Post by Danielle Basch on Dec 2, 2017 18:08:20 GMT -5
Mariposa Avenue
El Segundo, CA
Thursday, November 30, 2017
The bright yellow of Donovan Basch’s McLaren P1 stands out against the soft, cool colors of the houses along Mariposa Avenue as the high-end sports car rolls down the street. Apart from the cars parked curbside, the street is fairly empty, with only a handful of people that can be seen walking on the sidewalk, all of which stop and stare at the luxury vehicle. Donovan smirks at the attention his car is garnering, then turns to look at Danni, who is sitting in the passenger’s seat, looking out of the window, as if watching for something.
Donovan: Alright… so now that you’ve shown me the park where you played as a child; what are we looking for now?
Danni: The baseball field that I used to pass on my way home from school. There’s someone I want you to meet. That is, if he’s there….
Donovan: Oh, really? Does someone you know live around here?
Danni: Well, you could say that. I mean, it IS a small town, so pretty much everyone knows everyone. But yeah, he’s kind of a fixture around here. He’s certainly friendly enough; I’ve never seen him actively bothering anyone or begging for money, but for those of us that did take the time to stop and say hello, he could hold a good conversation. I can remember the first time I had ever crossed paths with him….
Donovan: Do tell….
Danni: Well….
Richmond Street Field
El Segundo, CA
December 1, 2003
It was the end of the day, and just like any other day, I made the long walk from Richmond Street Elementary School. The journey would bring me past the baseball field, which sat right across from the Hometown Market. I clutched the straps of my backpack, humming “Jingle Bells” quietly as I made my way down the street.
But this particular day was different. For some reason, I was distracted by an odd noise coming from near the bleachers. It was a man coughing, but I didn’t see anyone sitting on the bleachers, so I thought maybe I had just imagined it, and I kept walking.
But then I heard it again.
Once again, I looked around, and I didn’t see anyone, and I was about to keep walking when I heard what sounded like someone had stepped on one of the bleachers. It was that familiar sound that I would hear whenever I walked on the bleachers, but now I could tell where the first noise was coming from.
They were coming from UNDER the bleachers.
Now, I was only nine years old at the time, but even at that tender age, I wasn’t so naïve to know about the sort of things that went on under bleachers, even if usually at high schools and such. But even though I had no desire to walk in on a pair of hormonal teenagers doing the Horizontal Humpty Dance, my curiosity still got the better of me, so I carefully walked over and took a peek under the bleachers. What I saw cut me right to the core….
There was a man camped out under there, with a sleeping bag and an old backpack for a pillow. He didn’t even see me, at least I didn’t think he did, because he didn’t react until I tried to talk to him.
Danni: Excuse me, Mister….
He looked up at me like he was genuinely surprised that I had found him down there.
Man: How did you know I was down here?
Danni: I heard you coughing. Are you okay?
Man: Just a little throat tickle. Say, didn’t your parents tell you not to talk to strangers?
I nodded my head.
Danni: Yeah, but I thought you might be in trouble. It wouldn’t be right to just leave you here if you were really sick.
Man: I suppose you’re right. Well, thank you for checking up on me, but I’m fine. Now, you’d best be running along now….
I shrugged. He didn’t seem at all bothered by the fact that he was sleeping under the bleachers. He just turned over and hunkered down in his sleeping bag. Seemed a bit early to be calling it a night, but I didn’t really think any more of it. I walked toward the corner and crossed the street.
Still, it bothered me that he probably didn’t have anything to eat, so I stopped by the market and bought him some food. It wasn’t much; just some beef jerky, some crackers, and a bottle of orange juice. I tried to get his attention to let him know I was leaving it for him, but he didn’t say anything. So, I just left it there, under the bleachers, and went home.
Mariposa Avenue
El Segundo, CA
Present Day
Danni: To think, it’s been 14 years since then….
Donovan: You never saw him again after that?
Danni: Oh, of course I did. Come to find out from some of the other locals that he kind of roams around town. It keeps him off the cops’ radar, I guess. Thing is, he actually has a family; try as they might, they just can’t talk him into coming back home.
Donovan: You mean he CHOOSES to live on the street?
Danni shrugs her shoulders as she notices the upcoming intersection. Off in the distance, she can see the familiar chain link that surrounds the baseball diamond.
Danni: There it is… just up ahead. Looks like there’s no place to park, so we’re going to have to pull over before we cross Virginia Street.
Donovan pulls the car over, stopping a few lengths away from the corner. They get out of the car, with Danni leaning against the side as Donovan locks up.
Donovan: So, what are the odds that he’ll actually be at this particular spot?
Danni shrugs her shoulders as Donovan makes his way to the sidewalk.
Danni: I don’t know… call it a hunch?
Donovan: I’ll take your word for it.
Danni: But first, I want to stop at the market and pick something up….
