This story was written with the following prompts: gladiator ring, movie star, and accountant.
LINDA: In the faraway land of Los Angeles, there was a secret gladiator ring built underneath an outlet mall.
RAE: This was no stranger than anything else that happened on a typical Thursday in Los Angeles and a nice change of pace from shopping for designer handbags.
LINDA: Moon Beam was a film action star working on a new film and she wanted to rehearse in a real gladiator arena.
RAE: The arena’s waiver said they were released from all liability if participants were cut in half, fed to lions, run over by chariots, or otherwise damaged during gladiatorial activities.
LINDA: Moon Beam learned about the place from her accountant Elizabeth Gilda Smith who also worked with businesses that owned special locations like this one.
RAE: Elizabeth Gilda Smith was a smart woman and highly regarded in many circles, from the Metropolitan Opera to alligator wrestlers. Everybody knew her.
LINDA: At the gladiator arena, Elizabeth introduced Moon Beam to voice over artists, hair loss scientists, Eucalyptus arborists, pickup truck mechanics, community college librarians, vegan gluten-free chefs, and others who were attracted to the gladiator lifestyle for various reasons.
RAE: On amateur night first-timers could choose to fight not to the death.
LINDA: Since it was Moon Beam’s first time, Elizabeth offered to be her partner.
RAE: Moon Beam had always enjoyed doing her own stunts on her films and knew how to do backflips and could run up walls.
LINDA: Elizabeth did cross fit and enjoyed mountain climbing. The two of them were worthy opponents for the Trang Twins, two hairstylists from Garden Grove.
RAE: The bulls and rabbits were released and the fight began.
LINDA: The Trang Twins defeated the bulls quickly by jumping on their backs and giving them silly haircuts.
RAE: Moon Beam and Elizabeth did stretches and petted the rabbits while the Trang Twins dealt with the bulls.
LINDA: It turned out the rabbits were rabid.
RAE: They put the rabbits away in baskets and faced the twins.
LINDA: Elizabeth jumped up onto Moon Beam’s shoulders, dropped onto one twin’s neck, and squeezed until they passed out.
RAE: The other twin threw a rope around Moon Beam, but Moon Beam cut the rope with a knife because they were allowed to use weapons.
LINDA: The twin and Moon Beam chased each other around the arena, scissors versus knife.
RAE: The fight finally ended when Elizabeth tripped the remaining twin with a tuck and roll.
LINDA: They were declared the winners and the management invited them to come back to fight to the death but they declined.
RAE: On their way out, Moon Beam saw the hall of fame banners and noticed a familiar face on the banner for the most victories in the ring.
LINDA: It was Elizabeth.
RAE: Moon Beam stared at the banner, then at Elizabeth, then back at the banner.
LINDA: Elizabeth said, “Having a lot of hobbies keeps you young.”
Good afternoon Linda and Rae,
This is a fun read! I laughed out loud several times.
Thank you!