblets.
Matteo: But you'll never win anything if you don't take your head out of your ass first. Oh, grazie Giovie.
Chris: Yeah, I think I can do it.
Matteo: I'm sure you can, but just remember, don't forget about your match with Remmy Skye. Even the most seemingly insignificant match could turn out to be a life changing experience.
I rose my eyebrow and then gave up. Perhaps it would be easier to just follow his advice and go along with it. Who knows, maybe there was some truth to what he was saying.
Matteo's phone rang and he took the call in another room. My fight with Remmy was fast approaching, but my match with Meltdown was sooner. I was going to have to pull out alot more than I usually did for most matches for this one. But in the end, I knew that I'd be comfortable in the ring with Matteo watching. I just wish I knew why he seemed to think that a match against a no name guy in a really tiny indy fed that sells about only 60 tickets a show is so important.
Crazy, right? Especially since I didn't even know he had a brother. You see, these are the weird little things you learn after you spend WAY too much time with a person. Nobody knew about that in America. Everyone just assumed that he was the only boy in his family. Guess not.
I found out because there's some sort of huge family reunion going on over here and so Matteo's entire family is coming to the states for it.
His brother Paolo is actually a really cool guy. He's about 26, (yeah, he's the oldest) and he was consecrated this year. I was over Matteo's apartment watching "The Exorcist" (how appropriate, right?) in the middle of the day (I think it was like 11 in the morning) when he just walks into the room and stares at me. I was about to jump up and kick his ass, but then he asked if I was Chris.
The reunion isn't for another three weeks, but they were starting to trickle in. Apparently (and I didn't know this), Matteo owns three floors of this building... so the entire Bersa clan will be under one roof. That could actually be rather amusing.
Later that night, I spoke to Matteo as we were sitting down to dinner.
Matteo: Chris, how old are you?
Chris: Eighteen.
He didn't say anything for a while and everyone just ate in silence.
Matteo: Good.
I hesitated in chewing my next forkful of pene. I looked around the table and everyone was eating normally. I shrugged it off and went back to the food. It was eerily awkward though.
Matteo: You have a pretty important match coming up. I hope you know that.
Chris: Yeah, I know. My match with Meltdown. It should be very interesting. You know, I can't quite get a solid read on him. I mean, he talks alot about honor and respect and whatnot, but I don't really think he means it. It's weird.
Matteo gave me a blank look.
Matteo: No. I wasn't speaking of that one. I'm talking about your upcoming match with Remmy Skye.
That made no sense. My brain whirred, trying to understand that.
Chris: But Matteo. Remmy Skye is just a small time worker in Coney Island Wrestling. Meltdown is in Power On Wrestling. I think the more important match is obvious.
Matteo: I didn't say that one match is more important than the other. Obviously you have to be smart in your match against Meltdown. Most of all, don't turn your back to him. The second you do, you've lost the match. I'm just saying, be sure to put on a good show at your CIW match.
Chris: Why?
Matteo: Let's just say, it's in your best interest.
No one ever wants to hear someone tell you "it's in your best interest". Only two types of people say that. Mobsters who're ready to kill you, and trainers, ready to cut you loose at the first sign of weakness. Knowing Matteo, it could've been either.
Chris: Well, ummm... I'll be sure to do that... but yeah. Do you know anything about Meltdown that could help me?
Matteo: Well, he seems desperate.
Chris: How so.
Paolo: Eh, he is trying to go back to the eh... how do you say here? Originales?
Matteo: Originals? Oh! The beginnings! Yes yes... wait... che cazzo? Perche-
Paolo: I ehh.... saw the tape.
Matteo: Oh, ok. But yeah, Paolo has a point. After his loss, Meltdown is looking for something to lean on. All this talk about respect and the honor of wrestlers is just a crutch for him. It's something he needs to keep going. In my opinion, you should be able to defeat him.
Giovanna walked to the table with gelato in what looked like shallow glass goblets.
Matteo: But you'll never win anything if you don't take your head out of your ass first. Oh, grazie Giovie.
Chris: Yeah, I think I can do it.
Matteo: I'm sure you can, but just remember, don't forget about your match with Remmy Skye. Even the most seemingly insignificant match could turn out to be a life changing experience.
I rose my eyebrow and then gave up. Perhaps it would be easier to just follow his advice and go along with it. Who knows, maybe there was some truth to what he was saying.
Matteo's phone rang and he took the call in another room. My fight with Remmy was fast approaching, but my match with Meltdown was sooner. I was going to have to pull out alot more than I usually did for most matches for this one. But in the end, I knew that I'd be comfortable in the ring with Matteo watching. I just wish I knew why he seemed to think that a match against a no name guy in a really tiny indy fed that sells about only 60 tickets a show is so important.