The wind blew hot through his hair. The motor of the bike beneath him roaring him on toward an unknown future. He had left it all- the wife, the jobs, the kids - Set out with a dirty pair of hard-worn jeans, newer riding boots, a white t-shirt, and leather jacket. He was down the road two days and into heat that had lead him to stow the leather.
A wallet held the little he had saved to make the break- the split from his past 32 years. Married and expecting by age 19. He'd never really known before this evacuation of responsibility in all of his 50 years. Uncertain now what the next 24 hours held was an intoxicating discomfort a freeing fright. Only at night in sparsely furnished, cheap motel room would the gravity of what he'd done seep in. Then the rush of realization would flood his mind as he drifted off.
He'd said nothing. She would be panicked. He had only left a note saying simply, "Goodbye- I need to go. -H" Sufficient only to let her know he was alive and gone. No search party for him. No BOLO alert for him. Just crushing confusion for the woman of more than half his existence and his adult children who would undoubtedly be in shock and pain at this inexplicable evaporation of their father.
But sleep would come and the sun brought consolation and renewed resolution for his change for this journey from Lake Michigan's shores to Las Vegas whores- to adventure and abandon. He would find some thing in the wide world west.
Wouldn't he? .
The city blurred around him as he stumbled from the casino bar not only drunk but weak and tired. His body was still humming from the days spent on the seat above a growling machine.
By now the loneliness of what he'd done really had impact. They all had each other. He was alone.
He had a mildew scented room that hovered at just too warm for comfort due to the spotty-shoddy air conditioning unit. Threadbare sheets and carpet, a well worn easy chair, he had expected more glamour certainly. Expected something more romantic in running.
Tomorrow, post hangover, he would have to find work. Find something to pay him enough to find better lodging. He thought, though the fog of booze in his head, of calling her up, checking in. But he fell face first onto the bed and was out before he'd gotten his shoes off.
Over noon-time fried eggs, he circled ads that he intended to call. Help wanted was not a small category in a tourism trap but his experience and age would be a definite barrier.
The first number that actually connected him to a real person said they would be free to interview and drug test him that evening at 6:00pm This was not the "Windy City", certainly.
He wandered the streets for a while. The heat keeping his body in a sheen of perspiration. People-watching on the strip was so diverse. When the sun got unbearable he slipped inside an air-conditioned dimly lit room. He'd not been in a gentleman's club for a long time.
The music was faint at the door and as he moved into the space and toward light he saw. A vision his eyes hadn't taken in for decades the flesh of a woman that wasn't his old lady.
Smooth and beautiful. He was drawn into the moment seduced by desire for more.
Time drifted as he watched one follow another, the dance of dressed to bare easing his stress as much as the vodka tonics he was nursing.
The bar tender announced happy hour specials starting, and his trance was broken. Labor was calling. He had intended to be more presentable but it already being Five pm and himself miles from the office there wasn't time for that. He paid his tab with the one dollar bills he had remaining after getting change from the bar earlier, and eased from his stool on into the evening.
The office he found was more of a closet in a pole-barn warehouse. The woman was terse. She asked him if he had any problems that would prohibit him lifting 50lbs. He told her that was fine and she handed him a contract to sign and a form to take to the neighborhood clinic for an AM drug test. No pleasantries. She explained the duties of the job - unloading trucks and reloading. She said his direct supervisor was Archer and he'd meet him tomorrow morning when he arrived. If he was late he may as well not show up. Shifts started promptly at 8:00am and lasted until 2. with 20 minutes for a food break at 11:40. If he was interested there would be a board for lotterying the extra available 2-8pm shifts. 8:00pm until 2am shifts were available only to those employees on staff six weeks or more. (Pay for that shift was doubled).
"Welcome and have a good night."
A wave of her hand, in a dismissal not departure and he was left to make his way out into the haze of desert sunset.
(Dedicated to Harry Y.)
A wallet held the little he had saved to make the break- the split from his past 32 years. Married and expecting by age 19. He'd never really known before this evacuation of responsibility in all of his 50 years. Uncertain now what the next 24 hours held was an intoxicating discomfort a freeing fright. Only at night in sparsely furnished, cheap motel room would the gravity of what he'd done seep in. Then the rush of realization would flood his mind as he drifted off.
He'd said nothing. She would be panicked. He had only left a note saying simply, "Goodbye- I need to go. -H" Sufficient only to let her know he was alive and gone. No search party for him. No BOLO alert for him. Just crushing confusion for the woman of more than half his existence and his adult children who would undoubtedly be in shock and pain at this inexplicable evaporation of their father.
But sleep would come and the sun brought consolation and renewed resolution for his change for this journey from Lake Michigan's shores to Las Vegas whores- to adventure and abandon. He would find some thing in the wide world west.
Wouldn't he? .
The city blurred around him as he stumbled from the casino bar not only drunk but weak and tired. His body was still humming from the days spent on the seat above a growling machine.
By now the loneliness of what he'd done really had impact. They all had each other. He was alone.
He had a mildew scented room that hovered at just too warm for comfort due to the spotty-shoddy air conditioning unit. Threadbare sheets and carpet, a well worn easy chair, he had expected more glamour certainly. Expected something more romantic in running.
Tomorrow, post hangover, he would have to find work. Find something to pay him enough to find better lodging. He thought, though the fog of booze in his head, of calling her up, checking in. But he fell face first onto the bed and was out before he'd gotten his shoes off.
Over noon-time fried eggs, he circled ads that he intended to call. Help wanted was not a small category in a tourism trap but his experience and age would be a definite barrier.
The first number that actually connected him to a real person said they would be free to interview and drug test him that evening at 6:00pm This was not the "Windy City", certainly.
He wandered the streets for a while. The heat keeping his body in a sheen of perspiration. People-watching on the strip was so diverse. When the sun got unbearable he slipped inside an air-conditioned dimly lit room. He'd not been in a gentleman's club for a long time.
The music was faint at the door and as he moved into the space and toward light he saw. A vision his eyes hadn't taken in for decades the flesh of a woman that wasn't his old lady.
Smooth and beautiful. He was drawn into the moment seduced by desire for more.
Time drifted as he watched one follow another, the dance of dressed to bare easing his stress as much as the vodka tonics he was nursing.
The bar tender announced happy hour specials starting, and his trance was broken. Labor was calling. He had intended to be more presentable but it already being Five pm and himself miles from the office there wasn't time for that. He paid his tab with the one dollar bills he had remaining after getting change from the bar earlier, and eased from his stool on into the evening.
The office he found was more of a closet in a pole-barn warehouse. The woman was terse. She asked him if he had any problems that would prohibit him lifting 50lbs. He told her that was fine and she handed him a contract to sign and a form to take to the neighborhood clinic for an AM drug test. No pleasantries. She explained the duties of the job - unloading trucks and reloading. She said his direct supervisor was Archer and he'd meet him tomorrow morning when he arrived. If he was late he may as well not show up. Shifts started promptly at 8:00am and lasted until 2. with 20 minutes for a food break at 11:40. If he was interested there would be a board for lotterying the extra available 2-8pm shifts. 8:00pm until 2am shifts were available only to those employees on staff six weeks or more. (Pay for that shift was doubled).
"Welcome and have a good night."
A wave of her hand, in a dismissal not departure and he was left to make his way out into the haze of desert sunset.
(Dedicated to Harry Y.)
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