Danni pushes off from the side of the car, and with her fingers entwined in Donovan’s, the pair start to walk down the street. They reach the corner market, where Danni pulls him inside. They head straight to the back of the store, where the soda is chilling in the cooler. Danni opens the door, pulling out a six-pack of Faygo Root Beer.
Donovan: Faygo? I didn’t think that was available out here….
Danni: It is, if you know where to look. Most of the places I’ve found it sell it in bottled form. This is one of the only places where I’ve seen it in cans.
Danni and Donovan make their way to the front of the store, where Danni places the six-pack on the counter. As the cashier approaches the register, he notices Danni and smiles.
Cashier: Well, well, well… if it isn’t our own South Bay Siren! How’ve you been, Danni?
Danni: “South Bay Siren?”
At the sound of the apropos appellation, Donovan turns his head and chuckles, while Danni looks at the cashier with a curious smile on her face.
Cashier: Yeah! That’s what the kids that come in here have been calling you. It kind of fits, when you think about it. I mean, didn’t your mom always call you her “Little Mermaid” when you were a kid?
Danni: True enough. But you’re saying EVERYONE’S calling me that?
Cashier: They sure are! You’ve become sort of a local legend here. The town celebrity, if you will.
Danni: Wow, I… I’m speechless, really.
Donovan: Come on, Nixy! You’d think you’d be used to the praise and adoration from the fans by now. Besides, it clearly suits you.
Danni: Yeah, but to the point where my own hometown has given me a nickname…
She taps her finger against her chin, pondering the moniker with a gradually increasing smile on her face.
Danni: You know, now that I think about it, it does have a pretty nice ring to it.
Donovan: For that matter, it would look great on a t-shirt.
Danni: Perhaps it would. But for now, I’ll just take this six-pack of Faygo.
Cashier: Alright. Anything else for you today?
Danni: Actually, yes. Have you seen Old Sid around lately?
The cashier goes quiet, the smile fading from his face.
Cashier: You mean the homeless guy that would camp out under the bleachers at the baseball diamond?
Danni: Yeah. Have you seen him?
The cashier shakes his head, his eyes closed as a solemn sigh leaves his mouth.
Cashier: I’m afraid he passed away about two weeks ago. One of the kids found him under the bleachers over the weekend while he was out walking his dog. If you were planning on visiting him, there’s a memorial where his camp used to be.
The cashier points toward the exit, in the direction of the baseball field. Danni and Donovan look at each other, then back at the cashier as Danni sighs.
Danni: Thank you for telling me. I guess I’ll just take these and head over there to pay my respects.
Cashier: You take care. See you around, Siren!
The cashier rings up Danni’s purchase. With a final smile, he places the six-pack into a large paper bag, then pushes it across the counter. Danni takes the bag, and she and Donovan leave the market, crossing the street toward the baseball field.
Danni: You know, I never understood why he never just went back to his family. Why anyone would choose to be alone like that….
They make their way toward the bleachers, where a large cluster of flowers, stuffed animals, balloons, and framed pictures line the base.
Donovan: Some people prefer the solitary lifestyle. But even I can’t fathom the idea of dying alone, especially not now….
Danni looks up at him as Donovan places a hand on her shoulder.
Donovan: Take all the time you need, Nixy.
Danni tilts her head, kissing his hand before stooping down, setting the bag on the ground at her feet. She reaches into the bag and pulls out a single can from the six-pack, looking over her shoulder to smile at him before she walks over to the memorial.
Donovan watches in silence as Danni stands there with her back to him, her arms crossed in front of her. After several seconds, she once again stoops down, long enough to place the can amongst the other tributes. From where Donovan is standing, he can barely make out the sound of her voice, but it isn’t loud enough for him to be able to hear what she’s saying. Eventually, she walks back to where he is standing, where she lets out a deep sigh as she picks up the bag with the rest of the soda.
Danni: Let’s go. We still have a lot to do between now and Hype. And we still have to stop by the east end of Acacia Avenue, so we can help with the Christmas decorations. I’m sure the neighbors will be grateful to see someone with your…
She scans him up and down with her eyes, a coy smile on her face. Donovan could tell, however, that the smile was covering a tinge of regret.
Danni: ...reach.
Donovan shakes his head.
Donovan: What’s bothering you, Nixy?
Danni lets out a sigh.
Danni: I just wish I had come out here sooner. Maybe I could have seen him one more time before he passed.
Donovan: You can’t let yourself fret over that. We never know when our time may come, so we have to make the best of what time we have. You of all people should understand that. And even though he lived the life that he did, after what I’ve seen today, it would seem that he touched a lot of lives over the years.
Danni: I guess you’re right. Maybe that’s all we can ever really hope for. If we can touch the hearts and lives of even a select few, then we’ve done good. I just hope I can manage that.
Donovan: Well, I can think of one life you’ve DEFINITELY affected for the better… mine.
Danni: Donny….
Danni and Donovan share a long, lingering kiss before they begin the walk back to the car.