“Yeah, changing table,” Ripp acknowledged.
“So anyway, I take her to the deal, lay her down, and I start smelling this funk. It’s bad. My gut starts churnin’, and I back off a little bit and look at Vee. She just smiles and waves from across the room like she knows something’s gonna go down. Anyway, after my gut settles down I go back in for the big change. I unhook the sides of the diaper, and lay ‘em to her side. Then, I flip down the front, and lift her legs. The whole deal takes maybe five seconds – the diaper flippin’,” Ripp paused and took a deep breath.
“And this fuckin’ smell comes rising up from the diaper like a big fog, and I drop Jessie’s legs and scream. Hell, it was so bad, I could taste it. But that ain’t the best of it. After I drop her back into the diaper, it stirs that funky assed shit up, and I get a second wiff of it. Now this time, my gut starts heavin’ and I barf all over the changing table, Jessie, and the floor. Bad thing was, earlier I’d been drinkin’ and eatin’ hot dogs. I had five Ultra’s and six dogs. They were them really good beef dogs, too. I love them damn things and I must have ate ‘em like real quick without chewin’ ‘em up real good. So there was chunks of fuckin’ hot dog the size of peanut M&M’s all over the kid, the floor, and my new shoes,” he shook his head and tipped the beer bottle to his lips.
“I guess guys ain’t cut out for that shit,” he sighed as he took a sip of beer.
Vee nodded her head in Ripp’s direction as she looked toward Kace and laughed, “I warned him, Kace. He didn’t believe me.”
I leaned forward on the table and looked at Ripp, “You puked on your daughter?”
He nodded his head as he continued to sip his beer.
“You’re gross, Ripp,” Kasey laughed.
“Shane changes Casey all the time,” Kace shrugged as she looked toward Vee.
“Jessie stinks,” Vee chuckled as she waved her hand in front of her nose.
“Maybe I’m sweeter than you,” Kace said as she raised her hands to her chest and squeezed her boobs.
“I think not,” Vee chuckled.
A-Train nodded as he pulled Bug closer to his shoulder, “Quite a story, Ripp.”
“But I’ve got a question,” A-train sighed as he leaned into the back of his chair.
“Yep, what is it, bro?” Ripp asked.
“Who cleaned up the mess?” A-Train asked.
“I can tell you who didn’t clean it up,” Vee hissed as she pointed toward Ripp.
A-Train raised one eyebrow, “No shit? You let Vee clean up the mess?”
Ripp shrugged his shoulders as he finished his beer, “Hell, Train. I was weak after all the puking. I couldn’t clean that shit up. Men ain’t built for that shit.”
I fully expected A-Train to begin a tale of some grotesque exposure to human remains after the explosion of an IED in Afghanistan or a beheading he witnessed in Iraq; but the story never came. He shook his head and turned to kiss Bug. As everyone sat and laughed about Vee cleaning up Ripp’s vomit, I studied Alec and Bug. They had been in a relationship for a little more than a year, and the changes in Bug were incredible. She had gone from being shy and uncertain to confident and outgoing. I smiled and looked down at my watch.
“Shit, it’s one o’clock in the morning. I have to get some sleep and prep for the fight. We should probably get out of here, shouldn’t we? ” I asked.
Everyone agreed it was pretty late and Ripp offered to pay the tab, to which I eagerly agreed. Considering I paid for his shoes a few weeks prior, I felt a little better about my loss for the new Ed hardy Chuck’s. As the live band playing came to the end of a song, we stood and quietly made our way for the door.
Getting out of the bars on Dirty Sixth before the 2:00 a.m. closing time allows a person to walk to where they’ve parked their car and escape from the area before the traffic from all of the patrons attempting to leave is doing the same thing. The biggest problem is the distance from the bars where one must park. While we walked the four blocks to where we had parked, Ripp continued to tell stories and discuss the upcoming fight. As we approached the SUV, we split into three groups of couples walking toward different doors to enter the vehicle. Katie, Vee and A-Train walked to the far side of the vehicle; and Kace, Ripp, and I walked to the near side.
As soon as Vee unlocked the car with her keyless entry, a man jumped from beside the car next to hers, and surveyed the crowd quickly as if he knew exactly who we were.
