Of Falling Stars and Distant Hills

Chapter Ten

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"I don't know if I'm dreaming when I sleep or sleeping while I'm awake, but I have reoccurring dreams my mind cannot take." —Stanley Victor Paskavich
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Tramp gave one last look at the grandiose neighborhood, taking in the fenced gardens, the glossy automobiles and the exquisite houses beyond the pristine white sidewalk. He curled his nose. Damn fat cats. Then he slid into the passenger's seat of Leon's truck, slamming the door shut behind him. Leon stared at him with his single piercing eye, but said nothing.

"What?"

"You take a shine to her?" Leon asked quietly.

"Who knows. What do you care?"

Leon shot him an expectant eyebrow raise. "With your reputation, I just want to make sure you're not making a game of this."

Tramp scoffed and slicked back some stray hairs from his forehead. "What are you, my mother now?"

"I can just tell she's a good kid, that's all." Leon murmured, pulling out into the street.

Tramp repressed a sigh. "I know, I know I'm not planning to see her again, trust me."

"Probably for the best. This is where she belongs."

Tramp ignored a spark of irritation. He didn't want it to be the last time he saw Lady no matter how many times he said it, but her safety was more important than his own selfish desires. Tramp ground his teeth and watched the mansions slowly begin to fade as they rumbled down the bumpy cobblestone road. That kiss she had given him was making it hard to stay true to his promise. If it had been any longer he would have turned in and kissed her back. Tramp clutched the material of his pants as he envisioned the blush that would erupt on her face from that.

Damn it. He thought, forcing himself to loosen his grip. This is gonna be trouble if I don't nip this in the bud now.

"Where to?" Leon asked.

"My place, I gotta get some shut eye."

Leon nodded. The car bumped along and they eventually made it out of Snob Hill and into their drab side of town. After being awake for an entire day the morning light streaming in over the streets made the town feel surreal. "You're quiet." Leon commented after a while.

"Been up all damn night fighting your guys' battles for you." Tramp chuckled darkly.

Leon shifted his eyes from the road and looked at him.

Tramp sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sorry."

Leon turned back to the road and shifted in his seat. He said nothing at first but after a few minutes he turned back to Tramp and said: "It does help you know."

"Help what?"

"The gang work. It helps with...being back home."

"You've got to be joking. At least we had something worth fighting for over there, here it's just about money and whose booze is whose. And besides, it's been long enough now. I'm fine."

Leon gave him a sideways look and went quiet, clearly not fooled by his false bravado. He was one of the few that actually understood what wartime did to a man, because he too had seen frontline action. But unlike Tramp, who had served in the army, Leon had been in the navy.

"It helped me, is all I'm saying. It might help you too if you let it." Leon finally replied after a few minutes.

"I'll pass." Tramp retorted. "I've gotten my fair share just associating with you goons."