While it doesn't go into the science of adrenalin and what causes the build-up I do believe that the story's title will be explained very quickly. As this is a figment of my imagination I do hope that it catches your attention. All characters are of age. Please enjoy.
As is always the case I would appreciate constructive criticism so I may provide better stories for your entertainment.
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In the second round both fighters were tired already; one from throwing the punches and the other from receiving those thrown punches. The pugilists were both strong and were standing their grounds well enough, though one looked to be getting into trouble.
The face of the receiver of the punches was bloodied and one eye, the left, was completely shut. How he was still standing no one knew but he was giving it his all. His opponent was barely scratched and blocked or dodged everything the dizzy receiver was throwing or, rather, trying to throw. His one good eye saw the white towel in the hands of his coach and he was about ready to let him throw it but pride kept him standing.
And then, well, things went black very quickly under the barrage that engulfed all of his vision.
*********
Alex Black, wearing his black boxing gloves, was surprised that his opponent hadn't yet fallen. He had to give the fellow credit for being able to take this kind of beating but he also had to remove credit for trying to prove how much of a beating he could take.
The two fighters were only in the first minute of the second round of this qualifier for the state contest and Alex was mercilessly pummeling his opponent. Alex could see that the other fighter could barely see from his right eye and was ready to fall. Therefore, Alex stepped in on the blindside and jabbed two right hands directly through his opponent's guard and when the head slowly came back up to an almost upright position Alex threw a left cross and the fellow finally went down. Alex felt a little better that he put the fellow out of both of their miseries. This was the last fight before the state contests and he wanted it.
Jim Stetson did not get back up that fight.
Alex was announced the winner by knock-out and the crowd screamed for their college boxing champ.
The young victor neither smiled nor waved when the referee raised his right arm and announced him the winner and the qualifier for the state boxing championship in two months' time. Alex's face was impassive and his eyes were hard - staring into nothing. He'd been compared to Tyson in the man's heyday because of his demeanor and the fact that he wore all black in the ring. That was silly, of course, as his surname was Black. As well, he was just there to fight. Nothing else. Accolades could be later.
When the small parade of cheers ended Alex exited the ring and went with his coach to the locker room. Nothing was said - no congrats or well-done, no praise or spirit lifting. Alex's coach learned a long time ago that words did nothing for his strongest fighter. While not a heavy-weight the coach knew that Alex Black could have given a few of those big professionals a run. He might not win but those pros would know that they'd been hit. The coach was proud even if he wasn't allowed to say anything.
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Joanna Black watched her son fight for the who knew how many-th time. While she didn't really care for the bloodshed there was a certain intake of excitement in watching her son beat the snot out of everyone. She was proud of him.
As well, she got a little excited in all of her nerves, everywhere on her body -
everywhere
- and it made her nearly swoon sometimes. Tonight's beating was a little rough for her but since she saw that her boy hadn't really taken any damage it was almost okay. Her open nature processed all of these things as they were - she got a little horny watching her son fight. She didn't know if it was the fight or her son but since she had always thought her Alex to be very handsome and that natural feeling of adrenalin in either being in or watching a fight from very close she didn't really care.
Whether win or lose Joanna and her son, Alex, were going for dinner tonight for no reason other than being able to see one another. They'd always been close and since Alex's university was a couple of hours away they didn't get to see each other very often. He tried to come home at least once a month and they talked on the phone almost every week. He didn't always make it home but it was always nice when he did, Joanna thought.
The mother knew her son was not a momma's boy or anything, they just enjoyed each other's company. Especially since her husband, Alex's father, Dan, passed away a few years ago while her son was in high school. It was hard for both of them but together they managed everything that came their way with ease, dirty jokes when warranted, seriousness when needed and an odd innuendo at other times. They were a strange mother and son but Joanna knew her son loved her just as she did him.
Joanna knew the wait was going to be a little bit while Alex cleaned up so she sat easily in her chair and played with her cell phone.
A little sooner than she thought the time would be Alex walked out to his mother, all showered and looking just about fresh. There was still a mark where the evening's opponent had caught him across his cheek but it was small and looked more like a rub than anything else.
"Ready?," Alex asked easily, giving a little rise to the end of the word with a small of his eyebrows.
Without a word Joanna rose from her seat, took her son's offered arm and they went to dinner. Very calm, very nice and they never spoke about the fight.
*********
The next fight was over quick. One of those two hit things: one fist hits a face, that face hits the floor. Except this was concrete and not a single bit forgiving to skin or bone.
Alex turned and looked at the other fellow who tried to help with this little contest of mugger/mugged. The fellow thought he was a mugger but when you run into someone who is close to being a state champion boxer and who is as mean as the meanest dog you've ever heard of in the ring, Cujo's got nothing to compare to Alex's mean, you've just set yourself up for failure of the worst kind.
The other fellow tried to pull the purse from his mother's shoulder but she wasn't giving it up without her own fight. Joanna kept her arm bent at the elbow with the hand of that arm caught in the grip of her other hand. She was kicking at the guy without much success but the dude had to keep moving which made his hold on the purse tenuous at best.
Then Alex stepped in, swung once with his left hand directly into the mugger's temple. The connection of fist with an extended knuckle to that little soft spot just above and behind the eye turned the failed mugger's eye in a direction the other one wasn't looking in. Then Alex grabbed the wanna-be criminal's wrist and provided a thumb of pressure right at the soft point in that wrist. The dude's fingers opened and Alex's mother pulled her purse from the limp fingers as she watched her son provide a finishing blow to the mugger's face, right between his eyes at the crown of his nose.
Alex stepped back as the young man fell to the ground, senseless. He turned his head to look for the other guy and saw that he was still out cold. Turning his head back to his mother Alex took a deep breath, let it out slow and said, "Are you alright, ma?" There was heavy concern in his voice and his face showed severe worry.
"Of course, I am, sweetie. Do you think you hit them hard enough to return their brains to the age of three?" The smile on her face belied the adrenalin Alex could see coursing through her body and eyes.
"I'm hoping for the age of zero but I'm not sure even I can hit that hard."
"Oh, that's too bad," Joanna said to her son with a playful slap to his shoulder. Her voice was a little shaky, her breathing rapid and her shoulders and arms were fidgeting from the excitement.
Not a moment later a couple of street cops showed up and surveyed the scene. They immediately asked what happened and after a quick story the two hoodlums were handcuffed and an EMS was called to check them as they hadn't awakened yet.
One of the officers took mom and son's statements, asking questions time and again in slightly altered versions of the same question to make sure their story was the same no matter how it was asked. When he was satisfied he let the two go with the knowledge that they may be called in for a line-up viewing.