The Simpsons: Bart

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***

After my conversation with Becky, which didn't last long, for I didn't know what to say, I felt again the awkwardness of meeting someone who was familiar with my shameful past. We agreed to meet tonight at a café.

- Bart, is that you?' Becky turned to me with her eyebrows pulled apart puppyishly.

- Yeah. That's him. - Isabella clapped her on the shoulder. - Isabella clapped her on the shoulder.

- ...I have a gig tonight. - I'm not lying, some local promotion invited me to perform. Of course, I could have put the mask in my rucksack, but.... Why add unnecessary complications to my life?

- Wow! You're the guy from the show!

- So you always wear masks, that's so cool!

Also joining the company were Maria and Anna, Isabella's rather odd, judging by her character, friends. Becky's not exactly her type, either. Maybe it's true that opposites attract.

- So you decided to become a wrestler?! How long ago?! Why did you choose Mexico?! Why didn't you tell anyone?! Why didn't you tell me?!

When Becky heard that I was El Barto, she was euphoric. She came at me with glittering eyes, a thousand questions. But what about me?

- Erm.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

I could only feel the terrible awkwardness of Becky grabbing my hands in her impulse. I almost yanked my hand away at that moment... Though maybe I should have, for instead of rudeness, I showed pity....

- N-don't mind me, it's just an injury. - because my left palm trembled.

My excuse didn't work on anyone. Becky looked like she was ready to cry. Isabella was staring at her coffee cup, stirring the sugar. Maria was on her phone, clearly not paying any attention to us and laughing at memes. Anya with a dumb smile under the table, driving her foot over mine, which....

- What the hell?! - I just noticed.

While Becky, Isabella and Maria stared at me with a question in their eyes, Anya clicked her tongue as I forcefully took her foot away.

- Don't mind me, a wasp flew into my jeans....

The more I'm in Becky and Isabella's company, the more I seem to embarrass myself. I'm sweating profusely, my tongue is slurring, my hands are shaking, and all I want to do is run away to end this parade of loss of self-respect and manhood. However.

- So you were saying That I'm no longer considered a criminal. What did you mean by that?

Now that I've come this far, there's no other way to find out now than to guess in the future.

- Bart, you don't know? - Becky stared round-eyed at Isabella, who....

- Well it all started with...

.....

Told me everything. About how the school covered up my truancy and I even have some sort of certificate. That there were rumours about me after my 'disappearance', that I committed suicide out of guilt, that I went somewhere unknown to start a new life, that I started dealing drugs....

Yeah, amidst all the things people speculated about, the truth sounded like just another idle rumour that not that anyone believed, but everyone was reeling.

- Ughhhh...

Realising that the darkest side of my past was still in the shadows allowed me to breathe out a sigh of relief and, for the first time since coming to the cafe, relax.

But that wasn't all.

The story with Sherry and Terry...

She turned round. No one was in a hurry to blame me anymore, for after a few dubious precedents, people were starting to listen to women less unsubstantiated. And it was an article written by Isabella, Becky and, whose name I never expected to hear again, Alison, that helped change people's minds.

- Right. Thank you, then.

- ... - my gratitude made Becky's eyes go wide.

- ... - and Isabella arched an eyebrow.

I understand them. Though my gratitude is sincere, I put no emotion into it at all. For I have none.

I suppose I should be glad. And I think I am. But to exult, to take revenge on my detractors, to cry over the end of all I've been through - I don't want any of that.

The fact is, this story is the 'experience' for me. I'm living in a new country, doing a new job, hell, I even essentially have a new identity - El Barto. The scandal has become my past, a painful lesson and an indication of how low a person, yes myself, can fall.

I want to believe that I've learnt my lessons. That I won't let myself fall like that again. That I can get back up if I do. And that's pretty much it. I don't think or feel anything about it anymore.

- Bart, you know how many times I've tried to contact you? - Becky spoke to me at the end of Isabella's story.

I shook my head. For after talking to Milhouse, and a couple of guys from the gym, I'd blocked the numbers of all my 'friends', figuring that if they wanted to, they'd get in touch to support me sooner.

Some might say I acted like a resentful teenager. Some will blame my friends who thought twice before acting. I will say that.

