Camping Hooligans

Campfire Chat

The guys had finished putting up their big tent, unrolling their sleeping bags, got out the rest of their supplies for the weekend and were now sitting in their chairs by the campfire. Mark was busy grilling their supper on a mini charcoal grill.

"Anyone want cheese on their burger?"

"Me!" Shawn said raising his hand.

"I do!" Paul said repeating Shawn's movement in raising his hand.

"Put your hands down, guys. You're not in school anymore."

Paul and Shawn looked at each and smirked before looking at Mark and replying in unison.

"Yes, Mr. Calaway."

Mark looked at the men with a raised right eyebrow. Paul and Shawn laughed out loud. Mark shook his head as he reached into the cooler beside him pulling out a pack of individual wrapped sliced cheese.

"Degenerates." Mark mumbled under his breath as he placed cheese slices on their burgers to melt.

A few minutes later, it was time to eat. They fixed their plates with burgers and chips, and bottles of water to wash it down with. They sat around the campfire eating, laughing, talking, and telling stories of their lives on the road as wrestlers and, of course, their families.

"So, Paul," Mark began to ask. "How old is your oldest daughter now?"

"8 years old," Paul replied tossing his paper plate and empty water bottle into the fire.

"Wow," Shawn remarked. "It only seems like yesterday we would joke about Stephanie's pregnancy on television when we teamed as D-Generation X. Here you are now, with 3 beautiful daughters."

"Yep. 3 beautiful girls."

"Any plans for having another?" Mark queried.

"We haven't talked about it actually. But I think we're quite happy with a our daughters. How about you, Mark? How's your kids?"

"Great...all 4 of them. Especially little Kaia. Every since Kaia learned how to walk, she's been roaming the house non-stop, bumping into things. Don't worry though," Mark stated, palms outstretched in front of him. "The house is child-proof so she won't hurt herself too much."

"That's good," Shawn commented.

"And your 2 kids," Mark asked with curiosity. "How are they?"

"They've grown up too fast on me."

"They always do, Shawn." Paul said.

"They sure do, Paul. Remember how I used to say being a wrestler is the greatest job in the world? Becoming a father beats that."

Paul nodded his head in agreement. "You're exactly right. It gives you a whole new outlook on life itself. Remember how scared I was when I found out I was going to be a father for the first time?" Shawn nodded his head. "When I was in that delivery room with Stephanie, and I saw that little girl come into the world, all the fears I had slowly vanished. All the fears I had leading up to that moment were gone just like that, even when the doctors placed that baby, my little girl, in my arms. I can still sometimes see myself holding her and her little fingers wrapping around my fore finger and her itty-bitty eyes looking up at me. Everything changed for me in that one moment and it got a lot easier when 2 more baby girls came along."

Mark and Shawn shook their heads in agreement.

"A baby changes everything." Shawn said

"Yep. Being a wrestler is great and all that. But I will say, it will never compare to being a father. All the fans and money is great, but being a father...even better. Nothing beats being a father to a child."

"Well put, Mark." Paul complimented.

"Here, here." Shawn chimed in.

Mark, Paul and Shawn talked another hour away before calling it a night. Paul and Shawn made their way into the tent as Mark dumped a bucket of water in the campfire. He walked towards the opening of the tent. Before walking into the tent, Mark looked up at the twinkling stars. He just stopped and admired the night sky with the full moon shining brightly upon them. He left a soft sigh escape his lips and he got down on one knee and bowed his head.

"Lord, I know I don't do this often, but I can't thank You enough for the life I've been blessed with. Thank you for my life, my job, a place to live, my friends, and my family. Thank you for everything. Amen."

After his little prayer of thanks, he got up from the ground wiping the dirt off his pant leg, and went into the tent to sleep and dream the night away.