Chapter 3

I can be the new Guardian Angel too

"Show me what you got, Max," screams Gus. I charge at him full force, but a split second before impact I leapfrog over him and roll across his back. I hook his right arm with mine. Before my feet can touch the ground, I am flipping Gus over my shoulders. The move sends him crashing down to the mat. I don't have much time to celebrate however, because Gus immediately knocks my legs out from under me. I block his attempt to place me in a leg lock by grabbing the top of his head and rolling his shoulders to the canvas for a pin attempt, but ever-resourceful Gus kicks out at the two count.

"Not bad," says a grinning Vampiro Velasquez who is standing on the top of the ring apron. In his prime Vampiro Velasquez was one of the most feared rudos in all of lucha libre, but bad knees have forced him into semi-retirement. His love of lucha libre, though, won't allow him to stay away completely. Today he is the owner of not one, but two of the premiere wrestling schools in all of Mexico.

"He is getting better, Grandpa," says Gus.

"You both are," says Vampiro Velasquez. "You both have looked very impressive out there all this week."

"It's in the genes," declares my tio Rodolfo who is sitting at ringside. "But what else would you expect from the nephew of the Guardian Angel and the grandson of Vampiro Velasquez?" Tio Rodolfo has a grin on his face the likes of which I have never seen on him before.

"If your smile gets any bigger, Rodolfo, those pearly whites will leave me blind," declares Vampiro Velasquez. "So. Have you begun planning for the big day?"

"It's in the works."

"Don't tell me you're nervous."

"I'm not nervous. It's the right thing to do. It's just hard for me to believe that I am actually going to be doing it."

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Absolutely. I have no doubt in my mind."

"Then consider yourself lucky and count your blessings," says Vampiro Velasquez. Tio Rodolfo nods his head in agreement.

"See you later, guys," says tio Rodolfo rising to his feet. He waves at Gus and me. "Keep up the training. You're both looking very good."

"That's some mighty high praise coming from the Guardian Angel, boys," declares Vampiro Velasquez. "But don't let it go to your heads. You still have a lot to learn."

"Is tio Rodolfo getting cold feet about marrying Maya?"

"Why do you ask that, Max?"

"I just heard you asking him if he was sure it's what he really wanted."

"We weren't talking about the wedding, Max."

"You weren't? Then what were you talking about?"

"We were talking about the Guardian Angel's last match."

"Last match?" Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. "What do you mean his last match?"

"The Guardian Angel is retiring. Rodolfo is going to give up being the Guardian Angel to be with the woman he loves." I am speechless. Tio Rodolfo is retiring? Does that mean that there will be no more Guardian Angel? I assume a wrestling stance and turn to face Gus.

Guardian Angel and Silver Star sitting under a tree, Gus begins to chant, trying to get me off my game, which--after the revelation I just heard--isn't hard.

"Not very mature, Gus," I tell him. Gus lunges at me and knocks me down to the canvas. It's my own fault for not being focused when I should have been.

"I'm ready," a voice suddenly declares. Standing at the top of the runway is Little Robert wearing a Guardian Angel t-shirt and gym shorts.

"Ready for what?"

"Ready to start my training to become the new Guardian Angel."

"Excuse me..." Little Robert has never shown much interest in anything other than eating.

"You think you're the only one who can become the new Guardian Angel, Max?" asks Little Robert. "You think you're the only one who can wear tio Rodolfo's mask? He's my uncle too, you know?"

"Let's see what you got, Little Robert." Vampiro Velasquez motions for Little Robert to step into the ring. Little Robert starts by bouncing off the ropes. He's a bit clumsy at first, and nearly trips twice over his own two feet due to the recoil from coming off the ropes. But after about a minute or two, he figures it out and begins to control his momentum. Vampiro watches Little Robert with eagle eyes.

"Elbow smash," cries out Vampiro. On cue, Little Robert stops on a dime and delivers an elbow smash to a seemingly invisible opponent in the center of the ring.

"Not too bad, Little Robert," declares Vampiro Velasquez. "Maybe your tio Rodolfo is right. Maybe it truly is all in the genes."

---

Excerpted from Maximilian and the Curse of the Fallen Angel by Xavier Garza
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.