It's in the past.

- You made life difficult for us with that, you know?

Now Isabella, who had spoken, and Becky, who had fallen silent, felt awkward. It was clear from the gaze carefully avoiding mine and the hands going over something every now and then.

- Haa... But okay. How about doing an interview, and telling your side of the story?

My side of the story? Interesting, that's the first time anyone's ever wanted to hear it. Why just me?

- It's in the past. - so it's all the same?

- Oh, what a shame, you're so unlucky!

Because of the awkwardness of Isabella and Becky and the fact that I had nothing to say to them, there was a silence. Which Maria and Anna hastened to fill.

The former expressed her sentiments, swearing at all who believed the rumour, and... Then she started complaining about being called a slutty woman on the internet and streaming.

- So you wrestled? Hugging other athletic guys like yourself in butter, huh~?

Anna, on the other hand, was flirting and undressing me with her eyes. I was uncomfortable. Whether it was the presence of Becky and Isabella, with whom we had some sort of past connection. Or the experience with Terry and Sherry and Gina. I don't know. However, no matter how hot Anna was, I had no thoughts of me bending her along the table and wielding her firm arse....

Well, almost.

Hey, I haven't had sex in a year! I'm like a virgin again!

- So I guess that's it, huh? - when I thought the conversation was over.

- Huh? Bart, are you trying to get back at your fans or that really slutty girl?

- Oh, no. - shrugged at Maria's emotional question. - It's in the past.

- Don't you want to ask me anything? - Isabella turned to me hesitantly for the first time. It's funny, but even after the accusations of almost raping Sherry, she'd spoken to me directly... Well, on those rare occasions when she did.

- I don't think so. - Isabella's question got me thinking. But I couldn't find anything to ask.

- Don't you want to know how your family's doing? - Becky turned to me with a sort of tortured smile, as if grasping for something.

How's my family?

Homer's probably doing all sorts of things that make little sense. Marge is mad at him about it. Lisa continues to be a cog and is probably studying for next year's entrance. Maggie she's... She's probably forgotten about me by now. What is she, nine? Maybe it's good for her to have a negative role model like me.

- No, not really. - answered Becky after a second of thought.

- T-Then how about friends? Or someone else?

Is there someone in my past that I want to know about? Coach is contacted by El Bandito, so I'd know if there was any trouble with him. Sherri and Terry - I wish them happiness and all the best, just don't want to witness it. Milhouse...

- Oh, here it is. - I thought I'd ask Becky. - How's Mo and Skinner doing?

- Our former headmaster? - Becky was surprised. - I don't know.

- Who's Moe? - and Isabella was keeping up with her.

- You don't know? All right, then.

I said good-bye to the four, paid for them at the café as a thank-you, and headed for the sho-.

- Bart! - or was about to go to the show when Becky stopped me on the way out. - Could you at least take off your mask, please?

Becky stared at me with her grey-blue eyes where tears had gathered. Her breath shook as her hands gripped mine. Any guy seeing such a picture in front of him would have wanted to hug Becky, comfort her, or at least unintentionally apologise to her....

- I'm late for a show. I'll talk to you later.

However, I'm not experiencing any of the above. I'd even say I'm experiencing none of the above.

Leaving Becky standing still, I got on the bus, yes headed to the venue a few hours before the start.

.....

- And the winners of the match, El Bandito Jr. and El Barto!

After working a tag team match in the main event of the show with my employer's son, taking a shower, I went outside in a t-shirt and mask, signing autographs, taking pics, selling merch.

- You guys were on fire today!

Surprisingly, the merch sold out. I guess my recent ring win had something to do with it. I should have ordered more.

Although then I would have had to skimp on food or skip the gym.

- Yeah, I don't know what happened, but it's like the devil got into my partner today. - El Bandito Jr. answered for me, so as not to give away my accent.

Next came the turn of twenty or thirty people who wanted to take selfies together and chat a little. I just stood there, smiling and nodding. It's not that I didn't understand what they were talking to me about, it was just....

I didn't care.

I didn't feel anything.

Even in the ring, it was the first time I felt like I just worked a match without putting any emotion into it.

I can't wait for tomorrow. To make this day a thing of the past, too...