fight, or any fight for that matter. This whole experiment I had stubbornly pursued continued to become more and more important. Even though I felt I was in way over my head, the grave had been dug and it was up to me to climb out of it.
Once again Hubert masterfully quieted the crowd that he kept lifting up, and relayed more news. “So, y’all know me, you know I like to make deals.” Slight murmurs from the crowd indicated that they agreed with him. “So of course my young friend right here and I were able to come to terms on a rather particular agreement, a deal like I've never done before.” That giant hand landed on my shoulder yet again, taking control of my body and giving a playful, toying shake. “I can’t waste anybody’s time with someone who is just gonna quit on us, can I? What do I always tell you guys?”
“Quitters go home!” the assembled boxers yelled in unison, making my knees a little weak with fear.
“That’s right. Only, my friend here has quite a nice home to go home to, don’t you, son?”
This wasn’t the place to try and explain that I didn’t, in fact, have a home for much longer. My head went down and I stared at my feet, not willing to give them the response that they craved. Hubert elaborated for me.
“So, the deal that we both agreed to is that if my friend here quits before his big fight, he’s going to pay me double the purse money from the fight. Double! If he quits at any time, we all get double the purse!”
The crowd let out a roar, they were excited. Hubert spoke over them. “But my friend is also quite...infamous. Him training here will attract some attention, good and bad. Who knows? It could land some sponsorships or maybe some money to fix the place up...This guy coming to me with hat in hand could actually be a little blessing in disguise.” The collected crowd took a moment to ponder what Hubert was telling them and apparently appeared to agree with the conclusion that there was also a benefit in having me stick around. The blood-thirsty assembly nodded their heads, approving of their trainer's brokered deal.
"So you could kind of say," Rorke continued, "that it's very financially profitable for the gym to have this man quit. Meanwhile, it could also be very positive for the gym to have him train here until the fight.”
The boxers outside of the ring had come in even closer, so close they were practically in the ring with Hubert and I. Hubert continued, “So, young men,” he addressed the crowd, “you need to make one of those two things happen, and I don't care which you choose."
Sweat started full-on rolling down my body as I watched Hubert casually slip out of the ring and my fellow gym-mates slowly climb between the ropes. No matter which way I turned, there were fighters coming at me and soon I was surrounded. My head pivoted around just in time for me to see a worn, dark red glove coming right at my face.
*****
ROUND SEVEN
*****
Madelyn
"Madelyn...Madelyn...Madelyn," Suzie, the pleasantly plump office manager repeated as she pecked away on her keyboard. "Hmmmm, I'm just not sure where to put you."
Though I had assumed I was coming in for an interview, my new friend Suzie made it clear that she was ready to start me there right away.
"To be honest, I'm not even sure that we really even have a need for somebody right now. Buuuuut,” she let the word linger as her head tilted to one side, “you do have some friends in high places. I've received orders to place you at once!" Suzie chuckled, trying her best to remain cheerful despite being so ill prepared for my arrival.
"Looks like the sales department and, ooh, the data entry department each could use another set of hands..."
As she continued to type away, I tried to telepathically push her in one direction.
Sales. Sales department. Put me in sales.
My nostrils flared and my eyes got big as I continued to try and mentally lead her towards where I wanted to go. "How does data
Once again Hubert masterfully quieted the crowd that he kept lifting up, and relayed more news. “So, y’all know me, you know I like to make deals.” Slight murmurs from the crowd indicated that they agreed with him. “So of course my young friend right here and I were able to come to terms on a rather particular agreement, a deal like I've never done before.” That giant hand landed on my shoulder yet again, taking control of my body and giving a playful, toying shake. “I can’t waste anybody’s time with someone who is just gonna quit on us, can I? What do I always tell you guys?”
“Quitters go home!” the assembled boxers yelled in unison, making my knees a little weak with fear.
“That’s right. Only, my friend here has quite a nice home to go home to, don’t you, son?”
This wasn’t the place to try and explain that I didn’t, in fact, have a home for much longer. My head went down and I stared at my feet, not willing to give them the response that they craved. Hubert elaborated for me.
“So, the deal that we both agreed to is that if my friend here quits before his big fight, he’s going to pay me double the purse money from the fight. Double! If he quits at any time, we all get double the purse!”
The crowd let out a roar, they were excited. Hubert spoke over them. “But my friend is also quite...infamous. Him training here will attract some attention, good and bad. Who knows? It could land some sponsorships or maybe some money to fix the place up...This guy coming to me with hat in hand could actually be a little blessing in disguise.” The collected crowd took a moment to ponder what Hubert was telling them and apparently appeared to agree with the conclusion that there was also a benefit in having me stick around. The blood-thirsty assembly nodded their heads, approving of their trainer's brokered deal.
"So you could kind of say," Rorke continued, "that it's very financially profitable for the gym to have this man quit. Meanwhile, it could also be very positive for the gym to have him train here until the fight.”
The boxers outside of the ring had come in even closer, so close they were practically in the ring with Hubert and I. Hubert continued, “So, young men,” he addressed the crowd, “you need to make one of those two things happen, and I don't care which you choose."
Sweat started full-on rolling down my body as I watched Hubert casually slip out of the ring and my fellow gym-mates slowly climb between the ropes. No matter which way I turned, there were fighters coming at me and soon I was surrounded. My head pivoted around just in time for me to see a worn, dark red glove coming right at my face.
*****
ROUND SEVEN
*****
Madelyn
"Madelyn...Madelyn...Madelyn," Suzie, the pleasantly plump office manager repeated as she pecked away on her keyboard. "Hmmmm, I'm just not sure where to put you."
Though I had assumed I was coming in for an interview, my new friend Suzie made it clear that she was ready to start me there right away.
"To be honest, I'm not even sure that we really even have a need for somebody right now. Buuuuut,” she let the word linger as her head tilted to one side, “you do have some friends in high places. I've received orders to place you at once!" Suzie chuckled, trying her best to remain cheerful despite being so ill prepared for my arrival.
"Looks like the sales department and, ooh, the data entry department each could use another set of hands..."
As she continued to type away, I tried to telepathically push her in one direction.
Sales. Sales department. Put me in sales.
My nostrils flared and my eyes got big as I continued to try and mentally lead her towards where I wanted to go. "How does data
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