'The Massachusetts State Fair', Trippy thought as she held her little daughter by the hand and looked around at the crowds, shading her eyes with her other hand. 'Crowds, crowds everywhere, and not a polite person to spare. I am so sick of being jostled by crowds people who are in such a rush to get the next deep fried heart clogging on a stick novelty fair food. Ugh.'
Skye: "Where's Daddy?"
Her daughter's voice took her out of her thoughts and she smiled down at the girl.
Trippy: "He is with Bailey, baby. They are promoting the show for tonight. They are trying to make sure that people will come and see us all wrestle, that way there will be people to come watch us later in the arena."
The child took her mother's words in and frowned, thinking. She looked around as she thought and then brightened.
Skye: "I can help!"
Amusement filled Trippy's eyes.
Trippy: "Oh? And how is that my little Skye?"
Skye: "Lots of people, right? Daddy says he can't say no to me, so why not them? I will ask them to come!"
Trippy was forced to suck her lips between her teeth to keep from laughing. She collected herself and cleared her throat.
Trippy: "Well, we have flyers, my love, that Daddy asked me to pass out while we played games and did rides. While we walk you can help me, okay?"
Skye: "YAY!"
The four year old child threw her hands up in the air as she cheered. Trippy smiled and reached into her messenger bag and pulled out a sheaf of brightly colored papers. She handed a couple to the dark haired little girl keeping the rest for herself. Taking her daughter's hand once more they stepped back into the flow of the crowds.
As they made their way toward the midway, Trippy would stop someone who was idle, she had no intention of stopping anybody who was already walking, and would ask for just a moment of their time. She told them that Celtic Trouble Promotions was holding a wrestling show later in the day, and then Skye would interrupt and proudly had them a flyer stating that her Mama and Daddy were both going to wrestle. The stranger would politely listen to Trippy and be charmed by mother and daughter, assuring them he or she would be sure not to miss the show.
After an hour or so of promoting CTP and playing games, and a couple of rides, Trippy and Skye walked passed a booth for a radio station. They were broadcasting, the hosts were not only broadcasting over the radio, but over the fair as well, they had large speakers set up all around the booth. Trippy jumped, as the life was scared out of her by her name blaring over the speakers.
"HEY! HEY! THAT'S TRIPPY! TRIPPY! COME OVER HERE! TRIPPY!"
"WHO?"
"THAT'S TRIPPY! SHE IS A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER! TRIPPY! HEY!"
Trippy turned towards the booth, daughter in hand and approached them, a smile on her face now that she'd recovered. Once she was inside the tent, the sound from the speakers outside was lessened as music started to play. She stood before two men sitting at a booth, both with microphones in front of them. They were a few years apart in age, one probably closer to forty, the others in his early to mid thirties. It was the younger one who'd called out to her, and it was him that spoke first.
Younger Host: "Ha! I was right, it is you! I'm Mark, this is Dean. We host the afternoon show for the station. Can we get an interview?"
Dean: "Oh that would be great!"
Trippy looked unsure, and down at her daughter. Skye was starting to look heated and needed another coating of sunscreen.
Trippy: "Sure, but give me a minute, Skye needs something to drink. We'll be right back."
Mark: "Oh! No need! We have a few coolers filled with cold water, she can have all she wants. Are you thirsty sweetheart?"
Skye nodded and looked to her mother who nodded. Dean invited them around behind the table where a few extra chairs were, and asked them to sit. Someone brought two water bottles, one for each of them, and Trippy watched Skye closely as she drank. Once she'd had several gulps and carefully set her open bottle on the table before her did Trippy take a drink of hers.
Trippy: "Thank you, gentlemen, for the water, and the shade. I was just looking for a place for her to rest."
Mark: "Not at all! I wasn't sure it was you at first! It's been awhile since I've seen you in the ring but I recognized that...."
Dean: "That WHAT?"
Mark looked sheepish.
Mark: "Never mind. Oh! We're about to go back on. Trippy can we ask you a couple of questions for the show?"
Trippy scooted her chair a little closer to Mark's mic.
Trippy: "Well it's the least I could do for a fan who hydrated my daughter."
The song on the speakers outside ended just then and Mark was cheerfully speaking towards his mic.
Mark: "And we're back at the Massachusetts State Fair, and we have a surprise guest for you this afternoon! Who would be walking outside our tent just moments ago, The Sexy Headtripp herself! Professional Wrestler Trippy! Walking with her daughter! Welcome Trippy, welcome Skye!"
Skye stood on her folding chair and leaned toward Dean's mic.
Skye: "HI!"
Trippy laughed.
Trippy: "Hello! Thank you for asking us onto the show."
Dean: "Not a problem at all. Not a big wrestling fan personally, but Mark here is a real.. well.. mark for it! Trippy how long have you been wrestling?"
Trippy paused for a moment before answering.
Trippy: "Hmm, let me think, I just turned thirty-one about a month ago, started training at eighteen...um... nine?..Yes! About 9 years since I started wrestling full time and had left training."
Mark: "I have been a fan from your first title win on Attitude Reborn. I didn't think you could take a world heavyweight championship."
Trippy: "Oh god, that was so long ago! But yes my first championship was a product of A.R."
Mark: "Right! And can I assume that little Skye here is also a product of Attitude Reborn? That is where you met your husband, correct?"
Skye: "Mama met Daddy at work wrestling when he first went to that company. Mama says they have been together ever since and had me and before me Willow. But Daddy and Mama aren't married. Mama says she doesn't need paper to know we are a family."
