A new start brings a new adventure.
* * * *
With my new travel bag slung over my shoulder, some food pilfered from the kitchen, and a skip in my step, I took the back door exit out through the garden, around the dumpsters against the side building, then along the side parking lot. In less than five minutes, I was walking on a public sidewalk, a free man. Free and poor.
I had Em's address in my pocket, and although I actually didn't have a clue where she lived in relation to where I was, the feeling of being free was too liberating to care much. Breathing in the air, looking at the trees and buildings around me. Finally. Just to walk, that was enough - no scheduled place to be, no timeclock to punch, no doctors to talk to. Hell, so what if I'm not doing anything and have no real prospects, there's homeless people everywhere across the country, they seem to survive. I should be able to, too. And I'm not a fucking crazy lunatic either, how hard can it be?
My new found liberation was, if not short lived, at least abbreviated for the time being. A honk a few minutes later followed by a convertible turning around and pulling up beside me brought the welcome sight of a very cute and buxom Sarah sitting in the driver's seat of a little jap sports car.
"Hey Stranger, where ya heading?"
I laughed. "Well, if it isn't my friend Sarah, who was going to call me and stay in touch! What the hell happened to you?" I knew what was up from Em, that Sarah had a boyfriend already and a new guy on the side, and it was keeping her pretty busy.
"Oh, stuff, you know - I really did mean to call you though! Did you leave the center or...?" she trailed off.
"Left, and yes, was heading over to Em's to crash a few days while I get situated."
"Her boyfriend's back, you know."
"Yeah, she told me. Told me not to touch her!" I laughed, assuming Sarah would find it as ridiculous as I did.
"Probably for the best. Hey, need a ride?"
"Sure!"
"Remember how to drive?" She didn't wait for an answer, just left the car running and shimmied over to the passenger seat.
"Well, OK," I said, "we should know pretty quick I guess."
I tossed my bag in the back seat then got in behind the wheel. Seemed familiar enough. I adjusted the seat, looked in the rear view mirror then took off. Apparently yes, I used to drive in my old life.
"Where to?" I asked. Sarah keyed the GPS.
It directed next left at the light, 25 minutes to destination. We were on our way. The air around me felt great, top down, sunny day.
She opened up her purse and took out some lipstick.
"Do you like red?" she asked.
"Um, yep."
"Great." She pulled down the visor and applied her lipstick. I couldn't help but glance over while she did. She was wearing a skirt with nice little boots, and a smallish jacket top buttoned up under her chin. Her legs looked great, but while there was some obvious mass up bound up top there unfortunately was nothing spilling out for my viewing pleasure. Dang.
I asked, "What were you doing over here, heading to Eastside?"
"Oh, yes, I was - Oh shit! I was dropping something off for Dr. Pritchett. We should head on back."
"Not me, I'm on the lam. Not going back." The thought of trying to explain why I left at the same time as they found one of their staff in a cum-pasted stupor under a conference table was not thrilling me.