Page 7 of Life's a Beach
Chapter Two
Gareth Butler
Living in a small camper and moving from town to town was a lot of people’s idea of a dream.
But growing up that way? It wasn’t as fun as people thought.
He and his parents had been all over the United States and through most of Canada when he grew up.
He saw many amazing things, sights that most didn’t see.
But he never had a life that everyone else did.
He was homeschooled by his mom, but he didn’t have any friends.
They were never anywhere for long enough to make friends. He only had one once and he wasn’t there long enough to see her again. It broke his heart and he hadn’t tried to make another friend.
He used to wish that he had them, but it wasn’t to be.
His dad believed that living off the grid was better for them and so did his mom.
They didn’t want to have to answer to anyone at any time and so they didn’t.
His mom did sign him up for schooling, but they weren’t around enough to have anyone see it.
But he did what he could and by the time he was ready to graduate from high school, he did.
It was different from a normal kid, but he did it.
And then he told his parents that he was done. He wanted a normal life.
They were sad, but understood him and left him at one of the closest towns.
He didn’t have a job, didn’t have much money, but he was going to do his best to grow some roots.
He got a job at a gym, moved into a small motel and made the first friend he ever had.
Declan Jones owned the gym. He was a good man and was a hard worker.
He taught MMA and asked if Gareth wanted to learn.
Gareth readily agreed and after hours, Declan taught him all he knew about MMA.
Declan was a retired MMA fighter and as the weeks went on, Gareth slowly got into a groove.
He picked up the fights quickly and before long, Declan hit the mats hard and Gareth came out on top.
It filled him with so much pride and Declan could see the promise in him.
So he signed him up for his first fight.
And Gareth got his ass kicked. But, it was good for him.
He learned even more techniques and Declan brought in his old coach to help out and with Alex’s help, Gareth learned even more.
Slowly, he started to dominate in the ring and before long, everyone was chanting his name.
His nickname the crowds bestowed on him was Quicksilver because he was fast. Dodging the fists that were thrown his way like they were done in slow motion.