“Oh my God Shane,” Kace screamed as he jumped in front of us.
Fuck, he’s after me.
The first thing I noticed was the gun he held in his hand. Within a split second, it was clear who he had come to rob. He promptly raised the pistol level with my eyes and held it an inch from my forehead. With the pistol leveled at my head, he stepped from behind the car and spoke in a jittery stutter.
“Shuh shuh Shane. You’re Shane Dek Dek Dekkar. The buh buh big tah tah time boxer. Yep. Shane Dekkar. You got muh muh money. Big money. Yep. Gimme your wallet, muh muh motherfucker,” his eyes darted back and forth but his pistol never moved.
“Don’t anyone do anything stupid,” I said slowly and softly as I carefully raised my hands.
“Oh my God. Shane just let him have what he wants,” Kace cried.
“Please Shane, don’t try anything,” she begged.
“I won’t baby,” I assured her.
Truth be known, I always figured if someone ever tried to rob me, I’d beat them senseless. I never figured it would actually happen, and I certainly never thought if it did, I’d have a pistol leveled at my face – an inch from my forehead. There was no doubt in my mind if I moved in any manner he was uncomfortable with, all he’d have to do was flinch, and I’d be dead.
There was no amount of money to justify my son being raised without a father.
“Babe. Just settle down, I’ll give him whatever he wants,” I whispered.
“Well, get get get to givin’, muh muh motherfucker,” he stuttered.
“I’ll give you what I’ve got but…”
“But, I carry the money. I’m his bodyguard. I’ve got all the cash,” A-Train said as he walked around the rear corner of the SUV.
I heard Bug and Vee crying from the other side of the car. Ripp Stood behind me toward the front of the car on the passenger side. I stood at the center facing the rear of the car, with the armed man between the rear of the car and where I stood. As A-train slowly walked around the rear of the car behind the gunman, the man became nervous.
“Duh duh don’t walk up on me, Mr. fuh fuh fucking bodyguard. I’ll kuh kuh kill this boxer lickety split if you do,” the man explained.
A-Train walked in a sweeping motion around the man, circled behind me and stopped at my right side. As he stepped beside me with his hands held close to his chest, he began to talk slowly to the man with the gun. As he started to speak, I worried about the potential of this going to hell in a Texas sized hand basket. Standing on my left side, Kace began to sob.
“Listen. I’ve got the money. So, you’re going to need to talk to me. But we’ve got a little problem,” A-Train paused and shrugged his shoulders.
“He pays me to keep his money safe, you know protect it. Now, I can’t just give it to you or he’s going to fire me as soon as you’re gone – and I’ll be without a job. So for me to let you have it, I’m going to need you to point the gun at me and threaten me,” A-Train said very calmly.
“I ain’t duh duh dumb. He’ll buh buh box my ears when I muh muh move the gun,” the man said.
“No he won’t. I’ll make sure he doesn’t do a god damned thing. It’s my job to keep him safe, and keep you happy. You’re going to have to trust me. He’s got seventeen bucks and I’ve got ten grand, you need to pay attention to me,” A-Train explained slowly.
A-Train tilted his head my direction, “Dekk, slowly put your hands in your jeans pockets. And Kace, I need you to take four steps to your left, babe. Just four. Stand there quietly.”
A-Train studied
the gunman, “Now, as soon as he gets his hands deep in his pockets, you point the gun at my head.”
A-Train stood calmly and nodded his head as he spoke. Not hearing any opposition from the gunman, I slowly lowered my hands to my waist and shoved them into my pockets deeply. I had no idea what A-Train had planned, but he sure was calm about doing it. The gunman’s eyes darted back and forth between A-Train and I.
“Alec...no…” Bug sobbed from the other side of the car.
“It’s gonna be just fine Katie. We’ll all be sipping slurpies at the 7-Eleven in five minutes. I promise,” A-Train said calmly.
“Dekk, step four steps to the side slowly, and stand by your girl. He’ll move the gun when you do. Just make it slow,” A-Train demanded calmly.
