(And so the picture opens, to The Cherry Lounge)

(Past the bar, past the juke box, past the salad bar)

(At a small table)

(Sit UWA Hardcore Champion Smokin' Joe Seward, Joe's old friend and tobacconist, Randall Reese, and Randall's son, Glenn, an enormous truck driver)

(Randall and Joe are enjoying a fine Robosto cigar and a cold beer. Glenn refrains from smoking but does not hesitate when it come to a cold ale)

(Joe puffs away on his Savoy while Randall enjoys a C.A.O Knoxville. Joe quenches his thirst with a Miller High Life, Randall chooses his usual Coors Light, while Glenn sticks to a classic Old Latrobe, number 33, Rolling Rock)

(And now their conversation begins)

(The cigar smoke rises, the alcohol runs)

(A mode of relaxation sets in over the table)

Glenn - Yeah, I pulled a hell of a load through Kansas City on Tuesday.

Joe - What be ya haulin'?

(Glenn sips his Rolling Rock)

Glenn - Frozen beef, fifteen tons of the stuff too.

Randall - That's a lot of burgers, shit Joe, you'd be set!

Joe - For a few weeks at least now....

(The men share a laugh as well as a drink of their beers)

Randall - Oh man....

Glenn - So? How's that Hardcore Title looking after you polished it?

Joe - Damn good. I don't think anybody ever gave it fair time ya know?

Randall - I'll bet you're the first champ in a long while to ever give the ol' UWA Hardcore Title a spit shine.

(Randall puffs away on his C.A.O.)

Joe - Enough bout me and that four-way dance....we been talkin. bout it all night.

Glenn - Yeah but your facing Shadow, Main Event, and Judas. I mean, shit, that.s what I call conversation material.

Joe - Yeah, but enough is enough, I just wanna enjoy my stogie.

Glenn - Fair enough ol. Joe.

Joe - Randall, what bout you and Judy?

Randall - Oh were doing good. I hope to take a vacation with her this summer, but....

(Randalls words are cut off by his son, Glenn)

Glenn - Oh dad, every year you always say you can't afford to take mom on a nice trip. And where did you guys go last year?

Joe - Sidney Australia, I think ya guys went....

Glenn - Exactly my point dad. I think you and mom had some rough years, way back when, and since then, you've always got into this habit of thinking your striving to make ends meet.

Joe - I've known ya Randall, since nineteen-eighty an' you always be thinkin' you had less cash than ya really did.

(Randall takes a healthy draw from his cigar, pondering the words before him)

Randall - Yeah, you boys are right.....what say we drink to my apprehensive feeling on money.

(The three men raise their beers up. A clink of a Miller High Life, Coors Light, and Rolling Rock, each one as diverse as their drinkers, echoes through out the closing hour of The Cherry Lounge. An intoxicating swallow follows. Good times at the Cherry Lounge. The smoke rises and the alcohol flows)

Glenn - So you've know dad since nineteen eighty?

Joe - Yep!  Twenty-three years now here!

Randall - Joe was only eighteen years old then. I was only twenty-five.

Glenn - That would have made you and mom already married, Jill three years old, and Roman two years old.

Randall - Judy and I were married in seventy six, we were both twenty one. One year later, in seventy-seven, we had your sister Jill. Then the following year, in seventy-eight, we had your brother Roman.

Joe - Then right after I met ya, ol Glenn was born.

Randall - I knew Joe for about two months when you were born.

Glenn - Damn, you and mom had to be busy, a three year old, two year old, and then a new born. Man, you guys!

Joe - In more ways than one they were busy ya see.

(Chuckles, draws, and drinks)

Randall - There were tough days, but Judy and I made it. Thanks to people like ol' Joe here.

Joe - Believe it or not Glenn, I once fed ya peaches.

Glenn - And if I'd know better....I would have crawled away and never come back.

(Laughs fill the table)

Glenn - No wonder I'm so in love with wrestling, I was raised by you two.

(Laughs fill the table again)

Joe - I'll drink ta the good ol' memories of yesteryear.

Randall - Me too Joe.

Glenn - Although I was too young to remember, I never turn down a toast with my father and cigar smokin' hero.

(The clink of a second toast fills the closing hour of The Cherry Lounge)

(A Miller High Life, Coors Light, and Rolling Rock)

(Each brew as diverse as the drinkers)

(The cigar smoke rises and the alcohols flows)

(The great memories of yesteryear are vividly widespread)

(Good times at The Cherry Lounge)

(Where the last hour is the most poetically profound)