Only a Four Letter Word
Based on real people, but not a real scenario.
Matthew Moore Hardy, better known as Matt Hardy, was always cautious. Yes, he never showed fear or unmoving in his voice or facial expressions, but would always be careful of a possible outcome. Alternatively, his brother, Jeffrey Nero Hardy (AKA Jeff Hardy), always dived into problems head first and cared about the situation when it came up. Both brothers were immune to the set back of fear, and always were prepared for anyone who dare challenged them. This gave them a high reputation in the WWE as 'The Hardy Boyz'. As time progressed, Matt developed a relationship with a female wrestler, known as Lita. She formed with 'The Hardy Boyz' as their 'manager' and together, the trio were known across the entire globe as 'Team Xtream.'
One day, Matt decided to approach his younger brother and asked him about his attitude towards wrestling. Jeff replied to his brother, as calm and relaxed as he always was:
"Matt, I live for the moment, not the moment after. I act upon my instinct, not my thoughts. When I go out and hear the fans scream, I give them instant action, not a ploy that I intended to pull together at the last minute."
"I understand how you feel when you go out to win, Jeff," Replied Matt, "But I'm not talking about the results, but the consequences. You go out and challenge huge superstars. You throw caution to the wind, and sometimes get pulverised because so! Why don't you just stop and think for a moment?"
"About what?" asked Jeff. His voice was beginning to sound menacing.
"About the fact that one night, you may enter on you feet and leave on a stretcher! About the fact that the next time you go down in the ring, you may never get up! About the fact that next time you flip over, you could get paralysed for life! For God's sake Jeff, just stop and think!"
Jeff paused a moment before looking Matt straight in the eyes and replying. "I think that you are beginning to give in to fear."
"It's love, dammit!" Matt shouted back in his face. "You're my brother Jeff, and I love and care for you. Every night when you step out, I pray to God that my little brother won't be beaten to a pulp!"
"I also care for you Matt, but I wrestle the way I want to wrestle, not the way I'm supposed to!"
"Do you think Mom would have wanted you like this?"
Both Hardys froze for a few seconds. Their mother had died of cancer when Matt was twelve and Jeff was nine. Knowing that he had crossed the line, Matt left Jeff's locker room, leaving his brother's face in his towel.
A few weeks later, the wrestling season was on hold for the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Matt, Jeff and Lita flew back home to Cameron, North Carolina to Jeff's new house.
When Christmas day arrived, the team gave each other their presents from themselves, friends and family. As usual, Matt and Jeff had made each other a new wrestling outfit for the other, hoping to use them in action when the season continued in January. Lita was given, beside her a new outfit, a jet ski from Matt and a paid improvement to her pool from Jeff. Matt was given a Pearl Jam bandana from Lita, a motorbike off Jeff and tickets to Disney World Florida, courtesy of the WWE. But when it came to the handing out of Jeff's presents, he opened them immediately and used them instantly. He received a drum kit off Matt, a golden cased writing pad and pen off the WWE and a trampoline off Lita.
When the Christmas lunch had come and passed, the team began to put their newly given presents to a better use. Lita took her jet ski to the nearby ocean with Matt whilst Jeff applied some of his drumming techniques to his new kit. A few hours later, Matt and Lita returned, expecting to find the house shaking with all the drumming Jeff had been practicing. But it was very quiet when they entered the house. In fact, it was only loud as they entered Jeff's room.
"You know," started Lita, causing Jeff to stop, "you can play a little louder."
"Yeah, I know," replied Jeff "But I wanted to get my technique better before I start to blast it out."
"Oh, come on, Jeff!" Interrupted his brother. "Drums are supposed to be loud. When you get something that's supposed to make a noise, you're meant to blast it out and make a racket!"
"That's not the way I work my music, Matt. I understand the technique and then use it to effect. Now, if you two don't mind, I need to begin practise on my Double Parrididdle-diddle. "
Not wanting to question the man and possibly start an argument, they both left Jeff alone. Neither Matt nor Lita see much of him until the Boxing Day morning. When they woke up, they could hear springs squeaking together and relaxing to normal. They looked out the windows and saw Jeff practising his finishing move, Swanton Bomb, from the first floor landing onto his new trampoline. Matt walked downstairs into the kitchen and prepared breakfast for his brother and comrade. Before he finished, he looked out and saw Jeff graciously fall onto his back on the trampoline. He wondered how long he had been up, practising his movements and style. He knew that Jeff was a master at his moves, so what was the point in continuing to practise? As Jeff finished another turn in the air, Matt walked out and greeted his brother.
"What you doing?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"Practicing." Came his brother's simple reply.
"Why Jeff? You're already the master of your own moves, so why practise?"
"Technique."
"Technique?
"Yeah." Jeff bounced off the trampoline and landed on his feet. "You see, you must always be aware of what you can do, so you'll be able to apply it to your opponent. I'm not saying I practise what I will do in the ring, just what I can do."
Not being able to find the right words to hold an argument, Matt stood there in silence, looking at the ground as his sibling entered his home and sat down to his prepared breakfast.
A few days after New Year Day, Team Xtream had packed there bags and were heading to the airport. Jeff and Matt hadn't really talked much about wrestling. Lita, however, was desperate to get back in the ring and her aggressive fighting spirit was being unearthed again.
"This year is the year. I swear I'm gonna get my hands on the Women's Championship title!" She declared loudly that morning.
"I remember her saying that last year." Jeff whispered so only Matt could hear. They exchanged grins as they closed their bags of memorabilia and costumes. As they hauled their bags down the stairs, Matt saw something big and shiny fall out of Jeff's bag. He quickly picked it up and shoved it in his pocket.
Once they boarded the plane, bound for Boston, Matt waited until Jeff and Lita had fallen asleep before removing the shiny item. Matt realised it was Jeff's gold book. He quickly opened it. Most pages were filled with doodles or possible 'Team Xtream' logos. However, a few pages afterwards, Jeff had written a poem. Hoping his brother would remain in sleep, he quickly read the poem, but only took in the final few lines.
I wonder if they will be my fans?
Until I have to fold?
I wonder if they will remember? -JEFF HARDY! -
As he grows old.
Matt closed the book and smiled, for he now knew the reason for Jeff's attitude.
Jeff was simply being wise.
The trampolineJeff would practise his technique because he knew that hard moves were good, but if they were unpractised, no-one would really enjoy them. The book he would always express his feelings to his desires and hopes. And the drumsJeff would always learn new and better moves to perform for those who would care about them, but would never show it until he was certain that they were of a high enough standard.
"And if that means putting his body and career on the line to keep the fans amazed, so be it!" thought Matt.
He placed the book back in his pocket, looked at Jeff and then rested his head against the window, before also slipping into a slumber.
The wrestling season had now restarted, and the Hardy Boyz's first major match was a 'Triple Threat Tornado Tag Ladder match' for the WWE World Tag Team championship. As their moment to enter the ring drew closer, Jeff confronted Matt and Lita.
"Matt, I've been thinking about what you said-before Christmas? And-"
"Forget it." Interrupted his relaxed brother.
"Well- what?" Came his brother's confused reply.
"Forget what I said. Be who you are, not what you're supposed to be."
Confused but glad, Jeff simply smiled and prepared himself.
"Lets win the gold!" he cried
"Hell yeah! Whoo!" Cried out Lita.
"For Mom." Said Matt.
The brothers looked each other directly in each other's eyes before Jeff replied, "We win for our hearts. We live for Mom."
Matt nodded his head in agreement.
Their entrance music kicked in, the crowd roared, and the legendary Hardy Boyz ran out to prove that fear, to them, was only a four letter word.
- Stu Hardy