As I stepped to the side, Kace hugged me, crying into my shoulder. Immediately, the gunman moved the pistol to A-Trains forehead. Ripp stood roughly eight or ten feet behind A-Train with his hands at his side. I could see from where I stood Ripp’s hands were shaking. Considering his recent experience with gunman, I doubted the shaking was from fear. Anger was more like it.
“Wuh wuh what about thu thu the ten grand, fucker?” the gunman asked.
“I’m going to reach for my wallet with my left hand. I’ll do it slow. Hell you got that piece pushed into my forehead, so you know I won’t try a damned thing. I’m nervous as hell, but I need you to be calm, okay? You okay with that? Me reaching for my wallet?” A-Train raised his eyebrows in wonder.
The gunman nodded, “Yup. Suh suh slow.”
Slowly, A-train began to move his left hand. What happened next should be in some form of instructional training video for all civilians. With is right hand at chest height and his palm open, A-Train swung toward the gunman’s forearm, halfway between the wrist and elbow. At the same time, his left hand swung up and grabbed the barrel of the pistol form the left. In one fluid movement, the gun was swung one hundred eighty degrees and now in A-Train’s hands and pointing at the gunman. It happened so fast, if I hadn’t actually seen it, I never would have believed it.
“Holy shit!” Ripp screamed.
“Get on your knees,” A-Train demanded.
With the gun now pointed at his head, slowly the man lowered himself to his knees.
“It’s all good over here, Katie,” A-Train shouted over the top of the SUV toward Bug and Vee.
Vee and Bug ran around the rear of the SUV. As soon as they cleared the rear portion and saw the man on the ground, they both gasped.
“I’ll call the police,” Vee said as she cautiously walked around the rear of the car.
“Fucking punk ass bitch. I’m going to beat your ass,” Ripp grunted as he walked toward A-Train and the man.
“Don’t call the cops, Vee. And Ripp, you need to stand down,” A-Train shouted, still holding the gun to the man’s head.
“Our man Dekk has to fly out for a fight in less than 48 hours, and he doesn’t need to be on the ten O’clock news. Police reports and bullshit will have to be filled out. We don’t need all that. Everyone just get in the car, and go around the block. Stop back by here in ten minutes and pick me up,” A-Train said calmly.
“Go around the block?” Vee asked.
“Yeah. Just go around the block, I’ll take care of this,” A-Train nodded his head as if this was a common thing for him.
“I’ll stay here with A-Train, just roll around the block. Nobody needs to see this guy get his ass beat,” Ripp said as he rubbed his hands together.
“Just like you always say brother Ripp, I got this. Just go with them. Give me ten, alright?” A-Train asked.
“Whu whu what you gonna…” the man stammered.
“Shut the fuck up,” A-Train shouted.
“Alec? What are you going to do?” Bug asked.
“Baby, I’m just going to take care of this guy. Don’t worry. Come back in ten, okay?” A-Train asked calmly.
I pointing to the car and looking around the dimly lit parking lot, “Get in the car. Alec’s right. I don’t need my ass on the news.”
After everyone nervously got into the car, we drove around the block. Something about the event in the parking lot must have had everyone on some form of mental high, and now that it was over we all sat in the car quietly staring straight ahead. As Vee drove, everyone sat motionless. Kace rested her head on my shoulder, and Bug stared out the window. When we approached the parking lot again, A-Train was leaning against the brick building beside the entrance, waiting calmly with his hands in his pockets. By my watch, twelve minutes had passed. As Vee slowed the SUV down at the edge of the entrance, A-Train opened the rear door and climbed in beside me.
“Why all the solemn faces?” A-Train asked.
Silence.
“Are you okay?” Bug asked softly from the seat behind us and broke the silence.
A-Train looked over his shoulder, “I’m fine, babe. No worries.”
“Dude, you takin’ that gun from that guy was some serious Jack Reacher shit. That was just like, whappity whap. Who’s got the gun now, motherfucker?” Ripp said excitedly over his shoulder from the front seat.
“Who the fuck is Jack Reacher?” A-Train asked.
“You know. Tom Cruise plays him in the movies. Jack Reacher. He’s a bad ass mother fucker. He’d do something like that. Him or Jason Bourne,” Ripp chuckled.
