America the poor: A Wanderers Tale, Volume One

Chapter 29: A Familiar place, and My Odd Aunt Sandy

On the long drive back to Buffalo, there was no music played this time, and my social worker seemed subtly disappointed somehow. The atmosphere in the car was decidedly melancholy. Was my not fitting in my fault? I don't believe so. Some paths in life are pre-set, and sometimes when you head down the wrong path, something happens that puts you back on the original. It just wasn't meant to be, not in Eden certainly. Besides, looking back I'm sure it was already decided for me long before I ever opened the trunk.

At some point in the quiet, my driver took the initiative, and decided to break the silence. She mentioned she had called around, and ended up talking to some of my relatives. Namely my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Joseph(whom I got my middle name from). They were always childless, and they agreed to take me into their large home in west seneca, which I had visited many times in the past. It was very good news for me. I only had two aunts, Sandy and Linda, and Sandy was always my favorite.

After I got that news, the trip seemed slightly happier, I knew that house, and I knew my relatives, so maybe things were looking up at long last? After all, blood is thicker than water, so they say.

It wasn't a long drive, she took her time(and we stopped for lunch (compliments of the state of New York). We reached West Seneca two hours after we left Eden. Unlike the big city, most homes had large yards, and side and front yards as well. Lots of elbow room for the locals I suppose. Lawns were manicured, bushes were perfectly shaped, and streets were wide and cozy. Definitely wasn't the city, lots of room to move around.

We finally pulled into the front driveway. We both got out of the car, and Sandy immediately opened the front door to welcome us both. As soon as that happened, her two very large dogs ran out to greet me warmly. Cookie and Brandy were their names, and they knew me well, and showed their love with lots of wet doggie tongue, and plenty of shed hair all over my clothes, which I didn't mind one bit! Sandy hugged me, and just said the words "welcome home Johnny"

It was a warm greeting,and well appreciated by me. She invited us both in, for a long chat and coffee(no complaints from me of course). My Uncle Joe wasn't home, so it was just us three (and the dogs of course, but they didn't do much talking, just licking). Sandy brewed a strong pot, and served pie, as was her habit for guests anyway.

Let me tell you a bit about Sandy, my mother's sister. Her real name was Eleanor, but for some reason unknown to me, everyone called her Sandy, no exceptions. She was blonde, whereas my mother and grandmother were both dark haired (as am I). She had glasses, but I rarely ever saw her wear them throughout all the years I knew her.

She had a kind soul, but was never really poor. Her career was some type of social work, but upper management, she never dealt with the real clients directly, more of a hidden force in the background of their lives.

I'm not sure exactly how her and Joe started out financially, but ever since my earliest memories, they always had money. No, they didn't own an island, or a yacht, but they had a beautiful luxurious large house, both had well-paying jobs, multiple cadillac's, and never a shortage of funding for whatever they pretty much wanted.

They did have a boat, a medium sized one, and an actual full professional bar custom built into the basement. The two friendly dogs were older, large, long-haired, and maybe two of the friendliest animals i've ever known. Named Brandi and Cookie. They were both wonderful, and enough shedding hair for a herd of dogs..

They used the garage to enter the house 95 percent of the time, rather than the front door, just more convenient I suppose. The entire house was luxurious, at least according to my standards, I did come from extreme poverty after all. An empty fridge and dirty clothes was my usual lot, and was lucky if laundry was done once a month in my mothers house.