Locomotive to the Past, George Schultz [snow like ashes series txt] 📗

surrounded—by a dazzling-white circle! It didn’t appear that there was anything written, in the circle. But, from the balcony—who could tell? Still, in Our Hero’s mind, the uniforms seemed much more classy than the red-shirted variety, that had replaced them. He was positive, that his granddad would have been, of the same opinion. Positive of that!

As the practice tune-ups continued, the two spectators—in the second row, of balcony seats—settled into conversation. (As you knew they would.)

“I just got pretty good news today,” offered Jason. “Eric told me… that we’ve got another job, lined up! Once this one finishes up! And we’re really close . . . close, to this one being done! Man… was he ever relieved! Eric isn’t a great one… for showing emotion! And he’s always tried… tried, pretty damn hard… not to ever show it! But… this time… he didn’t do so good!”

“How about you, Jason? Were you also relieved?”

“To a point,” was his muttered response. “We haven’t talked about it… in awhile… but, I’m still looking to crash, into the radio announcer business. Lately, though, there’s been so much going on, that…”

“Jason… look!” They were back to the, troublesome, “Jason… look” expression, once again. “Listen! If you’re going to wait… wait until everything is letter-perfect… then, you’ll never make a move. Nothing is ever gonna be completely perfect! If you’re going to put off a move… till all the stars line up, in proper sequence… then, ninety-nine years from today, you’ll still be waiting! Carrying those stupid bricks.”

He knew that trouble was brewing. He was not that imperceptive! “Where have I heard that before?” he muttered.

“I know,” she groused. “I’m being back… to my old bitchy self, again.”

“No ‘excuse the expression’ tag line?” He was smiling—in a futile attempt, to ward off another serious lecture. Puck droppage, for one thing, was not that far off!

“Jason… don’t try to make light of it! You’re either interested… in making a career change… or you’re not! If you’re not inclined, in that direction… well, of course, I’ll be a little disappointed! Maybe a farthing more . . . than just a little! But, it’s grossly none of my business! If that’s your decision… then so be it! Just go ahead, and tell me… to back the hell off!”

She was, though, becoming more and more upset! By the minute! Probably by the second! He could tell!

“Valerie,” he pleaded, “it’s not that I’ve made any other decision! Honest! It’s just there have been a whole squedabble… of problems! Problems… that’ve come up! Well, not problems! Not exactly! But, a whole helluva lot of things, to think about! Many things… to ponder!”

“Such as?” Her response simply dripped—with skepticism! The evening was—definitely—not going as he’d hoped! As he’d planned! Not anywhere near close!

“Well, for one thing, I’ve got a chance… to rent an apartment!”

“An… an apartment? Jason! You never told me!” The evening was—for sure—not going as he’d planned. “When did this thing… this deal, with an apartment . . . when did it come up? And, God! With the housing shortage, and all…”

“Well, it came up… just a couple of days ago. Tuesday night, as a matter of fact. Pretty late . . . on Tuesday night. Eric was the one. He came up with it! But, he didn’t spring it on me. Not till after he’d talked it over… with Susie.”

“Talked with Susie? Why should that be? Either the apartment is available… or it’s not!”

“Well, it won’t be! Available, that is! Not for a couple weeks, anyway. Maybe not even that soon. The whole thing… well, it’s kinda up in the air.”

“Now, you’ve got me completely confused,”

“Well… like I said… we’re wrapping up this job. The whole project is ending. One of the engineers… a guy named Tom Dahlstrom… is leaving! He’s going to some kind, of a, really-hush-hush, position… in the Navy Department! Going to Washington… maybe a few days before this job is totally finished. He told Eric… that ‘his roomer’ could have it! That’d be me! But, I’m gonna have to let him know… by, I think, Monday! I can even get his furniture . . . the whole kit and caboodle . . . for a hundred-and-twenty bucks!”

“Really?” Her mood was—without a doubt (thankfully)—changing! Definitely for the better! “You’ve got a chance . . . to do all that?”

“Yeah. I’m probably making too much . . . way too much… out of it! But, there’s so much . . . for me, to think about! To, you know, ponder! I think I’ve got enough… enough in the bank, y’know… to cover the rent, for the first two or three months! It’s fifty-five bucks, a month! Listen, the apartment house… is on Ohio Street! One of six or eight really good-sized buildings, there! Just north of Grand River! That’s right near Grand River and Oakman!”

“I know where Ohio is! And I’ve seen all those apartment buildings! As near as I can tell… they’re all really nice! Really nice! The fifty-five might be a little bit… on the expensive side! But, I’d have to imagine that they’re all… all those apartments… that they’re all worth it! Well worth it! What’s the hesitation? What’s the big decision?”

“Well, i can’t count on… just springing, into radio! I’ve been listening . . . to my radio… as much as I can. I think . . . and Susie agrees . . . that WXXD would probably be my best shot! Eric… as usual… is a bit noncommittal.”

“All right,” she answered—although not completely joyfully, “so maybe the radio career’ll have to be delayed… a few ticks! But, what else is there… to be decided?”

“Well, this new project… the one that Eric’s employer, and, I guess, fifty trillion other companies, are gonna be working on… is, as I understand it, a monster! It’s a new-fangled public housing project! It’s called Herman Gardens! Supposed to have more than two-thousand housing units, in it! Can you imagine? (Actual number would turn out to be 2144.) And, it’s located a ‘fur piece’ . . . from you!”

“Oh, Jason! We could…”

“It’s not quite as important. But, it’s a real consideration! Valerie, the new job’ll be… out, on Joy Road! Joy Road… and Southfield! That’s an every-day situation!