“Well, I couldn’t have him taking Dekk’s seventeen bucks he’s got in that squeaky wallet of his,” A-Train laughed.
“I’m just glad we’re all okay,” Kace breathed.
The SUV filled with me too’s and same here’s as everyone agreed with Kace.
And the vehicle became quiet again.
As Vee approached the entrance to the highway, A-Train pulled up his shirt and reached into his pants. I watched as he removed the pistol from the waist of his jeans pressed a lever on the side of the weapon. After pulling on the barreled portion, he had the pistol in several pieces in his lap.
“Vee, I’m going to roll down the window for a second,” he said.
“Okay…” Vee responded over her shoulder from the driver’s seat.
A-Train wiped the portion of the pistol he held with his shirt until it was clean. Carefully holding it with the bottom of his untucked tee shirt, he tossed a piece of the pistol out the window into the darkness of the night and rolled up the window.
Five minutes later, he did the same thing.
And five minutes after that, he did it again.
And no one spoke a word.
SHANE. I believe my experience in mentally preparing for fights has kept me from being nervous in the days which precede a fight. The length of time I have been boxing certainly comes into play as does my undefeated title. Not being defeated builds a level of confidence a new opponent doesn’t easily diminish – at least not by merely challenging me to a fight. To me, fighting is a part of my life no differently than going to church is to some people.
Something about this fight was different. I wanted this win for other reasons; and my deep desire for the win was causing me to second guess my ability. Without a doubt, Tyson Brock was a fighter who would present far more of a challenge to me than any opponent I faced in my entire career. The difference between him and everyone else I had fought was the difference between a backyard baseball game and the World Series. Although I would never admit it publicly, simply completing this particular fight would be a tremendous feat for me.
I felt if I would happen to win the fight my life would be in order for as long as Kace, our children and I would ever live. Through endorsements and prize money, Kelsey said I could expect between 50 and 100 million dollars before it was all over. Secretly, I wanted to retire undefeated and live a quiet life at home raising my children and acting as the husband and father I’ve always wanted to become.
In this fight, I’d need to dig deeper and find an inner strength to fuel me. In the past, the demons inside of me fueled me to step into the ring and fight. My talent in fighting allowed me to stand
the successor in the end. Fighting Brock would be so much different for many reasons. I no longer felt the deep inner demons, nor did I truly believe I was a more talented fighter than he was. From a strength standpoint, although I was in better physical condition than I had ever been, he was certainly fractionally stronger.
Ultimately, I wanted to win.
But.
I wanted to be a father even more.
KACE. Pride. For me to accurately explain how proud I was of Shane for making it to this level in his career would be nothing short of impossible. I have overheard him talking to Ripp, A-Train and even Kelsey expressing his concerns regarding his performance in this fight. Tick-Tock Brock is far more of a savage fighter than Shane from what little I have read. Brock is supposed to be a brawler, and Shane is a boxer. By everyone’s description, this is to be a mismatch.
I’m proud he has made it to this point. The fact he is here fighting for the Heavyweight Championship of the World is enough for me. The support of all of Alec’s friends has made my day far more pleasurable. They’ve helped take my nervousness and turn it into a newfound excitement. Because Shane is the challenger, we all have special seats at the front of the ring, they call these seats ringside seats. Ripp says it’s a big deal. I’m excited because Casey will probably be seen by millions of people on television.
Ripp’s parents, Ripp, Vee, Jessie, A-Train, Manda, Katie, Austin, and all of A-Train’s friends who came to support Ripp in court were also here – Kelli, Erik, Kelli’s father, Teddy, Heather, and some guy they call Bunny. Having this big crowd to support Shane throughout the fight makes me happy. Win or lose, tonight Shane is a winner. With Casey held high in the air above my head, we all cheered as Shane came down the aisle toward the ring. Joe and Kelsey proudly followed, one in front and one behind him.
I was on pins and needles, now sitting between Kelli and Vee. No matter who won, this fight needed to end quickly. The people, the cameras, and all of the commotion was far more than I would have ever imagined. My heart was racing no differently than if I was the one stepping into the ring.