Dean: "And your mama would be right."
Mark: "For those of you that don't know, Trippy's significant other is none other than Ace Andrews, professional wrestler, gambler, and businessman. Trippy where is Ace today?"
Trippy: "He's actually walking the fair with a business partner."
Dean: "What brings him out here? And you for that matter?"
Trippy: "Ace has entered into a business venture. He has decided to begin his own wrestling promotion. They and we, that is Skye and myself, have been promotion it all day... oh. I suppose I can't advertise it here on the radio, right?"
Mark: "Is it here at the fair?"
Skye: "Yeah! HERE!"
She shoved a flyer under Mark's nose and handed another to Dean. The men chuckled as they read the flyers.
Mark: "Since it's here at the fair, you're allowed to promote it on the show. Tell us about Celtic Trouble Wrestling."
Trippy: "Well, Ace met the other owner, Bailey McKearney, through a mutual friend, and both of them essentially having extra cash and not enough ways to spend it decided to go in together on a wrestling promotion. We're going to be based in Boston, but we're here today with the talent we've already signed to gain a following and let people know about us, and also to garner attention of potential talent who would want to sign on."
Dean: "You're on the flyer, you'll be wrestling tonight? Because I think you could make me a fan."
Mark: "For those of you that don't know, Trippy is hotter than the level twenty spicy on a Thai menu."
Trippy: "MARK!"
She admonished as she laughed.
Trippy: "Yes I will be. I told Bailey she could use me in the ring if she needed to fill out a card until we got some more talent. My prime job is actually talent scout though."
Mark: "So you and Skye are handing out flyers for the show later today?"
Trippy: "Yes. Skye has been an amazing little helper too!"
Skye: "I got lots of people to say they would come watch Mommy and Daddy wrestle."
Mark: "Are you going to wrestle one day, Mistress Skye?"
Skye: "Yes! It's so fun watching Mama do all those fun things in the ring! I am going to be strong like her one day and beat people up like Daddy!"
Dean: "Don't you ever get scared when you see them get hurt?"
Skye looked at him like as if he'd just fallen off the turnip truck.
Skye: "No. Why would I be scared?"
Dean frowned a little concerned and also curious as to this four year old girl's thoughts on this. He was cautious and sweet as he spoke next.
Dean: "Well, there are a lot of little girls who would worry for their mommy's and daddy's if they see them get hurt by somebody else."
Skye: "They always come home to me. They are tough too so I don't think it hurts them very much, just a little bit. If it hurt them very much they would stop, so that they can come back home to me."
The child shrugged him off in that way that only the logic of children can.
Mark: "Dean you just got schooled in life lessons by a four year old! MAN CARD!"
Trippy threw her head back and laughed before speaking.
Trippy: "Ace and I have always been very honest with Skye. We have seen children beg their parents not to enter the ring, because they do get hurt and the kids know that. Skye understands that we might come out of there with bruises or cuts, or worse, but we don't allow her imagination to run free with what might happen We try to keep her in the here and now when it comes to our work. We have her watch one another's matches either with us or someone we trust from the business, usually her god mother. That way it can all be explained to her as it is happening and she never fears. Her god mother has a ring in her basement and Skye is already learning to take bumps."
Dean: "Sound parenting in my book. So tell us about your match today, who are you wrestling?"
Trippy: "Well I don't know her personally. She was actually brought in by someone else. Sadly I know nothing about her either. Her name is Lowri, but that is literally all I know about her."
Dean: "Have you ever entered the ring with someone you knew so little about before?"
Trippy: "Of course. You come across it all the time in the industry. All you can do is make sure that you take care of yourself and them, and hope they're skilled enough to do the same so that neither is taken away on a gurney. The rest? Just have to wing it."
Mark: "So no plan of attack for you tonight?"
Trippy: "The only plan I have is to put on a great show and catch the attention of the crowds tonight. CTP is looking to catch the majority of it's fan base here for our first show, and I am going to do all I can to make sure our first night in Boston will be sold out. A great show and to walk out of the ring on my own accord, that is my plan. As Skye so logically said, I must come back to her after all."
Mark: "Well you've already got me interested. I will definitely be in Boston for your first show! And more importantly, I'll be ringside this afternoon! We've got to head out for a break, ladies and gents make sure to check out Celtic Trouble Promotions later today, here at the fair!"
Suddenly the speakers cut over to commercials and Mark turned to Trippy.
Mark: "Thank you so much for stopping in and talking with us!"
Trippy: "Thank you for having us. Would you mind if we stayed for a bit so I can get some sun screen on my little monkey before we head back out?"
Dean: "Of course! You're welcome to stay for the rest of the show and chat with us. Miss Skye you are an endless source amusement."
Skye: "Auntie Lexi says the same thing. She says I'm a nut job."
Trippy: "You are. And I thank you for the invitation but we really can't. I promised Skye a few more rides before we have to go help set up the ring and get ready for the show."
She had Skye come to her so that she could start putting sunscreen on her, while she chatted with Mark and Dean about various things. It took only a few minutes to cover her daughter's arms, legs, neck and face, then it was time to go.
She rose and Skye reached up and took her water from the table. Mark and Dean rose with her and shook her hand then Skye's. They offered Trippy a few more waters for Skye and herself which she accepted with several thanks and they headed back out to pound the pavement on the way to a few more little kiddy rides before heading to the location of the show.